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White Tree Coven : Tale of The Inn

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Seax Wiccan and demonologist Hadley Fernsby arrives back to her hometown, Wotton-Under-Edge in Gloucestershire, with her husband. After not being back since her mother was killed by a demon twenty years ago. Hadley is ready to inherit her mothers wealth and her long lost coven. Along the way they encounter new friendships as they soon realise the simple market town Hadley thought she knew has always kept deep dark secrets. Can love, friendship and magic be used to overcome what is lurking in the towns local inn.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2024

4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

About the author

Libby James

5 books26 followers
Just your average plant-based gothic pagan who enjoys reading and writing and always has her trusty pups by her side, as well as her crazy but loveable daughter. I currently turn my dreams — or some people might say nightmares — into novels and have released my first novel in October 2024.
My work follows the dark paranormal fantasy genre full of witches, demons, Norse gods and all things gothic.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for The_neurospicy_bookworm.
100 reviews11 followers
September 21, 2024
I totally fell in love with this book. It starts off with a lovely dedication which is aimed at everyone reading which was nice as it was relateable yet uplifting.
Then we begin the story, it starts off rather dark but we are introduced to a wholesome husband and wife dynamic which balances things out and this dynamic helps throughout the story. It is filled with mystery and intrigue from the get go and there is suspense throughout most of the book. There is beautiful artwork also throughout the book which was a nice little detail to add. You can really see how much the pagan faith means to the author with the way things are written, you can tell it is something close to the authors heart. The author also manages to seamlessly blend 'the real world' with fantasy so it makes the story relatable but also doesn't lose any of it's magical charm. The creepiness through the story is bone chilling. It makes your hair stand on end and I found myself holding my breath waiting for something bad to happen on numerous occasions. In the book there is also a beautiful story of a found family and just how amazing those relationships can be and how deep a connection people can make if they are open to it. The wholesome vibes really help balance out the darkness very well indeed. The ending ends on what I hope is a cliffhanger (I would love to know more about what happens next) although it could quite easily be a neatly wrapped up ending too. However, the ending completely broke me 😭 so much so that my husband asked if I was ok because I was sobbing hard and sniffling loudly as I was finishing the book 🙈 It was such an amazing read to get you into the spooky season and I want to thank Libby for the opportunity to be a part of her ARC team. I would highly recommend adding this to your TBR/preorder list if you love spooky, witchy reads. It is so worth the read and will keep you enthralled with every word 🤗💜
Profile Image for Nichole.
81 reviews3 followers
October 9, 2024
"This book of shadows is hereby blessed, for it is sacred above all rest. No curse nor hex shall see below, or they shall face quite a foe. Except mine, no eyes shall see. So merry, part, and blessed be."

White Tree Coven is the perfect read for October. Wow. The storyline, the spooky vibes, the hauntingly beautiful witchcraft moments, and the emotions I experienced while reading this book was 💯.

The story starts with Hadley and her childhood experience. She comes back to her hometown with her husband to live in the home she grew up in. She did not expect to encounter all that she did while moving back. Hadley and her husband, Jace, come across people who become family, and they are willing to do what it takes to end the demon that has taken over the Inn and haunts the town she has recently called home.

I love the characters and how they all come together to save the town from a ritual that has been going on for centuries. This is a mysterious, paranormal, spooky read with found family. The story gives The Craft vibes, and I love that!! There were moments when I felt nervous for the characters and moments I almost felt spooked. The overall story development was at a great pace, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

What a spooky, mysterious adventure Libby has taken us on with the Tale of the Inn. Libby's writing shows the passion she has in pagan faith. That ending had me sobbing in the worst and best possible way. I love how these characters felt real and how it felt like I was experiencing it with them. I recommend this story, especially during this time of year, and I am honored to be part of this team and be an ARC reader!
Profile Image for Melissa.
191 reviews22 followers
October 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you tell me a book has witches it's an automatic tbr for me! So when I came across Libby's White Tree Coven: Tale of The Inn I knew I had to read this and I can tell you I wasn't dissapointed!

It follows Hadley and Jace a demonoligist couple who move back to Hadley's hometown. When one day they discover a demon in the inn they are determined to help the owner Cindy and her son Marty. They can't keep living there so they move in with Hadley and Jace.

Together with Kerry - another witch in town who owns a store with witchy supplies - they try to discover what demon is haunting the inn and how to defeat it they come across dark secrets that the town's founding families have been hiding for centuries.

Will they unravel the truth and defeat the demon to rid the town of its haunting?

This book is all about magic, friendships and love, and will have you cry at least once guaranteed!
Profile Image for Hali Simmons.
184 reviews5 followers
October 6, 2024
I recently had the absolute pleasure of reading **Libby James’s "White Tree Coven: Tale of the Inn"** and I was completely captivated! Having missed this genre for some time, this book reignited my love for it. I couldn't put it down—leaving my light on last night was a must! Libby James masterfully brings the story to life, making me feel like I was right there with Hadley and her crew, delving into the mysteries of paranormal activity.

This book isn't just a read, it's an experience. I will purchase it, brag about it, and recommend it to everyone, because it is THAT GOOD! I truly hope Libby James continues this journey into a series, as I’ll be first in line to read and buy every single one!
Profile Image for littlesmuttyone.
244 reviews41 followers
October 5, 2024
The start of white tree coven was sad when Hadley lost her mother as I went into the journey with her and Jace I love how much they love eachother the way he knew what she needed when she was scared, nervous or upset he knew her best and they welcomed Cindy and Marty and Kerry they all needed eachother the friendships that were built and the sisterhood of Kerry, Cindy and Hadley was beautiful
Marty is such a sweet boy he has so many people that love and protect him. The fur babies chewy and kez aka nugget are so precious

The end broke my heart to be honest I cried
Profile Image for Lizzie.
332 reviews9 followers
September 15, 2025
This was the perfect read to enter into the fall season. This boon dove head first into the world of witchcraft with a very intricate attention to detail! The character art in the beginning was beautiful and I loved the diversity and realness of each person. While I wasn’t expecting such a sad ending I am excited to see where book two takes our sisters of the white tree coven!!
Profile Image for Caitlin.
894 reviews10 followers
June 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was out of my normal reading but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the perfect spooky read! We get found family, mystery/intrigue, paranormal.

The ending wrecked me but I would read it again.
Profile Image for Erica (gothicffee_raven).
12 reviews2 followers
October 27, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! If you're wanting a more spooky witch book then this is definitely for you! Do read the trigger warnings before reading! This book gave me The Craft vibes which I LOVE! I was so engaged from the very beginning, you get lore, mystery, paranormal, suspense and sinister vibes! Libby talks about pagan faith and it's so interesting to learn about it! It's definitely a must read!
Profile Image for Bookish_Rona.
132 reviews4 followers
February 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! For anyone that is looking for a darker, spooky read where pagan beliefs are very clearly and appropriately understood and represented, then this is the book for you!

The characters are so lovable, especially love Kerry 🖤 cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

This had mystery, suspense, supernatural evil, and found family. I loved the magic system as it felt real. The setting perfect, makes me want to go travel to this area the country lanes and small town vibes and old houses with history.

Fair warning you will be sobbing at the end but Libby has truly written an amazing novel so the tears are worth it!
Profile Image for Beth Flint.
135 reviews3 followers
December 10, 2021
Took me a couple of chapters to get into this mainly as I got fairly distracted by grammatical errors and missing words expecially early on in the story...nothing more proofreading couldn't resolve.

However once I got into it the story really drew me in and I demolished the book quickly and struggled to put it down. The author created likeable characters and wrote at a great pace with some great spine tinging moments. I ended up being hooked into the the story.

Looking forward to reading the next installment.
Profile Image for Scott "Joticle" Wilson.
9 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2021
I cannot give away anything, but I will say that I enjoy the storytelling and the plotline. Very descriptive and also informative along the way in all things occult. I will add to this once I have more time, but I wanted to ensure I got the five stars in because it was worth the read. Always support indie Authors, usually the most unique non-conforming storylines in these gems.
Profile Image for firebreathingb1tchqueen.
82 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2024
I had the absolute privilege to both beta and ARC read this book, and would like to thank the author for placing their trust in me!

If you’re looking for a witchy novel, steeped in haunting, sinister vibes, THIS is the book for you.
*Be advised there are elements that could be triggering for some, including but not limited to: loss of loved ones, possession, murder, harm of minors…*

Libby James’s tale of a dark, mysterious entity casting a pall of terror and despair over small market town, Wotton-Under-Edge, is chilling and beautifully written. (Fear not, the heaviness of the story is balanced first by a beautiful love between the FMC and her husband, and later by the acceptance and care of a found family!) As Hadley and her husband, Jace, return to Hadley’s hometown 20 years after her mother died while possessed by a demon, they discover there may be even more sinister secrets to uncover. I love the way the couple instantly and unflinchingly take in the owner of the local inn, Cindy, and her young son, Marty, when it is discovered that the inn is seemingly haunted by a malevolent spirit and her child victims of ages past. As the group work to uncover the source of the evil, they dig up chilling town secrets a group of locals would kill to keep buried. I found this element of the story to be absolutely creepy to the bone. Few things unnerve me more than the human ability to excuse inhumane acts for the sake of (insert unjustifiable reason here….) and James has a knack for driving this terrifying feeling home. On the flip side, I love the obvious care shown to representing the Pagan faith as Hadley, Cindy and a new friend, Kerry, come together to honor and practice this faith together to bring balance and peace into their lives. This story is full of trials of horror and celebrations of human connection in equal measure. The race to solve the mystery and save this town is masterfully done, and left me desperate to finish. (Even if I wasn’t prepared for the ending, which left me in tears.) This is a wonderful, emotional debut and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Booksnliftsdiary.
282 reviews8 followers
October 13, 2024
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5 (rounded up!)

“Tales of the Woman burnt at the Inn for Witchcraft”
1790, Gloucester Journal.

Hadley Fernsby, a Pagan witch and paranormal investigator, returns to her hometown of Gloucestershire with her husband, Jace, who has stood by her despite her troubled past. It’s been twenty years since her mother’s tragic death during a failed exorcism, and now Hadley is eager to reclaim her childhood home, complete with its sacred tree stump. Intrigued by the town’s history, they dive into old records and discover a diary brimming with dark secrets that could unveil the truth about her family. As Hadley forms new friendships, she must confront the sinister forces haunting the local inn. In this tangled web of ancient magic and hidden truths, she is left to wonder: can love, friendship, and magic break the cycle of curses, or will the shadow of death continue to cast its gloom for generations?

This book was an absolute page-turner, full of witchcraft, mystery, and a deep emotional punch! The stakes are incredibly high, and without spoiling anything, let’s just say the story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. It weaves together themes of love, loss, and magic in such a compelling way that I couldn’t put it down. Every twist kept me hooked, and the balance between supernatural intrigue and raw human emotion made this such a heartfelt and gripping read from start to finish! You’ll be feeling all the feels with this one.

A big thanks to Libby James for sending me a digital ARC of this book!

Release date: 10/16/2024.
Profile Image for Iris Acosta.
88 reviews3 followers
October 23, 2024
White Tree Coven: Tale Of The Inn by Libby James is a story about Jace and Hadley, a couple who also happen to be paranormal investigators. The story dives right in with Hadley coming back to her childhood home, where demonic possession took place. It quickly becomes evident that the people of the town have some reservations about interacting with the couple, believing them to be satanists. The prejudice that Jace and Hadley encounter due to their religious beliefs felt very real and relatable. I love that the author includes information about paganism, and really drives the idea that just because you may not understand something, doesn't mean its bad or "evil". Eventually Hadley and Jace encounter a mother and son who's Inn are being tormented by a demon. With the help of some friends, Jace and Hadley will do whatever it takes to stop it before anyone else gets hurt.

I enjoyed the pacing in this book, especially the beginning as it just dives right in with Hadley's traumatic childhood experience. The story is very intriguing as it weaves bits of historical fiction, and pagan elements, which you can tell are very near and dear to the author. I found myself researching some of the things mentioned so kudos to the author, anytime a author can teach me something new while also having the ability to keep me immersed in a story is an accomplishment. The characters are all very likeable, and I loved how the different personalities compliment each other as they become a family. The author touches on several important topics in this book such as bigotry and racism, and gives us a great example of religious fanaticism.

A great debut novel by Libby James that will keep you in suspense, and leave you saying wtf with that plot twist. Cant wait to see what other journeys are in store for The White Tree Coven. Thank you to Libby James for honoring me with this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Caylee Reading.
10 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2024
I had the extraordinary honour of being an ARC for White Tree Coven and as an avid reader and someone who follows Paganism and the Craft, it couldn't have been a better opportunity.

I loved this book and the way James weaves Magick & the Pagan faith into a tale of both fantasy and the "real world" - this is especially beautiful as a Pagan because the spellwork evident in the book and some of the practices mentioned are very much part of our daily lives. I found the description of spellwork and Magick to be just the right amount of reality but set in a way to make the read a true fantasy novel - very authentically done!🖤

Characters were well-written and showed enough difference from each other so that a variety of readers had someone to relate to. The baddie in my just loved Kerry 💜

& Without giving too much away, the ending 🥺 had me very in my feelings!

I can't wait to purchase the physical copy of this book and get the beautiful artwork included, in my hands. I really hope to read more of Libby James's work in the future and can't wait to see where this series will go... Once again thank you for this special opportunity and for casting a wonderful light into the world of Paganism, I truly believe this book will stimulate curiosity into our beautiful community and possibly lead to more Witches in the world (which can only be a good thing)! 🖤
Profile Image for Aubrey Cleeves.
175 reviews13 followers
December 7, 2021
I was immediately drawn to White Tree Coven: Tale of The Inn due to the location in Gloucestershire, which is not too far from where I live and is a place I have been to many times. I liked the premise of their being a supernatural entity within the town’s local inn, and how Libby James presented this throughout her book.

The main character, Hadley, is constantly tormented by her past but has moved on to build a normal life despite her earlier trauma. I liked how her past was told through flashbacks, including a very disturbing and vivid recollection of her mother’s haunting . All this made me sympathise and understand her character, and her motivations really came through in this book. The reason for Hadley’s actions were driven on a personal level as she confronted not only the thing that killed her mother but her own past.

The plot was well-structured, with moments of action interspersed with some calm and rationality. There was a direct effect on Hadley, who grew as a character as she discovered her new powers and abilities. The ending leaves room for expansion, so although I have some questions I am sure they will be answered in further books. In all honesty, I can’t wait to pick up the next one in the series.

The book could do with a bit more polish as I noted some ‘text language’ in the dialogue (i.e. ‘tho’) and simple grammatical errors throughout. I don’t mark this down though as it is a simple fix and did not break my immersion within this book.
Profile Image for Kay West.
149 reviews17 followers
October 5, 2024
I was excited to receive an ARC of White Tree Coven: Tale of the Inn! I really enjoyed this Witchy tale and getting to know Hadley, Jace, Kerry, Cindy, and little Marty! It was a perfect read for the beginning of spooky season! Some of the scenes had me gripping the covers tighter with eyes wide 👀 in suspense as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! Definitely has the spooky vibes going!

𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂:

Hadley had not been back to the small market town of Woten-Under-Edge in Gloucestershire since her mom had been killed by a demon 20 years ago. When Hadley returns with her husband Jace, they soon discover the town is hiding dark and sinister secrets. When their new friends, Cindy and her son Marty are in danger and believe their house is haunted they will be faced with the biggest challenges of their lives! Can love, and friendship, and magic overcome and banish the evil that lurks in the inn?

For more follow me on Insta at Caffienated.book.dragon!
Profile Image for Darkling Books.
133 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2024
White Tree Coven is a very different book to what I normally review. It’s been a nice little break. I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the adventure that was curated by author Libby James.

White Tree Coven: Tale Of The Inn is a paranormal fantasy that incorporates the occult, mystery, and suspense. It’s very clear that the author is well versed in the occult, and Her passion shines through in all aspects of her writing.


The story is creative, imaginative, and descriptive. Even though the story leads us down some dark paths, the love of the Coven shines throughout and that’s my favourite thing about this book, the bonding, the struggles of the characters and how the author pulls them together to create a wholesome family that is very much going to be the making of each character. I’m looking forward to seeing more about the witches within this story, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them
June 27, 2025
WHITE TREE COVEN REVIEW
By @libbyjaames

This books tropes and overall genre of book were totally new to me and let me just say, Libby did NOT disappoint! Her writing is just absolutely stunning, but my favorite part was how well Libby incorporated paganism and what it's like to be a part of something much greater than us- a coven.
(White Tree Coven was a magical mix of cute minimal (but enough for the type of book) romance between the main couple, ties into history, with horror and a sprinkle of mystery.
Hadley and Jace are the CUTEST and just made for each other, while Cindy and Marty are the embodiment of "if there's a will there's a way". Kerry will take the cake though as I relate to her spark and spunkiness.
Libby has climbed to my top favorite author, and I am so impatiently waiting for book 2's release in early November! This book is all the tropes listed and then some! A must read for witches and anyone interested
Profile Image for Phoenix Fyreheart.
75 reviews8 followers
August 30, 2025
I don't usually go for books like this, but it spoke to me and my neurospicy hyperfocused self devoured it in one sitting. I must admit I know nothing of Wicca and Paganism, but you can tell from the care taken in the writing that it means a lot to the author. You can feel how they connect to their story.

We start off with a childhood memory and a beautiful husband/wife dynamic that lasts the whole book long. The found family element is a nice touch, bringing light to an otherwise dark situation. A glimmer of hope in a town full of darkness, evil and secrets.

Realistic emotions perfectly back the plotlines and twists along the way, and the bittersweet conclusion is chef's kiss perfection for the ending! I'm thrilled to have found this story, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in their story!
Profile Image for aj.
151 reviews15 followers
October 16, 2024
this book, wow. it has the perfect mix of pretty much every type of emotion. it kept me on the edge of my seat, i found myself talking out loud about the characters and what they were going through LOL. my heart was broken & put back
together so many times for what these characters had to go through. every twist, every motivation to help, every character’s connection to the others, it was all beautiful. i’m not well educated on Pagan or Wiccan related things but there is so much explaining within the story that i truly felt like part of the coven from learning with everyone else. it didn’t feel too overly educational, it fit well into the storyline. i am SO excited to see what happens next because i feel so connected to these characters, their story, and their coven.
Profile Image for Caitlin Regencia.
66 reviews
August 6, 2025
Ghost, demons, and witches, oh my!

This story is gripping from beginning to end and gave me vibes that could be compared to The Conjuring and The Lady in Black. From found family to overcoming demons, (figurative and literal) this is a tale of courage and heartbreak that had me in tears and reading with the lights on.

My favorite quotes:

"...she knew she needed to leave the house, more evil had happened inside these walls than outside of them."

"She knew the townsfolk didn't believe the real story, she knew they didn't want to believe. Because if they did, they would be faced with powers that challenge humans in ways which they cannot always be protected from."

***Please read the trigger warnings.***

I loved this story, and cannot wait for book 2!
Profile Image for Ceira.
209 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2025
I enjoyed this book as it included a lot of elements of witch craft and was very accurate. This book was interesting and different to other books I have read as it was all about figuring out why children were being sacrificed and how to stop all of this from happening. I absolutely loved the community with the coven in this book and how more members were being added. I was shocked by the ending as I was not expecting to loose a good character within this book and intrigued to see the aftermath in the next book. At some points in this story (more of the beginning) I was a little lost as it was a lot to take in, but once my brain could piece everything together and I understood, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The author of this book is so lovely, I’m lucky to have contact with her and she is so creative, down to earth and such a lovely woman and I can see great potential for her as an author and love how her brain works. Everyone should read this book and get her out there! Can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Profile Image for Emery.
46 reviews8 followers
July 23, 2025
Paranormal entity? Check. Witches and covens? Check.

This story following Hadley, Kerry, Cindy, and Jace. Hadley comes back to her childhood town, and uncovers a dark secret. As her and Jace try to solve the issue and save Cindy and her son, they work together with Kerry and they all discover their true powers as a team.

The storyline and characters reminded me of practical magic, but still had a bit of gore in it. I did want a bit more, but it was still intriguing.

Overall, this was a fun read, and it had a unique story line, the minor characters stuck out as well and all the detailing was done great.
Profile Image for Amanda Rose.
197 reviews3 followers
September 5, 2025
There are many things I enjoyed about this book. It read as a horror movie & I literally had to stop reading one night during the first scary chapter I came across 🫣 throw in an ancient demonic being with a familiar, all things witchy & the utmost respect and care in detailing the Wiccan & Pagan aspects of the plot, this is a perfect fall/halloween read. I really loved the dynamics between all of the main characters and think the author created some real gems. Hadley & Jace’s relationship?! Absolutely dreamy how in tune and loving they are. Cindy? Loved her story arc and my gut twisted at what she went through, just wanting to protect her son. (Marty is so special!) Kerry? Perfect addition to their group, I especially loved a specific interaction she had with Marty. While all of this added to an enjoyable read, I did find myself having a bit of a hard time with the writing style. Some parts felt like information was just being echoed back to me, which felt redundant and ultimately brought me to my rating. I know many will thoroughly enjoy this paranormal tale though! There were many cozy moments of the characters trying their best to enjoy their everyday life & I appreciated that between the heavy material (children sacrifices - read those tw’s). Overall I was engrossed and read this at the perfect time to kick off spooky season.


**Thank you to the author, Libby James, for the opportunity to read an arc of book 1 after signing up for book 2 in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Spooks Reads it.
368 reviews29 followers
July 3, 2025
okay the ending of this book I was not okay !
but I found your next read for October it's full of spooky , sinister , vibes full of suspense that'll leave you saying just one more chapter! the emotions in this Hadley and Jace just didn't find friendship in this story they found their forever family an instant connection I absolutely love the paganism in this ! I love witchy things and spooky reads the authors writing was spooktacularly amazing! you feel like your one of the characters in the book 10/10 for me thank you for the arc opportunity! I can't wait to read more from Libby
Profile Image for Jennifer.
145 reviews5 followers
July 15, 2025
✨🖤White Tree Coven: Tale of The Inn🖤✨
Author: Libby James

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a great read!

If you are into the whole witchy vibe, this book is for you!

You will feel a lot of emotions going through this book. You fall in love with the characters, and watch them grow into the characters they turn out to be. There will be devastation, so make sure you have your emotional support item near by!

This was a completely different book than i usually read, but I was absolutely captivated by these characters and their story!

I can’t wait to read more on this Coven!!
71 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book! The plot was well structured and flashed out, the characters where well thought out and the relationships between them worked really well. There was quite a bit of background information about how/why the spells/rituals, other entities worked how they did which was nice, it felt like a more serious approach to paganism practices rather than just here's a scary thing and we chanted some words.
Profile Image for Kat M.
5,194 reviews18 followers
October 19, 2022
this was a great start to this horror series White Tree Coven, it had what I was looking for from the description. Libby James has a great writing style and I was hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to read more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1 review1 follower
September 25, 2024
Gods, i adored this story! The main character is strong, gorgeous, and relatable, and i couldn't put this book down. Its one of my first witchcraft reads, and it opened my eyes to an entirely new to me amazing genre! It's so thoroughly researched, and i can't wait to read the sequels! Libby shows her knowledge and heart in this stunning take on demons and loss and witches and love!
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