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The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow
Not yet published
Expected 19 Nov 26Perfect for readers of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a sweeping enemies-to-lovers debut epic for romantasy-curious fantasy readers, fantasy-curious romantasy readers, and all lovers of slowburn romance.
Scholar. Healer. Harlot.
In her house, the villainy is her.
Magdalena Overmorrow has been called a scholar, a healer, a harlot. She carves out some measure of freedom for the women of Astoleyn, risking capture and death by caring for them and performing forbidden abortions. When she’s betrayed by a close confidante, she faces banishment to the realm’s desolate northernmost city as an accused witch. There, she must await her trial and possible doom under the watchful aegis of the Lord Proctor of Cair Gramora, a man so pious and humorless it is rumored that he has never once laughed in his life.
When she arrives, though, Magda is surprised to find that the Lord Proctor isn’t the grizzled old priest she expected but a man barely older than she is. As cold and mysterious and beautiful as the mountains at the cair’s northern border, he holds her life in his hands. One word from him could send her to the stake or worse, but she can’t help her fascination with a man and fellow scholar who is more than he appears to be, and the dangerous secrets he is clearly keeping. As her trial draws closer and the intrigue of the isolated cair threatens them both, she and the Lord Proctor must form an uneasy alliance that could either save her life or lead her to martyrdom and ruin.
Scholar. Healer. Harlot.
In her house, the villainy is her.
Magdalena Overmorrow has been called a scholar, a healer, a harlot. She carves out some measure of freedom for the women of Astoleyn, risking capture and death by caring for them and performing forbidden abortions. When she’s betrayed by a close confidante, she faces banishment to the realm’s desolate northernmost city as an accused witch. There, she must await her trial and possible doom under the watchful aegis of the Lord Proctor of Cair Gramora, a man so pious and humorless it is rumored that he has never once laughed in his life.
When she arrives, though, Magda is surprised to find that the Lord Proctor isn’t the grizzled old priest she expected but a man barely older than she is. As cold and mysterious and beautiful as the mountains at the cair’s northern border, he holds her life in his hands. One word from him could send her to the stake or worse, but she can’t help her fascination with a man and fellow scholar who is more than he appears to be, and the dangerous secrets he is clearly keeping. As her trial draws closer and the intrigue of the isolated cair threatens them both, she and the Lord Proctor must form an uneasy alliance that could either save her life or lead her to martyrdom and ruin.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
How to describe this book?
It feels like historical fiction whilst leaning into a low fantasy setting. There is also strong themes of feminism, friendship, and even a touch of romance.
Magda is a scholar, healer, and midwife, secretly using herbal remedies and magic to help women obtain illegal abortions. After being betrayed, Magda is charged as a witch and heretic, punishable by death at the stake.
She is sent to serve a waiting period before her trial as a ward in the isolated northern stronghold under the protection of the Lord Proctor.
Turns out, he’s not as grim, serious, and cold as she had believed.
“Sexual lust and bloodlust,” Magda continues, “may spring from the same source, but that doesn’t make it admirable. If men want to be beasts, they should be treated like beasts. Put them to pasture in fair weather and shut them in a barn at night.”
This story is in conversation with the overturning of Roe v Wade. An angry lament at the state of gender and choice politics.
Magda herself is stubborn, clever, and honourable. She is a force that moves those around her.
Perhaps that is why the ending felt lacklustre without going into spoilers. It did set up an interesting sequel, but it seemed to falter against the build up and the development of feminist themes.
The narrative was also hard to feel rooted in due to the time jumps. We would get such moving accounts from Magda and then time would skip with little gap-filling until absolutely necessary which made it feel disjointed.
Particularly in the last half where I actually wondered if my arc copy had skipped a chunk of the story.
The romance was slow burn and unsatisfying for the most part, although I enjoyed what we were teased with about the Lord Proctor’s character and personal conflictions.
“Are all women in the capital as impertinent as you?”
“Only the ones sent north for apostasy.”
Overall, I enjoyed the setting, the themes, and the strong voice of Magda. However, I do wish the plot was more purposeful aligned with consistent character development.
I would recommend this to fans of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow and Juliet Marillier (The Sevenwaters).
Physical arc gifted by Harper Fiction.
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It feels like historical fiction whilst leaning into a low fantasy setting. There is also strong themes of feminism, friendship, and even a touch of romance.
Magda is a scholar, healer, and midwife, secretly using herbal remedies and magic to help women obtain illegal abortions. After being betrayed, Magda is charged as a witch and heretic, punishable by death at the stake.
She is sent to serve a waiting period before her trial as a ward in the isolated northern stronghold under the protection of the Lord Proctor.
Turns out, he’s not as grim, serious, and cold as she had believed.
“Sexual lust and bloodlust,” Magda continues, “may spring from the same source, but that doesn’t make it admirable. If men want to be beasts, they should be treated like beasts. Put them to pasture in fair weather and shut them in a barn at night.”
This story is in conversation with the overturning of Roe v Wade. An angry lament at the state of gender and choice politics.
Magda herself is stubborn, clever, and honourable. She is a force that moves those around her.
Perhaps that is why the ending felt lacklustre without going into spoilers. It did set up an interesting sequel, but it seemed to falter against the build up and the development of feminist themes.
The narrative was also hard to feel rooted in due to the time jumps. We would get such moving accounts from Magda and then time would skip with little gap-filling until absolutely necessary which made it feel disjointed.
Particularly in the last half where I actually wondered if my arc copy had skipped a chunk of the story.
The romance was slow burn and unsatisfying for the most part, although I enjoyed what we were teased with about the Lord Proctor’s character and personal conflictions.
“Are all women in the capital as impertinent as you?”
“Only the ones sent north for apostasy.”
Overall, I enjoyed the setting, the themes, and the strong voice of Magda. However, I do wish the plot was more purposeful aligned with consistent character development.
I would recommend this to fans of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow and Juliet Marillier (The Sevenwaters).
Physical arc gifted by Harper Fiction.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 30, 2026
Oh holy heck, this was extraordinary and unexpected. It’s fresh, from the fantasy perspective - a world and magic and pantheon that aren’t quite like any of the ones I’ve seen before - and it’s topical af, but it doesn’t feel like a polemic, or like it’s driven by (as the printz criteria put it) MESSAGE. It’s heartbreaking and sometimes humorous, people’s by really magnificent characters who also seem real. If I had a 10 star option I would give it.
Also the romantasy tag is like, 100% not the point. Marketing copy almost led me to skip over this one and I am so so glad I let the Novik comp in the copy sway me instead.
Also the romantasy tag is like, 100% not the point. Marketing copy almost led me to skip over this one and I am so so glad I let the Novik comp in the copy sway me instead.
August 13, 2026
“… of purging one’s house of any villainy that has plagued it during the hot, slack summer. But this year, more than any other, there is nothing to be done for Magdalena Overmorrow. In her house, the villainy is her.”
Imagine that being the first paragraph of her book. Of If I ever managed to be this witty in my entire life about anything, I would be insufferable. Some books take a minute to pull you in. Others, only one second. Which was the case, for me, with The trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
This was a very character driven story, where the FMC was 33 (always a bonus) and acted like it. She is awaiting trial for her “black magic” aka performing a medical abortion. The parallels with the real world were absolutely not lost on me and the commentary based on this alone are in front of your face. There is men out there that would willingly burn a woman at the stake given the option, and that says a lot about the world we live in and the unprecedented regression we’re experiencing.
Magda is a witty, intelligent and very straightforward woman and being in her head has been nothing but a pleasure. I really enjoyed the deep dive into her head. She’s an independent woman in a world where reputation is above everything, one’s purity and who she’s been seen with valuing more than her voice, or at least she was. What was impressive to me is how she stood by her beliefs even when threatened with the worst possible outcomes, constantly and without flinching. Magda is the definition of being a good person because she is one in a world filled of forced superficial morality.
“Ah, yes, the two great inevitabilities: death and Domina Overmorrow.” The MMC was so unexpected. I don’t think I’ve ever read one such as himself before, from the role he’s supposed to fill to the way he acts and upholds his values, that while coinciding with the FMCs, can really end up looking differently. Their banter reminded me so much of the irresistible urge to fall for your enemy because it held the same humorous undertone, yet very straightforward and direct.
I could keep yapping but honestly what I must say is that this book has been one of the strongest debuts I have read. The writing quality and the prose were impeccable, and I will be reading everything written by Caitriona Moran. I am truly impressed.
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc, this one ended up being so special!
So once again I sat with this for two days and after looking through my notes I’ve come back with an edit 😂
“Isn’t it strange, she thinks, that the healing arts only became black magic when they were applied to women’s bodies?”
“One accursed day, after a well-deserved beating, I decided I would go out and find another man to lie with, in order to cause my husband the deepest possible pain. What could he do, beat me even harder? Beat me to death? This was, of course, unspeakably evil; a wife’s duty is to submit to her husband, to bear what he asks her to bear, and to not complain, no matter what she suffers.”
I just want to say, considering the world discourse around women’s rights and their right to body autonomy, this book hit such a spot for me. The way it approached the topic, from a conservative world, where female healthcare is trialed for black magic and sentenced to burning at the stake, through testimonies written in forms of letters or just present examples, I am completely floored. This story will stay with me forever and even though it’s not finished and I’m very happy we will be receiving more, I hope for a balm to heal some of my heart.
Imagine that being the first paragraph of her book. Of If I ever managed to be this witty in my entire life about anything, I would be insufferable. Some books take a minute to pull you in. Others, only one second. Which was the case, for me, with The trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
This was a very character driven story, where the FMC was 33 (always a bonus) and acted like it. She is awaiting trial for her “black magic” aka performing a medical abortion. The parallels with the real world were absolutely not lost on me and the commentary based on this alone are in front of your face. There is men out there that would willingly burn a woman at the stake given the option, and that says a lot about the world we live in and the unprecedented regression we’re experiencing.
Magda is a witty, intelligent and very straightforward woman and being in her head has been nothing but a pleasure. I really enjoyed the deep dive into her head. She’s an independent woman in a world where reputation is above everything, one’s purity and who she’s been seen with valuing more than her voice, or at least she was. What was impressive to me is how she stood by her beliefs even when threatened with the worst possible outcomes, constantly and without flinching. Magda is the definition of being a good person because she is one in a world filled of forced superficial morality.
“Ah, yes, the two great inevitabilities: death and Domina Overmorrow.” The MMC was so unexpected. I don’t think I’ve ever read one such as himself before, from the role he’s supposed to fill to the way he acts and upholds his values, that while coinciding with the FMCs, can really end up looking differently. Their banter reminded me so much of the irresistible urge to fall for your enemy because it held the same humorous undertone, yet very straightforward and direct.
I could keep yapping but honestly what I must say is that this book has been one of the strongest debuts I have read. The writing quality and the prose were impeccable, and I will be reading everything written by Caitriona Moran. I am truly impressed.
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc, this one ended up being so special!
So once again I sat with this for two days and after looking through my notes I’ve come back with an edit 😂
“Isn’t it strange, she thinks, that the healing arts only became black magic when they were applied to women’s bodies?”
“One accursed day, after a well-deserved beating, I decided I would go out and find another man to lie with, in order to cause my husband the deepest possible pain. What could he do, beat me even harder? Beat me to death? This was, of course, unspeakably evil; a wife’s duty is to submit to her husband, to bear what he asks her to bear, and to not complain, no matter what she suffers.”
I just want to say, considering the world discourse around women’s rights and their right to body autonomy, this book hit such a spot for me. The way it approached the topic, from a conservative world, where female healthcare is trialed for black magic and sentenced to burning at the stake, through testimonies written in forms of letters or just present examples, I am completely floored. This story will stay with me forever and even though it’s not finished and I’m very happy we will be receiving more, I hope for a balm to heal some of my heart.
August 21, 2026
Wow, this was really good. It felt fresh and different from so much of the fantasy and romantasy out there. Even though the book is objectively very sad and – for the most part – heartbreaking, it still leaves you with a sense of hope. And the romantic banter is absolutely top-notch.
The story follows Magda Overmorrow, a scholar accused of heresy for practicing abortions. She’s sent north to await her trial under the watchful eye of Lord Proctor Morgan Mallander – a high priest, who’s known for being extremely pious and serious. Of course, the more Magda gets to know him, the more she realizes he’s quite different from the man she imagined.
This is very much a character-driven book rather than a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, but Magda carries the whole thing. She’s clever, witty, funny, and deeply sensitive, though she doesn’t let many people see the depths of what she truly feels. At the same time, Magda is a woman in her 30s, and that sense of maturity really comes through in her character. Genuinely one of the best-written protagonists I’ve come across recently. I also sympathized with her immensely (though I might be a little biased since we share the same name!)
What happens to Magda and what she experiences in the north is objectively tragic, and the book doesn’t shy away from exploring topics such as female agency, unequal standards, misogyny and discrimination. Despite taking place in a fictional world, the underlying mechanisms sadly feel familiar. However, they’re woven naturally into the story rather than being spelled out through heavy handed moralizing.
But apart from the more serious themes, the book also offers plenty of lighter, funny, and heartwarming moments, along with a romantic arc. And damn. Magda and Morgan are exactly the kind of dynamic I love – very slow-burn, very forbidden, pretty tragic (also I’m weak for doomed clergymen who yearn, so that might have something to do with it). The relationship in this book has this kind of tension that feels emotionally affecting even when very little is actually happening between the characters physically. While Morgan is definitely serious, he really doesn’t come across as your standard grumpy shadow daddy. Needless to say, Magda is also pretty far from your typical romantasy heroine.
The worldbuilding is probably the weakest part of the book, as it felt somewhat vague at times. That said, it was easy enough to follow, so I never felt particularly lost. I just wish there had been a map to help visualize everything. Since I only read an early copy, I have no idea whether the final edition will include one.
All in all, this is a genuinely good book that felt refreshingly different from the flood of romantasy we get every day. I’d definitely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows Magda Overmorrow, a scholar accused of heresy for practicing abortions. She’s sent north to await her trial under the watchful eye of Lord Proctor Morgan Mallander – a high priest, who’s known for being extremely pious and serious. Of course, the more Magda gets to know him, the more she realizes he’s quite different from the man she imagined.
This is very much a character-driven book rather than a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, but Magda carries the whole thing. She’s clever, witty, funny, and deeply sensitive, though she doesn’t let many people see the depths of what she truly feels. At the same time, Magda is a woman in her 30s, and that sense of maturity really comes through in her character. Genuinely one of the best-written protagonists I’ve come across recently. I also sympathized with her immensely (though I might be a little biased since we share the same name!)
What happens to Magda and what she experiences in the north is objectively tragic, and the book doesn’t shy away from exploring topics such as female agency, unequal standards, misogyny and discrimination. Despite taking place in a fictional world, the underlying mechanisms sadly feel familiar. However, they’re woven naturally into the story rather than being spelled out through heavy handed moralizing.
But apart from the more serious themes, the book also offers plenty of lighter, funny, and heartwarming moments, along with a romantic arc. And damn. Magda and Morgan are exactly the kind of dynamic I love – very slow-burn, very forbidden, pretty tragic (also I’m weak for doomed clergymen who yearn, so that might have something to do with it). The relationship in this book has this kind of tension that feels emotionally affecting even when very little is actually happening between the characters physically. While Morgan is definitely serious, he really doesn’t come across as your standard grumpy shadow daddy. Needless to say, Magda is also pretty far from your typical romantasy heroine.
The worldbuilding is probably the weakest part of the book, as it felt somewhat vague at times. That said, it was easy enough to follow, so I never felt particularly lost. I just wish there had been a map to help visualize everything. Since I only read an early copy, I have no idea whether the final edition will include one.
All in all, this is a genuinely good book that felt refreshingly different from the flood of romantasy we get every day. I’d definitely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 2, 2026
I’m rather perplexed.
When I read the title and the synopsis, I was expecting a story about a trial. I was also expecting a psychological exploration of the female main character, Magdalena Overmorrow, as well as her motives, what drove her to do what she’s being trialed for as she faces her fate. But… this story wasn’t that at all. And I’m confused.
What disappointed me the most was the absence of the trial. It was expeditiously brushed off. It was dealt with way too quickly at the end, especially for a story with such a title. It was almost ridiculous. I was waiting for this because I was promised one with the title and I thought it was so unique in a romantasy novel, to have a story centered around a trial… I did not get that. I guess I had expectations that were too precise and too high…
It was a slow-paced and underdeveloped at times fantasy story with an insta-love and weak romance, which created a weird dynamic within the story. I definitely did not feel the chemistry between the two characters. I also did not like the dreamed sex scenes, they made me cringe. Magdalena was so obedient and submissive during these scenes, and I really did not like that. The male character was even less developed than Magdalena (and this is rather ridiculous but I did not like his name and every time I read it I winced) so I don’t have much to say about him. I think his priest status could have been more explored, maybe. There were some ponctual time jumps that did more harm to the narrative than good; they broke the story’s pace but added nothing to the characters, they did not evolve. Even though time passed, they were static in a way.
I did like the writing, though. And the use of present tense was surprising, but not unpleasant. I would still recommend this romantasy, but maybe keep in mind that the trial promised in the title isn’t the focal point of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
When I read the title and the synopsis, I was expecting a story about a trial. I was also expecting a psychological exploration of the female main character, Magdalena Overmorrow, as well as her motives, what drove her to do what she’s being trialed for as she faces her fate. But… this story wasn’t that at all. And I’m confused.
What disappointed me the most was the absence of the trial. It was expeditiously brushed off. It was dealt with way too quickly at the end, especially for a story with such a title. It was almost ridiculous. I was waiting for this because I was promised one with the title and I thought it was so unique in a romantasy novel, to have a story centered around a trial… I did not get that. I guess I had expectations that were too precise and too high…
It was a slow-paced and underdeveloped at times fantasy story with an insta-love and weak romance, which created a weird dynamic within the story. I definitely did not feel the chemistry between the two characters. I also did not like the dreamed sex scenes, they made me cringe. Magdalena was so obedient and submissive during these scenes, and I really did not like that. The male character was even less developed than Magdalena (and this is rather ridiculous but I did not like his name and every time I read it I winced) so I don’t have much to say about him. I think his priest status could have been more explored, maybe. There were some ponctual time jumps that did more harm to the narrative than good; they broke the story’s pace but added nothing to the characters, they did not evolve. Even though time passed, they were static in a way.
I did like the writing, though. And the use of present tense was surprising, but not unpleasant. I would still recommend this romantasy, but maybe keep in mind that the trial promised in the title isn’t the focal point of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
September 20, 2026
firmly welcoming this book into its place within the Hot Priest Media canon.
thank you to NetGalley for the arc!!
beautiful, witty and devastating; the kind of book that reminds you how fantasy novels can provide a mirror to both the good and evil in our own world.
Magdalena Overmorrow is a scholar and a healer, and the beginning of the story finds her preparing to stand trial for the crimes of black magic and heresy. while she awaits her trial, she is given over to the care of the Lord Proctor, the high priest of the land and a man she is prepared to hate.
let me first say that I ADORED Magda as a character. she is hilarious and irreverent yet so deeply caring and committed to helping others. the way she continually meets prejudice and persecution with both humour and dignity was amazing and I was rooting for her the whole time.
Catriona Moran is a master of tone, managing to balance dark themes and incisive social commentary with a witty, clever narrative voice and a curious coziness that should feel out of place but doesn’t at all.
the social commentary itself is timely (mild spoilers): Magda’s ‘crime’ is that of providing illegal abortions to women in need, in a land where such action is punishable by execution. but as the story unfolds, you discover she is on trial also just for the fact of her very existence: for being a learned woman, for not being chaste, for not fitting the mold of what her society deems perfect womanhood.
the romance is cute, touching and filled with yearning. The Lord Proctor is nothing like Magda expects him to be: instead of a pious, unsympathetic jailer, she finds a cool, reserved, yet deeply kind and caring man trying to do as much good as he can in an unjust society - and most surprising to Magda, he is sympathetic to her plight and does not believe she should be punished for her actions. the forbidden element to their romance (he is a priest and her warden; she is a charged criminal) adds a wonderful sprinkle of restrained desire and yearning to a profound romantic plot that develops from a place of kinship, mutual understanding and friendship.
that being said, the ending was mildly devastating and I was pleased to see that this is a planned duology and not a standalone because PLEASE YOU HAVE TO FIX THIS MY HEART CAN’T TAKE IT!!
I think what touched me most was the knowledge of how many women in real history like Magda there have been. this story felt like an ode to those women and to the people they helped. and to the hope of a better future for such women even now.
thank you to NetGalley for the arc!!
beautiful, witty and devastating; the kind of book that reminds you how fantasy novels can provide a mirror to both the good and evil in our own world.
Magdalena Overmorrow is a scholar and a healer, and the beginning of the story finds her preparing to stand trial for the crimes of black magic and heresy. while she awaits her trial, she is given over to the care of the Lord Proctor, the high priest of the land and a man she is prepared to hate.
let me first say that I ADORED Magda as a character. she is hilarious and irreverent yet so deeply caring and committed to helping others. the way she continually meets prejudice and persecution with both humour and dignity was amazing and I was rooting for her the whole time.
Catriona Moran is a master of tone, managing to balance dark themes and incisive social commentary with a witty, clever narrative voice and a curious coziness that should feel out of place but doesn’t at all.
the social commentary itself is timely (mild spoilers): Magda’s ‘crime’ is that of providing illegal abortions to women in need, in a land where such action is punishable by execution. but as the story unfolds, you discover she is on trial also just for the fact of her very existence: for being a learned woman, for not being chaste, for not fitting the mold of what her society deems perfect womanhood.
the romance is cute, touching and filled with yearning. The Lord Proctor is nothing like Magda expects him to be: instead of a pious, unsympathetic jailer, she finds a cool, reserved, yet deeply kind and caring man trying to do as much good as he can in an unjust society - and most surprising to Magda, he is sympathetic to her plight and does not believe she should be punished for her actions. the forbidden element to their romance (he is a priest and her warden; she is a charged criminal) adds a wonderful sprinkle of restrained desire and yearning to a profound romantic plot that develops from a place of kinship, mutual understanding and friendship.
that being said, the ending was mildly devastating and I was pleased to see that this is a planned duology and not a standalone because PLEASE YOU HAVE TO FIX THIS MY HEART CAN’T TAKE IT!!
I think what touched me most was the knowledge of how many women in real history like Magda there have been. this story felt like an ode to those women and to the people they helped. and to the hope of a better future for such women even now.
September 2, 2026
Caitriona, HarperVoyager, NetGalley, thank you so much for the BLESSING of this ARC. I am… I’m floored. This book didn’t just impact me, it blew me right out of the water and into the fucking sun.
THE WRITING - first and foremost, my immediate impression was this reads like Austen at her most satirical, and that impression was bolstered and reinforced as I went. The way Caitriona effortlessly weaves this story with beautiful prose and a sparkling yet cuttingly dry wit (that I could never even hope to aspire to in a million years but which is absolute god tier peak writing to me)… I’m on my KNEES.
This story deals with some serious issues that have plagued us for… actually, literally forever. Magda is a well-educated woman of questionable breeding who has inherited a position of good social standing and wealth. She uses this not to faff about with society (not half as much as she could, anyway, and power to her), but to help women in need of the kind of help that she can give, using her knowledge, her magic, and her entire heart.
Magda had me in several different headspaces. I felt, by turns, confident and witty; flippant and playful; consumed with the fiery rage of all women who have come before me in this world and any other; and lost, hopeless and alone. I not only adore her, I want to BE HER. Her character alone reinforced so many of my beliefs that it’s renewed my drive to… well, okay, since this is a review I’ll just say “to yell at stupid people - among other things.” (Books aren’t political? Please kindly, respectfully, fuck off.)
This is a fantasy-forward fantasy romance. There is TENSION, oh yes. There is yearning. But it’s not what you’re used to, and it’s not what you expect - and I LOVED THAT. Having said that, though, I AM SCREAMING AND IF I’M EVER IN A POSITION TO ASK ANYTHING OF CAITRIONA AT ALL IN PERSON it will be a mix of garbled PITH and “please fucking explain me 5000 things thank you very much I love you.”
I am obsessed with this book, and honestly, the many matrilineal lines of my ancestors would’ve fucking LOVED IT. I want to read everything Caitriona has ever written and will ever write. And I have to agree with this note in her acknowledgements.
See you in Hell, Roe v. Wade overturners of the Supreme Court. There’s a special place for you there. It’s cramped so you can’t stand or lie down, and there’s a slit in the door. We use it to poke you with sticks.
THE WRITING - first and foremost, my immediate impression was this reads like Austen at her most satirical, and that impression was bolstered and reinforced as I went. The way Caitriona effortlessly weaves this story with beautiful prose and a sparkling yet cuttingly dry wit (that I could never even hope to aspire to in a million years but which is absolute god tier peak writing to me)… I’m on my KNEES.
This story deals with some serious issues that have plagued us for… actually, literally forever. Magda is a well-educated woman of questionable breeding who has inherited a position of good social standing and wealth. She uses this not to faff about with society (not half as much as she could, anyway, and power to her), but to help women in need of the kind of help that she can give, using her knowledge, her magic, and her entire heart.
Magda had me in several different headspaces. I felt, by turns, confident and witty; flippant and playful; consumed with the fiery rage of all women who have come before me in this world and any other; and lost, hopeless and alone. I not only adore her, I want to BE HER. Her character alone reinforced so many of my beliefs that it’s renewed my drive to… well, okay, since this is a review I’ll just say “to yell at stupid people - among other things.” (Books aren’t political? Please kindly, respectfully, fuck off.)
This is a fantasy-forward fantasy romance. There is TENSION, oh yes. There is yearning. But it’s not what you’re used to, and it’s not what you expect - and I LOVED THAT. Having said that, though, I AM SCREAMING AND IF I’M EVER IN A POSITION TO ASK ANYTHING OF CAITRIONA AT ALL IN PERSON it will be a mix of garbled PITH and “please fucking explain me 5000 things thank you very much I love you.”
I am obsessed with this book, and honestly, the many matrilineal lines of my ancestors would’ve fucking LOVED IT. I want to read everything Caitriona has ever written and will ever write. And I have to agree with this note in her acknowledgements.
See you in Hell, Roe v. Wade overturners of the Supreme Court. There’s a special place for you there. It’s cramped so you can’t stand or lie down, and there’s a slit in the door. We use it to poke you with sticks.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have some complicated feelings about this book, so buckle up while I try to sort through them.
I went into this book thinking I had a general idea of what I was going to read, and boy was I wrong. From the setting to the characters and the plot. And I’m not upset about it.
The Trials of Magdalena Overmorrow isn’t just about the actual trial she’s subjected to, but rather the personal, philosophical, and spiritual trials she undergoes. The trial itself is only a short portion in the latter half of the book, and I was okay with that. I would caution readers about going into it expecting a detailed trial in the literal sense.
I loved the themes Moran was exploring around power and oppression, particularly the philosophical questions surrounding magic, divinity and institutional power. The story continually asks whether gods are inherently divine or simply beings capable of wielding extraordinary magic. If magic can be transferred, shared, or drawn from others, what actually distinguishes a god from an ordinary person? And who gets to decide?
Religious doctrine shapes societal expectations for women, their autonomy, and their place in society. The kingdom’s dukes and princes exist alongside the church’s Archproctors and Lord Proctor, each answering to a different authority. The Doomsingers, meanwhile, stir up riots and take up their own religious justice, from attacking a man suspected of having relations with other men to calling for women to be burned for their perceived immorality.
Knowledge is a form of power, and controlling access to it allows those in authority to preserve their positions. The possibility that ordinary people could combine their magic and become less dependent on those institutions felt culturally relevant today.
Where I struggled was with the execution.
This book was difficult to get into initially, mostly because of the prose and narrative progression. Moran’s writing is technically strong, but I found the rhythm mechanical and somewhat detatched. The narration frequently moves through actions, observations, and explanations in a linear progression, rather than layering them together. The prose is competent and precise, but it doesn’t always make me feel what the story is describing, especially in the beginning.
I also struggled with the narrative’s handling of time. Moran frequently jumps forward, withholding events or context only to backfill them later through extended recollections. These aren’t always brief references to the past, but fully developed scenes embedded within the present narrative. This can be an effective way to create mystery, build suspense, and retrospectively change our understanding of characters and events, and there were moments when Moran used it exceptionally well. However, its near-constant use made the narrative feel fragmented.
That said, the last 40% had me completely locked in. I stayed up reading until 12:59 a.m. because I couldn't put it down. The latter half is where I think Moran really shines. It gets dark, quickly, and I was on the edge of my seat going, “No! Stop it! I want to go back to oppressive winter wonderland!”
I was particularly excited to explore the feminist themes, and I think Moran does a great job exploring them through the individual stories of the women, particularly the restrictions imposed on their autonomy. Magda’s own privilege adds another interesting layer, as her education, connections, and freedoms allow her to navigate a society that restricts other women far more severely. While the latter half does challenge some of her assumptions, I wanted more examination of her harsh judgments of other women. Even when those judgments were justified, like the duchess, I felt there was room to explore how those women were shaped by a system in which they were both victims and perpetrators.
I also felt the experiences of LGBTQ+ characters were underdeveloped. The story repeatedly establishes that same-sex relationships are condemned within this society, but gives relatively little attention to how that oppression affects the people living under it. Given how central religious authority and bodily autonomy are to the novel's themes, I would have liked to see this explored more thoroughly.
Morgan was an interesting character to me, and I appreciated that he was flawed too. But Magda extended him a grace that she rarely offered other characters, even from the beginning. She interpreted his actions far more generously, while occasionally making offhand remarks suggesting she thought the worst of him, despite her behavior indicating otherwise. At times, it felt like a story about an unconventional woman who just wanted a conventional love story.
I would be hesitant to market this as a "Romance" book without knowing whether there will be a sequel. This story definitely has a central romantic plot. However, leading with Romance in marketing sets certain expectations for readers, and this book subverts those expectations in many ways. I loved that it didn’t follow a typical, formulaic progression, but I can see how it might leave other readers frustrated.
I think this book will appeal most to readers who enjoy slower, character-driven fantasy with complex philosophical themes, political and religious intrigue, and unconventional romantic elements.
I’m still struggling with how to rate or recommend this book because, despite my frustrations, I enjoyed it. I appreciate stories that leave room for interpretation, but there are so many elements I’d love to see explored further, particularly concerning the characters and the implications of the ending. I think my overall feelings about the book will depend, at least in part, on whether there’s a sequel.
I went into this book thinking I had a general idea of what I was going to read, and boy was I wrong. From the setting to the characters and the plot. And I’m not upset about it.
The Trials of Magdalena Overmorrow isn’t just about the actual trial she’s subjected to, but rather the personal, philosophical, and spiritual trials she undergoes. The trial itself is only a short portion in the latter half of the book, and I was okay with that. I would caution readers about going into it expecting a detailed trial in the literal sense.
I loved the themes Moran was exploring around power and oppression, particularly the philosophical questions surrounding magic, divinity and institutional power. The story continually asks whether gods are inherently divine or simply beings capable of wielding extraordinary magic. If magic can be transferred, shared, or drawn from others, what actually distinguishes a god from an ordinary person? And who gets to decide?
Religious doctrine shapes societal expectations for women, their autonomy, and their place in society. The kingdom’s dukes and princes exist alongside the church’s Archproctors and Lord Proctor, each answering to a different authority. The Doomsingers, meanwhile, stir up riots and take up their own religious justice, from attacking a man suspected of having relations with other men to calling for women to be burned for their perceived immorality.
Knowledge is a form of power, and controlling access to it allows those in authority to preserve their positions. The possibility that ordinary people could combine their magic and become less dependent on those institutions felt culturally relevant today.
Where I struggled was with the execution.
This book was difficult to get into initially, mostly because of the prose and narrative progression. Moran’s writing is technically strong, but I found the rhythm mechanical and somewhat detatched. The narration frequently moves through actions, observations, and explanations in a linear progression, rather than layering them together. The prose is competent and precise, but it doesn’t always make me feel what the story is describing, especially in the beginning.
I also struggled with the narrative’s handling of time. Moran frequently jumps forward, withholding events or context only to backfill them later through extended recollections. These aren’t always brief references to the past, but fully developed scenes embedded within the present narrative. This can be an effective way to create mystery, build suspense, and retrospectively change our understanding of characters and events, and there were moments when Moran used it exceptionally well. However, its near-constant use made the narrative feel fragmented.
That said, the last 40% had me completely locked in. I stayed up reading until 12:59 a.m. because I couldn't put it down. The latter half is where I think Moran really shines. It gets dark, quickly, and I was on the edge of my seat going, “No! Stop it! I want to go back to oppressive winter wonderland!”
I was particularly excited to explore the feminist themes, and I think Moran does a great job exploring them through the individual stories of the women, particularly the restrictions imposed on their autonomy. Magda’s own privilege adds another interesting layer, as her education, connections, and freedoms allow her to navigate a society that restricts other women far more severely. While the latter half does challenge some of her assumptions, I wanted more examination of her harsh judgments of other women. Even when those judgments were justified, like the duchess, I felt there was room to explore how those women were shaped by a system in which they were both victims and perpetrators.
I also felt the experiences of LGBTQ+ characters were underdeveloped. The story repeatedly establishes that same-sex relationships are condemned within this society, but gives relatively little attention to how that oppression affects the people living under it. Given how central religious authority and bodily autonomy are to the novel's themes, I would have liked to see this explored more thoroughly.
Morgan was an interesting character to me, and I appreciated that he was flawed too. But Magda extended him a grace that she rarely offered other characters, even from the beginning. She interpreted his actions far more generously, while occasionally making offhand remarks suggesting she thought the worst of him, despite her behavior indicating otherwise. At times, it felt like a story about an unconventional woman who just wanted a conventional love story.
I would be hesitant to market this as a "Romance" book without knowing whether there will be a sequel. This story definitely has a central romantic plot. However, leading with Romance in marketing sets certain expectations for readers, and this book subverts those expectations in many ways. I loved that it didn’t follow a typical, formulaic progression, but I can see how it might leave other readers frustrated.
I think this book will appeal most to readers who enjoy slower, character-driven fantasy with complex philosophical themes, political and religious intrigue, and unconventional romantic elements.
I’m still struggling with how to rate or recommend this book because, despite my frustrations, I enjoyed it. I appreciate stories that leave room for interpretation, but there are so many elements I’d love to see explored further, particularly concerning the characters and the implications of the ending. I think my overall feelings about the book will depend, at least in part, on whether there’s a sequel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow! I'm rating it 2.5 stars.
This is a book that I think I would have adored, had it not been for the way the romance plays out. But I suspect that the things that I dislike will work really well for some other readers.
Putting the romance aside for a moment, the book is beautifully written and engages with powerful themes: sexual and reproductive rights and health, religion, how we condemn or sanctify women, the importance of female friendship in oppressive societies, and more. Characters are distinct and well-written.
However, for a book that takes patriarchal violence against women as its main theme, I personally didn't enjoy how the romance really went all in on traditional gender roles. The man rescues, again and again. The woman suffers without trying to plot her escape or gather power to herself. The man harshly judges a woman for her presumed sexual activity (and the later justification that doesn't make it any better). And it's also the man who ultimately saves the day and , rather than anything Magdalena did.
Of course, there are many ways to show resistance! Just managing to survive from one day to the next, or keeping other people's identity a secret, could be a way of resisting. And we regularly see Magdalena protecting, rescuing and fighting for her friends and acquaintances, so it's not necessarily a bad thing that she doesn't seem to fight for her own survival. She's still a woman with agency rather than just a passive victim. But I just found the dynamic of the romance, with Magdalena constantly being protected, rescued, and berated and punished by the love interest, to be really off-putting. It prevented me from enjoying the book as a whole.
Plus, as the novel progresses, Magdalena's passion for female sexual health and women's rights also pales in comparison to her feelings for the love interest. When thinking of the execution that hangs over her head, Magdalena says that she could accept her death if she believed he loved her. I found it frustrating that she was thinking more about the romance and less about how the "crimes" she had committed had saved women's lives, and what would happen to those women if she died. At one point, Magdalena even chooses not to teach women how to brew medicine to save their lives after a botched abortion, even though they ask her to do so.
All the same, I'm sure that other readers will love this story. I think that while I can enjoy a romance, this was just a case of the wrong romance for the wrong story for my personal tastes.
This is a book that I think I would have adored, had it not been for the way the romance plays out. But I suspect that the things that I dislike will work really well for some other readers.
Putting the romance aside for a moment, the book is beautifully written and engages with powerful themes: sexual and reproductive rights and health, religion, how we condemn or sanctify women, the importance of female friendship in oppressive societies, and more. Characters are distinct and well-written.
However, for a book that takes patriarchal violence against women as its main theme, I personally didn't enjoy how the romance really went all in on traditional gender roles. The man rescues, again and again. The woman suffers without trying to plot her escape or gather power to herself. The man harshly judges a woman for her presumed sexual activity (and the later justification that doesn't make it any better). And it's also the man who ultimately saves the day and , rather than anything Magdalena did.
Of course, there are many ways to show resistance! Just managing to survive from one day to the next, or keeping other people's identity a secret, could be a way of resisting. And we regularly see Magdalena protecting, rescuing and fighting for her friends and acquaintances, so it's not necessarily a bad thing that she doesn't seem to fight for her own survival. She's still a woman with agency rather than just a passive victim. But I just found the dynamic of the romance, with Magdalena constantly being protected, rescued, and berated and punished by the love interest, to be really off-putting. It prevented me from enjoying the book as a whole.
Plus, as the novel progresses, Magdalena's passion for female sexual health and women's rights also pales in comparison to her feelings for the love interest. When thinking of the execution that hangs over her head, Magdalena says that she could accept her death if she believed he loved her. I found it frustrating that she was thinking more about the romance and less about how the "crimes" she had committed had saved women's lives, and what would happen to those women if she died. At one point, Magdalena even chooses not to teach women how to brew medicine to save their lives after a botched abortion, even though they ask her to do so.
All the same, I'm sure that other readers will love this story. I think that while I can enjoy a romance, this was just a case of the wrong romance for the wrong story for my personal tastes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Magdalena Overmorrow is many things, but for now she is a prisoner awaiting trial far to the North, where the people have very different customs than her own. She appears even more a witch and harlot than scholar and healer to them. She becomes a ward of the Lord Proctor, known by reputation so pious that she is stunned to meet a man not much older than she is. As Magda awaits her trial, she learns the language and customs of Cair Gramora. But ultimately, no matter how close she gets to some, neither their friendship nor her own magic can save her from the trial ahead.
This is a really wonderful debut novel. It's a romantic fantasy, with a tender slow burn arc. The book is written in third person present tense, which instead of feeling jarring sets a clever and lovely tone. Normally when a book is in a different tense, it takes a bit of getting used to, but it felt natural to follow Magda on her journey this way. The pacing is a little uneven as you might expect with a debut, but at the same time it feels intentional. (In fact everything about the novel feels intentional, which I love.) The worldbuilding is revealed as Magda learns more about the Cair and the surrounding town. It's also revealed through letters between Magda and her friend Jula, cousin to the crown prince and a lawyer. Letters between Jula and witnesses also reveal Magda's crimes: helping women with unwanted pregnancies.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a staunch, feminist fantasy with romantic overtones. Because the style is a little different between the pacing and the perspective, I would recommend a reader preview the prose first to set expectations. I loved this one, and will be thinking about it for a while. This is NOT a romance with an HEA, for those for whom that matters, but it has a lovely romantic journey. It also has my favorite page of acknowledgements: thanking the Moran's Buffalo sports teams for the ups and downs and emotional trials, and cursing the courts for overturning Roe.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for an eARC. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is out 11/3/2026.
This is a really wonderful debut novel. It's a romantic fantasy, with a tender slow burn arc. The book is written in third person present tense, which instead of feeling jarring sets a clever and lovely tone. Normally when a book is in a different tense, it takes a bit of getting used to, but it felt natural to follow Magda on her journey this way. The pacing is a little uneven as you might expect with a debut, but at the same time it feels intentional. (In fact everything about the novel feels intentional, which I love.) The worldbuilding is revealed as Magda learns more about the Cair and the surrounding town. It's also revealed through letters between Magda and her friend Jula, cousin to the crown prince and a lawyer. Letters between Jula and witnesses also reveal Magda's crimes: helping women with unwanted pregnancies.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a staunch, feminist fantasy with romantic overtones. Because the style is a little different between the pacing and the perspective, I would recommend a reader preview the prose first to set expectations. I loved this one, and will be thinking about it for a while. This is NOT a romance with an HEA, for those for whom that matters, but it has a lovely romantic journey. It also has my favorite page of acknowledgements: thanking the Moran's Buffalo sports teams for the ups and downs and emotional trials, and cursing the courts for overturning Roe.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for an eARC. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is out 11/3/2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25: A character-based medieval religious fantasy with a surprisingly lighthearted tone given the heavy subject matter, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a thoughtful reflection on current events while harking back to centuries of religious and cultural history. Following Magdalena Overmorrow as she resides in the north awaiting her execution, the story focuses mostly on the relationships Magda develops in the north and her preparation for trial.
The characters were my favorite part of this book. Magda is probably my favorite character I’ve read all year; she is funny, smart, and genuine, and she breaks the mold of the typical female protagonist popular in fantasy right now. I also enjoyed Morgan, Jula, and Cass. I didn’t think any of the characters felt flat, and the dynamics between the characters were entertaining to read about. This book is mostly character-driven, and I think the characters are truly a highlight.
I also loved the medieval setting. This book invoked the vibes of Julien of Norwich, William Langland, and the Canterbury Tales. It felt very much like classic religious medieval literature but with a modern storytelling style, which I enjoyed a lot. The book also uses the medieval lens to draw parallels to current events, and I liked the way the parallels added to both my understanding and ability to relate to the story as well as how it deepened what was happening with the characters.
The world building was pretty interesting, but this story is more character-forward than world-forward. The world feels more like a backdrop for the characters rather than its own living thing. I really hope we get more world development in the next book, because what is there is interesting, but I don’t think it’s fully flushed out.
I think this books biggest weakness is it feels like there are missing scenes. What I mean by that is it often feels like there are developments in character relationships or character journeys that occur partially off page, and given how character-forward the book is, I found some of the time jumps/missing moments to be a little jarring. I honestly think this book could’ve used another 75-100 pages to add the connective tissue between some of those developments.
I would highly recommend this book to medieval literature lovers, medieval fantasy and religious fantasy lovers, and those looking for strong character-focused stories. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.
The characters were my favorite part of this book. Magda is probably my favorite character I’ve read all year; she is funny, smart, and genuine, and she breaks the mold of the typical female protagonist popular in fantasy right now. I also enjoyed Morgan, Jula, and Cass. I didn’t think any of the characters felt flat, and the dynamics between the characters were entertaining to read about. This book is mostly character-driven, and I think the characters are truly a highlight.
I also loved the medieval setting. This book invoked the vibes of Julien of Norwich, William Langland, and the Canterbury Tales. It felt very much like classic religious medieval literature but with a modern storytelling style, which I enjoyed a lot. The book also uses the medieval lens to draw parallels to current events, and I liked the way the parallels added to both my understanding and ability to relate to the story as well as how it deepened what was happening with the characters.
The world building was pretty interesting, but this story is more character-forward than world-forward. The world feels more like a backdrop for the characters rather than its own living thing. I really hope we get more world development in the next book, because what is there is interesting, but I don’t think it’s fully flushed out.
I think this books biggest weakness is it feels like there are missing scenes. What I mean by that is it often feels like there are developments in character relationships or character journeys that occur partially off page, and given how character-forward the book is, I found some of the time jumps/missing moments to be a little jarring. I honestly think this book could’ve used another 75-100 pages to add the connective tissue between some of those developments.
I would highly recommend this book to medieval literature lovers, medieval fantasy and religious fantasy lovers, and those looking for strong character-focused stories. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I fing loved this book, and I fing hated this book, but I have not in so long been in my feels about a book like this and therefore, it's getting all the stars. I dont make the rules (Yes I do).
Anyway, I probably need to explain myself somehow, right? You see, your honor, I was struggling with this book in the beginning. It's... clunky and felt a bit cheesy but was enjoyable enough and moved quickly. Then the pacing hit a bit of a wall, and I really wondered where this was going.
But... before I knew it, I couldn't put it down? I got past the tiresome info dumping, got used to the misogynistic af religious society and men, got used to the weird sexual humor at times, and just started enjoying the vibes. I felt like the author found her footing, much like Magda found her place at Gramora.
Some background since this is an arc review. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow follows one woman, the aforementioned Magda, as she is arrested on charges of black magic and generally being a loose moral woman, so obviously she must be a witch. She's transferred north to await trial under the care of the Lord Proctor, a cold, unfeeling man who's never laughed before. WE ALL KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING RIGHT?
When I tell you the end of this book put me through the wringer... It's been 0 days since I cried over fictional characters. I was also ragebaited into scouring the internet to find out this is a two book deal as there's no series title listed with it. The RIOTING if this was how it all ends. (Okay a small part of me would have been secretly pleased at the audacity, but I need book two now.)
Has this in any way, shape, or form been a review? I have no idea. It's late, and I was just personally assaulted by a book, your honor.
In summary, while yes there is quite a bit I might want to fix in this book, at some point, I no longer cared. I do worry a bit of the clunkiness to begin with may trip up other readers and wish perhaps a few more editing passes had been made for a debut. Mostly because I think a 6 star book where I'm hooked from the get go exists. All i know is that I will happily 🗡 my way to the front of the line for bk 2.
If you do care about the things I would like to fix: A) the worldbuilding is a bit pell mell. Somehow, there's no main road to a dukes castle except to one at a time traipse through a bog? Sus. B) its a very religious extremist sort of society, but this felt at odds with how people actually lived? I was a bit confused at overall governing and how/why/who Magda was on trial with C) some occasional moments in the plot that didnt seem to align with what was said/happened earlier in the book D) I would have loved a better overarching plot. I thought there was going to be a bit more of a political mystery, and that never appeared e) an explanation into the magic system. Who has it? Who doesn't? Sometimes its church sanctioned? But also university? Family mages? Wut?
PS hats off to the author acknowledgment and damning the justices who overturned Roe v Wade to hell.
Anyway, I probably need to explain myself somehow, right? You see, your honor, I was struggling with this book in the beginning. It's... clunky and felt a bit cheesy but was enjoyable enough and moved quickly. Then the pacing hit a bit of a wall, and I really wondered where this was going.
But... before I knew it, I couldn't put it down? I got past the tiresome info dumping, got used to the misogynistic af religious society and men, got used to the weird sexual humor at times, and just started enjoying the vibes. I felt like the author found her footing, much like Magda found her place at Gramora.
Some background since this is an arc review. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow follows one woman, the aforementioned Magda, as she is arrested on charges of black magic and generally being a loose moral woman, so obviously she must be a witch. She's transferred north to await trial under the care of the Lord Proctor, a cold, unfeeling man who's never laughed before. WE ALL KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING RIGHT?
When I tell you the end of this book put me through the wringer... It's been 0 days since I cried over fictional characters. I was also ragebaited into scouring the internet to find out this is a two book deal as there's no series title listed with it. The RIOTING if this was how it all ends. (Okay a small part of me would have been secretly pleased at the audacity, but I need book two now.)
Has this in any way, shape, or form been a review? I have no idea. It's late, and I was just personally assaulted by a book, your honor.
In summary, while yes there is quite a bit I might want to fix in this book, at some point, I no longer cared. I do worry a bit of the clunkiness to begin with may trip up other readers and wish perhaps a few more editing passes had been made for a debut. Mostly because I think a 6 star book where I'm hooked from the get go exists. All i know is that I will happily 🗡 my way to the front of the line for bk 2.
If you do care about the things I would like to fix: A) the worldbuilding is a bit pell mell. Somehow, there's no main road to a dukes castle except to one at a time traipse through a bog? Sus. B) its a very religious extremist sort of society, but this felt at odds with how people actually lived? I was a bit confused at overall governing and how/why/who Magda was on trial with C) some occasional moments in the plot that didnt seem to align with what was said/happened earlier in the book D) I would have loved a better overarching plot. I thought there was going to be a bit more of a political mystery, and that never appeared e) an explanation into the magic system. Who has it? Who doesn't? Sometimes its church sanctioned? But also university? Family mages? Wut?
PS hats off to the author acknowledgment and damning the justices who overturned Roe v Wade to hell.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ☆
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a thought provoking and beautifully told story and one that I was unable to put down.
It's a slower paced story and very much a character driven story where religion, injustice of women's rights and sacrifice, love and friendship plays a big part in the story of Magdalena a healer who has only helped other women and in this case with unwanted pregnancies is betrayed by one of her own and put on trial for practising black magic. Though what this story reveals is that the magic itself is not evil but that it is the way in which it is used none more so than the application to women's bodies that the church deems sinful. This is a world where magic is accepted but only provided it serves approved ends but when it is to aid women's health, it becomes a crime that is very much punishable by death.
There is a romance but this is very much a subplot to the overall story but it is also so hauntingly beautiful in the way it is told. Magda's relationship with Lord Proctor Morgan a priest close to her age who is thought of as cold and emotionless delivers one of the most beautiful romances. It is a masterclass in slow burn yearning built on lingering glances, slight touches and unspoken desires rather than declarations. It's a romance of epic pining and where the two are on opposing sides of a moral divide struggle against their own feelings for each other and for me this is what moved me the most it was so beautifully done and left a lasting impression on me.
The only thing that I found lacking is that I would have liked a little more world building as it's very subtle leaving me to try and piece together the setting without clear explanation.
The first of a duology that leaves a bittersweet ache behind and the anticipation for the next book to see where the story goes and especially what happens to these characters lives.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a thought provoking and beautifully told story and one that I was unable to put down.
It's a slower paced story and very much a character driven story where religion, injustice of women's rights and sacrifice, love and friendship plays a big part in the story of Magdalena a healer who has only helped other women and in this case with unwanted pregnancies is betrayed by one of her own and put on trial for practising black magic. Though what this story reveals is that the magic itself is not evil but that it is the way in which it is used none more so than the application to women's bodies that the church deems sinful. This is a world where magic is accepted but only provided it serves approved ends but when it is to aid women's health, it becomes a crime that is very much punishable by death.
There is a romance but this is very much a subplot to the overall story but it is also so hauntingly beautiful in the way it is told. Magda's relationship with Lord Proctor Morgan a priest close to her age who is thought of as cold and emotionless delivers one of the most beautiful romances. It is a masterclass in slow burn yearning built on lingering glances, slight touches and unspoken desires rather than declarations. It's a romance of epic pining and where the two are on opposing sides of a moral divide struggle against their own feelings for each other and for me this is what moved me the most it was so beautifully done and left a lasting impression on me.
The only thing that I found lacking is that I would have liked a little more world building as it's very subtle leaving me to try and piece together the setting without clear explanation.
The first of a duology that leaves a bittersweet ache behind and the anticipation for the next book to see where the story goes and especially what happens to these characters lives.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. Just looking around for my tortured heart. It might be underneath Moran’s shoe, partially shattered.
I picked this up thinking it’s take me 3-4 days to read, but I was wrong and I had a hard time putting it down and finished it in 1.5 days.
It had a lot of elements that’s like sugar for my brain. Yes to independent women. Yes to one bed at the inn. Yes to strong female relationships. Yes to justice.
Now I will say this- this a romance book that just so happens to take a place in a magical world. If you are looking for quality high fantasy, this isn’t it. Bring your popcorn and your hangover from Fleabag and just come for the swoony vibes.
I do wish the worldbuilding may have been combed through with a few more rounds of edits, but I absolutely see Moran’s interesting voice what she’s bringing to romantic tension.
Let’s hope we don’t have to wait crazy long for book 2. 🤞
My thanks to @Netgalley @putnambooks for this ARC
#thetrialofmagdalenaovermorrow pub date is early November and is a delightful winter TBR pick. Read it & please be tortured like @i.dont.give.a.fantasy.funk and meeeeeee 🤣😅
I picked this up thinking it’s take me 3-4 days to read, but I was wrong and I had a hard time putting it down and finished it in 1.5 days.
It had a lot of elements that’s like sugar for my brain. Yes to independent women. Yes to one bed at the inn. Yes to strong female relationships. Yes to justice.
Now I will say this- this a romance book that just so happens to take a place in a magical world. If you are looking for quality high fantasy, this isn’t it. Bring your popcorn and your hangover from Fleabag and just come for the swoony vibes.
I do wish the worldbuilding may have been combed through with a few more rounds of edits, but I absolutely see Moran’s interesting voice what she’s bringing to romantic tension.
Let’s hope we don’t have to wait crazy long for book 2. 🤞
My thanks to @Netgalley @putnambooks for this ARC
#thetrialofmagdalenaovermorrow pub date is early November and is a delightful winter TBR pick. Read it & please be tortured like @i.dont.give.a.fantasy.funk and meeeeeee 🤣😅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, HarperCollins, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
From the first paragraph, I knew this book would work for me. The writing was absolutely exquisite, the world intriguing and confined, and the characters absolutely delightful.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow follows Magdalena, a scholar & a healer with a history of not conforming to the world's strict religious teachings. Yet, she is admired for her intelligence and has managed to find herself in a good situation... until she is accused of helping women have abortions, suspected of black magic and sent to confinement in the North to await her trial.
I loved Magdalena as a character; she is 33 and has enjoyed her life. She has had lovers and studied how to be a healer, helping women in need. She was smart and witty, charming, and her goodness overflowed to other characters. I also adored all the other characters, from Rowana to Sanja to the Lord Protor. I also adored Jula, as the unfatigable friend, determined to save Magda.
I love discovering more about the world, the South and the North Divide, the different traditions, and the different religious beliefs. Whilst the world (and the magic system) could have been more fleshed out, I appreciated it nonetheless for what it was - a world profoundly divided, yet dominated by a strict religious setting, with injustice when it comes to women's health and life. And I love how well this setting conveyed the story of The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
This book was, first and foremost, about injustice. It was about how religion has been continuously used to oppress women when it comes to sexuality and to put shame on them for unwanted pregnancies. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow did a wonderful job highlighting issues such as female agency, misogyny & discrimination, double standards when it comes to women, and how unfair the system is to women who have little to nothing and dare to trust a man, only to be utterly betrayed and abandoned. Those themes, despite being highlighted in a fictional world, felt strikingly familiar.
And Magdalena's story highlights this injustice perfectly well. How she is betrayed by a woman she helped, sent to the North, disdained for being smart and charming... all because she dared to help women in impossible situations. Those themes were wonderfully done without being heavy-handed, and I love how different women's stories were woven into the storytelling.
I cannot talk about this book without talking about the romance element. I was absolutely entranced by the romance - Morgan and Magdalena's relationship was pure beyond words, built on respect and understanding. The yearning and intensity of their relationship had me in a chokehold. I will always be partial to a doomed and tragic love story; the priest/black witch pairing was delightful. All their interactions were delightful and gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes with a forbidden love twist, and I just adored it. I also loved how much tension existed between Magda and Morgan, with little actually happening between them physically. This was masterfully done, and I loved every second of it.
The Trial of Magdalena is an astonishing debut novel. It is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy/romantasy sphere, and I cannot wait to read anything else Caitriona Moran puts out in the world.
I absolutely adored The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
From the first paragraph, I knew this book would work for me. The writing was absolutely exquisite, the world intriguing and confined, and the characters absolutely delightful.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow follows Magdalena, a scholar & a healer with a history of not conforming to the world's strict religious teachings. Yet, she is admired for her intelligence and has managed to find herself in a good situation... until she is accused of helping women have abortions, suspected of black magic and sent to confinement in the North to await her trial.
I loved Magdalena as a character; she is 33 and has enjoyed her life. She has had lovers and studied how to be a healer, helping women in need. She was smart and witty, charming, and her goodness overflowed to other characters. I also adored all the other characters, from Rowana to Sanja to the Lord Protor. I also adored Jula, as the unfatigable friend, determined to save Magda.
I love discovering more about the world, the South and the North Divide, the different traditions, and the different religious beliefs. Whilst the world (and the magic system) could have been more fleshed out, I appreciated it nonetheless for what it was - a world profoundly divided, yet dominated by a strict religious setting, with injustice when it comes to women's health and life. And I love how well this setting conveyed the story of The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow.
This book was, first and foremost, about injustice. It was about how religion has been continuously used to oppress women when it comes to sexuality and to put shame on them for unwanted pregnancies. The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow did a wonderful job highlighting issues such as female agency, misogyny & discrimination, double standards when it comes to women, and how unfair the system is to women who have little to nothing and dare to trust a man, only to be utterly betrayed and abandoned. Those themes, despite being highlighted in a fictional world, felt strikingly familiar.
And Magdalena's story highlights this injustice perfectly well. How she is betrayed by a woman she helped, sent to the North, disdained for being smart and charming... all because she dared to help women in impossible situations. Those themes were wonderfully done without being heavy-handed, and I love how different women's stories were woven into the storytelling.
I cannot talk about this book without talking about the romance element. I was absolutely entranced by the romance - Morgan and Magdalena's relationship was pure beyond words, built on respect and understanding. The yearning and intensity of their relationship had me in a chokehold. I will always be partial to a doomed and tragic love story; the priest/black witch pairing was delightful. All their interactions were delightful and gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes with a forbidden love twist, and I just adored it. I also loved how much tension existed between Magda and Morgan, with little actually happening between them physically. This was masterfully done, and I loved every second of it.
The Trial of Magdalena is an astonishing debut novel. It is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy/romantasy sphere, and I cannot wait to read anything else Caitriona Moran puts out in the world.
Currently Reading
August 17, 2026ꔛ pre-read ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
Just got accepted for the ARC. I can't wait to read this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the e-ARC!
Just got accepted for the ARC. I can't wait to read this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“No one has taught her the proper prayers for a sinner who doesn’t want to be forgiven.”
For the crime of providing forbidden abortion services, Magdalena Overmorrow is banished to the desolate northern lands to await trial. Assigned as her jailer is the Lord Procter of Cair Gramora, Morgan Mallander, a man said to be entirely humorless. Despite the cold nature of the northern mountains and its Lord Procter, Magdalena is drawn into the lives of the others in the cair - will these alliances prove to be her salvation, or her downfall?
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is an incredibly fresh approach to an entirely heartbreaking story. At the core of a very character-driven plot is Magda; Magda is humorous, intelligent, and deeply kind. Part of the heartbreaking aspect of the plot is how unfair the world is - desperate women sought Magda for abortion services and providing them was a kindness, in the way that every act of healing Magda performs is a kindness. Though Magda is betrayed, with her freedom and possibly her life at stake, she never stops being a kind person at heart and seeking to help others. She has no regrets about the choices that led to her trial, nor does she seek to “change” herself to better her chances during the trial. She firmly expresses an inner belief in herself and her actions that was inspiring. This story, told in her voice, is incredibly compelling and it was a pleasure to live in her head.
The other aspect of the story that hooked me was the dialogue. Magda is incredibly funny, both in her inner thoughts, and when speaking to others, but the banter between her and the Lord Procter was impeccable. Due to the forbidden nature of their friendship, and later, romance, the relationship is slow burn and drenched with yearning. The tension was incredibly emotional, and though it was never heavy handed, Moran did a fantastic job of combining a soft romance with an increasing sense of doom.
Coupled with superb prose, pacing, and overall writing quality, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow was refreshing, moving, and unputdownable. I would happily recommend it to anyone as one of my favorite reads of the year.
✨ 5 stars! ✨
Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For the crime of providing forbidden abortion services, Magdalena Overmorrow is banished to the desolate northern lands to await trial. Assigned as her jailer is the Lord Procter of Cair Gramora, Morgan Mallander, a man said to be entirely humorless. Despite the cold nature of the northern mountains and its Lord Procter, Magdalena is drawn into the lives of the others in the cair - will these alliances prove to be her salvation, or her downfall?
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is an incredibly fresh approach to an entirely heartbreaking story. At the core of a very character-driven plot is Magda; Magda is humorous, intelligent, and deeply kind. Part of the heartbreaking aspect of the plot is how unfair the world is - desperate women sought Magda for abortion services and providing them was a kindness, in the way that every act of healing Magda performs is a kindness. Though Magda is betrayed, with her freedom and possibly her life at stake, she never stops being a kind person at heart and seeking to help others. She has no regrets about the choices that led to her trial, nor does she seek to “change” herself to better her chances during the trial. She firmly expresses an inner belief in herself and her actions that was inspiring. This story, told in her voice, is incredibly compelling and it was a pleasure to live in her head.
The other aspect of the story that hooked me was the dialogue. Magda is incredibly funny, both in her inner thoughts, and when speaking to others, but the banter between her and the Lord Procter was impeccable. Due to the forbidden nature of their friendship, and later, romance, the relationship is slow burn and drenched with yearning. The tension was incredibly emotional, and though it was never heavy handed, Moran did a fantastic job of combining a soft romance with an increasing sense of doom.
Coupled with superb prose, pacing, and overall writing quality, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow was refreshing, moving, and unputdownable. I would happily recommend it to anyone as one of my favorite reads of the year.
✨ 5 stars! ✨
Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh this very much worked for me. I loved Magdalena so much, I loved the magic system, how slow burn the romance was, the community and friends Magda made. I had some thoughts about the way it might end, but I definitely wasn't expecting That, and I am very excited to read the next book and see what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a good debut. If you’ve been looking for a romantasy featuring older MCs who feel like their ages (33 and 40 in this case), then look no further! Magda and Morgan might be your OTP. The romance was a gradual burn. While I thought the way the spice scenes played out was unique, I could see them being unsatisfactory for some readers. The strong themes surrounding women’s reproductive rights and body autonomy are woven seamlessly into the plot. The world, which has a medieval vibe, feels properly developed and lived in.
The magic system is subtle and vague, which helps it feel digestible and realistic. However, I would sometimes forget there was any magic, so when it would come back into the story it felt jarring to me. The character work was solid for the most part concerning Magda and Morgan, but I didn’t feel strongly connected to any of the side characters. The Doomsingers storyline held no interest for me and felt very underdeveloped. Also, in the last few chapters I didn’t buy Magda’s utter shock about someone the way I think I was supposed to. It was just very obvious to me what was actually happening, so the tension wasn’t there for me.
Thanks to Putnam for the eARC via NetGalley.
The magic system is subtle and vague, which helps it feel digestible and realistic. However, I would sometimes forget there was any magic, so when it would come back into the story it felt jarring to me. The character work was solid for the most part concerning Magda and Morgan, but I didn’t feel strongly connected to any of the side characters. The Doomsingers storyline held no interest for me and felt very underdeveloped. Also, in the last few chapters I didn’t buy Magda’s utter shock about someone the way I think I was supposed to. It was just very obvious to me what was actually happening, so the tension wasn’t there for me.
Thanks to Putnam for the eARC via NetGalley.
Want to Read
July 4, 2026⚖️🕯️ The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow 🕯️⚖️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Epic Fantasy
• Enemies to Lovers
• Witch Trial
• Morally Gray MCs
• Forced Alliance
• Political Intrigue
_ _ __
📅 Pub Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you to Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Epic Fantasy
• Enemies to Lovers
• Witch Trial
• Morally Gray MCs
• Forced Alliance
• Political Intrigue
_ _ __
📅 Pub Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you to Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC!
I went into this book with high hopes but unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. What I expected was the story of a woman staunchly fighting for the reproductive rights of women. In reality, any discussion of abortion came as an afterthought to the development of a romance between Magda and Morgan.
I’ll start with what I liked:
- The friendship between Magda and her childhood friend Jula. Jula was extremely supportive of Magda and I appreciated seeing Magda’s platonic relationships.
- Some of the secondary characters like Cass and Tisza seemed to have fairly developed personalities, although I do wish we could have gotten more from others like Sanja and Klees.
Now for my dislikes:
- The magic system: This is poorly explained and I’m still not sure if I entirely understand it. It seems like everyone has the ability to at least cast simple spells but that not everyone is taught how to/maybe don’t even know that they can? This magic either is or is believed to be imbued into humans by the gods. There can also be “miracles” which are thought to be divine magical interventions of the gods. My qualm with this belief that magic is god-gifted is that wouldn’t this make all magical acts sacrosanct? So if Magda uses her god-given magic to perform abortions, how can that be considered a crime? There is a reference to Magda using “black magic”, but it is never explained what black magic is supposed to be.
- The prose: This was written in third person present tense which is not my preference. At times I also found myself having difficulty parsing what I was reading, though this seemed to get better as the book went along.
- The relationship development: I’m not even just referring to the romantic relationship here because I found nearly all of them to be lacking and a lot of this has to do with the authors choice to do a lot of telling rather than showing. For example, there is one scene about halfway through the book where Magda is missing Morgan since he is away. In this scene she says that they spoke every day and she often dined with him. However, from the readers POV I think we have seen maybe five interactions at this point? Either way, not enough for the reader to understand or care why Magda misses him. I don’t understand why we couldn’t have been present for these conversations to at least get a sense of why they liked each other. I mean I finished the book and I don’t think I can tell you any character traits that Morgan has. What does he like/dislike? Why does he like Magda? Similarly, why do Klees and Sanja like Magda? What do they talk about other than relevant plot points when they see each other?
- The plot: I feel that the plot was sacrificed for the sake of trying to bring Magda and Morgan together, but as I mentioned above, this was lacklustre. Magda is awaiting trial for committing illegal abortions, so you think that she would at least reflect on this a little, but not once in the book does she do this. There are also other concepts introduced such as the “doomsingers” but their goal is not explained. They seem like they are meant to be puritanical, but I genuinely have no idea what their end goal was, so there was no payoff for introducing them. There are also several time jumps that are hand waved away because again we don’t actually get to see anything that happens. There are a few scenes that I felt could have had an emotional impact but are skipped over and told to us later. I won’t spoil it, but something happens towards the end which is a huge deal and would be devastating to Magda and Morgan and we just jump ahead 3 months and Magda says her memory is “hazy” regarding this event. I should have been there damn it! Now why should I care about it when I didn’t even get to see it play out?
- Magda and Morgan’s relationship: I won’t rehash what I said above about the development of their relationship, but I do want to specify that I found their relationship distasteful. This man can quite literally send her back to prison with one word and they both acknowledge this power imbalance, but Magda never seems to take it seriously. They even role play as captor and captive where Magda says she’s “playing at being subjugated”. MAGDA YOU ARE QUITE LITERALLY SUBJUGATED!! THERE IS NO PLAYING WHEN THIS IS YOUR REALITY! Morgan also asks for consent and Magda praises him for this “kindness” multiple times. Wow our bare minimum king! I also never want my eyes to come across the words “molten hollow” ever again. Both of them are dumb as rocks when it comes to being secretive about their relationship. Like their relationship is supposed to be a bad thing since he is a priest and she is a heathen but does that stop them from being seen together in public places? Nope!
Overall, I’m not really sure who this book is for. I don’t think it’s for people interested in reading about reproductive rights in fantasy settings, but I also don’t think it’s for romantasy fans since they will likely be disappointed in the ending and lack of tension between the characters. I truly appreciate what the author wanted to do, and discussing reproductive rights and portraying it in media is so important. Unfortunately as a story it just didn’t work to make this impact.
I went into this book with high hopes but unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. What I expected was the story of a woman staunchly fighting for the reproductive rights of women. In reality, any discussion of abortion came as an afterthought to the development of a romance between Magda and Morgan.
I’ll start with what I liked:
- The friendship between Magda and her childhood friend Jula. Jula was extremely supportive of Magda and I appreciated seeing Magda’s platonic relationships.
- Some of the secondary characters like Cass and Tisza seemed to have fairly developed personalities, although I do wish we could have gotten more from others like Sanja and Klees.
Now for my dislikes:
- The magic system: This is poorly explained and I’m still not sure if I entirely understand it. It seems like everyone has the ability to at least cast simple spells but that not everyone is taught how to/maybe don’t even know that they can? This magic either is or is believed to be imbued into humans by the gods. There can also be “miracles” which are thought to be divine magical interventions of the gods. My qualm with this belief that magic is god-gifted is that wouldn’t this make all magical acts sacrosanct? So if Magda uses her god-given magic to perform abortions, how can that be considered a crime? There is a reference to Magda using “black magic”, but it is never explained what black magic is supposed to be.
- The prose: This was written in third person present tense which is not my preference. At times I also found myself having difficulty parsing what I was reading, though this seemed to get better as the book went along.
- The relationship development: I’m not even just referring to the romantic relationship here because I found nearly all of them to be lacking and a lot of this has to do with the authors choice to do a lot of telling rather than showing. For example, there is one scene about halfway through the book where Magda is missing Morgan since he is away. In this scene she says that they spoke every day and she often dined with him. However, from the readers POV I think we have seen maybe five interactions at this point? Either way, not enough for the reader to understand or care why Magda misses him. I don’t understand why we couldn’t have been present for these conversations to at least get a sense of why they liked each other. I mean I finished the book and I don’t think I can tell you any character traits that Morgan has. What does he like/dislike? Why does he like Magda? Similarly, why do Klees and Sanja like Magda? What do they talk about other than relevant plot points when they see each other?
- The plot: I feel that the plot was sacrificed for the sake of trying to bring Magda and Morgan together, but as I mentioned above, this was lacklustre. Magda is awaiting trial for committing illegal abortions, so you think that she would at least reflect on this a little, but not once in the book does she do this. There are also other concepts introduced such as the “doomsingers” but their goal is not explained. They seem like they are meant to be puritanical, but I genuinely have no idea what their end goal was, so there was no payoff for introducing them. There are also several time jumps that are hand waved away because again we don’t actually get to see anything that happens. There are a few scenes that I felt could have had an emotional impact but are skipped over and told to us later. I won’t spoil it, but something happens towards the end which is a huge deal and would be devastating to Magda and Morgan and we just jump ahead 3 months and Magda says her memory is “hazy” regarding this event. I should have been there damn it! Now why should I care about it when I didn’t even get to see it play out?
- Magda and Morgan’s relationship: I won’t rehash what I said above about the development of their relationship, but I do want to specify that I found their relationship distasteful. This man can quite literally send her back to prison with one word and they both acknowledge this power imbalance, but Magda never seems to take it seriously. They even role play as captor and captive where Magda says she’s “playing at being subjugated”. MAGDA YOU ARE QUITE LITERALLY SUBJUGATED!! THERE IS NO PLAYING WHEN THIS IS YOUR REALITY! Morgan also asks for consent and Magda praises him for this “kindness” multiple times. Wow our bare minimum king! I also never want my eyes to come across the words “molten hollow” ever again. Both of them are dumb as rocks when it comes to being secretive about their relationship. Like their relationship is supposed to be a bad thing since he is a priest and she is a heathen but does that stop them from being seen together in public places? Nope!
Overall, I’m not really sure who this book is for. I don’t think it’s for people interested in reading about reproductive rights in fantasy settings, but I also don’t think it’s for romantasy fans since they will likely be disappointed in the ending and lack of tension between the characters. I truly appreciate what the author wanted to do, and discussing reproductive rights and portraying it in media is so important. Unfortunately as a story it just didn’t work to make this impact.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5*
ARC provided by Netgalley.
Non-spoiler section
I am having trouble rating this one as it is certainly more like a 3.75*, close to a 4 but not quite; but I cannot in good conscience change my rating system just for one book (i.e., my rule of rounding down)!
I want to start by saying the prose and quality of the writing itself is an absolute 5*. I would be extremely interested in reading any further books that Moran writes, especially as she grows as a writer since this is her debut novel.
That being said, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a book that just needed a bit more time in the oven.
As mentioned above, the prose is the strongest part of the book. We are told the story through third-person present tense, which I don't find often, but it really lended itself towards the type of story Moran was telling. The use of what I like to call "old-timey speak" (think Bridgerton-esque writing and dialogue) suited the time period well, said time period being a sort of medieval fantasy setting. I particularly enjoyed looking up some new words and adding them to my vocabulary!
The first chapter drops us in when Magda has already been accused and is about to be sent up North as a ward of The Lord Proctor, rather than await trial in prison, helped by her contacts in the law (aka her best friend). For me this setup made sense and wasn't too far-fetched despite the "heinous" crime of black magic she had committed.
I like that Moran starts giving us bits and pieces of the world and the lore from page one and allows us as the reader to gather and parse that information ourselves. I find so many books these days don't trust the intelligence of the reader and do a lot of telling rather than showing; Moran does the opposite. I found this for the information about the gods, the houses/setup of lawmakers and the history of women in Astoleyn.
I also like that this book is centred around women, and women's issues. It isn't subtle about its real-world mirroring, but it isn't heavy handed either. It reminds me of the early reboot Doctor Who episodes in that regard. I very much enjoyed the spotlight on abortion rights, particularly with Roe v Wade being a thing, and in general womens' rights (to go to school, to work, to be anything but a wife).
Unfortunately past the first third of the novel it felt like the purpose of the book started to get confused. There is a love interest but it feels love at first sight-y since they barely interact in the book before suddenly they are realising they are in love with one another. There is less focus on the trial and/or the original reason of abortions and more on the love interest, but that part feels rushed; and then out of nowhere the trial is here after timeskips.
The book is only 460ish pages. That is not very long for a standalone novel, in my opinion. There was a lot more that could have been fleshed out with the abortion side of things; most of that part had happened off-page and before the book began. The book was also split into three "books", each with a part; there's certainly not enough pages of story to warrant this! I wanted more fleshed out about the gods (considering their role, I'll speak about this in the spoiler section), the Houses, even more time spent with the love interest that actually established more reason for them to be in love and for certain things to happen in the last part of the book (again, will discuss more in the spoiler section).
Overall the story needed more structure and less characters. I think at least four or five characters could have been cut for the sake of rounding out the others and it would not have made a lick of difference to the story. (See: Cass, Klees, Sanja, Rowena, any number of the "lords" at the Cairn).
I will repeat though, I will keep an eye on this author for further books as the writing style itself was spectacular, one of my favourites I have ever read.
Spoiler zone
I do take issue with several plot points in this book.
The main one being the Deus Ex Machina that was the deal with the Hermitess that Morgan made at the end.
There was absolutely no guarantee that the crowd would see Magda not burning as a sign from the gods/a miracle/as proof she is a saint. She is already accused of black magic; surely someone, anyone in the crowd, even the HUGE amount of Doomsingers would try and spin it as black magic or accuse her of it? Therefore rendering Morgan's sacrifice useless. This seems like a gaping plothole to me that I simply cannot get past.
Speaking of the Doomsingers, this plot point went absolutely nowhere. They were simply a vehicle for the dock to break in the middle of the book, and that was all. Nothing happened with Morgan’s father either. And at the end of the book they were just… hand-waved away. They seemed pretty scary to me? But sure I guess it’ll be fine now Magda is pardoned (except they were a big thing in the North before anything to do with Magda even happened..?)
Is there actually a reason the Hermitess comes to the city other than to hang around? I don't understand what the actual reason is, if she is Genka, for her to just sit in the bolt hole and refuse to tell people's fortunes. Why is the Lord Proctor beholden to her? I needed a stronger reason for this to even be a thing. This is where fleshing out the stories of the gods would have come in clutch.
"House of the Goose" is mentioned, as well as another house I forget the name of. This is only mentioned once or twice and never again; never explained, no further information. This information seemed like dead words, it could have been cut and it would not have affected the story at all.
At one point Rowena mentions Morgan is Tisza's brother, in front of Cass. A few pages prior, Cass has only been given the information that Morgan is "helping" Tisza - and he doesn't react to the information when Rowena reveals it - so I can only assume this is a continuity error.
The love story annoyed me because I was very much invested and interested in them as a couple. They had the few dreams together (which were exquisitely written), but then suddenly the Mother of Severine house is accusing Magda of bewitching Morgan and saying he's in love with her. A few chapters later Magda "realises" she is in love with him. I absolutely do not believe that within a few months someone could be in love with someone (without being in an established relationship). They spent two dreams together and otherwise mainly avoided each other - they had barely interacted in the book, even despite the timeskip between part 1 and 2! I was sorely disappointed in the way this was written, as even a small change as describing it as "starting" to fall in love or anything less than that would have saved it but I am just too skeptical.
Morgan needed more time on his own on-page to be fleshed out. We saw glimpses of it when he and Magda spoke, and more was revealed about his father, his disposition etc. but it just wasn't enough. I didn't feel enough for the characters.
I did like that he made the sacrifice for her, and they didn’t end up together. We need more books that aren’t just a happily ever after. But it did feel unsatisfying considering the insta-loveyness; I didn’t feel the weight of the sacrifice that heavily at all. He also didn’t need to be quite so much of a dick to her at the end.
I can't lie I was disappointed the direction the book went in and I did find myself reluctant to pick it up once I reached halfway. The only thing that kept me going was the prose and the hope it was just a slow middle and would pick up.
I've got quite strong opinions on this one but I do want to say that 3.5* is a very good rating for me! I would recommend people to give it a go as long as they don't go into it expecting something very political or a hard magic system, or really a lot of plot; this book is more prose and vibes, with some commentary on womens' rights as the baseline.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
Non-spoiler section
I am having trouble rating this one as it is certainly more like a 3.75*, close to a 4 but not quite; but I cannot in good conscience change my rating system just for one book (i.e., my rule of rounding down)!
I want to start by saying the prose and quality of the writing itself is an absolute 5*. I would be extremely interested in reading any further books that Moran writes, especially as she grows as a writer since this is her debut novel.
That being said, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a book that just needed a bit more time in the oven.
As mentioned above, the prose is the strongest part of the book. We are told the story through third-person present tense, which I don't find often, but it really lended itself towards the type of story Moran was telling. The use of what I like to call "old-timey speak" (think Bridgerton-esque writing and dialogue) suited the time period well, said time period being a sort of medieval fantasy setting. I particularly enjoyed looking up some new words and adding them to my vocabulary!
The first chapter drops us in when Magda has already been accused and is about to be sent up North as a ward of The Lord Proctor, rather than await trial in prison, helped by her contacts in the law (aka her best friend). For me this setup made sense and wasn't too far-fetched despite the "heinous" crime of black magic she had committed.
I like that Moran starts giving us bits and pieces of the world and the lore from page one and allows us as the reader to gather and parse that information ourselves. I find so many books these days don't trust the intelligence of the reader and do a lot of telling rather than showing; Moran does the opposite. I found this for the information about the gods, the houses/setup of lawmakers and the history of women in Astoleyn.
I also like that this book is centred around women, and women's issues. It isn't subtle about its real-world mirroring, but it isn't heavy handed either. It reminds me of the early reboot Doctor Who episodes in that regard. I very much enjoyed the spotlight on abortion rights, particularly with Roe v Wade being a thing, and in general womens' rights (to go to school, to work, to be anything but a wife).
Unfortunately past the first third of the novel it felt like the purpose of the book started to get confused. There is a love interest but it feels love at first sight-y since they barely interact in the book before suddenly they are realising they are in love with one another. There is less focus on the trial and/or the original reason of abortions and more on the love interest, but that part feels rushed; and then out of nowhere the trial is here after timeskips.
The book is only 460ish pages. That is not very long for a standalone novel, in my opinion. There was a lot more that could have been fleshed out with the abortion side of things; most of that part had happened off-page and before the book began. The book was also split into three "books", each with a part; there's certainly not enough pages of story to warrant this! I wanted more fleshed out about the gods (considering their role, I'll speak about this in the spoiler section), the Houses, even more time spent with the love interest that actually established more reason for them to be in love and for certain things to happen in the last part of the book (again, will discuss more in the spoiler section).
Overall the story needed more structure and less characters. I think at least four or five characters could have been cut for the sake of rounding out the others and it would not have made a lick of difference to the story. (See: Cass, Klees, Sanja, Rowena, any number of the "lords" at the Cairn).
I will repeat though, I will keep an eye on this author for further books as the writing style itself was spectacular, one of my favourites I have ever read.
Spoiler zone
I do take issue with several plot points in this book.
The main one being the Deus Ex Machina that was the deal with the Hermitess that Morgan made at the end.
There was absolutely no guarantee that the crowd would see Magda not burning as a sign from the gods/a miracle/as proof she is a saint. She is already accused of black magic; surely someone, anyone in the crowd, even the HUGE amount of Doomsingers would try and spin it as black magic or accuse her of it? Therefore rendering Morgan's sacrifice useless. This seems like a gaping plothole to me that I simply cannot get past.
Speaking of the Doomsingers, this plot point went absolutely nowhere. They were simply a vehicle for the dock to break in the middle of the book, and that was all. Nothing happened with Morgan’s father either. And at the end of the book they were just… hand-waved away. They seemed pretty scary to me? But sure I guess it’ll be fine now Magda is pardoned (except they were a big thing in the North before anything to do with Magda even happened..?)
Is there actually a reason the Hermitess comes to the city other than to hang around? I don't understand what the actual reason is, if she is Genka, for her to just sit in the bolt hole and refuse to tell people's fortunes. Why is the Lord Proctor beholden to her? I needed a stronger reason for this to even be a thing. This is where fleshing out the stories of the gods would have come in clutch.
"House of the Goose" is mentioned, as well as another house I forget the name of. This is only mentioned once or twice and never again; never explained, no further information. This information seemed like dead words, it could have been cut and it would not have affected the story at all.
At one point Rowena mentions Morgan is Tisza's brother, in front of Cass. A few pages prior, Cass has only been given the information that Morgan is "helping" Tisza - and he doesn't react to the information when Rowena reveals it - so I can only assume this is a continuity error.
The love story annoyed me because I was very much invested and interested in them as a couple. They had the few dreams together (which were exquisitely written), but then suddenly the Mother of Severine house is accusing Magda of bewitching Morgan and saying he's in love with her. A few chapters later Magda "realises" she is in love with him. I absolutely do not believe that within a few months someone could be in love with someone (without being in an established relationship). They spent two dreams together and otherwise mainly avoided each other - they had barely interacted in the book, even despite the timeskip between part 1 and 2! I was sorely disappointed in the way this was written, as even a small change as describing it as "starting" to fall in love or anything less than that would have saved it but I am just too skeptical.
Morgan needed more time on his own on-page to be fleshed out. We saw glimpses of it when he and Magda spoke, and more was revealed about his father, his disposition etc. but it just wasn't enough. I didn't feel enough for the characters.
I did like that he made the sacrifice for her, and they didn’t end up together. We need more books that aren’t just a happily ever after. But it did feel unsatisfying considering the insta-loveyness; I didn’t feel the weight of the sacrifice that heavily at all. He also didn’t need to be quite so much of a dick to her at the end.
I can't lie I was disappointed the direction the book went in and I did find myself reluctant to pick it up once I reached halfway. The only thing that kept me going was the prose and the hope it was just a slow middle and would pick up.
I've got quite strong opinions on this one but I do want to say that 3.5* is a very good rating for me! I would recommend people to give it a go as long as they don't go into it expecting something very political or a hard magic system, or really a lot of plot; this book is more prose and vibes, with some commentary on womens' rights as the baseline.
September 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC!
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow by Caitriona Moran will release on November 3rd, 2026.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a romantasy in which Magdalena Overmorrow is arrested for her work helping women by performing forbidden abortions after someone close to her betrays her. She is banished to the realm’s northernmost city as a witch, where she awaits trial under the guardianship of the Lord Proctor — a beautiful man not much older than she is.
Firstly, I don’t know how I feel about present tense use in this book but that’s a me problem and I won’t knock the book for that (I had a similar issue with The God and the Gumiho). I noticed a few errors in the arc but beyond my thing with the present tense I like the actual prose.
I think the marketing for this books is inaccurate. There is not a huge focus on an active plot beyond the romance. Although it is marketed for fantasy curious romantasy readers and romantasy curious fantasy readers, it really really feels like just romantasy as it doesn’t place any emphasis on the magic system (like we basically don’t know anything about it, there is no real explanation anywhere) and the world building is pretty minimal. It’s pretty much just the romance.
This was also marketed as enemies to lovers but I don’t really think they were ever enemies. Magda is cautious of him in the beginning due to the power he has over her and the image of him she has built on her own, but neither of them actually ever appears to dislike each other in a way that suggests enemies. If anything this is like lovers to enemies LOL. Strangers to lovers to enemies to strangers again, which is also important to note for people expecting them to end up together.
This book also definitely hits some common romance tropes like There Was Only One Bed (not in a bad way). Some of the commentary in this definitely feels like Barbie in the way that it is intro to feminism but I generally appreciate the viewpoints and the point of this book isn’t really to expound on the nuances of such topics.
I lowkey don’t really think the romance is paced well but maybe it’s just me. I also think there are issues with introducing what seems like significant elements happening in the plot that have absolutely no payoff. For example, I think there isn’t enough focus on the Doomsinger conflict with how dangerous they are built up to seem. Or with seeing Morgan and Tisza’s evil ass dad and him being a part of the Doomsingers (although there is a point to be made that extremely religious people are also sometimes hypocritical, terrible people). There is also no payoff with Magda teaching Tisza and Cass magic. I thought maybe something would happen in which either/or would have to use their magic to help, but nothing happens beyond them just learning magic. I also think that the existence of magic in general and certain people’s capacity for magic were not utilized enough. Like Morgan has magic, but what can he do with it beyond drawing some symbols to heal Magda and giving it up? Also the prince dying leaving the kingdom with an old, ailing king and no heirs is pretty important but it’s just mentioned and nothing happens with it in the end.
It also appears that the religious system (and Magdalena of course) was inspired pretty heavily by Christianity. This also means that this is doing some pretty heavy lifting for the religion in this world — I think it relies a little too much on people having some background knowledge of Christianity sometimes, but it definitely works as a critique on the culture surrounding Christianity. On that note, this book reminded me of how much I hate the shaming aspect of religions and how much it can hurt people.
Something that was interesting to me was the mention of the moretta masks — masks held in place by the user, traditionally a woman, biting a button attached to the mask between teeth, thereby silencing them — by the council at Magda’s trial who are definitely not women. I’m not really sure if it was just used as a fun aesthetic or if it was on purpose to silence the men for once.
I don’t think I’m exactly the target audience for this specific romance dynamic (priest and heretic essentially, something something corruption) but it is buzzy so I get it. The prose also made the overall reading experience pleasant. Although I had my issues with this book, it is a solid debut that will definitely find its intended audience, and I would still check out books by this author in the future as I do think there’s a lot of great potential.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow by Caitriona Moran will release on November 3rd, 2026.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a romantasy in which Magdalena Overmorrow is arrested for her work helping women by performing forbidden abortions after someone close to her betrays her. She is banished to the realm’s northernmost city as a witch, where she awaits trial under the guardianship of the Lord Proctor — a beautiful man not much older than she is.
Firstly, I don’t know how I feel about present tense use in this book but that’s a me problem and I won’t knock the book for that (I had a similar issue with The God and the Gumiho). I noticed a few errors in the arc but beyond my thing with the present tense I like the actual prose.
I think the marketing for this books is inaccurate. There is not a huge focus on an active plot beyond the romance. Although it is marketed for fantasy curious romantasy readers and romantasy curious fantasy readers, it really really feels like just romantasy as it doesn’t place any emphasis on the magic system (like we basically don’t know anything about it, there is no real explanation anywhere) and the world building is pretty minimal. It’s pretty much just the romance.
This was also marketed as enemies to lovers but I don’t really think they were ever enemies. Magda is cautious of him in the beginning due to the power he has over her and the image of him she has built on her own, but neither of them actually ever appears to dislike each other in a way that suggests enemies. If anything this is like lovers to enemies LOL. Strangers to lovers to enemies to strangers again, which is also important to note for people expecting them to end up together.
This book also definitely hits some common romance tropes like There Was Only One Bed (not in a bad way). Some of the commentary in this definitely feels like Barbie in the way that it is intro to feminism but I generally appreciate the viewpoints and the point of this book isn’t really to expound on the nuances of such topics.
I lowkey don’t really think the romance is paced well but maybe it’s just me. I also think there are issues with introducing what seems like significant elements happening in the plot that have absolutely no payoff. For example, I think there isn’t enough focus on the Doomsinger conflict with how dangerous they are built up to seem. Or with seeing Morgan and Tisza’s evil ass dad and him being a part of the Doomsingers (although there is a point to be made that extremely religious people are also sometimes hypocritical, terrible people). There is also no payoff with Magda teaching Tisza and Cass magic. I thought maybe something would happen in which either/or would have to use their magic to help, but nothing happens beyond them just learning magic. I also think that the existence of magic in general and certain people’s capacity for magic were not utilized enough. Like Morgan has magic, but what can he do with it beyond drawing some symbols to heal Magda and giving it up? Also the prince dying leaving the kingdom with an old, ailing king and no heirs is pretty important but it’s just mentioned and nothing happens with it in the end.
It also appears that the religious system (and Magdalena of course) was inspired pretty heavily by Christianity. This also means that this is doing some pretty heavy lifting for the religion in this world — I think it relies a little too much on people having some background knowledge of Christianity sometimes, but it definitely works as a critique on the culture surrounding Christianity. On that note, this book reminded me of how much I hate the shaming aspect of religions and how much it can hurt people.
Something that was interesting to me was the mention of the moretta masks — masks held in place by the user, traditionally a woman, biting a button attached to the mask between teeth, thereby silencing them — by the council at Magda’s trial who are definitely not women. I’m not really sure if it was just used as a fun aesthetic or if it was on purpose to silence the men for once.
I don’t think I’m exactly the target audience for this specific romance dynamic (priest and heretic essentially, something something corruption) but it is buzzy so I get it. The prose also made the overall reading experience pleasant. Although I had my issues with this book, it is a solid debut that will definitely find its intended audience, and I would still check out books by this author in the future as I do think there’s a lot of great potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For performing unlawful abortions, Magdalena Overmorrow is set to be tried for black magic and heresy. She is placed under house arrest in Cair Gramora under the watch of the Lord Proctor, and one misstep will send her back to prison to await her upcoming trial.
I adored this book! This is a character-driven novel, first and foremost, about one woman’s fight against the institutions in power to protect women. Magda is a stubborn, witty woman who holds fast to her principles in the face of adversity, even when she is terrified. An absolutely delightful older protagonist with all the cleverness and heart I adore, she plays perfectly off the reserved yet compassionate Lord Proctor. The author struck the perfect balance with their dynamic, each of them unlearning their preconceptions about each other and understanding each other's worlds. The writing is beautiful without being flowery, and the writing really shines when the author switches to first person in the various letters scattered throughout the novel.
Be warned, this book does not pull its punches. Magda is subjected to so much herself, to say nothing of the terrible circumstances of the women she aids. But this is ultimately a hopeful book that believes in the goodness of people and a future of progress, as long as we keep fighting.
I laughed, I cried, and I silently screamed several times while reading this. That’s about as much of a ringing endorsement as I am physically capable of making!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
I adored this book! This is a character-driven novel, first and foremost, about one woman’s fight against the institutions in power to protect women. Magda is a stubborn, witty woman who holds fast to her principles in the face of adversity, even when she is terrified. An absolutely delightful older protagonist with all the cleverness and heart I adore, she plays perfectly off the reserved yet compassionate Lord Proctor. The author struck the perfect balance with their dynamic, each of them unlearning their preconceptions about each other and understanding each other's worlds. The writing is beautiful without being flowery, and the writing really shines when the author switches to first person in the various letters scattered throughout the novel.
Be warned, this book does not pull its punches. Magda is subjected to so much herself, to say nothing of the terrible circumstances of the women she aids. But this is ultimately a hopeful book that believes in the goodness of people and a future of progress, as long as we keep fighting.
I laughed, I cried, and I silently screamed several times while reading this. That’s about as much of a ringing endorsement as I am physically capable of making!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
September 29, 2026
what an amazing underrated read omg review to come!!!
MORGAN AND MADGA 4EVER
MORGAN AND MADGA 4EVER
October 2, 2026
“Isn’t it strange, that the healing arts only become black magic when they are applied to women’s bodies?”
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow was beautiful and it’s a hard book to properly convey. The writing, the setting, the characters, and the commentary on women’s health and autonomy was 5 stars. But the pacing and the way this story is told, unfolding the past as we slog through the present dropped my rating.
The book is wrapped in a cold and foreboding atmosphere, a trial bound to kill the main character on the horizon, but with a message so strong. The contents of this book, the questions asked and the situations that arise- are so akin to things we see today in the treatment of women in society and in medicine.
I find the publishing of this book to at a perfect timing, when in my country and in so many others, women’s healthcare rights being in limbo, unable to make their own decisions for their bodies, still living in a society where we are not equal.
This book is (purposefully) slow paced, it’s on the day to day life of the main character while she awaits her trial in exile. This is split into three distinct parts and it is only the final last 20% that the actual trial takes place. Which definitely hadn’t been what I expected going into this book.
However, I think this was too long even as I enjoyed the general cast of characters and appreciated this book. Even though I completely understand what the author sought out to do by having it be written the way it was, for me it went back and forth between working and dragging on. Letting us get to know Magda whilst she makes new relations and we see letters from the women she’d helped over the years. But, it lulled at times, having so many mini plot lines I didn’t see the point of, sadly I was getting bored at times. It’s hard with such beautiful, impactful writing to give this a lower rating than I’d have liked.
Because it came to a point where I felt “can we get on to this trial please?”, I didn’t enjoy much of the build up from middle of the book to the end. The romance in this is slow, nor is it the focus by any means. I liked the characters separately but it wasn’t until the end that I actually felt the romantic pull between them. The first book and the last book were my favorite parts. The final 20% is SO good.
To end, this is a duology! I went into it thinking it was a standalone and finished like… what?🤣 Luckily, this doesn’t end on a crazy cliffhanger, more like some side conflicts were kept in limbo. I will be reading book 2.
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley*
US publishing date: Nov. 3rd 2026
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow was beautiful and it’s a hard book to properly convey. The writing, the setting, the characters, and the commentary on women’s health and autonomy was 5 stars. But the pacing and the way this story is told, unfolding the past as we slog through the present dropped my rating.
The book is wrapped in a cold and foreboding atmosphere, a trial bound to kill the main character on the horizon, but with a message so strong. The contents of this book, the questions asked and the situations that arise- are so akin to things we see today in the treatment of women in society and in medicine.
I find the publishing of this book to at a perfect timing, when in my country and in so many others, women’s healthcare rights being in limbo, unable to make their own decisions for their bodies, still living in a society where we are not equal.
This book is (purposefully) slow paced, it’s on the day to day life of the main character while she awaits her trial in exile. This is split into three distinct parts and it is only the final last 20% that the actual trial takes place. Which definitely hadn’t been what I expected going into this book.
However, I think this was too long even as I enjoyed the general cast of characters and appreciated this book. Even though I completely understand what the author sought out to do by having it be written the way it was, for me it went back and forth between working and dragging on. Letting us get to know Magda whilst she makes new relations and we see letters from the women she’d helped over the years. But, it lulled at times, having so many mini plot lines I didn’t see the point of, sadly I was getting bored at times. It’s hard with such beautiful, impactful writing to give this a lower rating than I’d have liked.
Because it came to a point where I felt “can we get on to this trial please?”, I didn’t enjoy much of the build up from middle of the book to the end. The romance in this is slow, nor is it the focus by any means. I liked the characters separately but it wasn’t until the end that I actually felt the romantic pull between them. The first book and the last book were my favorite parts. The final 20% is SO good.
To end, this is a duology! I went into it thinking it was a standalone and finished like… what?🤣 Luckily, this doesn’t end on a crazy cliffhanger, more like some side conflicts were kept in limbo. I will be reading book 2.
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley*
US publishing date: Nov. 3rd 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“It is much easier to continue on living the lie, to ignore what’s wrong and maybe one day forget it’s wrong at all, than to realize that an error has been set into the very foundation and cannot be extricated without bringing down the whole.” -416
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a well-written, heavy book focused on Magda’s 9 months leading up to her trial. I do think the 9 months is purposeful as it is the same amount of time as a human pregnancy. Charged for black magic after helping a woman lose her baby, Magda is sent north with the help of her lawyer friend, Jula, to be in the care of the Head Proctor, known to be unemotional and ruthless.
I think the world is well built, the writing is straightforward to understand and fits the historical fantasy backdrop. My favorite aspect was the magic system, how it involved strong knowledge of plants and natural resources as well as runes/symbols for magic. It helped the story feel more authentic to its historical setting and helps relate to humanity’s history where women who knew the medical uses of plants were sometimes considered witches and burned. This book is also highly political as the author’s note explains it was written as a reaction to Roe v Wade’s being overturned, and the constant commentary of men using women as scapegoats for their problems, pushing them down and removing their ability to learn and have autonomy reflects that.
Magda is quite a compelling character, but I was less sure about the romance between her and High Proctor Morgan. That could be personal as I don’t really like Priest love interests, and when we get a chapter fully from Morgan’s perspective towards the end it was quite long and meandering, and not as compelling as Magda’s POV.
This is technically the first in a duology. However, it wraps up all its plot lines within this story and does not have a cliffhanger, so I suspect I may leave this series here and treat it as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a well-written, heavy book focused on Magda’s 9 months leading up to her trial. I do think the 9 months is purposeful as it is the same amount of time as a human pregnancy. Charged for black magic after helping a woman lose her baby, Magda is sent north with the help of her lawyer friend, Jula, to be in the care of the Head Proctor, known to be unemotional and ruthless.
I think the world is well built, the writing is straightforward to understand and fits the historical fantasy backdrop. My favorite aspect was the magic system, how it involved strong knowledge of plants and natural resources as well as runes/symbols for magic. It helped the story feel more authentic to its historical setting and helps relate to humanity’s history where women who knew the medical uses of plants were sometimes considered witches and burned. This book is also highly political as the author’s note explains it was written as a reaction to Roe v Wade’s being overturned, and the constant commentary of men using women as scapegoats for their problems, pushing them down and removing their ability to learn and have autonomy reflects that.
Magda is quite a compelling character, but I was less sure about the romance between her and High Proctor Morgan. That could be personal as I don’t really like Priest love interests, and when we get a chapter fully from Morgan’s perspective towards the end it was quite long and meandering, and not as compelling as Magda’s POV.
This is technically the first in a duology. However, it wraps up all its plot lines within this story and does not have a cliffhanger, so I suspect I may leave this series here and treat it as a standalone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Magdalena Overmorrow has run afoul of the religious hierarchy of her city. She is a scholar and a healer who is known for helping women in a society that routinely abuses them. She is also a magic user and can enhance her herbal concoctions. She has been performing forbidden abortions.
Magdalena is arrested and sent to the far north until it is time for her trial which will likely result in her burning at the stake. In the north, she is put under the care of the Lord Proctor who is noted for his piety. She finds that he is a man of secrets and she falls in love with him. He seems to return her feelings until they are caught in a compromising position and he betrays her.
This was a huge complex fantasy which centers on Magdalena. While she is away, her friend Jula who is a lawyer is fighting to build a case to keep her from being burned. Correspondence from women Magdalena helped let the reader know more about her past actions and more about the culture she lives in.
I liked the magic. I liked Magdalena. I didn't like the rigidly religious society in the story.
Magdalena is arrested and sent to the far north until it is time for her trial which will likely result in her burning at the stake. In the north, she is put under the care of the Lord Proctor who is noted for his piety. She finds that he is a man of secrets and she falls in love with him. He seems to return her feelings until they are caught in a compromising position and he betrays her.
This was a huge complex fantasy which centers on Magdalena. While she is away, her friend Jula who is a lawyer is fighting to build a case to keep her from being burned. Correspondence from women Magdalena helped let the reader know more about her past actions and more about the culture she lives in.
I liked the magic. I liked Magdalena. I didn't like the rigidly religious society in the story.
October 4, 2026
2026 has been an incredible year for historical inspired fantasy, and The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow continues that trend. This book is certainly unique from a lot of other popular and recent publications, given its themes and central conceit. The writing is lovely, full of lush descriptions, despite the bleak environment and subject matter. The throughline is women’s rights, and consent is a theme throughout; this book is powerfully unflinching and unapologetic in these dangerous times, where we are faced with history like this and those who want to return to those dark days.
I could relate to Magda’s decision to be clever and cheerful no matter what, and found her an engaging protagonist/POV character. At times, however, I found her decisions frustrating, as her friend and attorney Jula did. But that makes her a realistic character--a strong woman, trying to do her best with the circumstances she’s been given, again, something I could profoundly relate to.
I was worried this book might hit on my own issues with religious trauma, but thankfully, it did not, rather showing the humanity of the church--both the beautiful and caring, and the ugly and prejudiced.
Despite it being on the longer side, I found this to be a quick read once I settled into it. By Magda’s trial, I was crying, and then started crying again reading the author’s acknowledgments.
Trigger warnings for imprisonment, misogyny, harassment referencing potential sexual assault, religious trauma/sin references, queerphobia, capital punishment/executions/burning alive, blood/abortions/childbirth, incest, suicidal ideation, rape (not of/by a main character, mentioned in a letter), torture.
Many thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
I could relate to Magda’s decision to be clever and cheerful no matter what, and found her an engaging protagonist/POV character. At times, however, I found her decisions frustrating, as her friend and attorney Jula did. But that makes her a realistic character--a strong woman, trying to do her best with the circumstances she’s been given, again, something I could profoundly relate to.
I was worried this book might hit on my own issues with religious trauma, but thankfully, it did not, rather showing the humanity of the church--both the beautiful and caring, and the ugly and prejudiced.
Despite it being on the longer side, I found this to be a quick read once I settled into it. By Magda’s trial, I was crying, and then started crying again reading the author’s acknowledgments.
Trigger warnings for imprisonment, misogyny, harassment referencing potential sexual assault, religious trauma/sin references, queerphobia, capital punishment/executions/burning alive, blood/abortions/childbirth, incest, suicidal ideation, rape (not of/by a main character, mentioned in a letter), torture.
Many thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Did Not Finish
October 7, 2026Writing style is so important to me and this just didn’t work for me. The story moved SLOW and I couldn’t connect to the characters at all. Also the romance wasn’t really giving anything - why did the characters even like each other?
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