Cover Image: The Witch of Willow Hall

The Witch of Willow Hall

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Member Reviews

After a scandal tarnishes their family, Lydia Montrose and her older sister, Catherine, and younger sister, Emeline, move from Boston to the country. Their father has built a fine new home, Willow Hall, in the area of a town called New Oldbury. It’s 1821, and he and his new business partner are finding success in building mills along the river.

As she struggles with Catherine and the secret her older sister has been keeping, Lydia finds herself falling for the young man who is her father’s business partner, but she is sure he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. Catherine is the beauty, the sister who draws the attention of all the men. And Catherine is vying for the attention of not just the man Lydia is interested in, but also his longtime friend.

But there are other compelling concerns for Lydia. Not long after their move, she sees some strange things in the house and around the property, which she can mostly shrug off as her imagination. But there comes a time she can’t ignore that something is going on, especially after a tragedy occurs. Can she accept that she might have some particular gifts? And what can she do to use them to protect her family?

I had expected this story to be more gothic than it was; it kind of wants to be a few different things at once, and it mostly works, but sometimes it just seems all over the place. It’s about a young woman who has to come to terms with being a witch (which is slow to develop, and I wouldn’t mention that but for the fact it’s in the title); it’s an early-1800s love story with all the expected trappings; it’s partially a ghost story about past tragedies haunting the present. I enjoyed it but hoped for a bit more.

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At first I was kind of disappointed it got boring, I was like what feud? what is happening? where am I? I thought this book was about witches? but gradually it builds up and it gets so exciting. SO what I'll tell you is be patient and finish it because you will be surprised and I personally find this a good book and there is a deeper meaning to it !

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I loved this book! It was a perfect mixture of supernatural (both scary and intriguing), romance (just enough to make your heart go pitter-patter) and family drama (Lydia was so well mannered in dealings with her sister)!

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. Just when I thought I knew how a problem would be resolved, the author took a different turn.

I was sad to see the story end and will miss some of the characters. I would love to see a part 2 (please?)!

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If you enjoy stories with spirits who commune with the living, dialogue, protocol and etiquette of the 1800s, a bit of scandal, a bit of chicanery, a bit or romance, sisters who love and hate each other in equal measure, town gossips, a little more romance and a few more spirits clogging up the works, this book should be on your radar.

The wealthy Montrose Family has problems which has forced them from Boston society. Their problems take on a different dimension in their pretentious new home in New Oldbury, a suburb of Boston. Of the Montrose sisters; Lydia is happiest with her books; Emeline, the youngest, when she is playing games and telling stories to Lydia; and Catherine who never seems to be happy, merely content when she is psychologically torturing Lydia. Their new home, Willow Hall, is built on the site of a previous house and all is not as it should be. But read on and enjoy this gothic tale which has the power to make you twist your hankie and speed up your heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for a copy.

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Spooky and atmospheric, this is a solid return to the gothic romances of a few decades past--I appreciate the references to Alice Hoffman et al but I think it's more of a throwback than that. Glad to see it being published for a YA audience.

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I both liked and disliked this book. I felt like it could have been wrapped up much quicker, that there was a lot of repeated scenes, etc. Some of the mystery building was annoying and drawn out, but in the end it all worked out and was a good thing.

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When I heard that The Witch of Willow Hall was a Jane Austen-esque ghost story, I knew I needed to read it! I received this as an e-ARC from NetGalley. I am typically not a fan of scary things (movies especially, but books as well), but this book had just the right amount of eerie for a giant chicken like me! 

I enjoyed the dynamic between the three sisters. It is always interesting to see how an author handles the bond between sisters who are vastly different and might not even like each other very much. I found this part of the story to be incredibly realistic.

Lydia was an interesting heroine as well. She is a very soft and quiet character, which left a lot of room for the story surrounding her. Getting to see the setting from her point of view was chilling as well. I really liked reading the story from her perspective. The book was very atmospheric, and I definitely could envision myself there. 

As for the creepiness factor, there is a lot of spectral activity, but nothing that seems to be overly threatening (apart from one character, but I won't discuss it to avoid spoiling a key point in the plot). I got a lot of Bronte vibes from the paranormal side of this book, who I also love dearly! This was the perfect book to read around Halloween for me, a little bit scary but not too much. 

The only thing lacking for me was the mystery of why the family had to remove to the country. It is alluded to throughout the novel, but I found the wait for the explanation more annoying than intriguing. I'm not sure how this could have been done better, but that is why it dropped a half star rating for me. 

Overall, I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters, the setting, and the ghost story! A great read for a scaredy-cat like me! 

My Rating:
4.5/5.0

I gave The Witch of Willow Hall 4.5 STARS! If you enjoy Austen and the Bronte sisters, and are not a huge fan of really scary books but would like a little bit of creepiness, then this is the book for you!

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This was different than I expected but really compelling! Great for fans of historical or gothic fiction. And the central romance between Lydia and Mr. Barrett was perfection! There were some disturbing instances and it was creepy but I loved the writing style and look forward to more books from Hester Fox. It was a good atmospheric read for October :)

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Historical fiction has been one of my favorite genres to read since I was very young. I remember perusing the shelves in my middle school library for books in this genre. One that stands out to me (and that is by an author that I read a large majority of her books back in the day) is A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi. It's a story about the Salem Witch Trials, which loosely relates to this book, and was one of my absolute favorite historical fiction books ever. I can definitely say that The Witch of Willow Hall has made that list!

Plot:
In order to escape a scandal, Lydia and her family have just moved from Boston to their Summer home turned permanent home at Willow Hall in the country. While Catherine, the eldest, and their mother are fairly unhappy with the move, Lydia and Emeline, the youngest, don't seem to care too much. Emeline is too concerned with the mermaids in the new pond and Lydia, trying to forget about the engagement she had to break off, just wants to focus on taking care of Emeline and avoid any more possible scandals happening to her family. But Lydia has secrets from her past buried deep beneath the surface that she tries to keep hidden, and Willow Hall is determined to bring them to light.

I definitely went into this expecting a paranormal historical fiction story and was surprised to find out that there was actually a bit of romance sprinkled in as well! I'll be the first to admit, I was hesitant, but I really ended up enjoying this surprising bit that was written in the story. I'm not usually a huge fan of romance or anything like that, but this one was so well done I just couldn't help but fall for it every step of the way. The story itself did start off a little slow but really started to pick up until maybe about halfway through, but once it did, I found it difficult to put down! But I believe that the slow buildup is one of the plus sides to this story, as it really gives the reader time to get engrossed in the world and everything that is going on. It shows that you don't need a lot of flash and a quick moving plot to write a great story! I just loved the atmosphere that was present all throughout the story and found myself wanting to stay within the pages of the book for just a bit longer whenever I read. I do wish there had been a bit more development with the witch-y side of the story and maybe just a little more backstory on the history of some things, but overall, I really really enjoyed this story. As I said above, it's one of my new favorite historical fiction books! It has an overall creepy vibe that I really enjoyed and it's definitely a book that I didn't know I needed to read, but am very happy I was able to read. It's an atmospheric (have I said that enough?) story that really draws you in with the eerieness and unknown feeling that Willow Hall gives off and keeps you guessing with every page. It really is a fantastic gothic tale that I'm sure will be enjoyed by many and will easily become a new favorite among historical fiction readers such as myself.

Characters:
All of the characters in this book were so well-written and each had their own qualities that I liked and/or disliked about them. My favorite, not surprisingly, was Lydia, but I really enjoyed all three of the sisters in their own way. Catherine was a typical older sister and a bit shallow but ended up having more depth than I really thought she would, and Emeline was the younger sister who aspired to be like her older sisters. But Lydia, who had been taught to never attempt to stand out in any way but rather to remain plain and unimpressive, had such a strength and a light in her that was just absolutely captivating. She was such a lovely character and I truly enjoyed following her story and watching her start to understand her secret and unravel the secrets that hide within the walls of Willow Hall. Their parents, Mr. Montrose and Mrs. Montrose, were also interesting characters. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the father, but I really liked that he came through for his family when it mattered the most. All in all, the characters in this story definitely had a huge part in my enjoyment of the book overall and I really found myself in awe of Hester Fox's way of writing character growth and development!

Writing:
Hester Fox is just...wow. From the very first page, I was completely and totally enchanted. Honestly, I was shocked that this was her first novel! She writes like no other author I've ever read. Not only does her writing remind me of the wonderful historical fiction authors I grew up reading, but it also reminds me of the gothic horror writers I've come to enjoy recently, one of those being Wendy Webb. Hester Fox has a unique voice that brings each and every word on the page alive and I found myself devouring every word she wrote, but still hungry for more. By the end, I knew that I had found a new auto-read author, and I am so eager and excited to see what Hester Fox writes next!

If you're looking for a spooky and atmospheric story to round out your October reading list, then The Witch of Willow Hall is one you don't want to miss!

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4 1/2 stars

When I was a teenager, I fell in love with gothic novels, the darker and more haunting, the better. However, somewhere along the line, publishers or authors decided that the paranormal couldn't just stand alone. It had to be explained away, thus turning the gothic into a mystery. While I always enjoyed mysteries, that just wasn't what I was looking for when I read gothic novels. Thanks to Hester Fox' The Witch of Willow Hall, I have rediscovered my love for dark, gothic novels.

Lydia and her family arrive in New Oldbury hoping to start a new life after scandal forced them to leave Boston. Although Willow Hall is new, it seems haunted by dark forces that Lydia wants to ignore, blaming them on insomnia. The darkness grows, forcing Lydia to come to terms with who she is and what she has done through intuition and ignorance.

The pacing and the writing of The Witch of Willow Hall are very well done. Honestly, if you are a fan of dark, gothic novels from Wuthering Heights to The House of Spirits, you will probably devour The Witch of Willow Hall, as I did in practically one sitting. Fox has an ear for the appropriate language and tone. And, despite the fact that I'm not a voracious reader of historical novels, all the elements felt right to me.

There was an average amount of supernatural, ghost story lite if you will, so if you're not a huge fan of paranormal novels, you would probably still enjoy The Witch of Willow Hall. 
Considering that this is a debut novel, I can't wait to see what else Hester Fox has in store for us.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I really liked the feel and atmosphere of this book. I had a bit of a struggle getting invested in the story but that might be a product of a busy few weeks while I was reading this. I would definitely recommend for anyone who loves subtle creepiness and witches.

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The Witch of Willow Hall is a fantastic historical fiction book! Although the genre is adult, but I’m glad that it is a YA friendly story. I like that the plot is amazing and the characters are very good. The story has full of mysteries, secrets, and paranormal stuff. Furthermore, a bit of romance is included here. No errors and problems that contain in the book. I do not know that it has a Gothic theme, but I am absolutely okay with that. Overall, I enjoy reading this book because it is intriguing and spooky. Halloween is just around the corner, so this book is perfect for this season. Also, I will recommend it to the fans of paranormal or witch stories.

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I am a sucker for good books set in this time period– the propriety, rules and manners just makes for a good, slow-burning romance. This book is an excellent example. Lydia Montrose is our main character and the most sensible of the three. She is very devoted to her family, often seen doting on her youngest sister Emeline, helping her haughty older sister Catherine in anyway she can, and being careful not to upset her mother whose health is not the best. We open the story with a tale of her past; she is a young girl and beats up a boy who kills her cat, though as to how she managed to beat him is a mystery that her family managed to cover. Willow Hall is an old mysterious house that has some history to it which may be what brings up more of Lydia’s abilities. It’s Gothic and creepy all while not being too scary. The writing style is focused on Lydia’s internal thoughts and feelings, so it is very easy to connect to her.

There is romance involved which is well done for the time period. Mrs. Fox doesn’t forget that in the 1800’s there were a lot of strict rules for courting. I always find these fun to read due to the tension created by society’s expectations. It’s also very PG-level romance, and while it is a large part of the plot, there is still a lot more story focused around family drama and the paranormal. As long as you don’t mind romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

The book may be similar to other novels you’ve read before, but the writing, characters, and plot are all very well developed and make it an enjoyable read. It’s good book to pick up in the Fall, but I enjoy spooky thing all year round.

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I found The Witch of Willow Hall to be a very different type of historical romance. The inclusion of so many themes -- witchcraft, the Salem Witch Trials, love, a family in ruin -- both financially and emotionally, the death of young children -- the story easily keeps your attention and while it is not difficult to figure out the final outcome early on, the author takes us on an interesting journey to reach it. I recommend it.

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After a scandal shakes the Montrose family, Catherine, Lydia and Emeline, along with their parents are forced to move to Boston and reside in their new country estate, Willow Hall. As Catherine copes without her estranged brother, Lydia and Emile find themselves entangled with the spooky history of Willow Hall and their ancestors.

After a scandal shakes the Montrose family, Catherine, Lydia and Emeline, along with their parents are forced to move to Boston and reside in their new country estate, Willow Hall. As Catherine copes without her estranged brother, Lydia and Emile find themselves entangled with the spooky history of Willow Hall and their ancestors.


Fox produces a spooky, witchy read which is ideal for Halloween season, but can honestly be read in any month of the year! The setting touches on the Salem Witch Trials and the atmosphere leaves the reader anticipating a jump scare.

Catherine was an easy to hate character, good thing she was written that way! The paranormal aspects Lydia and Emeline explore together allow the reader to sense the sisterly bond they share, as well as understand their bickering!!

I absolutely LOVED this book and would recommend to anyone who loves paranormal mixed with thriller, and a dash of romance!

Can’t wait to see what Hester Fox has in store for us next!!

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Wow, where to I begin with this book. So, let's start with the setting, it takes place in Massachusetts, even if the city is not so real. It takes place in the 1800s, always more spooky, right? And it's about sisters, family creepiness that you can't even think about it (yeah be prepared), there is romance (the old way, which is nice), ghosts (yeah, more creepy and spooky) and old secrets. And I guest I have pretty much told you what the book is about without spoiling it. lol

But, seriously...We follow this family that has left Boston and moved to their country home, Willow Hall, because of a scandal involving one of their daughters.

Willow Hall is dark in itself and history and Lydia, the middle daughter, the one that tries to hold the family together and tries hard on everything but also has some dark inside of herself feels attracted to the house, as if it can talk to her. And more creepily, she hears and sees things that anyone else does.

As the family get settle in Willow Hall, everything falls into place at the same time will fall apart, trying to destroy the family. And we will get to see if they will be able to survive it all and if Lydia can keep it together and protect everyone she loves.

This book was creepy at times, spooky but at the same time? It intrigued me so 4 out of 5 stars. And yes, I do recommend it, specially to read at this time of the year!

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One of the best books that I've read in a long time! I stayed up all night and read it. Highly recommended this one! The story flows perfectly.

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Content Warning: Note that this content warning will also alert you to a few major spoilers. The Witch of Willow Hall begins with a disturbing animal death and includes a vivid miscarriage, attempted suicide, incest, and child deaths.

Get ready to enter a world of social scandal where any misstep will force you to move your family out into the country. Of course, this isn’t a small family secret or an issue that can just disappear. Plus, it is 1821—a time where women still have fewer rights and act submissive in their respected households. Cyrus wants to marry you for money? Sure, why not? Add in a tentative romance, vengeful and depressed ghosts, unexplained powers, and an eerie cast of women ranging from pure and sweet to vengeful and crude. Meet The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox, a brand new adult gothic fiction title that ties in romance with power, horror, deceit, and death. Chilling yet suspensefully romantic, The Witch of Willow Hall will leave you cheering for Lydia and her budding romance while wanting to slap her sister silly. A tad predictable, The Witch of Willow Hall is a solid debut novel for those who don’t mind a slower paced read.

The Witch Of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Sisters Catherine, Emeline, and Lydia are forced to flee their debutante city life over a family scandal that is revealed a little more than midway through the book. Forced to move 50 miles outside of Boston, they find themselves on a haunted piece of land with a chilling history. Known as Willow Hall, the estate has seen quite its share of tragedies and is a tad cursed. Ghosts who cannot move on haunt the pond outside and pace the upstairs floors.

Located deep within the country, mill entrepreneurs gather trying to make money from a harsh industry. Lydia’s father is a part of the business plans and so is John Barrett—a rather handsome and eligible young bachelor. Lydia and John ignite their flame immediately upon catching an errant pup in the woods. Unfortunately, Lydia’s jealous and possibly mentally unwell sister, Catherine, wants and needs any man that she can get. Desperate to end her own disastrous situation, Catherine causes storm after storm around her—self-destructing and taking Lydia with her. She will stop at nothing to get what she’s want and end up on top.

The Witch of Willow Hall examines the relationships among sisters while leaving readers hanging on the edge of an almost Dr. Quinn like romance. Will Lydia ever start taking care of herself instead of giving up everything for the ungrateful Catherine? Who will John Barrett pursue? How will Catherine escape her rather heinous new predicament? Add in an accidental death or two, broke ex-fiancé with a gun, and powers that knock men off their feet, literally. With a small reference to the Salem Witch trials, paranormal meets history and vengeance.

Who Will Enjoy The Witch of Willow Hall?

If you are an old school romance lover, The Witch of Willow Hall is perfect for you. I hesitate to say historical romance as the time period lacks prevalence. Even though I wanted to slug Lydia and her nonexistent confidence, I bought into her romance with John Barrett. Their love is certainly of the times. John made all the right moves and did everything I hoped he would. I had to read ahead to know their fates as the romance completely sucked me into the drama. Equally, I wanted to jump through the pages to slap Catherine’s bitchy face. P.S. At one point the word ‘bitch’ is used in a fight, causing me to look up the history of when the word became an insult to women (versus referencing female dogs).

In addition, the ghosts and horror elements haunt the pages. The Witch of Willow Hall is not necessarily a keep you up all night kind of scary but is eerie, dark, and kind of depressing gothic scary. The losses are powerful and vivid. Characters leave you chilled. The unique storyline is filled with tragedy and triumph.

A Few Moments of Minor Disappointment:

If you know me, the animal death at the beginning of the story really got to me. Honestly, the entire scene is unnecessary—skim past if you cannot handle disturbing animal deaths at the hands of sadistic human beings. I understand the point of the scene to emphasize what makes Lydia tick, but I could have done without the image. This is more of a personal qualm/taste than the author’s choice.

When I picked this title, NetGalley marked The Witch of Willow Hall as a YA/teen book and women’s fiction. Based on the adult relatable and appropriate content, I would find teens hard pressed to enjoy this one. Amazon categorizes the title as women’s and gothic fiction, which is more suitable. Gothic romance is most accurate. I also expected a heavier historical fiction flair based on reviews and summaries. The Salem Witch trials are a small part of the storyline. Again, none of these criticisms are on the talented author, though.
The middle of the narrative drags for quite awhile. Knock out 75 pages and tighten the somewhat predictable plot, and I would give The Witch of Willow Hall 4-stars.


I would like to thank NetGalley and Graydon House Books for the free advanced reading copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Information
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox [Graydon House Books 2018]

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Gothic, Ghosts & Witches

About The Author: When not writing, Hester Fox is a collections maintenance technician in the museum field. She cleans and takes care of historic collections and has a Master’s in historical archaeology. You can learn more about Hester Fox on her website here.

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Let me start with stating how very lucky I feel for being part of this book tour. I wanted to receive an early copy of The Witch of Willow Hall badly because I was convinced by its synopsis it will please me to no end.

I was not a least bit wrong. This is such a deliciously dark gothic romance, I haven't read anything so powerful in the genre in ages.

Lydia's, family – her parents and two sisters – move to the countryside from Boston to run away from a scandal that could become the ruin of all three girl's prospects. However, the house they choose as their new home is half-alive with memories and tragedies of another family, and the nights are rarely peaceful there.

When two gentlemen from the neighbourhood start to make visits to the house, Lydia finds herself in bigger animosity with her sister Catherine than ever before, which is all the worse because thanks to that neither of them foresee the calamity that would change both their lives forever.

After disaster strikes Lydia's anger and helplessness makes her realize she is somehow different form the rest of the world; she is in for a journey of self discovery.

The novel seriously had everything I enjoy: regency era, haunted house, romance done well(!), witchery, creepy ghosts, a nasty scandal, a mysterious family tree... and some other things I can't mention here because I don't want to spoil your experience.

This would be the perfect read for all Jane Austen-lovers who also enjoy thriller/horror. I swear I haven't read anything this good on the gothic side since The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and that must say something, because I LOVED The Thirteenth Tale.

Don't miss out on Hester Fox's amazing debut novel, it is quite a ride believe me.

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4.5 Stars

'The Witch of Willow Hall' is a wonderfully atmospheric novel that revolves not only around witches, but also love, family, believing in yourself, and doing the right thing even if it might not be the best in thing for you. It sounds a little confusing, but after you read the novel you'll understand what I mean. I absolutely loved this book and everything about it. I'm a huge fan of anything related to witches and magic, so I had to read this one. I'm so glad I did. This book had everything going for it - a fantastic historical setting, great characters, a twisty plot and a perfect ending.

The characters were all well rounded and complex, especially our main character, Lydia. I loved getting to know her throughout the story and to see her grow, change, and mature. The story is told from the first person point of view, from Lydia's perspective, which made getting to know her on a deeper level than other writing styles and seeing what she thought, felt, feared, dreamed, and so much more. I also really liked watching her relationship with John grow and change throughout the book. It was a nice addition to the story line and didn't overshadow the main plot, which I normally find to be the case. The plot line had a lot more twists than I anticipated, which I loved. I didn't see a lot of them coming, which made it so much more fun. It's a great fall read, especially around Halloween and I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and romance.

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