I could describe this book in many different ways, the truth is that it is a very different type of book, difficult to fit into a specific genre. What I loved most about this book is the atmosphere that the author managed to create. The idyllic setting of a medieval mountain town in Italy, the centuries-old magic of women, the power of nature, animals, herbs... It's all very magical and beautiful and you feel as if the scenes envelop you as you read the story . Wendy's writing is very fluid and despite being a book with a lot of information, double language, double timeline and several POVs, you never get lost because the author managed to give a very clear voice to each of the characters. It doesn't exactly have a mystery - you don't feel fear or tension for the characters, it's more of a curiosity -, it's more of a secret that you're very thirsty to discover together with the MC. I just didn't give it 5 stars because I was a little confused by the final scene, I didn't understand if the idea was to provide a hook for a next book... If it wasn't, the epilogue could have been discarded in the editing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Another great story by Wendy Webb. I really enjoy the universe she has created in Wharton and now Santo Stefano. Cassandra sets out on a quest to learn the truth about her family’s history but soon discovers herself on a journey of self-discovery.

Set in the mysterious town of Santo Stefano, this story follows protagonist Cassie Graves, who returns to her ancestral land to uncover hidden truths about her family's history. As she delves deeper, she discovers a legacy of magic and witchcraft that spans generations. The vivid descriptions of the town and its eerie beauty set the perfect backdrop for a tale steeped in magic. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Witches of Santo Stefano by Wendy Webb is a master story-teller that beautifully weaves a stunning tale about the lives of six generations of women who started out in Rome then made their way to Santo Stefano and eventually the United States via Portofino, Italy and the Amalfi Coast where they entered through New Orleans. Eventually the family made their way on up to Lake Superior and a small town called Wharton, where the main character is from.

Upon learning her husband of 25 years has been cheating, Cassandra decides to take a break and go back to her childhood home in Wharton. There, her cousin informs her of mystery surrounding their great-grandparents, Violetta and Giovanni Moretti, though specifically Violetta. It seems the Violetta Cassndra knew growing up, died in Santo Stefano, Italy in 1911 with her husband due to witchcraft. The great-grandmother Cassandra knew as a child died at 95 years old loved by their community. She knew who her father was, he died by the Influenza in 1918, but the birth certificate sys Violetta was born illegitimate. What was the truth and how could she find out? Especially since Cassandra goes to Santo Stefano to research her family's past and many unexplained events begin to occur. But Cassandra's not alone. She has the help of her new friends and family, and the protection of five generations of Rossis and Morreti women before her to keep her safe and help unravel the mystery of what occurred to get Cassandra where she is.

This story is full of heartbreak, longing, mysticism, and love: most especially love. Love between parent and child; love between mother and daughter; love between husband and wife; and most especially the love one has for one's self.

Ms. Webb draws the reader in at the beginning of the book, and even though the pace is slow, you feel desperate to know what happens. The details Ms. Webb describes is rich and vivid, especially of those set in the historic Santo Stefano. Usually I can finish a book like this in one to two days, but this one took me three nights to complete, not that I am complaining. My only complaint is that the book came to an end!

I loved this book! The writing is easy and flows well, pulling you into the story quickly. I liked the characters and found Cass to be relatable. I loved the back and forth between the timelines and characters. I never got confused and was able to remember who everyone was. The setting was wonderful. It was nice to read a book where the lead was able to get things done without others trying to sabotage or keep things hidden. Cass had her mission and like her cousin says, made it happen. I really liked that. would read this book over again and have already recommended to people.

What an amazing story!

It's not a romance, but it has romantic elements. It's a multi-generational story that links Cassie in the present day to the generations of women before her. The story is told from multiple POVs and it's the only time I have not minded head-hopping since it helped to tell it better.

Cassie travels to Italy in hopes of unraveling the family history, which takes effort and a found family of strangers who come to the rescue. These secondary characters really add to the story.

I adored the setting in Italy, especially the village of Santo Stefano, and I equally adored the dog and the two donkeys.

Highly recommend!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The Witches of Santo Stefano was a quick lite enjoyable read that will give you the feels in all the right places. It leans a little towards historical fantasy and magical realism taking you on a trip to Rome and then Italy. Our main character Cassandra is digging into her family's ancestral lineage which takes her from America on a trip to Italy to Santo Stefano to be specific. She has an inkling to know what happened to her great grandmother Violetta since she learns she was told a lie her entire life about how her great grandmother came to be in America. Maybe it wasn't the greatest love story ever told like she believed. This book does jump back and forth from the past to the present but it does so seamlessly not distracting at all and easy to follow along. While I love to write long boring reviews nobody reads them so I'll try and keep this short and sweet. If your an avid reader in a book slump this is an amazing book to pull you out. If you have teens who enjoy reading this is a great book to recommend to them as well. It's enjoyable for both adults and young adults. This is a solid 4/5 for me. It's a feel good enjoyable read and I highly recommend reading it. Note: If your thinking about getting this book just do yourself a solid and go ahead and read it.

I received an advance copy of The Witches of Santo Stefano from Netgalley. This book is currently set to publish on Sept 24, 2024

3.5 Stars

The Witches of Santo Stefano is the multigenerational story following 5 women in the Rossi family across Italy to the United States and back again.

We follow newly separated Cassie Graves to Italy as she begins healing her broken heart by finding answers to her lost ancestry. Along the way, we get as caught up in the mystery of her family as Cassie, we feel her betrayal from her husband, and we fall in love with both the people in Santo Stefano and the town itself. The story moves between Cassie's story and that of the women before her in an intriguing tale of powerful women.

While I enjoyed this book very much, there were times I struggled to follow who was who and how they were related. A family tree would have been very helpful. I also didn't resonate with the title of Witches, these women were intuits with the healing touch.

I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good multigenerational story built around strong female leads.

This was an interesting cozy paranormal mystery that spanned several generations. The premise was interesting and the plotting well paced. I enjoyed the interplay of familial relationships

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

A Critical Review of "The Witches of Santo Stefano" by Wendy Weebb "The Witches of Santo Stefano" by Wendy Weebb is a novel that delves into the intriguing mystery surrounding Cassandra's ancestors, particularly her great-grandmother, whose death certificate lists witchcraft as the cause of death. While the premise of the story is promising, my overall impression of the book is mixed. On a positive note, the exploration of the Rossi family's history was engaging and kept me interested throughout the narrative. The author's ability to intertwine elements of witchcraft and familial secrets added a layer of complexity to the plot, making it a compelling read. I found myself drawn to the characters and eager to learn more about their backgrounds and motivations. However, despite these strengths, I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered after finishing the book. The story felt incomplete, lacking the depth and resolution that I have come to expect from Wendy Weebb's previous works. It seemed as though this novel was merely a setup for future stories involving the same characters, leaving loose ends untied and questions unanswered. It is my suspicion that "The Witches of Santo Stefano" serves as a precursor to a series of books that will further explore the lives of the Rossi family. While I am intrigued by the potential for future stories set in different locales and eras, I can't help but wish for a more satisfying conclusion to the initial mystery presented in this book. In conclusion, "The Witches of Santo Stefano" is a novel with both strengths and shortcomings. While the narrative is captivating and the characters are well-developed, the lack of closure and resolution left me wanting more. Despite its flaws, I am curious to see where Wendy Weebb takes the Rossi family next and hope that future installments will provide the answers and satisfaction that this book lacked.

The Witches of Santo Stefano is a multi-generational story about healing, magic, love, and heartbreak.

The story follows Cassandra, an investigative journalist who is researching her obscure family history that brings her to a small Italian town where she discovers shocking secrets about her ancestors involving witchcraft. While in Santo Stefano, Cassie crosses paths with curious townspeople whose whispers about witches, superstitions, and strange omens reveals her family's dark past that includes spells, concoctions, and forbidden love.

I absolutely loved this book. The Italian rustic charm juxtaposed with the folk magic of the witchy family was utterly enchanting. The healing aspects involving honey and herbs along with ancient rituals, captured the old world magic of Italy, which was brought to life by the author's perfect descriptions of the Mediterranean aesthetic. I enjoyed reading about the women's strong and supportive relationships with each other and their incredible bravery and survival instincts, and this was nicely balanced with their intuitive abilities and connection to nature such as bees, flowers, and animals.

In this story there are spellbooks, curses, enchantments, and folk healing that tells a story about resilient women and their earthy magic and no matter how hard and threatening life becomes, if you follow your heart, trust your intuition, and keep moving forward, things will always work out.

You never know what you might have inherited from your ancestors but like Cassie, once you know, the healing and self-discovery is no different than the sweet nurturing qualities of a magically infused honey crafted by the witchy women of Santo Stefano.

The perfect summer or vacation read, an Italian Practical Magic and must read for witch fiction fans.

The Witches of Santo Stefano by W. Webb, published by Lake Union Publishing, is a full length novel that spans decades. Telling the stories of Fiora, Violetta, Cassandra and Mariah, all relatives living in different times. And this are their stories. An intriguing read, twisty and full of unexpected turns, kept me in suspense rather quickly.
Blurb:When Cassie discovers her husband’s affair,her life is crumbling. After researching her family’s ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and a warning.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the discovery of who she really is.

🌟🌟The Witches of Santo Stefano🌟🌟
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶  0/5
Author: Wendy Webb @wendywebbauthor
Book Release Date: 9/24/24

Cassie Graves just recently celebrated her 25th anniversary and her son is now in college. Life is good. At least it was. Cassie is faced with the dreaded news that her husband has been lying and having an affair with someone for quite some time. She makes the decision to move back to her family home where her mother and grandmother lived.

When deciding to finally do some cleaning of areas of the home never touched, she finds a photo of Violetta, her grandmother. But it's not her grandpa in the photo with her and there is a birth certificate for her grandma that shows no father's name. To complicate matters more she finds a death certificate for her grandma from a time when she was very much alive. Cause of death.....Strega!

Cassie talks to her cousin about her findings and tells her that she saw the city Santo Stefano listed on the photo with the mystery man. Cassie decides it's time to travel overseas and find out her roots. That's when things get a little spooky. She's "seeing" things that others aren't. There's a big white dog that mysteriously appears. She swears she saw a donkey in her hotel.

After connecting with some locals that treat her like family, they help her to find her family's history as well as a very old journal that is actually the family grimoire. It is there the mystery unfolds even deeper and Cassie has family in multiple places in Europe and finds how her family made it to the US. She also meets Dante in Santo Stefano. I won't ruin that for you.

This books unfolds at a beautiful pace and they way history and modern day was woven together was superb. I loved every minute of this book and I am excited to say it's absolutely a 5 star read in my eyes!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @wendywebbauthor for my copy to read in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
At the beginning of the book I quite enjoyed it, but as the story progressed I lost interest. The back and forth from today to the past and the differing characters got me confused. It was like a adult fantasy with witchcraft which didn't do much for me. Sorry!

I love Wendy Webb. I am never disappointed with her books. I loved the dual timeline, and the family mystery that this one offered.

This was such a a great book. The mystery, the family ties, and the magic. It was just... I couldn't put it down!