Book: The Last Witch of Scotland
Author: Philip Paris
Publisher: Black and White Publishing
Print Length: 352
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flag

1727 Scotland

This is about historical witch hunts in Scotland and inspired by the true historical facts of the last witch executed in Scotland. A book I could not put down so eloquently written but definitely pulled my heartstrings.

It is about the last woman who had a witch trial and was horrifically executed being accused of being a witch in Scotland. It shows after a tragic event of a fire that kills Aila’s father she and her mum move a secluded parish of Loth in north-west of Inverness. Aila was horribly burned from the fire and her mother Janet who had the beginnings of dementia. Of course there was no diagnosis for dementia in the eighteenth century.


However this new minister instead of helping them after the tragic fire he had an unusual interest in them. This also isolates them more from the people of the area in which they live.
Soon arrives a clan of traveling entertainers that got the attention of Aila and her mother and it was the first time something gave happiness and friendship since the fire. Unfortunately other sometime want to ruin others joy especially in a small parish and these religious zealots where they gossip, whisper and lie! It is also story about love and loyalty.

Paris show you the journey how Ailsa and her mother which is very emotional where I found myself tearing up. Obviously she was not a witch and only an innocent woman that this should never happened.


Also this book weaves with true historical events to the history of Janet Horne was the last person in Britain to be tried and executed for witchcraft. In 1727 she and her daughter were arrested and jailed in Dornoch. I found it interesting that Paris chose the daughter instead of the mother. In the true history it was the elder Janet who was executed. They do feel she had dementia and her daughter luckily escaped. It was a shame Janet did not escape too my guess it was due to her mental illness.


This book definitely drew me in plus I have been to Scotland with my Scottish ancestry. Plus I also stayed in Inverness so it was another reason I wanted to read this marvelous novel. Being a woman was definitely her only crime!

This is a book I highly recommend as it was absolutely brilliant. Just have a box of tissues with you as I did find it horrifying, heartbreaking and beautiful! It was a horrible time to be a woman in Scotland.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from from Edinburgh’s Black and White Publishing

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the Black and White Publishing of Edinburgh that I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. All words, thoughts and ideas are my own.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

Wow, this was a doozy! As a lover of historical fiction, I particularly enjoyed reading of the witch trials in a location other than the usual Salem. The Last Witch of Scotland was rich in both characters and plot which are crucial for a piece of historical fiction to be a hit for me. I won’t forget this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A gripping and evocative read that absolutely broke my heart. One of the best books I have read this year, I loved it

"The Last Witch of Scotland" by Sarah Harper weaves history, folklore, and the supernatural into an engaging thriller. The unique premise and atmospheric prose immerse readers in the world of Scottish witches. The relatable protagonist adds depth to the story. However, the pacing occasionally falters, some characters lack development, and the resolution feels rushed, leaving loose ends. Despite its flaws, the book remains captivating for fans of the genre, earning it a 3 out of 4-star rating. It delivers an enjoyable read but falls short of reaching its full potential as an exceptional piece of fiction.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

North of Nairn, in the Scottish Highlands, is a place called Dornoch. Should you go there, stop for a moment in Littletown. If you know where you look, you can find a relatively small, ordinary looking stone in a private garden. And engraved into the surface of the stone is a date: 1722. It’s lost to time why that date is etched on that particular stone, some five years before the execution that it is commemorating. Nonetheless, this is the memorial that exists for Janet Horne, the last woman in Scotland to be executed for the singular crime of being a witch.

Author, playwright, and journalist Philip Paris has long known this story, as it is one frequently retold in the Highlands. After seeing countless people leave offerings at the stone, and having heard the legends around the Horne family, he decided to record his account. The Last Witch of Scotland (Black & White Publishing, 2023) may be historical fiction, but it is fiction deeply rooted within fact and folklore that still persists to this day.

Paris tells the story from the perspective of Janet Horne’s daughter, Aila. The Horne family is well-known and respected in Inverness where they make a living brewing ale. But their fortunes turn when Aila’s father is killed in a fire, and Aila is left disfigured and disabled in her efforts to save him. Janet and Aila move from the bustling city to escape the bad memories and find some respite. When Janet begins showing signs of dementia, she and Aila become easy targets for the new minister’s zealous paranoia.

Paris shows a deep understanding of the time period and culture that he is writing about. The characters that he portrays are all too human, and even knowing how the story ends for Janet does little to dissuade the reader from hoping for a different outcome. Aila is a deeply vulnerable, ambitious, and tragic protagonist. The traveling troupe who join the Hornes for a time are made up of equally lovable characters, and the way they are treated creates a deeper understanding of how horrible the witchcraft trials were. While it’s cliche to say that you can’t judge a book by its cover, all too often even now people are judged for looking or behaving differently from what’s expected.

The Last Witch of Scotland is a moving read. The lessons it teaches still resonate now, and if the legends are to be believed, I would like to think that the Hornes would appreciate such a compassionate look back at their ancestry. As Scotland begins to face the history of their witchcraft trials more honestly and openly, I hope the rest of the world will begin similarly honoring the wrongfully executed dead and stop such practices that are all too common even now.

A very typical tale of how many women were branded as witches just due to fear of others. It was definitely not an era to be different or not be in favor of the church.

I had never heard this portion in actual history, but in reading more about it, the author did a great job in creating a gripping story with not a lot of documented historical details(not like hearing of the Salem Witch Trials). The personalities that were brought to Aila, Jack, Janet, and the rest of the troupe were fantastic. Aila and Jack really bonded which was nice to see since Aila was conscious of her burn injuries and Jack had some memories that haunted him.

Once this really got going, I really got pulled in. It doesn't end how I was expecting either which was a nice change.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

An atmospheric and satisfying read. Very recommendable. I can’t say it was a favorite read but I fully respect the craft and skill of the author. Well developed characters populate a carefully developed setting that almost works as it’s own character within this read.

Wow. I love this book. A mother and daughter struggle after the tragic death of the husband/father. Moving to a different area and trying to fit in becomes very hard and herein lies the tale and a tale which draws you into their world.

A story that is inspired by the true story of the last 'witch' to be executed in Britain it weaves a tale of love, loss, courage, fear, These women need to be strong but with the prejudices of the period (I loved the early 18th century setting) what hope did they have?

The characters are very well written and strong, the story is one that draws you in and gives you the emotion you need to feel for these women. Interesting, intriguing and a book I just couldn't put down.

Also loved the authors historical notes at the end of the book as they really help you understand and bring the truth of the story to light.

Thank you NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

Wow, what an amazing Historical fiction read. I'm speechless, this book made me shed quite a few tears.

Set in the early 18th century it follows a mother and daughter and a troupe of entertainers during the tale their lives intersect. The story is about the last execution of a witch in Scotland.
The characters written were brave, courageous, smart, inspiring and kind.
There were also side characters that were judgemental, easily led, prejudice and closed minded.
This is not just a well written bit of history it's also a love story and a lesson for everyone about the damage prejudices can cause.

The writer brought the characters to life on minimal historical records and the read was well paced and easy to read. I couldn't put the book down for the last 50%.

I love the feminist quality of this story, how could it not be? Mostly everyone that was accused of witchcraft was a women. Women weren't supposed to be well educated or speak their mind.

"We're guilty of being women and having no man speak for us. We're guilty of being intelligent and educated, of speaking out when we see injustice or cruelty" - a very good bit of writing that moved me.

The historical notes at the end of the book were a great touch.

100% recommend to all, especially Historical fiction lovers.

I will be reviewing this book on my Bookstagram @blonde.reads.fiction. Thank you for the ARC copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc.

I immensely enjoyed this book and appreciated the story. It felt like time travel.
Very compelling and very enchanting, but also brutal like history usually is.

Super interesting (fictional) take on the last witch to ever be executed in Scotland. A good look at how suspicion and petty mindness lost the lives of many women back in the day.
Enjoyable.

4.5 upped to 5
IT's a poignant and compelling story, a reimagining of the life of the last woman who was prosecuted for being a witch.
Janet and Aila are two well rounded characters, you cannot help feeling for them and hating the people who set them apart and brought the story to its end.
I liked the storytelling and the author did a good job writing the vivid historical background.
I want's a fan of the last part but it's an excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Inspired by the true story of the woman known as Janet Horne, this historical fiction novel tells the story of the last person in Britain to be executed for witchcraft. It takes place in 1727, in the Highlands of Scotland. A mother and daughter are accused of witchcraft. The daughter had a disfigurement of her hands and feet from a fire. Janet was suffering from the early stages of dementia and so her actions were sometimes out of the ordinary, and as people with dementia do, she had had problems remembering things, and sometimes went about talking to herself.
This book highlighted a grave injustice of that time period. It immediately drew me in, and kept me captivated. I did not want to put it down. I was familiar with the Salem witch trials, and how many people were falsely accused, but I admit I had never heard of Janet Horne, and was unfamiliar with the witch hunts that went on in Scotland during that time period. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then I highly recommend this one!

I love historical fiction and was immediately drawn to this book based off the title alone. The Last Witch of Scotland combined all my favorite things in one book, witch trials, the lush Scottish Highlands and the mystery and wonder of a time long ago. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

This story is told mainly from Aila’s perspective but occasionally we get POVs from other characters like Jack. I was pulled in right away and I didn’t want to put it down for the most part! The pacing was good, it did slump a little in the middle before picking up again for the last third.

I loved the characters and their relationships! Fantastic found family rep and great character development throughout the novel. I felt like I really got to know each character! The ending/Epilogue felt unnecessary and I think I would’ve given 5 stars if the story had ended after the final chapter as that would’ve made a better end to the novel (in my opinion).

Overall a great read about the Scottish witch trials! I highly recommend for anyone else who enjoys reading about this dark period in history, well written characters, or if you enjoy the found family trope.

Rating: 4.5/5

TW/CW: fire/fire injury, death of parent, violence, child death, domestic violence, grief, terminal illness, imprisonment, dementia, death, sexism, torture, religious bigotry

Oh this was deeply disturbing and dark. Beautifully written but dark. I am not a fan of historical fiction but this book was good. It didn’t romanticize the ugly or sweep the devastation aside to make it all rainbows and puppies. Kudos to the author on her research and this book

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I raced through The Last Witch of Scotland. It is easy reading with vivid descriptions and lots of historical detail.

I managed to resist Googling the history that inspired this work of fiction until the end of the book and then I didn’t need to because there was an author’s note to answer all of my questions. Perfect!

Give this a try if you enjoy historical fiction that is strongly set in place and you don't mind a bit of gentle romance.