Night of the Moon Witch

by Victoria Dougherty

A town cursed by memory. A witch without one. A night that remembers her.

When disgraced poetry professor Twila Stith arrives in the remote mountain town of Sibyl Springs, Virginia, she's desperate for a fresh start. But from the moment she sets foot in this isolated Appalachian community, she knows something is wrong.

A man plunges to his death at the historic Montague Hotel, his blood staining the grand entrance. Strange dreams feel more like memories than visions. Her book of moonlit verses, Moon Child, which won her national acclaim, suddenly feels less like inspiration and more like prophecy. And the townspeople watch Twila with an unnerving recognition—like they know something about her she doesn't know herself.

As the full moon approaches, Twila's encounters with the supernatural intensify. She discovers her verses stem from stolen ancestral memories—and that a man who has loved her for centuries has been awaiting her return. But in a town where the past bleeds into the present and darkness moves beneath the surface, some truths are more dangerous than any lie—and remembering might be the most terrifying thing of all.

This is atmospheric folk horror first, with a slow-burn gothic romance woven through. Expect genuine scares, graphic violence, and complex Appalachian mythology. Not a cozy fantasy or lighthearted paranormal romance.

Perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, T. Kingfisher, Deborah Harkness, and Patricia Briggs—a darkly atmospheric blend of Appalachian folk horror and gothic romance where poetry becomes prophecy and love blooms in the shadow of ancient evil.

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2025

About the author

Victoria Dougherty crafts stories that blur the lines between what was, what is, and what might be. Her Cold War thrillers—THE BONE CHURCH, THE HUNGARIAN, and WELCOME TO THE HOTEL YALTA—captivated readers with their breathtaking plots and genre-defying magic. Her epic historical fantasy series, including BREATH, OF SAND AND BONE, and SAVAGE ISLAND, proves she’s equally at home with spies and sorcery. Now, with her latest novel NIGHT OF THE MOON WITCH, she weaves Appalachian folklore into a haunting tale of memory, magic, and reclaiming one’s true power.

Her work has graced the pages of the New York Times, USA Today, and The International Herald Tribune, while her blog COLD earned recognition from WordPress as one of the Top 50 Recommended Blogs by writers.

An immigrant kid from the Chicago suburbs who grew up believing stories could reshape the world, Victoria writes for those who understand that the most powerful magic happens when yesterday’s secrets meet tomorrow’s possibilities. Her tales are invitations to wander through worlds where history whispers its hidden truths and every character carries the weight of their own mysterious journey.

When she’s not conjuring worlds that keep readers awake until dawn, she’s exploring the cultural threads that connect us all—one story at a time.

Reviews

[Sara Jesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young poet discovers a world full of secrets, witches and werwolves. I did like the mystery around the main character family and she learning to master her moon witch powers. I just did not fully belive in the love story, we know so little about their past history and we should convice that they are mates.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twila knew about witches, but didn't have evidence that she possessed that power. She moves to Sibyl Springs, Virginia, where her mother lived. She discovers that: “I wasn’t a demon who sucked out people’s souls, or a witch who’d tried to strip a fellow witch of her divinity”. But even if she's not the evil side: “I hated the strict rules of witchery, even if I understood them. I’d felt the power our kind can yield and experienced first hand the monstrous ripple effect that is put into motion when a witch dishonors her birthright. It’s a mistake that’s nearly impossible to right.”

She discovers that from her youth she has been blocked by: "the Gemini Covenant, which sought to strip me of everything I was born to, and made for myself.” But everything is not as it appears: “The problem ... is that he blurred those lines with an ease that didn’t inspire trust.” So whom can she trust? Is what she sees real: “it was the shadows inside the house that he was observing. They felt wrong. They shifted—only slightly, barely perceptible—and appeared somehow to be watching us.”

She knew love when she was younger, but she came to learn that her erased memories hid another love, one that pulled her: “Let your heart beat strong, my love,” It whispered. “Let it always beat for me.”

She is able to fight evil but at quite a cost. The story for her is incomplete, even travel beyond the veil doesn't give her the detail she needs. The reader will feel this same missing information, connecting the dots is difficult. The magic behind Appalachia is confusing at best, and deadly for those who don't play by the rules.

[Hope Gerhardstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her mother disappeared on her 8th birthday. Her father died while she was still young. She then was raised by her stepmother. Her fiancé drowned when his car went into the lake. She had an affair with a student who reminded her of her fiancé and is fired from her job at the university.

She can’t get another job until an offer comes from a school in Sibyl Springs. She moves there and strange mysterious and haunting things keep happening around her from the moment she arrives. She finds strength in the moonlight and is chased by an evil spirit. Something is trying to destroy her but someone usually comes to her rescue. She learns that she is a powerful Moon Witch and is learning to harness her powers to fight the evil that threatens her. She travels beyond the veil but gets more questions than answers.

We find that she had a prior life and love but she can’t remember any of this due to a witch’s Gemini Covenant. Very mysterious. How old is she? She was raising a child with this previous love and now this child is a prominent professional in Sibyl Springs. Living two different lives, one by day and one by night but no memory of the night life.

The ending really had me guessing. Just what was going on with Nox?

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night of the Moon Witch was a dark and deeply engrossing story. Twila is an interesting and well written character. It was fascinating following along as she learned the truth of her past and what it means for her present and future. The other characters are also well developed, and I enjoyed how Appalachian folklore is woven through the story. Once it gets going (which doesn't take very long), the story is fast paced and was impossible for me to put down. If you enjoy reading horror and gothic romance with atmosphere thick enough to cut, I highly recommend this book.

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

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night Of The Moon Witch - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

In Victoria Dougherty's Night Of The Moon Witch, MC Twila Stitch returns to her late Mom's hometown of Sybil Springs as a poetry tutor, only to be tormented by vivid dreams, as long-hidden truths are gradually exposed.
What are Soma and Martin's parts in events past and present?

A fast-paced all-action plot, full of otherworldly experiences and contrasting characters, with dubious intent, Night Of The Moon Witch is intense and darkly spellbinding, so please don't have nightmares once you have read it all!

[Janel Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Moon Child" follows Twila Stith, a disgraced poetry professor, as she seeks solace in the eerie town of Sibyl Springs, Virginia. The Montague Hotel serves as a chilling backdrop for her unraveling mystery, blending supernatural elements with poetry. As Twila confronts her past and the unsettling recognition from townsfolk, the story builds a palpable sense of dread. While some plot twists feel familiar, the exploration of memory and identity adds depth. A captivating read that lingers, it earns a solid four stars.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it left me with more questions than answers. I'm assuming there will be another book. It took me a long time to get through this book. I liked Twila and enjoyed watching her come into her own. Some of the other characters were infuriating with the lying and piece feeding her information. The storyline with Langston? I felt their love story was just thrown into the mix. There was not enough time spent on that line to make it believable.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for the bumps in the night. She is hoping for a new start but she feels she has been there before. The people are watching her and her poems seen more like memories. She tries to find out what is going on and how deals with everything she is to face. See where it will take her
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a creepy read

[Kristen C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is dark, mysterious, and beautifully written. The atmosphere pulls you in right away, and the author’s way with words gives the story a haunting kind of magic. It’s not a light read, but it’s definitely captivating. A few slow moments here and there, but overall, it’s a really strong and memorable book

[Jennifer Loschiavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, graphic, and filled with gore. Witchy poet with too many secrets and when that stuff gets bottled up bad things are bound to happen especially when old love is involved. Super creepy. Loved it.