I really enjoyed the use of witches in this novel, it was a great start to the Witches of Windsor series. It does everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the young adult elements. It kept me invested and the characters had everything that I was hoping for.

In The Witchfinder's Serpent, the notorious witch finder from the 1640s, Matthew Hopkins, is the big bad. After staging his own death in England, Hopkins travels to Windsor, Connecticut Colony, and takes up witch-hunting again, but after seeing a piece of actual magick-working, he wants a piece. Meanwhile, young Alice Youngs witnesses her mother executed for being a witch.

Fast forward to modern day, when two orphans (I will not write "plucky" I will not write "plucky") are taken in by their mysterious aunt Celia. The boys make quick friends at Windsor High school, tumble into trouble with bullies, and –– not the least, accidentally cause the release of dastardly witch-hunter Matthew Hopkins, who has been imprisoned in a bottle by their aunt – who turns out to be Alice Youngs, not so young any more.

There is a LOT of plot here, and a ton of interesting/horrifying historical background of witch hunters. It's in some ways a rather old-fashioned kid's fantasy novel, in the tradition of Nancy Garden's Fours Crossing, and Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series, with youngsters tasked with saving the world, but having adult supervision most of the time. Though there's some salty language and gruesome gore, the novel feels as if it could adapt into a kid's movie Walt Disney could approve.

It's the first of a series, which might explain why the story felt at times bogged down in exposition-in-narrative. It's what screenwriters might call "info dumping," and I found myself skipping over the pages of lecture-speech.

That being said, it's good information the adult is imparting, but I'd like it better were it a bit more subtle. Thanks NetGalley and Greenleaf Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

This read a little YA to me. But younger me would have loved this. If you like reads about the Salem witch trials, you’ll enjoy the book.

I have a mild obsession with the Salem witch trials (and anything witchy, really) so was excited for this book. The author does a wonderful job world building and bringing to life a sleepy little New England town, a spooky mansion, a mysterious witch's workshop. The imagery and descriptions are lush and vivid - I was completely immersed in Nate's world. The dialogue and behavior of our protagonist is age appropriate, and the historical research is sound - the presentation of the history of the Salem witch trials will not overwhelm young readers but is substantial enough to keep adults interested. Overall a lovely read.