This was a book I was invited to read but it really wasn’t for me. I much preferred the recent timeline to the past. A decent enough story but too much romance for me.

I read this as soon as I got the approved ARC. Elena Collins is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction with a touch of near magical realism. I know she will never disappoint and this book is probably my favorite so far.

This book has so many wonderful layers. Once I was into it, I did not stop until I finished.

The book follows two timelines; Megan, who has just discovered that she has a half sister and travels to Cornwall to look for her, and Susanna, a local wise healer and her daughter Katel, who is roped into some witchcraft by a local pellar. Megan begins to investigate the past after staying at The Ship, which is the local haunted inn.

It has the perfect mix of eerie, melancholy and joy to make it a truly enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A spellbinding read that grabbed me from the first page. When Megan goes on holiday to Cornwall to look for her half sister she didn’t know she would find self-healing, a romantic connection and some lost spirits from 1625. She cannot escape the tales of smugglers and shipwrecks but through her kindness and understanding she is able to bring peace to the Cornish Cove of St Mawgen. Historical and well written.

The Cornish Witch by Elena Collins is such a masterpiece! Elena is a genious author! Love her work... the characters were so perfectly created, they looked like they really existed. It was an amazing experience!

I loved it. I was hooked right from the start and couldn't put it down. I loved the dual timeline in the book too as it felt like I really got to grips with the story

The Cornish Witch is a dual timeline novel with the first timeline taking place in St. Mawgen's Cove, Cornwall, in 1625, with Susanna as one of the local wisewoman/healers (they use the term pellar) and her daughter Katel, who is being befriended by another pellar, Tedda, who tinkers in evil magic. Katel seems to be about 17, the age when her mother became pregnant out-of-wedlock but Susanna refuses to name Katel's father, even to her. The second timeline takes place in the present day with Megan, who runs a new age shop with her mother in Somerset. When her father confesses to her that he had a child with an ex-girlfriend when he was young, that ex gave the baby up for adoption, and that his first child had just contacted him, Megan realizes she lives in Mawgen's Cove and makes plans to take a vacation there and try to meet her half sister. There is way more to this story, which features the supernatural as the Ship Inn where Megan stays is haunted by two ghosts, the Drenched Man and the Weeping Woman, while the town itself is haunted by the Waiting Witch who preys on men at night and kisses them, causing them to die. I love how both timelines were wrapped up very nicely in the last chapter and epilogue. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Elena Collins writes a compelling historical fiction story filled with mystery, the supernatural, romance, and builds a realistic yet fantastical world for a reader to immerse themselves in. The Cornish Witch is a must read for any season of the year. Collins does an excellant job writing two timelines, one set in the present modern day world and the other in the past. Collins often dual narrates in her writing and it is very sucessful in all of her books. The Cornish Witch is no exception.

In The Cornish Witch, the reader follows the story from Megan's perspective in the present day St. Mawgen as she quests for answers of the rich history of The Ship, a ghost-filled inn she is staying at in addition to looking for her half sister Emma while on a much needed holiday. While the reader reads Megan's story, you are also along for the journey of Susanna and her daughter Katel. Their story isnset in the past in the days the cove had fishing, smugglers, and witchcraft. The Cornish Witch is a heartbreaking, thought provoking, and touching story.

I could not put The Cornish Witch down and longed to continue reading when I had other responsibilities. It was a quick and very enjoyable read! The pacing of the two stories within the main story was well done and my attention was captivated.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and to Elena Collins for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Cornish Witch. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Cornish Witch is an atmospheric blend of history, mystery, and the supernatural, set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of St Mawgen Cove. When Megan arrives to uncover a long-buried secret, she finds herself entangled in a ghostly tale that stretches back to 1625, when whispers of witchcraft put two women in grave danger.

The novel’s dual timeline adds intrigue, with the modern-day mystery unfolding alongside the tension of the past. While the historical sections are richly detailed, their dense language made the pacing feel slower at times, especially compared to the more fluid present-day chapters. However, the novel’s themes of resilience and injustice, along with its vivid Cornish setting, create a compelling, immersive read.

For readers who love slow-burning historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural, The Cornish Witch offers a haunting and evocative journey through time.