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The Hag Stone: A Novel of Love and Loss During the Bubonic Plague
Love, loss, redemption, betrayal, and the innate quest to survive as the Bubonic Plague ravages England.
England,1347. As mistress of Rowan Manor, Cecily Heaton leads an enviable life. Yet when she learns of her husband’s death and is forced from her home by her brother-in-law, she finds herself grief-stricken, abandoned, and alone.
After relying on the kindness of a childhood friend, Cecily suffers a shocking betrayal, leading her to question long-held beliefs. As her grief multiplies, she heads to York to forge a new life as a healer. During this time, the Bubonic Plague begins its deathly path through England, and Cecily must confront the inevitable choices of who will live, who will die, and what she is willing to sacrifice to reclaim the life she has lost.
The Hag Stone examines the role of women in medieval Europe, especially when the woman is widowed and childless; the emergence of the woman as healer; and the moral choices one must make in order to survive.
England,1347. As mistress of Rowan Manor, Cecily Heaton leads an enviable life. Yet when she learns of her husband’s death and is forced from her home by her brother-in-law, she finds herself grief-stricken, abandoned, and alone.
After relying on the kindness of a childhood friend, Cecily suffers a shocking betrayal, leading her to question long-held beliefs. As her grief multiplies, she heads to York to forge a new life as a healer. During this time, the Bubonic Plague begins its deathly path through England, and Cecily must confront the inevitable choices of who will live, who will die, and what she is willing to sacrifice to reclaim the life she has lost.
The Hag Stone examines the role of women in medieval Europe, especially when the woman is widowed and childless; the emergence of the woman as healer; and the moral choices one must make in order to survive.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2025
About the author
W.J. Small
5 books20 followersNew release! THE HAG STONE, set in the tumultuous 14th century, is the story of one woman's resilience as the Bubonic Plague ravages England.
W.J. Small's debut novel, A KNIGHT'S DUTY, follows real-life knight Thomas Gray as he grapples with fighting in the Border Wars and managing a chaotic family life..
WJ Small's second novel, THE FAILED APPRENTICE, is set in Henry VIII's England. It is the story of an unassuming man who becomes embroiled in a plot to take down Sir Thomas More.
TO KILL A QUEEN is the second in the Will Patten series and involves Will Patten's involvement in the plot to take down Queen Anne Boleyn.
The final novel in the Will Patten trilogy, A SHAFT OF LIGHT, was released in January 2024. In this third installment, Will travels to Yorkshire to escape the tentacles of the Tudor court, only to become embroiiled in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a treasonous uprising.
WJ Small splits her time between New York and South Carolina with her husband, son, and Jack Russell terriers. When not writing, she is reading, running, golfing, or simply enjoying a glass of single malt.
W.J. Small's debut novel, A KNIGHT'S DUTY, follows real-life knight Thomas Gray as he grapples with fighting in the Border Wars and managing a chaotic family life..
WJ Small's second novel, THE FAILED APPRENTICE, is set in Henry VIII's England. It is the story of an unassuming man who becomes embroiled in a plot to take down Sir Thomas More.
TO KILL A QUEEN is the second in the Will Patten series and involves Will Patten's involvement in the plot to take down Queen Anne Boleyn.
The final novel in the Will Patten trilogy, A SHAFT OF LIGHT, was released in January 2024. In this third installment, Will travels to Yorkshire to escape the tentacles of the Tudor court, only to become embroiiled in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a treasonous uprising.
WJ Small splits her time between New York and South Carolina with her husband, son, and Jack Russell terriers. When not writing, she is reading, running, golfing, or simply enjoying a glass of single malt.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2025
I have read all of Ms. Small’s books and this one is my favorite! The characters were well developed and the story pulls the reader in starting with page one! I love the main character, Cecily and found myself cheering for her as she faced every obstacle. I love the fact that Ms. Small writes about the struggles and challenges that a woman might face during that time period. Ms. Small clearly has done a lot of research regarding the availability and efficacy of medicinal remedies. I loved this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to readers!
May 9, 2025
I thought this book was well written and well researched. I have read ms.Smalls previous books and this book was as great as they were! I loved the characters and story line was attention grabbing. A great read!
August 21, 2025
The plight of women has been an ongoing saga since the beginning of time. In W.J. Small’s book The Hag Stone: A Novel of Love and Loss During the Bubonic Plague, one woman proves that women can overcome their circumstances even when it seems impossible.
Cecily Heaton is living a typical life in medieval England. Her husband Ellis has gone off to war, and she is being a dutiful wife and mistress of Rowan Manor. One day, a courier boy arrives with news that Ellis has died at Calais. Cecily is left with only his heart in a box, and a new fear of what life will look like now. Her brother-in-law, Henry, quickly jumps at the chance to gain control of the family property, and Cecily is left homeless. She seeks refuge with a long-time friend and discovers she may have the qualities of a healer and the gift of a hag stone. Her journey leads Cecily down a path where new friends are made, shady people are discovered, and a plague will test her resilience.
The Hag Stone is a story with layered significance. Women healers have a prominent place in history, yet they have not always enjoyed the fruits of their labor. They would often walk a thin line between being seen as a healer or as a witch. Small uses the character of Cecily beautifully to prove that being a healer was not just being well-versed in herbal knowledge. Readers see Cecily as a person who uses her abilities to better the world she lives in by helping others when they are sick.
Small also shares the hardships women faced daily in the medieval world. They were seen as vessels for babies and clean homes. In The Hag Stone, readers are immersed in a picture of women coming to the aid of other women without hesitation or judgment. Cecily experiences her friend Meggie giving her a home to stay in. When Cecily leaves Meggie’s home, she finds herself learning from a woman named Joan about the healing properties of plants. Ultimately, Cecily meets Justine, and together they help people in the community when the plague strikes. The Hag Stone becomes a portrait of the power of women.
The Bubonic Plague was a devastating time in Europe, and the author describes this period well. She uses lines like:
She could not leave Margaret and Toby in that house to fester, become food for rats, to give the plague a place to flourish.
Small also explains the importance of proper burials in this society.
… Margaret and Toby were gone and their bodies – hopefully – buried in the nearby churchyard.
The Hag Stone is an emotional story that will give you hope. In medieval Europe, life was hard, yet people took up the challenge. Women were looked down upon, as they still are in parts of the world today. Readers will witness what resilience and hope can do in their outlook on life. They will notice that when help is given with an open heart, good things can emerge. I recommend this book to readers who appreciate historical perspectives and feel-good themes.
Cecily Heaton is living a typical life in medieval England. Her husband Ellis has gone off to war, and she is being a dutiful wife and mistress of Rowan Manor. One day, a courier boy arrives with news that Ellis has died at Calais. Cecily is left with only his heart in a box, and a new fear of what life will look like now. Her brother-in-law, Henry, quickly jumps at the chance to gain control of the family property, and Cecily is left homeless. She seeks refuge with a long-time friend and discovers she may have the qualities of a healer and the gift of a hag stone. Her journey leads Cecily down a path where new friends are made, shady people are discovered, and a plague will test her resilience.
The Hag Stone is a story with layered significance. Women healers have a prominent place in history, yet they have not always enjoyed the fruits of their labor. They would often walk a thin line between being seen as a healer or as a witch. Small uses the character of Cecily beautifully to prove that being a healer was not just being well-versed in herbal knowledge. Readers see Cecily as a person who uses her abilities to better the world she lives in by helping others when they are sick.
Small also shares the hardships women faced daily in the medieval world. They were seen as vessels for babies and clean homes. In The Hag Stone, readers are immersed in a picture of women coming to the aid of other women without hesitation or judgment. Cecily experiences her friend Meggie giving her a home to stay in. When Cecily leaves Meggie’s home, she finds herself learning from a woman named Joan about the healing properties of plants. Ultimately, Cecily meets Justine, and together they help people in the community when the plague strikes. The Hag Stone becomes a portrait of the power of women.
The Bubonic Plague was a devastating time in Europe, and the author describes this period well. She uses lines like:
She could not leave Margaret and Toby in that house to fester, become food for rats, to give the plague a place to flourish.
Small also explains the importance of proper burials in this society.
… Margaret and Toby were gone and their bodies – hopefully – buried in the nearby churchyard.
The Hag Stone is an emotional story that will give you hope. In medieval Europe, life was hard, yet people took up the challenge. Women were looked down upon, as they still are in parts of the world today. Readers will witness what resilience and hope can do in their outlook on life. They will notice that when help is given with an open heart, good things can emerge. I recommend this book to readers who appreciate historical perspectives and feel-good themes.
July 9, 2025
The Hag Stone is so much more than just another historical novel, although it's a fascinating look at 14th-century England and the terror of the Black Plague. Had I read this novel 10 years ago, that's the lens I would've viewed it through, while being grateful to live in the modern era where patriarchy and religion no longer control women's lives. Now? Not so much. Cecily's story is painful to read, as she learns that society cares little for middle-aged, older women and widows. Even when facing the horrific realities of the Bubonic Plague, people would try outlandish treatments offered by charlatans over established healers because they were "just" women. Equally disturbing is the subplot of powerful men committing repeated sexual assaults, knowing that the law will never hold them responsible. This novel is set seven hundred years ago, but it feels painfully relevant. And the Hag stones? I've been collecting them since I was a child. Who can resist a water-worn stone with a perfect hole through it?!
June 11, 2025
The Hag Stone by W.J. Small is a moving, atmospheric historical novel set against the grim backdrop of 14th-century England as the Bubonic Plague tightens its grip. Cecily Heaton’s journey from privileged lady to grieving widow, then to betrayed outcast and finally healer, is a testament to female resilience in a brutal age. Small excels in capturing the stark realities of the era—disease, despair, and societal restrictions—while weaving in a deeply personal story of survival, moral dilemmas, and self-reinvention. The novel subtly explores the emergence of women as independent figures within medieval society, especially in healing roles. Poignant and historically immersive, The Hag Stone is perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives set during pivotal moments in history.
May 22, 2026
This was a fascinating look into the 14th century when women had few rights and were often left with nothing if widowed or never married. Add in the Black Death sweeping through the world and it’s easy to understand why Middle Ages were difficult for so many. Ms. Small brings the best of history and fiction together in a novel that both entertains and educates.
April 26, 2025
The writing was really skimpy, shallow, meager, unimaginative and non-evoking.
Characters had no emotional depth and the story was not interesting. I didn't care as to what happens next.
Also the author writing a 5 star review for themselves is just in poor taste.
Characters had no emotional depth and the story was not interesting. I didn't care as to what happens next.
Also the author writing a 5 star review for themselves is just in poor taste.
April 4, 2026
Who would've thought that a book about the 14th century plague would be so interesting. Read this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews