Nellie has been caring for her household as long as she can remember. Her mother died bringing her little brother into the world and her father spends most of his time exerting his dominance over his children and drinking.

When Nellie loses her post as a lady’s maid because of the lady’s husband’s roving eyes and hands, she’s desperate for work to support her brother. She finds it in a lady’s apothecary. But this work is dangerous as a fever is sweeping the city into a frenzy and leading to the deaths of many women for being a little too independent. However she can’t refuse the sisterhood, love, and knowledge she finds among the women of the apothecary.

When terrible things do happen Nellie runs. And stays running for 200+ years with the extended life she’s been granted.

But home will always call to her.

Ultimately this a book focused on toppling the patriarchy with a veneer of magic.

I love reading about the history of witch trials and what brought them about. It wasn't about burning witches. It was about patriarchy. Men blaming women. Women blaming other women. It was a time of growth for evangelicalism, and whoever didn't fit that norm could be called a witch. This book was an interesting novel to listen to, based on these dynamics. It was a bit more "witch religious" than I expected, and not my favourite parts, but as a whole I loved the book and appreciate the fiction mixed with reality.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC .

The Last Witch in Edinburgh follows Nellie as she lives through a witch hunt and faces her greatest enemy centuries later. I loved the setting, the premise, and the narration. I struggled with the pacing a bit, and ultimately this book reminded me of another and paled in comparison. If I had read this book first, I believe I would have enjoyed this one more.

Narration by Siobhan Waring was outstanding!

I received an ARC and ALC from Kensington Publishing | Kensington and Tantor Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalleg and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook.
Beautifully narrated, this book was very thought provoking on how misogyny morphs over time.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an audio copy of this book. I am a fan of this author and have been looking forward to this book for so long!! She is a master at writing atmospheric books. What really started to captivate me was Nelly’s relationship with her “daughter.” I loved their story and hearing how much they cared for each other. The book really took off from there and I enjoyed it!!

This book was absolutely perfect and Siobhan Waring did a fantastic job recording this work. As an avid romance reader this didn't feature the relationship as much as I expected but I did not care. Everything about this book was hauntingly beautiful. The themes of feminism, opression, the patriarchy, and courage to live a life you can be proud of will stay with me. I look forward to reading more from Marielle Thompson.

This is a powerful story of love and empowerment set amid witch trials. It was incredible to see the stories of queer and trans people represented in this time period and to see the power of women when we rally together. This is going to be a beloved read for folks who loved Claire from the Outlander series!

I'm beyond grateful to have received an audio ARC of this book! Siobhan Waring brings this characters to vivid life in a way that made the audiobook experience feel like watching a movie.

What a great book. I loved both sections - and the fact it was a dual timeline book told in chronological order, hallelujah!! - and Nellie as a character. I was a bit concerned about the time jump, since it comes so late in the story (I even had to decide whether or not I considered it a spoiler, but since it's mentioned in the summary...), but in practice it works extremely well. I wouldn't mind seeing a few short stories fleshing out Nellie's time between 1824 and 2006.

The Last Witch in Edinburgh by Marielle Thompson is a harrowing tale of fear, survival, and women's rights. Set in Edinburgh in 1892, we get a peek into the dangerous lives of women as an evil force convinces mankind that all women are witches. In reality, there are only a few, but they are strong and resilient. They are the women of Cailleach, the winter deity, and as they aid her, they gain lifesaving powers.
Nellie and Jean Rae, with the support of Cailleach, face down the evil that seeps through Edinburgh in a centuries long battle.
I felt all the emotions with this book. Although it is a fantasy novel, it is based on truth and lore. For centuries, women all over the world had to fight accusations of witchcraft or cultural equivalents. I love books that fight or at least document this history and portray women heroins. I definitely shed tears for this gripping story.
Thank you, NetGalley and Tantor Media, for an advanced copy of The Last Witch in Edinburgh, in exchange for an honest review. This book is on my top read list for 2024.

Narrator Siobhan Waring's soft and lyrical voice brings this story to life. She has the amazing ability to breathe emotion into her words.