Witch Wife

by Lumen Reese

Woman. Wife. Warrior. Witch?
Irene Shannon is taken from a battlefield in chains.
She has lost her husband and her sister, has killed a lot of people, and she is ready for it all to end. Instead, she finds herself the captive of a king. The British royals have heard tales of the two English sisters aligned with the people of the New World, and they believe her to be a witch. They wish for her to marry into their family. She refuses. What follows is a battle of wills, a plot with unlikely allies -an illegitimate daughter of the King's raised in a brothel, a one-legged Brigadier General of the British army, and a gay Earl- and a daring escape. Irene learns that her husband may still be alive, and she will do anything to get back to him, even cross an ocean back to the monster-infested New World.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Fiction, Magic

582 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2024

About the author

Writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror and contemporary fiction from Michigan.
I think a story should be entertaining, but should handle social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. None of my books will ever use artificial intelligence, because AI is theft. You can find me on Instagram @ZoominLumen
Or follow me on Goodreads for announcements.

The Crocus Trilogy will continue in 2025 with Book Two: THE GRAVEDIGGER KNIGHT & THE SAILOR OF ENDLESS SEAS.

And the Honoré Sloane series will continue in 2026 with: TWO SPARROWS FOR A PENNY.

Also coming in 2026: RED RIVER; a southern-gothic horror.

Reviews

[Stas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woahhh this book was soo good. Love the different types of love we see throughout the book, and the way we see war represented from two sides. The setting is so interesting and cool and the mesh of sci fi and fantasy feels seemless and totally justified in story even if we don't get written in world justification for everything the whole thing just feels so fleshed out that I'm buying whatever they're selling.

I cried so many times reading this, the emotions were so vivid especially grief and pain. Seeing a character be at their absolute lowest but still go on fighting and feeling like that fight is completely worth it is so cool.

This book is something entirely unique, a scifi isekai timetravel historical fiction romance that's actually about sisterhood and the revolutionary war. I recommend for all enjoyers of good books, but especially for people that like vivid imagery, a character justifiably losing their fucking shit, seeing a side character get her story written for once, slowwww build romance, and political drama.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me ARC access!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that fantasy horror element that I wanted, and the characters were wonderfully done. It was a strong start to the Crocus Trilogy series, and left me wanting to read more in the series. Lumen Reese has a great writing style and thought the characters felt like they belonged in this world. It uses the witches element perfectly and glad it was so well done. I was excited for more in what was happening.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Roz Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me so much more than I expected. The blurb intrigued me, but the story was just so much more. The book is a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and horror. It will have you feeling all the emotions from one page to the next.


The characters are so well crafted and interesting that you keep reading to find out more about them. Irene is such a strong female lead, but I loved that we got to see her flaws and how she overcomes the worst that can be thrown at her for the love of her husband and her sister. She is loving, fierce, and loyal. All the best qualities!


The plot was engaging, and I thought it was a unique take on this kind of story. The book is well written and had me turning the pages. Nothing is obvious, and I liked that I didn't know what to expect next. The book has themes of grief, loss, death, suicidal ideation, self-discovery, sisterhood, love, monsters, conflict,  and war.


I am looking forward to book two. With thanks to the author and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review. This is my honest review, which I'm leaving voluntarily.

[Ashable the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this book. I'm happy I went in blind because it absolutely blew me away. I want everyone to have the same experience so I do not want to post too many spoilers. However, the world building in this book is amazing as well as the complicated characters along with their relationships. Just when you think you are starting to grasp the plot of this book, it throws you for a total loop and you're left speechless. I don't even know what genre this book is because so many are entwined and it is done so smoothly. It has mystery, intrigue, thrill, romance, science fiction, paranormal fantasy and so many different variations of them. I was astounded and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Oraya Bloodmoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how anyone can rate this book less than 4 stars at least. It was a beautiful story full of so much emotion and what you will willingly go through to protect the ones you love. What you’re willing to give them, to sacrifice everything for their happiness. I look forward to the next installment to this trilogy. Irene is a woman to be inspired by, even though all she went through was catastrophic. The emotional build up was intense and some of it was dark but I could see myself reading this again.

[chlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pub Date: 21 November 2024

0 to 100
- When we meet Irene Shannon she clearly shows us that she wants to end her life. From my perspective, I really felt sorry for her because her husband was dead and from these pages we didn’t know if her sister, Fiona, was alive or not. I enjoyed the relationship between Anita and Irene because it kind of seemed like she wanted to help. When the Queen came to see Irene, I laughed when Irene scratched her because girl, what did you think was going to happen. In Part 2, it goes on to Fiona’s marriage and how the first was one was clearly not “the one”. It really interested me when they involved AI/ the time travelling machine to try and solve Fiona’s grieving of her second marriage but then as lovely as that would sound, AI/ time travelling is just AI/ time travelling at the end of the day. In my opinion, I don’t think it can realistically foster the human connection to meet Fiona or anyone’s desires effectively. It’s just a tool essentially. I digress, the take on using this piece of technology interested me a lot and made me excited when they linked the memories and feelings of Irene to the computer and it made the book more enjoyable to me.

ᰔ
100 - 200
* a lot happened here, when they turned up in a random place, i knew something would happen to between them. i’m hoping that the asian guy and irene had some chemistry but i think it’s safe to say that for the plot they’re just gonna be friends. it’s surprising how they went from not knowing each other to get married 😮 but i guess it had to be done. i knew miranda wouldn’t like fiona and irene, i would like to know more as to why but i think you could probably tell because they’re “illegitimate daughters” and a mother is protecting her daughter right 🤷🏾‍♀️. #motherknowsbest. when irene still wanted to continue working, it was giving girl boss but in those times, you weren’t meant to work when you got married but it hurt a bit that miranda wouldn’t let her😪. now when i tell you about this QUEEN, what does she not get? smiling and then being cold, it’s like she either a) wants irene to like her or b) wants irene to despise her. i can’t believe she made her eat the Croquembouche when she clearly didn’t want too!! when irene hurt herself after that it was like “what did you expect her to do?” she doesn’t even wanna exist, which ☝️is quite sad to think about. but understandable with what she’s going through psychologically, emotionally and mentally.

ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
200 - 300
* 𝒾 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃, 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒽𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓉𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓌𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃’𝓈 𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓎. 𝒾 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓅𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉. this quote really went to heart for me because we know that we’re in a society where it can be still frowned upon for not getting married and having children. but this quote said to me that you can do what you want, it’s your body, you’re life at the end of the day. the bit about not expecting love, to me, reflected the way Irene views herself and the situation she was in. her primary goal was too ensure that her sister, Fiona, gets married and meets “the one” to protect her and be there for her. moreover, it was really nice to see that Irene was able to be in a relationship with a man who valued her, even if they didn’t speak a lot at the start😌. at the start of the first few pages, i got myself confused and thought she married Felix but she married Merrick so when i realised that they were husband a wife a few pages on, i was a bit confused but i liked seeing the development of their relationship and how they really care about each other. when Sara had a go at Irene for taking away what was hers, i understood how she felt but i wish they could’ve talked it through maybe but hey, not all stories have happy ending and everything happens for a reason.

ᯓ★
300 - 400
* irene and merrick are united!!! this made me really happy but i felt like it was a bit slow between these pages but it picked up the pace after a bit. the last sentence made me feel like 😃. i wanted a bit more to take away but it was good enough for me.


₊✩‧₊˚ ཐིཋྀ ˚₊✩‧₊
conclusion:
* overall, this book was okay, it was a bit slow paced in some areas and then fast paced but it was enjoyable as the story went on. i felt like it dragged a bit but as i said before, it picked up the pace and it was alright.

Thank you for Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me a free e-arc of Witch Wife by Lumen Reese in exchange for an honest review.

[Vanessa Symington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witch Wife is a compelling read. While I admit it did have me confused, it still had plenty to hold my attention and make me want to keep reading. There was a lot to take in while reading, I hope that as the trilogy continues things begin to fall together and make more sense. This book is broken up into Parts, which is nice, but I feel that I was confused about the timelines and certain events until about Part 3.

There was plenty of depth and layers to both the story and the characters. It was great to read a story steeped in complexity with challenges that make you think and feel. There was emotion, there was struggle, there was passion, and there was a sense of bonding and loyalty. I appreciated the depiction of various types of love, but also the intricacies of humanity.

Overall, I appreciated this story. I wish that there was more clarity throughout, but overall I did find it enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mix of science fiction and historical fiction. Please pay attention to CWs and TWs before reading, there are some parts of this novel that can be graphic and sensitive to some readers.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. Sooooo good. Just occasionally a book comes along that I love so much I don't know where to start with the review! It's one of those books where I simultaneously could not stop reading as i had to know how it ended, but also didn't want it to end. Luckily for me, this is only part 1 of the trilogy, so there'll be more to come.

I loved Irene, she reminded me in a way of Joan of Arc, a woman on the battlefield who was later accused of witchcraft. I also loved how intertwined Irene and Jasper's lives were. Despite being on opposite sides of a way they save each other, more than once. If platonic soulmates are a thing, then that's what they are.

I found all the characters to be really well written, whole and believable. Those that needed a backstory had one. And those that didn't need one existed just as realistically in my mind.

This book made me laugh at times, and at others I way on the edge of my seat with tension. I won't give spoilers, but there was one part, near the end, which was genuinely terrifying.

Lumen hasbuilt a solid and fantastic world where there's not only, what appears to be, another American war of independence, with all the dangers that brings, but also ice creatures who pluck off humans as fast as they can manage. I'd love to know more about them in future.

Overall this was an incredible read and I'm going to wait as patiently as I can for book 2.

[Librosentrelazos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect start to The Crocus Trilogy. This story is a mix of romance, fantasy, and a little sci-fi. I was pleasantly surprised to see that all those elements came together perfectly in this book, making it a very intriguing read.

I love witches' stories, and Lumen incorporated this element very nicely. Between the complicated characters and the filled-with-emotion plot, I was hooked.

Irene is a character who's been through it all, and I admire her heart and strength so much; the way she loves and feels her emotions got my heart strangled.

The world Lumen built is very original. Everything felt unique: the different timelines, the monsters, and all of the things that the FMC was willing to do to recover her loved ones. I need to know what is happening next.

I completely recommend this story!!! Thank you Lumen for the book, I loved it.

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was abit different to what I imagined, the time line was abit confusing- did they travel to the same time but different dimensions or a different time same dimension.. that was unclear for me.

Saying that though, once my messed up brain moved passed it as just the unknown, I loved the story of Irene and her sister and ther adventures they lead.

This author is definitely a fan of writing a battle scene that is for sure! I also really enjoyed the concept of the monsters and felt there could have been more of them in this story..

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good! What's next?!!!

I loved this. It matches what I used to love to read as a teenager while mixing in very adult themes. The overall tone is sad and stressful but it's that tiny spark of hope that keeps you reading. I have to admit that she left so many plot threads open and there isn't a sequel yet. I want to know what happens! It's a multiverse fantasy so I am just positive that the time machine has altered their new reality somehow. There is so much to cover, I hope the next book comes out soon. Five stars to Witch Wife.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book as an e book. I liked this book. It was suspenseful, it had character building. The female main character deciding on which path she should choose and coming back from loosing everything. Her family is gone, and now she is has to fight to get everything back. What would you do for a chance to find your lost love?

[Susmita Dhara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lumen Reese’s Witch Wife is a genre-bending masterpiece that blends historical fiction, sci-fi and fantasy into tale of rebellion, resilience and survival. While the book’s length and drawn-out battle sections stretched my patience at times but the story’s unique structure, compelling characters and richly imagined world made it worth the journey.

Irene Shannon is the heart of this story. A fierce, loyal and complex protagonist whose hardship and triumph made me hooked. Her connection with Merrick? Absolute goals. The supporting characters, from the king’s illegitimate daughter to the one-legged brigadier, added depth and richness.

The pacing though slow at times, ultimately paid off. Reese masterfully wove tension, action and heartfelt moments, making it unlike anything I’ve read before. It took me a while to get through, but by the end, I was fully invested into Irene’s journey.

For fans of strong heroines, intricate relationships and epic adventures, Witch Wife is a must-read. Despite its length, it’s a spellbinding start to what promises to be an unforgettable trilogy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

[Jode · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite thing about this book has got to be the structure of it. I liked how it’s split out into sections. For the most part I really enjoyed reading this book, it took me while to get into but the more I read the harder it was to stop. The way the characters developed throughout the book felt real, and I got a real understanding of them. I was sad to see the story end and I can only look forward to the next one.

[Pernille A Prolific Page Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kudos to the author for the warning but I think I need to give a Trigger Warning : suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in my review. If this is something you can't deal with you should definitely skip this book!



The main theme of this book is love, and what you would do for it. Not just romantic love but familial love as well. The main character, Irene, is willing to do anything for her sister! And I mean anything! I like the idea of love in all it's forms but this was just extreme. Maybe I've just never felt love so deeply I would kill myself because a person died. In my opinion it is a betrayal to the person you loved, that you would give up your own life instead of grieving and accepting the loss and then live on and honouring their memory. If you don't want to live for yourself, then do it for the people around you. One suicide can cause a "chain reaction" of suicides/suicide attempts to people in your periphery, a so called suicide cluster . I just cannot fathom being in such an dark hole that you'd expose your family and surroundings to that kind of pain and risk. Is it just me?



But I digress.

The story is divided into 5 parts going back and forth in time. And hot damn it gave me whiplash! The first part was really interesting and engaging until what I thought was happening during the American Civil War but with monsters, suddenly have electricity, sports cars and Shrek in it. It threw me for an uncomfortable loop, and it took awhile for me to get back into it. Then the second part happened.



Remember how I said this book takes love to the extreme? Well, Irene jumps DIMENSIONS with her sister because her sister was suicidal after her husband died. Want to know why they did that? Because Irene figured that her sister had a better love in another dimension, and she jumps in with no more reason than "I love my sister and want her to not be suicidal, damn whatever it's going to cost me".



Despite the whiplash and disbelief, I wanted to know what was going to happen. I won't say the witch thing came out of nowhere but it did pop up whenever it was convenient in my opinion.

One thing this book did right, is that it showed that it's worth it to keep on living despite how dark of a hole you feel yourself to be in. You never know what will happen, and what you'll miss out on: new or old love.

The author's note is BRILLIANT I'm with you!

This is just my take on this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for my honest opinion

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Features:
- A unique blend of regency fantasy and science fiction
- Court intrigue and slow-burn romance
- Features strong female characters
- Depicts a character dealing with loss, depression, and suicidal ideation


The war has cost Irene her husband, her sister, and her freedom. Believed by the British to be a witch, she is shipped to England to be married off to one of the king’s nephews. However, she has no intention of following orders. Not when she has a sister to protect and a husband who might still be alive.

With an exciting premise and intriguing cover, I was really hoping this book would sweep me away. Unfortunately, it was more middle of the road. Conceptually, this is an intriguing world and the creatures are really cool. Most of the main characters driving the story are female and show strength and resilience in different ways. Irene starts off in a very dark place mentally/emotionally at the beginning of the story and this mixed with her confinement gives the book a slower start. However, as she starts to re-engage with the world, more pieces come together and the story really picks up steam. Though there is a lot to like in this book, I feel that it’s a bit clumsy at times in its execution and a number of moments felt jarring or confusing because of it. Overall, if you are interested in trying a book that blends regency fantasy, horror, and science fiction in an intriguing way and don’t mind depictions of depression and suicidal ideation, this one is worth a try.

It takes all kinds of strength

I love a book that has strong female characters, especially ones that portray this strength in ‘unconventional’ ways. Though Irene is mostly your typical warrior character, she is surrounded by other female characters who definitely have their own presence and authority in this world. Whether their actions helped or hindered Irene, their impact was felt and the book never seems to bring their femininity into question because of it. I also appreciate the depiction of Irene’s struggle with her inner demons and the strength it takes to overcome them, especially for a character like Irene.

A winding and uneven path

This book kicks off seeming like a historical fantasy, but it soon becomes clear that this isn’t really the case. The mystery of what exactly this world is and how our characters got into their situation quickly became far more compelling to me than the actual plot line they were moving along. There are a lot of unique elements that play together surprisingly well in this narrative as well. However, the introduction of these elements and how they interact often feels a bit clumsy. Since understanding what is really going on is a big part of this journey, I don’t want to get too specific. Generally speaking, the introduction of these elements can feel very abrupt and it feels like it takes 2-3 mentions of it for the world and characters to really start reflecting that this is a true and recognized element of their lives. Overall, I found myself thinking “Okay, I guess that’s a thing now” and “Did I just read that right?” one too many times. While it didn’t completely ruin the experience for me, I feel it got in the way of this book realizing its full potential.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lumen Reese’s Witch Wife is a spellbinding tale of resilience, rebellion, and survival that blends historical fantasy with themes of empowerment and defiance. With a fiercely determined protagonist and a richly imagined world, the novel delivers a gripping narrative of love, loss, and the will to fight against impossible odds.

Plot Overview

The story begins with Irene Shannon, a battle-hardened woman captured on the battlefield and brought to Britain in chains. Branded a witch by the British royals, she is pressured to marry into their family to secure power, but she refuses with unyielding defiance. What follows is a gripping tale of intrigue, alliances, and rebellion as Irene plots her escape with an unlikely group of allies, including a royal bastard raised in a brothel, a one-legged general, and a gay earl. As she learns her husband may still be alive in the monster-ridden New World, Irene’s resolve grows stronger, propelling her into a dangerous journey to reclaim her freedom and her love.

Strengths

Reese crafts a fiercely compelling protagonist in Irene Shannon, whose raw determination and warrior spirit drive the novel forward. Irene’s grief, rage, and unrelenting will to survive make her a complex and relatable character. The supporting cast is equally engaging, with each ally offering unique perspectives and deepening the story’s exploration of loyalty and rebellion.

The novel’s world-building is outstanding, blending historical elements with fantastical twists. The contrast between the oppressive, politically charged court of Britain and the monstrous dangers of the New World creates a rich, dynamic setting. Reese weaves tension seamlessly into every scene, whether it’s a battle of wills with a manipulative king or the pulse-pounding dangers of Irene’s escape.

Themes

Witch Wife explores themes of power, autonomy, and survival in a deeply patriarchal and dangerous world. Irene’s resistance to the king’s demands becomes a broader symbol of defiance against systemic oppression. The story also touches on found family, with Irene’s unlikely allies offering moments of tenderness and solidarity amid the chaos. Reese masterfully balances personal stakes—Irene’s love for her husband—with broader themes of freedom and justice.

Critique

While the story’s pacing is generally excellent, some readers may feel the first act in the British court lingers slightly too long before Irene’s escape plan takes shape. Additionally, while the supporting cast is memorable, a few characters could benefit from more backstory or development to fully realize their potential.

Conclusion

Witch Wife is a thrilling, emotionally charged tale of rebellion, resilience, and love. Lumen Reese delivers a richly imagined world, a fearless protagonist, and a narrative that deftly balances action, intrigue, and heart. Fans of historical fantasy and stories about powerful women refusing to yield will find much to love in this captivating novel. It’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit—and the unbreakable will to fight for freedom and love.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much going on in this story!

When we first meet Irene, she's been captured after losing a war and is being told that she will marry the king's son. She is determined not to do this through any means necessary, and spends quite a bit of time thinking about SI. Part of the reason for her actions though are because after losing the war, she is sure that she's also lost everyone dear to her, including her husband, sister, and brother-in-law.

During most of the story, Irene is thought of as a witch. While the American troops don't ostracize her, this is part of why she was captured and taken back to the English king. The queen dabbles in practicing witchcraft (through tarot and herbs) and wants Irene to teach her.

I loved the friendships and relationships displayed in this story! Irene would do absolutely anything for her sister, including leaving their life behind to travel to whenever in time for her true love. Irene also makes quite a few allies while she is being held captive, and all these people work to get her free and back to America. She learns that her sister is alive and pregnant, and they are allowed 1 visit by the king and queen. Then Irene learns that her husband is alive, and that only increases her desire to get back to America. The love between Irene and Merrick is a subtle one, especially compared to the epic love stories seen in a lot of fantasy and romance books. They tolerated each other, and only married to keep Irene from being sent to the Tower of London to be executed for suspicions of treason. But as they spend more time together, you see the little actions that show their own all-consuming love, like Merrick training Irene as hard as he can so she can be prepared on the battlefield and not die. Even after they become intimate, others ask Irene if she is only doing that because of force or comfort. You truly see how much she loves Merrick in her desperate actions to do anything necessary to get back to him, and he would do the same.

I was a little confused with the timeline of this story. We spend a couple parts of the story going back to before Irene and Fiona were involved in this war, which seems closer to present-day America. Then utilizing some context clues, it seemed like the other parts of this story take place before the American Revolution in an alternate timeline where Britain wins. However, the majority of this story seems to take place in the future, and Irene and Fiona travel here with a time machine destined to bring Fiona to her true love. The war that they fight in is still between America and Britain, but America loses this war and reverts to a British colony. However, once I was able to figure out the timelines in my head I was absolutely lost in this story!

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like stories that deal with loss and grief, prejudice, feminine rage, LGBTQ+ representation, and time travel.

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Wife by Lumen Reese
The Crocus Trilogy, Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 21 November 2024

Irene Shannon, a fierce warrior, finds herself captured on the battlefield after losing her husband and sister. Expecting death, she instead becomes a prisoner of the British crown. The royals, having heard tales of two English sisters allied with the New World, believe Irene to be a witch and seek to marry her into their family. She staunchly refuses.

What ensues is a battle of wills and a daring plot for freedom. Irene forms unlikely alliances with a diverse group: the king's illegitimate daughter raised in a brothel, a one-legged Brigadier General, and a gay Earl. As she plans her escape, Irene learns her husband might still be alive, igniting her determination to return to the monster-infested New World, no matter the cost.

“Witch Wife” marks a strong start to Lumen Reese's Crocus Trilogy, blending elements of fantasy, horror, and historical fiction into a compelling narrative. Reese's writing style is engaging, creating a world that feels both authentic and fantastical.

The author excels in character development, crafting complex, multidimensional figures that resonate with readers. Irene Shannon, in particular, stands out as a formidable protagonist, her strength and determination driving the story forward. The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, each bringing unique perspectives and motivations to the plot.

Reese's incorporation of the witch element is skilfully done, adding depth to the narrative without overwhelming it. The balance between historical setting and supernatural elements creates an intriguing backdrop for the story to unfold.

The pacing is generally well-maintained, with enough action and intrigue to keep readers engaged. However, some might find the initial setup a bit slow before the plot gains momentum.

While the book successfully sets up the trilogy, it does leave many questions unanswered, which may frustrate some readers but will likely entice others to continue with the series.

The novel's exploration of themes such as resilience, loyalty, and the nature of power adds layers of complexity to what could have been a straightforward adventure story.

In conclusion, “Witch “Wife offers a fresh take on historical fantasy, with its strong characterisation and intriguing premise. Despite some pacing issues, it successfully lays the groundwork for what promises to be an exciting trilogy. Readers who enjoy genre-blending narratives with strong female leads will find much to appreciate in this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author, Lumen Reese, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the Witch Wife’s synopsis as I was browsing Netgalley for new books to request, I did not think twice hitting the request button. I thought this was a historical novel with fantastical elements. You can color me surprised because halfway into the book, I got what I asked for and more. The Witch Wife is not just historical fiction which the synopsis would lead you to believe. It’s a cross between sci-fi, historical fiction, and fantasy. Heh.

The story is heavily focused on the struggles of our heroine, Irene Shannon, a courageous high ranking official of the rebel army, and a ‘witch.’ However, prior to becoming any of these things, Shannon was just surviving a life of cleaning toilets and mopping floors. How had she transformed into such a confident and fearsome warrior? Well, that is for you to find out so read this book. There was lot of interesting things that were explored in this book. One is the sisterly bond between Irene and her older sister, Fiona. They are practically inseparable and while I admire their loyalty to each other, what irked me the most is the fact that Irene’s personality depended heavily on her sister. Every decision and action that she made was because of her sister. After every thing that she has been through, I assumed that by the end of the book, she’d find herself and you know, realize that she’s already a whole woman with or without her sister. Second thing is that, there are certain elements in this book that you just have to either swallow or suspend your disbelief in order for you to enjoy the whole story. Take for example, while I like how the romance between our characters was written, I certainly frowned at Irene having too many marriage proposals from men of three different backgrounds. Like, seriously? Irene is the least likeable character in this book because as I have said, she’s just way too obsessed with her older sister it’s almost criminal. Third, the most interesting thing is that there are mystical creatures posing, on top of the war between the government and the rebels, a threat in this world created by Lumen Reese. It’s one of the reasons why I want to read the second book because I want to know if my theory is correct.

The Witch Wife’s overall storytelling was perfect…Nothing too melodramatic but was able to hit me emotionally. I liked how most of the characters were developed except for Irene. My favorite character would prolly be the Brigadier as he is just a good soul (without the despicable moral superiority) through and through. I’d like to see him in the succeeding books having a good life that he deserves.

All in all, I’d say that the Witch Wife is a winner. Go and add it to your TBR pile.

Full review can be found here: https://snoozlykitsune.com/2024/07/14...

[bibliophilic_wanderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review. The blurb made me very eager to pick this one up: "Irene Shannon is has lost her husband and her sister, has killed a lot of people, and finds herself the captive of the British royals who have heard tales of the two English sisters aligned with the people of the New World, and want her to marry into their family. Irene learns that her husband may still be alive, and she will do anything to get back to him, even cross an ocean back to the monster-infested New World."

Sounds like a fun historical fiction with fantasy elements and interesting characters. While that is the case here, I found the plot extremely convoluted and the blurb misleading so I came up with my own so people that are interested know what to expect:
Irene is a robotic, nothing-special (that's not an insult, she actually describes herself that way) woman from a world similar to ours who has an extremely codependent relationship with her older sister who is perfect and every single guy seems to fall in love with. Irene's mission in life is to make her sister happy by helping find her "soulmate" after her previous husband dies, so she helps create an AI that somehow sends them to a world where the british empire wages a war against the New World (America) where they meet some outlaw like characters and end up having to marry them for their own safety - cue the Outlander music!

This is all told in the second part of the novel which felt like an AU fanfic of Outlander crossed with Pride and Prejudice which was kind of entertaining. Part 1 is spent at court and I was really enjoying the politics and characters, trying to get a feel for the world - and then! The princes ride up in a BUGATTI, I was crying laughing, it was so out of nowhere! There's a gay earl, a brothel-worker who's on Irene's side even after she pees on the carpet in front of the queen (that happens in the first chapter) and a pretty charming one-legged brigadier. All of them characters whose POV I would much rather be reading than Irene's.

So be forewarned, there are no witches in this book, there ARE ice monsters and expensive cars and guns, an extremely dry main character who is the sole narrator so be prepared to spend a lot of time in her head. I just couldn't do it. DNFd at 70%.

Final rating: 2.5 stars

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Witch Wife by Loomen Reese, this is the first book in a trilogy that unfortunately I don’t think I will be reading. When we meet Irene her husband is dead the battle is lost and she is in a cage for days and wants to die and I get it she lost her Insta love husband in the battle now she thinks she’s going to be a slave but OMG if she didn’t say it 100 times that she wanted to die she didn’t say it once. Then we go on and she’s not a slave but incaptured guess at the Kings home and he has an appointment to offer her and that is to marry and live lavishly because they think she’s a witch he wants her to marry his nephew but the only problem is as I mentioned before she just wants to die and oh yes she’s not a witch. The reason I think she’s a witch or not reasons I will discuss here because I don’t want to give anything that wasn’t in the summary away. No her guard or rather her companion is Annette and she tries more than once to defeat Annette but it seems Annette is too smart for that. I do want to say I really like Annette. While Iris definitely wants to die she also wants to know if her twin sister is OK. Not to mention the whole thing with the girl Meeve abandoning her family because her mom gentleman father and little sister didn’t defend her against a group of pirates and so she ignored them and wanted to go with Iris in metric I mean really because your dad couldn’t defeat a group of pirates you no longer speak to him… That just seemed all too unbelievable. Okay I’m not going to continue with this review because I keep thinking of all the reasons why I didn’t like this book for one it took me over a month to finish for two she told you every exact thing she was doing it was over described not to mention I couldn’t place what time. They were in and then when part two came in to play it confuse me even further. I also didn’t understand how they were trying to make it like Iris was so capable and so smart and yet instead of playing along as you go along she faught against everything she just irritated me I did like her sister Fiona a little better but I don’t see myself reading book too.#NetGalley, #KensingtonPublishing, #LumenReese, #WitchWife,

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Witch Wife.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me at 56% in. I wanted to stop reading at 39%, but I pushed myself as far as I could.
It is written in the present tense, which isn't an issue for me. The issue is that the main character is narrating every step that she takes, every second of her thought process. There were moments such as: "Anita opened the door, I walked through the door. Anita walked through the door. She closed it." It was so monotonous and felt like the main character was a robot.
Because of how dry the main character is, along with the fact is it written in first person, the pacing of the story is all over the place. Part one is very slow, focusing on Irene being a widow, losing her sister and brother-in-law, fighting in a war and killing lots of people. In part one it is clear that she doesn't want to be alive anymore and it becomes a little redundant.
In the second part of the book, it explains where Irene and her sister Fiona came from, why they were in the New World and how they met their husbands. The first half of part two was interesting. I liked the backstory, and I liked how the main character was able to describe both wanting to help her sister and resenting her for having to provide everything the way she did. Some areas in part two felt rushed while other parts felt slower. When it came to the wedding scene, I was able to skip several pages repetitive dialogue and not miss anything.
I left of somewhere after Jasper tell Irene about his 'research' (don't want to give out spoilers)
I had to stop reading and it was very disappointing to me because the premise was really good. This sounded like outlander meets dr. who and it piqued my interest. However, the inner dialogue of the main character was just too dull and monotonous to continue. I don't want to give anything higher than one star since I didn't finish the book.

[Amy Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a LOT going on in this first-of-a-trilogy novel: it's an alternate-timeline science fiction in which our hero, Irene Shannon, is captured in battle by the Redcoats and shipped off to England, for political/witchcrafty reasons. The author does a nice job creating a sprawling world where monsters walk, the UK monarchy reestablishes power over a former Colony (cue the Hamilton soundtrack: "You'll be back/soon you'll see"), and scooping us up along us the depths of Irene's misery and desperation as she plans to kill herself to foil the Redcoats. I really enjoyed the way what felt initially like historical fiction gathered anachronistic details (makeup?!) and weird elements (monsters!) to make a propulsive avalanche of a start.

What was less impressive for me was the middle section when the story retreats to how Irene and her beloved and brilliant sister created a machine that allowed them to hop into a different timeline, one year or so earlier. I wasn't convinced by the "science," and I didn't feel much for Irene or her sister (and it's hard to show someone brilliant being brilliant, but...is the sister actually bright?). And the final section, perhaps only because I hadn't been as deeply vested as in the first third, felt to me a bit facile and hurried.

With that said, this is the kind of wide-ranging romantasy that will appeal to readers of the genre. Thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

[Erika Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars ⭐️

As the first book in the Crocus trilogy, Witch Wife by Lumen Reese is an enthralling beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable series. From the very first chapter, I was captivated by the compelling storyline and deeply nuanced characters.

The narrative takes an exciting turn when the sisters venture into a new dimension, and I must admit, I was initially thrown off by the king having a vehicle in what seemed like a medieval-inspired world. However, as the story progressed, the unique blend of medieval and modern elements began to make sense, adding a fresh and intriguing layer to the world-building.

My only critique is the book’s length. While the overall pacing worked well, the battle section felt a bit drawn out, and the chapters themselves were quite long. Trimming these sections slightly could have enhanced the reading experience.

Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It gave me nostalgic vibes reminiscent of Overlander, and I’m already eagerly anticipating the release of the next book in the series in 2025. Reese has crafted a world and characters that I can’t wait to revisit.

Highly recommended for fans of fantasy with unique settings and strong sibling dynamics!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[MarryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Wife was an interesting read. At first it felt like a historical novel and I was really confused because I was sure it was described as being a fantasy book, but soon enough everything made sense.

The main character reminded me of Celaena Sardothien, but very suicidal and dependent on her sister; her maiden was my favorite character and I was quite intrigued with her. The royal family was very insipid, and the "good guys" at the end were actually better villains. Basically, the characters were okay, but a bit too flat.

The plot was quite slow moving, but for me it didn't feel boring, mostly because I was really interested to see the main character's transformation. I also want to add that the book is a bit more about how she felt and dealt with losing the war and being a prisoner than on actual action, so there is not a lot going on for such a long book. There is a lot a thinking about suicide, so be cautious if you don't feel comfortable with that (the author gave a TW at the beginning, but it's really a lot).

Personally, I liked the book, mostly because it's a bit different, but it might not be everybody's cup of tea

Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest review

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finally ready to review this amazing book. It took me a long time to read because I get really busy August through October.
It's not a hard read and it isn't tedious. It's just that I wanted to read it all at once or in two sessions. Luckily, I was called to escort my niece to some cheer things. So I spent last night and tonight reading.
I did develop a unique attachment to it. It became my emotional support book. I've been carrying around everywhere for a month. Just showing it off. It came with me fishing, to board meetings, events, the tire shop, coffee, thrifting, the fall festival, I even slept with it next to me.
I looked ridiculous but this was a great book to show off! I am a massive fan of the author so I was pretty smug about her sending me a book.

It's amazing! It's got everything. It's got blood and romance and time travel and old timey stuff. (That all gets explained later and I found it delightful). It's got creatures too! I loved the way the author unrolled the history and the reasoning for the things our girl is going through. I was enthralled the say the least.
My friend did take a photo of the recipe and she wrote about it on her blog. This is likely to end up on her podcast.
I can't wait for the next one.

[Shandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the blurb we got on this book was a bit misleading. I thought it was going to be some fantasy set around the American Independence War with monsters and magic. And it just wasn’t. It is Sci-fi with time travel or an alternate dimension, I honestly couldn’t tell. The mention of the car and Shrek at the end of chapter 5 came so out of left field for me I thought I had gotten into a new book somehow. I had to reread a few times to see if I had missed something.

That being said, I did push through it. Even though I struggled. The story itself was interesting outside of the time travelling. America having to fight for its freedom again from England and Ice monsters from a mountain up north. Add in the witch (from the journal) and it makes for an interesting world and story. I found Irene a bit much at times but she had been through a lot.

To be quite honest Sci-Fi isn’t really for me but there was a enough magic throw in indirectly that made it easier for me. But not sure it’s enough to keep up with the series. However that might change when book two comes out so time will tell

Rating 3 stars
*I received a review copy from BookSirens for my voluntary and honest review

[BookNCaffenineMom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

The premise of the book caught my attention. A warrior witch who is captured and forced to be wed to a price. I really enjoyed the banter between characters, especially Anita and Irene. The only reason why I gave it just three stars is due to the pacing. It was very difficult for me to push through this book as it explained the setting, characters’ background, and also the political aspects of the court. The time traveling was a bit too much for my taste due to how it was introduced and explained. I struggled to understand what the current time frame of the was.

I did love the monsters and the fact that it was something completely new from any book I have read before. The monsters/magic and the character development kept me going. I enjoyed the unique spin of the plot.

[merlin513 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book highly anticipated and intriguing! I thought it was just an alternate timeline revolutionary war story, seeing as how you’ve got New World colonials fighting with British Redcoats. My first inkling that things were stranger than that was the length/timeline of the ocean crossing. But then the King’s favorite toy blew ‘that’ idea straight out of the water!!!

Now I’m totally lost, and ‘then’ the next section time jumps to the sisters past, and precisely ‘how’ they came to end up where we started.

The Witch Wife is a very tightly plotted story full of realistic characters, situations and emotions. Can’t wait to be able to continue on with book two and see exactly where this story ends up going!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.