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The Stitch Witches
Thirty years after the Salem Witch Trials, a series of sinister deaths plagues Promise Land, Massachusetts, once a safe haven for Puritans. Frightened for their lives, the villagers assume the grisly murders were done by a madman, but soon fear there is something more devilish at play. What are the secrets buried deep in Promise Land, and why are they unearthing themselves now?
Orphelia Dudley’s family has made their fortune through the slave trade, enjoying religious and social status in Promise Land. As the town embarks upon another witch hunt to find the murderer, Orphelia and Settie, a woman enslaved by her family, become intertwined in a mystery to stop the deaths, mania, and fear gripping their town.
Orphelia Dudley’s family has made their fortune through the slave trade, enjoying religious and social status in Promise Land. As the town embarks upon another witch hunt to find the murderer, Orphelia and Settie, a woman enslaved by her family, become intertwined in a mystery to stop the deaths, mania, and fear gripping their town.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2026
About the author
Krissie Williams
5 books27 followersKrissie Williams is the author of several books. She earned her B.A. in History/Secondary Education from Providence College and M.A. in Learning and Thinking from The Graduate Institute. She is a high school history teacher and also is founder of Barnstable Ally Group, a local civil rights and social justice organization. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
When she is not teaching or writing you can find her doing retail therapy, soaking up a historical tour (in which ghosts may or may not be involved), and traveling. She also spends as much time as she can with her merry band of misfit friends and laughing with her mom, dad, and sister. She lives on Cape Cod, MA with her mischievous black cat Luna.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 14, 2026
Title/Author: The Stitch Witches
Format Read: Physical Book (special Mother Horror Book Club edition)
Pub date: October 6th, 2026
Publisher: Quill & Crow Publishing
Page Count: 160 pages
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978196791...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-Historical fiction/Salem Witch Trials
-Fictional, puritanical small town "Promise Land"
-Indie horror written by BIPOC women authors
-Religious horror & social commentary
-Gruesome murder mystery
-Intricately plotted/Character-driven storytelling
__
Minor complaints:
-There was a large cast with many characters but it was essential to the plot-not every character is fully fleshed out on the page
Final recommendation: The author, Krissie K. Williams is a history teacher and passionate about studying history in order to understand our present timeline. This intentionality truly shines with the care and concern given to authenticity throughout this story-everything from the spoken language to clothing details and setting-everything feels like a supernatural murder mystery that takes place in a puritanical settlement 30 years or so after the Salem Witch Trials.
I love the different POVs and especially loved when we were following Settie's perspective. The folk horror elements with the Stitch Witches and conjure magic were my favorite scenes--as well as all the senes where a new murder was discovered. I actually found myself wishing it was longer--maybe a prequel detailing an account of the Stitch Witches and their origin story would be cool. I hope the author revisits this world someday. I was throughly entertained and got exactly what I was looking for: A spooky, witchy, gruesome historical novel with folklore & magic
Comps: Rootwork by Tracy Cross, To the Bone by Alena Bruzas
Format Read: Physical Book (special Mother Horror Book Club edition)
Pub date: October 6th, 2026
Publisher: Quill & Crow Publishing
Page Count: 160 pages
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978196791...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-Historical fiction/Salem Witch Trials
-Fictional, puritanical small town "Promise Land"
-Indie horror written by BIPOC women authors
-Religious horror & social commentary
-Gruesome murder mystery
-Intricately plotted/Character-driven storytelling
__
Minor complaints:
-There was a large cast with many characters but it was essential to the plot-not every character is fully fleshed out on the page
Final recommendation: The author, Krissie K. Williams is a history teacher and passionate about studying history in order to understand our present timeline. This intentionality truly shines with the care and concern given to authenticity throughout this story-everything from the spoken language to clothing details and setting-everything feels like a supernatural murder mystery that takes place in a puritanical settlement 30 years or so after the Salem Witch Trials.
I love the different POVs and especially loved when we were following Settie's perspective. The folk horror elements with the Stitch Witches and conjure magic were my favorite scenes--as well as all the senes where a new murder was discovered. I actually found myself wishing it was longer--maybe a prequel detailing an account of the Stitch Witches and their origin story would be cool. I hope the author revisits this world someday. I was throughly entertained and got exactly what I was looking for: A spooky, witchy, gruesome historical novel with folklore & magic
Comps: Rootwork by Tracy Cross, To the Bone by Alena Bruzas
November 1, 2026
This is a great novella. A solid plot with a creepy atmosphere. Williams really delivered me to Puritan times in Massachusetts, a place that brings its own Horror vibes.
Also, this has nothing to do with the story, but probably one of my favorite covers of the year. It's so gorgeous. Can I get this cross-stitch sampler for my wall, please. I love it.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Also, this has nothing to do with the story, but probably one of my favorite covers of the year. It's so gorgeous. Can I get this cross-stitch sampler for my wall, please. I love it.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am genuinely annoyed that I have to write this review today because I am not ready to leave this book yet. I love a historical horror witchy book!!!
The Stitch Witches is exactly the kind of historical horror I want in October: cold, claustrophobic, suspicious, religious, and full of the kind of fear that makes an entire community start turning on itself.
What I loved most is that the horror does not come only from the possibility of witches.
Sometimes the horror is a town convinced it is righteous.
Sometimes it is power hiding behind religion.
Sometimes it is deciding who deserves to be believed, who deserves to be feared, and who can be sacrificed without consequence.
And thank f@ck the historical setting is not just there to look pretty.
Religion, slavery, gender, power and social status are part of the horror itself.
The multiple POVs work beautifully because the panic spreads differently through every character. Some people I wanted to protect.
Some I wanted to shake and a few I would happily escort into the woods and leave there. My biggest complaint?
It ended.
I wanted more pages, more time, more of this town, more of these people making terrible decisions under the banner of righteousness. That is not a bad problem for a book to give me.
The Stitch Witches is dark, atmospheric, intelligent and deeply interested in what fear can make people justify.
I loved it. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House, and Krissie K. Williams for the eARC. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
The Stitch Witches is exactly the kind of historical horror I want in October: cold, claustrophobic, suspicious, religious, and full of the kind of fear that makes an entire community start turning on itself.
What I loved most is that the horror does not come only from the possibility of witches.
Sometimes the horror is a town convinced it is righteous.
Sometimes it is power hiding behind religion.
Sometimes it is deciding who deserves to be believed, who deserves to be feared, and who can be sacrificed without consequence.
And thank f@ck the historical setting is not just there to look pretty.
Religion, slavery, gender, power and social status are part of the horror itself.
The multiple POVs work beautifully because the panic spreads differently through every character. Some people I wanted to protect.
Some I wanted to shake and a few I would happily escort into the woods and leave there. My biggest complaint?
It ended.
I wanted more pages, more time, more of this town, more of these people making terrible decisions under the banner of righteousness. That is not a bad problem for a book to give me.
The Stitch Witches is dark, atmospheric, intelligent and deeply interested in what fear can make people justify.
I loved it. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House, and Krissie K. Williams for the eARC. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
October 15, 2026
The cover of The Stitch Witches is 5-stars! One of the coolest covers I've seen in a long time.
The Stitch Witches is a creepy story set in the time of witch trials and contains murder, slavery, rape and racism as trigger warnings.
I'm all in for everything dark and witchy so I had the highest hopes for The Stitch Witches. We get multiple POVs (which I'm not fond of). This novel is short and I believe I could've been more invested in the characters if it's been some what longer.
Another thing that took me out of the story was the use of archaic words such as "thy" or "canst" during the characters' conversations, especially since they weren't used consistently throughout the novel.
It's a fast read with dark elements that fits rainy days in October.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Stitch Witches is a creepy story set in the time of witch trials and contains murder, slavery, rape and racism as trigger warnings.
I'm all in for everything dark and witchy so I had the highest hopes for The Stitch Witches. We get multiple POVs (which I'm not fond of). This novel is short and I believe I could've been more invested in the characters if it's been some what longer.
Another thing that took me out of the story was the use of archaic words such as "thy" or "canst" during the characters' conversations, especially since they weren't used consistently throughout the novel.
It's a fast read with dark elements that fits rainy days in October.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐,5
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC of this book. This is my honest opinion. (Dutch below)
As soon as I saw the cover and synopsis of this novella, I knew I wanted to read it. A historical horror story about witches? Sign me up. Especially as I’m the team leader for Team Witches in this month’s Trick-or-Readathon.
And for a novella, I thought this was a really great book. It follows several different points of view, and the writing style fits the historical setting perfectly, capturing the book’s atmosphere very well.
However, I did feel as though I never really got lost in the story. It felt as though I was watching or listening to the story as a bystander, rather than actually building a connection with the characters. Whether this is down to the writing style or something else, I’m not quite sure.
All in all, I would have loved to read a full-length book based on this story, as I think it has far more potential than can be realised in a novella.
--
Zodra ik de cover en synopsis van deze novella zag wist ik dat ik hem wilde lezen. Een historische horror over heksen? Sign me up. Zeker gezien ik deze maand teamleider van team Heksen ben in de Trick-or-Readathon.
En voor een novella vond ik dit echt een heel tof boek. Het volgt verschillende POV's, de schrijfstijl past perfect bij de historische setting en geeft de sfeer van het boek goed weer.
Wel had ik het gevoel alsof ik nooit écht in het verhaal verdween. Het voelde aan alsof ik het verhaal als toeschouwer bekeek/hoorde, i.p.v. echt een connectie met de karakters op te bouwen. Of dit aan de schrijfstijl ligt of aan iets anders durf ik niet zo goed te zeggen.
Al met al had ik van dit verhaal graag een full-length boek gelezen, want ik denk dat er nog veel meer potentie in zit dan dat er in een novella uitgehaald kan worden.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the eARC of this book. This is my honest opinion. (Dutch below)
As soon as I saw the cover and synopsis of this novella, I knew I wanted to read it. A historical horror story about witches? Sign me up. Especially as I’m the team leader for Team Witches in this month’s Trick-or-Readathon.
And for a novella, I thought this was a really great book. It follows several different points of view, and the writing style fits the historical setting perfectly, capturing the book’s atmosphere very well.
However, I did feel as though I never really got lost in the story. It felt as though I was watching or listening to the story as a bystander, rather than actually building a connection with the characters. Whether this is down to the writing style or something else, I’m not quite sure.
All in all, I would have loved to read a full-length book based on this story, as I think it has far more potential than can be realised in a novella.
--
Zodra ik de cover en synopsis van deze novella zag wist ik dat ik hem wilde lezen. Een historische horror over heksen? Sign me up. Zeker gezien ik deze maand teamleider van team Heksen ben in de Trick-or-Readathon.
En voor een novella vond ik dit echt een heel tof boek. Het volgt verschillende POV's, de schrijfstijl past perfect bij de historische setting en geeft de sfeer van het boek goed weer.
Wel had ik het gevoel alsof ik nooit écht in het verhaal verdween. Het voelde aan alsof ik het verhaal als toeschouwer bekeek/hoorde, i.p.v. echt een connectie met de karakters op te bouwen. Of dit aan de schrijfstijl ligt of aan iets anders durf ik niet zo goed te zeggen.
Al met al had ik van dit verhaal graag een full-length boek gelezen, want ik denk dat er nog veel meer potentie in zit dan dat er in een novella uitgehaald kan worden.
October 14, 2026
The Stich Witches is for the fans of historical horror, social commentary, eerie vibes and gruesome murders. So, it was right up my alley!
Being a novella, the action flies by and things start happening immediately. The darkness and claustrophobia of Promised Land seeps through the pages and the author doesn’t stutter when pointing out the hypocrisy of the Puritans.
I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy and very atmospheric, it didn’t shy away from difficult topics, and the historical setting combined perfectly with the horror elements. The use of the multiple POVs worked really well to add to the atmosphere.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley .
Being a novella, the action flies by and things start happening immediately. The darkness and claustrophobia of Promised Land seeps through the pages and the author doesn’t stutter when pointing out the hypocrisy of the Puritans.
I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy and very atmospheric, it didn’t shy away from difficult topics, and the historical setting combined perfectly with the horror elements. The use of the multiple POVs worked really well to add to the atmosphere.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley .
September 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I feel like witches are really having a little bit of a vogue moment at the moment. You can hardly turn in the bookstore for books about witches, witchcraft, and varying takes on the narrative of the witch hunts in particular. This book, I will say, offers a really interesting and new take on the subject matter.
A New England winter is always a strong place to set a horror novel, and the descriptions of the world we find ourselves in as a reader are quite well done. The novella length of the book does cause some issues, and I wanted more time to really immerse myself in the story and the characters.
I just felt like there were some points where there could have been a stronger emphasis on the circumstances around the major plot points, instead of giving them out as a ‘And then this happened’. I will say that maybe it’s just a writing style I’m not always inclined towards- I like my books to perhaps meander a little more where they can!
The POV concept is well done in this book too, with some characters excellent to follow, and others irritating (but that’s their point). There’s a lot of interesting historical context in this book as well which was good, and it’s worth a good cosy autumn read for those seeking one!
I feel like witches are really having a little bit of a vogue moment at the moment. You can hardly turn in the bookstore for books about witches, witchcraft, and varying takes on the narrative of the witch hunts in particular. This book, I will say, offers a really interesting and new take on the subject matter.
A New England winter is always a strong place to set a horror novel, and the descriptions of the world we find ourselves in as a reader are quite well done. The novella length of the book does cause some issues, and I wanted more time to really immerse myself in the story and the characters.
I just felt like there were some points where there could have been a stronger emphasis on the circumstances around the major plot points, instead of giving them out as a ‘And then this happened’. I will say that maybe it’s just a writing style I’m not always inclined towards- I like my books to perhaps meander a little more where they can!
The POV concept is well done in this book too, with some characters excellent to follow, and others irritating (but that’s their point). There’s a lot of interesting historical context in this book as well which was good, and it’s worth a good cosy autumn read for those seeking one!
October 16, 2026
I loved the historical, folk horror setting.
I loved the macabre pieces that weren't described in detail so your imagination had to fill in the blanks.
I would love a longer novel with the characters fleshed out a bit more. I feel like I only got glimpses, and I really wanted to dig deeper into what was beneath.
Please give us more Krissie Williams.
I loved the macabre pieces that weren't described in detail so your imagination had to fill in the blanks.
I would love a longer novel with the characters fleshed out a bit more. I feel like I only got glimpses, and I really wanted to dig deeper into what was beneath.
Please give us more Krissie Williams.
November 8, 2026
A witchy murder mystery set in Massachusetts 30 years after the Salem Witch Trials. If you like the gloomy and tense feel of The Witch (the 2015 movie) but you want the added thematic layers of race and class, this is for you!
I actually had no idea that, during this time period, enslaved people were much more entwined with the family unit/household than the type of slavery we typically associate with plantations in later years. It was really interesting (and horrific) to see how some of these dynamics could have played out in the home. I also loved the intersection of mental health and religion woven into the narrative, since that's something often taken for granted when we think about the Puritans.
🧹Gothic and witchy
🧹Historical Puritanical horror
🧹Paranormal (or is it?) murder mystery
🧹Themes of race, class, and religion
🧹Novella (~160 pages)
If you're looking for something gothic, witchy, spooky, and thematically layered, but is also a quick read, add this to your TBR!
I actually had no idea that, during this time period, enslaved people were much more entwined with the family unit/household than the type of slavery we typically associate with plantations in later years. It was really interesting (and horrific) to see how some of these dynamics could have played out in the home. I also loved the intersection of mental health and religion woven into the narrative, since that's something often taken for granted when we think about the Puritans.
🧹Gothic and witchy
🧹Historical Puritanical horror
🧹Paranormal (or is it?) murder mystery
🧹Themes of race, class, and religion
🧹Novella (~160 pages)
If you're looking for something gothic, witchy, spooky, and thematically layered, but is also a quick read, add this to your TBR!
October 30, 2026
Many thanks to Quill and Crow Publishing for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Krissie K. Williams' portrayal of Settie, a young, African American woman in Puritanical Massachusetts. I thought it was ingenious to set the time frame about thirty years after the Salem Witch trials. The residents of Promise Land, Massachusetts are well aware of the events that occurred and are on edge about any potential paranoia in their own town.
It was wonderful to read a "witchy" book that featured a person of color. Settie makes the reader well aware that she is a woman in a country where she doesn't have the freedom and agency to live her own life. Author, Krissie K. Williams' calls the reader to understand another perspective from this time period and to open our eyes to the pain and inequality.
One by one, various residents of Promise Land begin to die under mysterious circumstances. The descriptions were creep, unsettling and wonderfully macabre. The twist and ending were well developed and left me satisfied.
Bravo to Quill and Crow for not pressuring the author to develop the novel into a 300+ page book. The story and character development were concise and straight to the point. I wish more publishing houses would allow readers to read stories in the 200-275 page range. Too often books begin to have needless filler which doesn't add to the plot.
I can't wait to read more from Krissie K. Williams. The Stitch Witches landed in a permanent spot on my witch shelf of books. Loved it!
I absolutely loved Krissie K. Williams' portrayal of Settie, a young, African American woman in Puritanical Massachusetts. I thought it was ingenious to set the time frame about thirty years after the Salem Witch trials. The residents of Promise Land, Massachusetts are well aware of the events that occurred and are on edge about any potential paranoia in their own town.
It was wonderful to read a "witchy" book that featured a person of color. Settie makes the reader well aware that she is a woman in a country where she doesn't have the freedom and agency to live her own life. Author, Krissie K. Williams' calls the reader to understand another perspective from this time period and to open our eyes to the pain and inequality.
One by one, various residents of Promise Land begin to die under mysterious circumstances. The descriptions were creep, unsettling and wonderfully macabre. The twist and ending were well developed and left me satisfied.
Bravo to Quill and Crow for not pressuring the author to develop the novel into a 300+ page book. The story and character development were concise and straight to the point. I wish more publishing houses would allow readers to read stories in the 200-275 page range. Too often books begin to have needless filler which doesn't add to the plot.
I can't wait to read more from Krissie K. Williams. The Stitch Witches landed in a permanent spot on my witch shelf of books. Loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
the kind of witchery, religious, historical horror to tackle this autumn!
mind you.. release day is tomorrow!
”the door is always ajar
yet you hover in it sideways
never coming or going
no matter though
even if there is or is not a choice
i’ll always be the moon haunting your stars.” - krissie k. williams
30 years after the infamous salem witch trials..
sinister deaths are plaguing promise land, massachusetts where it was once a safe haven for puritans.
fear conjures & strikes through the heart of this town!
as you can see this is a novella so it doesn’t have the space to unfold like a whole length novel does.
the tense pacing, the multiple povs helped further clarify each of the characters. orphelia & settie get caught up in the mystery regarding the suspicious murders. it doesn’t take long for fear to spread throughout the community while they look for someone to blame. letters are sewed in mouths. it offers such an eerie mood.
what made this premise sound so compelling was the religious horror aspect & witchery hunting!
my attention was grabbed. you know i’m all about those together!
when i received my approval for this i couldn’t wait to venture in!
beautifully & historically written!
lets take a look at this cover shall we? absolutely cool!
”be disgruntled with fear and fright
for the stitch witches arrive tonight
be disgruntled with fear and fright
for the stitch witches arrive tonight.”
thank you netgalley and quill & crow publishing house for the arc in exchange for my honest review!~
mind you.. release day is tomorrow!
”the door is always ajar
yet you hover in it sideways
never coming or going
no matter though
even if there is or is not a choice
i’ll always be the moon haunting your stars.” - krissie k. williams
30 years after the infamous salem witch trials..
sinister deaths are plaguing promise land, massachusetts where it was once a safe haven for puritans.
fear conjures & strikes through the heart of this town!
as you can see this is a novella so it doesn’t have the space to unfold like a whole length novel does.
the tense pacing, the multiple povs helped further clarify each of the characters. orphelia & settie get caught up in the mystery regarding the suspicious murders. it doesn’t take long for fear to spread throughout the community while they look for someone to blame. letters are sewed in mouths. it offers such an eerie mood.
what made this premise sound so compelling was the religious horror aspect & witchery hunting!
my attention was grabbed. you know i’m all about those together!
when i received my approval for this i couldn’t wait to venture in!
beautifully & historically written!
lets take a look at this cover shall we? absolutely cool!
”be disgruntled with fear and fright
for the stitch witches arrive tonight
be disgruntled with fear and fright
for the stitch witches arrive tonight.”
thank you netgalley and quill & crow publishing house for the arc in exchange for my honest review!~
October 19, 2026
I just finished and I have to say I really enjoyed it! I never would’ve guessed who was truly behind the controlling the witches. The twists genuinely took me by surprise which doesn’t happen all that often. Settie was definitely the strongest character to me. Reading her pov was when I was most immersed.
The author did a great job at showing just how hypocritical these “puritans” were. The tragedy with Settie’s mother showed just how untrustworthy they could be.
I was definitely in the mood for witchy folk horror and this delivered. It was a delight reading this for mother horror’s book club and I look forward for future reads!
The author did a great job at showing just how hypocritical these “puritans” were. The tragedy with Settie’s mother showed just how untrustworthy they could be.
I was definitely in the mood for witchy folk horror and this delivered. It was a delight reading this for mother horror’s book club and I look forward for future reads!
November 8, 2026
First page and I was already hooked! I loved the author's prose and felt the pacing was decent enough for a short read.
October 16, 2026
I finished The Stitch Witches, a short read that can easily be completed in a day. I was drawn to the cover and intrigued by the premise, but ultimately, I found myself wishing for more from the story. At times, the narrative felt disjointed, and some elements seemed underdeveloped, leaving me wanting a greater sense of cohesion and resolution.
There were several strong themes woven throughout the book that I would have loved to see explored more deeply. Settie and Mama were the two characters I connected with most, and I found myself wishing for more opportunities to understand the other characters as well. I admire the author's intentions and the underlying message of the book, and I think there is a great deal of potential in the ideas presented.
Although The Stitch Witches wasn't quite what I had hoped for, I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish. I would be open to reading more of this author's work in the future, and I hope to see these promising ideas developed further in a future book.
There were several strong themes woven throughout the book that I would have loved to see explored more deeply. Settie and Mama were the two characters I connected with most, and I found myself wishing for more opportunities to understand the other characters as well. I admire the author's intentions and the underlying message of the book, and I think there is a great deal of potential in the ideas presented.
Although The Stitch Witches wasn't quite what I had hoped for, I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish. I would be open to reading more of this author's work in the future, and I hope to see these promising ideas developed further in a future book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House and Krissie K. Williams for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Stitch Witches is a historical horror novel set in Promise Land, Massachusetts, around thirty years after the Salem Witch Trials. A series of disturbing deaths begins to affect the Puritan community, and it doesn’t take long before fear, suspicion and talk of witchcraft start to spread. The story follows several characters, including Settie, an enslaved Black woman, and Orphelia Dudley, whose family have made their fortune through the slave trade. As the community becomes increasingly unsettled, the threat of another witch hunt starts to grow.
One of the first things I really enjoyed was the language used throughout the book. It suited the time period really well without becoming difficult to read or understand, and it stayed consistent throughout. I sometimes struggle when historical language feels either far too modern or goes completely the other way and becomes hard work, but I thought Williams got the balance right here.
Settie was probably one of my favourite characters. I thought she was really well written and I enjoyed watching how she interacted with the people around her. She is sensible, observant and brave, especially considering the position she is in and how little control she has over her own life. She often seems to see situations for what they actually are while everyone else is getting caught up in fear, religion and suspicion.
I really enjoyed Orphelia and the Dudleys also. They are Puritans who preach about morality and religion, while there is this underlying questionable behaviour simmering away underneath it all. I found that contradiction really interesting. Orphelia in particular was a character I enjoyed following because her behaviour and beliefs do not always comfortably sit together, and I liked seeing how she developed throughout the story.
The witches themselves may not be present for huge amounts of the book, but when they do turn up, they definitely make an impact. I loved the backstory surrounding them and wished we had been given more of it. I would have happily read much more about their history and how everything came about. That didn’t really detract from the story for me though, it just made me want more of what Williams had created.
The multiple POVs worked really well too. Sometimes with a shorter book, several points of view can make everything feel a bit rushed or confusing, but I didn’t find that here. The changes between characters were easy to follow and actually helped the story move along nicely.
My main criticism is simply that I wanted the book to be longer. My ARC was around 160 pages, so it was a really quick read for me, and I flew through it. The final published editions are listed at around 200 pages depending on format. I think the shorter length worked well in terms of pacing, but there were definitely parts I would have liked to explore more. I wanted more of the witches, more of the characters and more time spent in this world. I also felt the ending could have been drawn out slightly. After the steady build-up throughout the rest of the book, the final section felt a little rushed to me.
The writing itself was easy to read and flowed really well, but what stood out most was the atmosphere. There is this constant uncomfortable feeling running underneath everything. It is not just the supernatural element that makes it unsettling either. A lot of the horror comes from the reality of the time period itself.
Women and enslaved people had very little, if any, control over their own lives, religion governed almost everything, and the fear of God and witchcraft was very real. Mob mentality constantly feels like it is only one spark away from igniting. The Salem Witch Trials are still within living memory, yet witch hunting and accusations are already beginning to creep back into the community. That made the story feel even more disturbing because so much of it is rooted in things that actually happened.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Stitch Witches. It was creepy, uncomfortable and atmospheric without being difficult to read, and I thought the historical setting worked brilliantly with the horror elements. I especially enjoyed Settie, Orphelia, the witches and the use of multiple POVs.
My only real issue was wanting more. I would have liked the ending to breathe a little more and would happily have spent another hundred pages learning more about the characters and the history behind the witches.
I think this would be a really good fit for readers who enjoy historical horror, witch-trial fiction, Puritan settings, multiple POVs and books where some of the most frightening parts come from human behaviour rather than just the supernatural.
The Stitch Witches is a historical horror novel set in Promise Land, Massachusetts, around thirty years after the Salem Witch Trials. A series of disturbing deaths begins to affect the Puritan community, and it doesn’t take long before fear, suspicion and talk of witchcraft start to spread. The story follows several characters, including Settie, an enslaved Black woman, and Orphelia Dudley, whose family have made their fortune through the slave trade. As the community becomes increasingly unsettled, the threat of another witch hunt starts to grow.
One of the first things I really enjoyed was the language used throughout the book. It suited the time period really well without becoming difficult to read or understand, and it stayed consistent throughout. I sometimes struggle when historical language feels either far too modern or goes completely the other way and becomes hard work, but I thought Williams got the balance right here.
Settie was probably one of my favourite characters. I thought she was really well written and I enjoyed watching how she interacted with the people around her. She is sensible, observant and brave, especially considering the position she is in and how little control she has over her own life. She often seems to see situations for what they actually are while everyone else is getting caught up in fear, religion and suspicion.
I really enjoyed Orphelia and the Dudleys also. They are Puritans who preach about morality and religion, while there is this underlying questionable behaviour simmering away underneath it all. I found that contradiction really interesting. Orphelia in particular was a character I enjoyed following because her behaviour and beliefs do not always comfortably sit together, and I liked seeing how she developed throughout the story.
The witches themselves may not be present for huge amounts of the book, but when they do turn up, they definitely make an impact. I loved the backstory surrounding them and wished we had been given more of it. I would have happily read much more about their history and how everything came about. That didn’t really detract from the story for me though, it just made me want more of what Williams had created.
The multiple POVs worked really well too. Sometimes with a shorter book, several points of view can make everything feel a bit rushed or confusing, but I didn’t find that here. The changes between characters were easy to follow and actually helped the story move along nicely.
My main criticism is simply that I wanted the book to be longer. My ARC was around 160 pages, so it was a really quick read for me, and I flew through it. The final published editions are listed at around 200 pages depending on format. I think the shorter length worked well in terms of pacing, but there were definitely parts I would have liked to explore more. I wanted more of the witches, more of the characters and more time spent in this world. I also felt the ending could have been drawn out slightly. After the steady build-up throughout the rest of the book, the final section felt a little rushed to me.
The writing itself was easy to read and flowed really well, but what stood out most was the atmosphere. There is this constant uncomfortable feeling running underneath everything. It is not just the supernatural element that makes it unsettling either. A lot of the horror comes from the reality of the time period itself.
Women and enslaved people had very little, if any, control over their own lives, religion governed almost everything, and the fear of God and witchcraft was very real. Mob mentality constantly feels like it is only one spark away from igniting. The Salem Witch Trials are still within living memory, yet witch hunting and accusations are already beginning to creep back into the community. That made the story feel even more disturbing because so much of it is rooted in things that actually happened.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Stitch Witches. It was creepy, uncomfortable and atmospheric without being difficult to read, and I thought the historical setting worked brilliantly with the horror elements. I especially enjoyed Settie, Orphelia, the witches and the use of multiple POVs.
My only real issue was wanting more. I would have liked the ending to breathe a little more and would happily have spent another hundred pages learning more about the characters and the history behind the witches.
I think this would be a really good fit for readers who enjoy historical horror, witch-trial fiction, Puritan settings, multiple POVs and books where some of the most frightening parts come from human behaviour rather than just the supernatural.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, nothing I appreciate more than a multi-POV story that starts each section letting you know who you're reading about. Thank you for that.
The writing of Krissie Williams was beautiful, easy to follow along with and easy to get lost in. The story itself was very engaging and honestly, good on the author for going a way I did not expect. This was an exceptional story about witches, revenge and a nice game of who is smarter than who...m? (It's not me. Obviously.)
The cast of characters were very enjoyable, though I will say my opinion on one character changed WILDLY at the end of the book. I don't want to give any spoilers because I don't want my review to be hidden, but let me just say... you got me with that one, as I said earlier. I thought they were one of my favourite characters but then the epilogue changed everything. Motives were understandable but the selfishness was just gross.
The other antagonist of this story had a very satisfying arc. A lot of characters did, really, except the one who betrayed me. It makes me wish that I knew just a little more about what happened to them. Another character had certain thoughts about that character's significant other and is it bad of me if I say I hope she was right? Fair is fair is fair.
My favourite character in this book was Settie because I feel she was the one with the common sense. She had a lot of bravery. Of course, I cannot begin to imagine what life was like for her, but she did the best with what she had and then she said nah and did even better and that made me really, really happy. I enjoyed her journey and watching her evolve.
In whole, I think the author captured the Puritan picture really, really well. From speech to ideas to actions. Many characters were enjoyable, as I said, but they also had that dark, Puritan undercurrent that, when you think about it long enough... how enjoyable were they really? Which I'm kind of contradicting myself here except it's all right because humanity is complicated and we have the ability to enjoy the basics of someone and recognise that they had awful ideas. I was very interested in the idea of how it would have been if they had been exposed to other ideas and ways, but alas. Especially with the Dudley parents.
Finally, I cannot finish this review without mentioning the witches themselves. Whilst not technically the stars of the show, they were still very remarkable and everything I could have hoped for. They never stole the show, but I didn't want them to and I'm not sure that they even cared about something like that. They were still interesting and different. I love it when people are able to take such a common idea as witches and do something different with it, so kudos to the author for that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to adding it to my collection one day.
The writing of Krissie Williams was beautiful, easy to follow along with and easy to get lost in. The story itself was very engaging and honestly, good on the author for going a way I did not expect. This was an exceptional story about witches, revenge and a nice game of who is smarter than who...m? (It's not me. Obviously.)
The cast of characters were very enjoyable, though I will say my opinion on one character changed WILDLY at the end of the book. I don't want to give any spoilers because I don't want my review to be hidden, but let me just say... you got me with that one, as I said earlier. I thought they were one of my favourite characters but then the epilogue changed everything. Motives were understandable but the selfishness was just gross.
The other antagonist of this story had a very satisfying arc. A lot of characters did, really, except the one who betrayed me. It makes me wish that I knew just a little more about what happened to them. Another character had certain thoughts about that character's significant other and is it bad of me if I say I hope she was right? Fair is fair is fair.
My favourite character in this book was Settie because I feel she was the one with the common sense. She had a lot of bravery. Of course, I cannot begin to imagine what life was like for her, but she did the best with what she had and then she said nah and did even better and that made me really, really happy. I enjoyed her journey and watching her evolve.
In whole, I think the author captured the Puritan picture really, really well. From speech to ideas to actions. Many characters were enjoyable, as I said, but they also had that dark, Puritan undercurrent that, when you think about it long enough... how enjoyable were they really? Which I'm kind of contradicting myself here except it's all right because humanity is complicated and we have the ability to enjoy the basics of someone and recognise that they had awful ideas. I was very interested in the idea of how it would have been if they had been exposed to other ideas and ways, but alas. Especially with the Dudley parents.
Finally, I cannot finish this review without mentioning the witches themselves. Whilst not technically the stars of the show, they were still very remarkable and everything I could have hoped for. They never stole the show, but I didn't want them to and I'm not sure that they even cared about something like that. They were still interesting and different. I love it when people are able to take such a common idea as witches and do something different with it, so kudos to the author for that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to adding it to my collection one day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Apparently my ARC niche is: “Pub day is next week and we could use another review. Approve the girl with anxiety. She’ll have it done.”
Approved Friday at 3:06 PM. Finished Saturday around 2. So… apparently that strategy works.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House, and Krissie K. Williams for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was the PERFECT witch book to kick off October. I devoured it in basically 20 hours because I needed to know everything. As someone who loves all things spooky and history, this felt like a very niche genre written specifically for me.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the book follows several POVs, mostly within the Dudley household with a few chapters from others in their Puritan community. When an elder is murdered, the town demands answers and very quickly starts pointing fingers and calling people witches.
I loved the way Williams used the story to dig into the contradictions of Puritan society, especially their ties to slavery, treatment of Indigenous people, and treatment of women. She never has to turn to the modern world and wink at the reader either. The parallels are just sitting there, and you can draw the line from their actions and excuses to plenty of the same bullshit happening now.
I also loved being immersed in the absolute panic taking over this village, from citizens wondering if they’re next to the elders desperately trying to keep their secrets buried. Orphelia is so unhinged, which made her POV chapters an absolute delight, and y’all know that’s my favorite kind of character.
Settie being the quiet backbone of the family was heartbreaking. They trusted her enough to ask for her input and clearly valued what she brought to the family, while somehow never seeing the giant contradiction that she was still enslaved by them.
The ending did feel abrupt. Everything was tied up enough for the story to feel complete, but it almost felt like she ran out of pages. I was expecting a calm before the storm almost and instead… epilogue. Like wait, we’re done?!
That said, I still loved this book. I read the damn thing in less than a day, so clearly the ending didn’t undo the 200 pages before it. If historical horror, witch hunts, murder, religious hypocrisy, secrets, and an entire village collectively losing its shit sound like your idea of a good time, absolutely pick this one up.
And can we PLEASE give cover artist Fay Lane her flowers because LOOK AT THIS THING. Williams said she basically asked for “woods, three witches, creepy and dark,” and loved the first proof so much they didn’t change a thing. I absolutely agree. No notes.
Now that I’ve officially kicked off spooky season, what should I read next?
@pagesinthewild.books
Approved Friday at 3:06 PM. Finished Saturday around 2. So… apparently that strategy works.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing House, and Krissie K. Williams for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was the PERFECT witch book to kick off October. I devoured it in basically 20 hours because I needed to know everything. As someone who loves all things spooky and history, this felt like a very niche genre written specifically for me.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the book follows several POVs, mostly within the Dudley household with a few chapters from others in their Puritan community. When an elder is murdered, the town demands answers and very quickly starts pointing fingers and calling people witches.
I loved the way Williams used the story to dig into the contradictions of Puritan society, especially their ties to slavery, treatment of Indigenous people, and treatment of women. She never has to turn to the modern world and wink at the reader either. The parallels are just sitting there, and you can draw the line from their actions and excuses to plenty of the same bullshit happening now.
I also loved being immersed in the absolute panic taking over this village, from citizens wondering if they’re next to the elders desperately trying to keep their secrets buried. Orphelia is so unhinged, which made her POV chapters an absolute delight, and y’all know that’s my favorite kind of character.
Settie being the quiet backbone of the family was heartbreaking. They trusted her enough to ask for her input and clearly valued what she brought to the family, while somehow never seeing the giant contradiction that she was still enslaved by them.
The ending did feel abrupt. Everything was tied up enough for the story to feel complete, but it almost felt like she ran out of pages. I was expecting a calm before the storm almost and instead… epilogue. Like wait, we’re done?!
That said, I still loved this book. I read the damn thing in less than a day, so clearly the ending didn’t undo the 200 pages before it. If historical horror, witch hunts, murder, religious hypocrisy, secrets, and an entire village collectively losing its shit sound like your idea of a good time, absolutely pick this one up.
And can we PLEASE give cover artist Fay Lane her flowers because LOOK AT THIS THING. Williams said she basically asked for “woods, three witches, creepy and dark,” and loved the first proof so much they didn’t change a thing. I absolutely agree. No notes.
Now that I’ve officially kicked off spooky season, what should I read next?
@pagesinthewild.books
October 10, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill and Crow Publishing for the ARC. *spoiler warning*
I really wanted to like this, but most of it fell very flat for me very quickly. A witch trial/witch craze centered around the POV of the slaves present in colonial New England is a really good idea, and one that I haven't seen before - but that's the end of what I enjoyed. While I understand why the characters talk the way they do to try and mimic the historical language used in the 1700's, their internal monologues are written in modern english. I know we speak differently to how we think, but we don't suddenly drop colloquial sayings and entire linguistic quirks. If every character didn't get a first person narration, this wouldn't have been an issue, but every character always drops the way they speak the minute we switch to internal dialogue. It just felt jarring and made the usage of 1700's New England vernacular feel forced.
Our characters are also very convenient - the white slave master has a whole speech to his black slave about why slave trading is bad and shouldn't be a thing, but he then goes on to continue to have slaves and remark towards the end about how slaves are wicked and bad. The curse of the witches is also convenient, we find out about it from a children's song, which our main character conveniently tells her slave master about, who just happens to be a part of the group of families that magically had the memory removed from their minds by magic, and then conveniently there's a sixth family no one knew about who's also a part of this curse, and that's only found out because someone was drunk at a bar and spilled the information to a character who has about half a page of importance before he dies. It was very much the plot happened to the characters istead of the characters interacting with the plot and advancing the story forwards.
I really wanted to like this, but most of it fell very flat for me very quickly. A witch trial/witch craze centered around the POV of the slaves present in colonial New England is a really good idea, and one that I haven't seen before - but that's the end of what I enjoyed. While I understand why the characters talk the way they do to try and mimic the historical language used in the 1700's, their internal monologues are written in modern english. I know we speak differently to how we think, but we don't suddenly drop colloquial sayings and entire linguistic quirks. If every character didn't get a first person narration, this wouldn't have been an issue, but every character always drops the way they speak the minute we switch to internal dialogue. It just felt jarring and made the usage of 1700's New England vernacular feel forced.
Our characters are also very convenient - the white slave master has a whole speech to his black slave about why slave trading is bad and shouldn't be a thing, but he then goes on to continue to have slaves and remark towards the end about how slaves are wicked and bad. The curse of the witches is also convenient, we find out about it from a children's song, which our main character conveniently tells her slave master about, who just happens to be a part of the group of families that magically had the memory removed from their minds by magic, and then conveniently there's a sixth family no one knew about who's also a part of this curse, and that's only found out because someone was drunk at a bar and spilled the information to a character who has about half a page of importance before he dies. It was very much the plot happened to the characters istead of the characters interacting with the plot and advancing the story forwards.
October 14, 2026
A SIX STAR READ FOR ME!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I ATE UP EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. Historical witchy horror?! YESSS PLEASE! 🖤 This had me completely hooked and I couldn’t get enough. Set thirty years after the Salem Witch Trials, this story takes us to Promise Land, Massachusetts, where a series of sinister deaths has the entire town living in fear. The villagers are convinced a murderer is on the loose but as more secrets begin to surface, they start to wonder if something far more sinister is happening. At the center of it all is Orphelia Dudley whose wealthy family has built its fortune through the slave trade, and Settie, a woman enslaved by her family. As another witch hunt begins, the two become entangled in a mystery that threatens to unravel everything their town believes about itself.I LOVED the historical aspects mixed with witchcraft, horror, and all the dark secrets hiding beneath the surface. The way fear and superstition take hold of an entire community made this such a compelling read. Give me a historical setting, a witch hunt, sinister mysteries, and a story that makes me want to uncover every secret, and I AM THERE!This is absolutely the kind of book I want more of, especially during spooky season. I went into this one ready for historical witchy horror, and it delivered everything I was hoping for and MORE. If historical horror, witchcraft, dark secrets, and unsettling mysteries are your thing, PLEASE add this one to your TBR. This was a six star read for me, and I am still thinking about how much I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A bingeable historical horror novella with plenty of secrets, suspicion, and witchy dread.
The people of Promise Land, a community of devout Puritans and enslaved people, fear another Salem Witch Trial may be coming when members of their community begin to die. With families trying to arrange suitable marriages, tensions surrounding slavery, and plenty of animosity simmering beneath the surface, there are so many interconnected layers to unravel.
I absolutely LOVED how everything came together in the end. The moment a daughter was offered up as a sacrifice, I was on the edge of my seat, and from there I couldn't stop reading. "The Stitch Witches" is dark, fast-paced, and an easy recommendation for your October TBR. 🎃🧙♀️
📖 The Stitch Witches
✍️ Krissie K. Williams
🎁 Provided by Quill & Crow Publishing House and NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The people of Promise Land, a community of devout Puritans and enslaved people, fear another Salem Witch Trial may be coming when members of their community begin to die. With families trying to arrange suitable marriages, tensions surrounding slavery, and plenty of animosity simmering beneath the surface, there are so many interconnected layers to unravel.
I absolutely LOVED how everything came together in the end. The moment a daughter was offered up as a sacrifice, I was on the edge of my seat, and from there I couldn't stop reading. "The Stitch Witches" is dark, fast-paced, and an easy recommendation for your October TBR. 🎃🧙♀️
📖 The Stitch Witches
✍️ Krissie K. Williams
🎁 Provided by Quill & Crow Publishing House and NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 8, 2026
This was a perfect spooky season read for me. I enjoyed the old-fashioned tone of the story as the setting was a community of Puritans living in a village named Promise Land.
It is not a fast moving story and each chapter is a different POV. Each chapter gives a little more back story and it all serves to move the plot along. Definitely a couple hours to an afternoon’s read (if there aren’t constant interruptions 🙄)
So if you are looking for a novella for Spooky month you might enjoy this one. I would read more of KH Williams stories.
People who like the old stories of Hawthorne. Period/historically based and fairly dark settings. The synopsis sets this as 3 decades after Salem and the witch trials. There is a mystery and some dark secrets hidden here. Highly recommend.
This was a complimentary copy received from NetGalley and the publisher Quill&Crow for an honest review. Thank you for the chance to read this book.
It is not a fast moving story and each chapter is a different POV. Each chapter gives a little more back story and it all serves to move the plot along. Definitely a couple hours to an afternoon’s read (if there aren’t constant interruptions 🙄)
So if you are looking for a novella for Spooky month you might enjoy this one. I would read more of KH Williams stories.
People who like the old stories of Hawthorne. Period/historically based and fairly dark settings. The synopsis sets this as 3 decades after Salem and the witch trials. There is a mystery and some dark secrets hidden here. Highly recommend.
This was a complimentary copy received from NetGalley and the publisher Quill&Crow for an honest review. Thank you for the chance to read this book.
November 1, 2026
There is something lurking in the shadows of Promise Land village. The town has nearly forgotten it's past but the past is coming back to seek it's vengeance. What is causing the murders of some to the townspeople? Is it a murderer, a witch or a demon? Ophelia and Sennie are at the center or uncovering the secret. One is a daughter of a prominent gentleman and one is a slave.
Mixed within this short story is a backdrop for secrets, heartache and slowly the truth. One can see the town unravel as the talk of hunting witches intensifies. Goodman Dudley tries his best to stop history repeating itself. The three buried a long time ago for the crime of being witches is coming back to haunt the town. This was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. I thought the author did a wonderul job of showing us history mixed within the lore. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this novel.
Mixed within this short story is a backdrop for secrets, heartache and slowly the truth. One can see the town unravel as the talk of hunting witches intensifies. Goodman Dudley tries his best to stop history repeating itself. The three buried a long time ago for the crime of being witches is coming back to haunt the town. This was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. I thought the author did a wonderul job of showing us history mixed within the lore. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this novel.
October 18, 2026
The Stitch Witches shows a side of witch-induced panic in the times after the Salem Witch Trials that is rarely shown. Not only does it focus on the "god-fearing" Puritans in their villages, but also on the slaves they owned and their unjust treatment within that community. I don't think I've ever read a witch trial book that took this horrendous history into the equation, and I'm grateful that Krissie K. Williams shows readers truly how hypocritical these Puritans were.
What bothered me about the book was that the actual Stitch Witches weren't a big part of the story. Sure, they were mentioned, and they did pop up a few times in the story, but I would have liked for them to make more appearances throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy.
What bothered me about the book was that the actual Stitch Witches weren't a big part of the story. Sure, they were mentioned, and they did pop up a few times in the story, but I would have liked for them to make more appearances throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy.
October 30, 2026
I had really high expectations on this book. The creepy vibes and the references to witches were enough to make me want to read this.
One of my favourite things about this book might be Settie. She has been my favourite since the start. Her mental resistance to the rigid social structures even while being obliged to follow them was interesting to read.
The revealing of the twists was also not exactly how I predicted it. It came all of a sudden. Another element that reduced my reading experience was the use of old language style. It led to a bit of discontinuity among conversations. And I would have liked to know more about the Stitch Witches as so many questions were unanswered.
Overall, the setting, characters, and the ending were really good!
One of my favourite things about this book might be Settie. She has been my favourite since the start. Her mental resistance to the rigid social structures even while being obliged to follow them was interesting to read.
The revealing of the twists was also not exactly how I predicted it. It came all of a sudden. Another element that reduced my reading experience was the use of old language style. It led to a bit of discontinuity among conversations. And I would have liked to know more about the Stitch Witches as so many questions were unanswered.
Overall, the setting, characters, and the ending were really good!
October 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Krissie Williams and Quill and Crow Publishing House for the eARC of The Stitch Witches - all opinions are honest and my own.
SO much was packed into these 200 pages, with enough deaths and witchcraft to keep you guessing and on your toes the whole time. I loved the concept of the coins I thought that was quite an interesting take on the witchcraft legend. Its clear just how much research the author put into the book so kudos for that.
Where this book fell flat for me was the many POVs - I struggled to keep up and remember who was talking at points, so I would have to go back to the start of the chapter and restart once I knew who was talking.
SO much was packed into these 200 pages, with enough deaths and witchcraft to keep you guessing and on your toes the whole time. I loved the concept of the coins I thought that was quite an interesting take on the witchcraft legend. Its clear just how much research the author put into the book so kudos for that.
Where this book fell flat for me was the many POVs - I struggled to keep up and remember who was talking at points, so I would have to go back to the start of the chapter and restart once I knew who was talking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2026
Another witchy book that made me very disappointed by the lack of witches and witchcraft present. I felt like the purpose was to say,“f*ck hypocritical religion!” but without any of the juice behind it to back that sentiment up.
Overall, this book felt inadequately researched in many areas (which really doesn’t make sense to me after reading the author’s background in the acknowledgements). The early American English of the dialogue didn’t feel well done or consistent throughout the book. The witchy elements felt silly and ridiculously convenient. The story was also not well structured narratively and felt as if there was no proper pace of mystery or climax to the story. The witches are also barely present in this story at all, despite being on the cover and the namesake of the book.
I’m also particularly not happy with this book for many complex reasons. There were elements that intensely rubbed me the wrong way, such as dynamics between characters that didn’t feel properly developed or were optimistically rose-tinted. I was expecting a much more deeper exploration of religiosity and agency of the slaves, but they felt more like props in the periphery of the story to be brought out only when Settie suddenly identified with them (like when Jupiter would be present, but never speak). Native Americans were also briefly mentioned in stereotypical ways on the edges of this story, but never actually present to speak or be. Hoodoo and conjure work felt like a cheap device to give explanation to the horror aspects of the story without further investigating its development or importance, especially under colonial control and violence. Once the coins came into play giving the white men the power (and then a SIXTH coin) I lost interest completely.
I also don’t feel that Settie was properly fleshed out as a character, and whose feelings and position in life as a mixed race house slave was not handled in a nuanced enough manner. I did not want there to be black suffering in this book on display, but with what we know about colonial New England and the utter dehumanization that these slaves faced, it just felt completely unrealistic and for the sake of plot convenience that Goodman Dudley (a SLAVER) would accept Settie as at the same level as his own daughter/niece and let Settie in on everything going on about the town. It just gave me weird and uncomfortable feelings, especially with the issues of other characterizations of people of color that I mentioned above.
I received my eARC from NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing. My opinions are completely my own.
2 ⭐’s.
Overall, this book felt inadequately researched in many areas (which really doesn’t make sense to me after reading the author’s background in the acknowledgements). The early American English of the dialogue didn’t feel well done or consistent throughout the book. The witchy elements felt silly and ridiculously convenient. The story was also not well structured narratively and felt as if there was no proper pace of mystery or climax to the story. The witches are also barely present in this story at all, despite being on the cover and the namesake of the book.
I’m also particularly not happy with this book for many complex reasons. There were elements that intensely rubbed me the wrong way, such as dynamics between characters that didn’t feel properly developed or were optimistically rose-tinted. I was expecting a much more deeper exploration of religiosity and agency of the slaves, but they felt more like props in the periphery of the story to be brought out only when Settie suddenly identified with them (like when Jupiter would be present, but never speak). Native Americans were also briefly mentioned in stereotypical ways on the edges of this story, but never actually present to speak or be. Hoodoo and conjure work felt like a cheap device to give explanation to the horror aspects of the story without further investigating its development or importance, especially under colonial control and violence. Once the coins came into play giving the white men the power (and then a SIXTH coin) I lost interest completely.
I also don’t feel that Settie was properly fleshed out as a character, and whose feelings and position in life as a mixed race house slave was not handled in a nuanced enough manner. I did not want there to be black suffering in this book on display, but with what we know about colonial New England and the utter dehumanization that these slaves faced, it just felt completely unrealistic and for the sake of plot convenience that Goodman Dudley (a SLAVER) would accept Settie as at the same level as his own daughter/niece and let Settie in on everything going on about the town. It just gave me weird and uncomfortable feelings, especially with the issues of other characterizations of people of color that I mentioned above.
I received my eARC from NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing. My opinions are completely my own.
2 ⭐’s.
October 11, 2026
In a Puritan community still rocked by the witch trials that took place years before, people are dying, their tongues stitched with a letter. An evil has been unleashed. Who unleashed it? Who are the Stitch Witches? And most troubling of all: Who is next?
This debut novel is a short one and is brimming with characters, some of whom are fleshed out. The story is a good one though the execution is a little sloppy. The prose is wooden and somehow also florid in places. I enjoyed the shifting perspectives and the relationships between the characters. This book gets buried in an unmarked grave and I feel like the warmest validation I can provide is “it could be worse.”
This debut novel is a short one and is brimming with characters, some of whom are fleshed out. The story is a good one though the execution is a little sloppy. The prose is wooden and somehow also florid in places. I enjoyed the shifting perspectives and the relationships between the characters. This book gets buried in an unmarked grave and I feel like the warmest validation I can provide is “it could be worse.”
October 21, 2026
I was very excited heading into this book, but I don't think it fully delivered on the audience it drew in. The focus isn't where it feels like it was going to be from the blurb. There is still quite a lot to enjoy though, including the unique perspective of Settie, a young slave living in Puritan New England shortly after the Salem Witch Trials.
November 1, 2026
I really enjoyed this story. I love how the author weaved history in this story, but the book was still approachable. I just wish there was more, I could read a whole other book just from Settie's point of view.
October 31, 2026
Set thirty years after the Salem Witch Trials, this story follows sinister deaths in Promise Land, Massachusetts, once considered a safe haven for Puritans. I liked the historical-horror setup and the sense that old fear never really stays buried. The title suggests craft and community, but the premise points toward suspicion, secrets, and supernatural unease. It has a nice autumnal, candlelit kind of dread to it. A solid choice when you want witches, history, and a creeping sense of wrongness.
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