3.5 stars

Persephone has had a rough life. She went from orphanage to orphanage, never finding a true home. It almost happened once, but bad things happen around Persephone. Especially if she looks into your eyes.

I thought this was pretty good. I loved the witchy vibes. Great for spooky season. I liked the characters and the magic. I think my favorite parts were when they talked about the history of their families and the witches that lived before them.

Book received for free through NetGalley

I wanted to love this book but couldn’t get totally into it. I only got 28% in before the book was published and figured this review was better than waiting for me to read it all. The book was written well. It just wasn't my cup of tea right now.

This book includes a world and a half! There is a ton of set up and establishing the universe, complete with flashbacks, time shifts, and all sorts of witchy drama.

Persephone has led her life in fear. She was abandoned when she was young and has had a string of weird occurrences around her ever since. Always on the run from the weird mayhem that surrounds her life, she finally encountered a friend of sorts. That friend ends up being the entrance to a cursed island and what appears to be her destiny.

A curse was put on the island that traps the remaining witches there for a time, but will ultimately collapse. As Persephone discovers the true extent of her powers, her family history, and some tough choices (and romance, of course), there are all sorts of unexpected twists and turns. This book is dense and could easily be the introduction of a new universe. It was unique and involved many layers upon layers of information. Persephone ends up making some good decisions that had me rooting for her in the end, but, like I said, there are lots of ways this could have gone very badly for her. The ending is definitely a modification of what you'd expect for a HEA.

Persephone May is an orphan and has been searching for her family all her life. She believes if she finds them, someone will love her and will feel at home. She met Hyacinth Evers by accident and was invited to Wile Isle. Persephone was in for a surprise. Not only is Hyacinth her cousin so is her sister Moira. They are helping her channel her power. She is going to need everything she has to help get rid of the curse. What she is finding out that there is the power of light and dark. Every time you take power from a witch there is always a price to pay. On the anniversary of the 100th year, the battle to end the curse takes place. Seeing Persephone has more power, she has to make the decision because she will have to pay the debt. Save her family that she has come to love or let True win. Love and light will lead the way.

I was intrigued by the title and cover of this novel. The Orphan Witch started out like a fairy tale. I got a narrated movie vibe from it. I was able to envision the sad life of Persephone in vivid color. I was beginning to think The Orphan Witch could make a great animated movie. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. I even found it whimsical. And then, it changed. I felt like Paige was trying to weave so many aspects into a story, to provide as many twists as she could without explaining what was actually going on. There were several pages where I wasn't sure what was going on.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This was a unique take on a witch story. It was a great way to ease into October. Persephone was very relatable as a main character and Moira was the epitome of wholesome mother figure. The plot keeps you engaged and it’s a quick read. I really enjoyed the story, and it definitely kept me on my toes.

I was really excited to read this book after reading the description. I’m a pretty fast reader and when a book really engages me I usually finish it within a few days. Unfortunately this book wasn’t like that. I liked the story, don’t get me wrong, but the pacing was off. I almost quit reading it several times because I felt it just dragged on and on and not much ever happened until the last 20% of the book and even that was a bit anti-climatic. I couldn’t get a feel for the personalities of the characters, again, until the end, and they were a bit one dimensional. The little romance that was there was very adolescent. The world building was thin and at times confusing. I’m sure it was clear in the authors mind but it just wasn’t conveyed very well. I don’t dislike this story but it just felt like a long walk for a short drink of water. With all the great books on my TBR pile this one took so long for me to read that I feel like I wasted my time. This is an okay young adult story but I’m not sure many would stick with it until the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You had me at witches! Persephone May grew up in foster care, never truly having a home of her own. Every time she came close her powers would interfere and she would be forced to flee. Now grown and fleeing yet another life she has settled into, Persephone runs off to Wile Isle to visit her friend Hyacinth. Once she arrives everything changes and she hopes to finally answer all of the questions of her past.

I loved all of the magical elements to this book! The small, island town reminded me a lot of Practical Magic (the movie) and it was the perfect read for spooky season. I loved the variety of different witchcrafts and the descriptions of locale. The author did a really great job of setting the ambiance and making you feel like you were there. I loved all of the cousins and was so glad we finally got to spend time with the Way sisters. As much as I loved Moira and Hyacinth, I think Ariel and Ellison were my favorites. And I loved Dorian’s story as well.

Though this book wasn’t super long it did take me a while to get invested in the story. At times it was a bit meandering and hard to get my head around, especially at the beginning. About the halfway mark things really started to come together and I read the rest in one sitting.

If you like witches, magic and family you will definitely enjoy this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

The Orphan Witch is such a unique and magical book! Persephone May always seems to be alone and can not find her place in foster care, She wants nothing more than to find a real family who accept her for who she is As she gets older she moves around a lot never wanting to draw attention to her weird behavior she can't seem to control. She gets invited to Wile Isle and everything changes. There are witches, curses and time travel! Something for everyone!

Such a great story, with such rich, larger than life characters. I absolutely adore stories where the author has invested some real effort and time in world building and it's so obvious that it's been done with such care with this story. I felt fully immersed in the unique magic, as well as getting a full picture of all the characters and how they impact each other. Great read!

Persephone May was abandoned as an infant and raised in a series of foster homes. Odd things happen around her, her unintentional use of magic causing her to be rejected time and time again.

She meets Hyacinth Ever, who presses her to visit Wile Isle off the coast of North Carolina, an island charged with power. When she does so, it changes her life - and that of others.

This is an enjoyable book that is perfect for lovers of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series. Good characterization and world building.

This book just did not work for me. The love story was cringey and felt so unnecessary to the story. It felt like it was a story of found family or lost family and the romance was shoe horned in.
The story is told in a weird way and although I cannot put my finger on it, it did not work for me at all.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was really well written and it just had you trying to solve the mystery. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

The Orphan Witch: A Novel by Paige Crutcher
Publisher: St. Martin' Press
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publication Date: September 28, 2021

The Orphan Witch: A Novel by Paige Crutcher was amazing!!!! I was captivated from the start and did not want the story to end!

This beautifully woven tale features Persephone May (I love her name!!!), who grew up in foster care and anyone who got close to her got hurt. She was alone and afraid to let anyone in because she didn't want to risk hurting someone else. She has been wandering her whole life, running away when strange things happen and it's time to run again...

This book was fascinating and intriguing. The characters are well developed and complex! The storyline is amazing and dramatic and captivating and everything I could have hoped for!

This is a must read book! You will not regret it!!!

I can't wait to see what comes next from the author! I will definitely be reading her books in the future.

I'm so grateful to Paige Crutcher, St. Martin' Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

JT Ellison's description for The Orphan Witch is perfect. What a delightful 'coming into your own power' story! A wonderful debut. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Crutcher!

Persephone May has had a hard life, shunted from foster home to foster home, never able to make a lasting connection, never able to plant roots or make a home for herself. Weird things happen around her, things she cannot control, things that frighten others making her move on frequently even as an adult. She has a power she cannot control and does not understand. When an incident at the coffee shop where she works drives her to leave yet another job and town Persephone is not sure where to go. Then, an email pops up on her phone from Hyacinth Ever asking her to visit her home, Wile Island. Hyacinth was one of the few, maybe the only friend Persephone had, having met a year ago and formed a friendship online. The invitation seemed fortuitous and so, knowing she can always leave if things do not work out, off to the island Persephone goes.

Once on the island Persephone dares to think maybe she is home, the island crackles with power and, for the first time, she meets someone whom she can look directly in the eye without dangerous results. At Ever house she learns many things - she’s a witch, a cousin of the Ever sisters, possibly the key to break a century-old curse and maybe she has found a place to call home. As she learns more about herself, the island and the curse, she has to ultimately decide if she is willing to pay the price to save what, and who, she has come to love.

This was a fascinating read. The world, the people and the situation all draw one in. I read this over the course of two days, resenting each time I had to leave Persephone’s world for our own. The conclusion was satisfying while leaving no loose ends for a follow-up book. I do, however, look forward to more of Paige Crutcher’s work. Recommended

I really enjoyed this one. A magical adventure as the main character searches for who she really when she is invited by a friend to Wile Isle. There she comes to realize that Wile Isle is not your usual island and what he has searched for her entire life might be found there.
For readers of engaging magical fantasy this is one book you will want to read.

The Orphan Witch is a very fitting title for this novel by Paige Crutcher. What we have here is a young adult paranormal fantasy about a young orphan girl who happens to be a witch.

Persephone May has been forced to live in the shadows alone as every time she gets close to anyone in life bad things seem to happen to them making Persephone feel as if she is cursed. One day Persephone finds that she has received and invitation to Wile Isle, North Carolina.

The invitation came from Hyacinth who along with her sister Moira seem to actually be family to Persephone. Hyacinth and Moira are distant cousins and along with that they are also witches just like Persephone herself and need Persephone to help them just as she needs their help.

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher for me seemed to get off to a slower start than I prefer but as it got going it did pick up a bit along the way. The characters in this one were alright and likable enough and the story involved was one that was just interesting enough to keep the pages turning. However, I didn’t really find anything overly amazing to wow me with the book in the market of many many witchy fantasies out there so in the end I found this one to be just a so-so middle ground read for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!