The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher is a spellbinding novel that weaves together magic, mystery, and self-discovery in a beautifully crafted tale. The story follows Persephone May, a young woman who has always felt out of place and different due to her inexplicable magical abilities. When she is invited to the enigmatic Wile Isle, Persephone begins to uncover the truth about her past and the destiny that awaits her.

Crutcher's lyrical writing and rich descriptions bring the magical world of Wile Isle to life, immersing readers in a setting that is both enchanting and eerie. The island itself is a character, filled with secrets and ancient magic that beckon Persephone to explore its depths. The author's ability to create an atmospheric and immersive environment is one of the novel's standout features.

Persephone is a compelling protagonist, struggling with her sense of identity and belonging. As she unravels the mysteries of her lineage and powers, readers are taken on an emotional journey of growth and self-acceptance. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each contributing to the story's intricate tapestry of relationships and lore.

The plot of The Orphan Witch is a captivating blend of adventure and introspection. Crutcher skillfully balances the external conflict of magical dangers and challenges with Persephone's internal struggle to understand her place in the world. The pacing is steady, with well-timed revelations and twists that keep readers engaged and eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

Themes of friendship, love, and the search for one's true self are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story. Crutcher's exploration of the bonds that tie us to our past and the power of embracing one's unique gifts is both heartwarming and inspiring.

The Orphan Witch is a mesmerizing read that will appeal to fans of magical realism and fantasy. Paige Crutcher has crafted a tale that is both enchanting and thought-provoking, filled with magic, mystery, and the transformative power of self-discovery. This novel is a delightful journey into a world where magic is real and the quest for identity is universal.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm giving The Orphan Witch a 3.5 stars.
I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book. The Orphan Witch is a YA fantasy. The story was a bit slow for my taste.

So this book was both amazing and somewhat disappointing. I absolutely loved the world building and the characters and the story. The narrator was amazing and I listened to the whole book within a few days. The main complaint I have is that there was sooo much world building and so much background that it left little time to actually have the characters interact with each other. I wish that more time was spent between the Female Main character and the male love interest. Every interaction between the two was captivating and my favorite parts of the book. But they didn’t happen very often which was a little disappointing. I am hoping there is a second book that gives these characters the limelight they deserve. All in all I really liked the book and would recommend it. I do suggest having a print version alongside the audiobook so that you can follow along on some of the longer background stories. Thank you NetGalley for this digital version in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, This book really didn't give me the spooky vibes I was hoping for. I really couldn't get invested in the story.

This is a story about finding family.

I don’t think this was a bad book by any means, but I struggled to connect and it felt more like literary fiction with magical elements vs fantasy. That being said the writing was lovely! I think this might be a good fit for readers who typically read contemporary and are looking to branch out.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Macmillan audio for the Alc!

Imagine if Harry Potter a) was an American girl, b) got kicked into the foster care system, and c) grew to adulthood with no intervention from wizards or witches. That's what happened to Persephone May. She's become a drifter who longs for family but is unable to put down roots because of the strange incidents that follow her. After another disaster, she takes up a surprisingly friendly offer to stay with an acquaintance on the beautiful and mysterious Wile Island. Her arrival enflames a battle between a family of witches, who all turn out to be the very family she has been missing. The magic she wields is unpredictable and her role in this battle is unclear. A magical library, which appears and disappears, and the mysterious proprietor, may hold the answers to both her past and her future.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of THE ORPHAN WITCH sounded interesting, and as soon as I saw that Saskia Maarleveld was the audiobook narrator, I knew I needed to listen to it.

I wish Crutcher featured the Library of the Lost and Dorian more - I wanted so much more of that story! Honestly, I didn't love Persephone, so I had a hard time getting invested in the story. I liked the concept of the island and the curse but something felt missing in the narrative.

The romance between Dorian and Persephone felt shoehorned in to the plot and wasn't entirely believable. Some of the other witches were difficult to keep track of, too many witches with similar names made them meld together at times. With a little more editing, I think this could have been a great read, it just missed the mark for me.

Maarleveld does a great job with the audiobook performance as always.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. While it wasn't my favorite book ever, and the story of the witch without a family who doesn't know she's a witch has been done several times, this book managed to be a fun read and held my attention throughout most of it.

In the Orphan Witch we meet Persephone, a woman with a mysterious past and strange powers that she doesn't fully understand. She receives an email from a friend who invites her to Wile Isle where she discovers who she is, who her family is and that she is the one to break a 100 year old curse.

Aspects of the story that I enjoyed:

The magic. I love a good magical realism book and the magic in this book was fun. I loved the world that Paige Crutcher built throughout the story. Wile Isle, the library of the lost, the menagerie and the hinterlands were well described and I was able to feel as though I was there. The family drama aspect was engaging as well. I loved the witches, especially Moira and Hyacinth and their story.

Aspects of the story that I didn't like:

The weird, mushy love story between Persephone and Dorian. It felt awkward and forced. I really didn't like Persephone herself. She was a bit irritating. There were also times that it was hard to keep some of the witches straight. Especially since so many names began with A. I also did not like the narrator. Her voices for some of the older witches and Dorian were terrible. Her general narration was okay, but her voices weren't great.

Overall, this was a decent read. I would recommend it.

I think I listened to this book at the beginning of the fall... The magic, the family secrets and mayhem got me into the fall/Halloween mood. This was an easy listen and the narrator was very engaging. I hope to see Persephone again in future books!

There was so much I loved in this book, but then parts of it needed to be edited in order to make the flow better. My favorite part was the library!

Overall it's a fun read about a girl who never quite fits in but who finally finds her family. The various witches and their powers were interesting and the world building was solid.

I think I missed that this was YA when I got it. I had a hard time really getting into the story. I've read some great magical novels and really enjoyed them, but this one seemed a little slow paced. It had potential with the storyline, just not quite my cup of tea.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Written by Paige Crutcher, The Orphan Witch follows a woman follows Persephone and her newly found extended family who have been trapped on a magical island for a very, very long time.

The narration for this book was very solid and made it easy to listen to however, I actually had some issues finding Persephone a compelling character (Dorian was my favorite) until we see her explore her time-bending powers. She should have been, an orphan who finally finds her family who has terrible things happen to those who look into her eyes.

It wasn’t until she went off the beaten path and explored the island that I think the story started to really pick up. It was just her spending time with her cousins starting to learn how to control her power that was slowing and only slightly interesting for me.

Which is to say, this book takes a little bit to get into, and the back cover is truly only the inciting incident in the very beginning of the book, and there is so much more to come with this.

This is a magic book, no mistakes about that, and it is very, very well written. If you enjoy mystery with your magic, this would be a very good choice. If you are wanting to read a book for lots of romance, then keep looking.

I did recieve a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well-written book with interesting characters and a decent premise. I was expecting some magical content and supernatural vibe and this one delivered. I enjoyed the narrator!

Thank you #NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this.

I thought this book was fine. The story itself was interesting, but the writing didn't stand out to me.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 60%.

To be honest I just really wasn’t into this book. It felt like a chore to listen to. Then I went on vacation, on which I normally read, but had no desire to pick up this book.

It was also very forgettable. After my 5 day vacation and not listening, I remember literally nothing about it.

I’m sorry to say this book just wasn’t for me.

Loved this little gem! Loved the premise, loved the found family aspect, loved the strong female lead character. Would absolutely read more from this author!

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A captivating tale of magic, loss, family, and the history that binds all the characters within these pages.

THE ORPHAN WITCH is a blend of magic and history made only better by intricate relationships and a 100-year curse. Crutcher breathes life into the tale of Persephone May and her newly found family.

The one thing I loved about this tale is the characters and the way they have such unique personalities. When we first meet the women on this Isle, the reader will make judgments and assumptions on who the cast is. Then as the story progresses perspectives change. There is a beautiful way that the author constructs her narrative around the development of these women.

With all this being said, the curse is the driving force for this novel. It allows Crutcher to create a world of magic deeply enriched by the lore of the location and how the curse came to be. Having Persephone learn her history and how she is part of a larger picture allows the reader to find out all the nitty-gritty details craved within a novel like this.

There is magic, a love story, and a heroine who has to decide how to save her newly found family. What more can you ask for? A dazzling read.

Audiobook Note: The narrator of this book, Saskia Maarleveld, did a wonderful job bringing the characters and the story to life. It was completely enjoyable to both read and listen to this book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Orphan Witch is that perfect story for fall! It is captivating, entertaining, and there is a lot to love (and loathe) about the characters within this novel. I opted for a combination of reading in print and listening for the perfect atmospheric feeling and I think that I will make that an annual spooky season thing! It was so good, with great plot, fantastic characters, and a story that pulls you in straight from the beginning. 4.5/5 stars!

This book was a bit disappointing to me, and it was probably because I have read a lot of Alice Hoffman.... and this wasn't it for me. The world of these witches was very hard to picture — especially on audiobook! I also thought this was a big unnecessarily long and didn't really *get* the romance part. This very might well be someone's thing, but it wasn't mine.

The Orphan Witch
A Novel
by Paige Crutcher
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I generally read romance. I would categorize this as fiction with a little romance on the side - light on the romance. Low steam - just kissing.

This was a fun listen while gearing up for Halloween. The heroine knows there’s something not quite normal about herself but not what exactly. We as the reader puzzle it out right along with her for an engaging mysterious fantastical story of the importance of family, loyalty, communication and sisterhood. Also there’s witchy stuff + a cat so that’s fun.

The sound quality and narration were excellent. Great read/listen. 5/5