“The Women of Wild Hill” by Kirsten Miller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

In classic @kirstenmillerbooks fashion, this book tackles political themes that have their finger on the pulse of today like only she can. I almost saw this as a sequel of “The Change”, but it can easily be treated as a stand alone. I will definitely be rereading that and then do a reread of this sometime soon. Miller has a way of writing fast paced stories with such depth that I know I missed some things the first time around. I read Lula Dean twice back to back last year for that same reason and this one will surely be on my TBR again before its release on 9/25/25. I cannot wait for everyone to read this beaut!!!

I was totally hooked from page one. Kristen Miller has this magical way with words that just pulls you into her world, and The Women of Wild Hill is even better than The Change (and I loved The Change).

Effortless POV shifts
What really blew me away was how effortlessly the POV shifted. You just know who’s talking because the voice and flow change naturally—no chapter headers needed. It’s seamless storytelling that gives each character their own vibe.

Calum’s big moment
His switch and the choice he makes are crucial, but they land a bit flat. A deeper dive into his inner thoughts—either leading up to the moment or in its aftermath—would’ve made it more emotionally powerful.

Witchy cameos = chef’s kiss
It’s always a thrill to revisit the witches from The Change, especially Harriet in full force. But since I read The Change a while ago, I nearly had to jog my memory. While I loved seeing them again, more context or reminders about their past actions would’ve helped tie things together.

Timeline needs clearer signposts
The link between the two books is clear, but without dates or timeline markers, I found it hard to place events in relation to one another. Even a line like “six months after the ritual” would’ve been super helpful for clarity.

Liam’s twist felt flat
The reveal that Liam has been with the women and speaking to Bessie wasn’t surprising—it had too many hints leading up to it. Because of that predictability, the moment didn’t hit as hard as it could’ve.

Still, the story is gripping. I kept turning pages, invested in what would come next. The characters feel real, and the shifting voices add so much emotional depth—you feel them, and it lands hard.

⸻

📝 Final Takeaway

The Women of Wild Hill is beautifully written and packed with heart.

The seamless POV shifts and atmospheric writing are highlights, and revisiting the witches brings a satisfying sense of continuity. Despite some minor nitpicks—more build-up for Calum, clearer timeline markers, and a twist that surprised—it never detracted from this amazing story.

In our current global climate, it’s all too easy to feel powerless as a woman. Stories like this—where women reclaim voice, agency, and power—are exactly what we need right now. The Women of Wild Hill doesn’t just tell a story—it empowers us to reclaim ours, too.

Highly recommend for anyone craving an atmospheric, character-driven tale with powerful female presence and emotional punch.

Kirsten Miller has done it again. This book actually gives me hope. Well written and very engaging! Her characters are well developed and fascinating. The book was dystopian in nature but also felt very timely with what is going on in the world. It had me wishing the Duncan women existed to help us out of the situation we are currently in. This was a fabulous read!

Gratitude to William Morrow, who provided ARCs of this novel to attendees at the #BookHuddle retreat in Victoria, Canada.

Brigid, Phoebe, and Sybil are the latest in a long line of women who have been gifted by the Old One. Generations of women in their family have passed down knowledge of a prophecy, where their family would produce the Three, who will turn the tide and right the wrongs that have been committed against the world.

This novel was fun that will appeal to anyone feeling existential dread about the state of the world. While not a direct sequel to "The Change", some characters from there show up here and the events of that novel are alluded to here so I would recommend reading that one first.

“I’m the kind of witch who gets things done.”

Fun, fantastical and a little dark.

On Wild Hill, three witches are fated to begin a new age—one in which <i>women like us </i>reclaim our rightful place in the world. Their story is told with a heavy dose of tongue-in-cheek feminism.

“Growing up, the girls had always laughed at the silly stories in which mermaids and goddesses let their gifts be diminished by mortal men. Now, Brigid and Phoebe were living inside one of those cautionary tales..”

I’m not generally a fan of magical realism with ghosts, the ghosts in this story were part of a straightforward family line and were mostly featured through the chapters on their backstories (as living people). All in all, the book didn’t totally land for me, it was all a little silly and egregious and heavy handed.

The best parts were where the author leaned into the story as an allegory about privilege and climate change, sexism and empowerment, life and death.

“Mankind has wreaked havoc on the earth. The Old One must use every tool she has to restore it. Storms, drought, fires, floods—they’re powerful, of course, but they’re not precise. They kill indiscriminately. Sometimes nature must get right to the root of the problem, and so she turns to women like us…

“When we catch the flu, what do our bodies do?” Flora asked Phoebe, whose gift for healing had advanced to mending broken bird wings and curing squirrels of mange. “Sneeze, cough, run a fever,” Phoebe recited. “Exactly,” said Flora. “That’s how our immune system fights disease. It’s the same for the Old One. Heat is the fever that scorches invaders. Storms are a bit like her coughs and sneezes.” “What disease is she fighting?” Brigid inquired. “Mankind,” Flora told them.

I also enjoyed this, almost too-close-to-home, critique of power and privilege, corruption and greed, callous indifference to the impact on and suffering of all but the wealthiest and most powerful people and nature - and the role of media in today’s political discourse and shaping widespread beliefs.

”My guess is the truth never reached them because they all watched AMN. America’s Media Network, my ass. If you ask me, the motherfucker who owned AMN did more damage to this country than anyone in history. Even when the news about Salt Lake started to come out, the AMN anchors kept insisting it was all a conspiracy.”

“Brigid couldn’t believe that there were still deniers. These days they usually fell into one of two camps: those who were certain their God would swoop in and save them—and those determined to plunder every resource that was left.”

I was thrilled to receive the ARC from NetGalley! Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books was my favorite read last year… 3.5 stars

Both Lula Library and The Change made my Top Reads lists for 2023 and 2024, so when I found myself in a bit of a reading rut, I turned to Kirsten Miller again to pull me out and The Women of Wild Hill did not disappoint.

I loved about 95% of this book. It takes its time getting the present-day story rolling, as we dive deep into the Duncan family history but honestly, I didn’t mind one bit. The backstory is absolutely fascinating. There are witches, poisoners, Nazi-hunters, women burned at the stake, and so many ghosts. Each women has such a unique and flushed out story and I just loved it! Even though we meet Brigid and Phoebe in the present and they’re our main POCs, the history of their ancestors was stellar.

Brigid especially stood out for me. She’s complex, fierce, and flawed in all the best ways. Phoebe, was good too and created to the opposite of Brigid She’s smart, empathetic, and full of growth but like damn Phoebe, maybe actually talk to your sister. Their story is a whirlwind of death, reconciliation, sisterhood, romance, secrets, and a very a dose of feminist rage and magic.

This book is definitely Miller’s most overtly feminist yet like, yes, it’s very “fight the patriarchy,” and while I hate calling it “woke,” it’s unapologetically bold in its messaging (and I loved that). If that’s your vibe, you’re going to have a blast with this one.

Also, Harriet fans you’ll be happy. There’s a cameo that ties The Change into this universe, so I highly recommend reading that one first to avoid small spoilers and get the full experience.

Kirsten Miller is now firmly on my auto-buy list. Her writing is sharp, immersive, and electric with righteous fury and wit. I already miss this wild, witchy world. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

The Women of Wild Hill comes out October 7, 2025. Huge thank you to William Morrow for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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I got this book as an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. I absolutely loved it. Also I am convinced had I been born in another time I would have been branded a witch. This story was so much fun. The characters are rich and have interesting back stories and you really get to see how butterfly effect choices brought them all to a singular place in time. It was an awesome story, fun and quick. I want to read more from Kristen Miller.

Kirsten Miller is the witchy aunt we all need. This is intergenerational vengeance with roots deep in the soil of sisterhood, rage, and redemption. From a haunted patch of land on Long Island to fame in California and secret spells in Texas, The Women of Wild Hill weaves a tale of forgotten magic and family scars with biting wit and brilliant prose. It’s a perfectly timed hex for readers of The Change, The Once and Future Witches, and anyone who’s ever muttered ‘I could fix this world with three women and a bottle of wine.

Wild Hill in NY is a powerful place where generations of the Duncan family lives, each new era instilling different gifts. As the earth and mankind suffer, it is up to these witchy women to help set humanity on a different course.

I am a huge fan of Kirsten Miller, with The Change being one of my favorite books in the last couple of years. If you loved her other books, you will be enraptured as you dig into The Women of Wild Hill, a story about how a family of witches work to rid the world of evil men and help heal our broken planet.

Told in both the present, through the POVs of the Duncan sisters Brigid, a movie star/entertainment mogul, and Phoebe, a healer, and Phoebe's daughter Sybil, a chef and over the years through their many powerful ancestors. Each character is unique and so well crafted that their idiosyncrasies and personality traits are truly believable. The mystical element is also beautifully woven into this story of pain, loss, magic and being punished by the patriarchy. I a truly engaging story that I couldn't put down. 5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Give me more!! I absolutely loved this book! Kristen Miller is one of my auto buy authors and love her writing style. The witchy vibes were off the chart in this read...the sister storlyline was epic. I devoured this book in two days and was disappointed only because the story was over. Highly recommend

I really enjoyed the latest by Kirsten Miller. It has the same wit and bite of her previous novels.. The worldbuilding in this novel around the legacy of witches was something I loved.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A novel full of women, witches, and rage—what’s not to like? We follow the Duncan family, the keepers of Wild Hill. These powerful women have been given a task from the Old One, one that will allow them to take back the world and nature from the oppressive men and companies who seek to control it and use it for their own purposes.

Phoebe, Brigid, and Sybil are the Three, the ones destined to fulfill the Old One’s vision and turn the tide. Each woman has her own part to play. Each has been following in the footsteps of the Duncan women who came before them.

I loved the ancestors in this novel and seeing how their stories came to pass. The mixing of past and present was really seamless and allowed for such fun storytelling, in addition to intrigue building. I loved the different kinds of magical gifts the women in the Duncan family had and seeing how those gifts worked together toward their common goal.

I did struggle to get through this novel as quickly as I would have liked—the beginning didn’t hook me right away and I had to really push myself through the first 15-20%, but after that I really felt like the story took off and I got invested in what was happening.

Overall, it was a great story of magic, family, and feminine rage!

3.5⭐️ rounded up
very cute, and i love characters that are a little rough around the edges. my complaint however is that the writing felt very lackluster and the ending was a bit anticlimactic after a huge build up

A story of generations of witches - all ready to smash the patriarchy.

The book takes you on a journey of 400 years, starting with the first woman to inhabit Wild Hill and how the oppression she faced set off the chain of events that lead to modern day times. Sisters with a bitter past learn that they must work together to achieve the prophecy, previously foretold by their ancestors.

The settings are vibrant and the author does an amazing capturing the features and qualities of all the characters in the book. It's definitely made me want to add more of Miller's books to me TBR pile.

This book was fire!! I love reading stories that bleed with female rage and empowerment, and this revenge-filled tale embodied that feeling exquisitely. Who wouldn't want to see the tyrant patriarchy destroyed and have the tables turned? The Women of Wild Hill took me on an emotional journey through generations of witches that have been called on to use their special gifts and to make sacrifices in order to right wrongs for the greater good. The story was so well written and relevant. I feel like the characters were my own family and that I was living their experiences. I loved that Harriet from The Change made an appearance. So cool! My only negative comment would be that it ended too soon. I wanted more! I highly recommend and consider it a MUST read!

Thank you to William Morrow for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

The Change is one of my favorite books and Kirsten Miller hit it out of the park again with The Women of Wild Hills.

Sadie Duncan, the ghost of a witch has been living at Wild Hill on the tip of Long Island for hundred of years. The descendants of Sadie are also powerful witches. A prophesy has been set in motion.

Kirsten Miller's book have similar themes. Too much power and wealth corrupt. Powerful men need to be held accountable. Do yourself a favor and read this.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Call it the sequel to the Change, the feminist manifesto that rocked my world several years ago. Women, witches, embracing their powers and righting the wrongs of men. Back to Mattuck, LI we go!

The powerful Duncan women have a history on Wild Hill. Haunted by their guardian ghost Bessie, they are all granted incredible gifts that will guide them forward and help them begin to fix what the billionaire and oligarchs and political titans have destroyed.

See, also; a book that would wind up on Musk’s banned list.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

Kirsten Miller writes = I read. The Change and Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books are among some of my favorite books, and The Women of Wild Hill is no different. This novel about generations of a family of powerful witches working to take down the patriarchy was unputdownable. I shirked many responsibilities in favor of staying in this story. The characters are so well developed and I loved all of the women in the Duncan family. The social topics are (unfortunately) all too real and it was so satisfying to read about a group of badass women working for real change. Also loved the cameos from the ladies from The Change! I will buy the hard copy to add to my library when it comes out in October! Must read!

Elon Musk is totally going to send his mom to yell at Kirsten Miller over this one. It doesn't actually mention Elon – all of the billionaires in this book are strictly fictional – but it's pretty obvious that Miller doesn't look favorably on the oligarchy. In fact, her family of witches in The Women of Wild Hill kind of want all of the billionaires and slimy politicians, you know … dead. This novel is set in the very near future when climate change is ramping up its destruction, and the Old One has had enough of mankind's shit. She's decided that the men responsible for destroying the planet need to shuffle off this mortal coil, and she's calling on the Duncan family to help her enact her vengeance.

First off, this is a very “woke” (gah, I hate that word) book. If you're a climate change denier or anti-feminist (or Elon Musk), there's a pretty good chance you're not going to like this one. I mean, you can read it if you'd like, of course, but I imagine that an uber-conservative reading this would kind of be the fictional book equivalent of Bernie Sanders listening to The Rush Limbaugh Show - someone's going to be making a lot of horrified faces.

Anyway, I absolutely adored the first 90% of this book. It takes a long time for the present-day story to really get started, as a lot of chapters are spent on the history of the Duncan family and the witches who came before Brigid and Phoebe. This is absolutely not a bad thing, mind you – the backstory is fascinating. There have been poisoners and Nazi-killers and witches burned at the stake and lots of lots of ghosts in the family history, and we get to learn each of their stories. In the present day, Phoebe and (especially) Brigid are likeable, intelligent, and multifaceted characters. There's death and reconciliation and witchy powers and romance and sibling rivalry and feminism and fighting the patriarchy, and it's all quite wonderful. This is a beautifully written book and I think I currently have a bit of an author crush on Kirsten Miller.

As wonderful as this book is, however, I have to confess that it did lose me a bit in the end. It all felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic after the big build up, and I'm still not sure why (view spoiler) for all of it to happen. There are also a bunch of new characters introduced at the very end, but we never actually learn anything about them. And while the final scene is rather satisfying, I have no idea how such a thing wouldn't bring down some unwanted attention on at least one of the Duncans. Don't get me wrong, I've read much, much worse endings, but I was just really hoping for something more.

But don't read this book for the ending. It's not the present-day timeline that makes this book, but the stories of the witches who came before. Turns out that you can burn the witch, but she's probably going to become a pissed-off ghost who helps her descendants murder all of your descendants. Oopsie.

4.4 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.