Rande Goodwin delivers a wonderful blend of history and the fantastical in The Witchfinder's Serpent.

I had not heard about the first woman to die for witchcraft in America and Goodwin does a good job of keeping the history true while building a story around it. While it was written for a young adult audience, I found it intriguing as well. Jumping between the past and present helped to keep the story moving.

I'll be looking forward to the next title by Goodwin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the premise of the book, but it was not for me.
It was missing a lot, in terms on explaining the why for a ton of things.
The descriptions were also just that, the imagery was not there.
I do like the magical side of it though. It was presented in a respectful and easy to understand way.

The past and present intermingle in this captivating story of witches and magic. The imagery is vivid, and it felt more like watching a movie than reading a book. It's clear research went into this, and the peeks into the past added depth to the story. The plot is compelling, and you're drawn in from the start. The MCs could easily be people you'd meet on the street, and I'd love to spend an afternoon just chatting with Aunt Celia. If you enjoy YA fantasy, I can't recommend this enough!

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.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Witchfinder's Serpent by Rande Goodwin in exchange for an honest review. This book made me think of all the books I loved as a teenager. It had some real history mixed in with fantasy and a modern connection. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it.

Witches and Magick are pretty much my favourite genre.
This is a well written book, the story of youngsters, which was a refreshing perspective to read and an artifact 0 fascinating!
I liked the historical details and the mystery elements. I look forward to the next book.

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: ⭐⭐⭐💫

After their father’s death, Nate Watson and his brother Marc go to live with their Aunt Celia in a small town. They have to adapt to their new lives and freedom, but wonder about their mysterious aunt and the locked room in the house. One day they make their way in to the room, only to find occult and ‘witchy’ objects and a snake bracelet that attaches to Nate’s arm, pierces his wrist and won’t let go! They discover their aunt is a witch, they have released a deceptive witch hunter and they are all in mortal danger! Will Nate be able to get the snake bracelet off his arm and will they be able to defeat the witch hunter?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was very engaging, the characters were intriguing and the plot was fast-paced. This story will be enjoyed by YA and adult readers alike and I can’t wait for the next book!

The Witchfinder's Serpent is a thoroughly enjoyable read! A balanced mix of the past and present serves to create a rich storyline full of mystery and magic. Readers will quickly root for Nate and his friends as they face a dark entity.

This Teen/YA spooky read was absolutely the best thing! I loved it. It was so awesome. I couldn't put it down. I had to keep reading. Love love loved it!! This is one of my top 3 books of the year!!!
I just reviewed The Witchfinder's Serpent by Rande Goodwin. #TheWitchfindersSerpent #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

"The Witchfinder's Serpent" by Rande Goodwin impresses with its authentic and relatable characterizations. The narrative, centered around fifteen-year-old Nate Watson, seamlessly weaves the supernatural with everyday life. What stands out is the genuine portrayal of relationships, particularly between Nate and his younger brother, as they navigate their new town and its mysteries together. The friendships formed in Windsor add a layer of depth to the story, reflecting the nuances of loyalty and shared experiences. Nate's skepticism about magick is not just a personal journey but also mirrors the connections he builds, especially with his Aunt Celia, whose guidance adds emotional resonance. Goodwin's adept handling of characters and relationships makes "The Witchfinder's Serpent" a compelling read for those who appreciate well-developed characters in a fantastical setting.

I really enjoyed following the adventures of Nate, Marc and all the others.

I really liked the "found family" aspect of the book. The characters were touching. The story was intriguing. I listened to the audio version, the narrator was very good!

I can't wait for the second volume to find out what happens to the various characters.

The author did a great job of working back and forth between the present and the past, and also with the different POVs.

I have a soft spot for anything to do with the history of witchcraft, and I think the author has treated subjects from the past that actually happened with a great deal of respect, using them in her fantasy novel.

Excellent first novel!

**Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC

After the death of their father, Nate and his younger brother Marc leave New York City to live with their mysterious aunt in Windsor, CT. Her one rule: under no circumstances are they to enter the locked room on the second floor. Of course, teens being teens, their curiosity gets the better of them and they eventually explore the room, uncovering some pretty creepy stuff, including a serpent bracelet cuff that's magically attached itself to Nate's wrist and refuses to be dislodged. But what else they've unleashed is even creepier, the stuff of nightmares!

<i>The Witchfinder's Serpent</i> is a modern-day young adult fantasy inspired by true historical events. The story spans multiple timelines—the present (2019) and the past (1647), during the time of the earliest Puritan settlers in New England and America's first Witch hanging. I liked that the past timeline directly related to what was happening in the present day, and unlike other books' flashbacks, I did not find myself wishing for the chapter to end and return to the present day. The chapters in the past held my interest just as much, if not more so, than the present.

Being a New England-er myself (transplanted to California 13 years ago), I am intimately familiar with the Salem Witch Trials. I also identify as a Witch, drawing energy and practicing magick with the usual Witches tools. So I related well to this book, and even appreciated how the author spelled "magick" with a K, just as modern Witches do, to distinguish it from stage and illusionist magic.

The book started off a bit slowly, allowing time to develop characters and set the scene, but quickly picked up about 20% in when the story got really intriguing. The writing style was not as elegant as some of the more established writers I've read. I would've liked to have seen less "telling" and more "showing" in several places, but such is the hallmark of a new writer, and honestly after the story picked up, I barely noticed it as much. Some parts of the story were also a bit simplistic and quickly explained away, but seeing as it's young adult, I suspect the author didn't want to get too bogged down in details that could detract his target audience.

Despite those minor criticisms, the story itself was entertaining and captivating, and definitely hard to put down. I found the author to be very respectful towards his subject, conveying the horror of past times when Puritans unjustly accused and prosecuted anyone perceived as different or sensitive. I also appreciated the way Aunt Celia explained the significance of the pentacle and the beliefs of modern-day witches to her two young wards in a light-hearted but factual way—providing young adult readers with an objective basis for the modern Witchcraft movement. While the story wrapped up nicely, it clearly alluded to much more to come! I'll be looking forward to the sequel.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

#TheWitchfindersSerpent #NetGalley

4.5
I loved this book and flew through it! I love almost anything to do with witches and the witch trials, so I love that Rande Goodwin used actual names, dates, and events in this book! I would love it if this book had a sequel sometime in the future because I would instantly devour it. I had a couple of the plot twists right, but not all of them, so it was still plenty enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Very well written for a debut novel!

This book kept reminding me of the Heir Chronicles series, though I couldn’t tell you why. Perhaps it was the ‘young boys suddenly come across magic and it upends their lives, plus a sneaky aunt who isn’t what she seems’.

I happen to like sneaky aunts so I was into it. I did feel that the characters could use a bit more polish, but I still enjoyed myself.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review.

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

The Witchfinder’s Serpent, by Rande Goodwin, is a young adult fantasy about a young man who strives to defend his friends and family against an entity consumed by its own greed. Nate Watson and his younger brother, Marc, move to live with their Aunt Celia after losing their father. Despite his wariness, Nate gradually finds himself becoming more enamored with his new home, making genuine friends along the way while watching over Marc. That changes when one day, he and Marc sneak into a room their Aunt forbade them to go in. Nate gets attacked by a mysterious serpent that latches onto his arm, and breaks a bottle that releases the soul of a witch hunter hellbent on power. Now Nate, alongside his friends and family, must find a way to trap the Witchfinder before he envelops the town in hysteria and blood.

I liked the dynamic that Nate has with his younger brother and Celia. True, there have been stories that preach about the importance of family and community, but have always had the romance at the centerpiece. So you can imagine how much I enjoyed Nate interacting with his friends, how he stuck up for Douglas even though he didn’t have to, how he even walked Marc to school just because it was out of habit. I liked how protective Nate was of his brother and, eventually, Celia. Moreover, Goodwin’s use of Celia’s point of view was a skillful one. As a little girl, she’s lost so much, I could feel her determination to not lose anymore of her family. A lot of stories about witches are about female empowerment, but they also miss the part about having loved ones to back you up. In this case, the family was the backbone of the story, alongside the community surrounding them; in real life, although a lot of covens try to replicate this, they can’t because they’re too isolated, too wrapped up in their pride. This was illustrated with the relationship Alex had with her dad, though I won’t go into any more detail.

Which brings about another theme; those who hunger for power are the most likely to fall to the hysteria. Although Courtney tried appearing like a good person, her being the Shad Queen made her more susceptible to the madness; I mean, for a lifelong dream, it’s not a good feeling when you get fish in your dress. The bullies were the very much the same way, although I suspect the only reason why they didn’t fall like Courtney did was because Huey was reluctant. Then of course, there was the Witchfinder himself, who was devoured by his need for wealth, fame, and power. Despite everything, I don’t even think it’s occurred to him he’s become the very thing he tried to put down so long ago. It makes me want to know about his story, about what pushed him to kill so many innocents. Then again, ironically enough, as the Bible once said, pride comes before destruction.

For now, I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Witches and warlocks and magic, oh my! This is an excellent debut novel. I cannot wait to continue this series!

Grab your October book club girls!! This book was a fantastic witchy book! I loved the story and the back and forth between the Salem witch trials to the present. I loved it!!

Kudos to Rande Goodwin for a great debut novel! [book:The Witchfinder's Serpent|196931960] was a fun, paranormal mystery going back and forth from occurrences in the past to present day.

Description:
When fifteen-year-old Nate Watson moves to Windsor to live with his mysterious Aunt Celia, the last things on his mind are witches and magick and ancient vendettas. While Nate focuses on building a new life for himself and his younger brother, making new friends and adjusting to a new high school, he can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t as it seems.

Nate’s search for answers leads him to a forbidden, locked door in Aunt Celia’s mansion. Inside, he finds a witch’s workshop full of mystical artifacts, some dating back to the time of the earliest Puritan settlers. It’s no coincidence that Nate is now living in the very same town where, forty-five years before the Salem witch trials, Alse Young was hanged as America’s first witch.

Could magick be real? Nate remains skeptical until he picks up the witchfinder’s serpent—a powerful, demonic bracelet that wraps itself around his arm and permanently imbeds itself into his flesh. Now Nate must confront the truth about Aunt Celia’s unlikely ancestry—as well as his own. And with her help, he must find a way to remove the bracelet before the serpent’s previous owner returns—an ancient and powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to get it back.

My Thoughts:
I'm always up for a new book about witches, their history, and the fictional imaginings of what one could do. The historical facts woven into the book were well-researched. The characters of Nate and his brother were perfect for the roles in the story. I liked the mystery surrounding Aunt Celia. This would probably make a really good movie, probably for children over 10 up to adults. There's some scary stuff, but kids would really enjoy it. This is the first book in the series, and I look forward to the next. I'll definitely grab it if I can.

Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 12, 2023.

Goodwin was thorough with his research on the Salem Witchcraft trials. He is very proficient at writing indepth descriptions, but I found I was overwhelmed and it was difficult to process what I was reading at times. I unfortunately lost interest in the story and the characters. I feel that more time time spent developing the characters would have been beneficial.

I had high hopes for The Witchfinder's Serpent. Goodwin has a wonderful story concept! Who doesn't love a good mystery with witches, spooky houses, and magic? I think this story would be fantastic as a show or a movie as it feels like it was written to be a screenplay.