Thank you Netgalley, Tanor audio and Marielle Thompson for the audio Arc of The Last Witch in Edinburgh.
Narrated by Siobhan Waring.

The Last Witch in Edinburgh is a slow to medium burn set in Scotland 1824 where women are still being accused of being witches. Nellie, an unmarried women is trying to navigate a very male orientated world and it's clear Womens is going to be a struggle. I found this book extremely compelling and vey relevant to todays climate where women are concerned.

I also loved the end authors notes on the inspiration and history that Marielle weaved into her narrative. I very powerful read for us women of today.
Siobhan Waring narrated this book and her voice matched the pacing of the book itself.

4 stars

I love a witchy book so was quite excited to listen to this. The writing is beautiful and the book is well researched. I especially loved the description of Edinburgh which allowed me to picture the locations as I listened. In the beginning I became immersed in Nellie's life, but as the story progressed I realised that I didn't line her very much! Ultimately I don't think this book reached it's potential and I felt the ending was quite rushed.

NetGalley ARC review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unsure how I got lucky enough to get an audiobook ARC about witches in Edinburgh. Let me start by saying the narrator was phenomenal - perfectly fit the dialect I heard while in Edinburgh present day, while also giving it the historical vibes we are dropped into.

✅ Historical ambiance is magical, yet realistic in its depictions of the time period
✅ Strong bisexual FMC with plenty of growth throughout
✅ Impact of women supporting women (re: historical context/scenarios, but equally important for women today)
✅ So well-researched and it SHOWS early on. The end with the author’s notes are the cherry on top, so go nerd out some more if you missed that part.

❎ Jump in time might’ve played better in a sequel (the historical setting was too good)
❎ Patriarchy attempting to ruin things
❎ Books rarely make me emotional, so tearing up at the end is officially on the cons list since I didn’t have another (but kudos for making sure my tear ducts work properly)

First experience with Marielle’s storytelling and I’m already a massive fangirl. A great addition to the list of book recs for friends starting their Fall reading 👌

Couldn’t really get into it, I think I would have liked a physical version instead of audio for this type of story!

I try very hard not to DNF a book, especially, an ARC because I am alway so grateful for the books/audio that I receive. I love books about witches and gravitate to the genre year round. This is why I was so excited to read The Last Witch in Edinburgh by Marielle Thompson. Unfortunately, this one was not for me at all. It was slow paced and. I could not connect with the plot or characters. I tried to push through but ended up DNF this one at around 30%

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for my gifted audiobook copy.

I was initially intrigued by this book. The narrator was great and created an appropriate atmosphere. However, I was disappointed by the story about half way. The love story was slow and felt forced. This book was ok and not quite my cup of tea.

This audiobook brought so much personality to an already outstandingly interesting read. Listening to this book at times felt like a warm hug - so much support of the female experience/suffering. A little raw, a little political, and a whole lot of feminism - totally worth the read/listen!

A unique blend of gothic and romantic with so many amazing witch-y elements. Poignant and beautiful with great historic themes that will please fantasy and historic fiction lovers!

The Last Witch in Edinburgh was captivating from the start. Marielle did a phenomenal job setting the scene and depicting the characters vividly. I feel like this book comes at a time when women need to remember their power and worth so I am very thankful for the copy. I am excited to read more books from Marielle Thompson!

This needs to be an audiobook staple every fall.
I was completely enamored with this entire story. One of the best in this genre I have ever read. Highly recommend!

This book is so Timely for the season and the current world state. I read this over the fall when I was actually preparing for a trip to Edinburgh, and the city itself being a character, when I got there I felt like I was stepping into the book. The descriptions of the characters and the setting were so brilliant. I liked that some of the main characters were prickly and not maybe immediately easy to love. I liked the diverse look into women's lives as wives, mothers, daughters, caretakers, and lovers. This book looks into a horrifying past, and a troubling present. With all the talk of witch hunts, sexual assault and harassment, and other dangers which are almost exclusively put on to women by societal norms and misogynistic views, this book also delivers hope. Hope that Community can change the world. Hope that love can keep you from getting lost in your hate and fear. Hope that life can be better for all. Loved this book. I've already recommended it to people.

The vibe and atmosphere of this book is amazing. There were a couple of things that I wish were different but overall, this was a very good read, and I would recommend it to anybody who wants a witchy vibe set in the past and present. 👏

In an alternate Edinburgh in 1824, women fear being hanged for witchcraft. Nellie Duncan finds refuge at an apothecary shop run by witches who empower women to embrace their independence and craft. She learns nature-based magic and falls in love with Jean Rae. When disaster strikes, Nellie goes into hiding for two centuries. With love and courage, she returns to confront oppression and awaken others to their inner strength in fighting against patriarchy.

Although not my usual choice of reading material, I am delighted that I decided to give this audiobook a chance. It is the perfect choice for the upcoming season! The audiobook was narrated with a heavy Scottish accent, which I initially found unusual but grew to love. The accent truly enhanced the story and overall feel of the book, making the narrator an excellent choice.

Having always held a small fascination with witches, particularly after living near Salem, MA, I have delved into the history of the trials and even taken a few tours to learn more. The author's thorough research is evident in this book, impressing me greatly. The book effectively illustrates how easily men accused women of witchcraft for illogical reasons, including something as innocent as love between two women. The story is beautifully written, and the addition of fantasy elements elevates it to a whole new level.

The eerie atmosphere described in the book reminded me of my visit to Edinburgh, a city I remember vividly. It is clear that the author has a deep connection to the city. You will be captivated by this compelling story, which feels timeless in its setting and explores the relationships between the characters.

This novel delves into the cultural fascination with witches, using witchcraft as a lens to examine gender politics and patriarchal oppression.

Thank you, Tantor Audio for audio ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Love the idea of this book but struggled to be sucked in. Unfortunately I found my mind wandering quite often only to realized I’d tuned out after important exposition. The narration was lovely & ideas nice, but the execution didn’t land.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for providing me with a copy of The Last Witch in Edinburgh. I went into this book knowing little about the plot, drawn in by the promise of an atmospheric setting. The novel's first half didn’t disappoint, immersing me in 1820s Edinburgh, where Nellie Duncan faces daily struggles, from caring for her family to avoiding society's dangers amid witch hunts. I was captivated by the historical details and Nellie's growth as she found a sense of belonging at Rae's Apothecary. However, the book's second half, which spans two centuries, fell flat for me. The time jump was unexpected, and the story lost its magical, historic feel. While I appreciated exploring feminist themes, they felt more forced and heavy-handed in the latter half, shifting the tone too drastically. Ultimately, the first half was a solid 4-star experience, but the second half felt more like a 2-star read, leaving me with an overall 3-star rating. Despite this, Marielle Thompson’s writing is beautiful, and the audiobook narration by Siobhan Waring is superb. I’d still recommend it, especially for those who enjoy historical fantasy with a modern twist.

Scotland, witches, women’s rights, love.

For some novels, listening to the audiobook is needed to get the full effect of the story. This is one of those.

I appreciate the setting and how the book sets it up.

The audiobook takes it to a whole new level.

This is an #ARC by #MarielleThompson, narrated by #SiobhanWaring. It was sent by #NetGalley and #TantorAudio.
The opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLastWitchinEdinburgh

I find this era in history fascinating and have researched the time period a lot. I did enjoy Nelli's character arc throughout the story. I do, however, feel that it should've been labeled LGBTQ. Perhaps it is labeled now, but it was not when I requested it.

Loved the atmosphere, I really felt transported into the world the author created. The story was very interesting, and the world building was good. The audio was very well done as well. That being said, there are some moments in the middle where the pacing struggles a bit, and it was a little hard to get through. Regardless, I would still highly recommend! Thank you for the review copy!

I listened to the audio version and absolutely loved the narrator as her Scottish accent was perfect for this Scottish tale of witches, friendship, and love across centuries. The narrator expertly adjusted voices and accents to accommodate for the various characters and locations, with expressiveness and interest. The book begins centuries before, with persecution of women for being witches due to their knowledge, occupations (midwife, healer, teacher), or acting contrary to cultural customs or challenging the power of the patriarchy. This is interwoven with Scottish myths about the Queen of Winter deity, the Cailleach, and the natural balance with summer, ruled by her son Angus and his bride. This introduces a struggle between good and evil, giving and greed, protecting nature vs worsening global warming. This is evident as the story jumps to present day (just a bit too abruptly, in my opinion), where conditions for women have improved, but there remains cultural and patriarchal control over women, their roles and their futures. The story inspires us all to support each other in being who we are meant to be, confronting those who seek to hold power just to harm others and join together to create a better environment, culture and future for women, children and all of humanity.

I have a deep love for Edinburgh and i feel like i lived there in my past life so this book literally called to me. I loved this book. The audiobook narrator did an incredible job of capturing the story to its full potiental. If you love woman empowerment, witchy magic, historical fiction, & LGBTQ+ representation- this book is for you. The atmosphere of this book was incredible, i felt like i was there with Nellie and Gene. 5/5 stars.