The Witch of Willow Hall

Gothic romance that reminded me of old-school gothics by Barbara Michaels. Looking forward to this author’s next release.

Heat level: kisses.

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts, but she doesn’t even know it.

If you are looking for an atmospheric fall / Halloween read, then I highly recommend The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox.

What it’s about: The Montrose family moves from Boston to New Oldbury in 1821 to escape the rumors that are circulating around Boston about them. They move into the Willow Hall estate which, little do they know, possesses a dark history. The youngest daughter, Lydia, quickly starts to find out what this history is, plus realizing her own ancestry, and must harness the power she possesses to protect the people she loves.

That’s all I’m going to say about the plot because this book is BEST going in mostly blind, and I appreciate that the blurb doesn’t tell you a whole lot. I really liked the pacing in this book, and it was spooky while still being on the lighter side of the spectrum. There are some dark occurrences, but the overall feel to the book, for me, was not as scary as I thought it was going to be.

I think Fox did an excellent job of describing everything and making The Witch of Willow Hall very atmospheric while also giving you a general sense of foreboding. I also liked the aspect of the mystery surrounding Lydia and if the rumors about the family are true. You also don’t find out what the rumors even are until a good distance into the book which was a great added build up.

This is a debut novel, but SUCH a good one. I was surprised to learn it was a debut because it doesn’t read like one. I also loved the humor in this book! It was a nice surprise and I really liked Lydia as a character. No multiple viewpoints here but loved it just the same.

Final thought: If you want a spooky, atmospheric novel on the lighter side for fall The Witch of Willow Hall is the novel for you! This book can be read at night, so don’t expect it to be SUPER creepy, but for me it was perfect.

My vote: A well done debut novel which has its funny parts, but also gives you a bit of the creeps at the same time.

Beautifully written, skillfully plotted, and filled with quiet terror, readers will devour this absorbing, Gothic tale of romance and suspense. Perfect for fans of Simone St James and Kate Morton.

This book starts with a bit of darkness that hints at more darkness to come. On that scale, it did deliver. The story gets plenty dark as secrets are revealed, but not in the form I expected. In all honesty, I had a hard time deciphering exactly what this book is about. Once Lydia and family reach Willow Hall, it has a Gothic feel, complete with some creepy ghosts and even a few cryptic warnings for Lydia. Lydia’s magic is mentioned, but we only actually see it three or four times, and it all happens very quickly. Between those instances, there’s a load of sibling rivalry with Lydia’s oldest sister, Catherine, a sinister death, a broken engagement, a new love interest, and threats to reveal the family’s secrets. Granted, there are several compelling scenes throughout the book and this is not your typical family, but on the whole, the story tends to ramble through different plot lines and the day to day life of the family. Everything does eventually come together, but it certainly takes a long and twisting path to get there. The descriptions of Willow Hall and surrounding areas are vivid, but the dialogue often seems more akin to modern day than of the early 19th century setting. In the end, I did finish the book, but found it a bit frustrating to get through at times.

I received a copy of this book for review. Opinions shared are mine.

Initially, I was shocked to find that this book is author Hester Fox’s debut novel. Beautifully developed, the story line had the perfect blend of suspense and romance. There were a few awkward sentences that made me double-read, and I hope those are caught by the editing process before its October release. Fans of Gothic romance will devour this book! Willow Hall reminded me a little bit of Manderley, and Catherine’s dark character seems like a nod to Wuthering Heights.

There aren’t enough words for me to say how much I love John Barrett. He was like all the best parts of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley. Jane Austen fans who crave a bit of supernatural kick in a story — do yourself a favor and read this! It’s like Downton Abbey, ghost story style.

I hope this is the first of a series. It would be such a tragedy if we didn’t hear more about Mary Preston’s history. Even more, I want to know what happens with Lydia! The ghostly elements of the story were very mild, not scary in the least, and I would love to see even more in future books. If you can’t tell, I’m very much looking forward to more from Hester Fox!

The Witch of Willow hall is a mystery set in the suburbs of Boston, Mass in the 1820’s. Descended from the witches of Salem, Lydia is the middle child. She is the responsible one with little prospects because she is wholesome. Her older sister, Catherine, is a terrible flirt and her parents are indifferent and often despondent. The story picks up when Catherine’s actions force the family to leave their home and business to sleepy Willow Hall. But the Montroses aren’t the only family with secrets. Ghosts plague Willow Hall and Catherine’s secret is posed to bury them all.

This is a dark story. Full of mystery and romance. The characters are all flawed. Every single one. From hubris to greed to neglect. But Lydia grows and finds strength in powers she once feared. The themes in this book reminded me a lot of Crimson Peak and Rebecca.

5 stars for keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout and for heroine who isn’t a Mary Sue.

What a story! It absolutely captivated me — as soon as I started, I had to keep going to find out how the tale would unspool. This is an excellent gothic romance, deliciously dark, full of secrets, shame, and the supernatural.

I couldn’t put this book down! All the creepy and haunting twists and turns still leave me completely shook. Where historical fiction meets gothic ghost story, this book is a must read!

What an interesting novel. There is an essence that surrounds this novel making it reminiscent of Joyce Carol Oats. It comes through the haunting aspect of the novel and the ease of which the story develops and grows, allowing the gothic nature of the film to grow. That is the beauty of the novel that it makes sure to focus on the characters while also having that eerie feeling lingering right on the fringes of the story. It never goes away, and that is the eeriness of the story, that in Willow Hall, the paranormal creeps up on the reader, making them by surprise before returning to the shadows of the story. It is a magnificent way to tell the story while also giving the characters a chance to develop as the narrative goes on.

The characters get to shine and develop as the story went on. The scandal and tragedy propel the story forward, and the characters react in tandem with these events instead of just reacting to them afterward. Lydia is a powerful character as she works to understand the hauntings of Willow Hall as well as the mysteries that surround her. She matures throughout the story and even becomes a softer character in the sense where she learns to love herself and be at peace with the differences between her and her sister. Lydia finds inner peace, which is more than can be said for her sister. On that note, Catherine is an entirely detestable character. She yields nor sympathy from the reader on any level, and that seems to be Fox’s intent, to create a character so self-involved that she is oblivious to the ghostly world around her. It works to create another layer of tension in the story, one that is more character driven than plot driven. It gives the story some dimension and a way to understand the characters

Overall the writing is solid. Fox writes the story with ease, allowing summation to have its proper place in capturing the passage of time. The story keeps moving forward. The story does not lag and focuses on building up those very gothic moments with visually beautiful detail, making them as vivid and as haunting to the reader as they are for the characters. It is an unexpected delight and quite a different route as far as gothic literature is concerned.

The Witch of Willow Hall was a wonderful story. It reminded me a little of Pride and Prejudice. I haven’t read anything in the style of this era in a long time. Hester Fox does a beautiful job of weaving this romantic tale with a touch of mystery. Lydia is the main character and she is constantly in turmoil over something or another. Catherine is a very complex character with her own reasons for the things she does. She spends too much time worrying about what she does not have to see what she could have. The two sisters’ constant animosity toward each other becomes more clear at the end. This was a great story for any fan of the Elizabethan era.