I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this book. I'm happy I went in blind because it absolutely blew me away. I want everyone to have the same experience so I do not want to post too many spoilers. However, the world building in this book is amazing as well as the complicated characters along with their relationships. Just when you think you are starting to grasp the plot of this book, it throws you for a total loop and you're left speechless. I don't even know what genre this book is because so many are entwined and it is done so smoothly. It has mystery, intrigue, thrill, romance, science fiction, paranormal fantasy and so many different variations of them. I was astounded and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I've been looking for a book with fantasy and horror vibes and I think this is what I wanted! First off, the characters were so well done. They felt perfect in this world and really helped drive the world building up. The witch aspect was a great vibe for me. Really enjoyed how that element was brought in. Overall I really enjoyed the writing style here. It left me wanting more and look forward to what's coming next!

Witch Wife was an interesting read. At first it felt like a historical novel and I was really confused because I was sure it was described as being a fantasy book, but soon enough everything made sense.

The main character reminded me of Celaena Sardothien, but very suicidal and dependent on her sister; her maiden was my favorite character and I was quite intrigued with her. The royal family was very insipid, and the "good guys" at the end were actually better villains. Basically, the characters were okay, but a bit too flat.

The plot was quite slow moving, but for me it didn't feel boring, mostly because I was really interested to see the main character's transformation. I also want to add that the book is a bit more about how she felt and dealt with losing the war and being a prisoner than on actual action, so there is not a lot going on for such a long book. There is a lot a thinking about suicide, so be cautious if you don't feel comfortable with that (the author gave a TW at the beginning, but it's really a lot).

Personally, I liked the book, mostly because it's a bit different, but it might not be everybody's cup of tea

Thank you to netgalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review. The blurb made me very eager to pick this one up: "Irene Shannon is has lost her husband and her sister, has killed a lot of people, and finds herself the captive of the British royals who have heard tales of the two English sisters aligned with the people of the New World, and want her to marry into their family. Irene learns that her husband may still be alive, and she will do anything to get back to him, even cross an ocean back to the monster-infested New World."

Sounds like a fun historical fiction with fantasy elements and interesting characters. While that is the case here, I found the plot extremely convoluted and the blurb misleading so I came up with my own so people that are interested know what to expect:

Irene is a robotic, nothing-special (that's not an insult, she actually describes herself that way) woman from a world similar to ours who has an extremely codependent relationship with her older sister who is perfect and every single guy seems to fall in love with. Irene's mission in life is to make her sister happy by helping find her "soulmate" after her previous husband dies, so she helps create an AI that somehow sends them to a world where the british empire wages a war against the New World (America) where they meet some outlaw like characters and end up having to marry them for their own safety - cue the Outlander music!

This is all told in the second part of the novel which felt like an AU fanfic of Outlander crossed with Pride and Prejudice which was pretty entertaining. Part 1 is spent at court and I was really enjoying the politics and characters, trying to get a feel for the world - and then! The princes ride up in a BUGATTI, I was crying laughing, it was so out of nowhere! There's a gay earl, a brothel-worker who's on Irene's side even after she pees on the carpet in front of the queen (that happens in the first chapter) and a pretty charming one-legged brigadier. I wish we got their POV instead..

So be forewarned, there are no witches in this book, there ARE ice monsters and expensive cars and guns, and an extremely dry main character, who is the sole narrator, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in her head.

Final rating: 2.5 stars

Really interesting read, loved the "historical" fantasy element, was originally thrown by the time/dimension travel and the introduction of modern aspects but it all clicked into place, looking forward to the next books

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (or rating).

Found family is great, but found family and sisterhood? Amazing. When they get revenge on the men who wronged them? Chef's kiss. This story is very boneless mercies and I LOVE IT. FEMALE RAGE!!!

Witch Wife by Lumen Reese is an enthralling read that beautifully intertwines dark fantasy and deep emotion. The story is both haunting and heartwarming, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of the unseen. Reese's writing style is atmospheric, drawing you into a world where magic is raw and the stakes are high. Making this a book that stays with you long after you finish.

"Witch Wife" by Lumen Reese is an interesting blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction that is about Irene Shannon, a woman who has gone through significant loss and hardship. The story follows her as she is captured by British royals who believe her to be a witch. The novel is not a typical historical narrative, it also has elements of time travel, mystical creatures, and dystopian settings. This helps to create a more layered story and brings more to the typical historical narrative.

It has an innovative plot and the emotional depth of its characters was wonderful to read. Irene's journey, especially her relationship with Fiona, her sister, is central to the story, though throughout the reading there were times the dependence on her sister's approval could be frustrating. The narrative's pacing and time jumps were sometimes a challenge, and could be difficult to follow. However, the world-building and the blend of genres kept me engaged throughout, especially with the introduction of unique monsters and a dystopian world​.

Overall, "Witch Wife" is a captivating read for those who enjoy a mix of genres and a story that delves into both personal and fantastical struggles.

I don’t know how anyone can rate this book less than 4 stars at least. It was a beautiful story full of so much emotion and what you will willingly go through to protect the ones you love. What you’re willing to give them, to sacrifice everything for their happiness. I look forward to the next installment to this trilogy. Irene is a woman to be inspired by, even though all she went through was catastrophic. The emotional build up was intense and some of it was dark but I could see myself reading this again.

*Witch Wife* captivated me with its unique mix of history and fantasy. Irene Shannon’s fierce struggle and the colorful cast of allies make for an engaging read. While the plot occasionally meanders, the strong character development and adventurous spirit shine through. A solid 4 stars for its imaginative storytelling and compelling protagonist.

Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kudos to the author for the warning but I think I need to give a Trigger Warning for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in my review. If this is something you can't deal with you should definitely skip this book!

The main theme of this book is love, and what you would do for it. Not just romantic love but familial love as well. The main character, Irene, is willing to do anything for her sister! And I mean anything! I like the idea of love in all it's forms but this was just extreme. Maybe I've just never felt love so deeply I would kill myself because a person died. In my opinion it is a betrayal to the person you loved, that you would give up your own life instead of grieving and accepting the loss and then live on and honouring their memory. If you don't want to live for yourself, then do it for the people around you. One suicide can cause a "chain reaction" of suicides/suicide attempts to people in your periphery, a so called suicide cluster. I just cannot fathom being in such an dark hole that you'd expose your family and surroundings to that kind of pain and risk. Is it just me?

But I digress.

The story is divided into 5 parts going back and forth in time. And hot damn it gave me whiplash! The first part was really interesting and engaging until what I thought was happening during the American Civil War but with monsters, suddenly have electricity, sports cars and Shrek in it. It threw me for an uncomfortable loop, and it took awhile for me to get back into it. Then the second part happened.

Remember how I said this book takes love to the extreme? Well, Irene jumps DIMENSIONS with her sister because her sister was suicidal after her husband died. Want to know why they did that? Because Irene figured that her sister had a better love in another dimension, and she jumps in with no more reason than "I love my sister and want her to not be suicidal, damn whatever it's going to cost me".

Despite the whiplash and disbelief, I wanted to know what was going to happen. I won't say the witch thing came out of nowhere but it did pop up whenever it was convenient in my opinion.

One thing this book did right, is that it showed that it's worth it to keep on living despite how dark of a hole you feel yourself to be in. You never know what will happen, and what you'll miss out on: new or old love.

This is just my take on this book.

**Features:**
- A unique blend of regency fantasy and science fiction
- Court intrigue and slow-burn romance
- Features strong female characters
- Depicts a character dealing with loss, depression, and suicidal ideation


The war has cost Irene her husband, her sister, and her freedom. Believed by the British to be a witch, she is shipped to England to be married off to one of the king’s nephews. However, she has no intention of following orders. Not when she has a sister to protect and a husband who might still be alive.

With an exciting premise and intriguing cover, I was really hoping this book would sweep me away. Unfortunately, it was more middle of the road. Conceptually, this is an intriguing world and the creatures are really cool. Most of the main characters driving the story are female and show strength and resilience in different ways. Irene starts off in a very dark place mentally/emotionally at the beginning of the story and this mixed with her confinement gives the book a slower start. However, as she starts to re-engage with the world, more pieces come together and the story really picks up steam. Though there is a lot to like in this book, I feel that it’s a bit clumsy at times in its execution and a number of moments felt jarring or confusing because of it. Overall, if you are interested in trying a book that blends regency fantasy, horror, and science fiction in an intriguing way and don’t mind depictions of depression and suicidal ideation, this one is worth a try.

**It takes all kinds of strength**

I love a book that has strong female characters, especially ones that portray this strength in ‘unconventional’ ways. Though Irene is mostly your typical warrior character, she is surrounded by other female characters who definitely have their own presence and authority in this world. Whether their actions helped or hindered Irene, their impact was felt and the book never seems to bring their femininity into question because of it. I also appreciate the depiction of Irene’s struggle with her inner demons and the strength it takes to overcome them, especially for a character like Irene.

**A winding and uneven path**

This book kicks off seeming like a historical fantasy, but it soon becomes clear that this isn’t really the case. The mystery of what exactly this world is and how our characters got into their situation quickly became far more compelling to me than the actual plot line they were moving along. There are a lot of unique elements that play together surprisingly well in this narrative as well. However, the introduction of these elements and how they interact often feels a bit clumsy. Since understanding what is really going on is a big part of this journey, I don’t want to get too specific. Generally speaking, the introduction of these elements can feel very abrupt and it feels like it takes 2-3 mentions of it for the world and characters to really start reflecting that this is a true and recognized element of their lives. Overall, I found myself thinking “Okay, I guess that’s a thing now” and “Did I just read that right?” one too many times. While it didn’t completely ruin the experience for me, I feel it got in the way of this book realizing its full potential.

A time traveling deus ex machina, deathless love, war, accusations of witchcraft—sounds exciting! Sadly, the characters are inconsistent, the bad guys are cartoonish, the pace is somewhere around death march, and the plots are frankly inane. Most of that would have been fixed by a good editor, though, so I hope the author finds one.

Wow. What did I just read?!?!? I love that this book combined elements of historical fantasy and sci-fi with a love story embedded as well. I would not call this a romance but a very painful, war love story. There are moments when I felt like the story dragged in certain areas. I wanted more details in certain instances and less in others. There was a time travel aspect that had some holes in it (as do a lot of time travel novels). On a very personal level, I hated how Fiona (MFC's Sister) often manipulated Irene (MFC) into doing everything for her.
Fiona is kind of a brat, but Irene allows it. Despite this frustrating aspect, I found myself still pulling for them throughout the book. Overall such a great starting point for a series. I would recommend this story for those who like historical war fiction with a tiny bit of fantasy to it. Although witches are mentioned in this book, it's not a
"witchy" book, but it is a beautiful story of longing and love.

Thank y0u for the ARC.

Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me at 56% in. I think that the main character is dry and robotic, along with the story being written in the present tense, I found this book hard to read, and I could not push myself to read anymore. Writing a book in the first person and present tense is really difficult.
There were a few things I liked about this book. First, I think the premise sounded like Outlander meets Dr. Who and I really liked that idea.
I liked how the main character was honest about what she was feeling, even when she knew she was upset about the wrong things, even when she was at home with her sister and Meiying, she still was truthful in her excitement and resentment. I like the relationship that Irene had with Fiona. The sisterly love and devotion were very present. They loved each other very much and would do anything for each other, and that loved carried into their marriages.
I liked that they traveled to a dystopian realm, or world. It was a very interesting twist. I was confused on how long they have lived in this world, where monsters took over and electricity and plastic were a danger to have. It wasn't very clear on how that happened. Maybe that is something that is explained later in the book, or maybe in the second one when it comes out. But it was interesting how they thought she was a witch, when they lived in a dystopian version of our world and wouldn't necessarily be strangers to magic and witchcraft.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

The premise of the book caught my attention. A warrior witch who is captured and forced to be wed to a price. I really enjoyed the banter between characters, especially Anita and Irene. The only reason why I gave it just three stars is due to the pacing. It was very difficult for me to push through this book as it explained the setting, characters’ background, and also the political aspects of the court. The time traveling was a bit too much for my taste due to how it was introduced and explained. I struggled to understand what the current time frame of the was.

I did love the monsters and the fact that it was something completely new from any book I have read before. The monsters/magic and the character development kept me going. I enjoyed the unique spin of the plot.

Unfortunately this was the first book I DNF’d. I was drawn in by the title and the cover of the book, however I just couldn’t get into this book. Just not what I enjoy to read. Nothing against the book but I gave it 150 pages and it just wasn’t pulling me in.

This book was SO much. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect based on the sort of vague description, and nothing could’ve prepared me for all that occurred; time travel (essentially), ice monsters, arranged marriages, and— no witches…

This book truly was like nothing I’ve ever read before, and while it took me a WHILE to get through, I thoroughly enjoyed almost the whole thing. I LOVED the characters and all their connections, Merrick and Irene? Goals. Irene herself was such a strong and loyal badass, I loved seeing her work through all the hardships life had for her.

I’m so curious to see what the next book has in store!

I have a little bit of mixed feelings about this book. I think the writing style was ok, could've been a bit more fast paced since it lost me every here and there. I liked the character transformation and how you got to know them more by the author showing you their pasts. But these time jumps were so drastic that they had me all over the place and made it hard for me to stay focused on the book.