The Darkest Night

by Victoria Hawthorne

Some secrets last for generations . . .


A bewitching and haunting story of family secrets - and the lengths some will go to protect them.

When Ailsa Reid becomes the subject of a trial by media after an incident at the school where she works, she escapes to the comfort of her grandparents' house in Fife. But she arrives to find her grandmother, Moira - recently diagnosed with dementia - has gone missing, and her grandfather, Rupert, gravely injured.

Desperate to ensure Moira's safe return, Ailsa must rely on the help of her estranged mother, Rowan, who abandoned her at birth. Tensions simmer between the two women as they attempt to piece together the lead-up to Moira's disappearance.

But in order to move forward and find Moira, both Ailsa and Rowan must go back to the beginning; to a story about witches burned on the hill above the Reid house centuries ago, and the curse laid upon the women that came after. Can they break the bonds of history in time to save their family? Or will the Reid curse be their undoing?

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical, Witches, Fiction, Gothic, Mystery

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2024

About the author

This author is also published under the pen name Vikki Patis.

Victoria Hawthorne is an author of gothic historical fiction. Her debut novel, The House at Helygen, was published by Quercus in April 2022, and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.

She also writes psychological suspense with a gothic twist as Vikki Patis. Return to Blackwater House was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2022, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.

She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich mag es, wenn Bücher schräger, überraschender, in irgendeiner Weise anders sind, als ich es von ihnen erwartet habe. Bei “The Darkest Night” von Victoria Hawthorne habe ich einen irgendwie feministischen Suspense-Mystery-Roman mit Hexen erwartet. Zwar habe ich den auch bekommen, aber zusätzlich einen eingeflochtenen queeren Histo. In der Verganenheitshandlung geht es nämlich um die Liebe zweier Frauen im ländlichen Schottland der 1910er Jahre. Die eine ist die Vorfahrin der Jetztzeit-Protagonistin Alisa Reid, die als lehrerin an einer Privatschule arbeitet und in ziemlicher Aufgebrachtheit (warum, erfahren wir erst nach und nach) von London in ihren schottischen Heimatort reist, um bei ihren Großeltern zu sein, die sie aufgezogen haben. Doch ihre demente Großmutter Moira ist verschwunden, ihr Großvater wird gerade mit einer Kopfwunde von einem Krankenwagen abgeholt. Was ist vorgefallen? Hat ihre Großmutter etwas damit zu tun?


Wir reisen also zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit hin und her in diesem Roman, was ich persönlich sehr gerne mag. Der generationenübergreifende Konflikt - hier ist es ein “Fluch”, denn die Vorfahrinnen von Alisa wurden als Hexen an einem Felsen über dem Meer verbrannt - der alle Frauen der Geschichte verbindet, ist jetzt nicht mein Lieblings-Motiv. Dafür wurde es einfach zu oft schon durchgekaut: Mehrere Frauen über Generationen verbindet ein Geheimnis: eigentlich ein bisschen gähn! Doch hier wurde es eben mit dem interessanten queeren Twist ein wenig aufgepeppt, dementsprechend mochte ich auch die Geschichte von Elspeth und Selina, die eine der ersten Ärztinnnen im ländlichen Schottland war, am liebsten. Alisa als Protagonistin ist für mich etwas zu pathetisch rübergekommen und sie hat mich als Person auch nicht wirklich gecatcht. Ihren homosexuellen Onkel Doug, der als vielbeschäftigter Vater in einer Regenbogenfamilie mit seinen schwierigen Kindern und der darunter leidenden Beziehung zu seinem Ehemann hadert, mochte ich dann wieder sehr gerne. Er kam sehr lebensecht und sympathisch rüber, weil er eben nicht perfekt ist und das auch zugibt. Er ist einer der wenigen “angenehmen” Männer in diesem Buch, fast der einzige sympathische Hetero-Mann ist Alisas Opa, der “Pop” genannt wird. Und dabei wären wir auch schon beim Hauptthema des Romans: Die Ungerechtigkeiten, die Männer Frauen angetan haben und noch immer antun. Ja, ein hartes Thema, aber it is what it is. Den Schluss fand ich schon etwas unglaubwürdig, aber alles in allem ein gut zu lesender, düsterer Roman aus den schottischen Highlands. Man kann die salzige Meerluft und die erdigen Berge förmlich riechen - der Schauplatz ist ein großer Pluspunkt. Meines Wissens nach noch nicht auf Deutsch übersetzt.

[Carrie-Jennifer Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked that this book took turns I didn't quite expect. It was beautifully written and I just loved it

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very enjoyable read. Set, mainly, in two different timelines and from the perspectives of Ailsa Reid in the present and Elspeth in the past - it’s the story of four generations of the Reid family, all women and believed to be descended from witches. The research has been well done and the inclusion of accurate historical fact alongside the fictional story is beautifully carried out.

Briefly, Ailsa ran to her grandparents in Scotland after her life in London started to fall apart. It’s somewhere she always feel safe but she arrives to find her grandfather injured on the floor and her grandmother, who has dementia, missing. In the early 1900’s Elspeth has been employed by a doctor as companion and governess to his daughter. Elspeth is shocked to find her charge is a young woman, Selina, around her own age who is virtually bedridden following a childhood illness.

This is quite a dark and certainly gothic read in the earlier story, which of the two was for me the most compelling- I was enthralled by Elspeth and Selina’s story. I enjoyed Ailsa’s story too and it was important to the overall narrative to have both timelines. The relationship between the characters in both timelines is really well written and the emotions between them are palpable. With all the main characters female you would expect this to be a feminist novel; it’s a story of strong women who have overcome difficulties put in their paths, it has to be said largely by men. There are some difficult topics including abuse, death and alcoholism but it is also it’s a story of friendship, support and romance. A very entertaining book.

4.5⭐️ rounded up

[sarahgabriellereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkest Night is an empowering tale of Ailsa Reid and the women who came before her. It takes us on a journey through four generations of Reid women, and the individual yet connected hardships they have faced and overcome. The further into the book I read, the more I fell in love with the Reid women and how their stories wove together, creating a history of strength, determination, and perseverance in the face of men.

The depth and detail Hawthorne added to the story is so well executed. The progression of each character and their story was written pretty perfectly, and the referencing of the Reid women who came before them was intertwined so wonderfully.

My favourite character is Selina - I related heavily to her and her disability (I myself suffer from a chronic pain disability which renders me unable to work or able to do much else). I enjoyed watching how Elspeth helped her to become more than her setbacks, to push past what she thought were her limits, and to be a strong and confident woman.

The story holds the truths of how we’ve always lived in a man’s world, yet how the strength of women has always shone through. I hope that every woman who reads this book is reminded that she has the power to write her own story.

(I received an Advance Review Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ARC received via NetGalley.)

[Charlie St-St · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was like a more disappointing version of ‘If Women Were Dragons’ - obviously without the dragons, but with the same message about / exploration of generational trauma.

I was mostly interested in the Elspeth & Selina storyline - I think the author’s attempt at an historical fiction element to the novel was done quite well. But at the same time I found the characters quite 2D, and the timeline/plot overlaps quite forced. Although I looked forward to reading each chapter (they were short, so much easier to keep going), I was left unimpressed by Ailsa’s storyline and the way that revealed. I also have a lot of questions about scenes and plot points that seemed rushed - including the burning of the witches in the past, whose link to the rest of the story seemed a little tenuous other than the reminder that men have treated women terribly throughout history. Finally, while there were some beautiful similes, overall I didn’t find the writing particularly magical or gripping, and there were a few sentences I’d have been desperate to edit (who do I think I am??).

Ultimately I think there were some interesting ideas here, but the execution just wasn’t there for me.

[tinalouisereadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ailsa returns to the home of her grandparents after her life falls apart in London. She finds her grandfather injured and her grandmother gone. In the early 1900's Elspeth has being employed by Dr Reid as a companion for his daughter Selina.

I have never heard of this book or author before but liked the premise. I really enjoyed the book so I'm glad that I read it.

The story is told over three timelines, Elspeth, Moira and Ailsa. All the women are related and all descend from witches. It was the witchy angle that attracted me to the book. However the witches story was just in the background and for me wasn't explored enough.

I enjoy books that cover different timelines. I especially enjoyed Elspeth's story and then how all the women are connected. The story does have some dark themes such as abuse and violence to name just a few.

I would certainly read more by this author in the future.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5.

Another fantastic debut to get on your lists, especially if you’re a fan of books full of brilliant strong women!

This is a gloriously dark and compelling novel about generations of women in one family, and their haunting stories. It moves between the present day and decades past, as we learn why the grandmother has now gone missing, and try to piece together the tragic histories of these women, and why there always seem to be such difficulties between mothers and daughters, including Ailsa and Rowan now.

But don’t expect that to mean these women have been cowed, because far from acting like victims, they took matters into their own hands and all share a rather shocking secret - these are fierce, smart women who won’t let men keep them down and I bloody loved them for it! It’s an absolutely addictive novel which I didn’t want to put down for a second, and I especially loved that total shocker of an ending! Whilst it’s not specifically witchy, it did give me Weyward vibes, but will suit anyone who loves gothic or feminist fiction - it’s fantastic.

[Tasha Binfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about family troubles, how women were seen as subservient and how strong women can overcome anything.

The story is told through different time periods and different women with in the family of the Reid’s but all facing similar situations where men control their outcomes.

I particularly enjoyed the stories based in the past and found myself drawn to the characters of Selina and Elspeth.

Although a good story, it’s definitely a slow burner and not action packed. I felt there were parts missing that as the reader, you were supposed to read between the lines, so felt a little lost at points but still enjoyable. This is the reasoning for 4/5 stars

[The Pastel Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and very easy to read. Loved the different storylines, reminded me a bit of Weyward in that sense. Also did not expect that twist at the end! Really enjoyed

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I interviewed Victoria (name-twins!) for my blog but I admit this is the first of her books I've actually read, but what a way to start!

I must say, Victoria descriptions of grandparents is gorgeous. I lost my first grandparent when I was 8, and my last when I was 23. And I miss the warmth and love and safety that they provide. It can be hard to capture that in a book, but she's done exactly that. She's captured that nostalgia and I was really absorbed. I loved the grandparents before we even met them.

The book is split into a couple of points-of-view. We have the present scenes, set in a modern time, from our protagonist Ailsa. We also have scenes set just before WW1, from Elspeth's viewpoint. I didn't know who she was at first, and I thought she might have been Ailsa's Grandmother but as a young woman but we learn her name is Moira. So that was intriguing. They were both equally as exciting and interesting as each other, and I would have gladly read an entire book set in the past scenes. It threw up a lot of questions. I think my heart was more into the past scenes, but I think that's just because I enjoy reading about the early 190s, big houses, governesses and whatnot. We do also get another viewpoint from the 60s towards the latter half of the book, but I won't spoil what that has to do with. Victoria has managed to balance the viewpoints, giving us enough of the past to understand the present, and enough of the present to remind us of the past. Beautifully done.

We have a range of characters: Ailsa, Rowan, Moira, Cordelia, Elspeth, Selina - and they're just the women! Men include fathers, husbands, brothers, sons. Forgive me, but this is the women's story. They were so brilliantly written I felt like I knew them, that they were friends or relatives, and some of it was hard to read, as it felt like it was happening, in a way, to me.

There are some difficult topics, such as domestic violence, death, loss, grief, alcoholism, dementia, abuse, abandonment, pregnancy issues, sexuality, power struggles etc. It doesn't get bogged down in the negative, but instead she uses it as a way to frame the good times.

As someone with a chronic illness, I really liked the inclusion of a character with a disability (Selina), and not just as an afterthought or a novelty, a fully fleshed-out main character who just so happens to have a disability, rather than it being her only characteristic.

I suppose one might describe it as a feminist story. It is definitely a powerful one at that, showing different generations of Reid women and the strength they've had to find in the face of violent obstacles over the years.

There's a lot of thrillers about nowadays, and I have read a lot of them, and they all have generally similar features which can be quite repetitive. But this had something a little extra. I can't pinpoint it exactly. Perhaps because it wasn't 'just' a thriller. It had a sense of the romance genre, historical, psychological thriller, fantasy. It hooked me from the first page and I just raced my way through it.

It's like a story within a story within a story. Which could have been confusing and complicated and unnecessary but Victoria has managed to weave them all in so well that I can't think of a better way of telling this story.

[Mae of Scotland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Quercus Books and Victoria Hawthorne, for granting me a digital arc of The Darkest Night in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Have you ever picked up a book on your Kindle forever, read it, and then thought, 'Why haven't I read this sooner?' This is how I feel about The Darkest Night, which bewitched me within one chapter and kept me reading until 3 am on a workday. The book blurb isn't lying when it announces this book will keep you reading through the night until the shocking finale.

Victoria Hawthorne's writing style is beautiful, creating a dark and haunting atmosphere around three timelines of a timeslip historical mystery; she weaves around the women from the Reid family - Ailsa, Rowan, Moira, Cordelia, Elspeth, and Selina. The plot is a mesmerising, twisty tale of feminism, love, and family secrets with a tumultuous pacing with the rise of tension, suspension, and that nail-biting ending. I loved the portrayal of the strength of these women who are powerful, determined, and endured in the face of a patriarchal society and the misogynistic tendencies of some men. There is such a strong message at the heart of this story about the power all women have inside themselves to write their own stories and never let a man stand in their way.

The women at the heart of this story are portrayed in a powerful, authentic way that is historically accurate and respectful (if not a bit creative at times). You can't help but love them all for their indomitable spirit as they persevere through all life's struggles and their heart to take action to protect those they love. They are incredibly well-developed and fleshed out as main characters (all 5). You ride the rapids of this story with them, feeling all their pain, sorrow, and joys. Victoria Hawthorne creates a fantastic sense of family despite the dysfunctional relationship and tensions between mothers and daughters. There is incredible warmth, love, and protection surrounding these women and those they love. She cleverly made an inclusive cast of characters through historical periods, including a sapphic romance between Selina and Elspeth, a family unit with two mothers, and how these women struggle with disability, dementia, and depression.

A gothic, chilling read full of secrets, suspicion, and suspense that will engross you down the stories of the generations of the Reid family, whose female members have a very novel and final way of solving their men problems. If you love books by C. J. Cooke and Kate Foster, you will love The Darkest Night's twisty storytelling, authentic historical details, and gritty suspense.
#TheDarkestNight #NetGalley #murder #witchyvibes #feminist

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: The Darkest Night by Victoria Hawthorne

Rating: 3 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing "The Darkest Night" by Victoria Hawthorne, and I have to say, the cover is absolutely stunning! It’s the kind of book that catches your eye and makes you want to dive right in. However, after finishing it, I’d rate it a solid three stars. Let me explain why.

The story revolves around Ailsa Reid, who finds herself in the midst of a media frenzy after a troubling incident at her school. Seeking solace, she retreats to her grandparents' home in Fife, only to discover that her grandmother, Moira, has mysteriously vanished and her grandfather, Rupert, is seriously injured. In a twist of fate, Ailsa has to team up with her estranged mother, Rowan—who abandoned her at birth—to navigate the tensions that arise as they race against time to find Moira. As they dig deeper, they uncover a haunting family history involving witches burned on the nearby hill and a curse that seems to loom over the women in their family.

While the premise is intriguing, I found myself more captivated by the historical elements surrounding Elspeth and Selina than by Ailsa's contemporary narrative. Ailsa's (and her mother's, and Uncle's) reaction to her grandmother's disappearance struck me as oddly nonchalant. I mean, come on—your gran is missing! That should be a big deal! The emotional stakes felt muted at times, which made it hard for me to fully engage with Ailsa's journey.

Additionally, the backstory about the witches and the curse felt like background noise rather than a pivotal part of the plot. I really wish the author had taken the time to delve deeper into that aspect. It had so much potential to enrich the narrative and provide a more compelling connection between past and present. Instead, it felt glossed over, leaving me wanting more.

Overall, The Darkest Night was just okay for me. While it had its beautiful moments and an interesting premise, it didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of character depth or plot development. If you’re into stories about family secrets with a touch of the supernatural, this might still be worth a read—but I can't help but feel that it could have been so much more.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Susie Helme · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting story of witches, family secrets and the pain that never heals
Ailsa Reid escapes to Fife after a scandal at work, to find her grandmother Moira missing and her grandfather Rupert injured.
In her search for Moira, she needs help from her estranged mother Rowan. The mother/daughter love/hate relationship is tense. Ailsa is ‘annoyed with how [her] name sounds in her mouth’.
The solution to the mystery involves witches, those gravestones on the hill, a mother and daughter, burned on the hill above the house, and an ancient curse.
Bed-bound Selina finds healing as her friendship with Elspeth grows. The two share a secret, yet Selina has a further secret, too. The arrival of cousin Samuel complicates matters. He ‘knows’.
I found the non-involvement of the police and the hospital strange. Someone has bashed her grandfather over the head, but the women just stay in the kitchen smoking cigarettes. And I wondered how Selina knew everyone in town when she had never left her bed.
Despite the worrying scenario of the injured grandfather and the missing grandmother, the story begins quite low-key, then building, alongside wonderful characterisation and family dynamics. It features several examples of beautiful writing about strong emotions. (‘Her thoughts crash into one another in her mind with explosive clangs.’)
The overall plot is very good, every element linking into every other element, frequently taking a dreamlike tone, as if we’re not really sure what is reality. Part II moves back to Moira’s childhood, which is a bit of a shift.
I love how we are fed the story of Ailsa’s work scandal bit by bit—first, a ‘name’, then an ‘allegation’, then an ‘incident’, then an ‘investigation’—and how it gradually connects to the missing grandmother story. Both witch-hunts, ancient and modern—'accusations flayed across their skin’—ending in the Reid family women finally finding each other.
This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review.

[Sim Hel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vorneweg: "The Darkest Night" ist eine Familiengeschichte, keine Gothic Novel und auch kein Mystery. Manchmal stimmen die Angaben hier auf Goodreads nicht so ganz oder wurden absichtlich "angepasst", um mehr Leser anzuziehen.

Das Buch behandelt die Geschichte von drei verschiedenen Frauengenerationen einer Familie und deren (negative) Erfahrungen mit Männern.

Es hat mir viel Spaß gemacht, die Geschichten von Elspeth, Selina, Moira, Rowan und Aisla zu lesen und zu erfahren, wie sie mit ihren jeweiligen Lebensgeschichten und Tragödien umgehen. Victoria Hawthorne hat Charaktere geschaffen, mit denen man sich identifizieren kann und die man sympathisch findet. Allerdings muss man auch sagen, dass Elspeth und Selina vielleicht ein bisschen zu sehr ihrer Zeit voraus waren ebenso wie Dr Reid, Selinas Vater. Ich kann, ohne zu spoilern nicht weiter ins Detail gehen, aber mir lief hier alles ein bisschen zu glatt. Die getroffenen Entscheidungen wurden von den Personen in der Regel ohne größere Diskussionen akzeptiert, was für die viktorianische (?) Zeit ein bisschen zu modern war.
Obwohl hier mehrere Generationen betrachtet werden, gibt es leider nie konkrete Zeitangaben, weder durch ein konkretes Datum zu Beginn des Kapitels noch durch bestimmte Ereignisse innerhalb der Handlung. Einiges kam mir etwas aus der Zeit gefallen vor. Man wusste nicht immer so genau, in welchen Jahrzehnt man sich gerade befindet. Das habe ich als störend empfunden.

Trotz dieser kleinen Kritikpunkte hat mich die Handlung voll mitgerissen, und es hat Spaß gemacht, die Geschichten der Frauen zu lesen und von ihnen zu lernen.

[Tea Leaves and Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria Hawthorne, aka Vikki Patis, is the absolute queen of atmospheric reads, suspense and gothic settings. And perhaps this one is her best yet… in fact… calling it now!

It has everything that you want in brilliant historical fiction novel. The setting, the characters, the storyline and most importantly… the history. The bits that will shock you and which are based upon real events. Vikki carefully researches what she writes about and her books are a real treat in terms of learning and education, but also on the edge of horror in respect of what humans do to other humans.

Vikki also brings representation in her fiction. You will likely see yourself in one of her books, or you’ll read about people that you don’t usually read about. Vikki uses her own experiences of health and discrimination and general struggle to give a truly authentic characterisation. This is probably the best so far - and so very dark - that twist!

[Louise Ridout · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really intriguing, captivating story covering multiple narrative perspectives and across different time frames, telling us the story of the Reid woman through the generations and how their stories and lives intertwine.

I found this book to be well written, with a good flow, and even though we flip from one characters perspective to the next frequently, it is easy to follow and doesn’t get confusing. The story itself has lots of emotion and characters you feel you want to support and get behind, and there are hints of twists to come and secrets to uncover as you go which make you want to continue reading.

The only thing I wasn’t sure about was the ending - whilst it did reveal what the story had been working towards, it felt a little rushed and the ending slightly abrupt, and I would’ve liked to see a bit more of why things happened the way they did and the outcomes of these. Saying that I still very much enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend!

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully dark and twisting tale of deep family mystery. I loved the atmospheric feel of the book that has a way of imparting the suffocating choices the women through the timelines made.

The book is many stories within a story and over several timelines however I didn’t find it difficult to keep track of them which is pretty impressive! The book addresses issues that women have faced throughout time and winds them together seamlessly from witches to domestic abuse.

At times the book leaves you breathless and angry that not all of the stories have happy ending but brutal ones.

Elspeths story was my favourite by far and was deeply moving.

I’d be giving 4.5 if it would let me!
The only things that I didn’t enjoy personally were the characters of Alisha and her story and I found the ending a little abrupt! But all In all a wonderful read!

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction where you learn about how lives were lived in certain eras. I also love psychological thrillers. And this book is a combination of the two so it's a win/win for me! Told through a dual time-line, we are immersed in the lives of the women of the Reid family, from post-war to present day. And through their stories we learn how our main character, Ailsa, finds herself in a dire situation, with her family crumbling around her and secrets from a workplace incident snapping at her heels. The writing was completely immersive and compelling. And wait until you get to the ending. Oh my word, I did not see that one coming!!! A brilliant read with a very satisfying conclusion. Loved it!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could use one word to describe this book it would be: cozy. I enjoyed the descriptive language and scene setting most. If you're looking for a book to read on a rainy day with some tea and a fire, this is the book for you. If you are interested in books that are about wlw romance & women seeking justice for men's wrongs, this is the book for you. I enjoyed the ancestor flashbacks more than present day Reid women, which I think is why I cannot give this 5 stars. This book had the potential to be a trilogy. I felt we rushed a bit and skipped things that could have been more interesting. I think the Reid curse could have been poked at in a trilogy sense. Anyways, still worth the read and it's fun to see wlw in pre-world war era.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the whole book, hoping for it to develop some substance. But it didn't. I ended up with characters who seemed two dimensional, and some, like Ailsa, were purposefully oblique in their thoughts and comments. Probably supposed to add intrigue but I found it irritating. I also ended up with a bitter taste from the male bashing, which I found a bit over the top.
The witches alluded to were mentioned often but not really explained in any meaningful way which was a shame. A missed opportunity to weave that witch hunt era into the story instead of the male violence angle (ad nauseum!)
It seems most readers don't agree with me, and I did read the whole thing so it can't have been all bad...go ahead, read it and make up your own mind.

[SammyReedAlot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows the Reid women across various generations but 3 POVs. All seem cursed because 2 of them were burnt as witches?!

I enjoyed the Elspeth story the most then we randomly switched to Moira. The whole time we had Alysa who I enjoyed the least, the whole modern story line made little sense. Your gran with dementia is missing and you don't immediately call the police or accompany grandad to the hospital?! Then she'd killed her ex and had his body in the boot the whole time?! How did 5' 2" woman get his body down 3 flights and lift him into the boot plus with no one noticing. Then they just bury him in the back garden and what the police aren't going to put it all together?! Undermined the story for me.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book which tells of history repeating itself through several generations of women in one Scottish family who were thought to be witches. It jumps between the generations to tell the stories so that they are revealed slowly but throughout the book which works really well. The characters are well rounded and described and the historical elements seem to be well researched. The only criticism I would have is that the ending came very abruptly which seemed a shame. Still overall a very enjoyable book that I'm happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Carly Rushforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was absolutely fascinated by this story and the extraordinary women within the pages.

I’m not that much of a fan of a book with multiple timelines but I didn’t even think about that while I read this book because I loved it so much.

Each timeline was as good as each other and you really feel like you’re with them all in pages.

The feeling of empowering women just jumped off every page and the story of each woman in the story resonated with me.

This book deserves to be in the hands of so many readers because they’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a timeslip mystery, so there was more than one narrative to follow. From the start, I was drawn in by the eerie tone of the writing, and I felt that something sinister had happened or was going to happen. The chapters were short, and moved from the perspective of one character to another, so that kept me in suspense, so it was difficult to stop reading, especially once I became interested in the characters and felt invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

[Danni Gibbens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully haunting story of multiple generations of Reid women.

I was hooked within pages and finished the entire book within a few days, reading sentences whenever I could.

Victoria Hawthorne has created interesting and engaging characters which lead the reader through the modern age to post-war times to a contemporary world. By swapping between these storylines I was always kept in suspense at where the stories were heading and I was not disappointed at the end.

Very well written and will definitely be looking forward to anything else Victoria Hawthorne writes.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atmospheric and empowering read about women across several generations.

Victoria Hawthorne’s writing is sublime and the story and it’s wonderful characters were so immersive. I loved every character, even Rowan, once I got to know her.

All of these strong women had secrets from young adult Ailsa, in the present day, right back through the generations of Reid women who all had to have each other’s backs in order to survive in a cruel and male dominated world.

Fabulous!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Victoria Hawthorne and Quercus for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Mary Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

MANAGES TO BE BOTH BORING AND IRRITATING.

Interesting back story marred by tedious fundamentalist outdated feminism. Always a turn off since the burn your bra codswallop in the sixties. I have never felt threatened by men in general. Women can be threatening and dangerous too. And yes, I have referred to some men as naive, why wouldn't I? It seems to me that the women in this novel have suffered more from the warped attitudes of the women in their lives than the men - being emotionally and morally crippled by them.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good holiday read. Easy to read and be drawn along by the story of 4 generations of female Reads, set in different timelines which are interwoven through the book. It depicts them living in a man’s world and suffering through this, yet surviving through their resilience. How they each deal with their aggressors is not to be encouraged though!
I would have liked more detail on the witches that the women were descended from, and mentioned often, to have been included. Also, for the ending for modern-day Ailsa to have had a more positive outcome - giving a hint that women are making some progress in the man’s world and offering some hope for the future.

[Paul Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intoxicating read that manages to maintain a number of narratives running across multiple generations and timeframes. As someone who yearns to give some kind of historical fiction treatment treatment to their family history research and specific ancestors within it, I found this particularly fascinating. Despite operating on numerous levels, and navigating a number of twists, turns, and yes, surprises, the book never lost me as reader, which so many other books attempting a similar trick have done of late. Extraordinary women and a folkish thriller tinge imbue this dark book.