Current day – Augusta is a 20-something museum studies graduate who lands her dream job as a museum collection manager in a the historical Harlowe home. Her relationship with her boyfriend is less than ideal, but Augusta is the type of woman who blames herself and doesn’t think she should expect better.

1876 – Margaret is the only girl in the wealthy Harlowe family. She doesn’t quite fit in, so she charts her own path, developing her own not-quite-natural abilities. But it is 1876. Woman are expected to live a certain way and deviation from that can lead to terrible consequences.

The lives of these two women, centuries apart, intersect when Augusta starts working in the house that Margaret once lived in. Ghost or witch – Margaret pulls Augusta into her past, because she wants something from Augusta. Augusta becomes interested in the life of one who’s story was lost because she was a woman.

The Kearsley-esque dual story line gives both the historical and present-day view of women. As their lives intertwine, history unfolds. Both Margaret and Augusta have man problems. The difference is Margaret and her lover are dead (or so it would seem) but the reader hopes that Augusta can still do better.

Augusta is young enough to lack a certain maturity I like in my heroines, but younger readers will appreciate her struggles. Even Margaret garners a little sympathy as a 19th century woman facing a rigid society. The museum setting was perfect for telling the story of two women who lived 150 years apart. This contemporary, historical, paranormal tale has a little bit of romance and a little bit of mystery. The verdict – A Lullaby for Witches is perfect for fans of Susanna Kearsley who are looking for a less complex story, but appreciate a well-crafted tale.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was thrilled to be a stop on the book tour for A Lullaby For Witches by Hester Fox. It was a quick and enthralling read, chocked full of witches with a dash of mystery for good measure. Here's what it's about:

Augusta Podos has just landed her dream job, working in collections at a local museum, Harlowe House, located in the charming seaside town of Tynemouth, Massachussetts. Determined to tell the stories of the local community, she throws herself into her work--and finds an oblique mention of a mysterious woman, Margaret, who may have been part of the Harlowe family, but is reduced to a footnote. Fascinated by this strange omission, Augusta becomes obsessed with discovering who Margaret was, what happened to her, and why her family scrubbed her from historical records. But as she does, strange incidents begin plaguing Harlowe House and Augusta herself. Are they connected with Margaret, and what do they mean?

Tynemouth, 1872. Margaret Harlowe is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy shipping family, and she should have many prospects--but her fascination with herbs and spellwork has made her a pariah, with whispers of "witch" dogging her steps. Increasingly drawn to the darker, forbidden practices of her craft, Margaret finds herself caught up with a local man, Jack Pryce, and the temptation of these darker ways threatens to pull her under completely.

As the incidents in the present day escalate, Augusta finds herself drawn more and more deeply into Margaret's world, and a shocking revelation sheds further light on Margaret and Augusta's shared past. And as Margaret's sinister purpose becomes clear, Augusta must uncover the secret of Margaret's fate--before the woman who calls to her across the centuries claims Augusta's own life.

There are so many things I appreciated about this book. The POV changes between Augusta and Margaret does that cool thing where it weaves these two independent stories together until you see how they fit together over time. I'm a sucker for witches; they are definitely in my wheelhouse. The further back you go, the more any sort of help or "medical" care for women by women becomes witchcraft. There's plenty of actual magic in this book, but I really appreciated how there was also a "witch," who was really just an herbalist providing help to women who needed, who refused to dabble in the dark arts, and yet, it didn't save her from scorn.

It's not perfect. Sometimes the dialogue doesn't flow super smoothly and some of the transitions aren't polished, but those are negligible. It's a fun read full of ladies and magic and visibility. It's worth picking up if you are into any or all of those things.

I enjoy a good historical fiction read, and if there’s a touch of paranormal thrown in, so much the better. I really, really wanted A Lullaby of Witches to be a book that I loved. It isn’t a bad book – remember, my three stars means “fair to middlin’.” It just didn’t have quite the wow factor I’d hoped for from reading the description.

The story unfolds from two different viewpoints: that of Margaret, the only daughter of the wealthy Harlowe family in 19th-century New England, and that of Augusta, twenty-something in the present time.

Margaret is the wild child of her staid, upstanding family. Instead of pursuing proper womanly endeavors of the time, she’s off traipsing through the woods, finding ingredients to help the local women who come to her in the dark of night, seeking help with various issues. But the whispers of “witch” that attach to her can’t be ignored forever. Augusta, our modern twenty-something, has meandered into a life which no longer excites her. Her boyfriend is her boyfriend, well, because he’s there. She stays at her job as a tour guide for a historic jail because she doesn’t really know what else she might do. Their stories start to overlap when Augusta applies for a position with Harlowe House, a museum in the historical Harlowe home.

Augusta gets the job, and once she learns of the Harlowe daughter who may or may not have existed, nothing will do but that she find out the whole story. She digs and digs, and the flashbacks into Margaret’s life that she starts to get become ever more realistic hallucinations. What is Margaret’s sinister plan for Augusta? What does she think she can accomplish from beyond the grave?

I like the effective use of a dual timeline, and Hester Fox does it well here. Margaret’s story is written in language that seems more lyrical, and Augusta’s is distinctly modern, so there’s no confusion as to who is speaking. I also like the fact that we see Augusta learn to stand on her own feet. We see her grow from a young woman who’s really a bit of a doormat into one who learns to speak up for herself and to pursue the things that interest her.

Margaret’s dark powers, though, never seem to be fully fleshed out. She makes the (at the time) unpardonable mistake of not only falling for a boy who’s not considered a proper match for her, but of allowing herself to get pregnant out of wedlock. She helps women under the cover of darkness. But does she do anything truly evil? Well, no. (Except maybe the plans she’s got for Augusta.)

And I don’t get the “lullaby” part of the title. Is the lullaby intended for Augusta? For Margaret? I’m not entirely sure. There are snippets of a folk song at various places in the book, but it’s never clear that those snippets are lullabies, nor that they’re sung for witches. Some, indeed, appear to be from a love song.

All that to say, A Lullaby for Witches was a pretty good read – 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Even with the things I didn’t like about the book, Fox’s writing style is very easy to read, Augusta is a likable protagonist, and the details in the story make it clear that she does an outstanding job of researching her time period. I’d like to read her other work to see how it compares.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of A Lullaby for Witches!

I really enjoyed this book! I love this general sub-genre of historical fiction that has dual timelines, one in the past and one in the present, and A Lullaby for Witches is a great addition to it. Both main characters, Augusta and Margaret, are interesting and distinct, and I enjoyed getting to know both of them. I liked the way that the storylines became intertwined, and I thought the horror/fantasy elements worked very well. The plot development is also totally on point, starting off slow as you first get to know the characters and then speeding up as more and more details get revealed. I also really like that it's a witch book set in Salem but not during the Salem Witch Trials, and I give the author major props for choosing a lesser known historical period in which to set her novel.

Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced historical fantasy/horror, and I definitely recommend it!

A Lullaby for Witches is the first book I have read by Hester Fox. I loved the synopsis of the book and was glad to receive a copy via Netgalley and the publisher.

The book is told in two time periods, the late 19th cerntury and current times. In the past is the story of Margaret Harlowe the odd daughter of a wealthy shipping family. In the present Augusta Podos a young woman stuck in a rut and looking for a job that fullfils her. She gets a job at Harlowe House the ancestral home of Margaret. While working in collections, Augusta comes across a mention of Margaret but no one really knows anything about her, how could the daughter of a prominent family in the 19th century be such a mystery? Intrigued by the lack of information on Margaret, Augusta begins an investigation. While investigating Margaret’s past strange occurrences start to happen to Augusta, is this Margaret trying to make contact and tell her story?

Margaret is considered odd by the townspeople for her fascination with herbs and the natural world, causing mutterings of witchcraft, When Margaret falls in love with local boy Jack Pryce, events take a darker turn.

All in all this was an intriguing book. I love the dual time period and the supernatural toiuches I definitely will look for more books from the author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Harlequin/Graydon house and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

I read The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox and absolutely loved it. I was super excited to get my hands on her latest book, A Lullaby for Witches. Though I didn't love it as much as her prior work, this was one of those fun books that you can't put down until you're done with it. This was an entertaining mix of gothic, the paranormal, history and romance.

Margaret Harlowe was a member of a well-to-do New England family in Tynemouth, Massachusetts. With her free spirit and witchy ways she didn't quite fit in with the rest of her family. As her power grew larger, she seemed to get drawn deeper to the dark side...until she suddenly disappeared, and seemed to be wiped out from her family history. One hundred and fifty years later, Augusta Podos is working at the Harlowe House, which has been turned into a small museum. This is a dream job for Augusta, and she loves the work. When she comes across a vague reference to Margaret Harlowe while curating objects found in the house, she is immediately intrigued as to why there was really no information about Margaret's life in the Harlowe House, and she begins to dig. However, something dark seems to attach itself to Augusta, and it seems to be drawn to her by blood and time. Will Augusta lose everything she holds dear, especially herself?

I just adore historical fiction, and I loved the blend of the current day and the events of one hundred and fifty years ago. Augusta was a great character, though she appeared rather withdrawn and passive at first. She avoided most confrontations with her mother, who didn't wish to speak to Augusta about her deceased father. She lived with her boyfriend Chris, but things had become incredibly stale and they seemed to have morphed into just roommates. Augusta was also tired of her current job as a tour guide for the Old Jail in Salem, and she wished to use more of her skills. When she was hired to work in the Harlowe House she made new friends, especially co-worker Leo. When Augusta found a reference to Margaret, she was pulled in and just had to find out more. At first it was just interest, but then there was a taste of something darker. Margaret was an extremely intriguing character. At first her interest in herbs and flowers were used to heal, but as her power increased, her work morphed into something disturbing. She was in love with a man named Jack Pryce, but when he betrayed her the excrement hit the fan. The flipping back and forth between time periods was not the least bit confusing, especially since sections of the book were labeled Margaret or Augusta (or both). I don't want to say anymore about the plot, as there were some surprises I wasn't expecting and I don't want to ruin it for you! Hester Fox is definitely an author to watch.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I don’t remember when or how A Lullaby for Witches by Hester Fox came into my life, but I am happy to turn the final page on this adventure. This story had a rocky start, and although I gave it a fighting chance, it, unfortunately, did not get much better.

The first point of view comes from Margaret Harlowe in 1876. She is the only daughter of a well-to-do family and has three older, successful brothers. Margaret is left to her own devices, and she spends her time collecting ingredients to secretly assist the townsfolk that visit her at night. In the present day, Augusta is an insecure twenty-something working at a dead-end job giving tours at an old jailhouse in Salem. Her relationship with her boyfriend has become one of convenience, and she dreams of using her museum studies degree for something better. That is how Augusta ends up at the historic Harlowe House for an interview to become the site’s collections manager. Here, Augusta finds that the once prominent house may have ghosts, and the original family’s mysterious daughter still has a story to tell.

Now listen, I don’t think this book was about witches. And if it was, there was maybe one witch named Margaret who ultimately did not do that much witchy stuff. And if she did? Well, I did not read about it on the pages in this ARC I received. Upon reflection, the title of this story is confusing as well. There were snippets of a folksong that appeared before Margaret’s chapters, but I would argue it was not a main staple of the story. I was incredibly annoyed at one point when Augusta seemingly pulled said folksong out of nowhere and claimed it sounded familiar. However, when asked how she knows the song, Augusta cannot back it up. The reader is left to accept the song’s apparent significance even though it is never mentioned again. And here begins my bottomless frustration and confusion with this story.

My biggest issue with the book is how underdeveloped everything is. The ideas, characters, and dialogue are stunted and never hold any weight. It’s like the story was half-baked, and while I do love raw cookie dough, Lullaby would have done much better if it had been cooked to its full potential. For instance, there are many references to Margaret using dark magic, yet we never see her use it. It is hard to buy into her being a powerful witch when she spends more time looking for ingredients than actually using them. The book tried hard to convince me that it was a lot more dark and mysterious than it actually was, and it failed to back up its daring claims.

I was also frustrated by the shallow and careless approach given to major issues and conflicts. This occurred most notably around a character’s eating disorder, another’s incestuous infatuation, and a physical abuse incident. The issues our characters face seem to be created out of thin air in an attempt to matter at that moment but are quickly forgotten by the next paragraph. Truthfully, I felt icky while I read these passages. These issues and other points of contention are thrown out there to be used and discarded as needed. They felt like token shock value moments to heighten the stakes, but without the weight and implications behind them, everything fell flat. The book lacked meaningful context around these incidents, and it did not sit well with me.

I feel like an outsider because the reviews I see for A Lullaby for Witches are high. And if you pick up this book and enjoy it like the rest of these readers then I am happy for you. However, I am firmly rooted in my experience and can confidently say I did not enjoy this odd, misplaced tale.

Rating: A Lullaby for Witches - 3.0/10

Title: A Lullaby for Witches
Author: Hester Fox
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 3.8 our of 4

Augusta Podos has just landed her dream job, working in collections at a local museum, Harlowe House, located in the charming seaside town of Tynemouth, Massachussetts. Determined to tell the stories of the local community, she throws herself into her work--and finds an oblique mention of a mysterious woman, Margaret, who may have been part of the Harlowe family, but is reduced to a footnote. Fascinated by this strange omission, Augusta becomes obsessed with discovering who Margaret was, what happened to her, and why her family scrubbed her from historical records. But as she does, strange incidents begin plaguing Harlowe House and Augusta herself. Are they connected with Margaret, and what do they mean?

Tynemouth, 1872. Margaret Harlowe is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy shipping family, and she should have many prospects--but her fascination with herbs and spellwork has made her a pariah, with whispers of "witch" dogging her steps. Increasingly drawn to the darker, forbidden practices of her craft, Margaret finds herself caught up with a local man, Jack Pryce, and the temptation of these darker ways threatens to pull her under completely.

As the incidents in the present day escalate, Augusta finds herself drawn more and more deeply into Margaret's world, and a shocking revelation sheds further light on Margaret and Augusta's shared past. And as Margaret's sinister purpose becomes clear, Augusta must uncover the secret of Margaret's fate--before the woman who calls to her across the centuries claims Augusta's own life.

This was well-written, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the author’s other books. Mainly because I thought Margaret was a terrible person; very selfish and self-absorbed. I enjoyed Augusta’s POV very much, as she sort of grew into the person she’d kept hidden for years and learned to stand up for herself. The touch of romance was nicely done and didn’t become the priority. I did like the glimpses of life in the past, I just thought Margaret was terrible.

Hester Fox lives in Virginia. A Lullaby for Witches is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog post live 2/2.)

Augusta Podos likes to play things safe. But when the opportunity comes up to be a curator at Harlowe House, she feels a pull she can't explain. The first time she steps through the door, she feels tied to the place, especially when she learns about the Harlowe's mysterious daughter who has left no trace of herself in the family history. The more Augusta looks into Margaret, and the more time she spends at the house, strange things start happening, and Augusta finds herself haunted by the ghost of Margaret who longs for revenge. Because Margaret Harlowe was wronged in her past life, and she is determined to make up for it in this one.

A Lullaby for Witches is told from two POV's as well as two different time frames. We have Margaret Harlowe, a girl who has grown up wanting for nothing, yet never quite feeling like she fits into the life she was born to. The people of Tynemouth whisper 'witch' behind her back, but the women come to her at night asking for remedies their own doctor cant prescribe. She longs for a life of love and freedom, but her ways are too far ahead for the time and, before long, she finds herself in a situation she cannot escape from. She is wilful, and spirited and you can't help but feel for her situation, but she also carries a darker side, one which lingers long after she has passed.

Augusta has never really longed for anything, until she starts working at Harlowe House and her hunt for information about Margaret slowly starts to take over her life. The more time she looks into this spirited young woman, the more she realises that wanting for things isn't bad, breaking out of the norm and trying something new might be just what she needs. But she's also a little too eager for information, something that is used against her. She's shy and more prone to living life in the shadows than at the forefront, but her time at Harlowe house has brought her out of her shell in more ways than one. There are a multitude of side characters both in Margaret's and Augusta's timelines and they all have a pivotal part to play in the story.

I loved the eerie and atmospheric essence that Fox gave Harlow House. I found myself getting chills when reading certain parts, and I also loved that we got to see it from both perspectives, from Margaret when she lived there and from Augusta in a more professional kind of view as she tried to untangle the mystery of who Margaret Harlowe was. The mystery was expertly woven, we as the reader learnt everything along side the main characters giving it that much more of an impact and emotional punch when we learn Margaret's true story. It's both harrowing and heartbreaking, but also realistic to events at the time.

I did feel like the pacing was slightly off. We spend the first 75% of the book learning about Margaret and Augusta, how their stories intertwine, why Margaret doesn't show up in any of the Harlowe family records and why Augusta feels such a pull to her. But then the main event, the big twist the book was leading up to just seemed to move at a breakneck pace, and ended a little more quickly and easier than I would have liked. I will say that the big plot twist at the end was superbly foreshadowed throughout the book and, even though I had guessed early on which way it was going, I still found myself gasping out loud as the events transpired.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was creepy, but not too scary for wimps like me, and thanks to the authors atmospheric writing it was ridiculously hard to stop reading. A slow burning, but still adrenaline filled paranormal fantasy and I'm eager to check out the authors backlog for more of her works.

I liked it. Very atmospheric and the story was good. But I wish it had trigger warnings. Pregnancy loss is a hard no for me in books.

Hester Fox is back and she's bringing her signature gothic atmosphere with her, but this time with a twist!

Fox's previous works are all set in historic New England and this book is no exception, however, this time, we have a present day perspective as well. I was pleasantly surprised by this change of pace and loved the alternating perspectives between past and present.

Augusta Podos grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, and as our story begins, she finds herself leading tours through the old jail there. While working in a museum is her dream, this isn't exactly what she had in mind.. When she happens upon a job listing at Harlowe House in nearby Tynemouth, she jumps at the opportunity. Augusta can't believe her luck when the position is offered to her. She is finally going to have the museum job of her dreams.

From the moment she sets foot at Harlowe House, Augusta feels a connection with the property. In particular, she is drawn to a portrait of a young woman that hangs in the dining room. The portrait is said to be the mysterious, Margaret Harlowe, whose life has been lost to the sands of time. Nothing much is known about Margaret and many question if she actually existed at all. There's no true record of her. Augusta takes it upon herself to learn all she can about Margaret. She wants to honor her memory and keep it alive.

The past perspective follows Margaret Harlowe as she lives at Harlowe House with her family. Margaret was different and not really accepted in the town of Tynemouth. There were whisperings that she was a witch; a dangerous rumor.

It was true that Margaret dappled in herbalism and healing. In fact, many of the women who shunned her in the streets during the day would visit her under the cover of darkness, seeking help for their problems. Margaret also had a secret relationship with a young man, Jack, that seemed doomed to end tragically. You can see it a mile away, but Margaret was blinded by love.

As Augusta digs deeper into Margaret's story she begins to have disturbingly vivid hallucinations. Could Margaret be trying to communicate with her? Augusta begins to lose control and as past and present come crashing together, it seems some history really should be left well enough alone. Along with her new friend, Leo, will Augusta be able to make it out of Harlowe House unscathed!?

I really enjoyed my time reading A Lullaby for Witches. It was fun to have both the present and the past timelines in this one. Learning about the two women, 150-years apart, but nonetheless connected. Fox's ability to bring historical settings to life is so strong. She seems to have a real passion for history; it is evident in the care with which she writes historical perspectives.

There were some subtle nods to Fox's earlier works, family names and places, that were fun little Easter Eggs for me to discover along the way. It was also fun to go along with Augusta on her investigation into the past. I appreciated how much Augusta grew over the course of the story. She starts out a little timid, but in the end I was so proud of her new found strength.

Overall, this is a fun and engaging historical mystery with a paranormal twist. I definitely recommend this to Readers who enjoy a lush Gothic atmosphere and New England-based stories. I am such a fan of Hester Fox. I have read all of her novels and this one did not disappoint. In rankings, it may actually be my second favorite, just behind The Witch of Willow Hall.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Graydon House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was really looking forward to this one and had a blast with it.

"Being a witch means living in this world consciously, powerfully, and unapologetically." - Gabriela Herstik

Two Women. Two timelines. Pure Magic!

Hester Fox knows how to write a chilling, atmospheric and engaging tale!

Margaret Harlowe is from a wealthy family. She is the youngest and only daughter. Her brothers are successful and have made their way in the world, but Margaret has never fit in with her family. She enjoys being in nature, she knows things, she can do things, women who shun her in the day, come to her at night. She is talked about, she is strange, she is powerful, she is beautiful, she is a witch!

"You say witch like it's a bad thing..." - Unknown

Augusta Podos has found her dream job at Harlowe House! It is the historic home of the Harlowe's which has been turned into a museum. She can't believe her good fortune! She is doing what she loves. While working one day she comes across a reference to a daughter (Margaret) of the Harlowe's. Augusta she is intrigued. She wants to learn more about his young woman who history forgot.

"The moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun. The light has been broken; the spell has begun."-Midgard Morningstar


As Augusta begins to search for more information, she begins to have 'hallucinations' about Margaret. But are they hallucinations or are they the work of magic?????

Hester Fox has bewitched me with this tale. Usually with two timelines, I enjoy one more than the other. But in this book, both timelines were intriguing and magical. I love when I pick up a book and I am compelled to keep reading. I read most of this book in one day. I did not want to put it down. I love all things witch related and this book left me spellbound.

"The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life."- Margot Adler

So, pick up this book if you believe in magic! Pick it up if you are a fan of witch tales, historical fiction/romance, atmospheric reads with gothic vibes!

***There are some triggers in this book. The author mentions them in her review. If you leave a comment under her review, she states she will do her best to tell you where they are in the book.

4.5 stars

Highly Recommend.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Augusta Podos has lived in Salem, MA her whole life. She has been at her job as a tour guide for the old jail for too long. It seemed close to her history educational background, but she can't stand all the tourists who only want to know what the jail had to do with the witch trials (the answer is: nothing). She interviews for a more professional position at the nearby Harlowe House with little confidence in her chances to get a history job with some substance, but the job is soon hers.

No one wants to give up their dream job over feeling a little funky from time to time, right? The house has a lot of history, so of course there are a few weird vibes. As her whole life changes, she isn't sure if the job is what's bringing about the new circumstances, or if it's part of the natural progression of her life.

This was a fun story with an interesting twist toward the end. I liked Augusta's character, but there were some supporting characters I was really fond of too. As I've said before, I'm always up for a good witchy story, and I hope this isn't the last one from this debut author. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars and didn't want it to end.

I love Hester Fox's novels as they're always an excellent mix of paranormal, gothic, and historical fiction. This one was no exception and it kept me turning pages as it's riveting and gripping.
Margaret and Augusta are two fascinating women.
Margaret is the wild girl who defies conventions and develops powers that are quite darks, she's an outcast and someone who's condemned to a sort of damnatio memoriae.
Augusta is a contemporary woman who faces realistic issues and I liked how her part helped me to understand how a museum works.
The two POVs are fascinating and I liked how they were never confusing and work well together.
I can't wait to read another story by this author, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to MIRA and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I wanted to like this book so much, but it was like watching a bad movie of a decent concept. The characters are flat and there is no development whatsoever. The plot moves along predictably and without cohesion or flow. I was about 70% through with the book when I realized it's almost a rip-off of Anne Rice's Witching Hour, which is haunting and gothic and lovely. This story doesn't even compare.

Margaret Harlowe, from a well-to-do New England family, never fit in with "society". She was known around town as a witch, with uncanny powers and the more those powers grew, the darker they became. One hundred and fifty years later, Augusta Podos takes a dream job at Harlowe House, the historic home of a wealthy New England family that has been turned into a small museum in Tynemouth, Massachusetts. When Augusta stumbles across an oblique reference to a daughter of the Harlowes who has nearly been expunged from the historical record, the mystery is too intriguing to ignore. Strange things begin to happen to Augusta, however, and she begins seeing flashes of Margaret's life. The more Augusta digs into Margaret's life, the more Margaret takes over Augusta's until it may be too late to stop her from taking over completely.
This book was so good. It was a dual-timeline story, told in alternating parts between Margaret's life in the past and present day. It was so action packed it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I didn't want to put it down. I think anyone would enjoy this, regardless of whether or not you are a fan of fantasy/paranormal books or just regular fiction.

Initial Thoughts
I was excited to read this one. I loved the idea of a dual timeline and I like historical fiction.

Some Things I Liked
Witches and Salem. I loved the historical references and the setting in this book. It was set in a part of Salem during a time that wasn’t focused on the witch trials so that was really interesting to learn about.
Found family vibes. I also liked the family that Augusta found during this story. Her coworkers at Harlowe house were great and she really needed the support.
The romance. I also liked the romance element in this one. It was subtle but it was still nice that Augusta found someone better than Chris.
Morally grey. I really enjoyed the way Margaret was characterized. Her story was far from black and white and I thought this element was really well done.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Augusta’s personality. Augusta wasn’t my favorite main character. She was pretty vanilla and she made a lot of poor choices throughout the story.

Series Value
I think this book is best left as a stand alone. We didn’t really meet any characters for any spin off potential and the central plot was resolved.

Final Thoughts
I liked this book. Was it my favorite witchy read of all time? No. Was it a solid historical read? Yes, absolutely.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Lullaby for Witches is a great combination of compelling story and more than a generous dose of mysticism. Fortunately, it also mostly hits all the right notes.
I will say that I am predisposed to like anything that deals with witchcraft and the mystic. Salem is one of my favorite towns to visit, and I know the history backwards and forwards.
This is one reason that I admire that the author largely steered away from Salem. Although Augusta does work there in the opening chapters, most of the action takes place in Tynemouth. It is a great reminder that Salem isn’t the only town susceptible to the history of witches.
The other thing that the author chooses wisely is the timeframe of the “witch.” When thinking about witches and New England, people tend to think of the Salem Witch Trials and the 1600s.
But the stigma that went with knowing herbs and medicinal plants lasted much longer, as evidenced by Margaret’s experiences in the 1870s.
The story unfolds with pacing that allows the reader to be drawn in to both women’s stories, making connections along with Augusta. For the first two-thirds of the book, it is effective and keeps the reader engaged.
Where the story falters, however, is in what should be the climax of the story. Without giving anything away, it feels like the switch of focus and events that lead to the climax come out of nowhere.
It is almost like the author decided to take the story in a different direction but didn’t go back and change the build-up to create a foundation for it. As a result, it goes a little gonzo.
Augusta herself was difficult to get a handle on. I felt her character was uneven. She has traits that don’t have any real basis. And some of her “opinions” seemed more like the author trying to get some socially acceptable points made instead of building the character.
There are also a few avenues that I don’t think got proper attention. Augusta’s family tree is never fully explained, and the whole subplot with her mom is manipulative instead of contributive.
But overall, I enjoyed A Lullaby for Witches very much, and I definitely recommend it.

Who was Margaret and why was she written out (or never written in) of the history of the Harlowe family? That's the question Augusta finds compelling when she discovers tidbits about Margaret at Harlowe House where she's taken a job as collections manager. This dual time line novel is told by both Augusta in the present and Margaret in the 19th century- and they have distinct voices. Augusta, who has been struggling with her love life, is less compelling and almost a stock character but her portions of the novel are enlivened by the details of running a museum until.....Odd things start to happen in the house, which compiles Augusta to push further for information about Margaret. Is she a benign presence? You will wonder how common her story is, No spoilers from me but this is nicely atmospheric. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Nice historical fiction with a paranormal twist.

I really struggled to get into this one. I normally love Hester Fox's books, but I found the writing a little stilted in A Lullaby for Witches, and I think the premise is a tad too similar to her other book the Witch of Willow Hall.