///// English /////

*Disclaimer: I had received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 6,5 / 10 – 3,25 stars out of 5
Genre: historic fiction, fantasy

Same formula, little twist.

I don't want to be misunderstood: I respect the work and I think it is well done. But
the formula used (single woman who dedicates herself to natural remedies), I have read it before in other books. I understand that it is one of the fundamental characteristics of those who were branded as witches at that time, but I feel that it could have been given another twist.

It is a book told in two voices, one in the 17th century and the other in the 21st. We meet
two women who need each other to cope with the new events in their lives.

A round of applause to the author because she managed to make me find the characters utterly obnoxious, stupid on more than one occasion, and I couldn't help but get frustrated every time Adrianna and Rick appear on the scene together. You have to be a good writer to generate emotions in the reader for the characters. It's no less true that I only empathised with Ursula.

I liked the idea of unravelling the story through a diary, the strange events, what's in the garden... But I feel it was half-hearted when it came to innovating.

It seems to me too much like other and the dynamics that were in it, so I couldn't concentrate for quite a few pages. Anyway, it's easy to read and it is entertaining.





///// Español /////

*Aviso: Recibí un eARC gratuito a cambio de una revisión honesta.

Puntuación: 6,5 / 10 – 3,25 estrellas de 5
Género: ficción histórica, fantasía.

Misma fórmula, pequeño giro.

No quiero que se me malinterprete: respeto el trabajo y creo que está bien hecho. Pero la fórmula utilizada (mujer soltera que se dedica a los remedios naturales) ya la he leído antes en otros libros. Entiendo que se trata de una de las características fundamentales de aquellas a las que tacharon de brujas en aquella época, pero siento que se le podía haber dado otro giro más.

Se trata de un libro contado a dos voces, una en el siglo XVII y otra en el XXI. Nos encontramos con dos mujeres que se necesitan para sobrellevar los nuevos acontecimientos de sus vidas.

Un aplauso a la autora porque consiguió que los personajes me parecieran totalmente odiosos, estúpidos en más de una ocasión, y no podía dejar de frustrarme cada vez que aparecen Adrianna y Rick juntos en escena. Hay que ser buen escritor para que los personajes lleguen a generar emociones en el lector. No es menos cierto que solo empaticé con Ursula.

Me ha gustado la idea de ir desentrañando la historia a través de un diario, los sucesos extraños, lo que hay en el jardín… Pero siento que se quedó a medias a la hora de innovar.

Se me parece demasiado a otros libros y a las dinámicas que en él había, por lo que no me pude concentrar durante bastantes páginas. De todas formas, se lee fácil y es entretenido.

I’ve just finished reading The House of the witch by Clare Marchant and absolutely loved it. I was hooked from the very first page.

I’ve read all of Clare other books and did not think anything could surpass these but I was wrong and this is even better than the others. It’s very clear that Clare has a real passion for historical research and this made the characters, even those set in ancient times, come across as authentic and real. It really feels like this book could have happened. Even though I finished it, I can’t stop thinking about the characters, to me this is always a sign of an excellent read. I’ll give it more than five stars if I could.

This was a well written book. It’s told through dual timelines and moves effortlessly from past to present.,
I thought both stories were just as interesting. Two women from different times dealing with the same
issues. I was angry for both women and the unfairness of it. It’s a page turner! Definitely recommend

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

I really enjoyed The House of the Witch, it is a fascinating duel timeline historical novel set in the Norfolk Broads near Norwich. It follows the life of Ursula a local wise woman during the 1600s as she is deemed a witch by a man she spurns and Adrianna who flees London following burnout in her job. Adrianna uncovers Ursula's journal is is drawn to uncovering her tale and in doing so is able to reveal some truths about her own life.

Full of great characters, and a well paced plot with Ursula's feelings of fear and determination not to give in leaping of the page

“The House of the Witch” by Clare Marchant is an engaging read with two connected stories.
One follows Agnes, a healer in the 1620s accused of being a witch, and the other is about Roisin, a historian in the present day uncovering some old and forgotten secrets.

The book is filled with rich details that keep you interested and it keeps you glued to it with its mysterious plot.

Some parts are a bit predictable, but the strong characters and cool settings make it worth reading!

A solid 3.5⭐️ book with a great and enjoyable mix of history and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

One of the things I most love about Clare Marchant’s books is the way the current timeline echoes the historical, and this time they were bound more tightly together than ever, although that wasn’t apparent at first.

Adrianna arrives, exhausted and burnt out, at a small cottage near the Norfolk coast, deposited there by her boyfriend Rick, who then returns to his job and their life in London. Something isn’t quite right with the house, and she finds a diary from 1646 with what appears to be at worst a curse, and at best a dire warning, on top.

The diary was written by Ursula, the village midwife and wise woman, who lived happily alone in the cottage, having seen the damage men can inflict on their powerless wives. Unfortunately she attracts the unwanted attentions of a newly arrived doctor who will stop at nothing to possess her.

So the story is set up, and it is beautifully told, with descriptions that immerse you completely – especially in natural world that Ursula inhabits. A thoroughly recommended engrossing read, especially for those who love something a little other-worldly sprinkled through their fiction.

An excellent well written dual timeline novel covering accusations of witchcraft to women knowledgeable in herbal medicine and midwifery. The parallels with the present day story link up nicely to a twist that you may not see coming.
There are many excellent historical novels out there covering dual timelines and Matthew Hopkins the Witchfinder General, and this is another one that will appeal to readers who enjoy this genre. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to review this copy.

Adrianna ‘Addie’ has a high flying job in the City, a beautiful apartment and a boyfriend she loves but the stress of her job has caused her to take a six month sabbatical and encouraged by her boyfriend she has moved to a run down remote property in Norfolk, still paying for her apartment in London where he remains. Set in dual timelines, the present and 1646, we follow Addie and Ursula’s stories as they gradually intertwine.

Briefly, shortly after moving in Addie finds a hidden bundle of papers written by Ursula. Ursula never wanted to wed after seeing how her father treated her mother. She keeps herself by providing natural remedies for the poor and being a midwife. But she is a beautiful woman and catches the eye of man who will not accept no for an answer. Addie feel a close connection to Ursula which initially scares her but she soon feels that Ursula needs her help.

Both storylines were fairly obvious in that I guessed early on the journey the women would take, but there was a completely unexpected end to the historical narrative which made me gasp! The historical storyline probably just edged it for me but I liked both. I loved both of the main characters. Two strong women who are manipulated by selfish and self obsessed men in different ways but both with shocking consequences. It’s a bit of a mix in that the present is a fairly cozy story but the historical is much darker. An enjoyable and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed this dual timeline story. In 2024, Addie is taking a 6 month sabbatical from her high pressure London job to spend time relaxing in the Norfolk countryside she loved as a child. Her boyfriend Rick is on board, visiting on weekends, while Addie loves giving the little cottages garden a refresh & making local friends during the week.

In 1646, Ursula is a midwife who lives alone, making a living from treating the locals’ illnesses, & telling fortunes. She never wants to marry as her father killed her mother & subsequently abandoned her to raise her two brothers. When Addie finds some very old papers in the cottage she begins to investigate Ursula’s story & the parallels between the two women (and all women) come to light.

Despite some truly awful characters, the ‘witch finder general’ Matthew Hopkins among them, I loved reading about Ursula’s life. I felt sorry for both women, but there is such an undercurrent of hope & strength that I left this book feeling uplifted. I recommend this book & will be looking for more by the author.

Adrianna has hit the wall, hard, and desperately needs some time off. She rents a place to live for a while, very much encouraged by her boyfriend Rick.

As we follow Addie's days, her findings in the house leads us to another story, almost 400 years earlier, in another life, led by Ursula.

I like how this story is built. The historic aspect of a house with secrets that will be discovered centuries apart. The advrntures our leading ladies are living, and I also like them for the strong persons that they are.

I often wonder what it would to be alive in another era or another realm without all our technical doh-dah’s. Well, I would never make it past my ninth summer as that is when I got Type 1 Diabetes, and it was still a few hundred years until insulin was invented.

If we look past that. It would be back to mother nature and I can see myself as a semi-Ursula if I ever move back to Norway. I’d buy a house in the countryside, have some raised beds of veggies and herbs, the peace and quiet. Wildflowers further away, something for bees and other wild life. You know, if I were to move back.

To live in an age where I as a woman might have struggled more than necessary just because I am a woman.
To be painfully aware that my word against a man’s, I would lose.
Not to mention, I would easily be marked as a witch if I had the traits I have today. I would struggle, indeed.😂

The house of the Witch was cosy read for me. Still, it had this darker allure. On one side this fresh start in a new house, much needed time off, getting things done around the cottage and garden and being invigorated by the crisp sea air. Yet, there is something else...

Did you know? Clare’s favorite character is the person who lives life on her own terms and harnesses her inner strength to ensure she can continue to do so.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm a huge fan of dual timeline historical novels but something about this story really drew me in. I've been in a reading rut recently and this book reignited my love and I finished the whole thing in snatched moments in one day.

Our historical character is Ursula, a spinster who uses her knowledge of herb and poultice to help those around her stricken with illness. In the present is Adrianna, who is living in Norfolk for 6 months, taking a sabbatical from her high powered job.

I really loved the parallels drawn between these two women and I found the historical chapters particularly absorbing in content. Each time we flit between timelines, the story continues with Adrianna trying to put together Ursula's story while dealing with her own demons. I'll confess to wanting to give Adrianna rather a shake at times, but that is where the author wants us to be! So often these things are much clearer to those on the outside.

The story is very well paced and it reads exceptionally well. I loved it and I will recommend it others. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fabulous novel this was. I’ve always enjoyed a dual timeline and this was one of the best I’ve read, showcasing that some things never change. In this case, men’s behaviour in trying to manipulate women to their way of thinking - Oliver in the 1600’s and Rick in the present but both so similar.

Both women, Adrianna and Ursula are strong willed and know what they want from life. Unfortunately, Adrianna is in a bad place when she arrives in the little neglected cottage by the sea, but then she finds a few things to peak her interest - a stone with some strange markings and a hidden notebook that is clearly many years old. This then sets her on a path of discovery about Ursula and her life.

There’s lots of emotions felt throughout, and some great friends are made too. I loved how this unfolded over the centuries, it’s difficult to say how I felt about the end without given spoilers, just know that it was fab and well worth picking up and cosying down with.

I'm a huge fan of a dual timeline & I think Clare Marchant writes them well. The parallels between the modern & historical timelines are always there without rewriting the same story, in this case there is a lot of foreshadowing.

I do love a witchy read & definitely found myself preferring the historical element to this book & I was more drawn to Ursula as a character than to Adrianna, who I felt was a little naive for someone so obviously intelligent.

If you've read any of Clare's books before you'll know you're going to get a well written, female centred, dual timeline story with a satisfying, if telegraphed in this case, ending.

This is the first book I've read from Clare Marchant but won't be the last. Told in a dual timeline, I connected with both women Ursula and Adrianna so I flew through the pages to discover how the story would unfold.
I love witch fiction but those with historical leanings are my favourite. While it obvious care for detail and facts have been taken to keep Ursula's story authentic it didn't feel heavy which allowed me to stay in the story and feel the tension as danger intensifies and the threat of witch accusations crawls closer.
I loved Adrianna's discovery of the parchment and increasing confidence as she resides in the cottage.
It's a fabulous immersive historical fiction with tension, danger and self discovery and reclaiming the power inside of you.

I was drawn in to this book immediately. I loved the dual POV with the two timelines. There are twists in both Ursula’s & Adrianna’s stories and they really keep you hooked.

I love how Ursula’s story impacted what happened in Adrianna’s story and encouraged her to stand up for herself. I thought it was a good depiction of how women are treated differently to men. Also loved that it focussed on the strength of the women a lot.

I enjoyed every second reading it and when I wasn’t reading it, I was planning when I was next going to have time to get through a few pages! Looking forward to reading some more by Clare!

A slow long hum of excitement throughout this dual timeline historic novel. It sets a steady pace and trots along. A really incredible journey for both women in the timelines. I loved this it is excellently written.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and this didn't disappoint. Set in a dual timeline of 1646 and 2024, it tells the story of Ursula, accused of being a witch and Adrianna, a modern woman staying in a coastal cottage on a sabbatical. Both stories show the power of men over women and show how little things have really changed. A really recommended read.

Wow I was totally hooked from the very first page with this dual timeline story. Present day and Adrianne takes a six month break from her very stressful job in finance and rents a cottage in Norfolk. The other timeline is 1646 and centres around Ursula who is the village midwife and herbalist. Ursula is living at a time where women have absolutely no independence and living on her own, doing the job she does there is always the threat of being accused of being a witch. Adrianne finds some papers hidden and starts to investigate who they were written by and what happened. This is a real page turner with some very well thought out characters with some of them being just vile! With twists and turns and some strange events it didn’t take me long to read. Would highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an Arc of this book. I had previously read The Queen’s Spy and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to reading this new story. I wasn’t disappointed! . The book has a dual timeline, 1646 and 2024. The cottage was home to Ursula, a midwife and herbalist and Adrianna, taking a break from a high powered job in London. Ursula helped her neighbours and friends with salves, ointments and herbs to help cure them. This brought her into conflict with a newly arrived doctor,, Oliver Bruton, who liked to have his own way in the end. Adrianna had a manipulative boyfriend who liked to be in control. Further similarities between Ursula and Adriana were shown. Historical facts about witch trials and the helplessness of all women in the 17th century, kept me turning the pages. I very much enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

I can see why this book is recommended for fans of Weyward. I loved the setting of the beach cottage next to the church and the dual timelines. The 1646 timeline stole the show, but unfortunately, the 2024 timeline was a little rough and chaotic to read.

The overall message of the book is sound. The ending saved this book for me because it started to lose me towards the middle.

The prose was great, and the scenes were really painted. However, the dialogue was clunky and unnatural. Characters constantly monologue pages of exposition that really took me out of the story.

There were a lot of continuity errors, too, mostly in the 2024 chapters and most of them have nothing to do with the actual plot. The first time Rick was coming to visit, he mentioned researching a restaurant to make reservations for a night out. But he arrives, and no reservations are mentioned (or attended). The next time they make plans for his visit, he says he's got a work thing Friday night, so he'll be there Saturday afternoon. But Adrianna ends up in London on Friday, and he tells her that he had plans that weekend, so he wishes she'd told him she was coming. Adrianna also criticizes Rick for sleeping his day off away, but then she immediately naps for hours.

Everything wrapped up nicely but I wish there was a little more in the resolution section. It wraps their stories up so in the last couple of chapters.