Slow burn, character-driven story with dark, disturbing elements, and enough misogynism to turn your stomach. The witch hunt is always both fascinating and upsetting for me, but I will pick up almost any book that covers it, and this was an interesting spin, both because the setting is Germany and because a lot of the time the women were accusing the women, rather than the men accusing the women. There were two perspectives throughout which came from characters I found curiously compelling. The mystery itself was great, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wasn't looking for something action-packed or a quick read.

A Dark and Twisted Masterpiece!

This novel takes readers on a gripping journey through the fear and paranoia of 17th-century witch trials, only to deliver a shocking and unforgettable twist. Katarin Jaspers, initially portrayed as a sympathetic maidservant infatuated with the Reverend Zacharias, turns out to be hiding dark secrets of her own. As the village succumbs to hysteria, the revelation of Katarin’s true role in the tragedies—and the shocking truth about the reverend’s identity—makes for an ending that’s as chilling as it is satisfying.

The atmosphere is immersive, the characters complex, and the story full of surprises. If you love historical fiction with dark psychological twists, this is a must-read!

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR AN ADVANCED LISTENING COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW!

This was fine... world-building was excellent, tone/atmosphere was good. I just didn't care. About the story, the characters, anything. Nothing grabbed me or made me care about what was happening. Every time I started it, I wished I was reading something else. I don't see myself remembering this book at all after a few days.