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The Twins of Strathnaver

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The Mackay Rules: Never Tell and Never Leave.
 
The Witching Mackays have endured centuries of suffering and ostracism all because of their powers and the ghosts they can see. As August 1997 draws to a close, and Hugh and Margaret Mackay enjoy a more peaceful life than their ancestors, a mysterious Londoner arrives in desperate pursuit of fame and long-lost Jacobite gold. 
 
Louis Talbot is much more than a treasure hunter wielding a metal detector. Armed with a strange book and its tantalizing account of a family who can speak to ghosts; Louis sets his sights on the vulnerable, lonely Margaret Mackay.
 
As sides are chosen, Hugh and Margaret are forced to confront the reality that the gold isn’t all the ghosts are protecting and that the consequence of their failure will be nothing less than the destruction and death of everything they’ve ever known.

330 pages, ebook

Published September 23, 2025

5 people are currently reading
3602 people want to read

About the author

Rachael Wright

10 books24 followers
Rachael Wright is a Colorado native with degrees in History and Political Science from Colorado Mesa University and writes for several political newspapers. She is a devoted tea drinker, Manchester United fan, and Scotland history buff. Rachael lives in Colorado with her two children and is available to speak at book clubs and events and can be reached on her website http://www.authorrachaelwright.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Haly Hoards Books.
180 reviews19 followers
August 14, 2025
4☆
The premise of The Twins of Strathnaver is great. Lost treasure, ghosts, plague and a family with generations of seers and witches? Yes, please.

The setting, Tongue, a tiny village in the north of Scotland, has the combination of beauty and isolation to make the landscape a character of its own. Wright's description of the country was enough to help me clearly imagine myself there.

Call me too set in my ways, but I do not like reading a book that is disjointed. In the first chapter Hugh starts having a conversation and I could not understand who he was talking to? I thought that I had skipped a page. Nope. And, when the chapter closed I was still not sure who Hugh was talking with.

Delayed clarification of what Louis was avoiding, who he worked for and how he was called to Tongue was frustrating. Too much of the characters backstories were left to speculation and confusion. These factors made the reading experience less enjoyable.

Louis is scum. He starts out as a character that I did not like and as the book progressed I hated him. Margaret is a naive 35 year old woman who has no backbone until it matters. Hugh is a likeable accommodating twin to Margaret. Other, secondary characters are endearing, especially the ghosts!

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

Despite the issues I have with the writing style I still enjoyed the overall story.
Profile Image for JemeryInPrint.
35 reviews
June 22, 2025
The Twins of Strathnaver is a beautifully written novel that weaves history, mystery, and a touch of the gothic. Rachael Wright has a real gift for immersing the reader in the rugged landscape of the Scottish Highlands and the haunting echoes of the past.

The story follows the unraveling of long-buried secrets connected to a tragic chapter in Scottish history. The twin protagonists are compelling and well-drawn, with a bond that feels authentic and layered. I really appreciate a book that focuses more on familial love—it's a refreshing and emotionally resonant theme.

The pacing was steady, occasionally meandering through the history a bit more than I preferred, but always anchored by strong emotional stakes.

Wright’s writing of historical details adds depth without overwhelming the narrative. The mystery element was satisfying, with enough twists to keep things interesting, even if a few developments felt somewhat predictable.

Overall, this was a gripping and atmospheric read—perfect for fans of historical fiction with a dark edge. I’m looking forward to reading more from Wright.

Thank you Rachael Wright, Green Avenue Books & Publishing and BookSirens for the ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Rebecca White.
362 reviews28 followers
July 2, 2025
Let me just start by saying I am a history nerd so that part of this story really intrigued me. I also loved the addition of those snarky ghosts! They were probably my favorite characters.

Wright did a beautiful job of painting the landscape of Scotland and making the reader feel as though they were plopped right into the village with the twins. At first the dialogue took a few rereads but as the story progressed, I was speaking like a true Scot in my head! 😂

The mystery of the story pulls the reader along, as well as the authors timing. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on and who or what was really the enemy.

Thank you Rachael Wright for letting me read an early copy of this book and making me now want to book a trip to Scotland!
Profile Image for Anna P.
93 reviews
July 2, 2025
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book last year and I still think about this story from time to time.

Rachael Wright has a real talent for transporting readers into her world with vivid, immersive descriptions. Even though I’ve never been to Scotland, her writing made me feel like I was actually there soaking in the scenery and experiencing everything alongside the characters.

I enjoyed the balance between the slower pace of Scottish countryside life and the intrigue of an otherworldly mystery, which added unique depth to the story. If you enjoy a bit of historical fiction with a hint of ghostly vibes, this one’s for you!
Profile Image for Moriah Chavis.
Author 12 books214 followers
Read
August 2, 2025
This is the perfect story for lovers of Scottish history and ghost tales.
Profile Image for Erica.
89 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2025
This book had everything that I love in a story. It's rich with history, folklore, magical realism, ghosts, and the setting of the Scottish highlands? I jumped at the opportunity to step into this world.

Unfortunately it really missed the mark for me. While I loved the descriptions of the settings and bits of history. I really struggled to connect with characters. Margaret and Hugh are supposed to be 35 year old twins, but this felt more like reading a familial relationship between a 16 year old girl and her uncle. Their dialogue was sparse, as was the dialogue between them and the secondary characters. Unless a character was telling a story that would glean information to the reader about the past, most of the dialogue thay would build characters and their relationships with the main characters was minimal at best so even those few that Margaret and Hugh were close to, still felt so far away.

I also was a bit disappointed with the writing style. This was told from the POVs of both Hugh and Margaret, but it would switch between them rather quickly, typically from one sentence to the next without any warning. The reader would enter a scene and it would completely change to a different location, time, or POV in an instant without any build up or even a resolution to what had happened prior. It felt like constant whiplash and made it hard to stay in the story.

While ultimately there were things that I did enjoy about this book, it was still a bit of a disappointing read for me.

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Britt; footnotes+whimsy.
237 reviews28 followers
September 20, 2025
ARC REVIEW: 3.5 stars. This was my first book by this author and although I loved certain aspects of her writing style, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t confused or lost throughout the story. I got there in the end, but the journey wasn’t smooth, if that makes sense? I loved how Scotland was described. I felt like I was standing in the middle of the quaint Scottish Highland town with the characters. It was unique having two pop culture references: Princess Diana’s death and the week following it + Harry Potter. I appreciated both of them. I did enjoy Hugh + Margaret, but she frustrated me at the same time. I get that she was sheltered and aching for connection, but she should’ve been able to see through Louis’ bullshit. The spidey senses were going off at the first introduction. I absolutely adored Lady Strathnaven’s character. She was a true friend to the twins + loved them. It was so sweet to see them rely on her for help that she freely gave. The resolution of the story felt right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for J.
34 reviews
June 21, 2025
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this book. I’d read the Outlander series in 2020 but haven’t read much about this setting since then. It took me a little while to get the hang of the rhythm and pace, but once I did, I was hooked. The story is absolutely gorgeous. There are elements of intrigue, romance, historical mystery, the supernatural, and drama. It’s different from the thrillers I tend to gravitate toward, but it was thrilling all the same.

My only complaint is that I spied a few spelling and grammatical errors. I am a stickler for this, but it didn’t mar the plot at all. It’s really just a personal problem I have when reading.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. I would 100% recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a moody, atmospheric read.
Profile Image for Terry.
1,068 reviews34 followers
July 2, 2025
A beautifully written book. Scottish history and lore brought up to date from the magic of the past.
Suspicion falls on a new visitor to the village and Twins Hugh and Margaret don’t really enjoy their peace being poked into.
They have powers that allow them to see ghosts and as it’s been passed down through the family for years, they’ve managed to keep it mostly hidden.
The story takes you on a journey with the Twins and around the area surrounding the village. Which sounds amazing.
I really enjoyed this book, it took me off on a magical journey. Now I don’t really do history books, so don’t let that put you off, it has historical references that are a much needed part and are to ease the story along

A fab read.
Profile Image for Emma Louise.
51 reviews6 followers
July 12, 2025
I adored The Twins of Strathnaver. It’s one of those rare books that you don’t just read you sink into it. The atmosphere is so vivid and quietly powerful, I felt completely transported. Every page seemed to hum with emotion, even in the silences.

A must read if you love family secrets wild places and folklore . Read and listened to on kindle for book sirens gifted by the author and publisher
Profile Image for Courtney Pityer.
705 reviews41 followers
June 17, 2025
If you are looking for a novel where people are suspicious of people practicing witchcraft then this is the novel for you. The only thing is that it's the late twentieth century. However, that doesn't stop people from being judgemental. a very good novel if I do say so myself.
Profile Image for Jen Marshall.
13 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2025
This book is such a mood. The description of Scotland is lush and immersive. The plot with the treasure hunters looking for gold and the ghosts protecting the gold was engrossing. I felt for Margaret being the outcast and subject of gossip and scorn. When Louis showed up and turned on the charm, it’s easy to see why she would be so quick to fall for him.

The ghosts were definitely my favorite part of the book. So sassy! There were parts that felt disjointed with pacing and transitions. Overall, I was satisfied with the story.

I received an advance review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. It was my pleasure to sign up for an ARC nearly a year ago and get to see Rachael’s devotion to this story, her commitment to getting it to readers, and her success with receiving a publishing deal!
Profile Image for Jessica Therese.
47 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2025
the twins of strathnaver is a very well written novel set in scotland in 1997, and the scottish landscape, history and culture is portrayed in a great way.

the book explores both scottish history, village life, and female rage, with a supportive cast of friendly villagers and family ghosts. the fmc was in my opinion the best developed character, while the mmc, her brother, felt a bit lacking. i hope he gets slightly more depth in future books. i also really liked the villagers and wouldn’t mind more scenes with them to fill out the setting a bit more, but it also made sense for them to be in the background here, considering how isolated the twins feel.

i especially enjoyed the dialogue being written in a scottish accent, as it helped ground the story in its setting, and gave more life to the characters (and also because i love the scottish accent, and had fun reading those parts out loud!)

the book is very well researched from a history perspective as well, which i always appreciate.
Profile Image for Fleur.
10 reviews
August 4, 2025
I really wanted to like this story more. Wright is obviously a talented author with a stylish turn of phrase and a strong command of written language. One of the very best things about this novel is that she has clearly done some really solid historical research of Scottish history, especially the 17th century and the Highlands, and used this to paint an in-depth, atmospheric Highland setting and a strong historical backdrop that lends realism to what is, apart from the romance parts, a ghost story/treasure hunt. Rachael Wright's 'The Twins of Strathnaver' fits nicely 'cross-genre' -- historical fiction/magical realism/paranormal romance. Unfortunately, the book in my opinion could have greatly benefited from better editing. I spotted multiple typographical, spelling and grammar errors creeping in as the book progresses. In addition, I feel it could have been improved with regards to concision, style and tone. To this reader at least it sometimes feels like the author is a little too keen to include too much detail on what the characters are doing and this ends up obscuring the narrative and plot. I suspect it has been self-published? If so, I think Wright should work with a different editor next time as IMO they have done her work a disservice - as a result, I can't give the book more than three stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Gail Bookventures.
10 reviews
September 23, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for providing this free eARC. This does not affect my ratings, review or reading experience; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

2 // 5 stars
1 // 5 spice

It is my first time reading a book written by this author but not my first time reading historical fiction. After reading the blurb, I had high hopes for this one but I am quite disappointed to be rating this less than 4 stars.

This book has the things I really like:
> history & culture
> fantasy & magic realism
> a very interesting plot about finding treasures, ghosts, witches and mystery
> setting is in Scotland
> a nice drama at the end

But why didn't it cut out for me?

> the writing. The scenes and locations were described wonderfully and I felt that I was really in the Highlands, but I felt that the paragraphs are disjointed. Like in one scene, Margaret & Elizabeth were talking and sipping tea at home then on the next sentence Margaret was on her bicycle going somewhere with no description of Margaret leaving. Over the course of reading the book, I had to re-read back several times because of how the scene would suddenly shift with no resolution to the previous one. I got so confused and it did not make any sense to me.

> the pacing. 50% into reading the book and nothing was happening. It wasn't until the 70% mark where the Twins discovered something and the actual story progresses.

While I am glad that some people enjoyed it, I guess this isn't just for me.
149 reviews3 followers
October 12, 2025
The twins of Strathnaver – Rachael Wright 



Publisher: Green Avenue books

Publication year: 2025

Page number: 336



“She's a witch!”


That could have easily been heard in another century. Yet, in 1997, Margaret Mackay is still on the receiving end of this peculiar accusation. See, she lives in a village in the northern part of Scotland with her twin brother. Where he is somehow accepted by the locals, she is the pariah, the witch that is to blame for the crops that don't give yield and the animals that don't thrive in this place. 


Her life turns upside down when a Londoner comes to visit the village, a charming man with his friends, in search of an adventure and a fresh start. He immediately sets his sights to Margaret, who is all too willing to believe him. But are his own motives pure? Is he looking for the secrets she and her brother have been keeping for way too long?


This was a very intriguing read, let me tell you, well-thought and well-executed. The supernatural element is strong, with the two siblings sharing abilities and secrets that go back generations in their lineage. But to me, this was a story of a woman who wishes to move forward, to stop living in a perpetual state of contempt. A person who is all too vulnerable because of that. 


All in all, a worthwhile read for me. 


My thanks to the author and Booksirens for providing me with an ARC copy of the book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Vishnu Brahmandam.
249 reviews48 followers
September 16, 2025
I went into this book without reading too much of the premise. I was sold with this line, "The Witching Mackays have endured centuries of suffering and ostracism all because of their powers and the ghosts they can see". When I started reading, I was binge-watching a TV show called "Ghosts" about a B&B owner who's able to speak with ghosts. This book felt like the perfect read as I wait for another season of "Ghosts".

What I loved about this book is the atmosphere it created, making me feel like I was in Scotland, out with Hugh in the Scottish outdoors. Having actually been to Scotland before, I've never felt that atmosphere created in a book so perfectly align with how it actually felt to be there in person. I enjoyed the details about Scottish history and appreciated how Rachel Wright effectively set the scene.

I wish I had loved more about this book than the setting, but it was paced too slowly for what I wanted out of this read.
I'd expected adventure related to the search for the Jacobite gold, more interactions with the ghosts, and a fast-paced plot.

That said, I would still recommend this for anyone interested in Scottish history who is looking for a regularly paced story with unhurried character progression to read. Despite the genre, it's quite a cozy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
17 reviews
September 17, 2025
Margaret and Hugh are the twins with duties to their village in Scotland. While Hugh is well-regarded as being a guide to the outdoors for visitors, Margaret's place is one of isolation and fear from her neighbors. She is the witch, although both of them can communicate with the ghosts in the village.

Margaret's longing for human company makes her easy prey for a con man, Louis, currently part of a group searching for gold in the village, with Hugh being the guide. His ability to latch onto her emotions so quickly has Margaret in a spiral of doubt and insecurity and hope of something better.

Margaret is a very different FMC from my usual reads. Her vulnerability is not uncommon, but it feels like it drives her into a low-level pity party on a regular basis. She wants to connect with the villagers, but there is a well-established barrier of ignorance regarding her status of the proclaimed witch. In 1997, was that such a thing to fear? And if her family had been there for generations, wouldn't there have been the acceptance over time? It struck me as odd.

I did enjoy Margaret's interactions with the guardian ghosts and the descriptions of the village's beauty. Scotland is a country that has long been on my list of places to travel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Angel.
244 reviews25 followers
September 23, 2025
I requested this advance review copy from the author through BookSirens and appreciate the chance to share my 2¢ with you.

Moody and vaguely gothic, The Twins of Strathnaver by Rachael Wright weaves an atmospheric tale that blending a modern treasure hunt with a haunting historical mystery, steeped in gothic paranormal themes. The story centers on the Mackay family home and its history, shared with ghosts and infused with Jacobite lore, spells, necromancy (speaking with ghosts), and small town superstition, creating a rich, eerie backdrop. The tension in the characters’ relationships adds depth, driving much of the narrative’s emotional weight. I was intrigued from the beginning and enjoyed the spirit characters most of all - Duncan’s story was emotionally impactful. In the end I found the family and community connection at the conclusion satisfying.

However, the pacing is notably slow, and the story often meanders, occasionally causing the me to lose focus. While the atmospheric setting and unique blend of genres make for an engaging read, the sluggish tempo holds it back from reaching its full potential. Fans of gothic and paranormal tales will still find much to enjoy in this haunting, multi-layered mystery.
Profile Image for Bai Broadwater.
104 reviews16 followers
August 23, 2025
This book is so beautifully woven - I was so immersed with the world, the accents, and the tone that it was hard not to feel every emotion alongside Margaret and Hugh. This book simultaneously felt modern and ancient, with the successes and the plights of the main characters being timeless. This book made me want to grab my passport and travel to Tongue!

I loved the immense love the twins had for each other, as well as the ghosts, but especially Hugh's love for his sister. There was also an emphasize on feminism and what it is to be a woman, this was done so well and so appreciated.

I wish more of Duncan's story had been interwoven through the plot from the beginning, but I can understand why it was saved until the end for impact. I would have also loved to see more of Margaret and Louis' romance - these scenes felt like I never had all of the information or perspective to understand how Margaret fell so head-over-heels.

I loved this read so much, and feel like I am wrapped in a blanket and drinking wine right alongside the twins as I set down the book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sarah.
57 reviews2 followers
September 30, 2025
The Twins of Strathnaver is an enthralling gothic mystery novel set in the late 1990s with an interesting premise that entwines Scottish history into present folklore. The Mackay twins, Margaret and Hugh, speak to ghosts and together they guard the village secrets. Margaret deals with the bulk of the town suspicion and ostracism as she is labeled a witch. Since the Mackays have always lived by family rules, never leave and never tell, Margaret finds dreary work at the local inn and is rather lonely. This makes her an easy target for Louis Talbot, the silver tongued, shady treasure hunter and his friends.

The writing is a bit disjointed and leaves the reader feeling a little off-kilter, especially in the beginning. This is clearly intentional and creates additional mystery since the reader is kept at a distance and guessing throughout. The novel is paced well. I was never bored by the historical references and the twists and turns of the story are interesting without feeling either untethered to the Strathnaver world or too obvious. I often forgot that the characters are from the 1990s as Margaret and Hugh felt like they belong in the 1800s, but I would be reminded by clothing and other incidental descriptions. This added to the otherworldliness of the characters and setting.

Overall, I found this an interesting and well written novel by a debut author. It would be interesting to read this as part of a book club, as it offers much to discuss from the history of Scotland and the Jacobites, to the relationships between characters and the ending. I look forward to future titles by Rachel Wright, as I know they will be deeply researched and refreshingly different. I am grateful to BookSirens and to the author for providing me with this free advance review copy of this book; I have read and honestly reviewed this book voluntarily.
Profile Image for Leesa.
59 reviews3 followers
October 3, 2025
The premise of the Twins of Strathnavar is appealing- a Scottish setting with ghosts, gold and a plague to boot. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.

I enjoy the ghosts in the narrative, and found them to be an entertaining part of the story. This was unfortunately overshadowed by dialogue which, as a Scot, I found to be a little disjointed. Writing in Scots is difficult- there are many dialects and subtle differences in term and spelling between regions. I sadly wasn’t convinced by most characters use of the language, which would also vary in intensity between chapters.

The writing style of the book is interesting, but also something I struggled with. I was often unsure of who was speaking throughout this story and would often find myself re-reading the paragraph for clarification.

I would have liked to see a stronger connection between the twins, more dimension in characters opinions of Margaret’s choices, and less exposition through singular dialogue in Duncan’s story.

I really wanted to like the book and I’m disappointed to be leaving this review.

I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sara Damian.
19 reviews8 followers
September 16, 2025
The history of the Scottish Highlands mixed together with the fantastical ghost story weaved throughout was so fun to read. The atmosphere was wonderfully written, and stuck with you throughout the book.

I did have a few issues with the sudden POV changes. While I can appreciate a good POV switch, especially in suspenseful moments, some of them happened without warning or notice within the writing. I'd be reading one POV, and the next sentence would take me entirely to the other side of the village, and it felt very sudden and jarring as a reader. The pacing of this book was meandering, getting deep into the historical side of things before any resolutions could come about. An enjoyable read for sure, and definitely got me interested in some previously unknown history. I loved how the ghosts were written in this novel. The relationship between the various ghosts and their relationships with Hugh and Margaret was very well written, and I loved the familial role they all took on in the twins lives.

Thank you to Rachael Wright and Booksirens for the arc of this book.
Profile Image for Sara Jesus.
1,687 reviews123 followers
February 12, 2025
I recevied an arc for the writer. This book was a lovely suprise, and I am very happy to be get a copy early. This story is like a scottish version of "Ghost whispers" with some "Tortured Poets departman" vibes.
If you like stories about gossipy ghosts, siblings rivalry, small towns with haunted seetings and stories that explored self love this book is for you. Also if you really love Scotland you will love this book.
I really enjoy to know Margaret , Hugh and their ghosts. I especialy love that the book do not focus in a love story, emphasizes the importance of friendships and to find the right path.

"But I suspected that Duncan was right; she was frightened by men and avoided them, living and dead, at all costs. She was dying for female companionship such as she’d had in the convent in France."
Profile Image for Debra.
429 reviews4 followers
June 28, 2025
3.5 stars

This novel had promise and an interesting storyline. I had difficulty getting into the rhythm and writing style of the author which took away from the enjoyment of the storyline somewhat. It wasn't the Scottish dialect as I have read novels with it before and thoroughly enjoyed them.

If readers can get into the author's writing style then they will most likely really enjoy it. It just didn't jive for me for some reason. There was a lot of info of character relationships that finally clicked in the last 1/4 of the novel which explained a lot (including title choice and other events). Not sure what the big distraction was to not figuring these things out until late in the novel. That is how it was for me anyway.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for booksandnina.
27 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2025
Scottish Highlands, ghosts, and lost treasure? Sold!

To me, this was a very special kind of book, and I can't say I've ever read anything quite like it. Yes, the elements and premise are things that have been done before in one way or another, as is the case with most books, but it was the compelling characters and storytelling that made this story feel so unique to me. It's definitely one I won't forget anytime soon.

I'm also a sucker for everyhthing Scottish, and the way Wright brought the setting to life, so vividly and seamlessly, made me feel like I'm right there with the characters.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a nice mix of history/lore, mystery, adventure, familial bonds, and a touch of darker/gothic.

*I received a reader copy & this is my honest, voluntary opinion .*
124 reviews6 followers
September 20, 2025
This is novel is a blend of history, fiction and the supernatural; set in the Scottish highlands. I couldn't wait to read the book and find out what adventures lay ahead. The twins in the novel are 35 years old Hugh and Margaret. The story would switch from their POV's quite rapidly, sometimes from sentence to sentence. This made it a tedious read because I had to discern which character was "speaking" to me. I had hoped to learn more about the twins and their backstories. The premise of the book could have been very exciting but the writing is a bit clunky and didn't provide enough detail for me. Perhaps having the POV's alternate on a per chapter basis would have made it easier to read. As a result, I'm giving the book a 3* rating.

I received an ARC of the book and this is my personal opinion.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
84 reviews5 followers
July 6, 2025
This was a really good read. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the history that came with it. It was paced a little slow at some points and occasionally felt like it jumped from one point to another without warning so it caused some road bumps when reading but the story was still something to enjoy. I had some struggles with the accented dialogue but that’s a me problem more than a story problem. While I’m not a sensitive reader I do think it needed a trigger warning for attempted SA for others who can be affected by that.

Book received from BookSirens in exchange for honest review.
Profile Image for Slkcalv.
46 reviews5 followers
August 24, 2025
This was a very interesting ghost story, with wonderful views and sounds of Scotland! The writing was solid, but be warned - Scottish accents aren’t the same as American English, so there were some translations necessary for me. It was also a sad story, of how community can be damaged so profoundly when we don’t take care of each other; and yet it was also a story of finding community despite harm and hardships. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Mrs S.
38 reviews2 followers
July 8, 2025
I received an arc copy of this so here is my honest, free review. I loved the outline of the story hence my requesting a copy, but to be honest, I did struggle to get into it. It has all elements I love - small isolated village, suspicious neighbours, witches, ghosts and local history, and yet it’s set in modern times. There were parts which didn’t flow quite right but it came together towards the end, which I did enjoy. My favourite characters were definitely the ghosts, such sass!
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