Nellie Duncan is a normal lower-class woman trying to survive in an 1800’s Edinburgh that is hostile towards women. After an encounter in a graveyard, her life is changed forever when she learns of supernatural forces at work, and has to decide if she wants to continue her life as it is or be brave and fight for the good of herself and her fellow women.

I enjoyed this read, especially after my recent trip to Edinburgh, but it wasn’t without its flaws. Mostly there were a lot of plot holes that were explained away by the characters pulling things out of thin air or assigning emotions to characters without seeing them develop. In one scene we’re told that it’s too dangerous to try turning women into witches but two chapters later the characters do just that without addressing the reasons they gave earlier. Or we’re told how scared the women of Edinburgh are without actually seeing much beyond the main characters’ perspective. The villain himself has very little discernible motivation, and some of his machinations seemed a little too far-fetched to be believable in context of the story.

The pacing is fairly quick which makes for engaging reading, but there was very little levity, humor, or lighter moments to counteract the incessant trauma and danger all the characters found themselves in. I do think the second half reads a lot quicker than the first, and there’s some great character development for all main characters involved. The magic system is vague enough to be interesting without getting too complicated, and I liked the deity-worship aspect of it. All in all a good read if you love the city of Edinburgh and/or witchcraft and want to read a feminist-heavy story with good character development.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this Advanced Reader Copy! This review is my honest opinion and offered voluntarily!

This book is important in today's world where many women feel like they have limited ownership of their own bodies and choices. But, it's not just for women - it's for anyone who has ever been held back by the patriarchy. systemic racism, classism, ageism, even feminism. Heterosexual, homosexual, asexual, bisexual, transexual, nonbinary, person of color, it's for anyone and everyone. Chapter 38 demonstrated that point perfectly, The value and the power of the quiet who are many. The boiling point when fear becomes anger, and anger becomes the fuel to a call to action. It brought me back to the way I felt at the first Women's March in 2017. As someone afraid of being in such a large public gathering, but feeling nothing but support and camaraderie from, and of, those around me. The Last Witch in Edinburgh is a stressful (because, come on!! the way some of these chapters end with foreboding of what's to come. Hello, anxiety!) and poignant yet empowering story, told through the lens of the witch hysteria of days long ago which is always fascinating. Nellie is such an understandable main female character, but it was Jean who really pulled me in. Some things were glazed over - Rachel felt too quick, Ari not making a comeback, everything with Tommy - but as a whole I enjoyed the plot and story development and how it lended to Nellie's growth. 4.5/5 for me! Will highly recommend to my book friends. Thank you Marielle Thompson, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC! I will update this review as soon as I post my Goodreads and Instagram posts!

The Last Witch in Edinburgh was a really good book. The visuals and history was really enjoyable to read. The way we went from the 1800s to the 2000s was very neat to read in a book especially since it was about the same woman Nellie. I liked how she met Jean again after all those years. All the women in this book was strong even throughout all the Witch hunts going on. I love the found family aspect of it alot

Edimburgo, metà Ottocento. Essere una donna è una condanna. Qualcuno punta il dito, si urla alla strega, la forca è pronta. In mezzo al delirio di un'inquisizione informale, una famiglia matriarcale soccorre le bisognose e persegue una silenziosa battaglia in nome di Cailleach, dea gaelica regina dell'inverno. Per caso, o per fortuna, Nellie Duncan viene ammessa all'interno della loro erboristeria e messa a parte dei misteri del culto per prendere parte attivamente alla loro guerra svantaggiata.
La storia si sviluppa su due piani temporali e, nonostante il salto sia repentino e difficile da adattare, questo permette un enorme crescita dei personaggi - che non sempre danno il meglio di loro. Tuttavia, la trama non è originalissima e in alcuni punti è ripetitiva e noiosa. Ad accendere il mio interesse e la mia curiosità è stato il culto di Cailleach che non conoscevo e da cui sono rimasta affascinata - però l'autrice ha deciso di distorcerlo per adattarlo alla storia, non sfruttando al massimo il suo potenziale. Sottilissimo e velato l'accenno al cambiamento climatico e al riscaldamento globale, altro punto su cui si poteva lavorare meglio. Di punta, invece, argomenti caldi come il patriarcato, femminismo, l'abuso, il femminicidio. In questo fantasy storico, si calca su come sia difficile essere donna e di come certi schemi siano immuni al tempo e all'evolversi della società.
Ci sono stati momenti di stallo, ma anche molti momenti cozy e confortevoli che rendevano i momenti brutti ancora più indigesti. In generale, poco fan dello stile di scrittura, ma molto affascinata dal folklore.
Consigliato a chi ama il folklore e la mitologia, agli amanti del queer, a chi si interessa di femminismo ed ecofemminismo e a chi non disdegna un fantasy dalle vibes magiche.

I liked the premise of this book, but it failed to live up to its potential. The biggest issue for me was the main character. I found her repetitive and frankly a little annoying. She also didn’t have much of an arc, which was very disappointing. Another thing I could have done without is the time jump. It left a lot of loose ends and seemed to me more of a gimmick than something done with narrative purpose. The prose was pretty basic as well, but I could have let that go if not for the other glaring errors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

An immersive story about queer witches, ever present evil, found family, fear, love and women taking back their power.

The Last Witch in Edinburgh follows Nellie as she stumbles through Edinburgh in 1892 terrified of being hanged as a witch and struggling to balance providing for her family and finding her own place in the world. After certain terrifying events Nellie makes the decision to leave behind her new family of witches and lives an unfilled life on the move.

After centuries of honing her craft and running from her past Nellie returns to her home in Edinburgh to realize that not much has changed. Women still live in fear and are still being oppressed by the same evil that has always existed. But this time Nellie has something more to live for. This time she won't run in fear. With the help of her fellow witches she finally makes a stand for women and their rights.

The Last Witch in Edinburgh by Marielle Thompson is a captivating blend of fantasy, historical fiction, and LGBTQ+ themes set against the atmospheric backdrop of an alternate 19th-century Edinburgh. This lush and immersive novel weaves witchcraft, queer love, Scottish folklore, and a powerful narrative of resistance against patriarchy into a propulsive and emotional story.

In 1824 Edinburgh, every woman lives under the constant threat of being hanged for witchcraft. This perilous environment sets the stage for Nellie Duncan, a beautiful and unwed woman who strives to remain unnoticed. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers the Rae Women’s Apothecary, where Jean Rae and her circle of women practice cures and empower each other under the protection of the Cailleach, a winter deity symbolizing independence and agency.

Thompson's novel excels in exploring themes of misogyny and female empowerment. The alternate history where witch trials persist into the 19th century provides a unique and compelling twist on the genre, highlighting the continuous struggle of women healers against patriarchal oppression. The inclusion of the Cailleach, an ancient Gaelic deity, adds a rich layer of mythological depth and a refreshing element of goddess worship not commonly seen in similar narratives.

Nellie's journey from fear and obscurity to finding her voice and purpose is beautifully rendered. Her blossoming romance with Jean is tender and authentic, offering a poignant portrayal of queer love in a time of great peril. The dual timeline, shifting between the 19th century and the present day, cleverly links modern feminist issues with historical struggles, reminding readers that the fight for women's rights and freedom is far from over.

The rich Scottish folklore and the vibrant setting of Edinburgh further enhance the story's immersive quality. Thompson's prose is elegant and flowing, effectively conveying the beauty and brutality of Nellie's world. The depiction of the apothecary and the women’s home remedies is fascinating, adding an element of practical magic that grounds the fantastical elements in reality.

Nellie Duncan is a compelling protagonist, embodying both the vulnerabilities and strengths of women across centuries. Her development as a character, from a frightened young woman to a powerful witch, is believable and inspiring. The emotional weight of her journey, coupled with the atmospheric setting and the rich tapestry of folklore, makes this novel a standout.

Overall, The Last Witch in Edinburgh is a feminist call to arms, urging women to stand in their power, be heard, and embrace their love and rage. Marielle Thompson has crafted a beautiful and thought-provoking tale perfect for fans of The Lighthouse Witches and The Lost Apothecary. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction, folklore, witches, romance, and magical realism!

**Review is scheduled to post on my blog on August 19th, 2024!**

I had high hopes for this book and was disappointed. This book was anticlimactic and looks like a copyright infringement from disney waiting to happen.

This is a beautifully written book about Nellie Duncan, a young woman who became a witch. The story follows Nellie's centuries-long fight against patriarchy and misogyny. Along the way, she finds love and family, and it all builds to a moving finale that shows how far we've come since the witch hunting days.
There are so many metaphors and parallels between the stories in the book and real life that will resonate with many women who have faced similar frustrations.

Thompson handles several topics well in her novel. The explicit focus on feminism and misogyny in the first half of the book ties nicely with how misogyny and anti-Queer sentiment is handled in the second half of the book. The idea of showcasing two different forms of witch hunts and how they both affected/continue to affect women and other vulnerable populations was a good, strong motif.

However, as mentioned above, the first and second halves of the book are very different. The first half of the book, set in the late 1800s, was full of fear, tension, and Gothic atmosphere. The witches’ powers and their supernatural adversary, in the form of a government official, were used effectively and moved the plot along well. The jump to the second half of the book was, in my opinion, less successful. Characters change 200 years later, which is to be expected, but there’s no transition, just a sharp shift. Likewise, I didn’t think the terror and danger of the contemporary – and very real – threat was communicated as effectively as the historical portion.

An excellent read, especially if you know and love Edinburgh. It highlights womens struggles and their strengths. Historically set but still has resonance today.

This story had a ton of promise but ultimately fell flat. But I am still glad I read it and learn a bit of history surrounding Edinburgh and women murdered for supposed witchcraft.

Thompson's stunning prose takes us through the experience of women in 19th century Edinburgh, being accused of witchcraft and hung publicly in the town square, to the experience of women in the 21st century, showing how the patriarchy lives on to find new ways to keep women silent in the face of oppressive systems.

This story is a beautiful ode to women and a love letter to Scotland. It showcases our ability to create community with other women, protect and fight for each other, empathize with each other's experiences, and ultimately band together against a society that tells us we don't belong.

This book speaks on feminism, the importance of intersectionality, disability representation, sexuality and gender expression, and the patriarchal systems we all suffer beneath. The women in this story are strong, resilient, magical, and powerful, and they all have a voice and a story to tell.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I absolutely loved this book.
Marielle Thompson effortlessly blended witchcraft with Scottish folklore and turned into a powerful feminist reckoning with more queer representation than I’ve read in any other book. This book was eloquent and unforgettable. I highlighted so many passages, I can’t wait to get my hand on a physical copy so I can annotate it.

I loved that the message of this story was less about witchcraft and more about the power of the masses. A true masterpiece and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Meh.

This is not a groundbreaking story, which is fine, there are so many variations on any story and I am fine with reading a new take on an old tale, but when your heroine is given immortality and she never grows, never develops, and is instead stunted in the same emotional place she was at the beginning of the book, I wonder what the point of it all was.

I think there is talent in the author's writing, but this was not an interesting read.

I will always be excited for a book that includes witches, feminism, and intersectionality. However, take warning fellow readers that this is not a bright and bubbly story. If you're looking for a cozy fantasy book, this will not be it and that it took me a little longer than most to get through. Now, I have had some life transitions going on, but I also wonder if it had to do with the heaviness of the subject matter and how closely it aligned with our world right now.

From the very start of 'The Last Witch in Edinburgh,' readers are immediately swept up into this harrowing story taking place at the height of witch trials in early 1820s Edinburgh. It's neighbor versus neighbor; finger-pointing that turn misunderstandings into false accusations which unfairly target the women of the city. This is a story of survival against the patriarchy, but also of the battle between two deities and the humans caught in the middle.

I appreciated the slow burn at the beginning and the dedication to the folklore of the Celtic pantheon. However, as we moved through the years, I felt the story felt a little rushed. Not so much so that there wasn't resolution, but enough where we didn't get to see some of the main character's evolution. I had also hoped that we would meet the other deity at some point, as I felt that would help balance out so much of the negativity and give some hope to the characters. All in all, though, I thought this was a great witchy and intersectional book to add to my shelves and I just wish some of those tea recipes were available in the appendices.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot express how excited I was to receive an ARC copy of this book - I had been seeing folks talk about it as a highly anticipated book of 2024 and I was already sold on the title and the cover before even reading the summary.

This story felt like it was written in cursive- beautiful and flowing. For such a potentially heavy topic, I feel like Marielle Thompson did a great job at keeping me connected to the characters and invested in the story.

I appreciated how feminine rage and grief were portrayed throughout the story and how it was intertwined with the rich Scottish folklore. I also was obsessed with the love story and how it developed over the course of the book. Not to mention, we see Nellie develop as a woman, and as a witch, and I liked how it progressed in a way that made sense. There was never a moment that made me feel like what she was doing was so out of character.

I loved this book and think you should give it a try if you’re interested in historical fiction, folklore, witches, romance, and/or magical realism. This book is scheduled to be published on August 19, 2024.

Thank you to the author, Marielle Thompson, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating | 4.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Marielle Thompson for an ARC of this title!

I will pretty much immediately slam the "Want to Read" button on anything that has to do with witchcraft and I was so glad to get the ARC for this title! "The Last Witch in Edinburg", while being a tale of witchcraft at its core, is also ultimately a tale of what it means to be a witch in a patriarchal world, whether that world was in the 1820s or in 2024. I think that this would be an excellent read for anyone who has ever felt fear, rage, or despair in the face of injustice related to one's assigned sex at birth.

What I think this book also does well is that it does not use the practice of witchcraft to pen a "men vs women" argument; it rightly points out throughout time and space that being a "witch" and being "patriarchal" is not the same thing as only being a "woman" or "man". I have definitely been guilty of being cold towards men as a principle due to getting caught up in the idea of "patriarchy" = "men", and this book was a great reminder that systems that tear down freedom, community, personal safety, and equality among people are often also enforced and celebrated by women. Conversely, the opposite is true: the things that I love about feminism and witchcraft are open to all genders and expressions who work to upkeep them.

Overall, this is not a happy story for the vast majority of the book - it can be very depressing in certain parts and I think that is part of the author's intention, as she leans into future dread/suspense with the way the story was set up. I struggled to get through the middle to early latter half of the book because the struggles faced by the main characters felt too akin to things that the women of 2024 are also facing. However (without getting to spoiler-y), it was worth reading to the end to see how the community we build for ourselves and how bravery int he face of despair are as important in stories as they are for us in the real world. I hope this book finds its way to those who need the message.

I would absolutely recommend this book, and I appreciate that the author included a number of books she used in her own research for those interested in learning more about the history of witches, witch trials, and more. I also appreciated that she made comments about how she applied the folklore of the Cailleach for her specific story, and how the legend may present differently elsewhere. There are also discussion questions at the end of the book, so this would be an excellent pick for the book clubs who want to have a #HagGirlSummer.

I enjoyed reading this book. The beginning was a little slow but it picked up and kept me entertained. It is a book for everyone. It makes you realize not much has changed in the world since the 1800s. A very interesting plot line.
Many thanks to Netgalley, and Kensington for the chance to read and review this one.

2.5/5

The moral of the story was heartwarming, but the writing and plot weren't for me. Sad because it had a lot of potential to be more impactful for me but it felt a little too forced and the timeline jumps were strange for me.