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One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches
Death wasn’t the end.
More than two hundred and fifty years after the infamous Pendle Witch Trials, the spirits of rival witches Demdike and Chattox remain tethered to their bloodlines—watching, waiting, and bound by unfinished business.
Now, in the late eighteen hundreds, a pragmatic midwife and a troubled young psychic—descendants of the two witches—are drawn into a haunting legacy. An ancient being is stirring—an angry god of the old world, hungry for vengeance and ready to consume the future.
To stop it, the living and the dead must unite, recovering the lost knowledge of their craft. Whilst facing age-old problems and new foes. Some spirits don’t rest easy, and in Pendle, they’re clawing their way back from the past.
"Fans of Outlander and A Discovery of Witches will enjoy this book."
More than two hundred and fifty years after the infamous Pendle Witch Trials, the spirits of rival witches Demdike and Chattox remain tethered to their bloodlines—watching, waiting, and bound by unfinished business.
Now, in the late eighteen hundreds, a pragmatic midwife and a troubled young psychic—descendants of the two witches—are drawn into a haunting legacy. An ancient being is stirring—an angry god of the old world, hungry for vengeance and ready to consume the future.
To stop it, the living and the dead must unite, recovering the lost knowledge of their craft. Whilst facing age-old problems and new foes. Some spirits don’t rest easy, and in Pendle, they’re clawing their way back from the past.
"Fans of Outlander and A Discovery of Witches will enjoy this book."
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2025
8 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2025
4.5☆
Available 29 September 2025
Kayleigh Kavanagh has written a very original tale about the Pendle Witches. The idea of Demdike (Elizabeth Southerns) and Chattox (Anne Whittle) spending the afterlife together and as frenemies, if not true friends, is so delicious! The back-and-forth banter between the two is serious and seriously funny.
The two spirits are the most known women of the Pendle Witch Trials, who were accused of witchcraft and hung in 1612. They and their children suffered greatly due to the machinations of men with power and money, all because these women were healers, cunning folk, poor, and most importantly, women.
The theme centers on the oppression of women. Women who are strong, confident, speak their minds and don't easily bend have been oppressed by men. If the women possessed the knowledge of healing, the natural world, and had abilities they were not only oppressed, they were labeled a witch. The labeled were shunned, bullied, tortured and too often killed.
This story tells of how Demdike and Chattox protect their decendents, Yana Smith and Claire Davies. Neither young woman is aware of her ancestry but they do know that they possess skills that could make them be deemed to be mad or witches. Claire is a midwife and healer, she can sense spirits, and knows when death is near, but she has not allowed herself to develop her gifts. Yana has been able to see into the future since she was small. As Yana reaches her fourteenth birthday, the Witching age, she becomes able to see, hear and speak to spirits, most importantly, Chattox, her many great grandmother.
Claire is so steady, not easily rattled, and certain of her destined path. Yara is a fourteen year old Brat! I know that if a deceased wise woman of renown appeared to me, I would be trying to pick every bit of knowledge and magic from her! I would not be rude or disrespectful!
The impetus of the storyline comes as a long forgotten god begins to make it's awakening and fury known. In order to save their bloodline, their craft, and all of humanity Demdike, Chattox, Yana, Claire and a small group of cunning folk come together for battle. The result of the battle was not what I expected. I was stunned!
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for this opportunity.
I would have given a higher star level but there were too many typos. Usually typos don't bother me but a few times reading felt like stumbling over cobblestones.
Available 29 September 2025
Kayleigh Kavanagh has written a very original tale about the Pendle Witches. The idea of Demdike (Elizabeth Southerns) and Chattox (Anne Whittle) spending the afterlife together and as frenemies, if not true friends, is so delicious! The back-and-forth banter between the two is serious and seriously funny.
The two spirits are the most known women of the Pendle Witch Trials, who were accused of witchcraft and hung in 1612. They and their children suffered greatly due to the machinations of men with power and money, all because these women were healers, cunning folk, poor, and most importantly, women.
The theme centers on the oppression of women. Women who are strong, confident, speak their minds and don't easily bend have been oppressed by men. If the women possessed the knowledge of healing, the natural world, and had abilities they were not only oppressed, they were labeled a witch. The labeled were shunned, bullied, tortured and too often killed.
This story tells of how Demdike and Chattox protect their decendents, Yana Smith and Claire Davies. Neither young woman is aware of her ancestry but they do know that they possess skills that could make them be deemed to be mad or witches. Claire is a midwife and healer, she can sense spirits, and knows when death is near, but she has not allowed herself to develop her gifts. Yana has been able to see into the future since she was small. As Yana reaches her fourteenth birthday, the Witching age, she becomes able to see, hear and speak to spirits, most importantly, Chattox, her many great grandmother.
Claire is so steady, not easily rattled, and certain of her destined path. Yara is a fourteen year old Brat! I know that if a deceased wise woman of renown appeared to me, I would be trying to pick every bit of knowledge and magic from her! I would not be rude or disrespectful!
The impetus of the storyline comes as a long forgotten god begins to make it's awakening and fury known. In order to save their bloodline, their craft, and all of humanity Demdike, Chattox, Yana, Claire and a small group of cunning folk come together for battle. The result of the battle was not what I expected. I was stunned!
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for this opportunity.
I would have given a higher star level but there were too many typos. Usually typos don't bother me but a few times reading felt like stumbling over cobblestones.
October 5, 2025
One Foot in the Ether is exactly the kind of historical fantasy that works best in October. It is atmospheric, character-driven, and grounded in well-researched detail. Set in the late 1800s but tied back to the infamous Witch Trials, it balances the eerie presence of spirits with the real struggles of women’s health and autonomy during a difficult time in history. I did not read the first, which seemed just fine here.
The characters are really amazing. Each perspective felt distinct, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the living women navigating patriarchal constraints and the ghosts of Demdike and Chattox, who were once rivals but are now reluctant allies watching over their descendants while something terrible looms. The witches' banter and begrudging friendship brought a surprising charm that kept the darker themes from ever feeling too heavy.
The themes are powerful. The story doesn’t shy away from showing how outspoken, knowledgeable, or confident women were often branded as witches, oppressed, or erased. It’s a book that sits right at the intersection of haunting supernatural intrigue and very real historical injustices, giving it both emotional weight and resonance.
That said, the story does explore difficult subject matter, especially surrounding women and childbirth, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings before going in. But if you’re looking for a read that’s both original and compelling, with ghosts, gods, and women refusing to be silenced, I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you to the author and R&R Booktours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The characters are really amazing. Each perspective felt distinct, and I found myself genuinely invested in both the living women navigating patriarchal constraints and the ghosts of Demdike and Chattox, who were once rivals but are now reluctant allies watching over their descendants while something terrible looms. The witches' banter and begrudging friendship brought a surprising charm that kept the darker themes from ever feeling too heavy.
The themes are powerful. The story doesn’t shy away from showing how outspoken, knowledgeable, or confident women were often branded as witches, oppressed, or erased. It’s a book that sits right at the intersection of haunting supernatural intrigue and very real historical injustices, giving it both emotional weight and resonance.
That said, the story does explore difficult subject matter, especially surrounding women and childbirth, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings before going in. But if you’re looking for a read that’s both original and compelling, with ghosts, gods, and women refusing to be silenced, I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you to the author and R&R Booktours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
October 20, 2025
Labeling One Foot In The Ether by Kayleigh Kavanagh as a historical paranormal fantasy hits the nail on the head. It is definitely heavy on the historical. Shows the woman’s place in the 1800s, but these characters are headstrong, knowing how to accomplish their goals with finesse and cunning.
There are a lot of details about midwifery and the care of pregnant women during the 1800s.
A small group of women and men will be called upon to save those in Pendle from an angry god. A sacrifice will be made.
From reading the blurb, I expected something else. I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to love One Foot In The Ether. It was worth the read, but I was missing a lot of the action I expected. The characters were interesting and I did have my favorites. I love that there was an Epilogue. It wrapped up the story and left me feeling good about the book.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
There are a lot of details about midwifery and the care of pregnant women during the 1800s.
A small group of women and men will be called upon to save those in Pendle from an angry god. A sacrifice will be made.
From reading the blurb, I expected something else. I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to love One Foot In The Ether. It was worth the read, but I was missing a lot of the action I expected. The characters were interesting and I did have my favorites. I love that there was an Epilogue. It wrapped up the story and left me feeling good about the book.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
October 18, 2025
Kayleigh Kavanaugh’s One Foot in the Ether is a sharp, vibrant fantasy. It’s feminist at its core but never heavy-handed, just honest, upset, hopeful, and full of heart. What stood out most to me was how grounded it feels for a story that’s so full of ghosts, magic, and mystery. The characters feel flawed and fierce and human, like people that I know.
It’s rare to find a book that balances emotional honesty with such confident worldbuilding, but this one does. If you are looking for a historical/urban fantasy that doesn’t just talk about power but also about who gets to have it, you should read this.
It’s rare to find a book that balances emotional honesty with such confident worldbuilding, but this one does. If you are looking for a historical/urban fantasy that doesn’t just talk about power but also about who gets to have it, you should read this.
November 4, 2025
Thank You to Pump Up Your Book Tours and the author for this read in exchange for my honest review of One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches.
The book drew me in by the amazing cover, but sadly this is one that I did not like. It is a historical paranormal fantasy that is set in the late 1800s and ends up being tied back to the infamous Witch Trials. I had a hard time following what was going on and there was a lot of characters in this one. One thing I did enjoy in this was the magic in it. Overall, this is one that I did not enjoy but would still suggest this to readers to try if they like historical paranormal fantasy.
The book drew me in by the amazing cover, but sadly this is one that I did not like. It is a historical paranormal fantasy that is set in the late 1800s and ends up being tied back to the infamous Witch Trials. I had a hard time following what was going on and there was a lot of characters in this one. One thing I did enjoy in this was the magic in it. Overall, this is one that I did not enjoy but would still suggest this to readers to try if they like historical paranormal fantasy.
November 17, 2025
Ancestry at its finest
The premise of the novel was intriguing. The 4 stars are for the effort and ideas within it.
HOWEVER, the book needs a good editor. The repition of the word "However" was astonishing. Also, there is a great deal of details in the mix that just feel unneeded.
The premise of the novel was intriguing. The 4 stars are for the effort and ideas within it.
HOWEVER, the book needs a good editor. The repition of the word "However" was astonishing. Also, there is a great deal of details in the mix that just feel unneeded.
September 3, 2025
Good book was different to the usual types of books that I would go for but found it a nice read with great characters I enjoyed taking the time to read it!
December 22, 2025
great read!
Thank you for this story of Demdike and her family. Well written and told. Kept me interested throughout both book 1 and 2.
Thank you for this story of Demdike and her family. Well written and told. Kept me interested throughout both book 1 and 2.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews