The tornado that was witch-hunting in the seventeenth century is what sparked the joy that ended out in this book in our hands: The Village Healer's Book of Cures , by author Jennifer Sherman Roberts. She was studying up on a real witch hunter who caused the deaths of 300 women so accused.

Being a healer in those days seems to have been a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't proposition, and of course it fell most often to the women of the family/castle/county/village - they nursed the sick back to health by hook or crook or herb or special recipe. Should it go wrong, they were in a heap of trouble, and from there to You're A Witch! was a very short step. Add to that old hurts and jealousies, and revenge ignites all.

Fun for those readers who like hands-on experiences with their reads, recipes are included. The came from the Wellcome Library in London, in case a reader wanted to fire up their bunsen burner - useful, that.

There are triggers herein - which can be off-putting to sensitive readers, so beware if that's you. It was a terribly rough time to be a woman, or a helpful man, or a child of any age. Keep a cudgel handy, and your teeth sharp.

*A sincere thank you to Jennifer Sherman Roberts, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for and ARC to read and review independently.*

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

I loved the start of this but the there was animal cruelty which was unnecessary so I did not finish.
Without animal cruelty this may have been a good book.
Very disappointed

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

I enjoyed reading this book. The recipes at the beginning of the chapters and at the end of the book are interesting. I liked Mary Fawcett, Tom Fawcett, Mrs. Chamberlen. Be careful who you like in this book.

Trigger Warnings: breast cancer, animal cruelty.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

A great and wonderful historical fiction read about a Mary Fawcett, a herbalist and healer who is then cast as a witch which throws her life into a spin. Then there is a murder and strange symbols carved into a body which brings Mary into the limelight turning the village against her.

This is a page turner of a book and it is one you can really get your teeth stuck into (so to speak). The characters are great and the story is so intriguing and shows the strength of this amazing woman. It is well written and flows well, it is emotional and edgy and has everything you need in a good book.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This follows Mary, a healer who has abilities passed down through ancestors. Her life becomes threatened though when a witchfinder arrives in her village.

I thought this one was ok, just really slow. The plot wasn’t bad, it just took me a while to get through.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This story did a wonderful job of taking me back in time. He characters were rich and well done. The mystery kept me guessing and turning pages. Highly recommend

The Village Healer's Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts is a wonderful work of historical fiction that tells the story of Mary Fawcett, a herbalist and healer who uses the knowledge of the generations of women who have gone before her in order to help those around her in seventeenth century England, Her life is thrown upside down when a witch hunter arrives and immediately casts suspicion on her and her brother. When the husband of one of Mary's patients is found murdered with mysterious symbols carved into his body the witch hunter immediately assumes that Mary is involved and the villagers start to turn against her. Her only hope is the help she receives from an enigmatic alchemist who seems to know the dead man's secrets.
This was an interesting read with a plot that kept me turning the pages and characters that I could empathise with, especially Mary. and I loved seeing her growth over the course of the book .I did feel that the romance subplot was unnecessary and did not add to the book as a whole but it did not mar my enjoyment .
I was provided with an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher but missed the download deadline so this review is based on the published version, all opinions are my own.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I got through this book pretty quickly and overall enjoyed it! It’s a little different to my usual taste in books but I thought it sounded really interesting so gave it a go!

This book seems incredibly well researched and is written in a lovely way that keeps you interested throughout!

I love a good feminist tale and following Mary through her journey in this book was right up my street in that sense! It was great to see her fighting back and not just for herself but for all women of her time! Especially when there was such a contrast to how the male alchemists were treated for essentially the same thing as the woman healers.

Meet Mary Fawcett, a fierce and compassionate healer who unwittingly triggers the deadly obsession of Matthew Hopkins, a notorious witchfinder driven by twisted faith and venomous misogyny. With a keen eye for the subtleties of human nature and a talent for conjuring the eerie atmosphere of a society gripped by fear, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that ensnares you from the very start.

As the village turns against her like a snarling beast, Mary must race against time to unravel a labyrinthine web of murder, deceit, and demonic manipulation. With each heart-pounding twist, the stakes are raised, and the danger draws closer. You'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, wondering if Mary's extraordinary gifts and unyielding spirit will be enough to outwit the agents of darkness and shatter the chains of fear and superstition.

As the story unfolds, you'll become immersed in a world where the boundaries of good and evil are tested, and the power of knowledge becomes a double-edged sword that can both save and destroy.

I really liked the idea of the village healer and their ability to serve the community. I liked the recipes from the time period that highlighted ways people were treated during the time period. I felt that the historical aspects of this fiction were lacking. I felt that there needed to be more research about what life was like back then and this needed to somewhat be incorporated in the writing. It was like the author just wanted to make up a time period out of the air because they found a spell book of sorts. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I felt that the plot was really all over the place and needed direction. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley,

This one kept me on my toes - that is for sure! Once I picked this one up, I did not want to put it down. 4 stars from me!

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the 17thCentury, Mary is a herbalist who (as the title suggests) is the village healer. There was a lot of superstistition at the time about healing, and cunning women, even though they helped alleviate pain and suffering. This book touches on grief, loss and persecution but is ultimately a rewarding read.

The Village Healer's Book of Cures is a novel about a young woman who is attempting to stay safe in a village that has turned against her while discovering the truth of what is causing troubling events in her village.

Mary Fawcett is a healers living in 17th century England, during the depth of the witch hunts in England. When a Witch-finder comes to town he begins teaching the town to hate those who are different and fear the healing work Mary has always provided for her community. After a death incites even more suspicion Mary fears for her life and the lives of those closest to her even while attempting to solve the mystery of the death.

This novel is a conversation between the way humans behave when scared, and our worst instincts, and the dive to heal even those who may have hurt us. Mary is a woman who has been wounded deeply by her life and by the start of the book has seen more death in her own life then she should have had to endure. Yet even with the worst happening all around her she sees the good nature of others and holds to it. She defends those she loves eagerly, and is willing to treat even those who have wronged her.

The setting is perfect for a twisty gothic that has turns you won't see coming, and a darkness at its core that could only be fed by the worst parks of humanity. The true evil in this novel is no grand monster but humans, and what monster could ever live up to the monsters we turn ourselves into? The grey over cast on the whole novel seeps across the pages and I found myself not wanting to read this one in a dark setting, despite this in no way being a horror novel. It unsettled me to face down the most vile parts of humanity with Mary, and at multiple times I was actively worried about her and her brothers safety.

I would recommend this novel to those who want:
- A dark and twisty gothic
- Mysteries that keep you hooked
- To face down the worst of humanity
- A historical novel about the witch hunts
- A gloomy atmospheric novel

I would avoid if you are a bit squeamish, or are looking for anything cozy or easy to read.


I received an ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased

Book Review 📚
The Village Healer's Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts - 4/5 ⭐

A strong historical fantasy. And I mean strong. There is so much to love and very little to hate. My only flaw, I would of preferred if this book was 200-300 more pages. There was so much to add.

Our FMC, Mary, is a joy to read about. Watching her journey throughout this book was amazing. She's a character that holds so much depth and described, it was so amazingly done. Her whole development was awe inspiring.

The story was flowing nicely and there wasn't any "slow" moments. I was intrigued in Mary from start to finish. Great descriptions throughout and a thorough plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

It takes us back in the seventeenth-century England. The description is engrossing and the characters are so interesting. The book has a mystery. Things begin to change in village when a Witchfinder arrives. The book is about making healing portions/medicines in ancient times , revenge, Knowledge, murder and saving the loved ones.

Mary’s character is so interesting. I loved how dedicated she was towards her work and welfare of the people. The author has created such a poignant back story. The author has shared the perspective of other people too by taking us in life of each of them. The world building is beautiful. When Matthew Hopkins arrives in village, Mary witness some of the strange deaths. The dead bodies with strange symbols. She try to unveil the mystery behind them. But before it’s too late, she must save herself and her loved ones. The author has also shared the knowledge of alchemy and All the Mary’s recipes are real. I loved the author’s note where the author has revealed about the recipes to cure/heal are real, Her characters and world building inspiration. I liked Tom’s and Sudbury Characters too. It’s an excellent debut novel.


Many Thanks to Author, Publisher and Netgalley.

I read it as a fantasy as there were a number of elements that were more fantastic than historical.
It's an entertaining story, well plotted and clever. The women in this story are brave and able to stand their enemy.
Liked it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine