Like many others in the bookish community, I adore JANE EYRE. So when I saw a premise that combined Bronte with witches, magic, and a heavy splash of gothic atmosphere? Combined with that beautiful cover? I was ALL IN.

This isn't JANE EYRE as you know it. This is a world of fairies and witchery, of curses and intrigue that differs substantially from the original. I adored how fresh and fast-paced this interpretation was (while still, against all odds, holding the spirit of the J.E. we know and love close to its heart). Sure, it got a little ridiculous at times. But you know what? I had fun. It's the perfect autumnal read.

A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate—and its enigmatic owner—in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre.

Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorite novels and this retelling was really well done. Haunting and beautiful all at once.

'Salt & Broom' by Sharon Lynn Fisher, a supernatural retelling of Jane Eyre, is an enchanting addition to the field of retellings. It balances the skill of homage to the source material with creation of a new story beautifully.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

A retelling of the classic Jane Eyre featuring a main character who is a witch. She is employed by Mr. Rochester to help him exorcize the evil that shrouds his estate.
This was a miss for me but may be enjoyed by fans of the original.

“Jane Eyre” is a tough nut to crack as far as re-tellings go. I think both Jane and Mr. Rochester are fairly complicated characters in their own right, and their romance is by no means straight forward or easy. But I have to commend Fisher for the version she presents here! This book walks the perfect tight-rope of hitting the main story beats that one expects from a “Jane Eyre” story, while also completely re-imagining large chunks of the story to fit in a fantasy world where witches, ghosts, and fairies exist. It would be very easy for either side of this balance to shift and throw the entire book into disarray, but that’s not a concern here! Instead, the book confidently moves forward in the world its has created, trusting the reader to strike this balance as well. I was also impressed with the overall style and tone of the writing, as capturing the specific “voice” and manner of speaking can be a challenge when adapting older works like this. Again, this ability to capture this tone was all the more impressive since you had to pair this sort of “period piece” voice with all kinds of fantasy terms about witches and magic.

In particular, I really enjoyed the adaptations and liberties the author took with the original story. All of the main plot beats were hit (and even a few minor ones, the sort that will definitely please the fans!), but the author didn’t hold back from truly making this one her own. Several familiar characters are completely re-imagined, while others play roles that are relatively unchanged. Some fairly major plot lines are also changed, but in ways that still hold true to exploring the themes and love story of the original. This include the plot line regarding Mr. Rochester’s wife. Obviously, I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I was very impressed by how this was re-done! And, again, the magical elements tied into all of this in ways that were truly surprising! Going in, I had it in my mind that it would mostly be the same story but with Jane doing a bit of magic here and there. Nope! Major fantasy elements all over the place, but in the best ways!

I also really enjoyed this version of Jane and Rochester. Jane, especially, was a fantastic leading lady. This version captured the same spirit of independence and resolve that we see in the original, but the story also allowed her to explore themes regarding female friendships, motherhood, and family in ways that the original didn’t. Rochester was also excellent, capturing much of the same dark and broody motifs that we expect from this classic romantic hero. That said, I liked some of the updates we got to this version as the original had moments where he came off as a bit, well, jerkish. This Rochester is still reserved and mysterious, but also updated in small ways to appeal to modern romance readers. I especially loved all of the scenes where he and Jane team up to solve the magical mysteries surrounding them.

Overall, I really loved this book! It managed to take a beloved classic story and retain all that makes it great while also adding a fun fantasy spin to the proceedings. I’ll definitely be looking through this author’s back catalog to see what else she’s written and will keep any eye out for anything coming in the future! If you enjoy magical re-imaginings of classic stories, definitely check this one out!

Rating 9: Darkly romantic and mysterious, a perfect book for all “Jane Eyre” fans!

(Review will go live on March 15 on The Library Ladies blog)

I loved this fun, witchy retelling of one of my favorite books, Jane Eyre. Dark, moody, but with some levity from some of the characters, I loved the blend of the story I grew up with and magical aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher 47North for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

“Salt and Broom” is a retelling of Jane Eyre with a twist: what if Jane was a witch, hired by Rochester as a last resort for his cursed home? After years spent in the seclusion of the school she was raised in, Jane Aire is afraid to face life without it, but she makes the journey to Yorkshire anyway in the hope she’ll be allowed to remain as a teacher despite her witchery. However, upon arrival at Thornfield Hall, she finds Rochester prickly and difficult to deal with, even as whatever hangs over the house begins to fight against her herb healing and protective charms and she soon suspects its connected to his wife's death. As they spend more time together, Rochester becomes more appealing and it becomes important to Jane that he remains safe- but the shadow of Thornfield won’t let him go so easily.

This is a wonderful retelling of Jane Eyre- I'm glad that I'd read the original novel before “Salt and Broom” because I felt like I appreciated the differences more; I adored how magic and ghosts were used in this version and it never felt predictable. Intertwined with Jane's story are pieces of Rochester's perspective which is part of what I think works so well about this book, as it offers us a chance to see how he feels. Once I started reading I found it so hard to put down, the language flowed so beautifully and the writing had all the simplicity but heart of the story it was retelling while telling a version that still felt individual and new. I really enjoyed this and the combination of genres here has made me want to read more from this writer in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

In this witchy retelling of Jane Eyre, our heroine Jane Aire uses her knowledge of herbs, magic, and witchery to help Edward Rochester rid his estate of a curse.

I did enjoy reading this book. It was paced well and I loved the premise. I'm not a huge fan of insta love so that part I wasn't crazy about, but overall, this was a fun book to read.

What an enchanting retelling of Jane Eyre!

The author did an excellent job of bringing the story of Jane Eyre into this witchy retelling. It held true to a lot of the details and historical musings of the original book and added a flare of witchy fantasy.

I found the story to start slow out of the gate and it took me a little while to get into it. Once the story blossomed however, I throughly enjoyed the scenery and looked forward to reading page after page. I subtracted one full star for the pacing and for some of the writing being a little lack luster.

Overall, I thought this was a perfect shorter read at just under 300 pages with a lovely hint of romance in the sweetest way. I’ve read other witch novels that provided more of a magical realism feel, but this one missed the mark on believability for me.

Overall? It was a feel good read with a fun little mystery that had an upscale romance and happy ending. If you’re looking for a cozy read, this one may be the ticket.

My thoughts on…

THE STORY: What if Jane Eyre was a witch? I was curious how this would be fleshed out, and I was not disappointed. The story is a solid retelling of Jane Eyre.

Jane Aire is a witch, and she is teaching others her “craft” at Lowood. When the superintendent, Mr. Brocklehurst, receives an urgent request for a Lowood witch to be dispatched immediately, he sends Miss Aire to sort the trouble(s).

And this is where Jane’s adventure begins. She travels to Thornier to see if she can help sort out the trouble, but her first question is - what IS the trouble. She won’t know until she arrives and meets the brooding Mr. Rochester, but once all is revealed, the brooding is clearly a defense mechanism. And the story of what happened to Mrs. Rochester? Creative.

It is hard to say more than that because it will spoil the story - and how the writer brings in the paranormal elements beyond Jane being a witch. Every detail is revealed as readers need the detail, and many of the moments of homage to the original are so cleverly placed, and twisted.

What I enjoyed about the story was its cleverness. The writer stays true to the original characterization of the characters, just with a paranormal twist. There were continual winks to the original story while taking liberties to spin the tale into a paranormal story.

Something that worked well in the story - the point-of-view shifts from Jane to Mr. Rochester. When the shift happens to Mr. Rochester, they’re listed as “interludes” and readers are brought into his inner thoughts. For me, this added more depth to the story itself.

The atmosphere is dark and brooding, as is needed in paranormal storytelling, but especially when paranormal meets Jane Eyre.

WHO WILL WANT TO READ THIS: This book will appeal to readers who enjoy a classic retelling, Jane Eyre, and/or readers who enjoy a witchy tale.

The book was provided by NetGalley for an honest review

A cozy fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre. That's the pitch. And I really liked it! A mystery involving a dead wife and fae, a brooding man, and an intrepid orphan all meet in the moors. A quick, entertaining read.

Salt and Broom is the perfect gothic retelling to cozy up with on a cold night. There is Witchery and hauntings with romance and properness. 0 out of 5 peppers. 5 out of 5 stars for storytelling.

The idea of this book—a witchy reworking of Jane Eyre—captivated me, but the execution let me down. The plot is unclear and contradictory as a result of the author's attempt to jam too many paranormal themes into it. The plot twists were cliched and predictable, and there was little warmth or depth in the romance between Jane and Rochester. There were much too many descriptions of herbs and potions in the literature, which was also monotonous and repetitious. The well-crafted, eerie Thornfield Hall setting was the only thing that saved this book from being a complete bust. That was insufficient, though, to keep this book from being a boring and unsatisfactory read. For those who enjoy paranormal romance or Jane Eyre, I would not suggest this book.

A witchy Jane Eyre? Sign me up.

This is Jane Eyre with a supernatural twist and I throughly enjoyed it. "Salt and Broom" takes the classic tale and flips it on its head, giving us a bewitching story. In this adaptation, the forbidden art of witchcraft takes center stage, with Jane Eyre herself wielding the power.

Set in a world where practicing witchcraft is once again acceptable, though not without its societal challenges, the narrative unfolds with a blend of mystery and magic. Many women in the story embrace the craft, despite the lingering social disapproval.

The novel delicately explores the intricacies of a society where practicing magic is no longer criminally prosecuted but remains a source of tension. The adaptation doesn't shy away from addressing the complexities of navigating a world where acceptance coexists with prejudice.

A witchy retelling of Jane Eyre. I just know this book is going to be very popular!

Jane Aire, an herbal healer, sets off for Thornfield Hall to teach young witches, and faces the mysteries and dangerous threats this school holds within its walls.

I will admit, I have not read Jane Eyre, yet it did not take away from my experience one bit. Fisher is a very talented writer, and for fear of spoilers, I hope you can take my word and read this book just to experience her prose. I can’t wait for Booktok to get their hands on this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for this ARC.

Salt & Broom is an imaginative and magical retelling of the 1847 classic Jane Eyre involving witches, fairies, romance, and herbal healing. Jane Aire, a witch from Lowood School, has been hired by Edward Rochester to rid Thornfield Hall of the shadow that looms over the estate causing unsettling feelings and queer incidences for Rochester and his staff. Independent and headstrong Jane initially clashes with the master of Thornfield; however, they become allies when it becomes clear the threat puts them in mortal danger.

While I enjoyed the book, I'm not sure the genre-bending really worked for me. I think this was trying to be too many things at once. 3.5 stars

Dnf around 52%. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts and I figured, sure why not. I did like Jane Eyre when I read it years ago. However, this is not a retelling as much as it is a reimagining of the original.

This is Jane Eyre but with witches and fairies and maybe a zombie? Also some walking around the grounds a lot. Not really anything that was holding my attention and I kept putting it off so sadly I'll pass this one. If you really love fairies maybe this is for you.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and 47 North for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun twist to the classic of Jane Eyre, where our main character is a witch who must solve and remove the shadow haunting Thornfield Hall.

This was a fun twist on the classic, and in many ways I think I enjoyed this a bit more. I’m always a sucker for romances, and I felt that Edward and Jane were perfect foils for one another. Also, we get occasional glimpses into Edward’s thoughts and I LOVED THAT. I also loved how much of the novel was focused on him not wanting Jane to change or diminish herself for anyone, and how much his attraction to her was due to her being willful and headstrong.

I also liked how certain elements of Jane Eyre were changed in this book, which both made this novel different and interesting, but also made me like the characters more than I did in the original. (Especially with regards to Mr. Rochester.) I won’t spoil anything, but there were certain things I knew about the original novel that made me a bit anxious about how this one would end, and those exact elements were turned on their head instead.

I think this novel would work for both fans of the original novel, as well as those who haven’t read it or aren’t super familiar with the story. There are many elements and events that are retellings from the original novel, but enough things are changed and adapted to still make this an original and captivating story. If you like gothic romances, with a supernatural danger lurking in the shadows trying to drive the two characters apart, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. Tropes: forbidden romance, historical/paranormal romance. This was an enticing book with mystery elements and a little romance.