Bouncing between 1646 and 2024, The House of the Witch is a thoughtful and atmospheric look at wayward women and the impact they leave behind.

When Adriana takes a six months sabbatical from her stress filled life she finds herself retreating to a tiny rundown cottage in Norfolk. The location holds mysteries from the past and readers get to unravel those secrets beside her. The House of the Witch is a wonderful study in how society paint women that don't fit into a box.

The characters are so thoughtfully fleshed out that it's easy to believe that both existed in the real world. Readers will feel a visceral connection with both women. Like most duel perspective novels, I did feel that one timeline was a bit more engaging than the other however the two timelines are so masterfully linked that the slower timeline was able to hold my attention.

All in all, I found this story engaging and insightful!

Cuenta dos historias que ocurren en la misma localización: una mujer que vive en 2024 y se toma 6 meses en un cottage, y otra que vive en el 1600, una partera que parecen tener poderes o dones, como la lectura de manos, etc.

Actualmente voy por el 20% del libro y me entretienen mucho ambas líneas temporales, además de la manera detallada en la que escribe la autora, lo que permite visualizar todo lo que ocurre a lo largo de la historia.

Nota del 44%:Llevamos con la misma trama desde el principio (0%), es decir, la mitad del libro, y aún no ha pasado nada en particular. Se sigue elaborando en lo mismo. Continúo porque está bellamente escrito, pero me pregunto a dónde irá.

Al terminar el libro, considero que me ha gustado como han terminado ambas historias y ambas han recibido justicia (por suerte) entiendo que es como una manera de mencionar que las mujeres a lo largo de los años sea lo que sea las décadas o siglos, algunas han podido sufrir por solo ser mujeres y como que menciona las diferencias entre lo que era maltrato en unos años atrás y un maltrato actual.

Es una lectura ligera y como mencioné antes me gustó la manera es la que está escrita que diera muchos detalles, si me gustó como desarrollaron los personajes, la protagonista del 2024 un poco ingenua y me gustó que hubiese algún personaje masculino que no fuese villano.

What a book. A first for me by this author. It's very good.

This is the story of two women who are basically terrorized by men. Not in a physical way, at least for one, but emotionally. It's told by both women and in dual timelines. One is 1646 and the other in 2024. While some things have changed as far as women's rights, there is a lot to be done. Don't let them turn back the clock...

In 1646 in the prologue a body is buried. Who's body is yet to be discovered by the reader. But eventually it will become clear.

Ursula is a herbalist. She helps her neighbors by administering herbs when they are sick or expecting a baby. She's been doing this for a while. Ursula lives alone and likes it that way. She doesn't have any use for men. Her father was a brutal man who killed her mother so why would she want a life like that. She is doing fine until she's not. A man accuses her of being a witch and thus Ursula's story begins. What happens. And why she's been accused....

Adrianna left her job and apartment in London to move to the quiet of the country of Norfolk. She's had a breakdown of sorts and needed to get away for some rest and relaxation. She's rented a cottage for six months and begins to fix it up a bit. Working in the backyard clearing away brush she finds all kinds of interesting things. She's also found letters or a journal in the house and starts to translate it. It's very old and she discovers it was Ursula's.

There are two men in this story who are horrible. One in 1646 and one in 2024. Neither have any respect for women and I honestly despised them both. The Dr, Oliver Bruton, wanted to have a relationship with Ursula but she wanted no part of it. Rick wanted control over Adrianna and almost succeeded in gaining that control. In many ways he did. He was horrible and I didn't like either man. But this story would not have been complete without both.

It didn't take much to accuse a woman of being a witch and for the whole community to believe it. A few tricks or accidents. A drastic change in the weather. Any natural cause and she could be held accountable regardless. People just turned. Friends would forsake her. Even in modern day it seems men are superior to women in so many ways.

This is the story of two women. Two who you will like. Or at least I did...

Thank you #NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this story.

Five big stars. It's that good.

Reading this book takes you into a stunning world that joins the lives of two women.

Adrianna and Ursula, who are tired to a seaside cottage in Norfolk. This story offers a blend of mystery, history, and a touch of magic that kept me wanting to keep reading & thinking ‘just one more chapter’….

Adrianna arrives to the coastal cottage, anxious to leave her hectic city life behind.
But instead of finding peace she has been chasing, she finds secrets, a bundle of old notes tucked beneath a floorboard and a mysterious stone in the overgrown garden. These letters & stone pull her into a mystery that she can't help but explore.

Meanwhile, in 1646, Ursula who is a village midwife. Her skills and independence put her in a dangerous position. She lives in a time when she could be accused of being a witch, for simply being different to others. With Ursula’s midwifery skills she has, she is noticed by the local dr, who has taken a sudden interest in her.

This story captures the fear and injustice of witch hunts, that add’s a layer of tension that makes Ursula’s story all the more gripping.

As their stories unfold, both women reveal their strength and resilience. Ursula challenges the oppressive norms of her time, while Adrianna, inspired by the secrets she uncovers, begins to shape her own future.

This book has blended historical fiction, part suspense, romance added, making an engaging read. The way in which the settings are described and the characters, who are very complex. Have the ability to draw you in, making it a perfect pick for fans of historical fiction and/or anyone who loves a good mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this captivating novel.

Clare excels in writing dual timeline / timeslip novels. This time we travel back and forth between 1646 and the present time, and we get to know two women who are being manipulated by controlling men.

In 1646, Ursula lives alone in a very basic cottage. Her mother died at the hands of her father and Ursula has sworn never to be in a position where a man can use and ill-treat her. She earns the small amount of money she needs to survive as a midwife and she also grows her own plants to make herbal remedies to sell to treat her friends and neighbours. When the new doctor visits her home, and in no uncertain terms tells her he wants her to be his mistress, she refuses. He is not happy and tells her if she refuses he intends to ruin her life. He begins setting in motion his plan to out her as a witch.

In the present day, and at the suggestion of her - unawares to her - controlling and manipulative boyfriend, Adrianna is taking a six month sabbatical from her high pressure London job. She finds an old run down cottage near the sea in Norfolk and moves in.

When Adrianna finds a pile of old papers hidden under the floorboards she begins to learn about the life of a woman who lived in the cottage centuries earlier.

Both stories are incredibly captivating. I was completely gripped by the lives of both women, and I was hoping for a good ending for them both. The spooky atmosphere and the detailed descriptions of how Ursula lived in the 1646 storyline had me right in the middle of the action. And those birds!

The witch trials were horrifying. Innocent women being put to death. One of the characters in the book was based on a real person, Matthew Hopkins the Witchfinder General.

A fantastic read!

I’m delighted to be sharing my review as part of the blog tour arranged by Rachel’s Random Resources.

This may be the first book I have read by this author but I am looking forward to reading her previous and future ones!!

Well done to Clare Marchant for a hugely successful and addictive read!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.

I absolutely loved this absolutely unique, gripping and addictive storyline. Clare has done an absolutely amazing job of weaving the multiple timelines of 1646 and 2024 together perfectly ensure she takes readers on a journey into the past in a smooth transition. It truly is an absolutely fascinating story of two women. In the present timeline of 2024 we meet Adrianna who works in London in a financial position. After several things happen she takes a 6 month break and heads to Norfolk where she stays in an old cottage. While staying there she discovers a hidden journal from a herbalist called Ursula who used to live in the cottage in 1646. In the 1646 timeline we meet Ursula who lives a quiet and single life refusing to enter a relationship after what happened to her mother. Ursula delivers babies, tends to her herbs and helps the sick. Her peace is shattered when a doctor is determined to have her as his mistress. When she refuses he uses underhand tactics to try to destroy her and ends up accusing her of witchcraft. Adrianna learns a lot of Ursula's life and trials through the journals but also realises that she is learning about herself at the same time. This book is extremely fast paces with so much going on that I ended up devouring it in just two sittings. the storyline is ram packed with heartache, cruelty, strength, mystery, drama, history, suspense and everything you could ask for in a one of a kind must read page turner!! Clare's vivid, emotive and evocative descriptions really brings the storyline, characters and atmosphere to life as you turn the pages and you will find your heart racing and aching, smell the herbs, feel the pain these women are going through and seeing the strength they have. My heart went out to these absolutely amazing and brave women and I was rooting for them both through every page. I absolutely love when there are strong female protagonists in books being female myself and these two are two of the strongest I have ever come across. Clare really does bring them to life so it feels you are standing with them seeing and feeling every single thing that they are seeing and feeling. My heart ached at the dreadful and cruel way they were treated which was absolutely horrific!! There were several occasions where I had tears in my eyes and I don't cry easily, unless it involves animals, so have the tissues at the ready!! Make sure you also clear your schedules as there is no way you will be able to put this down!! I gave up lying to myself saying I would read just one more chapter after attempting it twice!! I ended up getting comfy and absolutely devouring it in one suspense filled sitting!!! I loved both timelines equally and was just as invested in Adrianna as I was Ursula. Clare really has done an absolutely fantastic job of weaving a devastating and dramatic storyline into an unputdownable literary page turner. Instead of wasting your time reading this just grab your copy and get lost in this touching and compelling storyline now. I can promise you won't regret it!! Clare takes us not only through multiple timelines but also ensures we feel the heartache, sadness, fear, disappointment, joy, pain, love and absolutely everything that each of the characters are seeing and feeling from the beginning of their journey to the very end. It genuinely felt like I was with Adrianna and Ursula throughout the book and any time I was distracted from the book it took me a few moments to actually work out where I was as I was so absorbed in the storyline. It is one of those poignant and compelling books that the only way to read it is in one sitting so clear your schedules before you get started as you wont be able to put it down!! Clare does an absolutely fantastic job of weaving the characters from both Adrianna and Ursula's perspectives together perfectly in a way that ensures we get to see how each of them are feeling and what they are thinking throughout. I don't want to say too much about the storyline as I do not want to risk giving anything away and spoiling it for future readers so I need to be careful how much I write about it. I will say that if you are looking for an easy and relaxing read then this may not be the book for you as it is quite intense at times and tough to read at times. The one thing that I really did love about this book though is Clare's fantastic ability to completely engage the reader into the storyline. This book is extremely well constructed and was absolutely ram packed with so much going on that you will just fly through the pages!!! It is multi layered with all the characters backgrounds and personalities coming out and each and every character has their own personalities. It was a very compelling and addictive read!!!

Clear your schedules, have the tissues at the ready and get ready to get completely sucked into a compelling, unique and emotional page turner

Congratulations Clare on an absolutely addictive, unique and engrossing book and I am looking forward to reading more of your future books.

Overall an absolutely compelling, dramatic and unique page turner.

I am a reader who can read a multitude of varied genres. Historical fiction is amongst my favourite. Add timeslip, and that's me for the time it takes to read the novel. Clare Marchant's brand new The House of the Witch enchanted me right away.

We meet Addie, officially Adrianna, who has taken a six month sabbatical from her stressy job. The biggest thing she has done is move to a remote run-down house in Norfolk, while her boyfriend stays in London in her apartment. She discovers a bundle of papers written by an Ursula back in 1646.

The story unfolds through dual timelines, and they are woven together beautifully. Both women are strong characters. Ursula's story is set in the time of the witch trials in Norfolk. This creates a darker side to the story. I found myself invested in both women and most definitely intrigued by Ursula's tale.

This is my first book by Clare Marchant, and I have already been checking out her other books! The House of the Witch is another example of being educated and entertained. One of my favourite sayings for perfect historical fiction stories. I was so enthralled with this atmospheric and captivating dual timeslip historical fiction novel.
Thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the gifted widget in exchange for an honest review.

I am very conflicted about this book. I loved Ursula’s story. It was gripping and compelling and really conveyed the vulnerability of her position in her time period. Adrianna’s story on the other hand was far less enjoyable. It was clear within the first two pages that her boyfriend was a terrible person (see the Range Rover saga). I get that she’s supposed to have this growth and realization for herself but as a reader, I find it incredibly annoying to read someone being mistreated so blatantly for most of the book. It detracted from every other aspect of the story. If Rick had been shown at the start as loving and carrying and then slowly we see the deception in time with Adriana’s realization, this could’ve been so good. Instead I just rolled my eyes every time he was mentioned. Unfortunately this book was a miss for me.

Ooh another historical fiction author to add to my list 🥰

I was instantly engrossed in this book and it gave me all the feel good vibes. Both of the protagonist’s were interesting, due to the authors writing style I could completely envisage there ‘times’.

Throughout the book we experience the happenings with Ursula, followed by Adrianna reading about it. I enjoyed the slight difference between the ladies, Ursula was definitely a much better judge of character, Rick? Urgh, I did shout at Adrianna for being so blindsighted!

The character growth of Adrianna was heartwarming, seeing her finding her ‘people’ in her new life and realizing what is important. I would love to see her in the future on her escapades after the archeology course.

This is a must for historical fiction fans

If you’re a lover of historical fiction you’re going to love this book. A fantastic, well-written dual temporal story about witchcraft charges against women who practice herbal medicine and midwifery. The connections with the present-day scenario lead to an unexpected twist. There are several wonderful historical novels out there that cover parallel timelines and Matthew Hopkins the Witchfinder General, and this is another that will appeal to fans of the topic. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to review this book.

If you’re a lover of historical fiction you’re going to love this book. A fantastic, well-written dual temporal story about witchcraft charges against women who practice herbal medicine and midwifery. The connections with the present-day scenario lead to an unexpected twist. There are several wonderful historical novels out there that cover parallel timelines and Matthew Hopkins the Witchfinder General, and this is another that will appeal to fans of the topic. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to review this book.

This book comprises everything a good dual timeline novel should have. So often I find in novels of this type that I am drawn to one of the timelines more than the other. However, these were equally enthralling as the characters and the plot were utterly believable.

The author has clearly researched the period very well and has an excellent understanding of her characters. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning as I could see the dangers lurking ahead for both Ursula and Adrianna.

If you enjoy historical fiction which features courageous women with some supernatural added into the mix then you will love this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it.

I do love a good witchy read and Marchant has just surpassed all the others I've read with The House of the Witch.

Told across dual timelines the plot takes us back to 1646, the year of the Norfolk witch trials, and flips between then and the current day, where Adrianna is seeking her solace from life. Both stories are fantastic and well executed. And the way they seamlessly draw together through the house is perfect.

The author has meticulously researched the time period and with this as her basis has created a captivating and compelling story of two strong women and their fight for justice. Both MC were perfect,, likeable and I was rooting for them all the way.

It's atmospheric, enriching and absolutely captivating.

Adrianna is taking time out from her high flying career. She is leaving her London apartment to rent a cottage in Finchingham, rural Norfolk for a few months, to sort herself out. It’s 2024 and life in Norfolk will be very different from London.
The year is 1646. Ursula Beal is a single by choice female, living in Church Cottage Finchingham. A meagre living but she’s independent.
All is ticking by in life for Ursula until a new village Doctor comes, and this will change the life of Ursula.

I am always drawn to an historical fiction, especially where witches are mentioned or involved.
I really enjoyed reading this book, finding it so difficult if I had to put it down.
Women having to tread carefully around the men in their lives, not having a voice.
The only part I didn’t understand in the book was the involvement of the Gull. Maybe I missed the point regarding the bird.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

Big thanks to Boldwood books, Clare Marchant and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion !

This is my first time reading this genre and it was such a lovely surprise. I was intrigued by the cover and the name of the book initially.

The fact that it was a dual timeline story was great. I’ve always wanted to read a book with the same setting in different eras and see where that connection would lead.

We start with Adrianna, who seems to be trying to get some rest after being completely burned out at work and Ursula a midwife and herbalist with the give of sight, and as the story develops we start to understand how the are linked and why their stories are told together.

I won’t spoil the rest of the story but it was such a page turner. I quickly got caught up with the both of them, and just had to know what would happen to them.

I will admit that I found Adrianna’s story a little bit too predictable compared to Ursula’s but I think having two more complex story could have lost some readers. I loved the ending, it felt good for once !

This isn’t a « fun » and light hearted read as it talks about violence, witch hunts and the role of women in our society but it did widen my horizons and make me want dig deeper into our history and the way independent women are and were treated and hunted.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a timeslip novel, and in recent years, I've found myself more and more drawn to this type of book.

There are two narratives - one in the 1600s and one in the present day. In the 1600s, we follow Ursula, a village midwife who is accused of witchcraft. In the present day, we follow Adrianna, who goes to stay at a secluded cottage in Norfolk while she is on sabbatical leave. She finds herself feeling curious about the cottage and its history.

I was very drawn into the story as the author brought two narratives, and two sets of characters, to life. In both cases, I felt there was an eerie atmosphere, with a touch of magic. There was a lot of suspense too; I kept turning the pages, and found I had to read one chapter, then another, then another.

This was a little bit like two stories in one, and I became invested in both stories. This was a page turner that helped me to escape, and kept me entertained for a few hours.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Cool cover, exciting blurb - I grabbed this one!

This is what it's about: we are in Norfolk, in a small town in the idyllic middle of nowhere. Adrianna from London is burned out and is taking a sabbatical. She has chosen an ancient cottage for this and she just wants to relax. She soon realises that the building is shrouded in mystery, that things and energies are at work here that cannot be explained - and even though some things are spooky and mysterious, Adrianna doesn't let that stop her from investigating. She finds an old diary that was kept more than 400 years ago by Ursula, who once lived here.....and the more Adrianna deciphers the old pages, the closer she feels to Ursula, who once lived here as a midwife and herbalist.
The story is told alternately by Adrianna in the here and now and by Ursula from 1646, and of course the shared house is the connecting element. But the further the story progresses, the more similarities emerge: Adrianna, actually a successful power woman, has let her narcissistic boyfriend take away her self-confidence and is now finding her way back to herself with difficulty and with the help of new friends. Ursula, on the other hand, decided early on not to let a man into her life, because her personal freedom has always been her most valuable asset - especially because as a healer she repeatedly encounters domestic violence, which she definitely does not want for herself. It becomes problematic for her when a new rich doctor moves to town who pulls out all the stops to possess her... and after all, that was the age of the Inquisition...

Yes, and so the book in general has a very feminist component for me, which I really liked. I found it interesting that the protagonist from the 17th century decided so vehemently for her personal freedom and for being single and went through with it - the lady had personality! - and the protagonist from our times lets herself be so taken over by her boyfriend. Domestic violence on the psychological level, which is not immediately recognizable as such - I think that has potential for identification. I found these relationship issues in both eras to be portrayed in a really fascinating way, that was the big theme in the book for me. Maybe other readers see it differently, of course there was a ghost feeling and mystery, and the setting in historical Norfolk also came across well to me, but as I said, I found the relationship issues particularly exciting.

The book was generally a great read, I found the characters authentic, and I could empathize with both women. It grabbed me. Cool plot twists, and an absolutely brilliant and unpredictable ending!
Conclusion: it was great! Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the review copy!

Leaving her boyfriend behind in London, Adrianna escapes to rural Norfolk in order to recharge and take stock of her life. However, the cottage she rents is a place of secrets and shadows and with a sense of the past lingering, Adrianna soon becomes immersed in the story of Ursula, a local wise woman, who lived in the cottage during the middle years of the seventeenth century.

This time slip novel captures beautifully the indecision of Adriana in the modern time and explores her reasons for leaving London, whilst at the same time we are seamlessly whisked back to a troubled time in our past when vulnerable woman were at the mercy of unscrupulous men who were hell bent on revenge, and during the time when the witch hunts were at their most venomous.

I've really enjoyed spending time in both time frames which are brought to life with meticulous detail and it was interesting to see similarities playing out in the lives of both of these young women. Heart breaking and consuming in equal measure, I followed Ursula's story with a sense of foreboding and yet was equally consumed with Adrianna's very modern dilemma in the present. The House of the Witch weaves together two different time-frames and yet does so with a fine eye for detail and a strong sense of both history and destiny.

The House of the Witch by Clare Marchant is a dual timeline novel set in Norfolk. One timeline is set in the present day where Adrianna is escaping to the countryside for a break from the stress of her job and city life. The other is set in 1646 featuring the witch hunts in East Anglia at that time.

Both timelines were equally compelling and I quickly became emotionally invested in the strong characters of Adrianna and Ursula. These two women linked by a cottage, showed strength and resilience in order to face their adversaries.

This was my first time reading a Clare Marchant novel but it will not be the last. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and attention to historical details. My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a digital review copy.

A brilliant book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Had me totally gripped. Would highly recommend. Look forward to reading more books by Clare.