3.5/5. this was . . . aight? i am usually more than okay with character-driven books (in fact they tend to be my favourites!) but i thought this one needed to take its plot a little more seriously. it’s still an enjoyable read, though.

Scotland, yes Witches, yes! That's all I had to see on the cover to grab my attention. I had no idea this was based on true witch history. The story itself while slow moving never lost my interest. I'm fascinated with witch history and learning something new was really interesting. I appreciated the authors note to provide some context on the inspiration I loved the mother/daughter relationship and how brave and strong Aila was. The found family of the Troup was wonderful and each character tugged at my heart I wish we could have seen what happened to Ellen and Malie and Hector or even seen them come together with Jack and Aila after so many years but I think how it played out was realistic. I enjoyed the modern epilogue, I thought it brought the story full circle and kept their memories alive. Well done story. Five stats

More like 3.5- thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was an enjoyable read … well… as enjoyable as a story about 18th century treatment of women who don’t conform and are accused of being witches can be. The story caught me pretty quickly, but the preface gave away a pretty pivotal plot point from the get go- so it’s clear the mother is going to be killed as a witch. There is decent character development for some of the main characters but not quite as much for the traveling troupe. While the ending seemed foregone, I found that I wasn’t as choked up about some of the deaths as I think the author intended. And while the minister’s attacks on the mother and daughter were incredibly frustrating, it wasn’t built up enough, so the emotional toil didn’t hit a crescendo as I expected. The father’s death, the main character’s significant burns, the mother’s devolving into dementia or Alzheimer’s, and the introduction of a ragtag troupe of traveling entertainers made for a unique story base. However, the accusations and witch trials were pretty typical and offered no real surprises. The ending tied everything up pretty neatly. It was entertaining and moved pretty quickly but was pretty predictable. I wish more time was taken to lay a solid foundation for the witchcraft accusations, but it does a decent job of giving some of the basics.

Normally, I’m not a historical fiction girly.

But add in witch trials?! I’m in.
This was a beautiful story, where two paths cross- and a mother and daughter bond is greater than magic.

Loved it all, and will be recommending it to everyone!


Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to receive this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this eARC!

This was such a beautiful story to read. It's historical fiction based on the story of the last witch trial in Scotland. There's some explanation at the end of how much is known about the real history and I think the author has done a wonderful job intertwining fiction with reality.

It was easy to read and you got to know the characters well. It was still a devastatingly sad story. The only thing is that I wish there was a bit more in the story about witchcraft, that only really picked up about 60-70% into the novel. However, still an intriguing and good read.

Loved it! This author is a true storyteller. They have taken a true historical event and woven an engrossing and interesting tale around it. The witchcraft part of the novel only really takes off at about 70% so really it is the tale of the travelling entertainers and their interaction with the the two women Janet and her daughter Aila that is the focus of this book. Great characterisation, easy to read, well written and highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

This was an interesting and well researched work of historical fiction about the witch trials in Scotland. There seem to be quite a few books of this ilk about at the moment, but this was was an entertaining read, with all drawn characters.
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of "The Last Wich of Scotland" in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Witch of Scotland was an enjoyable enough book, didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The book is well written with interesting characters and I enjoyed the interactions between them, however I felt a lot of the plot focused on these relationships to the detriment of the main plot. I don't feel enough focus was given to the horrors of being accused of witchcraft along with the inevitable punishments, This was - in my opnion - sidelined and therefore left me disappointed.

Thanks to Black & White Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Excellent book. Beautiful prose. Interesting story line that keep me wanting to read all night. Look forward to more by this author.

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris is a beautifully crafted piece of historical fiction inspired by the true story of Janet Horne, the last person to be lawfully executed in Scotland for being a witch.
We follow Janet and her daughter Aila as their lives collide with a troupe of traveling performers. Meanwhile an over-zealous minister arrives at the local parish and sets into motion a series of events that will change their lives forever.
The writing effortlessly keeps the flow of the story captivating from start to finish and the interaction between the characters was so endearing to read! I love how I got to experience, through the eyes of these characters, life in the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century and I appreciate the author giving a voice to Janet and Aila who were denied one.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys historical fiction and is interested in the history of the witch trials in Britain.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Compared to other witchy books at the moment, The Last Witch of Scotland seems to be more ambiguous and whilst still devastating in it's origins, the story has a more lighthearted feel to it.

An account of the life of Aila, the daughter of Janet Horne who was the last woman executed in British soil, as a result of the witch trials.

What I enjoy most about reading these books is the common themes of the trials - over-zealous ministers looking to take control of their 'flock' and using what we now understand to be medical or general science as a platform to denounce these women as witches. It's just ridiculous.

But as I mention, this tale is slightly more lighthearted in the variety of characters that we meet and the stories that intertwine.

A good starter book for those who have an interest in the witch trials but for those who are heavily into the history and feminism side, this might be a bit too lightweight.

There's a lightness to the writing that makes this book incredibly readable.
It's full of interesting characters, the majority of which are warm, friendly and very likeable.
A good look at how suspicion and petty mindness lost the lives of many women back in the day.
Enjoyable.

How terrifying to live in the time when "witches" could be burned at the stake. Your neighbors can turn against you in a second just to protect themselves. This is a novel about a mother and daughter who lost their father/husband a troupe of roadside travelers, and the Reverend who has it in for the women. This book is fiction based on the last witch to be burned in Scotland. Fully fleshed out characters along with great descriptions of the time, had me feeling a part of this novel. Much appreciation is given to NetGalley and Black and White Publishing for the digital ARC. This review is my own.

Set in the Scottish highlands in 1727 young Aila had tried to save her father from a fire while he was rescuing a baby but tragically he dies and Aila is left with visible injuries. She and her mum move to a remote parish where they are outcasts and a new minister is set to make life harder for them with his suspicion and accusations
When a group of travelling performers enter their life it brings them happiness and friendship but the minister is never far away and he is a very dangerous man
I loved Aila who is an extremely strong young woman and has learned her worth from her father, she always sticks up for herself which men don’t like and gives them more cause to dislike her
This book focuses heavily on the injustices of the witchcraft trials of Scotland and I found myself very emotional at times
This is written so beautifully with themes of disability, feminism, belonging, misogyny, witchcraft and religion. The author writes character and place so realistically while the prose is gorgeous and the story flows nicely with a lovely atmosphere of time
Could not put this down once I started reading! Absolutely stunning

The witch of scotland is a really interesting read .
it tells of a turbulant and dangerous time not only in scotland but all over europe and the new world .
It is set in the highlands of scotland in 1727 the fear of witchcraft was immense.
Aila father is killed in a fire she runs to help him but is horribly disfiguared .
with aila and her mother are forced to move to loth because of lack of money and support.
Aila attracts the attention of a superstitous villagers because she looks different.
then a troupe of entertainers from edinburgh arrive led by the mysterious jack.
Aila and her mother are accused of witchcraft .
this is a harrowing tale that grips you from the first page .

The Last Witch of Scotland by Phillip Paris

I've heard the story of Janet Horne before as being the last accused witch of Scotland to be killed in Scotland and I really enjoyed the story told by the author.
I have a bit of a ' thing ' for witchy stories and have to say this one is up there with the best.
Brilliant read .

I enjoyed how good the historical aspect was, I appreciated getting to learn about the last person who was executed for being a witch. It was what I was hoping for when reading the description, the characters felt like real people and I enjoyed getting to know them. I really felt for the main character and thought this was well written. Philip Paris has a great knack for the historical elements and I can't wait to read more.

"Jack thought the music had awoken a fairy in the woods when he imagined he heard beautiful singing. Without stopping, he glanced around. The others were also looking about them. Then the sound became more defined and there was suddenly no doubt that he was really hearing it. It was Malie."

*Thank you to the Publisher, Phillips Harris and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of "The Last Wich of Scotland" in exchange for an honest review. *

So I'm not a huge Historical Fiction reader (HR not counted), so it has to be a special book to keep my interest. I felt instantly transported into the story and the characters. I would definitely recommend this to fans of historicals.

This was so good. I can't believe that this is based on a true story which makes me like it even more. I thought that this was a great book and I was hooked from page 1 till the end.
I just reviewed The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris. #LastWitchofScotland #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

The characters are so full of life and likeable. The plot keeps you busy with trying to keep up with the changes and twists of the book. A must read enjoyable story.