This was a beautiful story. The beginning was a bit difficult to fully comprehend and the long chapters added to that but once you get about 30% in then the story gets more interesting and suspenseful. I really enjoyed the characters and loved the theme of sisterhood and searching for belonging. I agree that Alice Hoffman fans will love this and anyone who loves witchy reads will also adore this. It’s perfect for spooky season and the cover is gorgeous.

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This was an interesting contemporary paranormal fantasy. Persephone May is an orphan and has been alone her whole life. She wants nothing more than to belong somewhere, but whenever she tries to forge bonds with other people, unexplainable things happen and she finds herself moving on again.

After one particularly jarring public display of powers she doesn't understand, Persephone receives an email inviting her to visit one of her only friends on the elusive Wile Isle. As soon as she steps on the island, Persephone feels at home, something she's never felt before. It's clear that Wile Isle is no typical island, nor are some of its occupants. Persephone learns that she is a witch from a long line of witches and she may have a part to play in the welfare of the island and its occupants.

I liked the overall general theme of the story and it was well written. The problem I had with the book is that it just seemed to drag on. Maybe it was because Persephone reminded me of Debbie Downer from SNL or Eeyore - everything was always the worst case scenario and everything was so heavy and dark. Even in stories with difficult storylines or heavy subject matter there is an occasional spark of lightness and laughter. I didn't find any of that in this book. Some of the descriptions of places, people or things were far too in-depth and I found myself skimming parts of the book. I had high expectations for this book but it fell a bit short.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

This was a good witchy story that had curses, lost family, and a library of lost things. There was LGBTQ representation that I appreciated, but I felt it could have been stronger. Overall I enjoyed it and it had a good pace. The world building for a standalone book was impressive for the size of the book. 4 stars

This book has a gorgeous cover and many readers will love the story. I thought it was okay. Something about the writing style didn't really engage me. There's a lot of thinking and wondering and a lot of talking. I think the author was trying to be funny but it was weird, like saying "her lost appendage (more commonly referred to as her laptop)". Eye. Roll. Also, please do not ever use the word mothertrucker (hopefully that got changed in the final version.) It's not even like there wasn't cursing throughout the book (some I thought was unnecessary, even confusing once.) Things were mentioned but not developed, like the family grimoire. The ending was confusing. Dorian was my favorite character in the book.

Persephone levou uma vida solitária por anos. Desde cedo ela soube o que era o abandono e ser diferente de todos os outros. Coisas estranhas acontecem quando ela olha nos olhos de pessoas comuns. Depois de mais um desses estranhos acontecimentos, Persephone resolve aceitar o convite de sua única amiga Hyacinth e ir visitá-la na paradisíaca ilha de Wile. Ao chegar lá, Persephone May descobre que é nada mais nada menos que uma bruxa, uma que tem o poder de quebrar uma antiga maldição e é assim que ela encontra sua família. Porém, nada é o que parece e Persephone vai descobrir muito do que estava oculto por centenas de anos, incluindo um misterioso bibliotecário.
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Minha primeira experiência com a escrita dessa autora e eu confesso que sofri um pouco, pois descrições muito detalhadas e cenas desnecessárias tornaram essa leitura muito parada e as vezes até monótona até a metade do livro. A narrativa ganha fôlego em seus 30% finais, mas isso não foi o suficiente para me convencer já que alguns acontecimentos acabaram meio atropelados.
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O romance entre Persephone e Dorian, por exemplo, poderia ter sido melhor explorado se algumas cenas fossem mais estendidas. Dorian é aquele mocinho que poderia ter dado muito mais se tivesse aparecido mais na narrativa.
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Por outro lado, personagens interessantes como Ariel acabaram ganhando um maior destaque onde não deveriam. A história dela com Hyacinth não ganhou a força que deveria.
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Se a parte final do livro tivesse sido melhor distribuída na narrativa, talvez esse livro tivesse sido espetacular, pois a história de True e Amara, as bruxas que originaram maldição, é interessante e foi bem estruturada, mas no começo e no fim do livro.
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Enfim, muito potencial, mas não muito bem trabalhado.

First off, I picked this one up sure it was intended for the young adult audience, and while I've noticed that it is placed in this category in some spots...it is not a young adult novel. Rather, this one takes with a Persephone in her mid-or so twenties. So, this is a solid adult novel.

Persephone was an orphan, never knowing who her parents were, but harboring powers, which caused horrible things to happen. While working her latest job at a coffee shop, another incident, which leaves a kind man with burns, causes her to simply leave and run. Again. She ends up following an invitation she'd received long before from a woman to visit her on an island. Even the arrival to the island holds strange incidences, so when Persephone is told she's a witch, she's surprised but believes it might be true. However, she's more than a little uncertain, when she learns she's the third witch needed to end a hundred-year curse.

The blurb left me expecting a different tale, which, obviously, did change the way I read this novel, especially in the beginning. But I'm going to try to shove that aside as much as possible. This book has little to do with Persephone as an orphan, but rather, slides through her past with that bit included and sets off when she's already an adult in life. The tale isn't exactly as fast-paced as I usually prefer. Rather, Persephone's situation, background, and reasons for her emotions are well-introduced and give her that much more depth before the 'adventure' starts (about 10% into the tale). The author weaves poems, journal entries, and such into the tale to create lovely glimpse at what happened in the past. It is a lovely way to get needed information while keeping the information more interesting and giving it a mysterious touch.

When Persephone joins the other two witches, the pacing picks up a bit (still, not as much as I like) and the tension builds. The atmosphere is haunting and magical, inviting to a darker story full of secrets. There's always an under-flowing uncertainty of who can be trusted and actual intentions, which I enjoyed. It's haunting and leaves Persephone to discover not only what her past is and the truth behind the curse, but also has her learning more about herself and dealing with who she truly is. It's not quite my thing but well-written for the right reader.
I received an ARC and found this well-written

Tis the season for cozy reads with witches and magical atmospheres! Crutcher's new release, The Orphan Witch, is a novel based on hope, family, sacrifice and love.

The characters are complex with secrets that push the plot into unique twists and turns. Persephone is an orphan cursed with what she perceives as a look that can quite literally kill if she isn't careful. Between her past and the curse giving her an inability to make deeper connections, she craves what many take for granted in life. Her character is almost heartbreaking at times. There is a deep bond of sisters underlying the story that I really enjoyed. Even when things are at their worst it was heartfelt to watch the different witches and their dynamics create and break bonds. A dose of romantic interest sparks the pages and while it was a low simmer on the steam index, I did feel it toed the line of insta-love. However, based on Persephone's past it is pretty understandable. Plus, Dorian isn't easy to turn away from for us bookish folks. I did notice I wasn't connecting to the characters as much as I would've liked though and I couldn't pinpoint why.

The magical elements are a mixture of classic witchy spells intermingled with parallel world travel and elemental powers. I enjoyed how the combination comes together to create the climax towards the end. The story is a slow-build and there is a pretty large informational load in the beginning. Alternating POVs and a third person narrative lead the reader through Persephone's finding of family and her powers. I found this novel to be more about family and bonds instead of action and steam. This takes readers on a journey through connection with a sprinkle of drama and romance here and there. I could totally see this being a series on the Lifetime channel for October, at least that is how it was playing out in my head as I read.

Overall, The Orphan Witch is a cozy, witchy novel. Though I prefer more paranormal fantasy romances with action, I believe readers who enjoy the more slower paced familial novels will devour this beautifully written story. Thank you SMPRomance and St. Martins Griffin for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Audio available by Macmillan Audio is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. All thoughts are my own.

Persephone May had a childhood of drifting in and out of foster homes, and finds herself working in a cafe as an adult. Strange things can happen when she looks at people. A friend, Hyacinth, invites her to stay on an island. It turns out that Hyacinth and Persephone are cousins, and along with Moira who is Hyacinth’s sister they must break a curse.

I don’t usually read books like this, but it reminded me a bit of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series. The strong female characters were great! I found the book a bit slow moving in places, but overall a sweet story. Persephone herself was a brilliant character with lots of tough choices to make and a big heart.

Worth a look for October if you like a light, witchy read with family secrets and mystery.

What an absolutely amazing book. Loved the whole character growth and journey throughout the entire story. Persephone has spent so many years alone yet when she heads to Wile Ilse, things drastically change. This is definitely an interesting story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. This is definitely an author to watch! I highly recommend this book.

This was a very complex world of witches, curses, and spells. A perfect book to read at this time of year. Crutcher's worldbuilding skills are amazing. We follow Persephone, who has never been able to build any lasting relationships due to her strange effect on people when she makes eye contact. When Persephone gets an email from a friend inviting her to Wile Island, she agrees and finds that the island is a lot more than what she expected. Persephone will find the true meaning of family, friendship, sacrifice, and love. 5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. I loved it.

Initial Thoughts
I was thrilled when St. Martin’s sent me an ARC of this book just in time for spooky season. I love reading witchy stories at this time of year!

Some Things I Liked
Witchy vibes. This book kinda felt like Charmed meets South Carolina vibes and I really loved it.
Mystery. There was a lot to unravel in this book and I enjoyed puzzling it out.
Romance. I loved the subtle romance in this book. It wasn’t the central plot but I did enjoy seeing it develop.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The ending got a little confusing. There were a lot of reveals and it got a bit strange. I wasn’t sure who was who for a second there and I didn’t love that.

Series Value
I think the ending of this book wrapped up in a way that would be best as a stand alone. I liked it and would like more in this world but the conclusion is best left with a little mystery.

Final Thoughts
I liked this book. I’d definitely read more from Paige Crutcher and this book is perfect for spooky season.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Orphan Witch” is a magical adventure about witches, family curses, and finding where you belong. The story is about Persephone, an orphan that learned that if she looked at someone directly, they would have a violent reaction. Because of this, she thought something was wrong with her and she felt very alone until she receives an invitation that changes her life and her world forever.

This book was beautifully written, however, I found myself drifting away with my mind wandering. I love the premise and the world that was created, but I was confused quite a bit. Perhaps it was because I kept skimming. The characters had a lot of potential, but mostly came across flat. I am a huge fan of magical books, so I had high hopes for this one, but needed less build up and something more substantial.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️️

Persephone has always lived apart from anyone that cares for her. She was abandoned as a child and raised in the foster system. Anytime she got close to an adoption or a making a close friend it would fall apart. Now she wanders from job to job still not making connections and never making eye contact due to the magic that happens that seems the other person to have something horrible happen. She has made one friend on the internet and when things happen again decides to take the friend up on the offer of a visit. Hyacinth isn’t telling Persephone the complete story; it seems that she is her long lost cousin and a witch. She needs Persephone to come to the island she lives on to help break a 100 year old curse. Time is running out and Hyacinth and Moira need her to break the curse. But cousins from the other side of the curse also live on the island and things are not what they seem. Persephone needs to learn how to use the magic she has had all her life if the curse will be broken. I wanted to like this book since it gave off such a strong “Practical Magic” vibe, but I just couldn’t fall in love with it in the end.

Abandoned as a baby and shifted through foster care families, Persephone May is alone and strange. Odd things always happen around her, and she's been cast out as a result. Now she doesn't get attached to others, doesn't date, and works odd jobs she can easily leave. When she gets an invitation to Wile Isle, she discovers answers to questions she's always had. She also finds out about curses and a family feud.

I really enjoyed getting into Persephone's story. From the beginning, we're told a lot of how she grew up alone because people tended to do weird things around her if she looked them directly in the eyes. Strong emotions triggered reactions in others, and this is what powered her spells. She didn't use incantations, just strong intent, which meant she had no control and feared what she could do. When another incident in a coffee shop scared her, getting an invitation from her friend Hyacinth was a great escape plan.

From there, the picturesque island home where Hyacinth lived contained magic cousins, ties to a family Persephone had never known, as well as a curse created a hundred years before that she's destined to break. Magic is intent, herbs, crystals, directions, and power from the land itself. Persephone has cousins, some of whom begin to teach her magic properties and control in the hopes that she can break the curse. There is a lot she doesn't know, like how she can walk between worlds, or how she can reach the Library of the Lost, as well as the secrets the different branches of the family tree are hiding. These are the secrets that draw me in, as well as the desperate race to fix the mistakes that multiple generations have made in trying to undo the curse.

While this is a story about magic, it's also a story about family, love, and forgiveness. I was completely enthralled, and rooting for Persephone and her newfound family the entire time.

DNF

I was looking forward to some witchy sisterhood full of magic. What I go as I read was drama, lots of it, and a meandering pace.

The characters have a strong YA feel. I had to keep reminding myself that these women are in their thirties or older, not teenagers.

The writing lacks rhythm, or the rhythm is monotonous, depending on how you look at it. We have strings of sentences with repetitive format—similar length and structure—switching only a pronoun for the character's name. (She was.. She decided... Persephone ran...) This won't be a problem for everyone, but it's one of those things that gets under my skin.

I got to around the 40% mark on my Kinde, decided I didn't really care, and gave up. But this is just my opinion. I have no doubt that lots of people will love this story, so do give it a try if the premise appeals to you.

I thought this book was very intriguing and I really liked it. The complex blend of fantasy elements, deep emotions, drama, suspense, twists, mystery, heart and grittiness made a potent mixture that I found incredibly enticing. Persephone was lovable, smart and sympathetic. She is a character that you can't help becoming fiercely invested in and avidly rooting for. This is a great read that sweeps you up and into the story, makes you form a strong emotional connection, hits you with the feels and leaves you quite happy that it has.

A very enjoyable and rich story from the start. I loved the depth of this story in both the characters and the atmospheric setting. Plus, I can you not like curses, witches, found families, and the name Persephone? It reminded me of Alice Hoffman in ways. Some parts are at a slower pace, especially to explain the history and curse, which was okay.

this was a unique take on the scifi genre, the characters were well done and the story was fun to read. I enjoyed the way Ms. Crutcher writes.

The Review

This is such an incredible and rich story. The first thing that struck me as I really delved into this narrative was how the theme and atmosphere took on a perfect harmony of magick, fantasy, and metaphysical fiction that really spoke to me. Not only are the more fantastic and fictional aspects of the narrative really entertaining, but the mind-bending settings and ideas explored in the narrative, including moving between worlds and different realities altogether, and how magick can bleed into the cosmos as a whole, are all ideas that I myself have been studying and exploring in my own life over the last couple of years, and it was great to see how the author implemented this notion while still creating engaging characters and captivating narratives.

The heart of any magical and fantasy-driven narrative has to be character growth. Persephone is such a complex and heartbreaking (and relatable) protagonist. The heart of her character’s arc is definitely the journey to find love (both familial and romance separately), as well as the journey to find acceptance and our own inner power, a power that can cause others to fear you when it is something beyond their understanding. In the end, her journey will take readers to a thought-provoking truth, which is what the true meaning of love is.

The Verdict

A masterful, enlightening, and thoughtful read, author Paige Crutcher’s “The Orphan Witch” is a must-read magick-filled fantasy read. The perfect way to begin the fall and spooky season, this is a reality-bending and life-and-death deep-dive into the fabric of our universe, and what the cost of love really means. With a heartfelt ending and plenty of world-building that would leave room for more stories in the future, this is not a novel readers will want to miss.

It's officially October time for all the excellent witchy reads to move up on my tbr shelf. First up is Orphan Witch; this is a new released on September 28, 2021. Our story takes place on an island for the most part and involves Persephone, who grew up without friends or family. She bounced around from foster home to foster home because whenever she let her guard down and allowed people in, they would do something volatile. Now an adult in her 30's her emotional powers or whatever they are have caused her to lose her job, and she flees and decides to meet up with someone she barely knows. What unfolds from there is a magical tale about lost witches, found family, and sacrifice. Persephone discovers her family on an island, discovers the key to solving a curse, and discovers a library for lost things. The parts I enjoyed the most should be no surprise to anyone who knows I love books about books, and this one has a library to beat all libraries in it. The descriptions are epic. Orphan Witch is so much more than I thought it would be, and I think it is worth picking up for the spooky season.