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Witch
I curse th’ one who stops my heart, t’ burn in agony afore his time—that each generation suffer the flames lit here t’night. Only death can stop it!
Superstition, prejudice, jealousy…a lethal combination that saw hundreds of innocent women burned as witches in the Scottish Highlands. The desperate curse uttered in 1727 has pursued Adam MacArthur to the present, and only the strange healing power of a young woman in a mysterious bookshop offers hope. Is the past doomed to repeat itself, or will love create a new future?
Superstition, prejudice, jealousy…a lethal combination that saw hundreds of innocent women burned as witches in the Scottish Highlands. The desperate curse uttered in 1727 has pursued Adam MacArthur to the present, and only the strange healing power of a young woman in a mysterious bookshop offers hope. Is the past doomed to repeat itself, or will love create a new future?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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August 21, 2025“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”- W.B. Yeats
Adam MacArthur is a young man living in present day Scotland. His whole life he’s been plagued with a bizarre sickness with no cure. Dubbed “the curse”, Adam has learned to accept his fate- that is until he meets an unusual young woman in a bookshop who claims she can help.
Meanwhile, in 1705, we are I ntroduced to the characters and events that chronicle the journey that leads us to Adam in the present. As the two worlds collide through a mix of adventure and intrigue, the reader also has to decide what is real and what is imaginary.
Witch is a creative endeavor with a healthy dose of historical elements mixed in with the magical, offering a little something for everyone. Although it is technically the fourth installment in the ongoing Echoes In Time series, (I did read one of the previous books) the book can technically be read as a standalone. While I do applaud author M MacKinnon’s ambitious and immersive storytelling, I do have to say the switching of narrators often left me a bit more confused than convinced.
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Adam MacArthur is a young man living in present day Scotland. His whole life he’s been plagued with a bizarre sickness with no cure. Dubbed “the curse”, Adam has learned to accept his fate- that is until he meets an unusual young woman in a bookshop who claims she can help.
Meanwhile, in 1705, we are I ntroduced to the characters and events that chronicle the journey that leads us to Adam in the present. As the two worlds collide through a mix of adventure and intrigue, the reader also has to decide what is real and what is imaginary.
Witch is a creative endeavor with a healthy dose of historical elements mixed in with the magical, offering a little something for everyone. Although it is technically the fourth installment in the ongoing Echoes In Time series, (I did read one of the previous books) the book can technically be read as a standalone. While I do applaud author M MacKinnon’s ambitious and immersive storytelling, I do have to say the switching of narrators often left me a bit more confused than convinced.
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
September 20, 2025
Thank you, @dartfrogbooks, for the gifted copy.
Witch is book four in the series, but even without having read the earlier books, I found it worked well as a standalone.
The story opens in the middle of a witch trial, with a woman being burned at the stake. According to the author’s note at the end, this is based on a true story!
Told through multiple POVs and a dual timeline set in the Scottish Highlands, the book quickly introduces Adam MacArthur, who is cursed. In a bookstore, he meets Màiri just as he falls ill. Is she the key to his cure? Along the way, we also meet Doirin, Sine, Hugh, Corey, and several others. I’ll admit I had a hard time keeping track of everyone at first, but once I became more invested in the story, it was much easier to follow.
I really enjoyed this book, and the ending felt perfect.
Witch is book four in the series, but even without having read the earlier books, I found it worked well as a standalone.
The story opens in the middle of a witch trial, with a woman being burned at the stake. According to the author’s note at the end, this is based on a true story!
Told through multiple POVs and a dual timeline set in the Scottish Highlands, the book quickly introduces Adam MacArthur, who is cursed. In a bookstore, he meets Màiri just as he falls ill. Is she the key to his cure? Along the way, we also meet Doirin, Sine, Hugh, Corey, and several others. I’ll admit I had a hard time keeping track of everyone at first, but once I became more invested in the story, it was much easier to follow.
I really enjoyed this book, and the ending felt perfect.
August 26, 2025
The night was pitch black, the only light coming from the rising flames in the distance. The air was tinged with smoke and filled with shrill screams. She ran as fast as she could, fleeing the madmen trying to hunt her down. There was no way to prove her innocence, so escape was the only option.
Witch is a historical romance following multiple characters. The story opens with a witch trial and a curse and then turns to present day time.
I will start by saying that while this book is part of a series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. I haven’t read previous books and had no trouble diving into this one. So much is explored in this book, so you’re in for a ride! Magical realism, witchcraft, cults, historical elements, romance… all woven together pretty well. One complaint I have is the multiple POVs… I honestly would have preferred to follow the two main characters instead of so many others, but this is just a personal preference. This was definitely an entertaining read and I loved all the elements the author was able to pack in (including a bookstore)! Plus, the Scotland setting was great. The author’s note at the end was also very informative as this book is based off of a true story (which I love). I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on this author.
Read if you like:
• Witchy Books
• Magical Realism
• Family Sagas
• History/Based on True Story
• Scotland Setting
• Bookstores
• Closed Door Romance
• Multiple POVs
• Dual Timeline
CW: Murder, Death of a Loved One, Grief, Physical Violence
Witch is a historical romance following multiple characters. The story opens with a witch trial and a curse and then turns to present day time.
I will start by saying that while this book is part of a series, it can certainly be read as a standalone. I haven’t read previous books and had no trouble diving into this one. So much is explored in this book, so you’re in for a ride! Magical realism, witchcraft, cults, historical elements, romance… all woven together pretty well. One complaint I have is the multiple POVs… I honestly would have preferred to follow the two main characters instead of so many others, but this is just a personal preference. This was definitely an entertaining read and I loved all the elements the author was able to pack in (including a bookstore)! Plus, the Scotland setting was great. The author’s note at the end was also very informative as this book is based off of a true story (which I love). I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on this author.
Read if you like:
• Witchy Books
• Magical Realism
• Family Sagas
• History/Based on True Story
• Scotland Setting
• Bookstores
• Closed Door Romance
• Multiple POVs
• Dual Timeline
CW: Murder, Death of a Loved One, Grief, Physical Violence
August 27, 2025
This book presents a contemporary mystery intertwined with historical narratives set in the Scottish Highlands, dealing with themes such as witchcraft, curses, healing gifts, and a murder investigation linked to a fire in a local museum.
M. MacKinnon begins the book in the unforgiving landscape of the Scottish Highlands in 1727, where a woman condemned to flames leaves behind a curse vowing torment for generations to come. Centuries later, Adam MacArthur feels the weight of that curse pressing into his life in the present day. He is suffering from a fatal heart condition, and is saved under mysterious circumstances by Màiri MacLachlan, a young woman with healing powers he barely understands. Their lives are connected to a series of events including a suspicious museum fire, a murder victim found in the basement, and the involvement of local inhabitants, some of whom are part of ancient traditions and possibly sinister cults.
The characters are richly drawn in their struggles with legacy, prejudice, inheritance, and secret gifts. The historical narrative threads follow Sìne Gilchrist, her family of healers, and the social challenges of 18th-century Scotland, including persecution and ostracism.
This is a brilliantly written gothic mystery with elements of historical fiction and romantic intrigue. I liked the fact that the author has mentioned a glossary for the imagined words, right at the beginning instead of adding it and the end like most people do. It's a rare kind of tale with the writing so graceful yet so haunting. Unforgettable impression.
M. MacKinnon begins the book in the unforgiving landscape of the Scottish Highlands in 1727, where a woman condemned to flames leaves behind a curse vowing torment for generations to come. Centuries later, Adam MacArthur feels the weight of that curse pressing into his life in the present day. He is suffering from a fatal heart condition, and is saved under mysterious circumstances by Màiri MacLachlan, a young woman with healing powers he barely understands. Their lives are connected to a series of events including a suspicious museum fire, a murder victim found in the basement, and the involvement of local inhabitants, some of whom are part of ancient traditions and possibly sinister cults.
The characters are richly drawn in their struggles with legacy, prejudice, inheritance, and secret gifts. The historical narrative threads follow Sìne Gilchrist, her family of healers, and the social challenges of 18th-century Scotland, including persecution and ostracism.
This is a brilliantly written gothic mystery with elements of historical fiction and romantic intrigue. I liked the fact that the author has mentioned a glossary for the imagined words, right at the beginning instead of adding it and the end like most people do. It's a rare kind of tale with the writing so graceful yet so haunting. Unforgettable impression.
August 19, 2025
What a wild ride I just went on. The book starts off with a witch trial and a curse....to modern day arsonists in a cult. I honestly could not figure out where this was going even though I could figure out characters from the past and modern day. You think one person is the villain, but then realized the clues were there all along and you just missed it.
In this story you get a mix of so much: witches, magical realism, murder, mob mentality, historical fiction, investigations, bookstores, cafe yumminess, romance (closed door), stalkers, cults, Fire God, witch trials, missing person, friendship, curses, and more. Seriously, it makes for a thrilling read.
The only negative thing I can say, and this is strictly a personal preference, is that I wasn't a fan of the multiple POVs. The author did a great job of weaving them all together to tell the tale, and they definitely were needed to get the storylines to mesh up....but I would have preferred to have the story told from just the two pain FMC and MMC characters in both time periods. Like I said, just a personal issue because it didn't take away from the story at all.
Lastly, I want to throat punch Hugh's dad.
🫶🏾 Favorite Line 🫶🏾
Book people were like that; never bored waiting, because they always had a door to a different time or place at hand.
In this story you get a mix of so much: witches, magical realism, murder, mob mentality, historical fiction, investigations, bookstores, cafe yumminess, romance (closed door), stalkers, cults, Fire God, witch trials, missing person, friendship, curses, and more. Seriously, it makes for a thrilling read.
The only negative thing I can say, and this is strictly a personal preference, is that I wasn't a fan of the multiple POVs. The author did a great job of weaving them all together to tell the tale, and they definitely were needed to get the storylines to mesh up....but I would have preferred to have the story told from just the two pain FMC and MMC characters in both time periods. Like I said, just a personal issue because it didn't take away from the story at all.
Lastly, I want to throat punch Hugh's dad.
🫶🏾 Favorite Line 🫶🏾
Book people were like that; never bored waiting, because they always had a door to a different time or place at hand.
August 28, 2025
This historical fiction novel blended with the present is a fascinating look at the Scottish witch trials in the 1700's and the effect a curse made back then has on today. The story is told from varying viewpoints that occasionally feels a little muddled, but was necessary to bring all the elements together in the end. I really appreciated the glossary and always find them interesting as well as helpful.
This is book four in the series, but was my first and it worked great as a standalone. I loved all of the historical details, the romance, the Gothic vibe, the way past and present were woven together, and the sense of adventure. The characters are memorable and there's even a bookstore. There's a little something for everyone and it's very entertaining.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is book four in the series, but was my first and it worked great as a standalone. I loved all of the historical details, the romance, the Gothic vibe, the way past and present were woven together, and the sense of adventure. The characters are memorable and there's even a bookstore. There's a little something for everyone and it's very entertaining.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
A dual-timeline novel that blends seventeenth-century witch trials with a modern-day mystery. The story alternates between a young woman accused of witchcraft in the past and a present-day protagonist unraveling her own connection to those events. As echoes between the two timelines build, secrets, danger, and the lingering pull of magic begin to collide.
What I loved most was the historical witch timeline—it had an atmospheric, gothic feel that pulled me right in.
The modern-day storyline, while interesting, didn’t feel as tightly woven. Still, the way the two timelines echoed each other was well done and gave the book depth.
Overall, this was a unique time-slip novel with a witchy twist. If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, magical elements, and stories that span across centuries, Witch: Echo in Time is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
What I loved most was the historical witch timeline—it had an atmospheric, gothic feel that pulled me right in.
The modern-day storyline, while interesting, didn’t feel as tightly woven. Still, the way the two timelines echoed each other was well done and gave the book depth.
Overall, this was a unique time-slip novel with a witchy twist. If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, magical elements, and stories that span across centuries, Witch: Echo in Time is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
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