This book was unexpected, but enthralling. It starts out seeming like a historical fiction, but in reality it is sci-fi, futuristic, and dystopian, with some threads of historical fiction threaded through in a history-repeats-itself theme. Some drama, some romance, some war. A bit of everything wind together to create an enchanting story. Can't wait to continue the series.

This was an okay read, but messy. I thought the internal dialogue of the main character was too short. Every sentence was like 3 words, and it really bothered me. Also, I thought the blurb on this book was very misleading and isn't until almost 20% in that you really discover the plot and backstory. To me the build was so lackluster that I felt like I had to slog through it. If the second part had been the start of the story, it would have been way more interesting. This book just wasn't for me.

Witch Wife by Lumen Reese
This is the first book in The Crocus Trilogy series.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but boy let me tell you, it delivered.
This book was a beautiful story so full of emotion and suspense.
The author excels in the character development and world building in this uniquely told story.
Irene Shannon, the main character has strength, determination, fortitude and drive for her undying love. She is a fierce warrior who has been captured on the battlefield and drug away in chains after losing her sister and husband and killed a lot of people in the war.
Thinking she would be put to death she soon finds out she will instead become a prisoner for the British royal crown, the King.
The British royals have heard tales of the two English sisters aligned with people of the New World and believe that Irene is a witch with a prophecy of the two sisters to fulfill and want to marry her into the royal family, so that they have allies in this New World. What follows is a battle of wills and unlikely allies.
Irene of course refuses with her full chest and she soon learns her dead husband may actually still be alive thus igniting a force of determination in Irene to escape and return to the monster infested New World regardless of the cost to find her husband.
While this book begins painfully slow in the beginning while there is world and character development the buildup is exciting and thrilling. The book gives readers multiple elements of fantasy, romance, historical fiction, sci-fi and horror all wrapped up in this beautiful story drawing in multiple genres of book lovers.
This book leaves you feeling so many emotions from sadness, love, dread, excitement, intrigue, anger fear, pulse pounding excitement to terror and fear.
The author Lumen Reese has successfully left us with questions at the end left unanswered leaving you frustrated yet wanting more leading readers directly into the excitement of book two to seek the answers!

Thank you to the author Lumen Reese and Net Galley for providing me with the ARC copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This is a great story, but confusing. First she’s in a carriage with horses, and the next the king is driving a car and people are fixing cd players. First she’s fighting with swords, then building time machines. It would have made a better story if the author had chosen an era and technology style and stuck with it.

thanks to netgalley for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for a review!

i found the setting of this to be one of the most interesting parts of the book, and one i was increasingly interested in learning more about. at its face value, it seems to take place in mid 1800s england, but as the book goes on it takes more of a sci-fi dystopia turn into a world where there are some leviathan-level monsters and the americas and the british are at war again.

irene is a compelling protagonist, and it was easy to root for her. i find her understandable and driven through all parts of this book. i'm excited to see where this trilogy goes next!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Book review 📚
Witch Wife by Lumen Reese
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like all books, I judged this one completely by the cover (which by the way is absolutely stunning) and the title may have pushed me even further to request. When I tell you this was beyond anything I expected, I am not joking. This was phenomenally good.

Reese has taken fantasy and thrown on some horror aspects, creating somewhat a dark fantasy? I don’t know but either way it works. There are moments of pure heartbreak and pain, to then being warm and happy. Its an intense mix of emotions and you feel every damn one of them!

The characters were described fantastically, feeling what they felt along the way, seeing what they see and becoming attached to them and their journey (specifically Irene). The characters all seemed to work together and some of them truly do bring the story to life.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book as an e book. I liked this book. It was suspenseful, it had character building. The female main character deciding on which path she should choose and coming back from loosing everything. Her family is gone, and now she is has to fight to get everything back. What would you do for a chance to find your lost love?

I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this book. I'm happy I went in blind because it absolutely blew me away. I want everyone to have the same experience so I do not want to post too many spoilers. However, the world building in this book is amazing as well as the complicated characters along with their relationships. Just when you think you are starting to grasp the plot of this book, it throws you for a total loop and you're left speechless. I don't even know what genre this book is because so many are entwined and it is done so smoothly. It has mystery, intrigue, thrill, romance, science fiction, paranormal fantasy and so many different variations of them. I was astounded and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I've been looking for a book with fantasy and horror vibes and I think this is what I wanted! First off, the characters were so well done. They felt perfect in this world and really helped drive the world building up. The witch aspect was a great vibe for me. Really enjoyed how that element was brought in. Overall I really enjoyed the writing style here. It left me wanting more and look forward to what's coming next!

Witch Wife was an interesting read. At first it felt like a historical novel and I was really confused because I was sure it was described as being a fantasy book, but soon enough everything made sense.

The main character reminded me of Celaena Sardothien, but very suicidal and dependent on her sister; her maiden was my favorite character and I was quite intrigued with her. The royal family was very insipid, and the "good guys" at the end were actually better villains. Basically, the characters were okay, but a bit too flat.

The plot was quite slow moving, but for me it didn't feel boring, mostly because I was really interested to see the main character's transformation. I also want to add that the book is a bit more about how she felt and dealt with losing the war and being a prisoner than on actual action, so there is not a lot going on for such a long book. There is a lot a thinking about suicide, so be cautious if you don't feel comfortable with that (the author gave a TW at the beginning, but it's really a lot).

Personally, I liked the book, mostly because it's a bit different, but it might not be everybody's cup of tea

Thank you to netgalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review. The blurb made me very eager to pick this one up: "Irene Shannon is has lost her husband and her sister, has killed a lot of people, and finds herself the captive of the British royals who have heard tales of the two English sisters aligned with the people of the New World, and want her to marry into their family. Irene learns that her husband may still be alive, and she will do anything to get back to him, even cross an ocean back to the monster-infested New World."

Sounds like a fun historical fiction with fantasy elements and interesting characters. While that is the case here, I found the plot extremely convoluted and the blurb misleading so I came up with my own so people that are interested know what to expect:

Irene is a robotic, nothing-special (that's not an insult, she actually describes herself that way) woman from a world similar to ours who has an extremely codependent relationship with her older sister who is perfect and every single guy seems to fall in love with. Irene's mission in life is to make her sister happy by helping find her "soulmate" after her previous husband dies, so she helps create an AI that somehow sends them to a world where the british empire wages a war against the New World (America) where they meet some outlaw like characters and end up having to marry them for their own safety - cue the Outlander music!

This is all told in the second part of the novel which felt like an AU fanfic of Outlander crossed with Pride and Prejudice which was pretty entertaining. Part 1 is spent at court and I was really enjoying the politics and characters, trying to get a feel for the world - and then! The princes ride up in a BUGATTI, I was crying laughing, it was so out of nowhere! There's a gay earl, a brothel-worker who's on Irene's side even after she pees on the carpet in front of the queen (that happens in the first chapter) and a pretty charming one-legged brigadier. I wish we got their POV instead..

So be forewarned, there are no witches in this book, there ARE ice monsters and expensive cars and guns, and an extremely dry main character, who is the sole narrator, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in her head.

Final rating: 2.5 stars

Really interesting read, loved the "historical" fantasy element, was originally thrown by the time/dimension travel and the introduction of modern aspects but it all clicked into place, looking forward to the next books

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (or rating).

Found family is great, but found family and sisterhood? Amazing. When they get revenge on the men who wronged them? Chef's kiss. This story is very boneless mercies and I LOVE IT. FEMALE RAGE!!!

Witch Wife by Lumen Reese is an enthralling read that beautifully intertwines dark fantasy and deep emotion. The story is both haunting and heartwarming, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of the unseen. Reese's writing style is atmospheric, drawing you into a world where magic is raw and the stakes are high. Making this a book that stays with you long after you finish.

"Witch Wife" by Lumen Reese is an interesting blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction that is about Irene Shannon, a woman who has gone through significant loss and hardship. The story follows her as she is captured by British royals who believe her to be a witch. The novel is not a typical historical narrative, it also has elements of time travel, mystical creatures, and dystopian settings. This helps to create a more layered story and brings more to the typical historical narrative.

It has an innovative plot and the emotional depth of its characters was wonderful to read. Irene's journey, especially her relationship with Fiona, her sister, is central to the story, though throughout the reading there were times the dependence on her sister's approval could be frustrating. The narrative's pacing and time jumps were sometimes a challenge, and could be difficult to follow. However, the world-building and the blend of genres kept me engaged throughout, especially with the introduction of unique monsters and a dystopian world​.

Overall, "Witch Wife" is a captivating read for those who enjoy a mix of genres and a story that delves into both personal and fantastical struggles.

I don’t know how anyone can rate this book less than 4 stars at least. It was a beautiful story full of so much emotion and what you will willingly go through to protect the ones you love. What you’re willing to give them, to sacrifice everything for their happiness. I look forward to the next installment to this trilogy. Irene is a woman to be inspired by, even though all she went through was catastrophic. The emotional build up was intense and some of it was dark but I could see myself reading this again.

*Witch Wife* captivated me with its unique mix of history and fantasy. Irene Shannon’s fierce struggle and the colorful cast of allies make for an engaging read. While the plot occasionally meanders, the strong character development and adventurous spirit shine through. A solid 4 stars for its imaginative storytelling and compelling protagonist.

Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kudos to the author for the warning but I think I need to give a Trigger Warning for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in my review. If this is something you can't deal with you should definitely skip this book!

The main theme of this book is love, and what you would do for it. Not just romantic love but familial love as well. The main character, Irene, is willing to do anything for her sister! And I mean anything! I like the idea of love in all it's forms but this was just extreme. Maybe I've just never felt love so deeply I would kill myself because a person died. In my opinion it is a betrayal to the person you loved, that you would give up your own life instead of grieving and accepting the loss and then live on and honouring their memory. If you don't want to live for yourself, then do it for the people around you. One suicide can cause a "chain reaction" of suicides/suicide attempts to people in your periphery, a so called suicide cluster. I just cannot fathom being in such an dark hole that you'd expose your family and surroundings to that kind of pain and risk. Is it just me?

But I digress.

The story is divided into 5 parts going back and forth in time. And hot damn it gave me whiplash! The first part was really interesting and engaging until what I thought was happening during the American Civil War but with monsters, suddenly have electricity, sports cars and Shrek in it. It threw me for an uncomfortable loop, and it took awhile for me to get back into it. Then the second part happened.

Remember how I said this book takes love to the extreme? Well, Irene jumps DIMENSIONS with her sister because her sister was suicidal after her husband died. Want to know why they did that? Because Irene figured that her sister had a better love in another dimension, and she jumps in with no more reason than "I love my sister and want her to not be suicidal, damn whatever it's going to cost me".

Despite the whiplash and disbelief, I wanted to know what was going to happen. I won't say the witch thing came out of nowhere but it did pop up whenever it was convenient in my opinion.

One thing this book did right, is that it showed that it's worth it to keep on living despite how dark of a hole you feel yourself to be in. You never know what will happen, and what you'll miss out on: new or old love.

This is just my take on this book.