I loved the colonial history mixed with magic and Witchery!
I identified with the heroine Sidney I not only love history but I teach it.
I loved tagging along as Sidney tracked down clues, deciphered codes and found out more about her heritage.
I did get lost when the dialogue turned to physics but I just focused on the historical aspects.
My favorite character was Fiona because she was a spirited older woman who took everything in stride.
This book was like a cross between National Treasure and Witches of Eastwick.
The VR stuff was nerve wracking because of the insidious control behind it.
I hope there’s another book in the series because I need to know if the villains are stopped. Plus I want to see Gabe the babe and see if anything more develops between he and the historian!

If there's one way to get me interested in a book, saying it's a combination of A Discovery of Witches and National Treasure is it!

Sidney Taylor is a professor of American history who was recently laid off. She receives a mysterious invitation to hunt for an archeological treasure back in her old college town. Once there, she receives a debt-ending opportunity from the local museum director to find a missing artifact. From there, the story takes the reader on a genre-bending ride through cozy mystery, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure.

The premise of the story truly drew me in, however, I got a bit lost in the narrative. There is a lot to digest in this book! There are quite a few plot lines, and a few that were left unresolved, as if they had been forgotten. Keeping the facts and plotline straight did take me out of my suspension of disbelief a bit. The added sci-fi element really threw me for a loop, but not in a good way. I believe this will be a series; I'm hoping some of the plot holes that were left hanging will be ironed out in the next novel.

Ultimately, if you're a fan of Dan Brown, like I am, you will enjoy the historical elements of this novel. It was a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions within this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It has witches, clues, problem solving, treasure hunts, mysteries. It has a lot going on as other reviews mentioned but that wasn’t a bad thing for me!

This book felt like an adventure, just as I was hoping. While most of the book was interesting it did drag on a bit. Otherwise, it was a lot of fun to read and I would recommend giving it a try. Love to hear what history fans thought of it. Waited to read the reviews, but headed there now.

This is a deeply cosy mystery perfect for any lovers of history! Unfortunately, the story didn't quite hit the mark for me, but this is purely due to my preference. I do love a good mystery and any witchy stories but for the length of the book, I found there to be too much information to keep up with and at times I wasn't sure what was going on. It was quite slow-paced as well, but did wrap up well at the end.

Thank you so much for the advance copy!

I really enjoyed this story and was sad for it to end...I would love to read more! I loved the concept of Esme Addison's story and it's ties between the present, world history going back centuries and paranormal possibilities. For Sydney to find out about it and how her family is connected to it was very interesting to read. If there's going to be any sequels, I will definitely read them.

I think this book struggled a little with finding its way.
The first part was a fairly plain story which then leaned toward a socio-political-historical-conspiracy-science-fiction type book but landed with a very heavy thud in the fantasy genre.
I felt like there was an overload of information; too many historical stories and myths and legends thrown together creating a hurricane of confusion.

Unimportant nuggets of narrative were expanded upon unnecessarily. For example, I’m not sure we needed to know why Sidney had keys as an admin member and her badge worked in the back entrance if this is not going to later become apparent as a key piece of information. The author could have used the word count to explain some of the more complicated theories and accounts.
Added to this the bigger events come out of the blue and then seem to be thrown into everyday conversation like they’re not sensational events?
There were descriptions of people and objects aplenty but the stone, which is a main point of the story, was just described as… a stone!

In fairness, fantasy is not usually my chosen genre but I think the last third of the book certainly became more interesting with lots of exciting occurrences and revelations. I think if it was for these 100 pages I would have had to do something I hate and award 1 star and then banish the book from my brain.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Ugh books like this make me guilty. I might even come back to it and try one more time in the future. I started this book 3 times and I couldn't make myself finish it. It just didn't hook me. I'm not fully quitting on it yet and I'm going to hold off on a goodreads review until I get through it, because I could change my mind yet. For now... 1 star for the DNF.

Fantasy and
History and
Mystery—oh my!

This is one complex story. For the most part, it works.

While I had difficulty believing how such a smart protagonist could make so many poor choices and mistakes, I enjoyed this novel, especially
the parts pertaining to mysteries.

I could see myself reading more of this series, should it become one.

To be published May 7, 2024
by Severn House Publishers

I enjoyed this book it has found family, political intrigue,sprinkles of magic and mystery/treasure hunting plot it was a fun and engaging read

This novel has a captivating premise that immediately drew me in. I found Sidney (the main protagonist) likeable. However, as the narrative progressed, it becomes entangled in numerous layers of explanation for its central "treasure hunt" resulting in a convoluted plot, like a drawn out history lesson from conspiracy theorists on YouTube.
While I suspended disbelief for much of the narrative, the inclusion of a villain attempting to lure humanity into a virtual reality space felt jarring and unrealistic. The story shines brightest when it delves into the small town’s history, the characters in it, and the intrigue of the actual treasure hunt. Perhaps spreading out the exposition over multiple books would make smoother integration of its complex themes and avoided the feeling of cramming too much into a single novel.

Anyway, if you enjoyed Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, you might enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

SOOOOO SOOOOO GOOD! I recommend everyone to read this incredible book. You'll love it and you'll thank me later.

Drawn in by the beautiful cover, I was so intrigued by the plot and mystery element that is set up so well. This was full of adventure, twists and action.

I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous cover, the title and the story description. I was intrigued by the beginning of Sidney’s story and eager to learn why she was ousted from the Smithsonian, what artifact she was searching for and how her relationships with the other characters in the book would develop. I did find the initial part of the book to be rather slow moving but wanted to continue reading to learn more. I really enjoyed the codes, clues and puzzles Sidney followed along the way and the ongoing mysteries of the hidden artifact, the secret society, and various relationships Sidney developed through the storyline.

Sidney’s grandmother was a charming character and I would have loved to read even more of her. I found Sidney’s mother to be a very one dimensional, somewhat fake character and felt she could have been much more developed. More information on Gabe would also have been appreciated. When the idea of the conspiracy to use AI and VR to take over the country and control the populace was revealed, I was disappointed. I think the storyline of the warring dynasties was a sufficient conflict and felt the VR storyline to be over the top and too much into the sci-fi realm. The witchy ‘powers’ of the women and the time travel aspects were great and enough.

That being said, overall I quite enjoyed the book and would like to discover what happens next and how Sidney moves forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC of this book. The review is my honest opinion.

As a not historical reader, this book was amazing! I fell in love with the hunt for the artifact and it kept me wanting to turn each page. There were a couple times throughout the book where it was very historical/science heavy. The sections weren’t my cup of tea, but I understand the importance of them for the story. The ending was something I did not see coming.

Definitely 4.5 stars

“An Intrigue of Witches” by Esme Addison the first instalment in A Secret Society Mystery. What a great start to a new paranormal adventure mystery series. Introducing the Secret Society mystery series, and kick-ass red-headed heroine Sidney, a Black historian poised on the brink of discovering her true past . . . and her hidden witchy powers!

I loved Esme Addisons other series An Enchanted Bay Mystery series and am saddened it’s not continuing. Which in turn made me excited to read Intrigue of Witches , at first I was iffy until I hit the 25% mark in the book. It seemed to political, and conspiracy theories that float around today, but I really got into it in the end. I loved learning about early American history etc.
It felt like Dan Browns Di Vinci code type of adventure thriller full of conspiracy, intrigue, history, lost treasure, magic and did I mention time travel. I tried to stay awake to finish but kept falling asleep then I would wake up read another few chapters fall asleep but at 4am I made a cup of tea and had to see how it ended.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters. I’m sure we will learn more about the characters in further books and I look forward to Sidney’s next adventure. I can see these books as a movie too!

I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends. I am looking forward to book two.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Severn House and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

An Intrigue of Witches by Esme Addison offers readers a mix of mystery, puzzles, sci-fi, and a touch of magic. Sidney, a historian on furlough, embarks on a treasure hunt in her hometown of Robbinsville, guided by cryptic clues. As she delves deeper, the quest becomes increasingly dangerous.

The narrative echoes the suspense of The Da Vinci Code, with Sidney's journey reminiscent of a cinematic adventure. The exploration of different societies and magical elements adds depth, especially for fans of Ancient Egyptian history.

While the plot is engrossing, occasional information dumps can disrupt the flow. Nevertheless, An Intrigue of Witches was entertaining for a first installment... unsure if I would continue on with the series.

I loved the book blurb - the idea of witches and conspiracy theories and the search for an artifact. I even liked the beginning, returning home to work in a museum and discover the truth. Felt like an escape room.
Even liked the secret societies and symbolism. However, it became political and immersed in virtual reality. I don't have an interest in either. Well-written but I am not the best audience for the story.

An Intrigue of Witches" by Esme Addison is a riveting blend of mystery, history, and magic that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With a compelling protagonist, a richly imagined setting, and a plot brimming with twists and turns, this novel delivers a captivating reading experience that is both poignant and entertaining.
At the heart of the story is Sidney Taylor, a talented early American history professor whose career has hit a roadblock due to an inconvenient historical discovery. When she receives a cryptic invitation to visit the historic small town of Robbinsville, North Carolina, and embark on a treasure hunt for a missing archaeological artifact, Sidney sees it as an opportunity to both reconnect with her grandmother and potentially change her fortunes.
It's worth noting that the story takes some time to gain momentum. The initial chapters may feel slow-paced as the narrative sets the stage for Sidney's journey.
As Sidney delves deeper into the treasure hunt, she finds herself unraveling two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her into a world of secrets, conspiracies, and magic. The discovery of the artifact sparks a chain of events that thrusts Sidney into the midst of a terrifying conspiracy—one that threatens to shake the very foundations of America's principles.

This is a first of a series about Sidney, a young black woman who has made waves in the history world with her captivating finds and work at the Smithsonian. She is the daughter of a prominent newswoman and the speaker of the house. She is furloughed and offered a job to come back home to find an artifact. What she doesn’t realize is how much this adventure will tell her about herself, her family, and a history she didn’t know was hers.

This book has been described as National Treasure meets A Discovery of Witches. For me the background of the story got really complicated- Egyptian queens, magic, time travel, Astro physics, slavery, persecution, solar flares, and VR technology. I think there’s promise here but wished it was a smoother entry with a bit more finesse.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫