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Red Runs the Witch's Thread
Paisley, Scotland, 1697. Thirty-five people accused of witchcraft. Seven condemned to death. Six strangled and burned at the stake. All accused by eleven-year-old Christian Shaw.
Bargarran House, 1722. Christian Shaw returns home, spending every waking hour perfecting the thread bleaching process that will revive her family’s fortune. If only she can make it white enough, perhaps her past sins will be purified too.
But dark forces are at work. As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch burnings approaches, ravens circle Bargarran House, their wild cries stirring memories and triggering visions.
As Christian’s mind begins to unravel, her states of delusion threaten the safety of all those who cross her path. In the end she must make a terrible choice: her mind or her soul? Poverty and madness, or a devil’s bargain for the bleaching process that will make her the most successful businesswoman Paisley has ever seen?
Her fate hangs by a thread. Which will she choose?
Bargarran House, 1722. Christian Shaw returns home, spending every waking hour perfecting the thread bleaching process that will revive her family’s fortune. If only she can make it white enough, perhaps her past sins will be purified too.
But dark forces are at work. As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch burnings approaches, ravens circle Bargarran House, their wild cries stirring memories and triggering visions.
As Christian’s mind begins to unravel, her states of delusion threaten the safety of all those who cross her path. In the end she must make a terrible choice: her mind or her soul? Poverty and madness, or a devil’s bargain for the bleaching process that will make her the most successful businesswoman Paisley has ever seen?
Her fate hangs by a thread. Which will she choose?
171 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2024
3 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Williamson
27 books78 followersA lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 15, 2024
In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🔥 Christian is the lynchpin of this plot, and much of her personality leaves the reader unnerved. I don’t know whether to feel sorry for her or infuriated at her (probably more of the latter), but no matter what, it is tough to feel unaffected by her. If you need your main characters to be likeable, this is definitely not the book for you.
🔥 The writing depicts the historical era well, weaving the beliefs, customs, gender bias, and superstitions into the core plot.
🔥 Christian’s obsessions with “white” extends far beyond the colour of the thread she makes, as does her repulsion for “red”. Love how intelligently both these elements are woven into the storyline!
🔥 The 1696 timeline tells us the events directly leading to the witch burning. As these are written in Christian’s first-person perspective, they help us get into her mind and see its distortions first-hand. Quite disconcerting!
🔥 On that note, I never knew that even men were burnt as witches during these ignominious witch trials. Always good to learn something new, even if it is something as gruesome as this.
🔥 The plot uses mental health issues without traversing through the typical path. This creates a very disturbing effect.
🔥 Though appearing in minimal roles, Christian’s mother and two sisters have distinctly sketched personalities that helps us understand their thinking.
🔥 I can’t help but admire the irony of the name “Christian”; it fits the character for all the wrong reasons. (No credit to the author for naming her character aptly – this is based on a true event and an actual person, after all! – but full credit to the author for highlighting this chilling historical event and this unchristian Christian.)
🔥 There are many haunting scenes that aggravated my discomfort. The ravens add to the atmospheric impact.
🔥 The author’s parting note at the end, though brief, offers enough details about the actual witch trials that loosely inspired this story. Don’t skip this!
Bookish Nays:
🕯️ I am not completely satisfied with the ending. Not that I wanted a happy ending, but it goes into an unexpected direction and also leaves many points dangling. It will work well for many readers, I am sure, but the supernatural twist was disquieting for me.
🕯️ There are a few things that are touched upon but only superficially, probably because this is just a novella. I’d especially have loved more insight into Meg’s zealotic loyalty towards her mistress.
🕯️ There is a slight repetition in the writing, especially in those scenes that remind the reader of Arya Stark’s list. (If you read the book, you’ll know what I am referring to. No spoilers.)
Bookish Confession & Tip:
📌 I had a super-duper “Duhhh!” moment towards the end, because it was only then I realised that the author’s use of “Weft” and “Warp” as chapter headings was a creative way of indicating “Now” and “Then” for the timelines. 🙈 If you happen to be in the same “questionable genius” category as I, make sure you note the YYYY part of the date at the start of each chapter, as the DD-MMM are often the same in both timelines.
All in all, though some moments of the book were a tad too intense for me, thanks to my reading preferences, I was still gripped by the storyline and couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Author Victoria Williamson is the main reason I opted for this book, though I am not too comfortable with horror stories. In every novel, she combines imaginativeness as well as social themes to make a point. This works quite well in this story.
While the author writes for varied age groups (middle-graders, teens, and adults), this is her second adult horror novella. I just reread my review for the first one, ‘The Haunting Scent of Poppies’, and realised that my feedback is almost exactly the same: great atmosphere, compelling story, slight repetition, no closure. But as the second novella offers a reinterpretation of actual historical events, I feel a greater sense of satisfaction with it.
Definitely recommended to readers who would love to explore a dark story about actions and repercussions, with a dash of the psychological and the historical and the supernatural.
4 stars.
My thanks to TheWriteReads, Silver Thistle Press, and author Victoria Williamson for a complimentary copy of 'Red Runs the Witch's Thread'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)
However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of several villagers by declaring them witches. Her delusions soon begin to affect her work as well as her sanity.
The story comes to us in two alternating timelines, with a third person perspective for Christian’s present time in 1722 and her first-person point of view for the events of twenty-five years prior.
Bookish Yays:
🔥 Christian is the lynchpin of this plot, and much of her personality leaves the reader unnerved. I don’t know whether to feel sorry for her or infuriated at her (probably more of the latter), but no matter what, it is tough to feel unaffected by her. If you need your main characters to be likeable, this is definitely not the book for you.
🔥 The writing depicts the historical era well, weaving the beliefs, customs, gender bias, and superstitions into the core plot.
🔥 Christian’s obsessions with “white” extends far beyond the colour of the thread she makes, as does her repulsion for “red”. Love how intelligently both these elements are woven into the storyline!
🔥 The 1696 timeline tells us the events directly leading to the witch burning. As these are written in Christian’s first-person perspective, they help us get into her mind and see its distortions first-hand. Quite disconcerting!
🔥 On that note, I never knew that even men were burnt as witches during these ignominious witch trials. Always good to learn something new, even if it is something as gruesome as this.
🔥 The plot uses mental health issues without traversing through the typical path. This creates a very disturbing effect.
🔥 Though appearing in minimal roles, Christian’s mother and two sisters have distinctly sketched personalities that helps us understand their thinking.
🔥 I can’t help but admire the irony of the name “Christian”; it fits the character for all the wrong reasons. (No credit to the author for naming her character aptly – this is based on a true event and an actual person, after all! – but full credit to the author for highlighting this chilling historical event and this unchristian Christian.)
🔥 There are many haunting scenes that aggravated my discomfort. The ravens add to the atmospheric impact.
🔥 The author’s parting note at the end, though brief, offers enough details about the actual witch trials that loosely inspired this story. Don’t skip this!
Bookish Nays:
🕯️ I am not completely satisfied with the ending. Not that I wanted a happy ending, but it goes into an unexpected direction and also leaves many points dangling. It will work well for many readers, I am sure, but the supernatural twist was disquieting for me.
🕯️ There are a few things that are touched upon but only superficially, probably because this is just a novella. I’d especially have loved more insight into Meg’s zealotic loyalty towards her mistress.
🕯️ There is a slight repetition in the writing, especially in those scenes that remind the reader of Arya Stark’s list. (If you read the book, you’ll know what I am referring to. No spoilers.)
Bookish Confession & Tip:
📌 I had a super-duper “Duhhh!” moment towards the end, because it was only then I realised that the author’s use of “Weft” and “Warp” as chapter headings was a creative way of indicating “Now” and “Then” for the timelines. 🙈 If you happen to be in the same “questionable genius” category as I, make sure you note the YYYY part of the date at the start of each chapter, as the DD-MMM are often the same in both timelines.
All in all, though some moments of the book were a tad too intense for me, thanks to my reading preferences, I was still gripped by the storyline and couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Author Victoria Williamson is the main reason I opted for this book, though I am not too comfortable with horror stories. In every novel, she combines imaginativeness as well as social themes to make a point. This works quite well in this story.
While the author writes for varied age groups (middle-graders, teens, and adults), this is her second adult horror novella. I just reread my review for the first one, ‘The Haunting Scent of Poppies’, and realised that my feedback is almost exactly the same: great atmosphere, compelling story, slight repetition, no closure. But as the second novella offers a reinterpretation of actual historical events, I feel a greater sense of satisfaction with it.
Definitely recommended to readers who would love to explore a dark story about actions and repercussions, with a dash of the psychological and the historical and the supernatural.
4 stars.
My thanks to TheWriteReads, Silver Thistle Press, and author Victoria Williamson for a complimentary copy of 'Red Runs the Witch's Thread'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 14, 2025
Gothic, chilling, haunting, gripping, shocking, dark, atmospheric, and brimming with atmosphere! Red Runs the Witch's Thread was inspired by the final witch burning in Scotland in 1697. The burning is known as the "Paisley Witch Trials". The condemned were said to have bewitched eleven-year-old, Christian Shaw. I love books that are inspired by real events, real people, and historical events. Red Runs the Witch's Thread cast a spell on me as I was bewitched by Victorian Williamson's writing.
1722. Christian Shaw is determined to get her thread as white as possible. One might say that she is obsessed with bleaching the thread to get the perfect shade of white. She wants to raise money for her family and to find redemption for herself. When Christian was eleven years old in 1697. seven people were strangled and burned at the stake for bewitching her. Twenty-five years have passed since the witch burnings, and ravens are now gathering, and Christian’s memories are bubbling to the surface.
I was mesmerized by this book. As I mentioned, I am a fan of books that are inspired by true events/people. I loved the historical events/aspects of this book. I thought the author did a wonderful job with describing the way of life during the two timelines (“Weft” and “Warp”) in this book. The dress, the social divide, the treatment of women, the medical practices, the superstitions, and viewpoints on witches.
I also enjoyed the blending of superstitions, mental health issues, ignorance, innocence, and fate. This book is brimming with dread and unease. Christian is an interesting character. She is unreliable, unlikeable, and stern. Many of the other characters tend to tip toe around her but who could blame them? The one constant in Christian's life, is her faithful servant, Meg! Although Christian is not very likeable, I felt for her and those in her life as she began to unravel and memories of the past and her actions began to weigh on her. This book gives new meaning to hanging on by a thread!
This novella can easily be read in one day/sitting. I was instantly gripped, intrigued, and swept away to a dangerous time for both men and women. I loved the dread, the atmosphere, the gothic vibes, and the unsettling feel of the book. This book may have readers looking at the colors red and white in a whole different way moving forward.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Silver Thistle Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
1722. Christian Shaw is determined to get her thread as white as possible. One might say that she is obsessed with bleaching the thread to get the perfect shade of white. She wants to raise money for her family and to find redemption for herself. When Christian was eleven years old in 1697. seven people were strangled and burned at the stake for bewitching her. Twenty-five years have passed since the witch burnings, and ravens are now gathering, and Christian’s memories are bubbling to the surface.
I was mesmerized by this book. As I mentioned, I am a fan of books that are inspired by true events/people. I loved the historical events/aspects of this book. I thought the author did a wonderful job with describing the way of life during the two timelines (“Weft” and “Warp”) in this book. The dress, the social divide, the treatment of women, the medical practices, the superstitions, and viewpoints on witches.
I also enjoyed the blending of superstitions, mental health issues, ignorance, innocence, and fate. This book is brimming with dread and unease. Christian is an interesting character. She is unreliable, unlikeable, and stern. Many of the other characters tend to tip toe around her but who could blame them? The one constant in Christian's life, is her faithful servant, Meg! Although Christian is not very likeable, I felt for her and those in her life as she began to unravel and memories of the past and her actions began to weigh on her. This book gives new meaning to hanging on by a thread!
This novella can easily be read in one day/sitting. I was instantly gripped, intrigued, and swept away to a dangerous time for both men and women. I loved the dread, the atmosphere, the gothic vibes, and the unsettling feel of the book. This book may have readers looking at the colors red and white in a whole different way moving forward.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Silver Thistle Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
March 2, 2025
4.5 Stars
One Liner: This was so much (in a good way)!
Paisley, Scotland, 1697
An eleven-year-old Christian Shaw’s accusation of witchcraft led to the death of thirty-five people.
Bargarran House, 1722
Christian returns home, intent on perfecting the bleaching process to revive her family fortune. She also hopes her attempts will purify their past sins. However, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch hunt approaching, Bargarran House seems to have become a center of dark forces. This affects her sanity and safety to the point where she wonders if she can get what she wants. And what cost?
The story comes in Christian’s third-person POV in 1722 and first-person POV (in present tense) in 1697.
My Thoughts:
I remember my friend Rosh reviewing this book last year. Later in 2024, I read and enjoyed the author’s MG Dystopian Adventure. When this was available on NetGalley, I didn’t even think and requested it right away.
This is a novella of 185-195 pages that packs quite a lot. Almost from the beginning, I disliked the MC (there’s a strong reason for it). As the book progressed and more details were revealed, I couldn’t stop reading even for a breather. This was intense in many ways.
I wanted a certain ending but felt unsatisfied with how it was resolved. However, the author’s note at the end explained the reason. The MC is based on a real person, so the author couldn’t deviate from the overall trajectory. Still, a part of me feels assured that the future wasn’t easy.
The atmosphere gets 100/100. I love it! The ravens, darkness, madness, the house, and just about everything add to the narrative.
The way the narration spirals aligns with the character development. Quite a few dark themes are used but without making things unnecessarily graphic.
My heart bled for the witches. But then, this is just one story. The reality was a thousand times worse. All of it was presented in these few pages – religious domination, pagan hatred, suppression of women, class differences, social hatred, and much more.
What do I even say about the MC, Christian? Man, I tried my best to feel sorry but… Her obsession with perfecting the bleaching process to get the whitest thread is much more than entrepreneurship.
The side characters, be it the family or the dutiful Meg, are so well developed within the limitations. Terrific!
The title and the cover are clever. I love the title a lot more (wish I was this talented in naming my stories). If only the ending was a wee bit more detailed. I can see why it ended that way, I do! But I also want a little more from it. What happens doesn’t feel enough considering the events.
To summarize, Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a gripping, dark, and atmospheric novella about witch hunts. It is best read in a single sitting (you can finish the book in 60-80 minutes). That said, the writing style may not work for everyone.
Thank you, NetGalley, Silver Thistle Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RedRunstheWitchsThread
One Liner: This was so much (in a good way)!
Paisley, Scotland, 1697
An eleven-year-old Christian Shaw’s accusation of witchcraft led to the death of thirty-five people.
Bargarran House, 1722
Christian returns home, intent on perfecting the bleaching process to revive her family fortune. She also hopes her attempts will purify their past sins. However, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch hunt approaching, Bargarran House seems to have become a center of dark forces. This affects her sanity and safety to the point where she wonders if she can get what she wants. And what cost?
The story comes in Christian’s third-person POV in 1722 and first-person POV (in present tense) in 1697.
My Thoughts:
I remember my friend Rosh reviewing this book last year. Later in 2024, I read and enjoyed the author’s MG Dystopian Adventure. When this was available on NetGalley, I didn’t even think and requested it right away.
This is a novella of 185-195 pages that packs quite a lot. Almost from the beginning, I disliked the MC (there’s a strong reason for it). As the book progressed and more details were revealed, I couldn’t stop reading even for a breather. This was intense in many ways.
I wanted a certain ending but felt unsatisfied with how it was resolved. However, the author’s note at the end explained the reason. The MC is based on a real person, so the author couldn’t deviate from the overall trajectory. Still, a part of me feels assured that the future wasn’t easy.
The atmosphere gets 100/100. I love it! The ravens, darkness, madness, the house, and just about everything add to the narrative.
The way the narration spirals aligns with the character development. Quite a few dark themes are used but without making things unnecessarily graphic.
My heart bled for the witches. But then, this is just one story. The reality was a thousand times worse. All of it was presented in these few pages – religious domination, pagan hatred, suppression of women, class differences, social hatred, and much more.
What do I even say about the MC, Christian? Man, I tried my best to feel sorry but… Her obsession with perfecting the bleaching process to get the whitest thread is much more than entrepreneurship.
The side characters, be it the family or the dutiful Meg, are so well developed within the limitations. Terrific!
The title and the cover are clever. I love the title a lot more (wish I was this talented in naming my stories). If only the ending was a wee bit more detailed. I can see why it ended that way, I do! But I also want a little more from it. What happens doesn’t feel enough considering the events.
To summarize, Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a gripping, dark, and atmospheric novella about witch hunts. It is best read in a single sitting (you can finish the book in 60-80 minutes). That said, the writing style may not work for everyone.
Thank you, NetGalley, Silver Thistle Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RedRunstheWitchsThread
January 29, 2025
4.5
"The flames flickered orange and yellow, but at their heart they glowed red like the stain on Christian's soul. Their heat burned strangely cold as her mind took her once again down the path to Gallow Green."
Fascinating and exceedingly well-written fictionalization of the last mass execution of accused witches in Europe in 1697 Scotland (according to the afterword). What made this particular historical witchcraft tale so interesting and unique to me is that it is told from the perspective of the accuser, both in the past, relating the events leading up to the executions, and in the story's present twenty-five years later. There is wonderful, sometimes very gory, imagery as the events of accuser Christian Shaw's past bleed (wink wink) into the present. It's frightening to witness how quickly the accusations and paranoia of an eleven-year old mentally unstable girl lead to the horrendous deaths of innocent people, as well as frightening to see the effects of Christian grappling with her visions and guilt years later.
I've previously read Victoria Williamson's short story The Haunting Scent of Poppies which followed another villainous MC reckoning with the guilt and crimes of their past. I loved that story for the writing, creepy atmosphere, and conjuring of specters worthy of M.R. James. Williamson does an excellent job in both of these works evoking a distant past and delivering entertaining tales. I'm currently reading a collection by Susan Hill, and I would put Williamson on par with that great author in her ability to write historical horror. If her next published work is in the same genre, you can bet I'll be picking it up!
"The flames flickered orange and yellow, but at their heart they glowed red like the stain on Christian's soul. Their heat burned strangely cold as her mind took her once again down the path to Gallow Green."
Fascinating and exceedingly well-written fictionalization of the last mass execution of accused witches in Europe in 1697 Scotland (according to the afterword). What made this particular historical witchcraft tale so interesting and unique to me is that it is told from the perspective of the accuser, both in the past, relating the events leading up to the executions, and in the story's present twenty-five years later. There is wonderful, sometimes very gory, imagery as the events of accuser Christian Shaw's past bleed (wink wink) into the present. It's frightening to witness how quickly the accusations and paranoia of an eleven-year old mentally unstable girl lead to the horrendous deaths of innocent people, as well as frightening to see the effects of Christian grappling with her visions and guilt years later.
I've previously read Victoria Williamson's short story The Haunting Scent of Poppies which followed another villainous MC reckoning with the guilt and crimes of their past. I loved that story for the writing, creepy atmosphere, and conjuring of specters worthy of M.R. James. Williamson does an excellent job in both of these works evoking a distant past and delivering entertaining tales. I'm currently reading a collection by Susan Hill, and I would put Williamson on par with that great author in her ability to write historical horror. If her next published work is in the same genre, you can bet I'll be picking it up!
April 7, 2024
Red Runs the Witch's Thread by Victoria Williamson
5/5 stars
Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a book that completely took me by surprise. It starts off rather slowly. We follow Christian Millar nee Shaw who is trying to sell some of the linnen she made. But the merchant wants to underpay her heavily because the linnen isn't white enough. He also calls her linnen a witch's thread. Christian grabs it up and goes back home. Back to threading and bleaching her linens until it is pristinely white.
But the merchants comment about her being a witch drags awful memories back up. As an eleven year old kid she condemned 8 people to be accused, tried and burned at the stake for witchcraft.
Because of the trial and her father's passing her family is barely getting by. She, her sisters and mother make the best linens in the whole of Scotland. But nobody wants to touch or buy it.
The chapters differentiate between past and present.
In the past we see Christian looking at her mother giving birth to her youngest sister. She is completely petrified and only sees red, red and more red. Blood and reddened linens. Ravens who cackle and scare her. A red cord ties her down and she needs to escape.
I don't want to spoil too much of the book. But more things happen and Christian completely loses it. We see her losing her mind bit by bit. And she is barely hanging on towards reality.
And while she remembers the past, the reddened darkness of the past takes over her mind and soul in the present as well. It controls her. And she starts to slip again.
I love the whole mental aspect of this story. I think I know what she suffered from. I love how scary it was. Victoria completely nailed her downward spiral. In reality and inside her mind. The hope and anguish she feels throughout the story. And all those raven eyes watching her scared the crap out of me.
I loved how one sentence said to a child can cause a shitstorm of emotions. The snowball effect is huge in this one. Even 25 years later it keeps on snowballing.
At first I thought the story started kind of slow and I wanted to give it 4 stars. But now that I have finished the book I understand how important the beginning is in understanding Christian as a whole and complete character. So 5 brilliant stars for this amazing book about mental illness and witchcraft!
5/5 stars
Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a book that completely took me by surprise. It starts off rather slowly. We follow Christian Millar nee Shaw who is trying to sell some of the linnen she made. But the merchant wants to underpay her heavily because the linnen isn't white enough. He also calls her linnen a witch's thread. Christian grabs it up and goes back home. Back to threading and bleaching her linens until it is pristinely white.
But the merchants comment about her being a witch drags awful memories back up. As an eleven year old kid she condemned 8 people to be accused, tried and burned at the stake for witchcraft.
Because of the trial and her father's passing her family is barely getting by. She, her sisters and mother make the best linens in the whole of Scotland. But nobody wants to touch or buy it.
The chapters differentiate between past and present.
In the past we see Christian looking at her mother giving birth to her youngest sister. She is completely petrified and only sees red, red and more red. Blood and reddened linens. Ravens who cackle and scare her. A red cord ties her down and she needs to escape.
I don't want to spoil too much of the book. But more things happen and Christian completely loses it. We see her losing her mind bit by bit. And she is barely hanging on towards reality.
And while she remembers the past, the reddened darkness of the past takes over her mind and soul in the present as well. It controls her. And she starts to slip again.
I love the whole mental aspect of this story. I think I know what she suffered from. I love how scary it was. Victoria completely nailed her downward spiral. In reality and inside her mind. The hope and anguish she feels throughout the story. And all those raven eyes watching her scared the crap out of me.
I loved how one sentence said to a child can cause a shitstorm of emotions. The snowball effect is huge in this one. Even 25 years later it keeps on snowballing.
At first I thought the story started kind of slow and I wanted to give it 4 stars. But now that I have finished the book I understand how important the beginning is in understanding Christian as a whole and complete character. So 5 brilliant stars for this amazing book about mental illness and witchcraft!
March 23, 2025
Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a harrowing account of the life of Cristian Shaw, founder of the Bagarran thread industry in Renfrewshire, Scotland. As a child, Cristian accused 35 people of witchcraft, resulting in the condemnation and execution of eight individuals at the stake. Told through alternating timelines — from her childhood to womanhood — we are introduced to what would later become known as the Paisley witch trials. "The Paisley witch trials of 1697 were particularly brutal and are one of the most famous witch trials in Scottish history." The different timelines are easy enough to follow, with each chapter receiving a specific name and image — clever editing.
Victoria Williamson writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction, and contemporary novels for all ages. Red Runs the Witch’s Thread is her most mature work of fiction, and this is reflected in her prose, which is often poetic. "I see black on red on white, and there’s a blinding flash in my mind as though moonlight on snowfall and sunlight on water have all merged into the images that ripple before my eyes."
Now, this is a short book, so I will refrain from saying too much. There is a common theme throughout the story, ever-present and pulsating, often appearing as metaphors. The red and the thread are constants in Cristian’s life — from her menses to her thread bleaching. From the start, we see Cristian as a stern businesswoman, determined to achieve the perfect white. "The skein of thread that lay in the merchant’s beefy hand was white against his mottled flesh, the twisted fibres spun fine as silk and bleached over many months... Almost... She wanted her thread white as the first snows of winter, but this fresh batch had the pale cast of curdled milk — white, yes, but not white enough."
Williamson writes with passion and historical responsibility. Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a great addition to the growing collection of Scottish witch trial retellings, which have gained much attention in recent years. It is important to recognize and reflect on the damage the witch trials inflicted upon many women (and men). There is much to unpack in this novella: the social injustices and class differences are well portrayed, and the depiction of mental health is excellent. The characterization, the exploration of womanhood, the fantastical elements — brilliant!
Red Runs the Witch's Thread is not for the faint of heart and there are some very dark passages. "Cristian had choked on the smell of charred flesh, watching the human smoke curling to the sky and wondering if, after this day of horror, she’d feel truly free ever again." If there is one aspect I wish had been explored further, it would be the witch trial itself — particularly the confessions obtained under torture. For a more violent description of the tortures in another Scottish trial, Hex might be another great novella you can read.
Victoria Williamson did a brilliant job with Red Runs the Witch's Thread, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in the Scottish witch trials and historical fiction — or just wanting to read something dark. Top-tier novella.
Thank you, Victoria Williamson and Silver Thistle Press, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Victoria Williamson writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction, and contemporary novels for all ages. Red Runs the Witch’s Thread is her most mature work of fiction, and this is reflected in her prose, which is often poetic. "I see black on red on white, and there’s a blinding flash in my mind as though moonlight on snowfall and sunlight on water have all merged into the images that ripple before my eyes."
Now, this is a short book, so I will refrain from saying too much. There is a common theme throughout the story, ever-present and pulsating, often appearing as metaphors. The red and the thread are constants in Cristian’s life — from her menses to her thread bleaching. From the start, we see Cristian as a stern businesswoman, determined to achieve the perfect white. "The skein of thread that lay in the merchant’s beefy hand was white against his mottled flesh, the twisted fibres spun fine as silk and bleached over many months... Almost... She wanted her thread white as the first snows of winter, but this fresh batch had the pale cast of curdled milk — white, yes, but not white enough."
Williamson writes with passion and historical responsibility. Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a great addition to the growing collection of Scottish witch trial retellings, which have gained much attention in recent years. It is important to recognize and reflect on the damage the witch trials inflicted upon many women (and men). There is much to unpack in this novella: the social injustices and class differences are well portrayed, and the depiction of mental health is excellent. The characterization, the exploration of womanhood, the fantastical elements — brilliant!
Red Runs the Witch's Thread is not for the faint of heart and there are some very dark passages. "Cristian had choked on the smell of charred flesh, watching the human smoke curling to the sky and wondering if, after this day of horror, she’d feel truly free ever again." If there is one aspect I wish had been explored further, it would be the witch trial itself — particularly the confessions obtained under torture. For a more violent description of the tortures in another Scottish trial, Hex might be another great novella you can read.
Victoria Williamson did a brilliant job with Red Runs the Witch's Thread, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in the Scottish witch trials and historical fiction — or just wanting to read something dark. Top-tier novella.
Thank you, Victoria Williamson and Silver Thistle Press, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 5, 2025
This novella was decent but I didn’t find it interesting enough to ever read again.
This is a historical fiction with a dark spin on Christian Shaw, who created Bargarran Thread (a quality thread company) as well as being responsible for accusing over 20 women of witchcraft, at age 11!
7 of the people were hung and burned, talk about an evil girl!
This is a historical fiction with a dark spin on Christian Shaw, who created Bargarran Thread (a quality thread company) as well as being responsible for accusing over 20 women of witchcraft, at age 11!
7 of the people were hung and burned, talk about an evil girl!
February 26, 2025
Darkly twisted, historically witchy, semi unreliable narration: overall this story totally messed with my head!
I loved the setting: a combination of late 1600s, early 1700s.
Was blown away by the plot: a young woman is deeply traumatized and accuses a bunch of local villagers of witchcraft. Years later she’s trying to find her niche in the world as a widow and there are weird things going on!
I kept trying to get a grasp on what was going to happen next, and each time something crazy would swoop in out of left field and destroy my hypotheses!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Silver Thistle Press for a copy.
I loved the setting: a combination of late 1600s, early 1700s.
Was blown away by the plot: a young woman is deeply traumatized and accuses a bunch of local villagers of witchcraft. Years later she’s trying to find her niche in the world as a widow and there are weird things going on!
I kept trying to get a grasp on what was going to happen next, and each time something crazy would swoop in out of left field and destroy my hypotheses!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Silver Thistle Press for a copy.
March 2, 2025
Victoria Williamson’s 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 is an evocative and deeply unsettling gothic tale that masterfully explores the blurred line between psychological and supernatural. Rooted in the oppressive superstitions of 17th- and early 18th-century Scotland, the novel delves into the lasting consequences of guilt, trauma, and the societal constraints imposed on women.
At the heart of the novel is Christian Shaw, a young girl whose fragile mind begins to unravel after witnessing her mother’s traumatic childbirth, an event made all the more terrifying by the ominous presence of a midwife with a beaked nose, evoking the imagery of a raven, a harbinger of death and misfortune. Her already fragile state is further destabilized by the cryptic warnings of Katherine Campbell, a servant whose whispered tales about the dangers of womanhood plant seeds of fear deep within Christian’s mind. These fears manifest in her desperate attempts to conceal the signs of puberty, an act that foreshadows the greater deception and repression that will define her life. When Christian’s erratic behavior sparks rumors of witchcraft, the novel raises chilling questions: Is she truly bewitched, or is she merely a girl whose fears have festered into madness under the weight of societal expectations?
The novel’s dual timeline effectively heightens its psychological intensity. Twenty-five years later, Christian has reinvented herself as a skilled spinstress, obsessively working to create the purest white thread in Scotland, a task she believes will cleanse her of the sins of her past. Yet, despite her efforts, she remains haunted by fragmented visions of strangulation, fire, and curses, leaving the reader to question whether these are suppressed memories resurfacing or the hallucinations of a mind fractured by guilt.
Williamson’s use of gothic symbolism is particularly striking, with the persistent imagery of ravens and the color red reinforcing the novel’s oppressive atmosphere. The ever-present crimson, representing blood, guilt, and the inescapable stain of past sins, contrasts sharply with Christian’s obsessive pursuit of the purest and whitest thread, a futile attempt to reclaim lost innocence. At times, these motifs verge on overwhelming, their repetition bordering on excess, but they undeniably contribute to the novel’s feverish and nightmarish qualities.
If you enjoy historical fiction infused with elements of horror and a focus on witchcraft, particularly in the context of the witch trials, 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 is a must-read.
(A huge thank you to Silver Thistle Press for gifting me this book along with all the amazing goodies. Your generosity is truly appreciated!)
At the heart of the novel is Christian Shaw, a young girl whose fragile mind begins to unravel after witnessing her mother’s traumatic childbirth, an event made all the more terrifying by the ominous presence of a midwife with a beaked nose, evoking the imagery of a raven, a harbinger of death and misfortune. Her already fragile state is further destabilized by the cryptic warnings of Katherine Campbell, a servant whose whispered tales about the dangers of womanhood plant seeds of fear deep within Christian’s mind. These fears manifest in her desperate attempts to conceal the signs of puberty, an act that foreshadows the greater deception and repression that will define her life. When Christian’s erratic behavior sparks rumors of witchcraft, the novel raises chilling questions: Is she truly bewitched, or is she merely a girl whose fears have festered into madness under the weight of societal expectations?
The novel’s dual timeline effectively heightens its psychological intensity. Twenty-five years later, Christian has reinvented herself as a skilled spinstress, obsessively working to create the purest white thread in Scotland, a task she believes will cleanse her of the sins of her past. Yet, despite her efforts, she remains haunted by fragmented visions of strangulation, fire, and curses, leaving the reader to question whether these are suppressed memories resurfacing or the hallucinations of a mind fractured by guilt.
Williamson’s use of gothic symbolism is particularly striking, with the persistent imagery of ravens and the color red reinforcing the novel’s oppressive atmosphere. The ever-present crimson, representing blood, guilt, and the inescapable stain of past sins, contrasts sharply with Christian’s obsessive pursuit of the purest and whitest thread, a futile attempt to reclaim lost innocence. At times, these motifs verge on overwhelming, their repetition bordering on excess, but they undeniably contribute to the novel’s feverish and nightmarish qualities.
If you enjoy historical fiction infused with elements of horror and a focus on witchcraft, particularly in the context of the witch trials, 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 is a must-read.
(A huge thank you to Silver Thistle Press for gifting me this book along with all the amazing goodies. Your generosity is truly appreciated!)
October 29, 2025
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Red Runs the Witches Thread is a dark, in places gorey and psychological short horror read about the last witch trials held in Scotland in 1697.
The story flicks back and forth between the current day, 1722, and the events that unfolded in 1697. We follow the POV of Christisn Shaw, who is trying to make a profitable business making and selling pure white cotton. Since her father and brothers have passed, it's down to her to provide for what remains of her family. It's almost 25 years since the witch burnings, and Christian starts to fear for her sanity and life. Crows are circling the house, and she keeps having vivid visions filled with blood. She also keeps having flashbacks to when she was a child and how she condemned so many people in the witch trials.
The book is quite spooky and has a sense of unease all the way through and makes you question Christians' sanity and reasoning.
This was a great short read perfect for an autumn evening.
Red Runs the Witches Thread is a dark, in places gorey and psychological short horror read about the last witch trials held in Scotland in 1697.
The story flicks back and forth between the current day, 1722, and the events that unfolded in 1697. We follow the POV of Christisn Shaw, who is trying to make a profitable business making and selling pure white cotton. Since her father and brothers have passed, it's down to her to provide for what remains of her family. It's almost 25 years since the witch burnings, and Christian starts to fear for her sanity and life. Crows are circling the house, and she keeps having vivid visions filled with blood. She also keeps having flashbacks to when she was a child and how she condemned so many people in the witch trials.
The book is quite spooky and has a sense of unease all the way through and makes you question Christians' sanity and reasoning.
This was a great short read perfect for an autumn evening.
March 11, 2025
Paisley, Scotland 1697. What a read! Based on the true story of the Bargarran witches who were tried, hanged and burnt at the stake when 11-year old Christian Shaw accuses 7 people (one who was a servant) of bewitching her. The storyline of this book though fictionalized is a haunting read of Christian, now an adult who is continually tormented by the memories of the innocent people she accused during her relentless pursuit of becoming a successful manufacturer of thread. Interspersed with episodes of madness, Christian cannot at times discern what is real or what are the crazed images she sees usually involving black ravens flying outside her windows. Told through flashbacks as a child and the events leading up to the mass execution of those seven this was a gothic, haunting,spellbinding read. The history behind this book actually angered me to know that Christian Shaw went on to become a successful businesswoman seemingly getting away with blood on her hands and what about the families she destroyed? According to the author's notes at the end there is a campaign to clear the names and formally pardon those accused and convicted of witchcraft. That should be of utmost importance in my opinion. Recommended.
Big thank you to author Victoria Williamson for a tremendous book and NetGalley for a copy of this in an exchange for my honest opinion, all thoughts on this are my own.
Big thank you to author Victoria Williamson for a tremendous book and NetGalley for a copy of this in an exchange for my honest opinion, all thoughts on this are my own.
February 18, 2025
red runs the witches thread is a complelling psychological thriller about the last burning of the witches in scotland in the late 1690's. the book starts off a little slow but once it starts i couldn't put this book down.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the e-ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the e-ARC!
April 24, 2024
🖤 Full review on blog here: https://angethology.com/2024/04/19/re...
Set in Scotland, this eerie gothic historical fiction novella is based on the actual witch trials that took place in Paisley in 1697, where eleven-year-old Christian Shaw accused many people of bewitching her. Threaded between two timelines, Christian’s past gradually seems to catch up to her.
In an era where women are prosecuted for so much as breathing the wrong way, Christian herself has ironically acquired an undesired reputation of being associated with witchcraft. She’s unlikeable, domineering, and most of all, obsessed with the notion of purity. Increasingly haunted by her visions of the ravens and the “raven woman,” she becomes more and more keen on bleaching her thread as white as possible – “how [does she] achieve such a spotless state?” The colors that keep recurring, red and white, become the bedrock of Christian’s desire to be rid of pure, her guilt and shame always one step ahead of her. White is equated with success, holiness, and virtue, and she quite literally and figuratively fights her way to achieve this goal. However, red and black keep tainting her vision:
“… the blood is blossoming on the bed sheets and everything in the world is white linen stained with red under cover of darkness.”
As a result of her tumultuous mind, she pushes away friends and family, including everyone at the Bargarran House, with the exception of her faithful servant, Meg. How does she grapple with being the cause of so many deaths at a young age? Does she have a legitimate, supernatural reason that would drive any sane person to do what she had done? The atmosphere, the flashbacks and the arcane visions Christian experiences is what truly hammers this as a true gothic fiction, with the ambiance becoming more suffocating and intense as the plot progresses.
As with most gothic fiction, this book toes the line between the deterioration of one’s mind and the suggestion of something beyond the main character’s control. The mystery is sustained until the very end, and while the vagueness of what’s truly happening may be a bit frustrating at times, Christian’s turmoil in herself and her family dynamics unravel the type of gendered biases present in a 17th-18th century society. Christian’s so-called hysteria only pushes her further toward the deep end, and in spite of her unreliability as a narrator, the women she supposedly wronged start presenting themselves in front of her. Her goal for her thread to be bleached pure white is only forfeited by the ominous red she keeps seeing, and the ravens that continue circling her. She struggles with being at the receiving end of misogyny and mental health issues, yet perpetuates and internalizes these stigmas herself.
With Victoria Williamson’s beautifully quaint writing that encapsulates the specific time period, the anguish and bludgeoning spiral becomes so palpable that you almost feel like you’re in Christian’s position: ” … I can’t remember whether I’m a saint or sinner or just a mad girl running through the house with her head on fire.” If you like a short, slow-burn horror book that still takes its time to consume you, this one will be right up your alley.
Set in Scotland, this eerie gothic historical fiction novella is based on the actual witch trials that took place in Paisley in 1697, where eleven-year-old Christian Shaw accused many people of bewitching her. Threaded between two timelines, Christian’s past gradually seems to catch up to her.
In an era where women are prosecuted for so much as breathing the wrong way, Christian herself has ironically acquired an undesired reputation of being associated with witchcraft. She’s unlikeable, domineering, and most of all, obsessed with the notion of purity. Increasingly haunted by her visions of the ravens and the “raven woman,” she becomes more and more keen on bleaching her thread as white as possible – “how [does she] achieve such a spotless state?” The colors that keep recurring, red and white, become the bedrock of Christian’s desire to be rid of pure, her guilt and shame always one step ahead of her. White is equated with success, holiness, and virtue, and she quite literally and figuratively fights her way to achieve this goal. However, red and black keep tainting her vision:
“… the blood is blossoming on the bed sheets and everything in the world is white linen stained with red under cover of darkness.”
As a result of her tumultuous mind, she pushes away friends and family, including everyone at the Bargarran House, with the exception of her faithful servant, Meg. How does she grapple with being the cause of so many deaths at a young age? Does she have a legitimate, supernatural reason that would drive any sane person to do what she had done? The atmosphere, the flashbacks and the arcane visions Christian experiences is what truly hammers this as a true gothic fiction, with the ambiance becoming more suffocating and intense as the plot progresses.
As with most gothic fiction, this book toes the line between the deterioration of one’s mind and the suggestion of something beyond the main character’s control. The mystery is sustained until the very end, and while the vagueness of what’s truly happening may be a bit frustrating at times, Christian’s turmoil in herself and her family dynamics unravel the type of gendered biases present in a 17th-18th century society. Christian’s so-called hysteria only pushes her further toward the deep end, and in spite of her unreliability as a narrator, the women she supposedly wronged start presenting themselves in front of her. Her goal for her thread to be bleached pure white is only forfeited by the ominous red she keeps seeing, and the ravens that continue circling her. She struggles with being at the receiving end of misogyny and mental health issues, yet perpetuates and internalizes these stigmas herself.
With Victoria Williamson’s beautifully quaint writing that encapsulates the specific time period, the anguish and bludgeoning spiral becomes so palpable that you almost feel like you’re in Christian’s position: ” … I can’t remember whether I’m a saint or sinner or just a mad girl running through the house with her head on fire.” If you like a short, slow-burn horror book that still takes its time to consume you, this one will be right up your alley.
March 3, 2025
Based on a true story psychological thriller surrounding the last witch burnings of Paisley Scotland - this little novella was engaging the whole way through and did a great job navigating a slow descent into religious psychosis/madness. The repetitiveness of certain words/phrases did get a bit annoying at times, and I would have loved to have this fleshed out a bit more, but overall I really enjoyed reading this story!
Thanks to NetGalley and Silver Thistle Press for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials! (NetGalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG)
Thanks to NetGalley and Silver Thistle Press for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials! (NetGalley, Goodreads, Fable, IG)
February 27, 2025
Fascination with the witch trials is just part of girlhood <3
"Red Runs the Witch's Thread" by Victoria Williamson is a haunting story inspired by the 1697 Paisley witch trials in Scotland. The narrative alternates between two timelines: 1697, where eleven-year-old Christian Shaw's accusations lead to the execution of seven individuals for witchcraft, and 1722, where an adult Christian strives to perfect a thread-bleaching process to provide for her family and piece together their sullied reputation. As the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings approaches, Christian is plagued by visions and memories, leading her to question her sanity and the choices she made in her youth.
Williamson delves into Christian's psychological turmoil, portraying her mental deterioration with vivid and unsettling imagery. The dual timeline plot device enriches the narrative, providing some context for Christian's character and all of the bizarre incidents she experiences. RRTWT also explores interesting themes of trauma, guilt, and the niche societal pressures of 18th-century Scotland.
While the novel effectively creates a haunting mood, the descriptions of Christian’s visions and paranoia feel repetitive. The "red, red, red," and other 3-word repetition phrases grew old quickly; it was more annoying than jarring or immersive in Christian's descent into madness. Christian is also not emotionally complex or dimensional. I think she could have benefitted from more nuanced emotional development. Protagonists of course don't need to be likeable, but I had a hard time caring what happened to her or what decisions she made.
Also, the novel focuses almost exclusively on Christian’s internal struggles, leaving her family members and other important supporting characters underdeveloped. Why should I care about Elizabeth? What's her damage? What's the mom's deal? What are ANY of these side characters' motivations and thoughts. What about the victims of Christian's accusations and their families? What are they going through, and what is Christian's relationship like with those people in the 18th century timeline? ANY degree of exploration of those around her—especially the families affected by the 1697 executions—could have provided a more balanced and logical narrative. Christian's perspective is the only one we get, and I did not love that narrative choice.
"Red Runs the Witch's Thread" is a compelling blend of historical fiction and psychological horror, offering a fresh perspective on the repercussions of mass hysteria and the personal demons that linger long after. It's a thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind, especially for those interested in the darker facets of history and human nature.
TLDR: This is a quality debut horror novella you can probably finish in a day or two. I'd recommend it if you're in a reading slump.
(Thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
"Red Runs the Witch's Thread" by Victoria Williamson is a haunting story inspired by the 1697 Paisley witch trials in Scotland. The narrative alternates between two timelines: 1697, where eleven-year-old Christian Shaw's accusations lead to the execution of seven individuals for witchcraft, and 1722, where an adult Christian strives to perfect a thread-bleaching process to provide for her family and piece together their sullied reputation. As the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings approaches, Christian is plagued by visions and memories, leading her to question her sanity and the choices she made in her youth.
Williamson delves into Christian's psychological turmoil, portraying her mental deterioration with vivid and unsettling imagery. The dual timeline plot device enriches the narrative, providing some context for Christian's character and all of the bizarre incidents she experiences. RRTWT also explores interesting themes of trauma, guilt, and the niche societal pressures of 18th-century Scotland.
While the novel effectively creates a haunting mood, the descriptions of Christian’s visions and paranoia feel repetitive. The "red, red, red," and other 3-word repetition phrases grew old quickly; it was more annoying than jarring or immersive in Christian's descent into madness. Christian is also not emotionally complex or dimensional. I think she could have benefitted from more nuanced emotional development. Protagonists of course don't need to be likeable, but I had a hard time caring what happened to her or what decisions she made.
Also, the novel focuses almost exclusively on Christian’s internal struggles, leaving her family members and other important supporting characters underdeveloped. Why should I care about Elizabeth? What's her damage? What's the mom's deal? What are ANY of these side characters' motivations and thoughts. What about the victims of Christian's accusations and their families? What are they going through, and what is Christian's relationship like with those people in the 18th century timeline? ANY degree of exploration of those around her—especially the families affected by the 1697 executions—could have provided a more balanced and logical narrative. Christian's perspective is the only one we get, and I did not love that narrative choice.
"Red Runs the Witch's Thread" is a compelling blend of historical fiction and psychological horror, offering a fresh perspective on the repercussions of mass hysteria and the personal demons that linger long after. It's a thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind, especially for those interested in the darker facets of history and human nature.
TLDR: This is a quality debut horror novella you can probably finish in a day or two. I'd recommend it if you're in a reading slump.
(Thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
April 13, 2024
Going into Red Runs The Witch’s Thread, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, having read a few of Victoria Williamson’s books in the past which all had very varied styles and genres. Whatever the case, I knew I was going to enjoy it.
The story begins with Christian, trying to sell her threads in town, but when she’s turned away and called a witch, the horrors of her childhood return to haunt her in full force. Her family are an interesting bunch, and there’s clearly a lot of unspoken issues between them all, linking back to those horrors of the past. Issues that are now threatening to destroy them all.
The psychological element of this book was what really pulled me in. The impact one small childhood experience can have on someone for the rest of their life is so interesting, and it really makes you think. There’s the common comment of “they’re young, they don’t understand” or “they won’t remember”, but it’s very clear that this is certainly not true, and people need to be more careful in regards to what children are experiencing. This book is a perfect example of that.
Christian’s mental state was rapidly deteriorating throughout the book, so much so that you could almost FEEL it, and was clearly heading towards a complete breakdown at it’s climax. With so many shocks along the way, I honestly couldn’t predict how this book would end up, and the unexpected twist ending was even better than I had anticipated.
This book has such a dark and tense atmosphere, and an intriguing story which I really enjoyed. Although this book is marketed as historical fiction/supernatural, I would say that it also slips into the horror genre too. Victoria Williamson is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.
The story begins with Christian, trying to sell her threads in town, but when she’s turned away and called a witch, the horrors of her childhood return to haunt her in full force. Her family are an interesting bunch, and there’s clearly a lot of unspoken issues between them all, linking back to those horrors of the past. Issues that are now threatening to destroy them all.
The psychological element of this book was what really pulled me in. The impact one small childhood experience can have on someone for the rest of their life is so interesting, and it really makes you think. There’s the common comment of “they’re young, they don’t understand” or “they won’t remember”, but it’s very clear that this is certainly not true, and people need to be more careful in regards to what children are experiencing. This book is a perfect example of that.
Christian’s mental state was rapidly deteriorating throughout the book, so much so that you could almost FEEL it, and was clearly heading towards a complete breakdown at it’s climax. With so many shocks along the way, I honestly couldn’t predict how this book would end up, and the unexpected twist ending was even better than I had anticipated.
This book has such a dark and tense atmosphere, and an intriguing story which I really enjoyed. Although this book is marketed as historical fiction/supernatural, I would say that it also slips into the horror genre too. Victoria Williamson is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.
April 21, 2024
I can count the number of horror books I've read with one hand so I never really know how I will react to a new story within the genre. For Red Runs The Witch's Thread, I was drawn to the fact that it was based on real happenings - the Barragan witch trials that took place in Paisley, Scotland in 1697, the last mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe. The story follows Christian Shaw, whose accusations lead 7 people to their deaths at the stake when she was but 11 years old. The narrative switches between the two time periods - Christian as a child and Christian as woman struggling to make her linen thread business thrive to help her family.
Personally, this book was not an easy read for me. Not because I disliked the story or the writing (except maybe the switching between 1st and 3rd person POV when switching time periods - that did throw me off at first), but because it was so successful at bringing me into Christian's slow descent into madness while struggling with her guilt and religious trauma, that I often felt myself getting distressed. Horror stories are meant to be unsettling and eerie - and this one definetely is - but I think I found it a bit more triggering than others I've read previously because I got so inside her head. That said, I think the story is very compelling - despite my own anxiety at times, I pushed through to the very end because I was so keen on understanding Christian's motivations and what had actually happened that made her go to such lengths as a child.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and particularly appreciated the historical context provided at the end in the author's note.
If you like historical fiction and horror, this will be just up your alley!
Thank you to TheWriteReads and Silver Thistle Press for the eARC copy. This review reflects only my honest thoughts.
Personally, this book was not an easy read for me. Not because I disliked the story or the writing (except maybe the switching between 1st and 3rd person POV when switching time periods - that did throw me off at first), but because it was so successful at bringing me into Christian's slow descent into madness while struggling with her guilt and religious trauma, that I often felt myself getting distressed. Horror stories are meant to be unsettling and eerie - and this one definetely is - but I think I found it a bit more triggering than others I've read previously because I got so inside her head. That said, I think the story is very compelling - despite my own anxiety at times, I pushed through to the very end because I was so keen on understanding Christian's motivations and what had actually happened that made her go to such lengths as a child.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and particularly appreciated the historical context provided at the end in the author's note.
If you like historical fiction and horror, this will be just up your alley!
Thank you to TheWriteReads and Silver Thistle Press for the eARC copy. This review reflects only my honest thoughts.
April 19, 2024
Read if you like
🦋Historical fiction
🦋short and spooky reads
🦋twists and turns
🦋pshycological horror/disturbing reads
🦋 books that leave you wanting more
This incredible book is based on true events that took place in Paisley, Scotland in 1697. 35 people were accused of witchcraft and seven were sentenced to death. Six of them were strangled and burned at the stake, all because of accusations made by an eeven- years -old- Christian Shaw.
Although this book started a bit slow it had me hooked once it picked up. It's got everything - a gripping storyline with two timelines, a bit of darkness and a lot of twists and turns. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Christain by the very beginning of the book and then I was completely fascinated by the way it portrays the lengths people will go to in order to keep their secrets hidden, and how that can drive them to madness. I didn't know whether to pity her or damn her, probably the latter. It has themes of mental illness. We could see Christain slowly lose her mind. I especially loved the historical element of the book as I didn't know anything about it. I’m definitely gonna look that incident up. I also liked the spooky vibes and atmosphere.As for the ending - it will leave you with more questions than answers. Was it really the witchcraft plaguing her or was something far more sinister? If you are someone who needs answers, this book isn’t for
But if you enjoy the unknown and air of mystery believe me when I say that this book is an absolute must-read!
🦋Historical fiction
🦋short and spooky reads
🦋twists and turns
🦋pshycological horror/disturbing reads
🦋 books that leave you wanting more
This incredible book is based on true events that took place in Paisley, Scotland in 1697. 35 people were accused of witchcraft and seven were sentenced to death. Six of them were strangled and burned at the stake, all because of accusations made by an eeven- years -old- Christian Shaw.
Although this book started a bit slow it had me hooked once it picked up. It's got everything - a gripping storyline with two timelines, a bit of darkness and a lot of twists and turns. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Christain by the very beginning of the book and then I was completely fascinated by the way it portrays the lengths people will go to in order to keep their secrets hidden, and how that can drive them to madness. I didn't know whether to pity her or damn her, probably the latter. It has themes of mental illness. We could see Christain slowly lose her mind. I especially loved the historical element of the book as I didn't know anything about it. I’m definitely gonna look that incident up. I also liked the spooky vibes and atmosphere.As for the ending - it will leave you with more questions than answers. Was it really the witchcraft plaguing her or was something far more sinister? If you are someone who needs answers, this book isn’t for
But if you enjoy the unknown and air of mystery believe me when I say that this book is an absolute must-read!
April 20, 2024
Bargarran House, 1722, widow Christian Millar is focused on getting the whitest skein of thread she can, she wants it to be whiter than white, but so far she hasn’t done it no matter what she soaks the thread in. She is obsessed with it having to be pure white.
But 25 years earlier in Paisley, Scotland, 1697. Christian had been watching something through an open door she shouldn’t have been watching. Her mother screaming, and blood. Christian thought her mother was dying, with the woman whose shadow looked like a raven with her pointed nose and busy hands stood at the end of the bed. When her mother lets out the last scream Christian thinks that is it her mother has gone, but as she continues to watch she sees this bloody meaty bundle lifted in the air in the light, it looks like something you would get from the butchers but then this raw meat was moving it was alive, and her mother is not dead. But there is lots of blood, a wrinkled face looms in her face and tells her not to worry she has tied a red rag to the bed it will work its charm to stop the bleeding. Christian has to get away from the sight she feels like she will faint, she is 11 years old.
Christian is traumatised by this event which continues to haunt her, especially when a member of staff tells her more the same night. But it’s not long before Christian gets her own back on this member of staff or does she? Things can sometimes backfire.
As this story develops going back and forth in time,Christian is desperately trying to make a prosperous business with her threads with her father and brothers gone it is Christian who has to make money to keep the house running. But as we go back to 1697 Christian became ill, with some sort of fits, the dr’s didn’t know what was wrong with her. She accused had 35 people of witchcraft 7 of the 35 were hung and then burned.
Some of the things that happen within the story are disturbing, it’s hard to know if Christian is involved in some way. It’s also hard to know how Christian has got Meg so close to her, Meg it seems will do anything for Christian she is always watching out for her and stops her causing harm a couple of times.
This was an interesting story, learning it was based on true facts makes it even more disturbing, how many people were hung and burned believed to be witches. Not just women there were men burned as witches as well i had always thought it was just women. There were many things that Christian did that could have had her hung if found guilty but it seems she was never investigated. There are more things happen in the book but that is for the reader to find out. If you are interested in witchcraft, atmospheric reads, then give this a go it is only 167 pages. The bits that freaked me out were the Ravens, as they seemed to follow Christian or did they? Was some of it just her imagination? I think there were many mental health issues in those days which would not have been looked at, it’s difficult enough in this day and age let alone back then. You have to make your own mind up as to whether you like Christian or not, i couldn’t warm to her there were bits i felt sorry for her in the way she learnt some things about life, it definitely disturbed and terrified her. I would have liked to have had a little more added to the story as a couple of things weren’t tied up. But as a novella it packs a creepy punch.
I enjoyed reading this, I would like to thank @silverthistleps @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours @strangelymagic for sending me an ARC of the book and for inviting me on to the blog tour. All thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
But 25 years earlier in Paisley, Scotland, 1697. Christian had been watching something through an open door she shouldn’t have been watching. Her mother screaming, and blood. Christian thought her mother was dying, with the woman whose shadow looked like a raven with her pointed nose and busy hands stood at the end of the bed. When her mother lets out the last scream Christian thinks that is it her mother has gone, but as she continues to watch she sees this bloody meaty bundle lifted in the air in the light, it looks like something you would get from the butchers but then this raw meat was moving it was alive, and her mother is not dead. But there is lots of blood, a wrinkled face looms in her face and tells her not to worry she has tied a red rag to the bed it will work its charm to stop the bleeding. Christian has to get away from the sight she feels like she will faint, she is 11 years old.
Christian is traumatised by this event which continues to haunt her, especially when a member of staff tells her more the same night. But it’s not long before Christian gets her own back on this member of staff or does she? Things can sometimes backfire.
As this story develops going back and forth in time,Christian is desperately trying to make a prosperous business with her threads with her father and brothers gone it is Christian who has to make money to keep the house running. But as we go back to 1697 Christian became ill, with some sort of fits, the dr’s didn’t know what was wrong with her. She accused had 35 people of witchcraft 7 of the 35 were hung and then burned.
Some of the things that happen within the story are disturbing, it’s hard to know if Christian is involved in some way. It’s also hard to know how Christian has got Meg so close to her, Meg it seems will do anything for Christian she is always watching out for her and stops her causing harm a couple of times.
This was an interesting story, learning it was based on true facts makes it even more disturbing, how many people were hung and burned believed to be witches. Not just women there were men burned as witches as well i had always thought it was just women. There were many things that Christian did that could have had her hung if found guilty but it seems she was never investigated. There are more things happen in the book but that is for the reader to find out. If you are interested in witchcraft, atmospheric reads, then give this a go it is only 167 pages. The bits that freaked me out were the Ravens, as they seemed to follow Christian or did they? Was some of it just her imagination? I think there were many mental health issues in those days which would not have been looked at, it’s difficult enough in this day and age let alone back then. You have to make your own mind up as to whether you like Christian or not, i couldn’t warm to her there were bits i felt sorry for her in the way she learnt some things about life, it definitely disturbed and terrified her. I would have liked to have had a little more added to the story as a couple of things weren’t tied up. But as a novella it packs a creepy punch.
I enjoyed reading this, I would like to thank @silverthistleps @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours @strangelymagic for sending me an ARC of the book and for inviting me on to the blog tour. All thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
April 16, 2024
Oh, what a wild ride! Inspired by Scotland’s final witch burning in 1697, Victoria Williamson’s "Red Runs the Witch’s Thread" delves into the depths of psychological horror. By seamlessly transitioning between two different time periods, Williamson creates a story that is simultaneously disturbing and highly gripping.
What I loved about it
This novel really shines when it comes to exploring the protagonist’s mental state. Christian’s descent into darkness is masterfully portrayed, with Victoria Williamson expertly capturing the complexities of her anguish and despair. The interplay between reality and hallucination is skillfully executed, drawing readers into Christian’s harrowing journey.
The dual timelines offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and present, providing crucial insights into Christian’s motivations and struggles. Williamson does a great job of bringing all these threads together, making the story rich in depth and complexity.
The psychological element of the story is particularly compelling, highlighting the profound impact of childhood trauma on an individual’s psyche. Williamson deftly explores themes of trauma, identity, and resilience, inviting readers to ponder the lasting effects of past experiences.
What Didn’t Resonate With Me
While Christian’s character is undeniably complex, her likability may pose a challenge for some readers. I pity her but it's not easy. However, this minor critique does little to detract from the overall strength of the narrative.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
What I loved about it
This novel really shines when it comes to exploring the protagonist’s mental state. Christian’s descent into darkness is masterfully portrayed, with Victoria Williamson expertly capturing the complexities of her anguish and despair. The interplay between reality and hallucination is skillfully executed, drawing readers into Christian’s harrowing journey.
The dual timelines offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and present, providing crucial insights into Christian’s motivations and struggles. Williamson does a great job of bringing all these threads together, making the story rich in depth and complexity.
The psychological element of the story is particularly compelling, highlighting the profound impact of childhood trauma on an individual’s psyche. Williamson deftly explores themes of trauma, identity, and resilience, inviting readers to ponder the lasting effects of past experiences.
What Didn’t Resonate With Me
While Christian’s character is undeniably complex, her likability may pose a challenge for some readers. I pity her but it's not easy. However, this minor critique does little to detract from the overall strength of the narrative.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
April 10, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital book! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was short and interesting, but overall uninspiring for me. The timeline jumps between past and present, and while different in age, I couldn't distinguish between Christian's present and past self. She talked and acted the same at the different ages. It surprised me at one point when in one of her past points of view that she was only 8 years old. Her voice was startlingly mature and I didn't quite believe it.
I struggled to find the exact conflict. Was it her first period, the ravens, the boys in the woods, her visions, her lying? I got the sense that I should be concerned or held in suspense, but I just wasn't. This was a strange mix of potentially undiagnosed mental illness and genuine spiritual warfare, but the main parallel between what she did out of a sense of justice and her own severe guilt is what struck me the hardest.
I found her confusing but also pitied her. She was under a lot of strain, mental and emotionally. The ending was not as clear as I'd hoped it would be.
This was short and interesting, but overall uninspiring for me. The timeline jumps between past and present, and while different in age, I couldn't distinguish between Christian's present and past self. She talked and acted the same at the different ages. It surprised me at one point when in one of her past points of view that she was only 8 years old. Her voice was startlingly mature and I didn't quite believe it.
I struggled to find the exact conflict. Was it her first period, the ravens, the boys in the woods, her visions, her lying? I got the sense that I should be concerned or held in suspense, but I just wasn't. This was a strange mix of potentially undiagnosed mental illness and genuine spiritual warfare, but the main parallel between what she did out of a sense of justice and her own severe guilt is what struck me the hardest.
I found her confusing but also pitied her. She was under a lot of strain, mental and emotionally. The ending was not as clear as I'd hoped it would be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2024
This book skips between the past and present so effortlessly that its perfect for it's pace, you can tell the author spent her time weaving the history into her story, mixing it in a way that it makes it hard to put the book down.
Following Christian story, how her mind goes back and forth between reality and imagination opens the door into how people with mental disorders think and behave.... How the mind as strong as it can be can also be so fragile that all it takes is few words to fracture it for life.
Christian knows that and she spent her entire life trying to forget but no matter what, the past always finds its way and what she thought was forgotten finally came to the surface to haunt her and claim what is left of her mind.
This book is a good example of " What could've happen if i spoke the truth?" while still making it interesting enough to keep going till you find the truth.
Excellent job by the Author and i can't wait to read her other books.
Following Christian story, how her mind goes back and forth between reality and imagination opens the door into how people with mental disorders think and behave.... How the mind as strong as it can be can also be so fragile that all it takes is few words to fracture it for life.
Christian knows that and she spent her entire life trying to forget but no matter what, the past always finds its way and what she thought was forgotten finally came to the surface to haunt her and claim what is left of her mind.
This book is a good example of " What could've happen if i spoke the truth?" while still making it interesting enough to keep going till you find the truth.
Excellent job by the Author and i can't wait to read her other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2024
Book source ~ TWR Tour
In 1697 Christian Shaw was 11 and she accused many people of being witches. Seven were condemned to death. In 1722, Christian is obsessed with creating the whitest thread ever seen. But her past keeps haunting her and it’s affecting her state of mind. Will her obsession drive her mad? Or is she already there?
I’ve read several books by Victoria Williamson and enjoyed them. This one is a bit of a miss for me. It’s definitely a dark book. And that’s fine. I don’t mind dark books. But the writing put me off. The constant repetition of certain words is irritating. It’s a different writing style and for this story it probably works for most people, but not me. Christian is a horrid person, but is she that way naturally or did a certain servant push her to that edge? Maybe a bit of both? In any case, she is definitely off her rocker. In modern times she could be given meds to help her mental illness, but back then she only has one person watching her back and trying to keep her in check. The ending is an interesting twist. Nicely done. If you like short stories involving dark characters mentally falling apart then this is the one for you.
In 1697 Christian Shaw was 11 and she accused many people of being witches. Seven were condemned to death. In 1722, Christian is obsessed with creating the whitest thread ever seen. But her past keeps haunting her and it’s affecting her state of mind. Will her obsession drive her mad? Or is she already there?
I’ve read several books by Victoria Williamson and enjoyed them. This one is a bit of a miss for me. It’s definitely a dark book. And that’s fine. I don’t mind dark books. But the writing put me off. The constant repetition of certain words is irritating. It’s a different writing style and for this story it probably works for most people, but not me. Christian is a horrid person, but is she that way naturally or did a certain servant push her to that edge? Maybe a bit of both? In any case, she is definitely off her rocker. In modern times she could be given meds to help her mental illness, but back then she only has one person watching her back and trying to keep her in check. The ending is an interesting twist. Nicely done. If you like short stories involving dark characters mentally falling apart then this is the one for you.
April 20, 2024
I loved the inspiration for this book and it was super atmospheric with all the creepy Gothic vibes. The writing was good too - there were some passages that are better read aloud, such is the deliberate harshness of the consonant sounds and how so much of the action plays out in Christian's mind. It creates some haunting imagery and arresting psychological moments.
However, I found the plot extremely difficult to follow. Christian is not an especially likeable main character but was not much a problem; it was just that the plot was impossible to decipher for the most part and I finished the book not really knowing what had exactly happened. The advanced copy I received also contained a few grammatical errors. Overall, some great writing on show, but the story escaped me somewhat.
However, I found the plot extremely difficult to follow. Christian is not an especially likeable main character but was not much a problem; it was just that the plot was impossible to decipher for the most part and I finished the book not really knowing what had exactly happened. The advanced copy I received also contained a few grammatical errors. Overall, some great writing on show, but the story escaped me somewhat.
April 12, 2024
This was an absolutely amazing read. I’m not usually a fan of the supernatural, but this was the perfect blend of history, supernatural and fiction. The main character, Christian Shaw, was based on a real person who played an important role in the Paisley witch trials of 1679, when as an 11-year-old, seven people she accused of being witches were put to death. In the book, Christian is a grown woman, trying to establish a method for bleaching thread so that it’s pure white, but she hasn’t quite managed it. At the same time, she is a tortured soul, plagued by guilt over the death of the people she accused of being witches when she was a child. 25 years later, she is still haunted by memories of that fateful day because she knows the truth. Christian is ambitious and family oriented, but she is also a tortured soul. She didn’t really understand the true depth depth of what she done until the end of the story, when she realises the meaning of the presence of the ravens and why home-made meg has always protected her. She was slowly going mad, but I almost felt sorry for her at times. However, for the most part, I thought she got what she deserved. Victoria has such a flare for writing all kinds of books and I really enjoy the unique and interesting topics. She has a great talent for bringing stories to life across genres. I’ve been a huge fan for a long time. yes, Book is no exception. It’s extremely well, written, vividly, detailed, and is a chilling, haunting tale that will stay with me for a long time to come.
April 7, 2025
Christian Shaw, at 11 years-old, condemned 7 people to the gallows to be hanged and burned as witches. Her decent into madness was caused by her first period and lack of information made her paranoid and hysterical. This lead to her family believing she was bewitched which lead to the townspeople being tried and charged for witchcraft. However, adult Christian now knows that what she did is wrong and when her bleeding comes back after years of having stopped, her madness and visions return. While she is also perfecting her bleaching thread technique to help her family fix their fortune, Christian will have to figure out if she is still indeed cursed or her madness has come back to claim and punish her for her sins.
Red Runs The Witch's Thread is based on the true story of the last witch trials in Scotland and the thread that brought the Shaw family fortune but that also came with a heavy price! 💫💫💫💫💫
Red Runs The Witch's Thread is based on the true story of the last witch trials in Scotland and the thread that brought the Shaw family fortune but that also came with a heavy price! 💫💫💫💫💫
April 28, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for review.
I really enjoyed Red Runs the Witch’s Thread. The title is excellent. The unreliable narrator, Christian was such a great character.
Two time frames; Current day (1700’s) with main character Christian trying to redeem her family’s name with her purest white garment thread. And past Christian as a child, cursed by witch’s and the subsequent fallout and burning of those witch’s.
We don’t know what’s true and what’s false until we get to the end. Will definitely read more from this author.
I really enjoyed Red Runs the Witch’s Thread. The title is excellent. The unreliable narrator, Christian was such a great character.
Two time frames; Current day (1700’s) with main character Christian trying to redeem her family’s name with her purest white garment thread. And past Christian as a child, cursed by witch’s and the subsequent fallout and burning of those witch’s.
We don’t know what’s true and what’s false until we get to the end. Will definitely read more from this author.
June 2, 2025
a psychological gothic horror following christian shaw, determined to live outside of sin. when christian was eleven, she accused thirty five townsfolk of witchcraft after learning of the tunnel of sin and what men and women do in the dark and the terrible red, red, red rags that follow her into her adulthood. loosely based on a true story, of europe’s last large witch trial.
a very gripping and fast read that is incredibly well written, i hope to check out more of victoria williamson’s work very soon. thank you netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
a very gripping and fast read that is incredibly well written, i hope to check out more of victoria williamson’s work very soon. thank you netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
March 24, 2025
A lesser known aspect of witch trials--the 1697 Scottish trials. This story follows a devastating, haunting, and vivid mental deterioration. All due to the failings and crimes of the distant past. Most of this story was compelling but characterization--our POV as well as other cast members--was significantly lacking. And the writing was irritatingly repetitive.
May 2, 2024
This book is a speculative fiction story about the bargarran witches in Paisley. In 1697 Christian Shaw accused 35 people of bewitching her, 8 were condemned and of those, 7 were hanged. This story fills in what was going through Christians mind during these times. This story while based in historical facts has a lot of fictional elements. Williamson uses the speculative element to really draw you in. While I felt it was unusual to keep the real names of those tried, after speaking to the author at paisley book festival I understand her motives. This is great for fans of fiction that twists the truth to explore the supernatural. It’s a short novella that really packs a punch.
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