*4.5 rounded up

"The Making of a Witch" delivered on its premise a hundred times over. The book begins with an execution and while it does move a bit slower afterward, the tension is never broken as it follows Alice, the witch trying to hone her powers in the highly patriarchal town of Exeter. One of the strongest feelings it incited- and certainly meant to- was this simmering anger all throughout the narrative as Molland shows how a girl's life could be ruined, not only by accusations against her, but by the suppression of her inner self.

Alice was an incredible protagonist to root for, innately sympathetic but descending into an arc that made her nuanced and compelling. I will admit that I initially felt more connected to her by reading about how she approached her craft than with her emotions. However, she sucked me into her world very quickly after the first couple of scenes as the book began unfolding. The book may have been slow,-paced as we got to learn more about the village, its traditions, and people, it was the furthest thing from boring. I tore through the pages easily as Alice developed her craft, fled Exeter, and became both fearsome and strong. It employs one of my favorite arcs, a character's descent into power and I found Alice's emotions, both the fear and the rage, painfully real.

I thought this book also did a very solid job of fleshing out the supporting characters, especially for the author's first fiction book. Characters like Caleb, Matthew, Alice's father, Catherine, and Tommy all felt real and it was fascinating to see how the society they were in impacted their lives as well. Too often, I see background characters solely used to prop up the main character's experiences, but Molland made hers feel just as real as the historical figures. It's also not often I get to see pacing of the story executed as well as Molland did, but it was tightly-edited and flowed to make "The Making of a Witch" almost compulsively readable. One of the most masterful debuts I've ever read.

The Making of a Witch is a moving and atmospheric historical novel that brings seventeenth‑century Exeter vividly to life. Judy Molland blends fact and fiction with a gentle, steady hand, creating a story that feels both intimate and sweeping in its emotional reach.

Alice Molland is a captivating protagonist from the moment we meet her—a ten‑year‑old girl forced to witness the brutal execution of her mentor, Goody Luscombe. That opening scene sets the tone for a novel steeped in fear, superstition, and the dangerous scrutiny placed on women who dared to heal, to help, or simply to exist outside the narrow expectations of their time.

As Alice grows into her gifts as a healer, the novel becomes a rich exploration of herbal knowledge, community, and the fragile line between respect and suspicion. Molland’s descriptions of Alice’s craft—mugwort, comfrey, slippery elm—are tender and immersive, grounding the story in the everyday magic of the natural world. But that same gift becomes her greatest vulnerability in an age where misogyny and fear rule the courts.

The tension builds slowly and elegantly. A prominent merchant’s accusations, a love spell gone wrong, an unexpected pregnancy—each step draws Alice closer to danger, and Molland handles her descent with empathy and nuance. The historical detail is vivid without ever overwhelming the emotional heart of the story.

What truly stands out is the novel’s compassion. It honours the real women who suffered under witchcraft accusations, while giving Alice a voice full of strength, longing, and quiet defiance.

A poignant, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted novel that lingers long after the final page. Perfect for readers who love historical fiction rooted in truth, women’s resilience, and the enduring power of healing.

My thanks to Judy Molland, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

I have been struggling with writing a review of The Making of a Witch, set in Essex in the mid-17th century. The main character, Alice Molland, is one of the author's ancestors. This powerful novel is well-written and deeply researched, addressing not only the dangers faced by women healers but also the unfair practices within the Essex wool industry. The wealthy wool merchants depended on women who cleaned, carded, and spun raw wool into high-quality yarn, but they were paid starvation wages.

"You are strong and have mighty ambitions. But you need to take care not to draw attention to yourself. The men in charge here do not like girls who are too sure of themselves." This is the advice Alice's mother gives her when Alice expresses a desire to be the best healer in Essex. This book begins with the hanging of an innocent "witch," so I wasn't expecting a light read, but this is a dark, grim tale from beginning to end. And if you are a woman, it is especially difficult to read Alice's story. Perhaps that is exactly as it should be to honor the life of Alice Mollard and thousands of women just like her.