The Witch Of Willow Hall
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4.1 • 42 Ratings
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
‘This debut recalls Georgette Heyer, with extra spookiness’
The Times
Years after the Salem witch trials one witch remains. She just doesn’t know it… yet.
1821: Growing up, Lydia Montrose knew she was descended from the witches of Salem, but was warned to never tell anyone what she could do, and has now forgotten her legacy. But Willow Hall has awoken something inside her…
Having fled family scandal in Boston, Willow Hall seems an idyllic refuge from the world. But a subtle menace haunts the grounds, with strange voices and ghostly apparitions in the night, which call to Lydia's secret inheritance and threaten to awaken something long buried.
Can Lydia confront her inner witch and harness her powers, or is it too late to save herself and her family from the deadly fate of Willow Hall?
Readers are spellbound by the The Witch of Willow Hall!
'Amazing' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'If you’re looking for a witch read for autumn then move this to the top of your pile! NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Chilling and claustrophobic' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviews
‘Beautifully written, with an intriguing plot full of suspense and mystery, The Witch of Willow Hall will cast a spell over every reader’ Lisa Hall
‘Steeped in Gothic eeriness it’s spine-tingling and very atmospheric.’ Nicola Cornick
‘Creepy, tense, heartbreaking and beautifully, achingly romantic.’ Cressida McLaughlin
‘The Witch of Willow Hall is so spookily good I feel haunted by it. It was literally the first thing on my mind when I opened my eyes this morning. I absolutely loved it from start to finish!’ Sarah Bennett
‘With it's sense of creeping menace and chilling undertones, this compelling story had me gripped from the first page. The vividly drawn characters cast their spell so convincingly, I couldn't stop reading until I discovered what happened to them. A wonderful debut novel.’ Linda Finlay
‘I was entranced by this intriguing and spellbinding novel with its messages of love and loyalty and being true to who you really are.’ Kathleen McGurl
‘Beautifully written, skilfully plotted, and filled with quiet terror…perfect for fans of Simone St. James and Kate Morton.’ Anna Lee Huber
About the author
Hester Fox comes to writing from a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician.
This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has the privilege of cleaning and caring for collections that range from paintings by old masters, to ancient artefacts, to early American furniture.
She is a keen painter and has a master’s degree in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside of Boston with her husband and two cats.
The Witch of Willow Hall is her debut novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fox spins a satisfying debut yarn that includes witchcraft, tragedy, and love, set in 1821 New England. Ten years ago, Lydia Montrose unwittingly summoned a dark power from within herself to torment a neighborhood bully. Now 18, her family is forced to move from Boston to Willow Hall estate in New Oldbury, Mass., to escape scandalous rumors concerning her older sister, Catherine. While Catherine detests the countryside, Lydia and her younger sister, Emeline, relish the fresh air and the less constricting society; they also enjoy the acquaintance of their father's new business partner, John Barrett. But as Lydia starts to fall for John, disturbing things begin to happen at Willow Hall. Lydia sees ghosts and hears voices who try to convince her to do bad things. Following a monumental tragedy, she will have to discover who she is in order to set things right. Despite the lack of character development for side characters, Fox effectively portrays Lydia as sympathetic, stuck between a sister with no regard for propriety and parents who can't or won't discipline her. The inclusion of gothic elements adds a visceral feel that fans of historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural will enjoy.
