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Blackthorn Women #1
The Blackthorn Women
A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing by the Edgar Award-nominated author of The Taken Ones.
After her husband’s infidelity, devastated Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota, to her family’s Queen Anne mansion on the hill and the magic that binds them all.
Her grandmother Velda charms everyone she meets. Her mother, Ursula, is a brewer of potions who sees a threat around every corner. And there’s her estranged sister, Jasmine, broken by something no one will name. With Katrine’s return, all that the Blackthorns have feared seems to be manifesting. The snakes amassing with the spring thaw and the stranger who’s rolled into town are just the first omens threatening the fragile peace the family is rebuilding.
Now Katrine must face the darkest secret of her lineage and rediscover her own magic if the Blackthorn women are to survive.
Note: Revised Edition. Previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets, this edition of The Blackthorn Women includes editorial revisions.
After her husband’s infidelity, devastated Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota, to her family’s Queen Anne mansion on the hill and the magic that binds them all.
Her grandmother Velda charms everyone she meets. Her mother, Ursula, is a brewer of potions who sees a threat around every corner. And there’s her estranged sister, Jasmine, broken by something no one will name. With Katrine’s return, all that the Blackthorns have feared seems to be manifesting. The snakes amassing with the spring thaw and the stranger who’s rolled into town are just the first omens threatening the fragile peace the family is rebuilding.
Now Katrine must face the darkest secret of her lineage and rediscover her own magic if the Blackthorn women are to survive.
Note: Revised Edition. Previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets, this edition of The Blackthorn Women includes editorial revisions.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 13, 2014
About the author
Jess Lourey
48 books4,850 followersMy name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
February 15, 2018
Lourey, a successful murder-mystery author, has begun a promising foray into magical realism with this tale. While maybe a bit too reminiscent of Alice Hoffman, particularly Practical Magic, the story is strong, the characters are engaging, and the premise is promising.
Katrine Catalain feels strongly compelled to return to the small Minnesota town in which she grew up, reeling from her husband's betrayal, to find comfort with her family (who happen to be witches). She's been away for 15 years, and a lot has changed. For one thing, her sister Jasmine doesn't seem to want to do magic anymore and although Katrine believes it was Jasmine who called her home, Jasmine doesn't seem to want anything to do with her. While Katrine comes to terms with her heartbreak; gets to know her young niece, Tara; and tries to repair relationships; she is unaware that the family curse is stalking both her and Tara, and that Jasmine's secrets might be the key to breaking it.
Being a sucker for both magical realism and Minnesota authors, I just had to request this book when I saw it come available on NetGalley. I was really not at all disappointed! I hope to read more from this author, and wouldn't mind another book set in the world of the Catalains.
Katrine Catalain feels strongly compelled to return to the small Minnesota town in which she grew up, reeling from her husband's betrayal, to find comfort with her family (who happen to be witches). She's been away for 15 years, and a lot has changed. For one thing, her sister Jasmine doesn't seem to want to do magic anymore and although Katrine believes it was Jasmine who called her home, Jasmine doesn't seem to want anything to do with her. While Katrine comes to terms with her heartbreak; gets to know her young niece, Tara; and tries to repair relationships; she is unaware that the family curse is stalking both her and Tara, and that Jasmine's secrets might be the key to breaking it.
Being a sucker for both magical realism and Minnesota authors, I just had to request this book when I saw it come available on NetGalley. I was really not at all disappointed! I hope to read more from this author, and wouldn't mind another book set in the world of the Catalains.
December 19, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/12/19...
Publisher: Toadhouse
Publishing Date: January 2015
ISBN: 9780990834212
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.5/5
Publisher Description: Ursula Catalain, current keeper of the Book of Secrets, is content to concoct spells in her garden cottage until the ghost of the man she murdered when she was 12 appears at her door in a new form. His return pulls Jasmine, Ursula’s daughter, back into the fold. Once believed to be the most powerful of the Catalains, she foreswore her gift years before to bury a shameful secret. The ghost of the murdered man also calls home Katrine, Jasmine’s sister, who has been banished for fourteen years. Finally able to return to Faith Falls and the beloved Queen Anne, Katrine must claim her true Catalain power to save her mother and sister from the dark family curse.
Review: This really wasn’t a book built for logical and cogent people that operate in the real world. I guess that’s why we have escapist fiction. This novel really didn’t transport my imagination anywhere. It was at once pedantic, verbose and filled with internal ruminations. Much like a cow chewing endlessly while standing in a field, this novel encompassed the realities and past experiences of three very boring people.
Most of this novel reads like a journal diary or an expository oration where the characters are just there to educate and inform the reader. There is some man crushing by one of the witch girls which flattens the story line even more. I have read this story numerous times in all its clichéd’ inventions. From Accession to the Witches of Eastwick only this iteration is neither creative nor riveting. A very good writer with a bad idea.
Publisher: Toadhouse
Publishing Date: January 2015
ISBN: 9780990834212
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.5/5
Publisher Description: Ursula Catalain, current keeper of the Book of Secrets, is content to concoct spells in her garden cottage until the ghost of the man she murdered when she was 12 appears at her door in a new form. His return pulls Jasmine, Ursula’s daughter, back into the fold. Once believed to be the most powerful of the Catalains, she foreswore her gift years before to bury a shameful secret. The ghost of the murdered man also calls home Katrine, Jasmine’s sister, who has been banished for fourteen years. Finally able to return to Faith Falls and the beloved Queen Anne, Katrine must claim her true Catalain power to save her mother and sister from the dark family curse.
Review: This really wasn’t a book built for logical and cogent people that operate in the real world. I guess that’s why we have escapist fiction. This novel really didn’t transport my imagination anywhere. It was at once pedantic, verbose and filled with internal ruminations. Much like a cow chewing endlessly while standing in a field, this novel encompassed the realities and past experiences of three very boring people.
Most of this novel reads like a journal diary or an expository oration where the characters are just there to educate and inform the reader. There is some man crushing by one of the witch girls which flattens the story line even more. I have read this story numerous times in all its clichéd’ inventions. From Accession to the Witches of Eastwick only this iteration is neither creative nor riveting. A very good writer with a bad idea.
May 25, 2026
Thank you to Jess Loury for the ARC and fantastic promo box (by Midnight Gala Creations)🩷
“Too much brightness reminds people of what they don’t have…”
Katrine Blackthorn returns to her Minnesota hometown after her husband’s betrayal and is pulled back into her family’s generations-old magic and secrets. Strange memories and buried trauma begin to surface as a dark curse threatens the women of the Blackthorn family…
I love a good witchy story! This one was deeply atmospheric and full of family drama as well. I loved how Lourey wrote these strong women, each with their own unique gift that were both a blessing and a curse (mainly in how they were treated). Also, I thought the way Lourey had Katrine returning after being away for 15 years was a good way to get to know her sisters too.
I love Lourey’s mysteries and thrillers (her Steinbeck and Reed series is one of my very favorites!) but this was a little different. This story blended mystery and magical realism into a beautiful tale of sisterhood.
“The Blackthorn Women” releases May 26, 2026. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
“Too much brightness reminds people of what they don’t have…”
Katrine Blackthorn returns to her Minnesota hometown after her husband’s betrayal and is pulled back into her family’s generations-old magic and secrets. Strange memories and buried trauma begin to surface as a dark curse threatens the women of the Blackthorn family…
I love a good witchy story! This one was deeply atmospheric and full of family drama as well. I loved how Lourey wrote these strong women, each with their own unique gift that were both a blessing and a curse (mainly in how they were treated). Also, I thought the way Lourey had Katrine returning after being away for 15 years was a good way to get to know her sisters too.
I love Lourey’s mysteries and thrillers (her Steinbeck and Reed series is one of my very favorites!) but this was a little different. This story blended mystery and magical realism into a beautiful tale of sisterhood.
“The Blackthorn Women” releases May 26, 2026. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
December 14, 2014
"It's only possible to provide help when it's asked for. The rest of the time, all you can give is love."
(My favorite quote from the book)
Four generations of women are living alone with their guilt/grief/personal demons. Each also has a unique gift to help them navigate the world. The curse that came about to hurt them all is here to destroy them again.
There were parts of this book that were very raw. I'm guessing that the author is intimately acquainted with grief since she was so apt at capturing it on paper.
There is a lot of internal dialogue, memories, and shifting points of view. I like that sort of thing but many people find it distracting. The writing is poetic and evokes a melancholy and yearning feeling throughout the book. Some may find it a bit too flowery, but I felt it set the mood for the tone of the book. I do think it took a little to long to get to the climax of the book. I'm a more patient reader than most, so I think some people may find this their biggest gripe of the book.
There was a good focus on the strength of women and how we can nurture each other through personal demons (or be horrendously viscous to each other).
I found the ending satisfying, but at one point in the last chapter, I felt like I was reading a completely different style/author. I'm not sure if it was the writing style that changed to match the change in tone or what, but it was noticeable. The best books keep me ignorant to the fact that I'm reading, and that moment brought me out of the magic of the book for some reason.
Overall, it was an enjoyable, haunting read for me. Just a few nit-picky things above to be aware of in case they are deal breakers for you.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As this was an advance reader copy, the quote listed above may not be the same as in the final copy of the book.
Four generations of women are living alone with their guilt/grief/personal demons. Each also has a unique gift to help them navigate the world. The curse that came about to hurt them all is here to destroy them again.
There were parts of this book that were very raw. I'm guessing that the author is intimately acquainted with grief since she was so apt at capturing it on paper.
There is a lot of internal dialogue, memories, and shifting points of view. I like that sort of thing but many people find it distracting. The writing is poetic and evokes a melancholy and yearning feeling throughout the book. Some may find it a bit too flowery, but I felt it set the mood for the tone of the book. I do think it took a little to long to get to the climax of the book. I'm a more patient reader than most, so I think some people may find this their biggest gripe of the book.
There was a good focus on the strength of women and how we can nurture each other through personal demons (or be horrendously viscous to each other).
I found the ending satisfying, but at one point in the last chapter, I felt like I was reading a completely different style/author. I'm not sure if it was the writing style that changed to match the change in tone or what, but it was noticeable. The best books keep me ignorant to the fact that I'm reading, and that moment brought me out of the magic of the book for some reason.
Overall, it was an enjoyable, haunting read for me. Just a few nit-picky things above to be aware of in case they are deal breakers for you.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As this was an advance reader copy, the quote listed above may not be the same as in the final copy of the book.
June 16, 2026
If you love a witchy story, magical realism, and family drama, then this story is for you!
This story felt like a wonderful combination of the movies Practical Magic and Fried Green Tomatoes.
This story is about a family of cursed witches who live in a small town. Each of the four women have their own past trauma and secrets that keep them from healing and growing. This story is full of family drama, magical realism, strong women, secrets, trauma, love, and healing.
I enjoyed the shifting of POVs between the four women throughout the story. This allowed me to get to experience each character on a deep and personal level.
At the core of this story we explore generational trauma and pain and how unhealed parents pass these down to their children and will continue to pass down until the trauma is faced and people start healing.
I do want to add that there are heavy topics in this story that could be triggering for many people, unfortunately there is not a trigger warning list in the book. I do wish all books regardless of genre would list the triggers.
That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I loved all of the characters, the poetic and lyrical writing, and the deeper meanings behind everything. This is a very atmospheric story full of powerful quotes and lessons. I highlighted so many beautiful quotes throughout my read that touched my soul.
Thank you so much to BookSparks and Jess Lourey for the ARC copy.
This story felt like a wonderful combination of the movies Practical Magic and Fried Green Tomatoes.
This story is about a family of cursed witches who live in a small town. Each of the four women have their own past trauma and secrets that keep them from healing and growing. This story is full of family drama, magical realism, strong women, secrets, trauma, love, and healing.
I enjoyed the shifting of POVs between the four women throughout the story. This allowed me to get to experience each character on a deep and personal level.
At the core of this story we explore generational trauma and pain and how unhealed parents pass these down to their children and will continue to pass down until the trauma is faced and people start healing.
I do want to add that there are heavy topics in this story that could be triggering for many people, unfortunately there is not a trigger warning list in the book. I do wish all books regardless of genre would list the triggers.
That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this story. I loved all of the characters, the poetic and lyrical writing, and the deeper meanings behind everything. This is a very atmospheric story full of powerful quotes and lessons. I highlighted so many beautiful quotes throughout my read that touched my soul.
Thank you so much to BookSparks and Jess Lourey for the ARC copy.
May 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. I received an advance copy of The Blackthorn Women at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
This was such a great read. On the surface, this book is about four generations of women in a family of witches who are cursed and must come together to find out how to break the curse and destroy the one who cast it on them. If you look beneath the surface, it is a story about generational trauma and how secrets kept from one generation to the next can rip apart families and threaten to destroy them.
It’s also a beautiful commentary on female relationships and how sharing your secrets and hurts with those in your circle can make the pain easier to bear and survive.
I’d highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of small-town settings, books about breaking generational curses, and witchy women with very different but all very impressive gifts.
This was such a great read. On the surface, this book is about four generations of women in a family of witches who are cursed and must come together to find out how to break the curse and destroy the one who cast it on them. If you look beneath the surface, it is a story about generational trauma and how secrets kept from one generation to the next can rip apart families and threaten to destroy them.
It’s also a beautiful commentary on female relationships and how sharing your secrets and hurts with those in your circle can make the pain easier to bear and survive.
I’d highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of small-town settings, books about breaking generational curses, and witchy women with very different but all very impressive gifts.
June 25, 2026
I've read a few of Jess Loureys books now, and I've enjoyed them all.
I really liked the story. I'm a sucker for any book with magic in it. The "snakening" was appropriately creepy, and I like how the story evolved.
My only critique is that the ending was a little rushed, especially with all the romances.
Overall I'd rate it as a 4 star.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
I really liked the story. I'm a sucker for any book with magic in it. The "snakening" was appropriately creepy, and I like how the story evolved.
My only critique is that the ending was a little rushed, especially with all the romances.
Overall I'd rate it as a 4 star.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
January 14, 2015
I contributed to the Kickstarter project that made this book possible, and I am so glad that I did. In Jessica Lourey's Catalain Book of Secrets, a family of witches fight a curse in Faith Falls, a snug little Minnesota town that is disrupted every 25 years by an eruption of snakes and evil.
Ursula Catalain, current keeper of the Book of Secrets, is content to concoct spells in her garden cottage until the ghost of the man she murdered when she was 12 appears at her door in a new form. He comes for the rest of her family: her daughters and grand-daughter. It will take powerful magic to break this curse, but the Catalain women are far from their most powerful. They each hide secrets that keep them from trusting each other or their gifts.
Lourey spins a tale thick and warm with suspense, family love and family hate, spells and potions, hope and magic. But I think her true gift to the reader is her wonderful language. So many times I savored a sentence here or there, rolled them around in my mind: "The house creaked, almost as if it wished for arms to hold them." She writes of hearts "lined with ice" and gazes that "felt like butterfly fingers." Let yourself visit Faith Falls, step over a snake or two, and enjoy.
Ursula Catalain, current keeper of the Book of Secrets, is content to concoct spells in her garden cottage until the ghost of the man she murdered when she was 12 appears at her door in a new form. He comes for the rest of her family: her daughters and grand-daughter. It will take powerful magic to break this curse, but the Catalain women are far from their most powerful. They each hide secrets that keep them from trusting each other or their gifts.
Lourey spins a tale thick and warm with suspense, family love and family hate, spells and potions, hope and magic. But I think her true gift to the reader is her wonderful language. So many times I savored a sentence here or there, rolled them around in my mind: "The house creaked, almost as if it wished for arms to hold them." She writes of hearts "lined with ice" and gazes that "felt like butterfly fingers." Let yourself visit Faith Falls, step over a snake or two, and enjoy.
August 1, 2018
Not worth the 99 ¢ I paid for this...
Hard to believe that this was written by a seasoned author....started off well but bogged down in the middle and became tedious and boring...kept reading in hopes that it would get better...
It didn't....waste of time
Hard to believe that this was written by a seasoned author....started off well but bogged down in the middle and became tedious and boring...kept reading in hopes that it would get better...
It didn't....waste of time
April 23, 2022
I took a couple of stars off because I just don’t think this genre is a fit for me. The character development and world building is strong but I just couldn’t get into the premise. I recommend for people who like magic realism.
May 26, 2026
This is a re-release of Jess Lourey’s “The Catalain Book of Secrets,” which is now “The Blackthorn Book of Secrets,” first self-published back when she was a baby author, before her 2020 breakout with her Edgar Award nominated “Unspeakable Things.” In the afterward and in her usual bio, she often mentions that her relationship with writing has been transformative and she actually started this book back in 2002, shortly after her husband died. It has since evolved into this beautiful book, about family love and secrets that taint that bond.
Katrine Blackthorn is returning to Faith Falls, Minnesota, after a fourteen year absence, a town complete with haunted neighborhoods and a winter factory town tunnel system connecting homes to the shuttered Pappas Sanitorium. She was recently betrayed by her husband Adam. Faith Falls also sporadically has a special phenomenon: “a sporadic emergence from underground hibernacula attributed to anomalous thermoregulatory behavior.” The “Snakening.” 🐍
She reunites with her mother Ursula, sister Jasmine (whose husband Dean also abandoned her, but she hasn’t shared that), grandmother Velda, twin aunts Helena and Xenia (proprietors of the “Seven Daughters”), and fourteen year old niece Tara. This is the first time these seven have gathered together. Ursula is feeling a disturbance in the mystical atmosphere, fearing that her repulsive, wife- beating father, Charlie Tanager, (Velda’s long ago “ lost” husband), who is afflicted with something sort of vampiry or werewolfy that manifests after dark, is returning. He cursed all Blackthorn women and is considered responsible for the thousands of red-lined garter snakes that arise randomly to invade Faith Falls.
Katrine needs a job and applies at the town newspaper, now run by an old female high school rival/bully, Heidi, whose family inherits symbrachydactyly instead of magic, and has a mother, Dagmar, who despises Kathrine’s mother. But as she gets established in the months following, all of the Blackthorn women, including teenager Tara, can feel that something is off. There are also two handsome men — Ren, a watch repair tradesman, and Baler, a singer/stranger from the local dive bar.
There’s a building tension that sucks you in. Are the snakes about to reappear? What causes that and why are we so certain it has something to do with the Blackthorn women? I loved Lourey’s mysteries (and especially her Steinbeck and Reed semi-magical detective series) and she became an auto-buy author for me in 2020. I’ve been exploring her backlist and she is a master of multiple genres. This sort of magical realism is perfect for me! 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES All of the Blackthorn women going back to Eva have jade green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Conium maculutam, used by Ursula for a fateful mixture , is, indeed, the well known poisonous herb hemlock.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
Katrine Blackthorn is returning to Faith Falls, Minnesota, after a fourteen year absence, a town complete with haunted neighborhoods and a winter factory town tunnel system connecting homes to the shuttered Pappas Sanitorium. She was recently betrayed by her husband Adam. Faith Falls also sporadically has a special phenomenon: “a sporadic emergence from underground hibernacula attributed to anomalous thermoregulatory behavior.” The “Snakening.” 🐍
She reunites with her mother Ursula, sister Jasmine (whose husband Dean also abandoned her, but she hasn’t shared that), grandmother Velda, twin aunts Helena and Xenia (proprietors of the “Seven Daughters”), and fourteen year old niece Tara. This is the first time these seven have gathered together. Ursula is feeling a disturbance in the mystical atmosphere, fearing that her repulsive, wife- beating father, Charlie Tanager, (Velda’s long ago “ lost” husband), who is afflicted with something sort of vampiry or werewolfy that manifests after dark, is returning. He cursed all Blackthorn women and is considered responsible for the thousands of red-lined garter snakes that arise randomly to invade Faith Falls.
Katrine needs a job and applies at the town newspaper, now run by an old female high school rival/bully, Heidi, whose family inherits symbrachydactyly instead of magic, and has a mother, Dagmar, who despises Kathrine’s mother. But as she gets established in the months following, all of the Blackthorn women, including teenager Tara, can feel that something is off. There are also two handsome men — Ren, a watch repair tradesman, and Baler, a singer/stranger from the local dive bar.
There’s a building tension that sucks you in. Are the snakes about to reappear? What causes that and why are we so certain it has something to do with the Blackthorn women? I loved Lourey’s mysteries (and especially her Steinbeck and Reed semi-magical detective series) and she became an auto-buy author for me in 2020. I’ve been exploring her backlist and she is a master of multiple genres. This sort of magical realism is perfect for me! 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES All of the Blackthorn women going back to Eva have jade green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Conium maculutam, used by Ursula for a fateful mixture , is, indeed, the well known poisonous herb hemlock.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
May 28, 2026
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 5/26
•
Right from start of this book, the first thing I thought about was practical magic. There were many similar vibes that I couldn’t help to feel like I was reading a retelling of sorts. While yes, this is its own story, I just felt similar vibes: pushing away magical capabilities, running away from home then returning, a family curse, and a strong sisterly bond.
•
The bond between the four sisters was unbelievably special and could be felt from the pages. I enjoyed their journey as they opened up to one another to figure out what was plaguing their family. The book is super atmospheric and has such strong women in it. The magic in the book was also a huge plus. This was just a little too slow for me and felt like it dragged a bit. I did enjoy the ending and felt it to be a great resolution.
•
I listened to this via audiobook Thanks to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and Brilliance Publishing. The entire book was narrated by Kira Fixx. I loved how she narrated this one and I think that because of her narration I was able to finish this one very quickly, given how slow it was for me. Definitely check out the audiobook!
Pub Date: 5/26
•
Right from start of this book, the first thing I thought about was practical magic. There were many similar vibes that I couldn’t help to feel like I was reading a retelling of sorts. While yes, this is its own story, I just felt similar vibes: pushing away magical capabilities, running away from home then returning, a family curse, and a strong sisterly bond.
•
The bond between the four sisters was unbelievably special and could be felt from the pages. I enjoyed their journey as they opened up to one another to figure out what was plaguing their family. The book is super atmospheric and has such strong women in it. The magic in the book was also a huge plus. This was just a little too slow for me and felt like it dragged a bit. I did enjoy the ending and felt it to be a great resolution.
•
I listened to this via audiobook Thanks to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and Brilliance Publishing. The entire book was narrated by Kira Fixx. I loved how she narrated this one and I think that because of her narration I was able to finish this one very quickly, given how slow it was for me. Definitely check out the audiobook!
July 14, 2026
✨ WITCHY VIBES, FAMILY CURSES, & THE MINNESOTA THAW ✨
If you love Practical Magic but want it wrapped in a dark, atmospheric gothic mystery, put The Blackthorn Legacy (the latest from Jess Lourey!) on your TBR immediately. 🐍🌲
After her life implodes, Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to her family’s Queen Anne mansion in Faith Falls, Minnesota. But this isn't a peaceful retreat. She’s reunited with three generations of Blackthorn women: her charming grandmother Velda, her potion-brewing, paranoid mother Ursula, and her deeply traumatized, estranged sister Jasmine.
With Katrine’s return, an ancient family curse begins to wake up. As the spring ice melts, an unsettling plague of snakes emerges, a mysterious stranger rolls into town, and Katrine must face the darkest secrets of her bloodline to survive.
Why I loved it:
🌲 The Atmosphere: The creeping Minnesota spring thaw is the perfect backdrop for buried secrets coming to light.
🖤 Generational Trauma: It’s a deeply moving look at how we inherit our family's wounds—and how we heal them.
🔮 Grounded Magic: The magic here isn't sparkly; it’s elemental, heavy, and carries a real cost.
If you want a slow-burn, atmospheric read about sisterhood, survival, and reclaiming your power, do not miss this one!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Perfect for fans of: Alice Hoffman, Simone St. James, and dark family secrets.
💬 Let’s chat! What is your absolute favorite book featuring a family curse or magical realism? Drop your recs below! 👇
If you love Practical Magic but want it wrapped in a dark, atmospheric gothic mystery, put The Blackthorn Legacy (the latest from Jess Lourey!) on your TBR immediately. 🐍🌲
After her life implodes, Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to her family’s Queen Anne mansion in Faith Falls, Minnesota. But this isn't a peaceful retreat. She’s reunited with three generations of Blackthorn women: her charming grandmother Velda, her potion-brewing, paranoid mother Ursula, and her deeply traumatized, estranged sister Jasmine.
With Katrine’s return, an ancient family curse begins to wake up. As the spring ice melts, an unsettling plague of snakes emerges, a mysterious stranger rolls into town, and Katrine must face the darkest secrets of her bloodline to survive.
Why I loved it:
🌲 The Atmosphere: The creeping Minnesota spring thaw is the perfect backdrop for buried secrets coming to light.
🖤 Generational Trauma: It’s a deeply moving look at how we inherit our family's wounds—and how we heal them.
🔮 Grounded Magic: The magic here isn't sparkly; it’s elemental, heavy, and carries a real cost.
If you want a slow-burn, atmospheric read about sisterhood, survival, and reclaiming your power, do not miss this one!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Perfect for fans of: Alice Hoffman, Simone St. James, and dark family secrets.
💬 Let’s chat! What is your absolute favorite book featuring a family curse or magical realism? Drop your recs below! 👇
April 18, 2026
This is a re-release of a previously release story under a different title with “editorial” changes. The story did not show any hiccups in style, with the exception of the ending which did seem to change style of writing a slight bit. Nothing where you can feel that the author has re-written chunks of the book
This story follows a family who happens to be witches, and when one returns after 15 years gone, may things have changed Magical occurrences begin to happen, snakes find their way above ground, and the family begins to question each other. There is a deep feeling of healing / guilt/ grief in which you as a reader feel, though not so heavy as to be depressing. The way the characters interact is like a true family, being both mean and protective, strong and angry but also each others biggest supports.
The writing is poetic to read, very lyrical even in the way things are described. Not at all “fantasy” forward but a realistic look at what life could be like for a family—like any other—that just happens to be magical.
May 8, 2026
My senses were bursting with the play on words by this author. My eyes read it and I saw the color of “smoker’s teeth”. My brain was filled with fantastical images. I smelled the “sage and cucumber”. I felt the anxiety as her heart exploded to know “she was coming”. The movement of hair behind the ears into “question marks”. Brilliant play on words!
This book represents a strong story about magical realism and 4 generations of amazing women living with all that life throws at them. But, the curse! Oh! The curse! It brings them all together with their unique gifts and their secrets must show transparency.
Thank you! This was a fantastical read! I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As this was an advance reader copy.
This book represents a strong story about magical realism and 4 generations of amazing women living with all that life throws at them. But, the curse! Oh! The curse! It brings them all together with their unique gifts and their secrets must show transparency.
Thank you! This was a fantastical read! I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As this was an advance reader copy.
June 2, 2026
I picked this up as a big fan of Jess Lourey, even though it falls a little outside my usual comfort zone. While it stays true to her signature Minnesota setting, this one leans more into gothic thriller territory, beautifully blended with elements of magical realism.
Spanning four generations of women witches, it’s a richly layered story about the complicated bonds between mothers, daughters, and sisters, woven together with family secrets, generational trauma, and long buried resentment. The characters are undoubtedly the heart of the novel, pulling you effortlessly into an atmospheric, emotional, and surprisingly heartwarming story!
This is a revised edition that was previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets!
Spanning four generations of women witches, it’s a richly layered story about the complicated bonds between mothers, daughters, and sisters, woven together with family secrets, generational trauma, and long buried resentment. The characters are undoubtedly the heart of the novel, pulling you effortlessly into an atmospheric, emotional, and surprisingly heartwarming story!
This is a revised edition that was previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets!
June 22, 2026
This story is a bit different then others I've read by author Jess Lourey, I enjoyed it all the same. It is a story of sisterhood, combined with past trauma, magic and mystery. It's a family of all female witches.
When sister, Katrina, returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota after 15 years, she is confronted with her family's magical powers and memories of past trauma. The Blackthorn women have been cursed, and in order to survive and prosper, they must work together to end the curse.
I really enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading "Twice in a Blue Moon," a short story Ms. Lourey wrote to enhance the Blackthorn experience.
When sister, Katrina, returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota after 15 years, she is confronted with her family's magical powers and memories of past trauma. The Blackthorn women have been cursed, and in order to survive and prosper, they must work together to end the curse.
I really enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading "Twice in a Blue Moon," a short story Ms. Lourey wrote to enhance the Blackthorn experience.
May 31, 2026
THE BLACKTHORN WOMEN is a haunting novel about a family curse and the women trying to break it.
I’ve read a few of Jess Lourey’s books now and I’ve been a fan of them all! THE BLACKTHORN WOMEN is different than the others that I’ve read, but it still has the same darkness lingering beyond the pages.
This character driven story pulled me right in and I loved how the different POVs let the story unfold. The Queen Anne mansion and town of Faith Falls were incredibly atmospheric, acting as their own characters in the story.
Jess Lourey is a fantastic storyteller. If you haven’t checked out her books yet, this is your reminder to do so!
I’ve read a few of Jess Lourey’s books now and I’ve been a fan of them all! THE BLACKTHORN WOMEN is different than the others that I’ve read, but it still has the same darkness lingering beyond the pages.
This character driven story pulled me right in and I loved how the different POVs let the story unfold. The Queen Anne mansion and town of Faith Falls were incredibly atmospheric, acting as their own characters in the story.
Jess Lourey is a fantastic storyteller. If you haven’t checked out her books yet, this is your reminder to do so!
Read
March 15, 2016The description makes major claims: a book that is in the style of Garden Spells (by Sarah Addison Lee), Eva Luna (Isabel Allende) and Practical Magic (Alice Hoffman). The trouble is that whilst all three of these books are magic realist books with strong female characters they are very different and appeal to different readerships. Of these readerships I think the Addison Lee crowd are the ones who are going to have most problems - with the rape that forms a major plot element in the book and with Ursula's sexual promiscuity. You know that I do not have a problem with grittiness in a story (it's one of the reasons I like Alice Hoffman) but others will and I don't understand why you would invite Addison Lee readers to buy the book.
So what did I make of The Catalain Book of Secrets? There is a lot of magic in this book - all the Catalain women are witches and each has a different form of magic. One makes magic food, one brews potions in the garden shed, one makes magic sweets, one sees people's potential, another their emotional wounds... Usually in magic-realist books (particularly of this type) the central characters will have one form of magic. Add to this that the Catalain witches are fighting a demon and I begin to wonder if this is close to being urban fantasy or something similar.
A main theme of the book is that of sisterhood both in the literal sense but also in the sense of the sisterhood of women in the face of violent men. As the Catalain Book of Secrets says:
"Nothing multiplies your power like a sister."
And the converse is also the case: what weakens women's power are secrets kept from one another, silence in the face of male abuse, and the rivalry and tensions we feel for one another. When the Catalain women act on their own, they are too weak to take on the male demon, but when all seven act together...
The mother/daughter relationship is also explored with both Ursula and Jasmine trying not to be like their mothers and making different mistakes. As a mother and a daughter that theme rings very true to me.
This is a more demanding book than those by Addison Lee and similar cosy magic realism writers. Not only because you are made to think, but also because of the narrative style. The book is written from the points of view of the main characters and moves between them. There is also some movement in the time settings. This does have the effect of slowing the book a bit as we get up to pace with the different characters, but after a while the story really kicks off. The author's slightly poetic style of description also might slow things for some people, but I enjoyed her turns of phrase - there are some particularly good descriptions of taste as you might expect given the food magic.
I understand that this is Jessica Lourey's first magic-realist book and one which she used crowdfunding to publish - she already has a successful career as a writer of mysteries. I am fascinated to find out why she decided to diversify into magic realism and will be interested to see what she produces next.
I received a free review copy from the author in return for a fair review.
So what did I make of The Catalain Book of Secrets? There is a lot of magic in this book - all the Catalain women are witches and each has a different form of magic. One makes magic food, one brews potions in the garden shed, one makes magic sweets, one sees people's potential, another their emotional wounds... Usually in magic-realist books (particularly of this type) the central characters will have one form of magic. Add to this that the Catalain witches are fighting a demon and I begin to wonder if this is close to being urban fantasy or something similar.
A main theme of the book is that of sisterhood both in the literal sense but also in the sense of the sisterhood of women in the face of violent men. As the Catalain Book of Secrets says:
"Nothing multiplies your power like a sister."
And the converse is also the case: what weakens women's power are secrets kept from one another, silence in the face of male abuse, and the rivalry and tensions we feel for one another. When the Catalain women act on their own, they are too weak to take on the male demon, but when all seven act together...
The mother/daughter relationship is also explored with both Ursula and Jasmine trying not to be like their mothers and making different mistakes. As a mother and a daughter that theme rings very true to me.
This is a more demanding book than those by Addison Lee and similar cosy magic realism writers. Not only because you are made to think, but also because of the narrative style. The book is written from the points of view of the main characters and moves between them. There is also some movement in the time settings. This does have the effect of slowing the book a bit as we get up to pace with the different characters, but after a while the story really kicks off. The author's slightly poetic style of description also might slow things for some people, but I enjoyed her turns of phrase - there are some particularly good descriptions of taste as you might expect given the food magic.
I understand that this is Jessica Lourey's first magic-realist book and one which she used crowdfunding to publish - she already has a successful career as a writer of mysteries. I am fascinated to find out why she decided to diversify into magic realism and will be interested to see what she produces next.
I received a free review copy from the author in return for a fair review.
December 17, 2014
The Catalain Book of Secrets by Jessica Lourey is a delightful and magical book! The Catalain ladies are magical. Velda, Ursula, Helena, Xenia, Katrine, Jasmine, and Tara are the Catalain women. Each has their own magical gift. Katrine has been gone from Faith Falls for a number of years, but has now felt the call to come home. Jasmine (Katrine’s sister) has been keeping a secret, and, unfortunately, secrets can be this families undoing. You need to read The Catalain Book of Secrets to see what happens to these magical ladies and how revealing their secrets can free them. I loved this book and did not want it to end. I hope there will be more books about the Catalain family.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
January 8, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing itself was a bit disjointed and seemed to assume the reader knew these characters as well as the author did. Skipping past that, you are then faced with the rampant promiscuity of the Catalain family. Throw in a heaping helping of spells, incantations, and candle rituals and you have this book in a hand basket.
Not for me.
The writing itself was a bit disjointed and seemed to assume the reader knew these characters as well as the author did. Skipping past that, you are then faced with the rampant promiscuity of the Catalain family. Throw in a heaping helping of spells, incantations, and candle rituals and you have this book in a hand basket.
Not for me.
March 18, 2015
***disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
DNF 12%
There is nothing terribly wrong with this book. I found it boring and knew early on it was not a book for me. I think women who have gone through a divorce and enjoy magical realism will like this book.
DNF 12%
There is nothing terribly wrong with this book. I found it boring and knew early on it was not a book for me. I think women who have gone through a divorce and enjoy magical realism will like this book.
June 27, 2026
★★★★
I found myself pausing to adjust my expectations before sinking into this story, as it feels entirely different to the author's previous work. Having read 'The Quarry Girls' and 'Unspeakable Things', I am used to her narratives sitting in a dark thriller space. This book is a much lighter, more dramatic exploration of family drama.
Originally published as 'The Catalain Book of Secrets' back in 2014, the plot follows Katrine Blackthorn as she reluctantly returns to her family's historic Queen Anne mansion in Faith Falls, Minnesota, following her husband's infidelity. Once home, she is reunited with her grandmother Velda, her mother Ursula, and her estranged sister Jasmine, who is broken by an unnamed past trauma. Her return triggers a series of strange omens. A mysterious stranger rolls into town, and a massive spring emergence of thousands of snakes breaks out from underground hibernacula, known as 'The Snakening'.
Although the book is cross-marketed as a contemporary mystery or thriller alongside magical realism, I think it sits squarely within magical realism with a twist. It never really felt like a mystery or a thriller to me because it lacks the traditional suspense of those genres. The book did take me a while to get into initially. I struggled to engage with the slow buildup during the first third of the narrative. However, after pushing through that opening chunk, my reading behaviour completely changed. I found myself wanting to skip ahead just to uncover the hidden secrets of the seven Blackthorn women.
I don't usually enjoy fantasy, but the author's direct writing style pulled me through. I always appreciate a story centred on dysfunctional family drama. I kept thinking about how much the character dynamics mirrored the film 'Practical Magic'. It features strong female characters dealing with the lingering shadow of an evil man, alongside themes of running away from home, pushing away inherent magical capabilities, and relying on a powerful sisterly bond. Because it shares so many of these clear blueprints, it did occasionally feel a bit like a retelling rather than something entirely fresh. This caused the narrative to lose a bit of its unique tension.
The inclusion of regional history was a clever touch. I liked the nod to historic Minnesota sanatoriums like Nopeming and the Willmar State Asylum, which featured extensive underground utility tunnels. I enjoyed a similar subterranean element in 'The Quarry Girls', so seeing it used here was a great touch.
If I had a micro-detail critique regarding the depth of the plot, it is that 'The Snakening' missed its symbolic potential. Snakes traditionally embody a rich duality of creation and destruction, rebirth, and danger. Here, the execution functioned more like a literal plot device than a fully realised metaphor. Still, the family dynamics made it an enjoyable read, and I would be interested in seeing what the author releases next.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
I found myself pausing to adjust my expectations before sinking into this story, as it feels entirely different to the author's previous work. Having read 'The Quarry Girls' and 'Unspeakable Things', I am used to her narratives sitting in a dark thriller space. This book is a much lighter, more dramatic exploration of family drama.
Originally published as 'The Catalain Book of Secrets' back in 2014, the plot follows Katrine Blackthorn as she reluctantly returns to her family's historic Queen Anne mansion in Faith Falls, Minnesota, following her husband's infidelity. Once home, she is reunited with her grandmother Velda, her mother Ursula, and her estranged sister Jasmine, who is broken by an unnamed past trauma. Her return triggers a series of strange omens. A mysterious stranger rolls into town, and a massive spring emergence of thousands of snakes breaks out from underground hibernacula, known as 'The Snakening'.
Although the book is cross-marketed as a contemporary mystery or thriller alongside magical realism, I think it sits squarely within magical realism with a twist. It never really felt like a mystery or a thriller to me because it lacks the traditional suspense of those genres. The book did take me a while to get into initially. I struggled to engage with the slow buildup during the first third of the narrative. However, after pushing through that opening chunk, my reading behaviour completely changed. I found myself wanting to skip ahead just to uncover the hidden secrets of the seven Blackthorn women.
I don't usually enjoy fantasy, but the author's direct writing style pulled me through. I always appreciate a story centred on dysfunctional family drama. I kept thinking about how much the character dynamics mirrored the film 'Practical Magic'. It features strong female characters dealing with the lingering shadow of an evil man, alongside themes of running away from home, pushing away inherent magical capabilities, and relying on a powerful sisterly bond. Because it shares so many of these clear blueprints, it did occasionally feel a bit like a retelling rather than something entirely fresh. This caused the narrative to lose a bit of its unique tension.
The inclusion of regional history was a clever touch. I liked the nod to historic Minnesota sanatoriums like Nopeming and the Willmar State Asylum, which featured extensive underground utility tunnels. I enjoyed a similar subterranean element in 'The Quarry Girls', so seeing it used here was a great touch.
If I had a micro-detail critique regarding the depth of the plot, it is that 'The Snakening' missed its symbolic potential. Snakes traditionally embody a rich duality of creation and destruction, rebirth, and danger. Here, the execution functioned more like a literal plot device than a fully realised metaphor. Still, the family dynamics made it an enjoyable read, and I would be interested in seeing what the author releases next.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Blackthorn Women, by Jess Lourey, from Thomas & Mercer /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4 ⭐
As several other reviewers have pointed out, this book is very much in the vein of Practical Magic.
And you know what? That’s OK. Because we really can’t get enough good books about the power of love—especially when one comes with a semi-sentient house, a multi-generational family of strong women, and wonderful descriptions of kitchen and garden magic.
That snakening, though? That I might could’ve done without. Gives me the heebie-jeebies just writing about it now. But it certainly was the right thing for this book!
Great way to escape for a few hours and read in the pretty spring sunshine. When I finished I wanted to water all my plants that I moved from inside to the deck, screened porch, and yard this weekend (done) and then go inside and make some avgolemono (still to come). So this book definitely worked its spell on me!
DESCRIPTION
A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing by the Edgar Award–nominated author of The Taken Ones.
After her husband’s infidelity, devastated Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota, to her family’s Queen Anne mansion on the hill and the magic that binds them all.
Her grandmother Velda charms everyone she meets. Her mother, Ursula, is a brewer of potions who sees a threat around every corner. And there’s her estranged sister, Jasmine, broken by something no one will name. With Katrine’s return, all that the Blackthorns have feared seems to be manifesting. The snakes amassing with the spring thaw and the stranger who’s rolled into town are just the first omens threatening the fragile peace the family is rebuilding.
Now Katrine must face the darkest secret of her lineage and rediscover her own magic if the Blackthorn women are to survive.
Revised edition: Previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets, this edition of The Blackthorn Women includes editorial revisions.
Received a complimentary copy of The Blackthorn Women, by Jess Lourey, from Thomas & Mercer /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4 ⭐
As several other reviewers have pointed out, this book is very much in the vein of Practical Magic.
And you know what? That’s OK. Because we really can’t get enough good books about the power of love—especially when one comes with a semi-sentient house, a multi-generational family of strong women, and wonderful descriptions of kitchen and garden magic.
That snakening, though? That I might could’ve done without. Gives me the heebie-jeebies just writing about it now. But it certainly was the right thing for this book!
Great way to escape for a few hours and read in the pretty spring sunshine. When I finished I wanted to water all my plants that I moved from inside to the deck, screened porch, and yard this weekend (done) and then go inside and make some avgolemono (still to come). So this book definitely worked its spell on me!
DESCRIPTION
A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing by the Edgar Award–nominated author of The Taken Ones.
After her husband’s infidelity, devastated Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota, to her family’s Queen Anne mansion on the hill and the magic that binds them all.
Her grandmother Velda charms everyone she meets. Her mother, Ursula, is a brewer of potions who sees a threat around every corner. And there’s her estranged sister, Jasmine, broken by something no one will name. With Katrine’s return, all that the Blackthorns have feared seems to be manifesting. The snakes amassing with the spring thaw and the stranger who’s rolled into town are just the first omens threatening the fragile peace the family is rebuilding.
Now Katrine must face the darkest secret of her lineage and rediscover her own magic if the Blackthorn women are to survive.
Revised edition: Previously published as The Catalain Book of Secrets, this edition of The Blackthorn Women includes editorial revisions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕, 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏.
After discovering her husband’s infidelity, Katrine Blackthorn returns home to Faith Falls, Minnesota, and to the sprawling Queen Anne mansion where generations of Blackthorn women have lived surrounded by secrets, magic, and an ominous family curse. There she reunites with her magnetic grandmother Velda, her deeply suspicious mother Ursula, and her estranged sister Jasmine, whose pain hangs over the family like a storm cloud no one wants to acknowledge. As snakes begin appearing across town and danger creeps closer to the Blackthorn home, Katrine is forced to confront both the darkness woven into her lineage and the power she has spent years trying to outrun. THE BLACKTHORN WOMEN blends family drama, folklore, healing, and mystery into something hauntingly immersive.
I went into this book as a huge fan of Jess Lourey’s police procedural series, especially because of how vividly she writes Minnesota settings and the relationships between her characters. That sense of place and emotional authenticity is still very much here, which surprised me in the best possible way because this was my first time reading her fantasy work. Even with the shift into magic and curses, her voice remains so consistent. The pacing is sharp, the tension builds beautifully, and the emotional dynamics between these women feel raw and believable. Nothing about the fantasy elements overwhelms the story. Instead, they deepen it, giving every wound, fear, and family secret an almost mythic weight.
Everything felt so grounded beneath the supernatural surface. Faith Falls feels lived in, and the Blackthorn women feel complicated and deeply human. The heart of a story is always the people at the center of it, whether it's a murder investigation or generational magic. I was completely invested not only in the mystery surrounding the Blackthorn family, but in the women themselves and the fragile bonds tying them together. This made me incredibly excited to see where she goes next in this genre because she absolutely nailed it. Many thanks to the author for my beautiful promo box and this phenomenal book that publishes May 26, 2026.
After discovering her husband’s infidelity, Katrine Blackthorn returns home to Faith Falls, Minnesota, and to the sprawling Queen Anne mansion where generations of Blackthorn women have lived surrounded by secrets, magic, and an ominous family curse. There she reunites with her magnetic grandmother Velda, her deeply suspicious mother Ursula, and her estranged sister Jasmine, whose pain hangs over the family like a storm cloud no one wants to acknowledge. As snakes begin appearing across town and danger creeps closer to the Blackthorn home, Katrine is forced to confront both the darkness woven into her lineage and the power she has spent years trying to outrun. THE BLACKTHORN WOMEN blends family drama, folklore, healing, and mystery into something hauntingly immersive.
I went into this book as a huge fan of Jess Lourey’s police procedural series, especially because of how vividly she writes Minnesota settings and the relationships between her characters. That sense of place and emotional authenticity is still very much here, which surprised me in the best possible way because this was my first time reading her fantasy work. Even with the shift into magic and curses, her voice remains so consistent. The pacing is sharp, the tension builds beautifully, and the emotional dynamics between these women feel raw and believable. Nothing about the fantasy elements overwhelms the story. Instead, they deepen it, giving every wound, fear, and family secret an almost mythic weight.
Everything felt so grounded beneath the supernatural surface. Faith Falls feels lived in, and the Blackthorn women feel complicated and deeply human. The heart of a story is always the people at the center of it, whether it's a murder investigation or generational magic. I was completely invested not only in the mystery surrounding the Blackthorn family, but in the women themselves and the fragile bonds tying them together. This made me incredibly excited to see where she goes next in this genre because she absolutely nailed it. Many thanks to the author for my beautiful promo box and this phenomenal book that publishes May 26, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jess Lourey’s The Blackthorn Women is about, well, The Blackthorn women. It’s a revised edition of Lourey’s 2014 novel, The Catalain Book of Secrets. A family of witches comes together to battle the curse of a spiteful paedophile of a husband. This involves coming to terms with their own flaws and secrets and extending forgiveness to their mothers, daughters and sisters. Don’t go in lured by the mysteriously dark cover, because all the witchery in this book amounts to homely herbalism and positive ‘practical magic’. It's really a book of family and community joining forces to protect their innocent from violent assault.
The major theme is of intergenerational trauma and how people try, in their own way, to break the cycle. However, as in Jasmine's case, attempts to shield others without dealing with one’s own share of trauma first leads only to the festering of wounds. In Ursula's case, her efforts to be a good mother while keeping secrets from her daughters only creates distances between them. Closure is reached when secrets are shared and empathized with.
The sexual promiscuity of the older Blackthorn women is what I couldn't understand. Looking for love in the wrong places is a thing, but why seduce married men just for the sake of physical satisfaction? None of the men seem to hold any emotional significance for them. Dagmar Baum seems to be villainised for nothing. The younger Blackthorn's look for love and stability, and that is understandable, though the almost instantaneous connection between people seemed far-fetched to the ever-so-cynical me.
The nerd in me appreciated the thought that went behind naming the major women characters, and the explanatory mention of the genetic theory at the end.
The book was pleasant enough, but I did not find it to be a compelling read. It was a nicely rounded off narrative though, no jagged edges sticking out to mar the end product. A book that shows overcoming fear and shame is possible has a good heart, and I’d say it’s a 3.75⭐ read.
The major theme is of intergenerational trauma and how people try, in their own way, to break the cycle. However, as in Jasmine's case, attempts to shield others without dealing with one’s own share of trauma first leads only to the festering of wounds. In Ursula's case, her efforts to be a good mother while keeping secrets from her daughters only creates distances between them. Closure is reached when secrets are shared and empathized with.
The sexual promiscuity of the older Blackthorn women is what I couldn't understand. Looking for love in the wrong places is a thing, but why seduce married men just for the sake of physical satisfaction? None of the men seem to hold any emotional significance for them. Dagmar Baum seems to be villainised for nothing. The younger Blackthorn's look for love and stability, and that is understandable, though the almost instantaneous connection between people seemed far-fetched to the ever-so-cynical me.
The nerd in me appreciated the thought that went behind naming the major women characters, and the explanatory mention of the genetic theory at the end.
The book was pleasant enough, but I did not find it to be a compelling read. It was a nicely rounded off narrative though, no jagged edges sticking out to mar the end product. A book that shows overcoming fear and shame is possible has a good heart, and I’d say it’s a 3.75⭐ read.
June 9, 2026
Quick Summary: A secrets-that-grow-in-the-dark magical realism thriller
My Review: The Blackthorn Women by Jess Lourey is book 1 of The Blackthorn Women series. It was originally released under a different title. It was officially re-released by an imprint of Amazon Publishing in May 2026.
About the Book: "A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing..."
In My Own Words: A dark menace has haunted the Blackthorn women relentlessly through time, causing chaos and trauma. Now the threat is inflicting a pain and poison that may be too hard to overcome if the secrets of old remain.
My Final Say: Utterly original and completely captivating!
This novel was everything and then some. I was totally under its spell. While the dark theme was off-putting somewhat, I still could not look away.
The stinging bites, the reprehensible violations, the sly shadows, the minions of a tainted curse that lingered - it was arresting.
Truth, magic, bravery, and love held the power to dispel the darkness, but it was definitely a battle to step into the light for all the Blackthorn women. In the end, they were able to find and claim a new freedom, a new reality, and a new hope for their futures.
Other: Readers who enjoy dark magical realism stories should like this novel. If I had to liken it to anything, I would say that this book has the same type of tonality as Practical Magic but with the fiesty, defiant courage and never-say-die attitude of Idgie in Fried Green Tomatoes.
🛑 *** Special Note: Potential readers are advised to read any and all content warnings. There are definite triggers. Please refer to author/publisher notes for more details. *** 🛑
FYI: Amazon Publishing ->
Book 1: The Blackthorn Women
Book 2: Twice in a Blue Moon
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Level: 🌀🖤🥃🥧🔐
Format: 🎧
Narration: + (This book was narrated by Kira Fixx.)
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Trigger Warning: 🚨
#wishlistread
My Review: The Blackthorn Women by Jess Lourey is book 1 of The Blackthorn Women series. It was originally released under a different title. It was officially re-released by an imprint of Amazon Publishing in May 2026.
About the Book: "A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing..."
In My Own Words: A dark menace has haunted the Blackthorn women relentlessly through time, causing chaos and trauma. Now the threat is inflicting a pain and poison that may be too hard to overcome if the secrets of old remain.
My Final Say: Utterly original and completely captivating!
This novel was everything and then some. I was totally under its spell. While the dark theme was off-putting somewhat, I still could not look away.
The stinging bites, the reprehensible violations, the sly shadows, the minions of a tainted curse that lingered - it was arresting.
Truth, magic, bravery, and love held the power to dispel the darkness, but it was definitely a battle to step into the light for all the Blackthorn women. In the end, they were able to find and claim a new freedom, a new reality, and a new hope for their futures.
Other: Readers who enjoy dark magical realism stories should like this novel. If I had to liken it to anything, I would say that this book has the same type of tonality as Practical Magic but with the fiesty, defiant courage and never-say-die attitude of Idgie in Fried Green Tomatoes.
🛑 *** Special Note: Potential readers are advised to read any and all content warnings. There are definite triggers. Please refer to author/publisher notes for more details. *** 🛑
FYI: Amazon Publishing ->
Book 1: The Blackthorn Women
Book 2: Twice in a Blue Moon
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Level: 🌀🖤🥃🥧🔐
Format: 🎧
Narration: + (This book was narrated by Kira Fixx.)
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Trigger Warning: 🚨
#wishlistread
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Blackthorn Women is a beautifully haunting novel—one that wraps you in its spell from the moment Katrine Blackthorn returns to Faith Falls and steps back into the tangle of magic, memory, and generational wounds she thought she’d left behind. There’s a quiet ache running through the story, the kind that lingers like the scent of something half‑remembered, and it gives the book a depth that’s as compelling as its mystery.
The Blackthorn women themselves are irresistible. Velda with her effortless charm, Ursula with her sharp instincts and protective edge, and Jasmine, fragile in ways no one dares to name. They feel like a family shaped by both love and fear, bound together by a curse that has shadowed them for generations. Katrine’s return unsettles everything, and the novel captures that sense of old magic stirring with a lovely, understated tension.
The omens—snakes rising with the thaw, a stranger arriving at just the wrong moment—give the story a creeping, atmospheric dread without ever overwhelming the emotional heart of it. What stands out most is the way the book balances the supernatural with the deeply human: grief, estrangement, the longing to heal what’s been broken, and the courage it takes to face the truths we’ve spent years avoiding.
As Katrine begins to confront the darkest secret of her lineage, the novel becomes not just a tale of curses and magic, but one of reclamation. It’s about rediscovering power, rewriting inherited stories, and choosing to break cycles rather than be defined by them.
Spellbinding, intimate, and quietly fierce, The Blackthorn Women is a gorgeous exploration of family, magic, and the kind of healing that doesn’t come easily—but is worth everything when it finally arrives.
with thanks to Jess Lourey, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The Blackthorn women themselves are irresistible. Velda with her effortless charm, Ursula with her sharp instincts and protective edge, and Jasmine, fragile in ways no one dares to name. They feel like a family shaped by both love and fear, bound together by a curse that has shadowed them for generations. Katrine’s return unsettles everything, and the novel captures that sense of old magic stirring with a lovely, understated tension.
The omens—snakes rising with the thaw, a stranger arriving at just the wrong moment—give the story a creeping, atmospheric dread without ever overwhelming the emotional heart of it. What stands out most is the way the book balances the supernatural with the deeply human: grief, estrangement, the longing to heal what’s been broken, and the courage it takes to face the truths we’ve spent years avoiding.
As Katrine begins to confront the darkest secret of her lineage, the novel becomes not just a tale of curses and magic, but one of reclamation. It’s about rediscovering power, rewriting inherited stories, and choosing to break cycles rather than be defined by them.
Spellbinding, intimate, and quietly fierce, The Blackthorn Women is a gorgeous exploration of family, magic, and the kind of healing that doesn’t come easily—but is worth everything when it finally arrives.
with thanks to Jess Lourey, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Blackthorn Women by Jess Lourey is one of those books that really wants to be haunting, mysterious, and profound...and sometimes gets there, but not without wandering off for a bit first.
The premise is genuinely intriguing. Four generations of cursed women, a brooding family home, and a main character returning to deal with both personal baggage and whatever ominous nonsense her ancestors left behind. The small-town Minnesota setting does a lot of heavy lifting, bringing a chilly, gothic atmosphere that feels like something bad is always about to happen. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it just thinks about it for a while.
The strongest part of the book is the vibe. Lourey clearly knows how to build mood, and the themes of generational trauma and family secrets are compelling on paper. The magical elements add a layer of intrigue, though they occasionally feel more like a suggestion than a fully realized system.
Unfortunately, the pacing is where things start to wobble. This is very much a slow burn, and not always in a satisfying way. There are stretches where the story seems to stall out, as if it forgot it’s supposed to be going somewhere. By the time things pick up again, you might already be side-eyeing the page count.
The characters have potential, but they never quite reach it. Each of the Blackthorn women is meant to feel distinct and layered, yet they can come across as more sketch than portrait. The emotional moments are present, but they do not always hit with the weight they are aiming for.
In the end, The Blackthorn Women is an atmospheric read with a solid premise and some genuinely eerie moments. It just does not fully deliver on that promise. If you like slow, moody mysteries and do not mind a bit of narrative wandering, it is worth a try. If you are looking for something tighter or more intense, this one might test your patience.
The premise is genuinely intriguing. Four generations of cursed women, a brooding family home, and a main character returning to deal with both personal baggage and whatever ominous nonsense her ancestors left behind. The small-town Minnesota setting does a lot of heavy lifting, bringing a chilly, gothic atmosphere that feels like something bad is always about to happen. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it just thinks about it for a while.
The strongest part of the book is the vibe. Lourey clearly knows how to build mood, and the themes of generational trauma and family secrets are compelling on paper. The magical elements add a layer of intrigue, though they occasionally feel more like a suggestion than a fully realized system.
Unfortunately, the pacing is where things start to wobble. This is very much a slow burn, and not always in a satisfying way. There are stretches where the story seems to stall out, as if it forgot it’s supposed to be going somewhere. By the time things pick up again, you might already be side-eyeing the page count.
The characters have potential, but they never quite reach it. Each of the Blackthorn women is meant to feel distinct and layered, yet they can come across as more sketch than portrait. The emotional moments are present, but they do not always hit with the weight they are aiming for.
In the end, The Blackthorn Women is an atmospheric read with a solid premise and some genuinely eerie moments. It just does not fully deliver on that promise. If you like slow, moody mysteries and do not mind a bit of narrative wandering, it is worth a try. If you are looking for something tighter or more intense, this one might test your patience.
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