The Witch of Willow Hall

by Hester Fox Narrated by Lauren Ezzo

Overview

"Steeped in Gothic eeriness."--Nicola Cornick, USA Today bestselling author

In Salem, they burned. Now, they will rise.

New Oldbury, 1821

The house holds its breath, trying to outlast me...

Something has awakened in Willow Hall. Eighteen-year-old Lydia Montrose can feel it. But she has no idea what it is.

Rocked by rumor and scandal, Lydia, her parents, and her sisters, Catherine and Emeline, fled their sparkling life in Boston for the sleepy country estate. But bone-chilling noises in the night have Lydia convinced their idyllic new home wasn't exactly vacant when they arrived.

The Salem witch trials cast a long shadow over the Montrose family as the cloying heat of summer in Massachusetts mingles with something sinister in the air. The sprawling history of Willow Hall is no stranger to secrets, and its dark past soon calls to Lydia, igniting ancient magic she never knew she possessed. But with menacing forces unwilling to rest, threatening to tear her family apart, Lydia must learn to harness her newly discovered power or risk losing everyone she holds dear.

Delve into the magical power of flowers in Hester Fox's captivating new novel, THE BOOK OF THORNS, where long-lost sisters reunite on opposite sides of the Napoleonic Wars and must uncover the secrets of their mother's disappearance and their mystical powers...

Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox:*

• The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
• The Widow of Pale Harbor
• The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
• A Lullaby for Witches

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Lauren Ezzo brings depth and tension to this historical paranormal tale. When pernicious rumors destroy the Montrose family’s social standing in early-nineteenth-century Boston, Lydia, along with her parents and sisters, is forced to relocate to their country home, Willow Hall. Lydia is only beginning to understand the powers she has inherited, but as lies, mysteries, and fears continue to threaten her family, she realizes it will take all of those powers to save them. Ezzo captures Lydia’s resentment at her family’s ostracism, which turns into fear as she discovers the strange influence of Willow Hall itself. The story is compelling despite some historical anachronisms and pacing issues. Each character is fully realized, making this audiobook a suspenseful and immersive listening experience. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

07/23/2018
Fox’s spins a satisfying debut yarn that includes witchcraft, tragedy, and love, set in 1821 New England. Ten years ago, Lydia Montrose unwittingly summoned a dark power from within herself to torment a neighborhood bully. Now 18, her family is forced to move from Boston to Willow Hall estate in New Oldbury, Mass., to escape scandalous rumors concerning her older sister, Caroline. While Caroline detests the countryside, Lydia and her younger sister, Emeline, relish the fresh air and the less constricting society; they also enjoy the acquaintance of their father’s new business partner, John Barrett. But as Lydia starts to fall for John, disturbing things begin to happen at Willow Hall. Lydia sees ghosts and hears voices who try to convince her to do bad things. Following a monumental tragedy, she will have to discover who she is in order to set things right. Despite the lack of character development for side characters, Fox effectively portrays Lydia as sympathetic, stuck between a sister with no regard for propriety and parents who can’t or won’t discipline her. The inclusion of gothic elements adds a visceral feel that fans of historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural will enjoy. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret (Oct.)

From the Publisher

"The Witch of Willow Hall offers a fascinating location, a great plot with history and twists, and characters that live and breathe. I love the novel, and will be looking forward to all new works by this talented author!"—Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author

"Beautifully written, skillfully plotted, and filled with quiet terror...perfect for fans of Simone St. James and Kate Morton." -Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby mysteries

"The Witch of Willow Hall will cast a spell over every reader." —Lisa Hall, author of Tell Me No Lies and Between You and Me

"I was entranced by this intriguing and spellbinding novel...I hope Hester Fox goes on to write many more such novels—I for one will be buying them."—Kathleen McGurl, author of The Girl from Ballymore

"This compelling story had me gripped from the first page. The vividly drawn characters cast their spell so convincingly, I couldn't stop reading until I discovered what happened to them. A wonderful debut novel."—Linda Finlay, author of The Flower Seller

"Steeped in Gothic eeriness, it's spine-tingling and very atmospheric. I love the character of Lydia and the way she learns and grows into her powers."—Nicola Cornick, USA TODAY bestselling author of House of Shadows

"The Witch of Willow Hall is so spookily good I felt haunted by it. Totally obsessed with Lydia's story...I absolutely loved it from start to finish."—Sarah Bennett, author of the Lavender Bay series

"A creepy estate, juicy scandal, family secrets, ghosts and a handsome yet mysterious suitor make this a satisfying and quietly foreboding tale."—BookPage

"Fox spins a satisfying debut yarn that includes witchcraft, tragedy, and love...the inclusion of gothic elements adds a visceral feel that fans of historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural will enjoy."—Publishers Weekly

JUNE 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Lauren Ezzo brings depth and tension to this historical paranormal tale. When pernicious rumors destroy the Montrose family’s social standing in early-nineteenth-century Boston, Lydia, along with her parents and sisters, is forced to relocate to their country home, Willow Hall. Lydia is only beginning to understand the powers she has inherited, but as lies, mysteries, and fears continue to threaten her family, she realizes it will take all of those powers to save them. Ezzo captures Lydia’s resentment at her family’s ostracism, which turns into fear as she discovers the strange influence of Willow Hall itself. The story is compelling despite some historical anachronisms and pacing issues. Each character is fully realized, making this audiobook a suspenseful and immersive listening experience. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173470843
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/02/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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