This book took me much longer to finish than most. It wasn't a bad book, per se. In fact, I found it well developed and well written. It just had a hard time holding my interest. Maybe it just wasn't my kind of book? I'm not sure.

The plot is solid - a lonely orphan with a power she can't control grows up and just wants to belong. She finally finds a place she fits and figures out why she has the powers she does, but the things get complicated. It isn't super original, but it's solid writing, and the characters are relatively well developed. I didn't hate it by any means. It just wasn't really something that captivated me like some of the other books I've read recently have.

As for narration, that was excellent. I loved the narrator, and her seamless transitions from female characters to male characters was shockingly awesome. I truly forgot I was listening to a female narrate much of the time. The pacing was good - both in terms of the story and the narration - and I thought the ending made logical sense within the context of the story. If you're into light romance and easy supernatural/magical tales, I say give it a shot. You may like it even more than I did.

I wanted to like this book but in the end it felt somewhat basic. The characters didn't pull me in and I didn't love the way the author worked the story timeline. I was looking for the feel good charm of Sarah Addison Allen and the way Alice Hoffman creates characters you immediately care about. I love the narrator but the rest of the book was bland and not worth the time.

Audiobook/Ebook review

Overall: 4.5 Stars
Story: 4.5 Stars
Narration: 5 Stars

The title was lure and the synopsis was the hook and I have to say that I’m very happy that I took a chance on this book because it drew me in from the start and kept my focus until the very end.

I really liked Persephone from the start. There was a painful yet strong awareness of herself blended with a goodness that I felt wanting to come out and play, but couldn’t because of circumstances beyond her control...or so she believes at first. So watching her learn about her family, their history and finally being able to be was fascinating, heartbreaking as well as fun.

While I don’t typically compare anything I read to anything else, I must say that this story gave me a Practial Magic ~ the movie, not the book ~ vibe with the uniquely quirky sisters and small town feel, but also different enough because of it’s history, which was well written and quite interesting on how Wile Isle came about, along with all the other worlds connected to it.

This was my first time reading anything from the author and I found the writing to be quite engaging and the pacing good. I also liked that there were multiple pov’s and time shifts going on. It gave depth and understanding to all that we going on ~ even when the dots didn’t totally connect at the time.

With this book, I did something that I’ve never done before. I read and listened to the book concurrently ~ meaning I read a couplefew chapters then listened to the majority of them while doing that workthing ~ and I can say with some certainty that my enjoyment of the story was elevated by Ms. Maarleveld’s performance. I would have enjoyed it, nonetheless, if I had only read it, but the narration was extremely well done. After listening for a few chapters, I could tell which characters were “speaking” and the cadence and tone of the narrator fit the mood of the book to perfection.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

This is a tough one it ranged about middle grade for me but I felt like there was a lot of stuff that could have been added to make it just a little bit more exciting but that aside it was still a good book

The Orphan Witch
Paige Crutcher

Crutcher’s debut is a true magical delight, a mix of magical realism, fantasy and paranormal romance that will appeal to a multitude of fans. Her world building is an ingenious mashing of real and imagined places like the appearing/disappearing Library for the lost, and people - some quirky, some scary and some nice and everyone unforgettable. Persephone being so starved for affection will make the audience want to envelope her in an at least 30second hug because she counts every second of every physical encounter she’s ever had seeing they’re so few and far between. And because of her humility they’ll also cheer her on as she selflessly unweaves the spell that curses the island and its inhabitants. This totally unputdownable novel will appeal to both male and female readers, fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Deborah Harkness and Paula Brackston, and incredibly strong female characters.

Narration:
Saskia Maarleveld is the perfect choice for the narration of this novel, she’s got an accent straight from the realm of fairies, a voice that bespeaks mystical mysteries, does a bang-up job of both male and female voices, and is the absolute ideal Persephone.

Abandoned on the steps of a Firehouse at six weeks old Persephone May has only ever wanted to belong. She wanted to belong to every family who almost adopted her, she wanted to belong to every group home she was shipped to throughout her youth in the foster care system. But every time she was this close to belonging something bad would happen, something she knew she’d caused and she’d be alone again. What she didn’t know was that she wasn’t causing bad things to happen, she was a witch who simply didn’t know how to control her power. Then at age thirty-two after another seemingly unimaginable catastrophe Persephone decides to accept an invitation given to her by Hyacinth, a woman she could actually look in the eye, who she met a year ago who seemed more familiar than anyone else she’d ever met. So on the Autumnal Equinox, a day which she shouldn’t have been able to, she stepped foot on Wile Isle for what she hoped would be a new start. What she found was a strange powerful place that was under a 100-year-old curse two sets of sisters at the center of it all and a beguiling man and his library for the lost that seemed in between worlds.

I loved this audiobook. Persephone has spent many years alone and has struggled to have connections with others. She knows she is different but she isn’t sure why. When a friend from the past invites her to Wile Ilse, things drastically change for the better and she learns more about her roots. Loved this book so much I had to buy for my sister!

Lovely narration that highlights the storyline of the novel. This is an enjoyable book that is perfect for lovers of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series.

I loved the idea of this book and was excited to start but it just couldn't keep my interest so I ended up not finishing it. I liked the narrator and that helped a little. The writing was fine, the pacing a bit slow and the characters were fine. None of that made me want to pick the book up though. Overall it was just a bit bland for me.

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher was a magical audiobook! I love a riddle and this book has several. Persephone May is an orphan who has never quite belonged. She’s been this close to forever families but none of them stick. Too much eye contact has lead to horrible things for those around her. Is she cursed or something more. When her life implodes a chance email from an almost friend leads her to a mystical almost magical place. Will she find out who she is or carve out a life here? Read on to find out!

This book was sweeping and played on a generations long curse. I loved seeing this world brought to life! This book blends fantasy and magic together beautifully!

The Orphan Witch: A Novel by Paige Crutcher
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publication Date: September 28, 2021

The Orphan Witch: A Novel by Paige Crutcher was amazing!!!! I was captivated from the start and did not want the story to end!

This beautifully woven tale features Persephone May (I love her name!!!), who grew up in foster care and anyone who got close to her got hurt. She was alone and afraid to let anyone in because she didn't want to risk hurting someone else. She has been wandering her whole life, running away when strange things happen and it's time to run again...

This book was fascinating and intriguing. The characters are well developed and complex! The storyline is amazing and dramatic and captivating and everything I could have hoped for!

The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was masterful! She has a way with words and tone that was breathtaking!

This is a must read book! You will not regret it!!!

I can't wait to see what comes next from the author! I will definitely be reading her books in the future.

I'm so grateful to Paige Crutcher, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Unexplained things are always happening when Persephone is around. A loner, abandoned as an infant, she has grown up in foster care and has the hardest time making friends and getting close to people. While struggling to get her adult life together, she receives an invite to visit an acquaintance on an island. Something inside of her tells her she must go. Upon arrival she feels as if she know the place. From there Persephone discovers her heritage and connections are made.
This is an entertaining and original story. It was a bit slow in some parts and I had to push through, but overall, I’d recommend.
*thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

The audio for this book was fine. The book itself was a mess. The instalove was insanely unbelievable and very annoying. The characters all being written in sets of two sisters was weird and the fact that none of the sets of witch sisters ever mentions how weird it is that all the witches have exactly 1 sister is super weird. It felt like the characters were all dumb and easily led around by their noses (or genitals) and nobody used their brains at all.
Ultimately I became too frustrated with the bland story and nonsensical characters to continue reading. At the 60% mark I skipped to the end to see what happened and even then couldnt make myself care enough to pay attention

I started this audio book and was immediately hooked. The plot was fascinating. I loved the orphan backstory and the idea she had to avoid eye contact. However, the further it got into the story the more lost I got. I really wanted to like it but it ended up falling flat. I still encourage others to check it out. Thank you to MacMillan audio for the audio book. The narrator was great!

I was really intrigued by title and cover of this book and once I got started I enjoyed the present day storyline. The narrator did a good job but I think found myself getting a little confused by the characters and think this one would have benefited from a cast of narrators.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five stars.

Persephone May had a lot of strikes against her. Abandoned at just 6 weeks old. A slew of foster homes, and more unexplained accidents she cared for. No family. No friends. She's a loner. But despite all the things life throws at her, she kept her heart kind and open.

I loved the story, and the storytelling. Words are a magic in itself, and the author Paige Crutcher used them beautifully. Also I should mention the fantastic narration by Saskia Maarleveld.

This is a story about family, sacrifices and magic. I really enjoyed it.

I did not, not enjoy the book, but I missed a little something throughout the whole story. It is fast paced but I couldn't help to be bored here and there.
I did like the characters. They were fun and I enjoyed the growth each of them showed from the beginning to the end.
The curse itself, I thought not dramatic enough. But that is just my own opinion. When I read about curses, I like them to more substantial.
The book was an enjoyable read, but I won't be reading it a second time.
I did enjoy the narrator of the audiobook.

Abandoned at a young age and dragged through the foster care system, Persephone May as only ever desired a place to call home. After a transformative moment in her work place, Persephone abandons her life to join a friend on the mysterious island of Wile Isle. There, Persephone is met with four women who call themselves her family, an ancient feud, and a dark curse that threatens them all. The Orphan Witch is a magical novel that examines the role of family and love in an individual's life, and whether or not they're enough to bestow a true sense of freedom.

I highly recommend the audiobook version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early listen. Narrator did a good job telling Persephone May's story. What a magical, heartbreaking and endearing read. The author and the narrator hooked me from the beginning.
A strong 4 stars.

Witches? Check! Mystical library? Check! Hunky librarian to spar and spark with the leading lady? Check! A fight for the world in a good vs evil situation? Check! Check! Check! A wonderfully woven paranormal suspense/mystery/romance all wrapped around intriguing characters that draw you and keep you listening for hours! The narrator does an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life and adding an air of reality to this paranormal story. The plot is well developed and I must say that I will be seeking out other books by this author as their writing really drew me in and captured my attention!

Paige Crutcher's novel, The Orphan Witch, is time travel, romance, sorcery, and so many other good things rolled into one fantasy novel. Interesting characters and beautifully written text make this book difficult to put down. If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman and/or Deborah Harkness, then you must check this one out.

When I originally enjoyed this book, it was in the ebook version and I gave it a solid 4 stars. I was given the opportunity to listen to an audiobook version and the narrator did a beautiful job. In this format, I can't help but bump my review to a 5 stars. While the story is the same, it becomes more of an all encompassing experience. My mind sometimes wanders with audiobook presentations, but that was not the case with this one. Take a chance and enjoy the audiobook!