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The Witching Hour
A storm is brewing…Living in Jersey during the Nazi occupation, Briar Le Gros and her mother, Diana, are hiding a dangerous secret. Witchery runs in their blood.
One night, as the coven gather, a storm crashes down and, late for curfew, Briar must shelter in the ruins of an old prison. With a flash of lightning she’s brought face to face with Xavier Giroye, a surprising stranger … from 1643.
Briar and Diana must send Xavier back to his own time but when the spell goes wrong, Briar is transported to the past with him. Together, they go from Nazi suspicion to evading the notorious witchfinder! The clock is ticking to reset the balance and get Briar back to the present. But the choice is bittersweet; returning home means leaving Xavier, the one person she’ll ever love…
Readers are LOVING The Witching Hour!'This story had a little bit of something for magic, witches, time travel, suspense, romance, & friendship. ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I was hooked from the first page until the last … It’s a perfect book to snuggle up and lose yourself in on a chilly autumn afternoon.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The Witching Hour is the most enjoyable book I have read all year. ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The story took off like a rocket in the prologue and kept my heart racing until the final page. The Witching Hour is spectacular, and I hope there's more to come.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This story was touching, heartbreaking, and at time exhilarating' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'What a read! I was gripped from the very first chapter.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I just loved this book so much!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A bittersweet sweet tale of love, betrayal and fear set across a dual timeline … it most certainly kept my attention to the very last page.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One night, as the coven gather, a storm crashes down and, late for curfew, Briar must shelter in the ruins of an old prison. With a flash of lightning she’s brought face to face with Xavier Giroye, a surprising stranger … from 1643.
Briar and Diana must send Xavier back to his own time but when the spell goes wrong, Briar is transported to the past with him. Together, they go from Nazi suspicion to evading the notorious witchfinder! The clock is ticking to reset the balance and get Briar back to the present. But the choice is bittersweet; returning home means leaving Xavier, the one person she’ll ever love…
Readers are LOVING The Witching Hour!'This story had a little bit of something for magic, witches, time travel, suspense, romance, & friendship. ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I was hooked from the first page until the last … It’s a perfect book to snuggle up and lose yourself in on a chilly autumn afternoon.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The Witching Hour is the most enjoyable book I have read all year. ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The story took off like a rocket in the prologue and kept my heart racing until the final page. The Witching Hour is spectacular, and I hope there's more to come.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This story was touching, heartbreaking, and at time exhilarating' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'What a read! I was gripped from the very first chapter.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I just loved this book so much!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A bittersweet sweet tale of love, betrayal and fear set across a dual timeline … it most certainly kept my attention to the very last page.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2025
53 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Carr
28 books22 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Social psychology, aging, gender, and family are the interests of sociologist Deborah Carr. She teaches sociology and social psychology. She is co-director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral training program at Rutgers’ Institute for Health.
She authored, co-authored and editited a number of books on Sociology.
Social psychology, aging, gender, and family are the interests of sociologist Deborah Carr. She teaches sociology and social psychology. She is co-director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral training program at Rutgers’ Institute for Health.
She authored, co-authored and editited a number of books on Sociology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 3, 2025
3.75 stars
July 28, 2025
The fact that this book has a witchy vibe is enough to pick this book up, right? It’s labeled as a General Fiction / Romance novel but I think Historical Fiction could be a good one to. Since this book has an overlapping dual timeline due to time travel. Briar lives in the year 1964 but has been sent back without knowing how to the year 1643 where witches are being hunted and hanged.
Want to read my full review on this book?
https://cindieslibrary.com/the-witchi...
Want to read my full review on this book?
https://cindieslibrary.com/the-witchi...
December 6, 2025
This is a story that unfolds in two timelines. It is a love story set amidst war and witch hunts. I found it very atmospheric, with the witches’ rituals and the effects of war vividly portrayed. The writing is simple and highly descriptive. If you enjoy stories involving time travel, I would recommend it!
December 18, 2025
⭐️ 2.5 STARS ⭐️
I was really drawn to the premise of this book and had been looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
We follow Briar and her mother, Diana, living in 1943, alongside Xavier, who belongs to 1643. At its heart, this is Briar and Xavier’s love story, woven with time travel and witchcraft. Set in such pivotal points in history, witch trials and Nazi Germany, there was so much potential for tension and drama as the characters moved between timelines. Yet the history itself isn’t explored in much depth, which left me wanting more.
Several pivotal elements of the story felt skimmed over or unexplained. For example, the book opens with Briar already in Xavier’s timeline, but we never learn why or how she arrived there. That detail felt significant, and similar gaps appeared elsewhere in the plot.
The witchcraft aspect also felt underdeveloped. We’re told of a powerful witch within the coven, but we never truly see evidence of that power or understand how it manifests.
At times, the dialogue dragged, with plans repeated more than necessary, only for their execution to be over before it really began. I also struggled to feel immersed in the world. Given the potential of the two timelines, more description of the settings could have helped bring the story to life and immerse the reader in each era.
As a romance fan, I wanted to feel swept up in Briar and Xavier’s love, but it felt more told than shown. We’re assured of their love, but we don’t really witness them falling for each other in a way that draws you in emotionally.
That said, I did enjoy the characters themselves, particularly the coven concept, and the relationship between Briar and Diana was very sweet. Their closeness was one of the highlights of the book.
Overall, this had the potential to be a sweeping love story filled with witchcraft and historical tension, and although it was a pleasant read, it never quite reached that point for me.
I was really drawn to the premise of this book and had been looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
We follow Briar and her mother, Diana, living in 1943, alongside Xavier, who belongs to 1643. At its heart, this is Briar and Xavier’s love story, woven with time travel and witchcraft. Set in such pivotal points in history, witch trials and Nazi Germany, there was so much potential for tension and drama as the characters moved between timelines. Yet the history itself isn’t explored in much depth, which left me wanting more.
Several pivotal elements of the story felt skimmed over or unexplained. For example, the book opens with Briar already in Xavier’s timeline, but we never learn why or how she arrived there. That detail felt significant, and similar gaps appeared elsewhere in the plot.
The witchcraft aspect also felt underdeveloped. We’re told of a powerful witch within the coven, but we never truly see evidence of that power or understand how it manifests.
At times, the dialogue dragged, with plans repeated more than necessary, only for their execution to be over before it really began. I also struggled to feel immersed in the world. Given the potential of the two timelines, more description of the settings could have helped bring the story to life and immerse the reader in each era.
As a romance fan, I wanted to feel swept up in Briar and Xavier’s love, but it felt more told than shown. We’re assured of their love, but we don’t really witness them falling for each other in a way that draws you in emotionally.
That said, I did enjoy the characters themselves, particularly the coven concept, and the relationship between Briar and Diana was very sweet. Their closeness was one of the highlights of the book.
Overall, this had the potential to be a sweeping love story filled with witchcraft and historical tension, and although it was a pleasant read, it never quite reached that point for me.
September 30, 2025
When I got an email from One More Chapter with an invitation to grab this book through Netgalley I didn't hesitate. Witches, time travel, the second world war and the witch trials. I was really excited and last week it was time to start reading.
Let me start with saying that the concept of this book is great. The author picked two really interesting times to set the story. Times in a way very different from each other and in a way also very much alike. It was nice to see those characters trying to survive in both times, it was nice to see the differences and the parallels. I just wish we'd get to see more of it. We only get to see glimpses. We're not really there when most of the horrible things happen.
I think that's the general issue with this book. It never feels like I'm there. There is a lot of tell, but not that much show. I know quite a lot of both times to build the worlds in my head, but I wished we get to see more world building on paper. Just like the romance is mostly told and not really shown. We don't get to see why these characters like each other so much, apart from him remembering her from moments we don't get to see or read, and her feeling a certain kind of familiarity without ever figuring out why. (It feels really wrong to withhold this information from her! I was waiting for the moment she'd hear about it, but it never came...)
Therefore the book feels like missed potential. This book could be really intense and emotional. It's the kind of story that could be heartbreaking and heartwarming at once, but too much moments and information is only talked about, some conversations take up way too much pagetime and other moments don't get nearly enough. The characters spent more time talking about their plan for the finale than the actual finale lasts.
I'm pretty sure other readers might still appreciate the book, I see mostly what this book could have been, but is not...
Let me start with saying that the concept of this book is great. The author picked two really interesting times to set the story. Times in a way very different from each other and in a way also very much alike. It was nice to see those characters trying to survive in both times, it was nice to see the differences and the parallels. I just wish we'd get to see more of it. We only get to see glimpses. We're not really there when most of the horrible things happen.
I think that's the general issue with this book. It never feels like I'm there. There is a lot of tell, but not that much show. I know quite a lot of both times to build the worlds in my head, but I wished we get to see more world building on paper. Just like the romance is mostly told and not really shown. We don't get to see why these characters like each other so much, apart from him remembering her from moments we don't get to see or read, and her feeling a certain kind of familiarity without ever figuring out why. (It feels really wrong to withhold this information from her! I was waiting for the moment she'd hear about it, but it never came...)
Therefore the book feels like missed potential. This book could be really intense and emotional. It's the kind of story that could be heartbreaking and heartwarming at once, but too much moments and information is only talked about, some conversations take up way too much pagetime and other moments don't get nearly enough. The characters spent more time talking about their plan for the finale than the actual finale lasts.
I'm pretty sure other readers might still appreciate the book, I see mostly what this book could have been, but is not...
September 17, 2025
⭐ 3.5/5
Witching Hour is a historical fantasy told across two timelines, one of them set during the witch trials, which creates a very engaging atmosphere. I really enjoyed the blend of historical elements with fantasy, and there are some well-crafted details about the period and the coven.
That said, I found the reading experience a bit uneven. The book is told from three POVs, but the voices weren’t distinct enough — I could only tell them apart because of the chapter headings. I also wished for more development: more depth on the island setting, on the coven and its members, and on secondary characters that could have added richness to the story.
The ending didn’t completely work for me either. While it did wrap up the story, it felt underdeveloped and left me somewhat confused, when I was hoping for a more impactful conclusion.
Still, I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fantasy with themes of witch trials, and who don’t mind a slower pace and a more subdued ending.
Witching Hour is a historical fantasy told across two timelines, one of them set during the witch trials, which creates a very engaging atmosphere. I really enjoyed the blend of historical elements with fantasy, and there are some well-crafted details about the period and the coven.
That said, I found the reading experience a bit uneven. The book is told from three POVs, but the voices weren’t distinct enough — I could only tell them apart because of the chapter headings. I also wished for more development: more depth on the island setting, on the coven and its members, and on secondary characters that could have added richness to the story.
The ending didn’t completely work for me either. While it did wrap up the story, it felt underdeveloped and left me somewhat confused, when I was hoping for a more impactful conclusion.
Still, I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fantasy with themes of witch trials, and who don’t mind a slower pace and a more subdued ending.
September 24, 2025
The idea of this book was amazing, love stretched across 300 years. He’s in the 1600s, and she’s in the 1940s, a witch who accidentally travels back in time and meets him. He helps her return home, though she loses all memories of him. That setup alone was such a strong foundation for a compelling story.
But instead of building on that, the author threw in 100 time jumps. He ends up in her time by accident, she falls for him again only to send him back? then she’s the one traveling back again? and the cycle just kept repeating. She eventually gets home, but since he’s still stuck in the 1600s, she decides to rescue him?
The premise had so much potential, but it felt drowned in constant, unnecessary twists. There were just too many things happening all the time, and it lost the emotional weight the original idea promised
*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book*
But instead of building on that, the author threw in 100 time jumps. He ends up in her time by accident, she falls for him again only to send him back? then she’s the one traveling back again? and the cycle just kept repeating. She eventually gets home, but since he’s still stuck in the 1600s, she decides to rescue him?
The premise had so much potential, but it felt drowned in constant, unnecessary twists. There were just too many things happening all the time, and it lost the emotional weight the original idea promised
*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book*
October 26, 2025
This book was so repetitive and nothing really happened.
There were some major discrepancies in the book. For example a large plot line of the book is Briar not remembering that she has previously traveled to Xavier's timeline, but when fighting off the witch hunter she states she's escaped him twice?!
It was also commented how much Briar had hated Ember when she first met her on her first trip to Xavier's timeline (which she doesn't remember). But then when she goes back a second time, the story says that Ember and Briar didn't meet previously because Ember was away with family or something.
It never says how or why Briar ended up travelling back 300 years the first time which I feel would have added a lot more context and meaning to the story.
Didn't like the characters at all. None of them really had any personality.
There were some major discrepancies in the book. For example a large plot line of the book is Briar not remembering that she has previously traveled to Xavier's timeline, but when fighting off the witch hunter she states she's escaped him twice?!
It was also commented how much Briar had hated Ember when she first met her on her first trip to Xavier's timeline (which she doesn't remember). But then when she goes back a second time, the story says that Ember and Briar didn't meet previously because Ember was away with family or something.
It never says how or why Briar ended up travelling back 300 years the first time which I feel would have added a lot more context and meaning to the story.
Didn't like the characters at all. None of them really had any personality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
3.5 stars as it was a really good book and it is the first witchcraft book I have read and I am really impressed.
Love how the story is told from different people too
Love how the story is told from different people too
November 19, 2025
A good story, not very creepy. Characters were well written and interesting. Lots of twists but ending was obvious. Will look at other things by this author.
November 10, 2025
absolutely loved this book.
A witchy outlander.
Definitely recommend.
A witchy outlander.
Definitely recommend.
August 16, 2025
The premise of this book was so intriguing—a love connection stretched across timelines, also taking place during World War II AND throw in some witchiness?! How unique!
However, after finishing the book, I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed.
I’ll start this by saying I think this book needs to go through a few more rounds of editing. There were three point of views throughout the book, but it was really difficult for me to tell the difference between the characters because they all sounded the same. Additionally, the story and descriptions felt so rushed, so it was a lot of telling and not showing. I would’ve loved to see the author slow down and describe the journey from one cottage to the next, what the streets looked like, descriptions of characters, etc. We didn’t really get that.
I don’t think I can really explain the rest of my thoughts without spoilers, so I‘ll get into that now.
*Spoiler Warning*
The story begins with Briar, trying to go home after being sent back to the past and meeting Xavier, but once she returns home, she forgets all about it. A thrilling start to the story!
The story moves along quite quickly with Xavier being transported to her time, and then Briar going back to his time, until she comes back home, then brings him back to her time. The whole time they were together, I was waiting for Xavier’s big reveal that they had met before, to see Briar’s reaction—but it never happened. This decision makes me feel slightly uncomfortable when you take into account that Briar and Xavier were intimate when they had first met, so now the information that she lost her virginity to this man is being withheld from her. There’s a part near the end when Briar mentions to the Witchfinder that she traveled through time twice, and I had to sit there for a few minutes and rack my brain on when the big reveal was, and then I thought maybe Briar remembered when she was casting the spell. However, I think it might have been a typo.
I think what could have made this story a lot stronger is if the first time Briar had gone back hadn’t happened. It was never explained how it happened to begin with, and them knowing one another previously didn’t add much to the story since she never remembered him and fell in love with him anyway. I think it would have been so much more special so see him in his world longer and actually watch them fall in love, not just be told that they were in love now.
We’re told that Briar is a very powerful witch, but there’s no evidence of that even before she started practicing magick. I would have liked to see the author hint at this more throughout, more than just being told by the Witchfinder he could smell it on her or her granny saying “She’s more powerful that all of us”. I also don’t remember ever getting a for sure reason why she didn’t want to practice magick in the first place, but I would’ve liked to see the author explore that more—potentially hinting at something that had happened in the past, or even remembering her first time time traveling and what had caused it and vowing to never touch it again. I think that would’ve made the ending so much more powerful.
*End of Spoiler Warning*
I know many of my points were negative, but I don’t think this is a bad book and I really did have a good time reading it. I think this book could be fun if you are looking for a light-read with a pretty solid romance story. I liked the characters quite a bit, I thought Briar and Xavier were both very fun characters to follow.
This is my first Deborah Carr novel, and I hope to read more of her books in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
However, after finishing the book, I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed.
I’ll start this by saying I think this book needs to go through a few more rounds of editing. There were three point of views throughout the book, but it was really difficult for me to tell the difference between the characters because they all sounded the same. Additionally, the story and descriptions felt so rushed, so it was a lot of telling and not showing. I would’ve loved to see the author slow down and describe the journey from one cottage to the next, what the streets looked like, descriptions of characters, etc. We didn’t really get that.
I don’t think I can really explain the rest of my thoughts without spoilers, so I‘ll get into that now.
*Spoiler Warning*
The story begins with Briar, trying to go home after being sent back to the past and meeting Xavier, but once she returns home, she forgets all about it. A thrilling start to the story!
The story moves along quite quickly with Xavier being transported to her time, and then Briar going back to his time, until she comes back home, then brings him back to her time. The whole time they were together, I was waiting for Xavier’s big reveal that they had met before, to see Briar’s reaction—but it never happened. This decision makes me feel slightly uncomfortable when you take into account that Briar and Xavier were intimate when they had first met, so now the information that she lost her virginity to this man is being withheld from her. There’s a part near the end when Briar mentions to the Witchfinder that she traveled through time twice, and I had to sit there for a few minutes and rack my brain on when the big reveal was, and then I thought maybe Briar remembered when she was casting the spell. However, I think it might have been a typo.
I think what could have made this story a lot stronger is if the first time Briar had gone back hadn’t happened. It was never explained how it happened to begin with, and them knowing one another previously didn’t add much to the story since she never remembered him and fell in love with him anyway. I think it would have been so much more special so see him in his world longer and actually watch them fall in love, not just be told that they were in love now.
We’re told that Briar is a very powerful witch, but there’s no evidence of that even before she started practicing magick. I would have liked to see the author hint at this more throughout, more than just being told by the Witchfinder he could smell it on her or her granny saying “She’s more powerful that all of us”. I also don’t remember ever getting a for sure reason why she didn’t want to practice magick in the first place, but I would’ve liked to see the author explore that more—potentially hinting at something that had happened in the past, or even remembering her first time time traveling and what had caused it and vowing to never touch it again. I think that would’ve made the ending so much more powerful.
*End of Spoiler Warning*
I know many of my points were negative, but I don’t think this is a bad book and I really did have a good time reading it. I think this book could be fun if you are looking for a light-read with a pretty solid romance story. I liked the characters quite a bit, I thought Briar and Xavier were both very fun characters to follow.
This is my first Deborah Carr novel, and I hope to read more of her books in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 17, 2025
THE WITCHING HOUR
By: Deborah Carr
Published by: One More Chapter
Release Date: 29.09.25
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ad/Pr Product
Book Blurb:
1943 - Briar and her mother Diana living in Jersey during the Nazi occupation. The two women hold a very dangerous secret. Witchery runs in their blood. They must do everything they can to keep this from the soldiers.
One night the coven secretly gathers while a storm crashes around them. Briar, who should be at home, shelters from the storm in the ruins of an old prison. Suddenly there is a flash of lightning and Briar is brought face to face with Xavier … from 1643.
Briar and her mother must send Xavier back to his own time but when they cast the spell it goes wrong, and Briar is sent back into the past as well. Briar went from trying to avoid Nazi suspicion to having to evade the notorious Witchfinder. Can Briar get home safely? And can she leave Xavier? Who is becoming more and more important to her as time goes on.
My Thoughts:
I love an historical fiction read with a witchy element. This story has a little bit of everything. Romance, fierce women, time jumps (time travel), magick, and so much more.
My favourite part to this story was the setting and the timelines. The beautiful island of Jersey. In the 1640’s during the Witch Trials and the 1940’s during the Nazi Occupation. Two very dark, and horrendous times in history. Orgueli Castle is very prominent in this story for where the magick takes place. I loved this element to the story. This castle has been said to imprison the individuals accused of witchcraft in the 17th century. Obviously, the author took some artistic license with elements to the tale, but I love it when a fiction story has factual elements woven in.
I loved the story telling by this author. The writing for the most part was vivid and atmospheric. Although I felt a few areas lacked detail. For example, in the descriptions of the magical aspects.
I enjoy a story coming from a few different POV’s, so I also appreciated this part of the book as well.
Overall, an enjoyable, captivating read that blends historical romance, over two timelines, separated by 300 years, each set in a very dark time of history. And at the heart of it are witches, magick and the magical time jumps. A story where you need to suspend your imagination for sure. But I found this read enchanting and was happily swept away for the ride.
By: Deborah Carr
Published by: One More Chapter
Release Date: 29.09.25
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ad/Pr Product
Book Blurb:
1943 - Briar and her mother Diana living in Jersey during the Nazi occupation. The two women hold a very dangerous secret. Witchery runs in their blood. They must do everything they can to keep this from the soldiers.
One night the coven secretly gathers while a storm crashes around them. Briar, who should be at home, shelters from the storm in the ruins of an old prison. Suddenly there is a flash of lightning and Briar is brought face to face with Xavier … from 1643.
Briar and her mother must send Xavier back to his own time but when they cast the spell it goes wrong, and Briar is sent back into the past as well. Briar went from trying to avoid Nazi suspicion to having to evade the notorious Witchfinder. Can Briar get home safely? And can she leave Xavier? Who is becoming more and more important to her as time goes on.
My Thoughts:
I love an historical fiction read with a witchy element. This story has a little bit of everything. Romance, fierce women, time jumps (time travel), magick, and so much more.
My favourite part to this story was the setting and the timelines. The beautiful island of Jersey. In the 1640’s during the Witch Trials and the 1940’s during the Nazi Occupation. Two very dark, and horrendous times in history. Orgueli Castle is very prominent in this story for where the magick takes place. I loved this element to the story. This castle has been said to imprison the individuals accused of witchcraft in the 17th century. Obviously, the author took some artistic license with elements to the tale, but I love it when a fiction story has factual elements woven in.
I loved the story telling by this author. The writing for the most part was vivid and atmospheric. Although I felt a few areas lacked detail. For example, in the descriptions of the magical aspects.
I enjoy a story coming from a few different POV’s, so I also appreciated this part of the book as well.
Overall, an enjoyable, captivating read that blends historical romance, over two timelines, separated by 300 years, each set in a very dark time of history. And at the heart of it are witches, magick and the magical time jumps. A story where you need to suspend your imagination for sure. But I found this read enchanting and was happily swept away for the ride.
September 29, 2025
Happy release day and a huge thank you to HarperCollinsUK One More Chapter for this arc!
I wanted to like this one, I really did. On paper it had everything I like, time travel, witches, history, love that stretches out 300 years. Like Outlander, but with magic, who wouldnt like that?
well, me.
(everything going forward includes spoilers)
what was perfect on the idea and premise, didn't really transform into the book. This book had three main characters, the lovers from different times, and the mother of the girl who traveled in time. But if you didn't check the name before the chapter you would have had no idea whose chapter it was. That's how similar they all seemed. Everything felt really superficial, and there was no depth in basically anything. This book was the epitome of "tell not show".
The prologue starts when Briar who is madly and deeply in love with Xander after having accidentally traveled in time, is send back to her own time and made forget Xander because Witchfinder is after her. Sounds so interesting and cool, we have action, we have love, we have magic and time travel. What I was waiting for next would be a time jump to beginning to see how this all happened. but no, we jump forward we months when Briar has forgotten everything ever happened. And then Xander accidentally travels forward in time and while he remembers everything that happened with Briar (including how he took her virginity) he never tells that to Briar while they fall in love again. Yuck.
Then we time travel again, and again, and again. So much happened in this book, while nothing really happened. The characters didn't feel deep enough, so I didn't really care what happened, and every conflict was resolved in matter of pages. The love story part of the story came basically from no where, and I didn't really feel any chemistry between Briar and Xander.
In the future timeline we have Nazi occupied Jersey, but really this wasn't as big part of the plot as the blurb let believe. Basically they just had to be super careful doing anything, but the horrors of Nazi occupation weren't really shown. We could have skipped that one. In the past, Briar is once taken by the Witchfinder and basically tortured but we also kinda skip over that, and Briar seems to be perfectly okay afterwards.
I'm pretty sad that this one did not live up to the premise, because in theory I would have loved this one.
2,5 stars.
I wanted to like this one, I really did. On paper it had everything I like, time travel, witches, history, love that stretches out 300 years. Like Outlander, but with magic, who wouldnt like that?
well, me.
(everything going forward includes spoilers)
what was perfect on the idea and premise, didn't really transform into the book. This book had three main characters, the lovers from different times, and the mother of the girl who traveled in time. But if you didn't check the name before the chapter you would have had no idea whose chapter it was. That's how similar they all seemed. Everything felt really superficial, and there was no depth in basically anything. This book was the epitome of "tell not show".
The prologue starts when Briar who is madly and deeply in love with Xander after having accidentally traveled in time, is send back to her own time and made forget Xander because Witchfinder is after her. Sounds so interesting and cool, we have action, we have love, we have magic and time travel. What I was waiting for next would be a time jump to beginning to see how this all happened. but no, we jump forward we months when Briar has forgotten everything ever happened. And then Xander accidentally travels forward in time and while he remembers everything that happened with Briar (including how he took her virginity) he never tells that to Briar while they fall in love again. Yuck.
Then we time travel again, and again, and again. So much happened in this book, while nothing really happened. The characters didn't feel deep enough, so I didn't really care what happened, and every conflict was resolved in matter of pages. The love story part of the story came basically from no where, and I didn't really feel any chemistry between Briar and Xander.
In the future timeline we have Nazi occupied Jersey, but really this wasn't as big part of the plot as the blurb let believe. Basically they just had to be super careful doing anything, but the horrors of Nazi occupation weren't really shown. We could have skipped that one. In the past, Briar is once taken by the Witchfinder and basically tortured but we also kinda skip over that, and Briar seems to be perfectly okay afterwards.
I'm pretty sad that this one did not live up to the premise, because in theory I would have loved this one.
2,5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
Mild spoilers
This book had a promising premise, a love story that unfolds across two different time periods, but both having something in common. That concept immediately caught my interest, and it's a trope I'd love to explore more in other books. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.
The first chapter was intriguing, throwing us right into the action, only to abruptly cut it short. Chapter two finally started setting the pace and introducing the characters, and for a while, the plot became engaging. However, by the middle of the book, we had already reached what the blurb had built up as the main conflict: Briar choosing between Xavier and returning to her own time. (Though it didn’t really feel like much of a choice.)
From that point on, the story just kept going… somewhere, though I’m not sure where exactly. Briar, Xavier, and even her mother had distinct personalities, but none of them experienced any noticeable development by the end. I understand that not all books focus on character arcs, so this wasn’t a reason for my low rating just something to keep in mind for readers who expect growth.
What really dragged the experience down for me was that I lost interest. I kept reading only so I could leave a complete review. The ending was predictable, and it took too long to get there. Some events felt unnecessary and that time could have been dedicated to something else.
The Witching Hour had potential, it started strong but ended poorly. The middle was a bittersweet stretch that felt somewhat empty. I also noticed a number of grammar issues and missing words that pulled me out of the story. The book would definitely benefit from a thorough edit, both in terms of plot structure and proofreading.
In conclusion: I’d recommend this as an easy, light read, it's not fast-paced and doesn’t have too many characters to keep track of. There are a few interesting moments and a decent ending, but overall, it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book had a promising premise, a love story that unfolds across two different time periods, but both having something in common. That concept immediately caught my interest, and it's a trope I'd love to explore more in other books. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.
The first chapter was intriguing, throwing us right into the action, only to abruptly cut it short. Chapter two finally started setting the pace and introducing the characters, and for a while, the plot became engaging. However, by the middle of the book, we had already reached what the blurb had built up as the main conflict: Briar choosing between Xavier and returning to her own time. (Though it didn’t really feel like much of a choice.)
From that point on, the story just kept going… somewhere, though I’m not sure where exactly. Briar, Xavier, and even her mother had distinct personalities, but none of them experienced any noticeable development by the end. I understand that not all books focus on character arcs, so this wasn’t a reason for my low rating just something to keep in mind for readers who expect growth.
What really dragged the experience down for me was that I lost interest. I kept reading only so I could leave a complete review. The ending was predictable, and it took too long to get there. Some events felt unnecessary and that time could have been dedicated to something else.
The Witching Hour had potential, it started strong but ended poorly. The middle was a bittersweet stretch that felt somewhat empty. I also noticed a number of grammar issues and missing words that pulled me out of the story. The book would definitely benefit from a thorough edit, both in terms of plot structure and proofreading.
In conclusion: I’d recommend this as an easy, light read, it's not fast-paced and doesn’t have too many characters to keep track of. There are a few interesting moments and a decent ending, but overall, it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 28, 2025
2.5⭐️ - So, I was on the hunt for some spooky reads to get me into the Halloween spirit, and stumbled upon “The Witching Hour.” It’s got this wild premise of a love story between a 1600s privateer and a 20th-century witch from Jersey, which was straight out of a fairy tale! On premise it screamed my name. Witches. Magic. Dual unique timeline. High stakes. Star crossed lovers. It felt like it should follow in the footsteps of Deborah Harness’ Discovery of Witches or Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. The premise certainly hinted at it, but didn’t quite end up delivering.
The characters and their story didn’t quite grab my attention the I would have hoped. The love declarations felt a bit forced, and the world-building and character development could’ve been more in-depth. Similarly the pacing—it was a bit uneven, with some parts feeling too fast and others dragging on or making me wonder why they are even in the story (Xavier and Andre travelling on a rescue mission to France, for example). The numerous timeline jumps felt unnecessary at times, and I must admit, I had the best time with it when we stuck to the final timeline.
Around the halfway point, I was torn between giving up and sticking it out. But I decided to persevere, and while the ending did tie up the loose ends, I still felt like there could have been so much more to the story.
Overall, The Witching Hour was a mixed bag for me. There were definitely enjoyable moments, especially when we followed the final timeline. But I’m not sure if I’d read it again.
If you’re in the mood for a quick and easy story with traditional magic, time travel, and a moody world setting similar to One Dark Window, then The Witching Hour might be worth checking out. But if you’re looking for something darker and emotionally wrenching, you might want to look elsewhere.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins, One More Chapter and the author for the opportunity to review this e-arc ahead of the book’s release.
The characters and their story didn’t quite grab my attention the I would have hoped. The love declarations felt a bit forced, and the world-building and character development could’ve been more in-depth. Similarly the pacing—it was a bit uneven, with some parts feeling too fast and others dragging on or making me wonder why they are even in the story (Xavier and Andre travelling on a rescue mission to France, for example). The numerous timeline jumps felt unnecessary at times, and I must admit, I had the best time with it when we stuck to the final timeline.
Around the halfway point, I was torn between giving up and sticking it out. But I decided to persevere, and while the ending did tie up the loose ends, I still felt like there could have been so much more to the story.
Overall, The Witching Hour was a mixed bag for me. There were definitely enjoyable moments, especially when we followed the final timeline. But I’m not sure if I’d read it again.
If you’re in the mood for a quick and easy story with traditional magic, time travel, and a moody world setting similar to One Dark Window, then The Witching Hour might be worth checking out. But if you’re looking for something darker and emotionally wrenching, you might want to look elsewhere.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins, One More Chapter and the author for the opportunity to review this e-arc ahead of the book’s release.
September 27, 2025
Deborah Carr's latest book The Witching Hour is a unique historical fantasy that seamlessly intertwines two distinct timelines. The dual timelines are the Nazi occupation of Jersey during World War II and the intense witch hunts of the 1600s. This is not one of those cozy magical tales. Ms Carr’s historical portrayal of witchcraft feels like many many hours of research and comes across as authentic and has a real feel to it.
The events of 1643 and 1943 caused me to be deeply invested in both time periods. One compelling fact is that each time period seems to inform and help the other which makes the narrative and plot that much more interesting. Ms. Carr has found parallels that are eerie and at the same time captivating.
The characters are very strong. The mother and daughter of team of Diana and Briar exhibit a powerful bond. The bonds between the ‘sisters’ is one of helping each other when they need it no questions asked. Finally the blossoming romance between Xavier and Briar across time periods is captivating and mind blowing.
The pace of the book is very fast and continues that way until the end. The characters are either evading the Nazi’s or evading a mean and horrid witch finder. The characters are evolving and constantly under threat which means there is never a dull moment. If you like stories about World War II and time travel this book checks off both boxes. The setting of Jersey during both time periods is vivid and very real.
Ms. Carr’s writing skills speak for themselves. She masterfully juggles 17th century magic with the 20th century horror of Nazi oppression. It is definitely a read you will not soon forget. Well done.
The events of 1643 and 1943 caused me to be deeply invested in both time periods. One compelling fact is that each time period seems to inform and help the other which makes the narrative and plot that much more interesting. Ms. Carr has found parallels that are eerie and at the same time captivating.
The characters are very strong. The mother and daughter of team of Diana and Briar exhibit a powerful bond. The bonds between the ‘sisters’ is one of helping each other when they need it no questions asked. Finally the blossoming romance between Xavier and Briar across time periods is captivating and mind blowing.
The pace of the book is very fast and continues that way until the end. The characters are either evading the Nazi’s or evading a mean and horrid witch finder. The characters are evolving and constantly under threat which means there is never a dull moment. If you like stories about World War II and time travel this book checks off both boxes. The setting of Jersey during both time periods is vivid and very real.
Ms. Carr’s writing skills speak for themselves. She masterfully juggles 17th century magic with the 20th century horror of Nazi oppression. It is definitely a read you will not soon forget. Well done.
July 24, 2025
The Witching Hour is a departure from Deborah Carr's other novels set on the Isle of Jersey during the German Occupation. Instead of the story focusing on the struggles and dangers faced by the islanders under Nazi rule, we're introduced to a group of witches whose ancestors have lived on Jersey for hundreds of years. This dual-timeline novel covers two of the most dangerous periods in the island's history: the Occupation during World War II and the witch hunts of the 1600s. Deborah Carr's writing is flawless, switching between timelines and characters so effortlessly that I had to double-check to determine the year. This is not fanciful magical realism to make you feel warm and cozy. This is the real deal, witchcraft as it has been for millennia, with knowledge passed down from mothers and grandmothers. The story took off like a rocket in the prologue and kept my heart racing until the final page. I loved the mother-daughter bond between Diana and Briar, as well as the sisterhood of the Jersey witches. The romance between Briar and Xavier was perfect. And, I hated the witchfinder, Roger Dankworth, with every fiber of my being. Kudos to the author for having the courage to branch out into a different genre. The Witching Hour is spectacular, and I hope there's more to come.
My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read the ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read the ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
August 3, 2025
The cover and the blurb is what made me want to read this story. The premise was intriguing and the historical elements made it unique, in comparison to other witchy books, by being set during Nazi rule.
Without giving too much away, Xavier is a Golden Retriever of a man and I liked him for that. Briar is described as being strong, but I didnt really feel connected to that notion. Her mum, is mum like. 🤷🏽♀️
I don't know. I didn't feel much character development to be honest.
The time travelling got boring and repetitive i felt. I think the prologue and lead up to that would of made a better story, how she got there the first time etc and the spice they have had.
I really hoped to like this, but some of the writing didn't make sense to me. An example of this is Briar herself saying she escaped the stories villian twice. I thought she could only recall the first time? Unless I skipped something. The discrepancies annoyed me a slight.
Overall, I think there is a unique love story, love between a mother and daughter, and the romantic love story. It's cute.
Spice:🫑
Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Deborah Carr, for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Without giving too much away, Xavier is a Golden Retriever of a man and I liked him for that. Briar is described as being strong, but I didnt really feel connected to that notion. Her mum, is mum like. 🤷🏽♀️
I don't know. I didn't feel much character development to be honest.
The time travelling got boring and repetitive i felt. I think the prologue and lead up to that would of made a better story, how she got there the first time etc and the spice they have had.
I really hoped to like this, but some of the writing didn't make sense to me. An example of this is Briar herself saying she escaped the stories villian twice. I thought she could only recall the first time? Unless I skipped something. The discrepancies annoyed me a slight.
Overall, I think there is a unique love story, love between a mother and daughter, and the romantic love story. It's cute.
Spice:🫑
Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Deborah Carr, for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2025
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This is a dual-timeline book with one timeline being 1643 during a time when there were witch hunts, and 1943, during the Nazi occupation in Jersey. Briar Le Gros and her mother, Diana, are trying to stay under the radar of the Nazi soldiers that are stationed nearby., because they are hiding the fact that they are witches. One night, as the coven gathers, a storm crashes down and, late for curfew, Briar must shelter in the ruins of an old prison. Just as lightning strikes, Briar is brought face to face with Xavier Giroye, a surprising stranger … from 1643, where his is being held in that same prison. Briar and Diana know they must send Xavier back to his own time but when the spell goes wrong, Briar is accidentally transported to the past with him. Briar goes from evading Nazi soldiers to evading a notorious witchfinder who has her in his crosshairs. The race is on to get Briar back to her time before the witchfinder can catch her even though it will mean leaving the man she is faling in love with.
I loved this book. I adored Briar and Xavier. This story had a little bit of something for everyone: magic, witches, time travel, suspense, romance, & friendship. It is perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness.
This is a dual-timeline book with one timeline being 1643 during a time when there were witch hunts, and 1943, during the Nazi occupation in Jersey. Briar Le Gros and her mother, Diana, are trying to stay under the radar of the Nazi soldiers that are stationed nearby., because they are hiding the fact that they are witches. One night, as the coven gathers, a storm crashes down and, late for curfew, Briar must shelter in the ruins of an old prison. Just as lightning strikes, Briar is brought face to face with Xavier Giroye, a surprising stranger … from 1643, where his is being held in that same prison. Briar and Diana know they must send Xavier back to his own time but when the spell goes wrong, Briar is accidentally transported to the past with him. Briar goes from evading Nazi soldiers to evading a notorious witchfinder who has her in his crosshairs. The race is on to get Briar back to her time before the witchfinder can catch her even though it will mean leaving the man she is faling in love with.
I loved this book. I adored Briar and Xavier. This story had a little bit of something for everyone: magic, witches, time travel, suspense, romance, & friendship. It is perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness.
September 7, 2025
Thank you Net Galley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this book - this is my honest opinion.
The premise of this book really hooked me - witch trials, WWII, and time travel all tangled together? Yes, please! I enjoyed the setup, and I absolutely loved the mother-daughter bond between Diana and Briar. Their relationship was definitely the heart of the story for me.
Now, the pacing… it didn’t always work for me, unfortunately. The first half was solid, but somewhere in the middle things started to drag, especially with the time-slip sections. The romance didn’t really click either... I just didn’t feel the chemistry. A few things at the end also felt a bit unresolved, which left me wanting more.
All that said, the atmosphere was great and the historical backdrop worked really well. It wasn’t quite the page-turner I was hoping for, but still an interesting read overall! If you like historical fantasies with witchy vibes, definitely give this book a shot!
The premise of this book really hooked me - witch trials, WWII, and time travel all tangled together? Yes, please! I enjoyed the setup, and I absolutely loved the mother-daughter bond between Diana and Briar. Their relationship was definitely the heart of the story for me.
Now, the pacing… it didn’t always work for me, unfortunately. The first half was solid, but somewhere in the middle things started to drag, especially with the time-slip sections. The romance didn’t really click either... I just didn’t feel the chemistry. A few things at the end also felt a bit unresolved, which left me wanting more.
All that said, the atmosphere was great and the historical backdrop worked really well. It wasn’t quite the page-turner I was hoping for, but still an interesting read overall! If you like historical fantasies with witchy vibes, definitely give this book a shot!
October 5, 2025
A tale of time travel. The book begins with Briar Le Gros having travelled back in time from her Jersey of 1943 to 1643. She's met and fallen in love with Xavier but as she's returned to her own time her memory is wiped by the spell that takes her home. In 1643 she was hunted by the notorious and terrifying Witchfinder. When handsome Xavier appears in the grounds of a local ruined castle in 1943, Briar is shocked. It's clear Xavier is from another time, and he remembers his love. Briar is newly attracted to him. Sending him back to his own time, Briar's mother Diana inadvertently also sends her daughter who soon finds herself in even more terrifying times. Diana and her coven must find a way to bring Briar back again. And so runs a tale of two times where two worlds collide, with a love story at it's heart but also the history of the 17th century witchhunts and time travel. #netgalley #thewitchinghour
October 19, 2025
This was a perfect read for October.
This book blends history, mystery, and just the right touch of witchcraft. With its gothic undertones and richly painted setting, the story pulls you in immediately and keeps you hooked with secrets, suspense, and a thread of romance woven through the pages.
Carr’s writing shines in the way she balances character depth with a haunting plot full of twists and revelations. The pacing keeps you engaged, while the historical backdrop adds an extra layer of intrigue. This is the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with on a cozy night and get completely lost in.
Tropes you’ll find:
✨ Historical Fiction
✨ Witchcraft / Supernatural Elements
✨ Gothic Atmosphere
✨ Family Secrets
✨ Slow Burn Romance
Thank you to the author Deborah Carr and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 ⭐️
#TheWitchingHour #DeborahCarr #HistoricalFiction #GothicReads #WitchyReads #BookReview #NetGalley
This book blends history, mystery, and just the right touch of witchcraft. With its gothic undertones and richly painted setting, the story pulls you in immediately and keeps you hooked with secrets, suspense, and a thread of romance woven through the pages.
Carr’s writing shines in the way she balances character depth with a haunting plot full of twists and revelations. The pacing keeps you engaged, while the historical backdrop adds an extra layer of intrigue. This is the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with on a cozy night and get completely lost in.
Tropes you’ll find:
✨ Historical Fiction
✨ Witchcraft / Supernatural Elements
✨ Gothic Atmosphere
✨ Family Secrets
✨ Slow Burn Romance
Thank you to the author Deborah Carr and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 ⭐️
#TheWitchingHour #DeborahCarr #HistoricalFiction #GothicReads #WitchyReads #BookReview #NetGalley
July 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars!
Deborah Carr was a new author for me and I really enjoyed this witchy love story across different historical time periods. This is definitely one for fans of Barbara Erskine.
I really loved way the similarities between Briar and Diana’s fear of the occupying soldiers during the Second World War and the fear of the witch hunter in the 1600s were so subtly added to the story. I also liked the time travel element in the story particularly how written messages could be passed between the past and the present and places overlapped between the timelines like Briar and Andre’s home.
The characters did fall a bit flat for me in this one. I struggled to care about any of them but I did love the premise and the story. I will definitely check out other books by Deborah Carr.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Deborah Carr was a new author for me and I really enjoyed this witchy love story across different historical time periods. This is definitely one for fans of Barbara Erskine.
I really loved way the similarities between Briar and Diana’s fear of the occupying soldiers during the Second World War and the fear of the witch hunter in the 1600s were so subtly added to the story. I also liked the time travel element in the story particularly how written messages could be passed between the past and the present and places overlapped between the timelines like Briar and Andre’s home.
The characters did fall a bit flat for me in this one. I struggled to care about any of them but I did love the premise and the story. I will definitely check out other books by Deborah Carr.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 21, 2025
We have a time travel tale with witches. This takes place three hundred years apart partly in the 1640s and partly in the 1940s. This was set in Jersey which I thought was really cool! I’m not sure I’ve read anything set in Jersey before so I enjoyed exploring a new setting.
A large part of this story is dedicated to a romance between two people from different time periods. But the romance wasn’t the main draw for me. It was nice enough but I wasn’t particularly engrossed by this. The part I really liked was the witchcraft. The female main character (who is from the 20th century timeline) has magical power and her mother is part of a secret coven. I enjoyed looking at magic in the context of the 1940s time period. It felt a bit different to many other books I’ve read. There is a witch finder parallel too which takes place in the earlier timeline.
The setting and the modern time line made this book noticeable. Likely one for fans of Outlander and other time travel romances. Or historical witch lit. I read an eARC on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
A large part of this story is dedicated to a romance between two people from different time periods. But the romance wasn’t the main draw for me. It was nice enough but I wasn’t particularly engrossed by this. The part I really liked was the witchcraft. The female main character (who is from the 20th century timeline) has magical power and her mother is part of a secret coven. I enjoyed looking at magic in the context of the 1940s time period. It felt a bit different to many other books I’ve read. There is a witch finder parallel too which takes place in the earlier timeline.
The setting and the modern time line made this book noticeable. Likely one for fans of Outlander and other time travel romances. Or historical witch lit. I read an eARC on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
November 10, 2025
Not my usual choice, but I was intrigued by the blurb. Two timelines, 1643 and 1943. Two people, a would-be witch and a privateer on the island of Jersey, thrown together by accident. More than once.
It was a sweet time-travel adventure / historical love story with a couple of ghastly antagonists. I like the way the book begins in the midst of mayhem. A real attention grabber.
My attention waned however at about 70%, as there was a lot of talk and not a lot of action.
But it picked up again to a satisfying ending. I would like to know what happened to Ember.
The chapters alternated between the two main characters and I listened to the audiobook, so it was effective having Briar's chapters read by a woman and Xavier's read by a man. It brought it to life and both narrators were great (Lucy Walker-Evan's & Jot Davies).
It was a sweet time-travel adventure / historical love story with a couple of ghastly antagonists. I like the way the book begins in the midst of mayhem. A real attention grabber.
My attention waned however at about 70%, as there was a lot of talk and not a lot of action.
But it picked up again to a satisfying ending. I would like to know what happened to Ember.
The chapters alternated between the two main characters and I listened to the audiobook, so it was effective having Briar's chapters read by a woman and Xavier's read by a man. It brought it to life and both narrators were great (Lucy Walker-Evan's & Jot Davies).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for an opportunity to read this eARC for exchange for my opinion
Sadly this was DNF for me at 40%
The book in my opinion had a lot of lost potential, the idea was intriguing but the execution was lacking something..
a spark ... to keep me interested.
The romance? what romance? we are told they love each other but in reality we have to believe the word of the author about it bc in those 40% I've read there is no chemistry, no emotional connection between the main couple.
What I love though is the relationship between mother and daughter. they really care about each other and Diana (Briar's mom) is very competent in what she's doing doing
Giving it 2,5* overall
Sadly this was DNF for me at 40%
The book in my opinion had a lot of lost potential, the idea was intriguing but the execution was lacking something..
a spark ... to keep me interested.
The romance? what romance? we are told they love each other but in reality we have to believe the word of the author about it bc in those 40% I've read there is no chemistry, no emotional connection between the main couple.
What I love though is the relationship between mother and daughter. they really care about each other and Diana (Briar's mom) is very competent in what she's doing doing
Giving it 2,5* overall
August 22, 2025
A tale of witches, magick and time travel set on the island of Jersey during the German occupation. With a dual timeline and characters that travel between 1640s and 1943 you can’t help but feel caught in up in the dangerous events within the story. Neither time period is particularly safe for the characters so things do get a little tense!
However, it’s not as dark as I was expecting, which I was surprised about considering how violent the 16th century witch hunts were. There were some sweet moments between the main love interests and I loved how the coven supported one another, but I would have like a little bit more conflict - some of the challenges seemed to be overcome a little too easily.
However, it’s not as dark as I was expecting, which I was surprised about considering how violent the 16th century witch hunts were. There were some sweet moments between the main love interests and I loved how the coven supported one another, but I would have like a little bit more conflict - some of the challenges seemed to be overcome a little too easily.
August 23, 2025
This was an interesting concept but I didn't connect to the characters as much as I wanted to. The story felt a bit disjointed and there were some plot holes, or at least unexplained things. It had potential but was a little flat.
I liked the multi POV writing as it allowed the reader to see what was going on in both time periods and how the characters never really managed to move on from events of the past. The love story over time was nice.
Overall 2.75 stars are I felt the story was disjointed, the characters didn't grow all that much and the bad guy fell a bit flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Deborah Carr for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the multi POV writing as it allowed the reader to see what was going on in both time periods and how the characters never really managed to move on from events of the past. The love story over time was nice.
Overall 2.75 stars are I felt the story was disjointed, the characters didn't grow all that much and the bad guy fell a bit flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Deborah Carr for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2025
I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them immensely so when I read the blurb for this one, i was intrigued as it seemed different from the other books written by the author, the only simarilty being that they're set mainly in Jersey, it was a bittersweet sweet tale of love, betrayal and fear set across a dual timeline and it most certainly kept my attention to the very last page. I'm not sure if the author plans to write another book with Briar and Xavier, I do hope so as I feel their story isn't finished
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