Book was very good. This is not my genre. Not sure I’m qualified to review it. As a novice, I did like it. It kept me interested. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for providing an advanced copy to me.

This book was written so easy to read and follow along. I loved the mix of humor, sarcasm, and creepy bits (think Pet Cemetery cat). *shudder*

I enjoyed the relationships of the brothers that get into mischief, the group of friends that try to help, the aunt who is from a line of witches, and a witchfinder out to destroy them all!

A fun ride.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I loved the premise of this book as it bounced between now and before the Salem witch trials. Two brothers find themselves meeting an aunt they didn’t know about. Although they like her and she has been nothing but nice to her, they think there is something that isn’t right. She has told them to not ever go into a locked room, but the hidden secrets get the best of them. A snake bracelet attaches itself to Nate and he has to tell his aunt the violated her trust. This is when she tells the history of the witches trials.
As I was listening, I found myself drifting off. The narrator was ok, but the voices melded into one another. I also found myself trying to clear my throat because the narrator had a raspy voice that sounded like he had a frog in it. I would say this is a 3.5/5
Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to review this novel

A twisting story that jumps between timelines past and present. With the help of ghosts and familiars, a family and friends take on the forces of evil. All is not what it seems to be. A rare fantasy with male main characters, this is a great read for young readers between the ages of 11 and 14. Narrator is engaging and easy to follow.

"The Witchfinder's Serpent" by Rande Goodwin takes readers on a captivating journey into the world of magick, witches, and ancient vendettas as fifteen-year-old Nate Watson discovers a realm beyond his wildest imagination.

Moving to Windsor to live with his mysterious Aunt Celia, Nate is thrust into a world where witches and magick coexist and where the shadows of the past cast long, haunting spells on the present.

The narrative unfolds as Nate strives to build a new life for himself and his younger brother, navigating the challenges of a new town, high school, and the enigmatic Aunt Celia. The story gains momentum when Nate's curiosity leads him to a forbidden door within his aunt's mansion, unveiling a witch's workshop filled with mystical artifacts dating back to the time of the earliest Puritan settlers.

What follows is a tale of discovery and danger as Nate grapples with the reality of magick, scepticism waning as he encounters the witchfinder's serpent—a demonic bracelet that becomes a permanent part of him. The story intricately weaves together elements of history, magic, and the supernatural, linking Nate's present to the dark shadows of Salem's past.
Rande Goodwin skillfully explores themes of ancestry, power, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

The book is well-suited for readers in the Older Middle Grade to Young Adult demographic, offering a thrilling adventure that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The audiobook experience, narrated by Nick Mondelli, adds another layer of excellence to the storytelling. Mondelli's performance enhances the immersive quality of the narrative, bringing the characters and the magical world they inhabit to life.

I want to thank Greenleaf Audiobooks, Greenleaf Book Group Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. "The Witchfinder's Serpent" is a commendable exploration of the supernatural, blending history and magick in a way that captivates the imagination.

The Witchfinder's Serpent is set in the town of Windsor, Connecticut --home to Alse Young, the first woman to be hanged on charges of being a witch in USA in 1647--and connects the present day fictitious storyline and characters of the book to her backstory. The book is told in a dual timeline and I liked the seventeenth century timeline more since the characters in this timeline were actual living people like Alse Young, her daughter Allie Young and Matthew Hopkins, who prior to coming to USA, had been responsible for the execution of hundreds of innocent men and women in England on charges of witchcraft between the years 1644-1647. In the present day, Allie is now Aunt Celia and Matthew is the malevolent Malleus Hodge with demonic powers and being the first book in series, the battle is far from over.

I received both an e-Arc and ALC of this book by the publisher Greenleaf Audiobooks/Greenleaf  Book Group Press and author Rande Goodwin via NetGalley but ended up listening more to the audiobook which was narrated by Nick Mondelli.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.

DNF as it was archived before I could finish the book.

I wanted to love this book the premise was really cool. I enjoyed the flipping back and forth in time, and hearing the family history. But I could not get past the narration. There were a number of characters and it was difficult to decipher whom was speaking. I would have been great to have a narrator for past and present, or a full cast. I think if I had read this book, or if there was a cast narrating I would have appreciated it more.

This was a fun read and I am looking forward to seeing how this adventure continues! The narrator was really wonderful, and it kept me engaged and entertained through hours of New Jersey traffic! The interwoven storylines of past and present were really well done and I loved that the author gave us background in that way rather than just chunking information together through general dialogue. Normally, I find myself distracted a bit and missing pieces of the story when I listen to audiobooks, but The Witchfinder's Serpent had such a nice pace that I didn't get lost as I was listening.

Definitely recommend this piece, and I look forward to learning more about this serpent and following along on their journey. As a side note, I really enjoyed the information provided at the book's conclusion on the historical background of the book and the inspiration of some of the characters.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

While this was overall an interesting story, I don't think it was for me. It felt a little too slow at times, and while I enjoyed the historical aspect in parts I wasn't feeling involved enough with the characters to keep track of them. Still good, just not my favorite. The narrator did fine.

I normally read thrillers or self-help, but sometimes I need a palette cleanser and just something fun to read. Young adult magical adventure usually does the trick. This format, storyline, and narration were on point for this book. I felt like I was transported back to grade school where the teacher reads a novel to the class. Do you love New England? Do you love magical fiction? Do vou love to listen to a well-told story? Then this is the book for you! Even the cover is fantastic!

I loved the premise of two teen boys starting over after a family tragedy, struggling to fit in at their new school while living with a mysterious aunt, and stumbling over a magical artifact in a room they were forbidden to enter--an artifact that starts a chain of events the boys cannot control. Add to that a dual timeline taking the reader back 45 years before the Salem witch trials and you have a recipe for an excellent story. While the telling of the tale seemed a little convoluted at times, overall this was a fun read. The narrator of the audio version did an excellent job.

A great start to The Witches of Windsor series. Nate and his brother have been through so much in such a short time. I am glad that they have found friends in Windsor and that their aunt let them in on her secret.

I loved the author's information at the end of the book about the research completed to write this book.

Nick Mondelli did a great job narrating this novel and I hope Nick continues narrating the remainder of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book to read and review.

The Witchfinder's serpent was a young adult, historical/supernatural fiction with witches and witchhunters all melded into one fun read. When Nate Watson and his younger brother lose their father, they move to Connecticut to live with their Aunt Celia. The boys are busy adapting to their new life, school, and making friends, but are still curious about their aunt who they had never heard of until after their father passed. One day when their aunt is out of the house, they search the one room they are forbidden to enter where they find a room full of magical artifacts one of which is a serpent bracelet that wraps around his arm and won't come off.

As the boys try to figure out how to remove the bracelet, they are brought into the fantastical world of magic that their Aunt Celia belongs to. Her story involves events that happened with the the hanging of America's first witch, Alse Young. Will Nate and his brother be able to face what is to come?

The Witchfinder's serpent was a fun, supernatural ride that was perfect for a fall read. The story switches between the historical story of Alse Young, her family, and hanging and back to modern day where the story explores how it relates to the story of Nate. The use of actual people and events from history was fascinating and something I only discovered by listening to the author's notes at the end. I actually wished this information came at the start of the book as I was much more invested after learning the true history behind these people and events. The characters themselves were interesting for a young adult book. Nate and his group of friends are the typical teenagers responsible for saving the world. I did enjoy seeing the group of friends develop. Alex, Nate's love interest, was one character that I didn't really connect with much. However, the end of the book surprised me a little and I found myself appreciating her character more. Aunt Celia and Mr. Black were my favorite characters in the story. I enjoyed their story and relationships. Aunt Celia's secretive nature made so much sense after learning her backstory.

Overall, this was a perfect fall read for those in the mood for a supernatural witchy read with some creepy vibes.

This fun middle grade novel brings a fresh take on the Salem witch trials. The book also talks about love, loss, and what it means to be a child on your own. It moves from past to present has we learn about the lives of our main characters and their aunt who was part of the witch trials. You also get to see how our characters adapt to their new life situations in their new surrounding and how in the end family always prevails. This debut novel leaves you off with a cliffhanger in the end that will have you waiting for the next book so you can continue with the adventure.

I did t care for the narrator for this book. The book and story itself was good though. I love how the author incorporated actual historical people in the story.

I really liked this book!! It was super interesting and the perfect Halloween read. The story was a fun story to read about witches. I hope there are going to be more books in this series!

This was an enjoyable story. If one can close its eyes to details, which are outside of the main story of witches, witchfinders and magick.

I listened to the audiobook, where the narrator has done a very good job and at the end there were the notes of the author. It is interesting that the village and several of the characters of the book are real and certain events did happen in the past. The entire magickal story is actually likable, with enough action to keep one reading the book.

Th ending suggested a continuance, though I did not find it anywhere, but once published I might be interested to read.

Nice twist at the end, unexpected and also giving the idea of a second book.

Nate, Celia, Alex, Jen, Donald, the entire pack were involved in the adventure. Mr. Black also gave his addition to the magickal plot.

The Witchfinder's Serpent is a p3fect book to read during the spooky season.

I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised to find out that its a debut novel.

The world building is incredibly done, it is easy to picture yourself in the creepy atmosphere set in this book.

The characters are well written, I enjoyed reading from Nate's perspective.

I enjoyed the plot of this book the narration of the audio book was well suited to the tone of story.

I love forward to reading this author's future releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for providing me with this arc.

The Witchfinder’s Serpent by Rande Goodwin, published in Austin, Texas by Greenleaf Book Group Press on 12 September 2023 is 320 pages at price point of $17.95 USD, ISBN 9798886450903.

The Witchfinder’s Serpent is a slice of life story that blends magical realism with historical fiction. Partly about witchcraft in the 17th century, it is written in an objective way that flows well. It naturally weaves together two worlds from the past and the present through clever narrative choices.

The novel centers around an adolescent boy, Nate Watson, and his brother Mark who sadly lose both of their parents in unfortunate circumstances. As a result they go to live with their Aunt Celia in Windsor, Connecticut. For the most part she seems to be a very relaxed guardian and is happy to let them roam and explore her large property as they wish. Except for one room at the end of the second floor corridor, which is locked and they must never, under any circumstances, enter. This feels like the closed room in Bluebeard that he forbids his new wife from going into. But when you have free rein and allowance to go anywhere you wish, bar one place, what are you likely to do? Whether you are a newly wedded bride left on your own in your new marital home, or a young adolescent boy with an interest in adventure, the temptation to investigate becomes overwhelming.

So, of course Nate and Mark explore the room together and unintended mischief ensues. This is where the novel transitions from the slice of life, high school, boy meets girl story into the magical realism adventure that the title implies. Between a mysterious bracelet that won’t come off, a black raven familiar and a peculiar spinster aunt with a vague history whom the boys
never knew about before, it all comes together to spell out intrigue and antics for the two brothers.

The Witchfinder’s Serpent has some relatable moments that are really enjoyable like Nate wondering "how he would be able to sleep without all the familiar sounds of the city" (Goodwin, 2023, 7:35) after moving into his aunt’s house in a small town. The book also has quaint descriptions like the stairs creaking in certain places, which adds a charming feel to the narrative and allows the reader to immerse themself in the story. There are also some humorous exchanges, such as between Nate and his Aunt when he asks her if she lives alone and she responds by telling him not anymore. This is a very sweet and entertaining way for Aunt Celia to show that she accepts both boys into her home and life.

While the story does have some darker moments, they are balanced out with other lighter exchanges between the characters. The only downside being that, while the plot starts and builds at a steady pace, the ending feels a bit rushed and flat. You might argue that it is left open to imagine the possibilities or as a cliff-hanger foreshadowing the prospect of a sequel. However, it feels like the climactic moment is a bit too easy and there could have been a bit more of a struggle between the heroes and the villain in the end.

That being said, The Witchfinder’s Serpent is still an enjoyable story. All in all, it is a very enthralling tale and, to borrow the phrasing from one of the characters in the novel, it is exciting with moments of comedy.