A Time of Witches

by Madeline Martin

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, Fiction, Magical Realism, Audiobook, Autumn

512 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.

She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), two incredibly spoiled cats and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

Check out her website for book club visits, reader guides for her historical fiction, upcoming events, book news and more: https://madelinemartin.com

Reviews

[Madeline Martin]

Update September 10th:

OMG! A Time of Witches is a New York Times bestseller, USA Today bestseller, AND Indie bookseller bestseller!!!!!!!!

Thank you to every reader who bought the book, shared it, reviewed it, recommended it, came to an event, or simply told someone else about it. You are the reason A Time of Witches has had such a successful launch. Thank you to every Indie bookstore who has supported me along the way, and is having me on tour!

I have such an incredible team behind me with Harper Collins who work tirelessly behind the scenes to add the sparkle and magic to the launch of A Time of Witches.

I love this book so much. Seeing all of you embrace Lilith and Sybil and this story the way you have means more to me than I could ever say. THANK YOU <3

xoxo,
Madeline

Update September 2nd - A Time of Witches is NOW AVAILABLE!!! ***muppet flail excitement***

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but A Time of Witches officially came out yesterday and it was just the best day ever! I'm so incredibly grateful to everyone who posted such wonderful reviews and took the time to share about my release yesterday. Thank you to everyone who went out and bought copies and who sent me so lovely messages about how excited you are for the book.

It's especially exciting knowing that you guys have been with me from the very beginning on this journey to write my book and have it finally come out. Through the idea, the research, the edits, the cover reveal - and now the publication! I'm truly so grateful!!

I hope everyone enjoys A Time of Witches!!

xoxo,
Madeline

Update August 29, 2026: 11 week book tour!

Tomorrow kicks off an eleven week book tour that goes all over the East Coast and includes England and Canada and Portland, Oregon.

Will I be near you? If so, I'd love to see you at one of these events! I'll be chatting about the writing process and the real history behind A Time of Witches:
https://madelinemartin.com/events/

Hope to see you there!

xoxo,
Madeline

Update July 14, 2026:
Preorder incentive!!

YOU GUYS! Harper Collins put together the CUTEST keychains as a fun preorder incentive for A Time of Witches! If you've preordered the paperback (from any vendor) you'll just need to send your receipt to have an adorable keychain mailed out to you - open to US and Canada (except Quebec): link with info and to submit your receipt here: https://bit.ly/4bdis2w

And just a reminder that if you want a personalized signed copy, you can preorder that from my local bookstore, San Marco Books & More here: https://sanmarcobooksandmore.com/made...

I hope everyone enjoys their keychains! :)

xoxo,
Madeline

Update March 28, 2026:

A Time of Witches is officially now available to request on NetGalley!! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

OMG this is so exciting!! (and thank you!)

xoxo,
Madeline

Update March 20, 2026:
I recently completed my page proofs for A Time of Witches, which officially means it will be going off to the printer!! This is such an exciting part of the book (and also terrifying) when it means I am DONE with the writing and editing and cannot change another thing in it (that last part is the terrifying part LOL).

While I was between edits on this book, I did a giveaway for the names of two of the animals in this book that I detail in my author's note, so definitely to make sure to check that out when the book comes out. The name of the horse was such a fun story that helped a grandmother bond with her equestrian granddaughter <3

I had a wonderful cover reveal for this book with People magazine and so appreciate how many of you shared my cover and reached out to let me know how much you love it <3 If you'd like to see the article, here it is: https://people.com/madeline-martin-a-...

I have a call with my marketing team in two weeks to start putting together a game plan for the launch, which will include my book tour. Believe it or not, I already have a couple stops planned, including Bury St. Edmunds, England! I'll be part of their literary festival this year with a special launch with Moyse's Hall Museum. I am absolutely over the moon about this!

The last thing I really need to write is the information for the reader's guide. The amazing team at Harper Collins assembles everything in to a pretty file, but I'm the one who provides the details. It's easier said than done!

It really is so exciting to see everything fall into place with this story and I cannot thank you enough for your eagerness and support and love!

xoxo,
Madeline

Update on Sept 12, 2025:

A Time of Witches has officially been turned into my publisher! I did it right before leaving for my book tour for The Secret Book Society - and turning in a book right before book tour is always the BEST feeling ever LOL

After my personal read through and freelance edits, the book ended up being over 80K words, so there was definitely a lot added to it. There was a lot of shifting timelines to get everything exactly as I wanted it to, but I love how it ended up. I expect I'll likely get the edits back in October sometime.

I already heard back from my agent after she read through A Time of Witches and she LOVED it - another friend who reads all my books has said it's my best book I've written. Getting feedback like that so early on after finishing writing it gives me the biggest sigh of relief LOL It's always such an anxious thing when a new book is done and people read it for the first time!

In the meantime, I've updated the blurb with a bit more information on what the book is about and I've started to mention A Time of Witches while I'm on my book tour. I'm so grateful for all the excitement already starting over this book and hope everyone loves it as much as I do!

xoxo,
Madeline

Update on June 5, 2025:

I just wrote THE END on A Time of Witches!!! My goal was to start May 5th and finish this first draft on June 5th (today1) at 70K words and I finished at 68.9K words. Pretty close to my original estimate :) Some days were great, like at the Highlights writing retreat in PA where I had a cabin in the woods and glorious silence that helped me accomplish 5K words a day. And some days were not great, like when I was traveling and limping along in my word count, or exhausted and just needed a whole day off (meaning zero words).

The months leading up to this point have been filled with intense research, so getting to finally write the story and have it all composed is just beyond thrilling! :)

What's next?

First of all, I wrote the timelines separate to ensure I kept the contemporary voice of Lilith and the 17th century voice of Sybil intact without deviation or crossover. Tomorrow, I will be splicing all those chapters together so the stories weave together. Easier said than done! But it shouldn't take more than a day.

Next, I'll do a full read through/self edit. This will take approximately two weeks to do, then I'll send it to a freelance editor to ensure all the pieces are working. Then I'll have a month for more clean up before turning it in on the due date of August 1st.

Stay tuned for more details as they come! And feel free to ask questions in the comments :)

Thank you for being on this journey with me as I write A Time of Witches.

xoxo,
Madeline

Update on May 13, 2025:

After months of deep research, travel to England and Savannah, plus ridiculous amounts of character development and plotting, I’m officially diving into the writing phase of my 2026 release, A Time of Witches.

My goal is 70,000 words in 32 days. (About 2200 words a day — give or take, depending on whether it’s a chaotic or coffee-fueled kind of day.) Writing quickly like this is how I work best as the just flows out of me and keeps everything cohesive. In my head, it's kind of like when you read a book you can't stop thinking about and can't wait to get back to. But at the same time, it's like the story has been building and building and just suddenly has to explode out.

It can be a bit of a stressful process as I still have to maintain travel, events, emails, life, etc while I'm 'fast drafting' but it's what seems to work best for me. Then, of course, come the edits to ensure it's all smoothed out before turning into my editor.

I'm going to be sharing the process of writing it in my stories on Instagram if you want to join along. I'm about 23K into it as I started it on the 5th and plan to end on June 5th. So feel free to follow along! https://www.instagram.com/madelinemma...

And thank you again for joining me on my journey to write this book <3

xoxo,
Madeline



Update on February 1, 2025:

Even though A Time of Witches isn't coming out until 2026, I'm already hard at work! I've been doing research for the last three months and will be leaving for England in less than two weeks to explore the area where the historical part of this book will take place. I have several private tours lined up and a list of questions I'm dying to learn answers to!

One of my favorite things about traveling on location is how it makes all that research fall into place. Suddenly street names have relevance, distances can be accurately measured, and seeing pieces in museums helps to bring that world to life for me. There are also so many books to purchase on location that I either can't find or don't even know exists. On the latter note, I always bring a collapsible second bag in my main bag for research trips, which I end up stuffing full of books (and padding with dirty laundry so those books don't get too beat up and dented).

I'm so excited for the incredible things I'm going to learn!

Stay tuned for more - and thanks for going on this journey with me.

xoxo,
Madeline

[Christine Garrow]

Two women separated by centuries face the same threat: a world determined to silence them before they can uncover the truth.

After losing her mother to cancer, Lilith Legare begins experiencing horrific nightmares and inexplicable phenomena, including a birthmark that stings and tingles. Convinced that her symptoms are more than manifestations of grief or stress, she travels from Savannah to England in search of clues as well as reassurance that she is not losing her mind. Her investigation leads her to the decaying Brackenmere Manor, where she begins unraveling the history of Sybil Brantham and Sybil’s sister, Jacinda, whose presence still seems to linger within the estate.

In Suffolk in 1645, the recently widowed Sybil has inherited her husband’s wealth. Naturally, the patriarchy does not take kindly to a single woman of independent means. She is soon accused of witchcraft and blamed for her husband’s death and other misfortunes within the community.

The most impactful and harrowing parts of A Time of Witches depict what Sybil and other accused women endure while imprisoned. They are starved, brutally interrogated, tortured, humiliated, and tested in nearly every physical and psychological way imaginable. The abrupt transitions from Sybil’s horrific circumstances to Lilith’s modern-day storyline can be jarring. Lilith faces the uncertainty of what will happen if she cannot solve the mystery surrounding her inheritance while Sybil confronts bodily torment, not to mention the threat of execution. Although both timelines carry significant stakes, Sybil’s suffering is so immediate and visceral that returning to Lilith’s investigation can temporarily lessen the modern storyline’s urgency.

Saskia Maarleveld narrates both women’s perspectives with a sustained intensity that creates an almost constant sense of dread. Her performance captures their fear and determination as each fights for survival before time runs out. Considering that the characters are separated by centuries, the effectiveness of that shared urgency demonstrates just how thoroughly this tale bends time and the mind.

Despite its difficult subject matter, the story is elevated by one vital theme: women banding together to help one another, centuries of distance be damned. To possess the strength demonstrated by the women of 1645 seems almost impossible to me and, at times, to Lilith as well. Yet nothing seems quite as insurmountable when someone does not have to face it alone.

The mystery and supernatural intrigue will hook readers, but the sisterhood connecting these women across generations will inspire them. I would recommend A Time of Witches to readers who enjoy atmospheric dual-timeline fiction, historical mysteries, and stories about women reclaiming the voices others have tried to erase.

Content warnings include the death of a parent, cancer, misogyny, imprisonment, starvation, torture, humiliation, violence, and persecution associated with accusations of witchcraft.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Tina]

3.5 ⭐️

This is a dual timeline story which is among my most favourites. I've been anticipating this book and thought it would be perfect for this time of year 🎃

The story involves two women. In the present day, Lilith lives in Savannah, Georgia and Sybil Brantham lives in England in the year 1645. Lilith is grieving the recent death of her Mother and has a birthmark on her arm that has started to tingle. She seems to have a keen sense for plants and animals now. Sybil has recently been widowed and is now on trial as she is accused of being a witch. Lilith must come to understand her powers and find the link between the two women.

The author did extensive research on the background of the witch trials in England. In this instance I enjoyed the past story more and the present day one was just mediocre for me. I listened to this via Spotify audio and the narration by Saskia Maarleveld was as usual top-notch. I did appreciate what the story was trying to tell. How women have been oppressed and controlled throughout history and must take back their power. Indeed I like the way Martin ended this by saying we're in, "A time of Witches!" 💪

*There are recipes included to download and that's always a plus for me.

[chloé (slumping)]

oh, how i love witchy reads in the fall

Rtc soon 🍂✨🖤

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub)]

Madeleine Martin’s A Time of Witches is an immersive, beautifully written historical novel that blends dual timelines, compelling characters, and just the right touch of magic. While I enjoyed both timelines, Sybil’s story in 1645 England was definitely my favorite, with its richly developed setting and fascinating look at the witch trials.

The story took a little time to find its footing, but once the connections between the past and present began to unfold, I was completely invested—and I especially appreciated that this was ultimately a story about women, their resilience, relationships, and strength rather than romance. And the author’s note and recipes at the end were the perfect finishing touches to a book that clearly came from a place of deep research and passion.

[Louise]

(4.5 stars)
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and Harlequin Audio for the advance reader and listener copy of A Time Of Witches by Madeline Martin.

Suspend your disbelief and allow yourself to be immersed in 1645 England, a terrible time for women. If you were “different” in any way, if you were a widow, poor, too smart, too pretty, too ugly, whatever - you were likely to be called a witch and subjected to terrible torture and starvation before being condemned to death, often by hanging. It’s just the truth. So yes, parts of this book are quite difficult to read about, but I still loved it.

We have two timelines that actually intertwine pretty quickly: Lilith in the present day in Savannah, Georgia, and Sybil and Jacinda in 1645 Bury St. Edmund, England. As is often the case for me, I was more attached to the historical timeline, but I liked Lilith and thought her magical connection to Sybil and Jacinda was so well done. I don’t want to say any more because you should read (or listen to!) this yourself. I did a bit of both, and Saskia Maarleveld was her usual amazing self at the narration.

The book includes some recipes for teas, bath oils, and similar items, based on historical information. And the Author’s Note was wonderful. Don’t skip that!

[Elle]

I will be recommending this to everyone as my go-to witch book this fall.

This is one of the best witch books I’ve read in a long time (and I’ve read ~50!). I literally woke up early so I could read it.

The story is a fantastic dual timeline, featuring modern-day Lilith and a witch in 1600s England who has been accused of witchcraft. Both timelines were interesting, and they worked seamlessly together. The best part was that this was the sort of cozy witch book I grew up on. If you like the Practical Magic series, I think you’ll really enjoy this.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, and Saskia Maarleveld did a fantastic job narrating. She really made the story come to life and did a great job blending US and UK accents.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Harlequin Audio for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra)]

"Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin."

Lilith Legare notices strange things going on. Animals like to be near her, her birthmark is tingling, and she continues having dreams of being burned at the stake. As she investigates these happenings, she finds that she is connected to Sybil in 1645 England.

Sybil gets accused of being a witch after the death of her husband. Can her destiny be changed by someone living centuries in the future?

The connection across the dual timeline is very compelling. It explores issues that women have faced through time. I love how the focus was on these strong female characters who are resilient, talented, and resourceful rather than focusing on their sexuality. This is perfect for spooky season. Highly recommend.

The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarleveld (8 hours 45 minutes) is perfection and adds to the reading experience. In tandem with the beautiful deluxe paperback edition with embossing and sprayed edges, it is immersive and satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, UpLit Reads, The Hive and Madeline Martin for the gifted advance reader's copy, advance listening copy and finished deluxe copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧

[Kaitie Reads]

Audiobook Read.

🌿 Dual Timeline/POV
❤️ Magical Realism
🌿 Witch Trials
❤️ Female Autonomy
🌿 Familial Bonds + History

I wasn't quite sure about this book when I started, but it ultimately grew into a fabulous five-star read. Witchy, atmospheric, with a profound message about female autonomy and overcoming a history that continues to live on.

•

Lilith (modern day) is plagued by nightmares of burning at the stake and strange occurrences. She sets out to determine why she has the recurring dreams and what they mean. Sybil is on trial in 1645 and is accused of being a witch. The two women are bound by fate, their stories intertwined across centuries.

•

This story is a bit of a slow-building, slow burn that ultimately grows into a poignant message about female empowerment and autonomy. I found myself enjoying Sybil's chapters a lot more in the beginning, but Lilith's POV grew on me more as the story progressed as well. This book feels well researched, and the author mentions in her author's note that she pulled historic names and places in order to fabricate this magical realism historical fiction with a connection between women that spans centuries.

The story really took off for me after about 50% through, so I would urge other readers to stick with it during the slow beginning—because I loved how the story ultimately played out. The ending had me tearing up and completely resonated with me.

The audiobook narration is well-exectued, with a voice that captures both timelines and POVs with an emotional and evocative cadence.

A fantastic witchy pick for autumn—or anytime, especially for readers who love stories rooted in feminine rage and dismantling patriarchal oppression. Readers who loved Weyward by Emilia Hart will love this one too!

•

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.

[Erin]

Madeline Martin's dual timeline focuses on two women- Sybil in the 17th century and Lillith in the modern period- who find their lives in danger, and they must race to find answers before they are silenced forever. The story takes readers from Savannah, Georgia, to England. Both protagonists take turns narrating the story.

It has been a while since a book held me captive. A Time of Witches had me flipping pages, increasingly fearful that the story would reach a tragic ending. I liked both protagonists. I appreciated that while there might have been a male character offering help to Sybil and Lillith, ultimately, the story was about women coming together to solve the problem. Also, props to Madeline Martin for having her modern character acknowledge the reality of Lillith's relationship with her male counterpart: that, for now, they make sense together, rather than forcing some unrealistic happily-ever-after ending. I appreciated that realistic touch.

I have never been able to resist a witchlike tale, and A Time of Witches jump-started my "witchy" reads for October.

#ATimeofWitches #NetGalley
Publication Date 01/09/26
Goodreads Review 27/09/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Tracey]

Madeline Martin's "A Time of Witches" is a dual timeline historical fiction novel which features engaging female protagonists, a hint of romance, and paranormal elements. I especially liked its themes of sisterhood and friendship, the unusual pet, and the fascinating use of herbs, crystals, and a spell book. The author's note and her personal insight are enlightening and informative. Saskia Maarleveld's brilliant narration and captivating voice bring the characters to life.

[Alanna Grace]

This book was a 4.5 star read for me. Books I rate 4.5 stars are books I will continue to recommend! It was an enjoyable read. If this author writes another novel, I will pick it up! I will be over on my social channels discussing this book and all the others!

[Jill]

A TIME OF WITCHES
By Madeline Martin
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

A Dark Time, With Hope and Light

3.5 stars rounded up

A Time of Witches is historical fiction with some blending of magical realism, told in dual timelines between contemporary Savannah, Georgia, and 1645 Suffolk during the witch hunts. In the present day, Lilith is experiencing recurring nightmares of being burned alive at the stake, along with other strange things happening in her life. She is led to a manor in England, where she discovers that an ancestor was burned alive at the stake. Lilith must find a way to save Sybil, or they will both be lost forever.

I’ve always been interested in women’s history, and especially this dark period of witch hunts, when women could be accused of witchcraft for being unmarried, widowed, childless, having a witch mark (mole), or simply not fitting society’s expectations. Martin does a good job depicting this dark time, but she also brings some hope and light into the story through friendship and the strength of the women.

Martin’s writing is straightforward, making it easy to become engaged, with just enough historical detail to make the setting feel authentic without becoming bogged down in it. It was easy to visualize the story as I was reading. I particularly loved the atmospheric, gothic feel, with the manors, castles, and prison settings creating a haunting quality throughout. Her prose is especially atmospheric and emotional in the historical timeline, and she does a nice job bringing the women’s relationships and struggles to life. I also appreciated the touch of magical realism woven into the story, which made it even more enjoyable for me.

I really liked both Lilith and Sybil. They’re very different, but both are strong and resilient in their own ways. Lilith is more independent and determined, while Sybil has a quieter strength and is compassionate and incredibly resilient. I found both characters easy to root for and enjoyed watching their stories unfold. I usually prefer the past storyline in dual timelines, but I enjoyed both storylines in this book.

Saskia Maarleveld has been a favorite narrator of mine, and she always does an outstanding job. A Time of Witches is no exception.

I also loved the cover art for this book.

I eagerly await what Madeline Martin writes next.

[Gaby]

I’m not super sure how I feel about this book. I kind of liked it but didn’t love it. Lilith’s character seemed a bit too whiny, and the storyline with Jacinda and Sybil was definitely more entertaining.

The romance with Asher also came out of nowhere, and I don’t think it was necessary or brought anything to the story.

Also, why did Lilith’s mom name her after the mother of demons if she was so against the paranormal?

[Carlymor]

3.5 ✨
This was an interesting dual timeline story about the real witch hunts that took place in England under a truly horrible man named Matthew Hopkins, aka The Witchfinder General.

Lilith's life in Savannah is in chaos ever since her mother's death and on top of everything, she's having recurring dreams of being burned alive. Her quest to find out what is happening leads her to an old manor house in England. When there Lilith learns about Sybil who was accused of being a witch in 1645. Lilith and Sybil become entwined in each other's lives as Lilith tries to change history and save Sybil from her fate.

[Cups and Thoughts]

been so obsessed with books about females being wronged 😭💔 like just tear my heart out!!! i listened to the audiobook of this provided kindly by librofm and UGH i devoured it day and night. the narrator is one of my faves and she did such a splendid job!!

the intertwining perspective, the heart shattering prejudice, the deep and intense love of a mother trying to protect her baby 🥺🥺 sybil’s pov was definitely more for me, i thought lilith’s was a little bit dull especially with the romance that didn’t really work for me 😅 but ugh sybil’s timeline and conflcit really appealed to me more. since reading kate forsyth’s book the changeling, i’ve been yearning for more books about powerful females who are quietly strong in power 🌟 and this one really did it for me!

[Kristine]

3.5 Stars ⭐️

This book introduces us to two different FMC’s who live in two different timelines. First is Sybil Brantham, whose life we start seeing in 1645, and Lilith Legare, who we meet in a present timeline.

The story starts when Lilith’s mother recently passed away from cancer and all of a sudden Lilith is experiencing some unexpected and unbelievable changes - such as horrific nightmares of burning to death on a pyre and the sudden appearance of a birthmark that itself seems to change - tingle and sting - with certain events.

We then go back to 1645 and watch as Sybil is targeted by a magistrate who basically demands that she enter into a relationship with him. Her husband recently passed away and Sybil inherited his wealth along with his property. In that day and time, a woman living without a man, who was independent and able to survive on her own was unacceptable. Her situation touched quite a bit on the prejudices against women during the 1600’s. Sybil also had a younger “sister” whom she was adamant on protecting. Did I mention that they were both witches? That is not a spoiler as it is revealed immediately at the beginning of the book but it did give the magistrate leverage to use against her.

So this magistrate starts to exhibit more and more disturbing behavior towards Sybil the more she rebuffs his advances. Before you know it, she is arrested for being a witch and for the “planned” murder of her husband because of course she murdered him for his money.

The charges against her are downright ludicrous but being a witch means life in jail while murder means burning at the stake.

Some of the most compelling parts of her story are the circumstances regarding all of these women who have been jailed on witchcraft charges - and there were MANY women in the prison. The way they were treated was unbelievably cruel. They were starved and tortured until they signed a confession. If that didn’t break them, their loved ones were used as that final threat. They were told that their loved ones were going to be imprisoned, or hurt…even killed. Some women were walked until the soles of their feet were bloody and raw.

As we switch back and forth between timelines we learn that Lilith has been having nightmares and a feeling in her gut that she cannot seem to get rid of. She learns about a distant relative who lived in England in the late 1600’s and decides to fly to England and explore her relatives history. And so she begins her journey.

Over the course of her time in England, she learns that she has to figure out a secret - and solve the mystery - in order to save Sybil back in her timeline.

The first half of the book felt like it dragged a bit and it did take me a little while until I felt like I had immersed myself fully into the story, but things definitely sped up during the second half.

I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was performed by Saskia Maarleveld. As usual, she did a fantastic job with the narration.

[MyNeverEndingTBRList]

This was a quick and enjoyable read, and I liked the narrator. I love a good witchy book, but this one left me wanting a little more.

3.5 stars

[ThatBookish_deviant]

2.25/6
“She was just a girl with a cat in her arms, standing before a boy with a dog at his side.” 🤮

Madeline Martin totally lost me with that inane quote. I’m sorry, but I just can’t take a writer seriously when they have a grown-ass woman say dumb shit like that in their book. It’s really disappointing because I enjoyed the previous novel I read by Martin, The Book Society. Unfortunately A Time of Witches just did not deliver.

Based on the synopsis I should have loved this book. It’s a rather familiar storyline that I generally gravitate toward. Dual timelines between women who share a mysterious connection to the dilapidated Brakenmere Manor in Suffolk. The historical timeline follows Sybil in 1645 as she’s imprisoned for witchcraft and awaiting execution. Sybil’s chapters are where this story truly shines. There’s nothing particularly noteworthy or innovative but I enjoy reading about witch trials and that’s exactly what’s going on here.
The modern timeline follows Lilith who, despite her honorific name, is a fucking imbecile. She’s responsible for quotes like the one found above and seems only to care about falling in love with an English gentleman. She really plays up the whole Southern, small town girl looking for romance while abroad trope. I essentially hate read Lilith’s chapters so I could get back to Sybil’s far more interesting timeline. Regretfully, I can’t recommend this one at all. It even has me reconsidering a backlog title of Martin’s that I’ve been eyeing at the library.

[Bethany]

4.5⭐️ I enjoy a good historical fiction when it’s immersive and well written and Madeline Martin definitely delivered. When I came across this title and read the premise I was definitely intrigued. Witch trial books are always fascinating to me. Add in interesting characters along with a good storyline and I’m totally invested.

The dual POV/Dual timeline worked perfectly to tell an amazing story tying together past and present.

I truly enjoyed the mystery/adventure vibe, magic elements, woman empowerment and bits of history. The author’s note was spectacular. I always love it when an author feels so passionately about a novel & explains the thoughts and research that they put into their work.

This book did start a bit slow but that is to be expected with a complex novel that lays the groundwork building up to the plot. The paranormal “ghostly” elements could be a turnoff for the more skeptical readers (which I am not). The almost romance between Lilith & Asher felt a bit irrelevant until I reminded myself that this is a novel about women empowerment in which case it was a great nod towards the modern independent woman

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collin’s Publishers for the advance copy and opportunity to fairly rate this novel

[Tessa Talks Books]

I have slightly complicated feelings about A Time for Witches. I enjoyed reading it. I was interested the whole time. The pacing was good, and it definitely held my attention. But I also felt like I had read this story before—more than once.

The plot was completely predictable, and there really wasn’t much about the overall story that felt original to me. There were a few differences here and there, of course, but the basic bones were very familiar. I kept waiting for the story to surprise me or take one of those familiar elements in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and it never really did.

And yet... I still enjoyed it. 😂

That’s the strange thing about this one. Knowing where everything was headed didn’t make me want to stop reading. I thought the story itself was interesting, and the pacing moved along at just the right speed. Sometimes a familiar story can still be a really entertaining story, and I think that’s exactly what happened here.

I did a combination of reading and listening, and the audiobook was fine. I didn’t love it, but I definitely didn’t dislike it either. My biggest issue was that the voices for the different narrators in the story sounded pretty much the same to me. With multiple narrators, I really want the audio to help distinguish among the characters, but I didn’t get much of that here. Still, the narration was easy to listen to and worked well when I wanted to switch from the book to audio.

So this is one of those four-star reads I enjoyed, while also recognizing it wasn’t bringing anything particularly new to the table. Predictable? Very. Familiar? Absolutely. But it kept me interested, moved quickly, and made for a genuinely enjoyable read-and-listen experience. Sometimes that’s enough.

🌼 Floral Verdict: A Daisy
Enjoyable and approachable. It may feel very familiar if you read a lot of stories in this vein, but the good pacing and interesting story still made it an easy book to keep picking back up.

[Olivia]

I mean pretty much what I expected. 2 stars is not a hateful review btw, I have just read so many mind blowing works of literature that I can’t really go any higher.

I do enjoy a corny audiobook about witches. The bits in the past were less corny/booktok vibes than the present at least. And I appreciate knowing the research that went into making the witch trials and the characters involved accurate to the time.

But given the whole storyline of women being abused and oppressed, I felt it was very forced to have this romance side plot with a man she met two days ago and is suddenly so weak for. Like girl you have three days to save your own life please stop worrying about him! On top of that, I felt like I was being treated like a five year old. Something magical would happen every five minutes and she would go “almost like…magic???” Girl we know it’s magic! You already learned it’s magic! And we know you’re disappearing. You don’t need to repeat it again and again. “As if… she was ceasing to exist??” Trust the intelligence of your audience!

[MillennialMomReading]

This is the perfect read to get yourself warmed up for witchy season! I was able to both read the eARC and ALC of this one courtesy of The Hive and Harlequin Audio, and I really enjoyed being able to switch back and forth depending on what I had going on. This is a dual-timeline witchy mystery that has a lot of heart and a story that progresses quickly. Madeline Martin will make you feel all the feminine rage about how women have been persecuted through time for the sake of a man’s ego, and it was exactly what I needed to read right now. This is a for sure pick up for the fall!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer)]

Such a good audio.

Our story begins in Savannah, Georgia. Lilith Legare’s mother has passed, and as she mourns, strange things occur. Plants and animals curl towards her, her birthmark burns, and her dreams turn to nightmares of being burned alive at the stake.

Lilith feels a powerful pull to find answers. Those answers take her to Brackenmere Manor in England. The story slowly builds, but the atmospheric tale will soon pull you in.

In 1645, Suffolk, Sybil Brantham senses a growing danger. Soon she will be accused of being a witch and will be burned at the stake. Bond by blood, Lilith must rewrite the past to save them both.

Martin delivered a clever tale, and I found myself swept up as both timelines converged. Magic is new to Lilith, and Sybil hides it for fear of discovery. I loved the atmospheric details as Lilith uncovered its secrets. I shivered as Sybil and others met true evil during the witch trials. Sybil’s was my favorite timeline. The story was well-researched and the execution believable.

A Time of Witches was cleverly written, but Saskia Maarleveld’s narration brought it to life in vivid color as she gave voice to these characters and set the tone. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one.

If you loved Weyward and other witchy tales, you’ll want to add A Time of Witches to your fall reading list. I know this will rank among my favorites for 2026.

This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Andi]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 | 4.5 stars rounded up

The perfect fall read: witchy and brimming with feminine rage, empowering female friendships, self discovery, and lush imagery.

A Time of Witches follows Lilith, in present-day Georgia, and Sybil, in 17th-century England, as Lilith has to try prevent a terrible tragedy from occuring to centuries before her birth.

I loved the way this blended historical fiction with magical realism and fantasy. The historical aspects are incredibly well researched, and I was deeply touched to learn that the author named several characters after people died in real-life witch trials. Both settings are immersive, but I especially loved how dark and atmospheric Sybil's timeline was.

While there is romance, this book is love letter to friendship and womanhood. The resilience, strength, kindness, and love of women is placed front and center throughout the story, which was deeply impactful to me.

I read this half via the physical book and half via audio, and I loved both formats. The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, is excellent (!!) and now I need track down every audiobook she's ever narrated.

Thank you so much to The Hive and Hanover Square Press for the advance copy and Harlequin Audio | Hanover Square Press and for the ALC via NetGalley.

[Sybil]

Absolutely riveting 🥹

[BookishlySonia]

What a spellbinding, magical romp perfect for the upcoming fall season. Saskia Maarleveld continues to prove why she’s one of my all time favorite narrators. Her voice is clear and crisp, no mouth sounds, and both Sybil and Lilith have their own cadence and tone,
making it easy to distinguish which character is taking center stage.

I often find that books with dual timelines don’t always work for me because I always find myself invested more in one than the other, not so here. Lilith and Sybil were both characters easy to root for and I loved how the end wrapped everything up.

I did initially think the romance was unnecessary and underdeveloped but after really sitting with the messaging it makes sense to have it included. I do wish we would move away from the whole “I am a witch so I am ashamed and will pass this down for generations” trend I am seeing in witchy books in general but it was handled well here. I did thoroughly enjoy this one and can’t wait for my shelf trophy!

Thank you to The Hive for the e-ARC and the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nichole]

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

I walked into this book thinking it was historical fiction, and was pleasantly surprised that it is fantasy historical fiction. The story is a dual timeline and follows the two main female characters: Sybil and Lilith. Lilith is from present day Savannah and Sybil is from 1645 Suffolk.

The writing throughout the book was simple and straight forward, in a good way. The story felt faster paced and flowed well due to the simplicity. There were a few areas of the story that I wished had more detail (the prison was one that could have been delved into more to create a darker atmosphere), however that is more personal preference.

I loved that Sybil was kind, almost to a fault. I wish that I knew more of her outside of the ‘three day’ timeline that we had for her. I would have loved to get to know her more in depth. I also loved the female friendship portrayed in both timelines. This was so well done and made my heart squeeze in both joy and sadness.

A Time of Witches explores persecution against women, specifically during the witch trials. I would have loved this theme to be tied more into the present day timeline to make it feel more relevant to the reader. With the theme focusing mostly during the witch trials, it felt like it lost some of its weight because we are so far removed from these events.

The conflict of the book really peaked during the witch trials and the imprisonment scenes. Again, the conflict did not carry over for me during the ‘current time’ pieces of the story. The focus there was on the character not disappearing and the crux of the conflict felt ‘meh’. I kept getting caught on details that just weren’t fitting together. *SPOILERS*

*SPOILERS*

Why was it mentioned that Asher painted Lilith disappearing? She found the paintings and then….nothing? That felt like a big deal and was just brushed past. Why did she actually disappear even though the timeline in the past was that Sybil was almost immediately freed from the fire and it didn’t take another few hours? She would have only disappeared if Sybil had actually died? I was confused about this point. It felt like the author needed a ‘climax’ for the current timeline and struggled to make it feel as important as the past timeline.

It was due to some of the confusion in timeline and the current timeline not feeling as important that I gave ⅗ stars. However, it was a really fun and fast read and I loved how the author utilized true historical events to structure the story around.

[Chasing Silhouettes]

'"....the world speaks to us in strange ways, telling us things we need to hear.” There was a pause. “Maybe you should listen.”' (Ch 5)

Women's & Occult Fiction | Mystery | Family Secrets & Legacy | Magical Realism | Dual-Timelines (Modern Day Georgia USA x Gothic Historical England) | Witchcraft | Touch of Romance

I used to live near Savannah, Georgia, so it was a pinch of nostalgia reading some of this. Always thought some of Savannah had a magical, enchanting feel to it.

'Because with that whisper of recognition came the tease of hope, that she might explore what had for so long been forbidden.' (Ch 2)

This book presents one of those mind-boggling time conundrums where a character in the present day has to help and influence her ancestors in order for her present, as she knows, it to continue to exist. 🤯 To make things worse, Lilith is on borrowed time, the clock is ticking, the lines between times blurring.

'“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” Lilith had always been intrigued by that line from Jane Austen’s 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘺.' (Ch 12)

The past holds another view of the horrors of witch trials. Poor women, mostly innocents, accused of witchcraft and consorting with the devil. Pressed to confess by horrendous coercion. Be tortured into a confession and soul be saved, or die a horrible death... It really was not a choice. It was condemnation either way. Yes, there were witches, but these ones harmed none.

'𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.
𝘏𝘢𝘨.
𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳.
On and on, the accusations flew as the pitiful progression of a good woman being defeated by the evil of a mob slowly crept by.' (Ch 11)

The little bit of romance was sweet. They likened Asher to 𝘔𝘳. 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘺, like a modern-day version. But he came around with a little flirting and teasing. Could tell he had secrets of his own, though, and Lilith was eager to root out all his nuances.

'....as much as she wanted— needed— to find out more about the manor, she realized she wanted just as badly to find out about the man.' (Ch 32)

It was a sharp, affecting story of legacy, bonds, strength, perseverance, beliefs, trials of women, learning, love, and magic. With a sprinkle of twists and suspense.

4.5🌟 eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Hanover Square Press

[KorenaJo]

This would be a fantastic movie! This book jumps timelines. First we have Lilith in modern day never feeling wanted, having strange dreams & always feeling strange. After tragedy she finds herself in England at Brackenham Manor. Then when we jump back we meet Sybil a wealthy widow accused of being a witch. It is up to Lilith to save Sybil but how? Now is the time of the daughters of the Earth. Now is the time of Witches