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How to Kill a Witch: A Guide For The Patriarchy
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2025)
'The Witches of Scotland... profile persecuted women from the burning times. Their tales are woven by archivists, historians and writers - and by Venditozzi and Mitchell themselves, two of Scotland's most vivid storytellers.' THE TIMES
As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women's fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning.
Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, KC, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. In order to understand why it happened, they have broken down the entire horrifying process, step-by-step, from identification of individuals, to their accusation, 'pricking', torture, confessions, execution and beyond.
With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world.
With testimony from a small army of experts, pen portraits of the women accused, trial transcripts, witness accounts and the documents that set the legal grounds for the hunts, How to Kill A Witch builds to form a rich patchwork of tragic stories, helping us comprehend the underlying reasons for this terrible injustice, and raises the serious question - could it ever happen again?
As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women's fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning.
Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, KC, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. In order to understand why it happened, they have broken down the entire horrifying process, step-by-step, from identification of individuals, to their accusation, 'pricking', torture, confessions, execution and beyond.
With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world.
With testimony from a small army of experts, pen portraits of the women accused, trial transcripts, witness accounts and the documents that set the legal grounds for the hunts, How to Kill A Witch builds to form a rich patchwork of tragic stories, helping us comprehend the underlying reasons for this terrible injustice, and raises the serious question - could it ever happen again?
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
June 22, 2025
This book is exactly what the blurb says it's going to be, with Zoe and Claire discussing the various Scottish witch trials and their forgotten victims (who were mostly women). It's a darkly humorous read with entertaining and witty commentary, but that doesn't mean that it isn't factual or well-researched. As an American, I never learned much about witch trials in school other than what happened in Salem in 1692-93 and the vague fact that others occurred in Europe around the same time. This book was incredibly eye-opening, as I had no idea that Scotland had even had their own witch trials, much less that they were as extensive as they were. And, according to the authors, apparently Scottish pupils don't learn much more about them than we do.
How to Kill a Witch is both captivating and infuriating in equal measures. It amazes me the things that happened — and are still happening in various places around the world — in the name of religion … and in order to punish and silence “quarrelsome” women. This book tells the stories of some of the individuals who were wrongfully accused, and it also gets into the details of the processes used for dealing with "witches," from accusation to execution. The authors speak to experts in the field and those working to exonerate and memorialize the convicted, and there is much about the historical figures who allowed — and even encouraged — these trials to happen. (James VI probably should have been punted out of an airplane without a parachute … or whatever the 1500/1600s equivalent of an airplane was. A really tall tower, maybe?)
This book is horrifying and fascinating and informative and sad, and it makes me want to go learn more about the witch trials — not just those that happened in Scotland and Salem, but also those that took place elsewhere around the world. And I'm definitely going to go check out Zoe and Claire's Witches of Scotland podcast now because it sounds amazing. If you're at all interested in the history of the witch trials (or in the reasons behind them), definitely consider giving How to Kill a Witch a read.
4.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 30, 2025.
How to Kill a Witch is both captivating and infuriating in equal measures. It amazes me the things that happened — and are still happening in various places around the world — in the name of religion … and in order to punish and silence “quarrelsome” women. This book tells the stories of some of the individuals who were wrongfully accused, and it also gets into the details of the processes used for dealing with "witches," from accusation to execution. The authors speak to experts in the field and those working to exonerate and memorialize the convicted, and there is much about the historical figures who allowed — and even encouraged — these trials to happen. (James VI probably should have been punted out of an airplane without a parachute … or whatever the 1500/1600s equivalent of an airplane was. A really tall tower, maybe?)
This book is horrifying and fascinating and informative and sad, and it makes me want to go learn more about the witch trials — not just those that happened in Scotland and Salem, but also those that took place elsewhere around the world. And I'm definitely going to go check out Zoe and Claire's Witches of Scotland podcast now because it sounds amazing. If you're at all interested in the history of the witch trials (or in the reasons behind them), definitely consider giving How to Kill a Witch a read.
4.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 30, 2025.
August 8, 2025
5 stars — for the witches, the women, and the ones who wouldn’t shut up.
How to Kill a Witch by Claire Mitchell and Zoë Venditozzi is a sharp, lyrical unearthing of Scotland’s dark history — a history where thousands of (mostly) women were accused, tortured, and executed as witches. Not for spells or broomsticks, but for being too loud, too quiet, too clever, too poor, too unmarried, too inconvenient.
This book balances righteous fury with dark humor, layering facts with feeling. It’s deeply researched, utterly readable, and quietly devastating.
The authors don’t just look backward; they draw a jagged line straight to the present. You’ll come away wondering how much has really changed. The witch hunts may be over, but the suspicion, control, and silencing of women? That’s alive and well.
Being a woman today is slightly less burny, sure — but still pretty witchy.
How to Kill a Witch by Claire Mitchell and Zoë Venditozzi is a sharp, lyrical unearthing of Scotland’s dark history — a history where thousands of (mostly) women were accused, tortured, and executed as witches. Not for spells or broomsticks, but for being too loud, too quiet, too clever, too poor, too unmarried, too inconvenient.
This book balances righteous fury with dark humor, layering facts with feeling. It’s deeply researched, utterly readable, and quietly devastating.
The authors don’t just look backward; they draw a jagged line straight to the present. You’ll come away wondering how much has really changed. The witch hunts may be over, but the suspicion, control, and silencing of women? That’s alive and well.
Being a woman today is slightly less burny, sure — but still pretty witchy.
May 18, 2025
I am LOVING all my witch reads lately, whether it be fiction or fact.
Accusations of witchcraft were hugely prevalent in the 1600s in the reign of King James I. But this book brings those witchcraft trials to the present day, highlighting the underlying misogyny through the centuries.
This is a hugely readable and fascinating book, and every feminist should read it and shake their heads in outrage and disbelief.
Brilliant, and incredibly relevant and important today.
Accusations of witchcraft were hugely prevalent in the 1600s in the reign of King James I. But this book brings those witchcraft trials to the present day, highlighting the underlying misogyny through the centuries.
This is a hugely readable and fascinating book, and every feminist should read it and shake their heads in outrage and disbelief.
Brilliant, and incredibly relevant and important today.
July 15, 2025
I love the subject and I love the authors. However, the book felt disorganized and didn't flow as well as I expected, and I thought the use of an AI-generated artwork to accompany one of the accused women's stories was just bizarre.
I do really appreciate the campaign to get the accused people's names out and to remember them as victims of an oppressive system.
I do really appreciate the campaign to get the accused people's names out and to remember them as victims of an oppressive system.
July 24, 2025
It took me a couple of months to finish this one—not because it was slow or boring or overly dense, but because I kept pausing to Google people, places, and events mentioned throughout. That’s how engaging and educational this book is.
How to Kill a Witch explores witch hunts and trials through a global lens but focuses heavily on Scotland’s dark and often overlooked history. One of the most striking revelations? Even many Scots are more familiar with the Salem witch trials than with their own country’s tragic past. That says a lot.
Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi clearly poured their hearts into this work. You can feel their passion and dedication to honoring the victims by bringing their stories into the light. The emotional weight of this book hit me often. I found myself tearing up while reading these accounts.
What makes the book stand out is how it seamlessly blends historical facts with fictional vignettes, giving us a more vivid sense of what these women may have experienced. These fictional passages are clearly marked (thank you, font change!), so there’s no confusion between what’s real and what’s imagined.
But what really hit me was how the authors connect the past to the present, showing how the same patterns of injustice, misogyny, and fear-driven violence still exist today. It’s a powerful and necessary reading.
If you’re even remotely interested in women’s history, Scottish history, or the ongoing fight for justice and recognition, this book belongs on your shelf.
How to Kill a Witch explores witch hunts and trials through a global lens but focuses heavily on Scotland’s dark and often overlooked history. One of the most striking revelations? Even many Scots are more familiar with the Salem witch trials than with their own country’s tragic past. That says a lot.
Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi clearly poured their hearts into this work. You can feel their passion and dedication to honoring the victims by bringing their stories into the light. The emotional weight of this book hit me often. I found myself tearing up while reading these accounts.
What makes the book stand out is how it seamlessly blends historical facts with fictional vignettes, giving us a more vivid sense of what these women may have experienced. These fictional passages are clearly marked (thank you, font change!), so there’s no confusion between what’s real and what’s imagined.
But what really hit me was how the authors connect the past to the present, showing how the same patterns of injustice, misogyny, and fear-driven violence still exist today. It’s a powerful and necessary reading.
If you’re even remotely interested in women’s history, Scottish history, or the ongoing fight for justice and recognition, this book belongs on your shelf.
May 29, 2025
I was umming and ahhing between 3 and 4 stars for this, but ultimately it is incredibly well researched and its relevance today is still as important as ever. I listened to the audiobook but think it would work better as a physical book as I personally found it difficult to keep track of who was who, and the old Scottish accent and dialect used was hard to make sense of without seeing it in writing. Nevertheless, a worthwhile read and a fascinating history lesson.
July 9, 2025
4 stars
This book is historical nonfiction that looks at the women of Scotland, who were accused of witchcraft. It includes several well-known women and their trials, the numerous instances of the patriarchy that lead to the horrific events of witch hunts and the treatment of women. It was very fascinating learning about these women's stories, how the political, social, religious climates were used and essentially weaponized against mainly women, especially those that stood out and dared to talk back. Also comparing the use of these terms and ideas in Scotland, with those in the USA and Nigeria both past and current. This book touched on a number of compelling topics, some I would not have even thought of that would be a factor in these events, not to mention the number of experts interviewed, was adding even more depth and understanding to what happened during this time period. While I did enjoy reading this book some things were a bit long and repetitive at times, but ultimately an excellent read. I would recommend it if you had any interest in history, witches, and Patriarchy, it is a very captivating read.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
This book is historical nonfiction that looks at the women of Scotland, who were accused of witchcraft. It includes several well-known women and their trials, the numerous instances of the patriarchy that lead to the horrific events of witch hunts and the treatment of women. It was very fascinating learning about these women's stories, how the political, social, religious climates were used and essentially weaponized against mainly women, especially those that stood out and dared to talk back. Also comparing the use of these terms and ideas in Scotland, with those in the USA and Nigeria both past and current. This book touched on a number of compelling topics, some I would not have even thought of that would be a factor in these events, not to mention the number of experts interviewed, was adding even more depth and understanding to what happened during this time period. While I did enjoy reading this book some things were a bit long and repetitive at times, but ultimately an excellent read. I would recommend it if you had any interest in history, witches, and Patriarchy, it is a very captivating read.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
October 12, 2025
Lots of great stuff in here. The campaign is admirable — nay, vital — and the stories and facts fascinating. It breaks things down in easily digestible ways that avoid it getting too lost in the weeds of history. But it’s a bit scattershot at times, the structure doesn’t entirely work, the copy errors are distracting, and the irreverence that works in the podcast doesn’t translate well to text. At once both too wide-ranging and not detailed enough, I really, really wish I got more from this expansion.
May 8, 2025
This is a fabulous non-fiction book. From the title, it is obviously about witches and how women have been treated throughout history. The book focuses on the accused from history and then explains why they were treated as they were.
This is an addictive read, and it is one that lovers of historical fact and the role of women or how women have been treated centuries ago. Most of us are aware of witches from either fairy tales, folklore or myth. The author has used sections from transcripts, documents and the account of the time. I am no expert, but to me it feels very well researched, and there is a large list for further reading if you decide to delve further.
The author does use some of the more well-known characters or areas in history where there have been witch trials. But, this book focuses more on the Witches that were tried in Scotland. The author has a podcast called Witches of Scotland, and this is another great visit.
The way women have been portrayed in history changes depending on the viewpoint of others. A woman could be sought out to help with delivering a baby, but if something went wrong or there was some sort of affliction, then it would be common for either that woman or another from the area to be blamed. A snide remark, a wrong look or just not being liked or being seen as an outsider could be enough for you to be reported.
We are aware that the way the law worked was very different to today. Being moneyed, gentry, mayoral, important figure was enough for you to be part of the bench that would pass judgment. Not allowing women or other people to explain themselves and give their account of things was not part of the trial. Instead, confessions were used; these were obtained by force and then admitted as the overriding evidence.
While the book does explore the ways witches were sought out, what made them dangerous, how to capture and extract confessions, it is also about how women were treated by the largely patriarchal society of the time. Yes, it can be an infuriating read as the sense of injustice is very obvious.
This book looks at life in the 1500 and 1600s, and explores the role of women, their status in the family and society and how easy to was to pin the badge of witch to them if they stepped out of line. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it is one I would definitely recommend.
This is an addictive read, and it is one that lovers of historical fact and the role of women or how women have been treated centuries ago. Most of us are aware of witches from either fairy tales, folklore or myth. The author has used sections from transcripts, documents and the account of the time. I am no expert, but to me it feels very well researched, and there is a large list for further reading if you decide to delve further.
The author does use some of the more well-known characters or areas in history where there have been witch trials. But, this book focuses more on the Witches that were tried in Scotland. The author has a podcast called Witches of Scotland, and this is another great visit.
The way women have been portrayed in history changes depending on the viewpoint of others. A woman could be sought out to help with delivering a baby, but if something went wrong or there was some sort of affliction, then it would be common for either that woman or another from the area to be blamed. A snide remark, a wrong look or just not being liked or being seen as an outsider could be enough for you to be reported.
We are aware that the way the law worked was very different to today. Being moneyed, gentry, mayoral, important figure was enough for you to be part of the bench that would pass judgment. Not allowing women or other people to explain themselves and give their account of things was not part of the trial. Instead, confessions were used; these were obtained by force and then admitted as the overriding evidence.
While the book does explore the ways witches were sought out, what made them dangerous, how to capture and extract confessions, it is also about how women were treated by the largely patriarchal society of the time. Yes, it can be an infuriating read as the sense of injustice is very obvious.
This book looks at life in the 1500 and 1600s, and explores the role of women, their status in the family and society and how easy to was to pin the badge of witch to them if they stepped out of line. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it is one I would definitely recommend.
June 6, 2025
I’ve been following the Witches of Scotland for a wee while and have been waiting for the release of this book! I was excited to listen to it as an audiobook and hear Claire and Zoe’s passion through their reading. Overall an excellent non-fiction piece that has been thoroughly researched. If you’re going to read any book on the Scottish witch trials this should be the one!
October 1, 2025
Truly, one of the most incredible reads of this year. Poignant, well-researched, bright, funny, witty, and all around wonderful, this book is not to be missed.
I am truly in awe of the women who wrote this book - Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi. Both remarkable and brilliant women, with personal and professional lives that make them forces with which to be reckoned. On top of their personal and professional achievements, they began the Witches of Scotland podcast, which aimed to highlight the miscarriages of justice, against women accused of witchcraft. Born out of a recognition that women (very much falsely) accused of witchcraft in Scotland were mislabeled and then executed, and the annals of history barely record their names, Mitchell and Venditozzi set out to remember these women.
What started as a tongue-in-cheek campaign, metamorphosed into a beautifully written recorded history of the women accused of witchcraft. This book goes beyond just sixteenth and eighteenth century Scotland, and draws direct parallels to modern day society. One thing we tend to forget, or indeed, even romanticize, is that these women were NOT witches. They were women who, for whatever reason, were targeted by their neighbors/families/friends/enemies/religious leaders. Because they didn’t fit into the prescribed boxes for pious women (which, understanding the religio-political climate of the times, makes it hard to even know exactly what religion to follow, in order to be a “godly” woman), and were subsequently punished - and murdered - for it.
This book recounts those women. Their stories. Their lives. Their womanhood. It reclaims their stories and makes a record of them, so that others may learn from the past, and honor the deaths of these women. While the full title, “How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy’s Guide for Silencing Women” does feel cheeky, it really does break down the steps and ways in which men of the time, in positions of extreme and total power, were able to manipulate society’s fears, insecurities, and vulnerabilities, and create the ultimate scapegoat.
As a nonfiction, historical book, “How to Kill a Witch” could be a dry, unengaging text. However, Mitchell and Venditozzi infuse humor, wit, and grace into this book, almost imperceptibly. The content is dark and horrific, thinking of the things that happened to these women and their families, and their utter powerlessness. But, Venditozzi and Mitchell ensure we can learn about the past in a way that is engaging, meaningful, easy to connect with, while honoring the pain and suffering. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that moved me to tears, and every range of emotion in between. I have a degree in History (and Literature), and I cannot emphasize how much I wish I had this book during my studies. Students, both official and mere life-long learners, will be enraptured from the first page, and will stay that way, until the very end.
I recommend this book with my whole chest. I wish this was required reading in schools - the amount of information about human nature and how to avoid these grave and deadly actions in the future, is truly invaluable. The feminist read of 2025.
I am truly in awe of the women who wrote this book - Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi. Both remarkable and brilliant women, with personal and professional lives that make them forces with which to be reckoned. On top of their personal and professional achievements, they began the Witches of Scotland podcast, which aimed to highlight the miscarriages of justice, against women accused of witchcraft. Born out of a recognition that women (very much falsely) accused of witchcraft in Scotland were mislabeled and then executed, and the annals of history barely record their names, Mitchell and Venditozzi set out to remember these women.
What started as a tongue-in-cheek campaign, metamorphosed into a beautifully written recorded history of the women accused of witchcraft. This book goes beyond just sixteenth and eighteenth century Scotland, and draws direct parallels to modern day society. One thing we tend to forget, or indeed, even romanticize, is that these women were NOT witches. They were women who, for whatever reason, were targeted by their neighbors/families/friends/enemies/religious leaders. Because they didn’t fit into the prescribed boxes for pious women (which, understanding the religio-political climate of the times, makes it hard to even know exactly what religion to follow, in order to be a “godly” woman), and were subsequently punished - and murdered - for it.
This book recounts those women. Their stories. Their lives. Their womanhood. It reclaims their stories and makes a record of them, so that others may learn from the past, and honor the deaths of these women. While the full title, “How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy’s Guide for Silencing Women” does feel cheeky, it really does break down the steps and ways in which men of the time, in positions of extreme and total power, were able to manipulate society’s fears, insecurities, and vulnerabilities, and create the ultimate scapegoat.
As a nonfiction, historical book, “How to Kill a Witch” could be a dry, unengaging text. However, Mitchell and Venditozzi infuse humor, wit, and grace into this book, almost imperceptibly. The content is dark and horrific, thinking of the things that happened to these women and their families, and their utter powerlessness. But, Venditozzi and Mitchell ensure we can learn about the past in a way that is engaging, meaningful, easy to connect with, while honoring the pain and suffering. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that moved me to tears, and every range of emotion in between. I have a degree in History (and Literature), and I cannot emphasize how much I wish I had this book during my studies. Students, both official and mere life-long learners, will be enraptured from the first page, and will stay that way, until the very end.
I recommend this book with my whole chest. I wish this was required reading in schools - the amount of information about human nature and how to avoid these grave and deadly actions in the future, is truly invaluable. The feminist read of 2025.
July 17, 2025
Well-written, easy to read and (obviously) makes a great point: Scotland’s witches, and witches in general, should be remembered and lessons have to be learned from the witch trails. That being said, this book lacked nuance in many areas. To name one example: around the 80-90 page mark, the authors cite a historian they’ve spoken to about John Knox. She mentions research isn’t clear about how ‘sexist’ he really was; from a modern day standpoint he is, but back then he expressed opinions many had, and was good friends with a few women as well. But the authors write ‘despite [her] take on Knox, his sexism, to us, runs very deeply’, followed by cherry picking The First Blast of the Trumpet ánd claiming only Mary Queen of Scots was affected by this (multiple women were!). His story is far more nuanced than the authors claim, but they decide to sidestep historians to make this segment fit their overall point. To top it all off, Knox gets his own fictional mini chapter in this book, where he performs a truly villanous speech. And the authors don’t just do this with Knox either: this cherry picking also goes for James I’s writings, how women were perceived, witch hunts outside of Scotland (why mention the US, mention Ireland and Norway briefly but then claim Scotland is in this aspect completely different from every other country?), … and that’s only the stuff I’ve had lectures on and/or written 2 thesis’ about.
Midway through explaining historic events, the authors also put in ‘funny’ things that are meant to take us back to reality, like comparing past events with the present, and frequently writing down things along the lines of ‘ugh, men, right’ or ‘wow people those days’. That’s just… not necessary. I do appreciate that they’re bringing POC into this, and their anger and call for action is justified. But when they mention how someone wanted to burn Harry Potter books, they happen to completely gloss over JKR’s statements recently. I’m sorry, but you can’t keep bringing little sidenotes and links to the present into the mix, raising your voice for all women, and then casually mention the Harry Potter books without raising your voice for trans women, too.
This nuance also lacked in how the authors view popular culture surrounding witches. You’d think the authors would be pleased with people coming to see witches’ scales or visiting Salem, but according to them this can only be ‘dark tourism’. And yeah, if someone goes to Salem to ‘enjoy’ this history and get a kick out of it, then that’s not ethical. But if people visit to learn more about this history, to have it make an impact on them by being there and realising it’s not a fictional place… why wouldn’t we want that? They mention visiting battlefields, cemeteries and castles counts as dark tourism too, because obviously you can’t simply be interested in the history of these places.
I’ve found that popular books about witches often lack nuance. They’re written from a point of (totally justified!) activism, but then obscure some of the nuances. That’s the case here too. The authors speak to historians and researchers who support their work and whom they’re on good terms with, but if someone else contradicts this view that’s not worth investigating further. This book’s activism, however justified this is, seems one-sided, and to top it all off, one of the later chapters features an AI artwork (made by someone else, but still, whyy??). If you’re unfamiliar with this timeperiod or witch trials in general you’ll probably really enjoy this, but I found this lacking.
Midway through explaining historic events, the authors also put in ‘funny’ things that are meant to take us back to reality, like comparing past events with the present, and frequently writing down things along the lines of ‘ugh, men, right’ or ‘wow people those days’. That’s just… not necessary. I do appreciate that they’re bringing POC into this, and their anger and call for action is justified. But when they mention how someone wanted to burn Harry Potter books, they happen to completely gloss over JKR’s statements recently. I’m sorry, but you can’t keep bringing little sidenotes and links to the present into the mix, raising your voice for all women, and then casually mention the Harry Potter books without raising your voice for trans women, too.
This nuance also lacked in how the authors view popular culture surrounding witches. You’d think the authors would be pleased with people coming to see witches’ scales or visiting Salem, but according to them this can only be ‘dark tourism’. And yeah, if someone goes to Salem to ‘enjoy’ this history and get a kick out of it, then that’s not ethical. But if people visit to learn more about this history, to have it make an impact on them by being there and realising it’s not a fictional place… why wouldn’t we want that? They mention visiting battlefields, cemeteries and castles counts as dark tourism too, because obviously you can’t simply be interested in the history of these places.
I’ve found that popular books about witches often lack nuance. They’re written from a point of (totally justified!) activism, but then obscure some of the nuances. That’s the case here too. The authors speak to historians and researchers who support their work and whom they’re on good terms with, but if someone else contradicts this view that’s not worth investigating further. This book’s activism, however justified this is, seems one-sided, and to top it all off, one of the later chapters features an AI artwork (made by someone else, but still, whyy??). If you’re unfamiliar with this timeperiod or witch trials in general you’ll probably really enjoy this, but I found this lacking.
July 29, 2025
This is such an important project and book. The intentions and the already achieved results (for example the public and official apology, the gathering of information, etc.) are commendable and impressive. It's also lovely that this edition has the cover with their tartan.
However, for me personally, the writing style greatly undermines the overall quality of the content. I’ve learned that it’s possible to hold somebody in very high esteem, have great respect for their work but still not like the work itself.
The writing is, to my taste, often rather unsophisticated and very immature, riddled with childish things likecrossings out and correcting them, writing (we jest) after a sentence or footnotes that don't give information but are only a joke. Three examples of those ‘funny’ footnotes:
- ‘It appears that the patriarchy is doing well in hell, what with the only man getting the desk job.’
- Under a text about attaching each part of a cat to the chieftest part of a dead man: ‘If the chieftest part of a man is what we are imagining it is, that must have been pretty hard to attach.’
- After describing that the version of Daemonology intended for London was a little fancier, saying ‘no doubt to suit the more refined tastes of a metropolitan London audience’, there’s the footnote: ‘Plus ça change, eh?’ Not so not unnecessary and immature, but also untrue. The second edition was published when James, the author, became king, and after the first edition already has success. A slightly fancier version suited the occasion and success. Also, why, if you want to make that joke, does it need to be a footnote? You can just put that as a new sentence.
There are many like that, and they’re all unnecessary and often unfunny.
There are many footnotes in general. Even if they do contain helpful information, nine out of ten times they could have just been added to the main text. This many footnotes makes the pages look messy, in my opinion.
The writing style is very informal, which I sometimes found off-putting and amateuristic. I'm not talking about a bit of humour being inappropriate for the subject; I love me some dark humour and I don't see that as disrespectful. It wasn't that. It's more that feeling that they write how they talk and that sometimes and partially works, but not always. And also that it's a bit over the top, a bit of a 'look how funny we are' vibe with the reader going 'o.k., boomer...' (they're not boomers, I know, and I am their age, but I'm just describing that cringy feeling. Hard to explain. As an example, here are the four last sentences of the chapter in which it is explained that magic in those days was considered fact. ‘The belief in magic, then, real as it was, did not cause the bloody horror of the witchcraft trials. The causes of those? Oh, they were very much man-made. Let us explain…’ I find this style, with the question, the oh and the three dots almost physically irksome. Something similar is the last sentence of a paragraph explaining how king James argues that witches exist. ‘OK, witches are real. What next?’ is the sentence before the next chapter. It’s a style that strikes me as what a 15-year-old aspiring writer would do in their naive enthusiasm, not two women even slightly older than I am.
I think one aspect of an editor’s job is to see if the writer uses the same words or phrases too often. Clearly, this editor was fine with them writing that somebody ‘had no truck with’ something seemingly every other page.
We are already informed in the introduction that there are short fiction chapters in the book, written to set the mood. The book doesn’t need those. The facts are already more than enough to set the mood and to use fiction undermines the factual narrative, even though the fiction passages are clearly marked as such. I tried reading two and stopped reading them after that, unless it said that it was mostly actual quotes. For me, making things up to set the mood doesn't go with trying to uncover as many facts as we can.
Truly rude I found how they describe the Bodlean and National Library of Scotland, writing in a derogatory way about how they couldn’t enjoy the view because of blinds protecting the book from ‘dangerous sunshine’ and how the air conditioning was checked by the librarian ‘presumably so the books didn’t spontaneously overheat and burst into flames.’ Why this disrespectful, derogatory nastiness? And so utterly ignorant too.
The build-up of chapters, the structure, somehow doesn't flow. I see what they tried to do - go through every step of the process chronologically. In theory, that should work well but in this case, it really doesn't.
The chosen font, the main one but especially the chapter headers, adds to the book feeling very unserious and gimmicky.
There are many possible illustrations for this topic. But if you want to raise awareness about the facts, then stick to the facts, and don't use ai-created imagery!
Overall, I think that even though the subject matter appeals to a very broad demographic, as it should, and even though many different kinds of people will buy it, only the swooning Outlander crowd will stick around after reading. You can see that in many comments on social media. People messing up facts, idealising the times, etc. People claiming they have not one, but two witches in their ancestry, completely missing the whole point of witches not existing and seemingly too thick to realise that ancestry cannot be traced in any of the known cases. People talking about what lovely dresses witches must've had or that they'd love to have the same herb gardens as 'those healers'. People thinking the Witches of Scotland tartan originated in that time... I even stopped following the Instagram account after too much eyerolling. You even see some of those kinds of things in some of the reviews here. Anyway, my point is - that seems almost the sole demographic they appeal to and, unfortunately, I get that, given how the authors come across in their writing and media. Unfortunately too, I think hardly any man will read it; as a woman, these women make me go "Ah no, don't be like that, you're actually perpetuating the stereotype that most women want to be rid of", so I would fully understand most men rolling their eyes and/or being miffed that even though the authors say they stick to the facts, they're also maintaining the 'all men are tw*ts' vibe.
It happens sometimes, with great causes, that I think: “I wish somebody else was fronting this organisation/talk/march/press conference, as this person, even though I agree with every word, is the type of person that will only annoy rather than engage the intended demographic, or confirm their prejudice or dislike.” That’s what I feel here too.
However, for me personally, the writing style greatly undermines the overall quality of the content. I’ve learned that it’s possible to hold somebody in very high esteem, have great respect for their work but still not like the work itself.
The writing is, to my taste, often rather unsophisticated and very immature, riddled with childish things like
- ‘It appears that the patriarchy is doing well in hell, what with the only man getting the desk job.’
- Under a text about attaching each part of a cat to the chieftest part of a dead man: ‘If the chieftest part of a man is what we are imagining it is, that must have been pretty hard to attach.’
- After describing that the version of Daemonology intended for London was a little fancier, saying ‘no doubt to suit the more refined tastes of a metropolitan London audience’, there’s the footnote: ‘Plus ça change, eh?’ Not so not unnecessary and immature, but also untrue. The second edition was published when James, the author, became king, and after the first edition already has success. A slightly fancier version suited the occasion and success. Also, why, if you want to make that joke, does it need to be a footnote? You can just put that as a new sentence.
There are many like that, and they’re all unnecessary and often unfunny.
There are many footnotes in general. Even if they do contain helpful information, nine out of ten times they could have just been added to the main text. This many footnotes makes the pages look messy, in my opinion.
The writing style is very informal, which I sometimes found off-putting and amateuristic. I'm not talking about a bit of humour being inappropriate for the subject; I love me some dark humour and I don't see that as disrespectful. It wasn't that. It's more that feeling that they write how they talk and that sometimes and partially works, but not always. And also that it's a bit over the top, a bit of a 'look how funny we are' vibe with the reader going 'o.k., boomer...' (they're not boomers, I know, and I am their age, but I'm just describing that cringy feeling. Hard to explain. As an example, here are the four last sentences of the chapter in which it is explained that magic in those days was considered fact. ‘The belief in magic, then, real as it was, did not cause the bloody horror of the witchcraft trials. The causes of those? Oh, they were very much man-made. Let us explain…’ I find this style, with the question, the oh and the three dots almost physically irksome. Something similar is the last sentence of a paragraph explaining how king James argues that witches exist. ‘OK, witches are real. What next?’ is the sentence before the next chapter. It’s a style that strikes me as what a 15-year-old aspiring writer would do in their naive enthusiasm, not two women even slightly older than I am.
I think one aspect of an editor’s job is to see if the writer uses the same words or phrases too often. Clearly, this editor was fine with them writing that somebody ‘had no truck with’ something seemingly every other page.
We are already informed in the introduction that there are short fiction chapters in the book, written to set the mood. The book doesn’t need those. The facts are already more than enough to set the mood and to use fiction undermines the factual narrative, even though the fiction passages are clearly marked as such. I tried reading two and stopped reading them after that, unless it said that it was mostly actual quotes. For me, making things up to set the mood doesn't go with trying to uncover as many facts as we can.
Truly rude I found how they describe the Bodlean and National Library of Scotland, writing in a derogatory way about how they couldn’t enjoy the view because of blinds protecting the book from ‘dangerous sunshine’ and how the air conditioning was checked by the librarian ‘presumably so the books didn’t spontaneously overheat and burst into flames.’ Why this disrespectful, derogatory nastiness? And so utterly ignorant too.
The build-up of chapters, the structure, somehow doesn't flow. I see what they tried to do - go through every step of the process chronologically. In theory, that should work well but in this case, it really doesn't.
The chosen font, the main one but especially the chapter headers, adds to the book feeling very unserious and gimmicky.
There are many possible illustrations for this topic. But if you want to raise awareness about the facts, then stick to the facts, and don't use ai-created imagery!
Overall, I think that even though the subject matter appeals to a very broad demographic, as it should, and even though many different kinds of people will buy it, only the swooning Outlander crowd will stick around after reading. You can see that in many comments on social media. People messing up facts, idealising the times, etc. People claiming they have not one, but two witches in their ancestry, completely missing the whole point of witches not existing and seemingly too thick to realise that ancestry cannot be traced in any of the known cases. People talking about what lovely dresses witches must've had or that they'd love to have the same herb gardens as 'those healers'. People thinking the Witches of Scotland tartan originated in that time... I even stopped following the Instagram account after too much eyerolling. You even see some of those kinds of things in some of the reviews here. Anyway, my point is - that seems almost the sole demographic they appeal to and, unfortunately, I get that, given how the authors come across in their writing and media. Unfortunately too, I think hardly any man will read it; as a woman, these women make me go "Ah no, don't be like that, you're actually perpetuating the stereotype that most women want to be rid of", so I would fully understand most men rolling their eyes and/or being miffed that even though the authors say they stick to the facts, they're also maintaining the 'all men are tw*ts' vibe.
It happens sometimes, with great causes, that I think: “I wish somebody else was fronting this organisation/talk/march/press conference, as this person, even though I agree with every word, is the type of person that will only annoy rather than engage the intended demographic, or confirm their prejudice or dislike.” That’s what I feel here too.
September 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy!
Holy moly. This book was incredible. I did read it slower than I normally read books, just because there's a lot of information to take in. I didn't realize that witch killings were so bad in Scotland, and I learned a lot. If you're not a nonfiction reader (like me), I STRONGLY URGE you to read this. Claire and Zoe bring you through important history in Scotland and other parts of the world, while sprinkling in hilarious footnotes.
What I loved the most was Claire and Zoe bringing it back to today with what's going on in the world RIGHT FRICKEN NOW. How scary it is and how real it is that witch accusations are STILL happening throughout the world.
I leave you with my favorite quotes:
"Memorialization is about connection. If we make the link between the past and ourselves, we're more likely not to repeat the more horrifying aspects of our history."
"Do not let the patriarchy silence you."
"So we say, fuck "being nice" to keep the peace or to keep other people happy. Fuck having to keep quiet for fear of being labeled difficult (they'll do that anyway). Fuck living, laughing, loving. Try shouting, swearing, fighting. Call out misogyny, challenge the norm, be a quarrelsome dame."
Holy moly. This book was incredible. I did read it slower than I normally read books, just because there's a lot of information to take in. I didn't realize that witch killings were so bad in Scotland, and I learned a lot. If you're not a nonfiction reader (like me), I STRONGLY URGE you to read this. Claire and Zoe bring you through important history in Scotland and other parts of the world, while sprinkling in hilarious footnotes.
What I loved the most was Claire and Zoe bringing it back to today with what's going on in the world RIGHT FRICKEN NOW. How scary it is and how real it is that witch accusations are STILL happening throughout the world.
I leave you with my favorite quotes:
"Memorialization is about connection. If we make the link between the past and ourselves, we're more likely not to repeat the more horrifying aspects of our history."
"Do not let the patriarchy silence you."
"So we say, fuck "being nice" to keep the peace or to keep other people happy. Fuck having to keep quiet for fear of being labeled difficult (they'll do that anyway). Fuck living, laughing, loving. Try shouting, swearing, fighting. Call out misogyny, challenge the norm, be a quarrelsome dame."
December 3, 2025
This book reminds me a lot of Marion Gibson’s Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials (and it’s no surprise that the authors interview Gibson in one chapter) in that it works to correct the historic record on the multitude of women (almost always women) unjustly accused of witchcraft. Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi spearheaded the campaign to secure legal pardons for the victims of Scottish witch-hunts between 1563-1736, and was successful in securing a public apology from the Scottish government in 2022.
How to Kill a Witch furthers the aims of their campaign by dispelling misinformation regarding the accused, laying out the patriarchal, societal, religious, and legal conditions that led to witch-hunts in Scotland and beyond. Smart and thorough in research and content, and darkly comical in tone, this book is as entertaining as it is informative. I loved the use of fictionalized vignettes to put us in the minds of some of the historical figures — both accused and accusers — discussed in greater depth in the nonfictional chapters. And the book does an excellent job of explaining the throughlines from historical witch-hunts to witch-hunts, both metaphorical and real, that continue to occur today.
How to Kill a Witch furthers the aims of their campaign by dispelling misinformation regarding the accused, laying out the patriarchal, societal, religious, and legal conditions that led to witch-hunts in Scotland and beyond. Smart and thorough in research and content, and darkly comical in tone, this book is as entertaining as it is informative. I loved the use of fictionalized vignettes to put us in the minds of some of the historical figures — both accused and accusers — discussed in greater depth in the nonfictional chapters. And the book does an excellent job of explaining the throughlines from historical witch-hunts to witch-hunts, both metaphorical and real, that continue to occur today.
November 13, 2025
A very important message and cause. A lot of the conversation surrounding witchcraft and witch trials are sensationalized and commercialized these days. It is important to understand the true scope of the injustices these women faced. Especially underlining that they were vulnerable women, not witches. A comprehensive overview of a terrible subject that was handle with respect to the victims.
I only had 2 gripes with this book: 1. The use and promotion of an AI "artist" at the very end of the afterword. F*** AI. 2. A personal thing, I do not like the use of excessive footnotes, especially for personal thoughts by the author. Just include that in the body of the paragraph, it ruins the flow of reading. Footnotes should be for academic context.
I only had 2 gripes with this book: 1. The use and promotion of an AI "artist" at the very end of the afterword. F*** AI. 2. A personal thing, I do not like the use of excessive footnotes, especially for personal thoughts by the author. Just include that in the body of the paragraph, it ruins the flow of reading. Footnotes should be for academic context.
October 22, 2025
this book was soooooo good. as a non fiction it is not dry, funny, smart, and both historical and relevant to today. so fascinated with this history and their campaign and feel like I learnt so much from those stories of the real women and the modern impact, it was all so compelling. if you want a taster, check out their podcast, it is also so good and the accents are an extra plus. proud quarrelsome dame
November 25, 2025
i've been so bad at updating, ah!
i LOVED this book! i really appreciate the ways in which the authors push far beyond the salem witch trials and give an informative and, yet entertaining unearthing of witches buried throughout history(sometimes literally)! reading this book felt like listening to a podcast between two besties nerding out -- which is awesome!
i LOVED this book! i really appreciate the ways in which the authors push far beyond the salem witch trials and give an informative and, yet entertaining unearthing of witches buried throughout history(sometimes literally)! reading this book felt like listening to a podcast between two besties nerding out -- which is awesome!
October 23, 2025
The style of writing was a bit difficult to follow, although the information are very circular (even redundant sometimes). I love the sassy tone and dry humor of the authors, though.
It's time to burn the patriarchy to the ground.
It's time to burn the patriarchy to the ground.
May 12, 2025
An incredible book of the past, its relevancy to the present and the importance of remembering those who got caught in an epidemic of misogyny. The research that has gone into this is evident and you can tell it’s been written with the purpose of educating and informing.
Some of the footnotes feel slightly irrelevant and the inclusion of an AI ‘artwork’ was jarring given how factual and authentic the rest of the book was.
Some of the footnotes feel slightly irrelevant and the inclusion of an AI ‘artwork’ was jarring given how factual and authentic the rest of the book was.
November 9, 2025
Well, that was a horrifying historical journey.
Thank you for looping it around to the present, ladies. *she says with sarcasm and sorrow*
Thank you for looping it around to the present, ladies. *she says with sarcasm and sorrow*
September 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love history books, but even as a historian by day, I especially love nonfiction written with the storytelling vibes of fiction. And this deep dive look at the witch trials in Scotland that connects the past horrors with Scottish and European history at large and to the world we are all currently living in.
Interspersed with deep dives into the profiles of the victims of the Scottish witch hunts, How to Kill a Witch looks at the way the witch trials in the 17th and 18th centuries were able to grow as quickly as they did, how witches were accused and tried and executed, and with the ways in which these witch hunts were indicative of Scotland’s culture and patriarchy writ large. I’m a European history teacher who teaches about the European witch hunts and I still LEARNED SO SO MUCH. I cannot wait to incorporate so much of this info, especially about the role of King James I, into my courses (sorry not sorry kids). Most importantly, in my opinion, the authors connect the historical horrors with the modern period - with both actual witch hunts that are happening right now AND the ways in which the patriarchy continues to use the same foundations to hurt women throughout the modern world. I cannot recommend this book, which despite its dark topic manages to be darkly funny, enough if you’re at all interested in the history of witches!! It’s out today and it’s excellent!!
I love history books, but even as a historian by day, I especially love nonfiction written with the storytelling vibes of fiction. And this deep dive look at the witch trials in Scotland that connects the past horrors with Scottish and European history at large and to the world we are all currently living in.
Interspersed with deep dives into the profiles of the victims of the Scottish witch hunts, How to Kill a Witch looks at the way the witch trials in the 17th and 18th centuries were able to grow as quickly as they did, how witches were accused and tried and executed, and with the ways in which these witch hunts were indicative of Scotland’s culture and patriarchy writ large. I’m a European history teacher who teaches about the European witch hunts and I still LEARNED SO SO MUCH. I cannot wait to incorporate so much of this info, especially about the role of King James I, into my courses (sorry not sorry kids). Most importantly, in my opinion, the authors connect the historical horrors with the modern period - with both actual witch hunts that are happening right now AND the ways in which the patriarchy continues to use the same foundations to hurt women throughout the modern world. I cannot recommend this book, which despite its dark topic manages to be darkly funny, enough if you’re at all interested in the history of witches!! It’s out today and it’s excellent!!
August 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
There’s just some books out there that make you want to maintain your rage, and this one of them. There’s so much that we still ascribe to women of the past (and, indeed, the present) in terms of propensity for witchcraft, not realising that these conditions are fully replicable today. This book draws attention to that in a masterful way, and makes many, many pit stops along the way.
While the tone of the writing can be a little juvenile and irritating at times, the book as a whole makes for an interesting read. You can tell that it is meticulously researched, and while it doesn’t cover every possible case and fact about witches and witchcraft, it gives a detail insight into a number of cases.
I really was riveted by this read, and it just drew attention to the fact that we still have so much to learn from the past. There’s a level of menace in the concept of modern day ‘witch hunting’, and it always pays to be aware of that.
I also appreciated this book taking the time to detail a non-Western approach to witch hunts. It’s got a lot of info about modern day ‘prosecutions’, and it’s terrifying to know we still have so much further to go. I really appreciated this book, and it paints a detailed picture of Scotland and beyond.
There’s just some books out there that make you want to maintain your rage, and this one of them. There’s so much that we still ascribe to women of the past (and, indeed, the present) in terms of propensity for witchcraft, not realising that these conditions are fully replicable today. This book draws attention to that in a masterful way, and makes many, many pit stops along the way.
While the tone of the writing can be a little juvenile and irritating at times, the book as a whole makes for an interesting read. You can tell that it is meticulously researched, and while it doesn’t cover every possible case and fact about witches and witchcraft, it gives a detail insight into a number of cases.
I really was riveted by this read, and it just drew attention to the fact that we still have so much to learn from the past. There’s a level of menace in the concept of modern day ‘witch hunting’, and it always pays to be aware of that.
I also appreciated this book taking the time to detail a non-Western approach to witch hunts. It’s got a lot of info about modern day ‘prosecutions’, and it’s terrifying to know we still have so much further to go. I really appreciated this book, and it paints a detailed picture of Scotland and beyond.
October 21, 2025
DNF. I thought there might be some feminist analysis, but this is just a series of other sources paraphrased and cobbled together. Like others, I was also put off by the ultra casual tone at times. When someone mention that the images are generated by an LLM, I had enough. this book doesn't respect the reader.
Read
November 28, 2025Not sure how to rate this. I appreciated the detailed historical explanations of how witch trials were conducted in Scotland in previous centuries, and on the whole found the little fictional pieces helpful for bringing some of it to life, speculatively at least, beyond what information can be gathered from records. On the other hand, especially in the very last chapters when the discussion was brought up to the present day, not to mention the conclusion, I was uncomfortable to the point of being disturbed at how relentlessly binary the presentation of sex was (I don't think they ever said "gender"). I'd understand if they were intentionally working with the definitions and understandings of the time, sure, but even if they had made that caveat (and they didn't), the omissions went beyond terminology or historical perspective.
Nothing overtly or explicitly transphobic or TERF-y is said, but the existence of any kind of grey area between "men" and "women" is never even vaguely referred to, nor is any kind of queerness, for that matter. There's not even a brief aside noting that they've chosen to focus on their binary framing, no acknowledgement that there's a *choice* being made there. And in discussion the oppression of women in any era, they talk about women who are too "outspoken" or refer to the power differential between prescribed "male" and "female" roles in society, but they don't discuss anything about norms of gender expression and how levels of non-conformity might play into their picture of "witch" persecution. (They make a point of pointing out how white/Western-specific a lot of their material is, from discussing the ways in which "witches" were defined to the ways in which skin reacts to flame, but they don't mention the ways in which non-white women might not be understood as "feminine" by a dominant white perspective.)
They come so close several times, referring to marginalized people as a broader concept, scapegoating of same, etc, but that just made the total absence of all things queer and trans more impossible for me to ignore. It was glaring by the end, when they start discussing the hypothetical future of witch trials and it sounds eerily close to things that are happening to trans people in the US *right now.*
It read well and I was very engaged for much of it; it certainly brought home the horror and humanity of the executions and interrogation tactics of the times more vividly than other sources I've encountered. But there's something missing, and it leaves me feeling uneasy. I can't quite see the excuse for this unexplained blanking out of gender complexity, not in the 2020s. In that respect, it was like they were writing from a very different era, at best.
... oh, and apparently they use LLM-generated images. (I listened to the audio version, so I was spared.) Well, fuck that. You two are contributing to the plagiarism and degradation of artwork made by artists of all genders, including women.
Nothing overtly or explicitly transphobic or TERF-y is said, but the existence of any kind of grey area between "men" and "women" is never even vaguely referred to, nor is any kind of queerness, for that matter. There's not even a brief aside noting that they've chosen to focus on their binary framing, no acknowledgement that there's a *choice* being made there. And in discussion the oppression of women in any era, they talk about women who are too "outspoken" or refer to the power differential between prescribed "male" and "female" roles in society, but they don't discuss anything about norms of gender expression and how levels of non-conformity might play into their picture of "witch" persecution. (They make a point of pointing out how white/Western-specific a lot of their material is, from discussing the ways in which "witches" were defined to the ways in which skin reacts to flame, but they don't mention the ways in which non-white women might not be understood as "feminine" by a dominant white perspective.)
They come so close several times, referring to marginalized people as a broader concept, scapegoating of same, etc, but that just made the total absence of all things queer and trans more impossible for me to ignore. It was glaring by the end, when they start discussing the hypothetical future of witch trials and it sounds eerily close to things that are happening to trans people in the US *right now.*
It read well and I was very engaged for much of it; it certainly brought home the horror and humanity of the executions and interrogation tactics of the times more vividly than other sources I've encountered. But there's something missing, and it leaves me feeling uneasy. I can't quite see the excuse for this unexplained blanking out of gender complexity, not in the 2020s. In that respect, it was like they were writing from a very different era, at best.
... oh, and apparently they use LLM-generated images. (I listened to the audio version, so I was spared.) Well, fuck that. You two are contributing to the plagiarism and degradation of artwork made by artists of all genders, including women.
September 25, 2025
How to Kill a Witch was such a heavy but detailed read. It's educational and provided the references within each chapter so that you could understand the verbiage used and where the facts used came from during the authors' research process.
I went into this book semi-blind. The title and the cover drew me in, when I got approved access on NetGalley, I almost thought it was a mystery book, but when I got into it, I realized the magic I had in my hands.
This book, gave me so much insight, not only to the past - and to the women that suffered at the hands of men and the patriarchy - for what true reason other than power? But it also gave me even greater insight to what we're dealing with in America RIGHT NOW and what the current patriachy is doing to silence us - minus the hanging, ducking and burning (at the moment - soooo *knocks on wood*).
What I will say is, read this book. Take your time, take it in - in bits. Absorb it. It took me a lot of time to read this book. A few chapters at a time. Because it's a lot to take in. This is a book I want on my shelf once the book is released in stores. This is a book I would recommend to anyone that identifies as a woman or considers themselves allies to women. READ THIS BOOK.
The past, clearly, has a habit of repeating itself. The more you know the more protected you are.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I went into this book semi-blind. The title and the cover drew me in, when I got approved access on NetGalley, I almost thought it was a mystery book, but when I got into it, I realized the magic I had in my hands.
This book, gave me so much insight, not only to the past - and to the women that suffered at the hands of men and the patriarchy - for what true reason other than power? But it also gave me even greater insight to what we're dealing with in America RIGHT NOW and what the current patriachy is doing to silence us - minus the hanging, ducking and burning (at the moment - soooo *knocks on wood*).
What I will say is, read this book. Take your time, take it in - in bits. Absorb it. It took me a lot of time to read this book. A few chapters at a time. Because it's a lot to take in. This is a book I want on my shelf once the book is released in stores. This is a book I would recommend to anyone that identifies as a woman or considers themselves allies to women. READ THIS BOOK.
The past, clearly, has a habit of repeating itself. The more you know the more protected you are.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
May 16, 2025
Watch the Scottish witch trials unfold before the Salem witch trials in this short informational narrative. Christian perspectives of women’s expectations that are then taken to extremes are the heart of this one. The chapters are brief with enough information to understand what influenced the Scottish, Salem, and modern Nigerian witch trials. Why are women commonly associated with witchcraft to be demonized and murdered.
Some witches are real but they are not performing the magic we see on media – it is practical. Societies hate for women is the root cause of the trials and murders. This narrative focuses on the central idea and how each set of witch trials extends from extremist beliefs to further harm and fear amongst women. The brief information presented is enough to begin to satisfy cravings learning about the truth of the witch trials beyond Hocus Pocus!
Witchcraft is the scapegoat to misplace society’s impact of blocking women as the pitfalls of society. Otherness is what enables the witch trials to occur even in modern times. This story is a warning for what follows any community that engages in practices that demean women’s place in society. 3.5 rounded up because this will direct you to research more on the intricacies of the witch trials - very spellbinding if you will. Thank you Net Galley for an opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Read more of my reviews on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Some witches are real but they are not performing the magic we see on media – it is practical. Societies hate for women is the root cause of the trials and murders. This narrative focuses on the central idea and how each set of witch trials extends from extremist beliefs to further harm and fear amongst women. The brief information presented is enough to begin to satisfy cravings learning about the truth of the witch trials beyond Hocus Pocus!
Witchcraft is the scapegoat to misplace society’s impact of blocking women as the pitfalls of society. Otherness is what enables the witch trials to occur even in modern times. This story is a warning for what follows any community that engages in practices that demean women’s place in society. 3.5 rounded up because this will direct you to research more on the intricacies of the witch trials - very spellbinding if you will. Thank you Net Galley for an opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Read more of my reviews on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
December 2, 2025
4 stars
This was one of those books where I think I'm pretty knowledgable about a subject, but I'm still surprised by quite a few facts and stories. Not to mention, we also have an audiobook that is narrated by the authors - which I will usually always prefer (it's rare that the author gives a bad reading for nonfiction in my mind).
How To Kill A Witch gives a deeper dive into the witch trials of Scotland. As someone who lives in North America, when I think of witch trials I usually immediately think of Salem, Massachusetts rather than Scotland as the epicentre. This book starts there, taking apart why we don't tend to think of the witch trials as more severe in the UK and Europe (for starters, countries like Ireland were more prone to accepting magic as a deeply entrenched part of their culture, and more importantly... Salem has apologized for the witch trials and made it -and the memory of those murdered - a major part of its identity. Scotland has barely scratched the surface here.) I learned a lot more about the existence of witches or magic prior to the trials and how - and who - certain situations were suddenly deemed against God and deserving of death. The chapters about the current witch hunts and trials in different countries, particularly in Africa, were also very alarming and new to me. We tend to think of witch trials as history, as the title of witch being reclaimed in various ways, but it's still something considered very dangerous in many places.
This was a great listen. It was informative, interesting, well paced and kept me actively listening throughout. I definitely learned some new things, but if you are well versed in the history of witch trials in Scotland, I would maybe pass as I do think this is more of an introduction.
This was one of those books where I think I'm pretty knowledgable about a subject, but I'm still surprised by quite a few facts and stories. Not to mention, we also have an audiobook that is narrated by the authors - which I will usually always prefer (it's rare that the author gives a bad reading for nonfiction in my mind).
How To Kill A Witch gives a deeper dive into the witch trials of Scotland. As someone who lives in North America, when I think of witch trials I usually immediately think of Salem, Massachusetts rather than Scotland as the epicentre. This book starts there, taking apart why we don't tend to think of the witch trials as more severe in the UK and Europe (for starters, countries like Ireland were more prone to accepting magic as a deeply entrenched part of their culture, and more importantly... Salem has apologized for the witch trials and made it -and the memory of those murdered - a major part of its identity. Scotland has barely scratched the surface here.) I learned a lot more about the existence of witches or magic prior to the trials and how - and who - certain situations were suddenly deemed against God and deserving of death. The chapters about the current witch hunts and trials in different countries, particularly in Africa, were also very alarming and new to me. We tend to think of witch trials as history, as the title of witch being reclaimed in various ways, but it's still something considered very dangerous in many places.
This was a great listen. It was informative, interesting, well paced and kept me actively listening throughout. I definitely learned some new things, but if you are well versed in the history of witch trials in Scotland, I would maybe pass as I do think this is more of an introduction.
November 30, 2025
I think this is one of the most important books I have read in my lifetime about The Witches of Scotland. It’s detailed and well researched. I have been triggered to understand why women, as it’s mostly women, were accused of witchcraft and what they went through, after reading various fiction involving so called witches. What these women went through was absolutely abhorrent, the accusations, the torture, the way they were murdered. Alison Balfour and her family in Orkney really stood out for me. Her whole family were tortured including her 7 year old daughter. A child, let that sink in. And that’s when Alison confessed, to nothing substantial. Thank goodness the accused of witchcraft and murder is being taken so seriously now and were pardoned in 2022. Of what exactly? Nothing. Fear. Suspicion. I could go on about men, the church ect but my review would be too long. One thing for sure I would definitely be accused of witchcraft had I lived then. Having a small skin tag would be deemed the sign of the devil by the disgusting Witch Pricker, so I would have stood no chance. A sobering thought. We need to understand the past to live in the present. I highly recommend this book if you want to understand about the Witches of Scotland
June 2, 2025
I loved this book; the history it presents is incredibly relevant. This story is not just about events that occurred hundreds of years ago in Scotland (and the smaller but more infamous Salem witch hunts), but it reflects circumstances that still happen in parts of the world today. In some areas of Nigeria, people continue to suffer from witchcraft accusations, which can be life-destroying and sometimes fatal. Moreover, women politicians in America are once again being accused of witchcraft.
The discussion on contemporary relevance in the closing chapter, particularly concerning online harassment and abortion bans, strongly echoes the past.
I write this while wearing my ‘Witches of Scotland’ tartan to attend the debate on my petition to decriminalise abortion in Westminster.
“Do not let the patriarchy silence you.
Forget being nice to keep the peace or to make others happy; forget having to keep quiet for fear of being labelled difficult—they will do that anyway.
Forget living, laughing, loving—try shouting, swearing, scaring. Call out misogyny, challenge the norm, be a quarrelsome dame.”
The discussion on contemporary relevance in the closing chapter, particularly concerning online harassment and abortion bans, strongly echoes the past.
I write this while wearing my ‘Witches of Scotland’ tartan to attend the debate on my petition to decriminalise abortion in Westminster.
“Do not let the patriarchy silence you.
Forget being nice to keep the peace or to make others happy; forget having to keep quiet for fear of being labelled difficult—they will do that anyway.
Forget living, laughing, loving—try shouting, swearing, scaring. Call out misogyny, challenge the norm, be a quarrelsome dame.”
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