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The Lost Witch
In Paige Crutcher's The Lost Witch, a witch discovers that finding your way home is sometimes the most perilous journey of all.
1922. Brigid Heron is a powerful witch and healer in the seemingly lost, but charming small town of Evermore on a forgotten isle in Ireland. However, there is one thing that she longs for above all else: a child of her own. She is even willing to be seduced by the mysterious Luc Knightly, head of the Knightly coven, whose pull is potent and impossible to resist. When their child is born and falls ill, Brigid will risk anything to save her daughter–even tap into the forbidden magic of the Lough of Brionglóid. But when the wild magic takes her daughter from her, Brigid is swept away as well.
2022. Evermore is under siege. The witches of Knight have been using their chaos magic to widen the rift between the island and the Otherworld. Creatures from folklore prey on the villagers, consuming their very humanity.
Brigid awakens in this world with no memory of how she traveled into the future, but she learns that she helped unleash this curse on Evermore. To seal the lough and stop the witches of Knight, she must work with her magical descendants, Ophelia and Finola. But the knowledge she seeks lies with Luc Knightly himself—mysterious, handsome, and powerful. To save Evermore, Brigid may have to lose everything once again.
1922. Brigid Heron is a powerful witch and healer in the seemingly lost, but charming small town of Evermore on a forgotten isle in Ireland. However, there is one thing that she longs for above all else: a child of her own. She is even willing to be seduced by the mysterious Luc Knightly, head of the Knightly coven, whose pull is potent and impossible to resist. When their child is born and falls ill, Brigid will risk anything to save her daughter–even tap into the forbidden magic of the Lough of Brionglóid. But when the wild magic takes her daughter from her, Brigid is swept away as well.
2022. Evermore is under siege. The witches of Knight have been using their chaos magic to widen the rift between the island and the Otherworld. Creatures from folklore prey on the villagers, consuming their very humanity.
Brigid awakens in this world with no memory of how she traveled into the future, but she learns that she helped unleash this curse on Evermore. To seal the lough and stop the witches of Knight, she must work with her magical descendants, Ophelia and Finola. But the knowledge she seeks lies with Luc Knightly himself—mysterious, handsome, and powerful. To save Evermore, Brigid may have to lose everything once again.
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2022
101 people are currently reading
9666 people want to read
About the author
Paige Crutcher
7 books386 followersPaige Crutcher is the author of THE ORPHAN WITCH. She is a former journalist, and her work appears in multiple anthologies and online publications. She is an artist and yogi, and when not writing, she prefers to spend her time trekking through the forest with her children, hunting for portals to new worlds.
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December 5, 2022
The Lost Witch
by Paige Crutcher combines paranormal romance and suspense with heartbreak, magic, and hope in an evocative good versus evil story line. While the first chapter takes place in 1922, the rest of the story occurs in 2022. Both timelines take place in Evermore on an island off the coast of Ireland.
Brigid Heron is a powerful witch and healer in Evermore in 1922. She longs for a child and allows herself to be seduced by Luc Knightly, head of the Knightly coven. However, when her child becomes ill, she is willing to do anything to heal her. In 2022, Evermore is under siege from the witches of Knight who have been using their chaos magic to bring creatures to the island to prey on the villagers. Brigid awakens in this new world with memory gaps of what happened and where she’s been. She must work with her descendants, Ophelia and Finola, to stop the witches of Knight.
Brigid, Ophelia, Finola, and Luc are well-defined characters with depth. Their personalities shine throughout the book. While Ophelia was somewhat serious, Finola provided some lightness and humor. Brigid and Luc show significant growth over the course of the novel. As Brigid tries to understand the repercussions from what occurred in 1922 and attempts to recover her memories, it was enjoyable to watch her personality take on added dimensions. The antagonist witches known as East, West, North, and South, keep the tension high and provide some surprises.
The author did a great job of transporting me to this community in both timelines. The imagery was extraordinary. However, the pacing in the middle section of the book was slow. I believe this was partially due to Brigid’s memory gaps. The readers were struggling along with her to determine what had happened. My other quibble is that there were times when the writing was more telling than showing. This also affected the novel’s pacing.
The author weaves a story of light versus darkness that highlights mythology, folktales, monsters, family, love, heartbreak, power, kindness, and helping others. The plot has some unexpected twists and the antagonist’s psychosis was memorable.
Overall, this was an entertaining story that kept me engaged. The rich storyline with its layered plot, several interesting characters, and plenty of action made this a pleasurable read. Those that enjoy good versus evil stories with some romance and action may want to consider this book as their next read.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Paige Crutcher provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 27, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.26 rounded to 3 stars review will be coming soon.
Brigid Heron is a powerful witch and healer in Evermore in 1922. She longs for a child and allows herself to be seduced by Luc Knightly, head of the Knightly coven. However, when her child becomes ill, she is willing to do anything to heal her. In 2022, Evermore is under siege from the witches of Knight who have been using their chaos magic to bring creatures to the island to prey on the villagers. Brigid awakens in this new world with memory gaps of what happened and where she’s been. She must work with her descendants, Ophelia and Finola, to stop the witches of Knight.
Brigid, Ophelia, Finola, and Luc are well-defined characters with depth. Their personalities shine throughout the book. While Ophelia was somewhat serious, Finola provided some lightness and humor. Brigid and Luc show significant growth over the course of the novel. As Brigid tries to understand the repercussions from what occurred in 1922 and attempts to recover her memories, it was enjoyable to watch her personality take on added dimensions. The antagonist witches known as East, West, North, and South, keep the tension high and provide some surprises.
The author did a great job of transporting me to this community in both timelines. The imagery was extraordinary. However, the pacing in the middle section of the book was slow. I believe this was partially due to Brigid’s memory gaps. The readers were struggling along with her to determine what had happened. My other quibble is that there were times when the writing was more telling than showing. This also affected the novel’s pacing.
The author weaves a story of light versus darkness that highlights mythology, folktales, monsters, family, love, heartbreak, power, kindness, and helping others. The plot has some unexpected twists and the antagonist’s psychosis was memorable.
Overall, this was an entertaining story that kept me engaged. The rich storyline with its layered plot, several interesting characters, and plenty of action made this a pleasurable read. Those that enjoy good versus evil stories with some romance and action may want to consider this book as their next read.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Paige Crutcher provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 27, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.26 rounded to 3 stars review will be coming soon.
August 20, 2022
2✨
Brigid wakes up 100 years in the future without her memories, her town cursed and about to be overrun by the damned, creatures escaping from the lough and wreaking havoc on the townspeople. She has to work together with a mysterious trickster god and her two descendants, Ophelia and Finola.
The lyrical, whimsical writing gave way to a convoluted, lackluster plot that honestly caused me to get bored. I was interested to a point but the lack of her memories was overdone when it kept up for more than 40% of this book. I was hoping for mystery and suspense with the looming curse, but all I got was frustration on all sides. The characters fell flat due to 3rd person omniscient narrator, and none of them had any intricacies. They were all standard cut-outs and had one motivation. I couldn’t connect with any of them. Also, the way it’s written is at odds with how Ophelia and Finola speak and it bothered me. The modern references (looking at you: Back to the Future reference) were jarring when used with her prose.
The plot was so disjointed with the addition of news articles/podcast scripts and it took away from the suspense and build up. I found myself skimming through those parts just so I could get to the main storyline. The romance didn’t work for me either. We barely got to see anything other them having a strong physical attraction and chemistry. I really wasn’t invested in this side of the book either.
The highlight for me was the prologue. It hooked me immediately, but I didn’t feel engaged the rest of the way through.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Brigid wakes up 100 years in the future without her memories, her town cursed and about to be overrun by the damned, creatures escaping from the lough and wreaking havoc on the townspeople. She has to work together with a mysterious trickster god and her two descendants, Ophelia and Finola.
The lyrical, whimsical writing gave way to a convoluted, lackluster plot that honestly caused me to get bored. I was interested to a point but the lack of her memories was overdone when it kept up for more than 40% of this book. I was hoping for mystery and suspense with the looming curse, but all I got was frustration on all sides. The characters fell flat due to 3rd person omniscient narrator, and none of them had any intricacies. They were all standard cut-outs and had one motivation. I couldn’t connect with any of them. Also, the way it’s written is at odds with how Ophelia and Finola speak and it bothered me. The modern references (looking at you: Back to the Future reference) were jarring when used with her prose.
The plot was so disjointed with the addition of news articles/podcast scripts and it took away from the suspense and build up. I found myself skimming through those parts just so I could get to the main storyline. The romance didn’t work for me either. We barely got to see anything other them having a strong physical attraction and chemistry. I really wasn’t invested in this side of the book either.
The highlight for me was the prologue. It hooked me immediately, but I didn’t feel engaged the rest of the way through.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest here folks, The Lost Witch took a while for me to get into. Once I did, though, I couldn't stop myself from turning to the next page. In this, you will meet Brigid. At first, you are thrown back in time and then you see Brigid zoom into the future. Of course, that's not all either. Nope, she doesn't remember anything and needs help to figure out what's exactly missing.
Each character that I met, just made the book so much better in my eyes. I absolutely loved getting to know Ophelia and Finola. If I had to pick a favorite out of those two, it would definitely be Fin because she was hilarious. The girl had no filter and just made me laugh.
Besides those two, we also get to meet the trickster god, Luc Knightly. Now he was all kinds of yummy and a blast from Brigid's past. They had some serious sexual tension and chemistry which I ate all up. I'll also admit that I was completely right about something before it was revealed. Definitely made me happy and then bittersweet.
In the end, I was so scared of how this book could end for everyone involved. I'm glad to admit that I'm so happy with what Paige gave us. If it ended in the way I thought it was going to, well, I'm sure I would be writing a much different review.
I'll be honest here folks, The Lost Witch took a while for me to get into. Once I did, though, I couldn't stop myself from turning to the next page. In this, you will meet Brigid. At first, you are thrown back in time and then you see Brigid zoom into the future. Of course, that's not all either. Nope, she doesn't remember anything and needs help to figure out what's exactly missing.
Each character that I met, just made the book so much better in my eyes. I absolutely loved getting to know Ophelia and Finola. If I had to pick a favorite out of those two, it would definitely be Fin because she was hilarious. The girl had no filter and just made me laugh.
Besides those two, we also get to meet the trickster god, Luc Knightly. Now he was all kinds of yummy and a blast from Brigid's past. They had some serious sexual tension and chemistry which I ate all up. I'll also admit that I was completely right about something before it was revealed. Definitely made me happy and then bittersweet.
In the end, I was so scared of how this book could end for everyone involved. I'm glad to admit that I'm so happy with what Paige gave us. If it ended in the way I thought it was going to, well, I'm sure I would be writing a much different review.
December 8, 2022
I sadly couldn't get into this one. Full review to come.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted copy.
August 31, 2022
Good but not really my type of fantasy story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that this book was not was I was expecting. But then books like that can be exciting!
This one took me a while to get into the plot. In some areas, I have to admit, I was a tad lost and confused with the portals and lough. I had to google that one… What kept me going was the characters. I was highly invested in Luc. He is a handsome mystery with a big secret and a full heart.
Crutcher crafted such a unique story that once you figured out what was going on, you found yourself engaged and invested for the long term. With memories and the timeframe flipping back and forth 100 years, family and connections are the big keys to the secrets.
The Lost Witch is a good story if you are into witches and fantasy stories. Fun, levity, love, and romance are interspersed with hate and evil for an all-around story that captures every interest.
* book received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-lost-wit...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say that this book was not was I was expecting. But then books like that can be exciting!
This one took me a while to get into the plot. In some areas, I have to admit, I was a tad lost and confused with the portals and lough. I had to google that one… What kept me going was the characters. I was highly invested in Luc. He is a handsome mystery with a big secret and a full heart.
Crutcher crafted such a unique story that once you figured out what was going on, you found yourself engaged and invested for the long term. With memories and the timeframe flipping back and forth 100 years, family and connections are the big keys to the secrets.
The Lost Witch is a good story if you are into witches and fantasy stories. Fun, levity, love, and romance are interspersed with hate and evil for an all-around story that captures every interest.
* book received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-lost-wit...
November 22, 2022
It took me a little time to get into this book, but once I had read awhile I was intrigued. There are two timelines 100 years apart, 1922 and 2022. Brigid Heron is catapulted through time and 100 years later finds herself in Evermore which is besieged by demons from the lough and the witches of Knight are manipulating the demons to gain power and take over.
The story is told solely from Brigid Heron's point of view. There is magic, demons, monsters, witches and a goddess and a demigod, among other things in the book. It gets a bit chaotic at times (but the demigod is a master of chaos). An interesting read. I liked the way Brigid, Finola, and Ophelia pulled together. I also liked the goddesses words of wisdom throughout the book. The podcasts added some flair.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 27, 2022.
The story is told solely from Brigid Heron's point of view. There is magic, demons, monsters, witches and a goddess and a demigod, among other things in the book. It gets a bit chaotic at times (but the demigod is a master of chaos). An interesting read. I liked the way Brigid, Finola, and Ophelia pulled together. I also liked the goddesses words of wisdom throughout the book. The podcasts added some flair.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 27, 2022.
November 12, 2022
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A town damned and the healer who damned them. A sister who sacrificed everything and a daughter lost in time. That was her story.
The Lost Witch was a story that at times took a movie Memento like concentration by me because of it's use of flashbacks. Brigid is a witch that lives in the village of Evermore, floats off the coast of Ireland. She lost her mother when she was young, had a father that seems to have chased her sister Agnes away, and wants a child. The problem is that Brigid's goddess Brighid (yes, that did get confusing at times) tells her that in order to become a mother, she would have to give up her destiny of becoming one of the nineteen that tends the flame. So Brigid turns to the lough, a lake that it is said to have immense power but is the opposite of the light powers of the Goddess. Readers see Brigid make a deal with Luc Knightly, the God of the lough. Then when Brigid's daughter Dove, turns twelve, she becomes very sick and Brigid must turn to the lough again. This time, Brigid living in 1922 gets sucked into the lough and transported to current times and without her memory.
Brigid was a lost witch, one with no memory of where she’d been or how she could get back home.
In 2022, Brigid learns that she broke the seal of the lough, causing The Damned (monster like creatures) to periodically come out and terrorize the town, a town no one can leave now. She runs into her distant relative Ophelia and Ophelia's roommate and friend Finola who live in Brigid's old home and try and fight the The Damned to protect the townspeople. Brigid also runs into Luc Knightly who has the memories Brigid lacks and seems to want to help her but his dark magic is what has lead to the problems in the first place. A coven of 4 witches serves him, lead by East, who work to empower the lough and want to destroy Brigid and her good magic Goddess. They have six months before the lough is fully opened.
“She took what was mine, and I want it back.”
Brigid leveled him a look. “Good luck with that.”
“You need me,” he said. “And I need you, so why don’t we help each other?”
Because Luc Knightly never helped anyone but himself.
A lot of this happens in the first couple chapters and I felt a little lost at times, wishing I had some kind of witch primer to understand what was completely going on. As the story goes on, the reader learns that Brigid is not only missing some memories but the reader doesn't know the full story of what happened between Brigid and Luc. Around 30% we get some of Luc's point-of-view (Ophelia, Finola, and East also get povs) and it's clear there was some romance between Luc and Brigid. We do get some flashbacks of their relationship but there wasn't much showing the emotional development or depth between the two. The romance felt pretty weak to me in this.
His touch a light caress, his dimple dug deep into his cheek, his heart in his eyes, and her happiness in the palms of his hands.
I'm not going to lie, 50-70% I felt pretty lost as I tried to follow the story, past excerpts from Ophelia and Finola's podcasts get inserted to catch up and inform the reader about certain things and a cauldron that can give you what you want enters the picture. Now remembering her daughter, Brigid, of course, wants to be reunited with the daughter that had to go into the lough to be saved from her sickness. The cauldron ends up separating Brigid, Luc, Ophelia, and Finola, they lose some of their memories, and then come together for an ending battle scene where they fight the evil coven. There's some happily ever after aspects but clearly some story plots that were given a less happy conclusion in favor of continuing this on down the line in a series. A story of the continuous battle between light and dark magic that had it's confusing moments.
A town damned and the healer who damned them. A sister who sacrificed everything and a daughter lost in time. That was her story.
The Lost Witch was a story that at times took a movie Memento like concentration by me because of it's use of flashbacks. Brigid is a witch that lives in the village of Evermore, floats off the coast of Ireland. She lost her mother when she was young, had a father that seems to have chased her sister Agnes away, and wants a child. The problem is that Brigid's goddess Brighid (yes, that did get confusing at times) tells her that in order to become a mother, she would have to give up her destiny of becoming one of the nineteen that tends the flame. So Brigid turns to the lough, a lake that it is said to have immense power but is the opposite of the light powers of the Goddess. Readers see Brigid make a deal with Luc Knightly, the God of the lough. Then when Brigid's daughter Dove, turns twelve, she becomes very sick and Brigid must turn to the lough again. This time, Brigid living in 1922 gets sucked into the lough and transported to current times and without her memory.
Brigid was a lost witch, one with no memory of where she’d been or how she could get back home.
In 2022, Brigid learns that she broke the seal of the lough, causing The Damned (monster like creatures) to periodically come out and terrorize the town, a town no one can leave now. She runs into her distant relative Ophelia and Ophelia's roommate and friend Finola who live in Brigid's old home and try and fight the The Damned to protect the townspeople. Brigid also runs into Luc Knightly who has the memories Brigid lacks and seems to want to help her but his dark magic is what has lead to the problems in the first place. A coven of 4 witches serves him, lead by East, who work to empower the lough and want to destroy Brigid and her good magic Goddess. They have six months before the lough is fully opened.
“She took what was mine, and I want it back.”
Brigid leveled him a look. “Good luck with that.”
“You need me,” he said. “And I need you, so why don’t we help each other?”
Because Luc Knightly never helped anyone but himself.
A lot of this happens in the first couple chapters and I felt a little lost at times, wishing I had some kind of witch primer to understand what was completely going on. As the story goes on, the reader learns that Brigid is not only missing some memories but the reader doesn't know the full story of what happened between Brigid and Luc. Around 30% we get some of Luc's point-of-view (Ophelia, Finola, and East also get povs) and it's clear there was some romance between Luc and Brigid. We do get some flashbacks of their relationship but there wasn't much showing the emotional development or depth between the two. The romance felt pretty weak to me in this.
His touch a light caress, his dimple dug deep into his cheek, his heart in his eyes, and her happiness in the palms of his hands.
I'm not going to lie, 50-70% I felt pretty lost as I tried to follow the story, past excerpts from Ophelia and Finola's podcasts get inserted to catch up and inform the reader about certain things and a cauldron that can give you what you want enters the picture. Now remembering her daughter, Brigid, of course, wants to be reunited with the daughter that had to go into the lough to be saved from her sickness. The cauldron ends up separating Brigid, Luc, Ophelia, and Finola, they lose some of their memories, and then come together for an ending battle scene where they fight the evil coven. There's some happily ever after aspects but clearly some story plots that were given a less happy conclusion in favor of continuing this on down the line in a series. A story of the continuous battle between light and dark magic that had it's confusing moments.
September 4, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 27, 2022
It’s 1922, and a young witch named Brigid is living on a small island called Evermore, in Ireland. Brigid has had magic for years, and she is, for the most part, happy and content to provide protection potions and magic spells to the townspeople. But deep down, Brigid wants a child more than anything, and the only way to have one is to betray her coven and go against the wishes of her Goddess. When Luc Knightly, head of the dark and mysterious Knightly coven, offers to give Brigid what she wants most, she jumps at the chance, ignoring the consequences.
Evermore in 2022 is teeming with monsters and all things Dead. The town’s lough is overflowing with demons, set loose by a coven who want the power of Evermore to themselves. So when Brigid mysteriously appears there, with no recollection of her past or how she arrived in Evermore, she instantly becomes ingratiated with local witches, determined to save the lough, in hopes of retrieving the memories she lost and saving the small town she loves.
“The Lost Witch” is a magical romance, full of witchcraft, forbidden love, and the ultimate battle of Good vs Evil. “Witch” is the newest novel by brand new author, Paige Crutcher, but it won’t appeal to everyone.
I am a fan of magic, and all the mystery and intrigue it entails. Crutcher’s characters were likable, and the setting was beautiful and, of course, magical, but I couldn’t connect with the plot. Initially, the story started off strong, with Brigid being lost in a time not her own, struggling to recover the memories she lost. The story started to drag when Brigid meets Ophelia and Finola, two local witches, focusing solely on the goings-on around the magical lough. The demons that rose from the water and possessed the local townspeople was uniquely creative, and I wanted more of them. Although I enjoyed all of the witches, even the evil coven, I felt like all of the exciting parts of the story happened in the background.
The relationship between Brigid and Knightley was predictable but charming, and I rooted for them. Knightley as the “misunderstood love interest who would do anything for his love” was not unique or terribly original, but I still enjoyed his darkness just as much as his good. Ophelia and Finola had a “Practical Magic” vibe going for them, even if it was just because they were two witch sisters living together and working together to help the townspeople.
I enjoyed the setting and the magical parts of this plot, and the characters were likable, but I wanted more. Overall, “The Lost Witch” is an entertaining read, with a satisfying ending, but I did not connect with this novel the way I expected to. Crutcher writes well, and I anticipate enjoying her future works. She’s not one I’m counting out just yet.
Expected publication date: December 27, 2022
It’s 1922, and a young witch named Brigid is living on a small island called Evermore, in Ireland. Brigid has had magic for years, and she is, for the most part, happy and content to provide protection potions and magic spells to the townspeople. But deep down, Brigid wants a child more than anything, and the only way to have one is to betray her coven and go against the wishes of her Goddess. When Luc Knightly, head of the dark and mysterious Knightly coven, offers to give Brigid what she wants most, she jumps at the chance, ignoring the consequences.
Evermore in 2022 is teeming with monsters and all things Dead. The town’s lough is overflowing with demons, set loose by a coven who want the power of Evermore to themselves. So when Brigid mysteriously appears there, with no recollection of her past or how she arrived in Evermore, she instantly becomes ingratiated with local witches, determined to save the lough, in hopes of retrieving the memories she lost and saving the small town she loves.
“The Lost Witch” is a magical romance, full of witchcraft, forbidden love, and the ultimate battle of Good vs Evil. “Witch” is the newest novel by brand new author, Paige Crutcher, but it won’t appeal to everyone.
I am a fan of magic, and all the mystery and intrigue it entails. Crutcher’s characters were likable, and the setting was beautiful and, of course, magical, but I couldn’t connect with the plot. Initially, the story started off strong, with Brigid being lost in a time not her own, struggling to recover the memories she lost. The story started to drag when Brigid meets Ophelia and Finola, two local witches, focusing solely on the goings-on around the magical lough. The demons that rose from the water and possessed the local townspeople was uniquely creative, and I wanted more of them. Although I enjoyed all of the witches, even the evil coven, I felt like all of the exciting parts of the story happened in the background.
The relationship between Brigid and Knightley was predictable but charming, and I rooted for them. Knightley as the “misunderstood love interest who would do anything for his love” was not unique or terribly original, but I still enjoyed his darkness just as much as his good. Ophelia and Finola had a “Practical Magic” vibe going for them, even if it was just because they were two witch sisters living together and working together to help the townspeople.
I enjoyed the setting and the magical parts of this plot, and the characters were likable, but I wanted more. Overall, “The Lost Witch” is an entertaining read, with a satisfying ending, but I did not connect with this novel the way I expected to. Crutcher writes well, and I anticipate enjoying her future works. She’s not one I’m counting out just yet.
October 3, 2023
I REALLY want to love this book, I REALLY wanted to like this. The start was strong but then it just started to lose me, which is a shame.
July 8, 2022
I really enjoyed the idea this book had. The story is also written in a limited ominous point of view which felt a little weird at the start but once I got used to it managed to drag me into the story well enough. This book could have definitely benefited from a stronger plot and being a bit shorter. I enjoyed the story, just flawed.
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2022
There is a lot going on in here, to the point where I was losing track of the plot.
The characters were decent, the story was good, but it was too much going on to get fully invested in any one thing.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my DRC.
The characters were decent, the story was good, but it was too much going on to get fully invested in any one thing.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my DRC.
December 13, 2022
This book had a lot of potential, but it never quite got to where I hoped it would. The island of Evermore off the coast of Ireland was, like most settings in Ireland, atmospherically perfect for a book about magic. The book follows Brigid Heron in 2 timelines: first her own storyline in 1922 and then later when she re-awakens in 2022.
In 1922, Brigid allows herself to be seduced by the Luc, the leader of a rival clan, in order to have a child that she dearly wants. When her child falls ill, she is wiling to do anything to save her. In 2022, she's working with her descendants to try and save Evermore from Luc's clan and figure out what happened in the past because she finds she has gaps in her memory.
The writing worked well for the 1922 timeline but felt stilted and out of place in 2022, which was frustrating as the book went on. Pacing was weird - it was very slow in the middle and I started to lose interest. World building was solid and enjoyable. The good vs evil plot line was well done.
The audiobook narrator's voice was perfect for this story and really amped up the atmosphere of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC ahead of publication.
In 1922, Brigid allows herself to be seduced by the Luc, the leader of a rival clan, in order to have a child that she dearly wants. When her child falls ill, she is wiling to do anything to save her. In 2022, she's working with her descendants to try and save Evermore from Luc's clan and figure out what happened in the past because she finds she has gaps in her memory.
The writing worked well for the 1922 timeline but felt stilted and out of place in 2022, which was frustrating as the book went on. Pacing was weird - it was very slow in the middle and I started to lose interest. World building was solid and enjoyable. The good vs evil plot line was well done.
The audiobook narrator's voice was perfect for this story and really amped up the atmosphere of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC ahead of publication.
May 4, 2023
This book started off strong, but as it went along, the plot felt jumbled and haphazard. I really wanted to like it more. It had a lot of elements I usually enjoy in a book. There was something off about the pacing, and the snippets of Brigid's memories did more to confuse me than to clear up the storyline.
I did like the characters and the overall vibe of the world they were living in. I think if it had been arranged differently, it could have worked better.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I did like the characters and the overall vibe of the world they were living in. I think if it had been arranged differently, it could have worked better.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 3, 2022
THE LOST WITCH is a story about loss, magic, sisterhood, and found family. It's also about the mythology and healing powers of Ireland. It's a personal story for me, and was written for my mother, and for you dear readers. There's love and adventure, monsters and second chances. I hope Brigid's story might bring you joy, hope, and a reminder that you are powerful and loved.
October 11, 2022
“The Lost Witch” is the story of Brigid, a witch from 1922 who wakes up 100 years in the future with no memory of how she got there. It’s a fun, witchy fantasy complete with love and monsters.
It did take me a while to get into this book because the beginning is very much a slow burn of Brigid trying to figure out what exactly happened and where she is. Things do pick up a lot once Brigid starts gaining her memories back, but it’s not until quite a while after that when the plot becomes fully clear. While I don’t mind a slowly revealed plot, it did bother me a little bit in this book because I felt there were things about the world that weren’t entirely clear or explained very well because they weren’t part of the main mystery/plot even though they were important background details.
Ophelia and Fin were fun, but Knightly really made this book for me. He’s dark, mysterious, and a bit of a trickster. I loved his relationship with Brigid and their chemistry was amazing, but I wish it was a larger plot. I needed more flashback Knightly and Knightly with Brigid after all her memories are back. He was a really complex character and I don’t think it was explored enough.
Overall I did really enjoy this book, I just wish there was more Knightly!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It did take me a while to get into this book because the beginning is very much a slow burn of Brigid trying to figure out what exactly happened and where she is. Things do pick up a lot once Brigid starts gaining her memories back, but it’s not until quite a while after that when the plot becomes fully clear. While I don’t mind a slowly revealed plot, it did bother me a little bit in this book because I felt there were things about the world that weren’t entirely clear or explained very well because they weren’t part of the main mystery/plot even though they were important background details.
Ophelia and Fin were fun, but Knightly really made this book for me. He’s dark, mysterious, and a bit of a trickster. I loved his relationship with Brigid and their chemistry was amazing, but I wish it was a larger plot. I needed more flashback Knightly and Knightly with Brigid after all her memories are back. He was a really complex character and I don’t think it was explored enough.
Overall I did really enjoy this book, I just wish there was more Knightly!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. The Lost Witch starts off slow but picks up pace as the story begins to unfold and the world is built with such care that it is easy to find yourself immersed within it. It is clear the author too extreme care with the construction of each character and how they interact with the events, structures, hierarchy of magic, and their relationships. To say it was a joy to have the opportunity to read this book would be an understatement. Hopefully this is not the last we’ve seen of these witches and their world.
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December 28, 2022DNF @ 22%
Not gonna lie, I was pretty bored from what I read. I wasn't into the writing or the characters. And from the symopsis, I wasn't expecting the time travel element; I was expecting more of a multi-timelime- multi-generational type of story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC and e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Not gonna lie, I was pretty bored from what I read. I wasn't into the writing or the characters. And from the symopsis, I wasn't expecting the time travel element; I was expecting more of a multi-timelime- multi-generational type of story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC and e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
Love so in tune in the right time frame that it's magically enchanted and never done alone.
October 30, 2022
I really wanted to like this one, the premise was interesting and the first chapter had my attention but sadly it all kind of fell apart after the time jump. It felt like it was trying to be too many things and ended up just being convoluted and all jumbled together instead of having any kind of discernible flow or sense. The voice and tone of the writing was all over the place…and there wasn’t really any depth to it, so I never felt invested in any of the characters, the romance, or the story. I kept hoping it would find itself or the end would pull it together to make a bit more sense or something…unfortunately that didn’t happen.
December 14, 2022
DNF. :(
I really wanted to love this book, but we did not click. I still think it is written well and is the perfect fit for someone!! 3 stars for originality and writing.
I really wanted to love this book, but we did not click. I still think it is written well and is the perfect fit for someone!! 3 stars for originality and writing.
August 25, 2022
Brigid is a witch and healer who serves her Goddess in the small Irish village of Evermore. What Brigid desires most is a child, but she cannot be a mother and also focus on her magic with the Goddess. Brigid ends up making a deal with the demigod of mischief Knightly. He will help give her a child in exchange for a look into Brigid’s mind and for information about the Goddess’ magic. Brigid has a baby girl and they live several happy years together before her daughter becomes sick. Brigid goes to the magical lough controlled by the sinister witches of Knight to help save her daughter. The witches get angry at Brigid for letting her daughter drink from the lough and Brigid disobeys the Goddess and uses her magic to protect her daughter. In the aftermath of the battle Brigid wakes up, only to find it is one hundred years later, and she has no memories of the past hundred years or of her daughter. The damned are constantly attacking the people Evermore and the witches of Knight have grown powerful. With the help of a couple young witches and Knightly himself, can Brigid save Evermore and gain her daughter and memories back? I loved how different this book was but it had a lot going on in the plot and subplots, making it a bit difficult to put a full picture together at first but that is part of the book’s magic. The characters were dynamic and the sarcasm and dry humor they use was refreshing. Give it a read and let me know what you think!
January 4, 2023
I enjoyed reading The Lost Witch. I read Paige Crutcher's, The Orphan Witch, last year and was impressed with the beautiful writing and ability to create a unique world. Like The Orphan Witch, The Lost Witch is also set on an island. This time, we are on Evermore, an island off the coast of Ireland. This fantasy story is complex and includes time travel and other-worldly creatures from folklore. Brigid has found herself 100 years in the future with no memory of how or why it has happened. The story follows Brigid as she uncovers her missing memories and works with her modern-day relatives to protect the town of Evermore from the monsters attacking them.
When Brigid learns the truth of her story, it will take all of them working together to set things right. The story felt just a little bit long, but it was an amazing ride none the less. Crutcher provides a very satisfying ending as well. I can't wait to read what she writes next.
Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. This is my honest review.
When Brigid learns the truth of her story, it will take all of them working together to set things right. The story felt just a little bit long, but it was an amazing ride none the less. Crutcher provides a very satisfying ending as well. I can't wait to read what she writes next.
Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. This is my honest review.
July 20, 2023
I really, really wanted to love this book.
The writing is beautiful and the premise was great! But it seriously did not live up to its potential. The plot felt disjointed, confusing, and steeped in a mythology I struggled to understand and follow. The character development was abysmal. The 21st-century slang and technology really took me out of the fantasy element. At times I had very little idea what was going on.
All in all extremely disappointing. I wish this had been a book set in the prologue’s 1922 world—it would have been so much easier to immerse myself in a fantasy world if there weren’t, you know, podcasts.
The writing is beautiful and the premise was great! But it seriously did not live up to its potential. The plot felt disjointed, confusing, and steeped in a mythology I struggled to understand and follow. The character development was abysmal. The 21st-century slang and technology really took me out of the fantasy element. At times I had very little idea what was going on.
All in all extremely disappointing. I wish this had been a book set in the prologue’s 1922 world—it would have been so much easier to immerse myself in a fantasy world if there weren’t, you know, podcasts.
November 16, 2022
The story started out with Brigid wanting a child so she went to her goddess for help. Her goddess told her that she couldn’t give her what she was asking for. Brigid was walking in the forest and she met a stranger by the name of luc knightly and he told Brigid if he could have a look at her mind he would give her the child she always wanted. The story was a bit slow for me. I pushed through it Until i got to a little over half the book and I couldn’t finish it. I couldn’t stay interested in the book. It just didn’t hit it for me.
dnf
January 23, 2023I tried for the longest time to get into this book but I’m finally admitting defeat. The writing was so slow, and the characters so dry and uninteresting that I couldn’t bring myself to go on even after reaching the half point. I really wanted to find a way to get engrossed but I think this author’s writing just may not be for me.
January 18, 2023
The Lost Witch
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle eBook and Audiobook
Date Published: 12/27/22
Author: Paige Crutcher
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This story combines fantasy, paranormal, romance, and time travel with witches with magic and sprinkling in heartbreak. I had both the kindle version and audiobook. There are two timelines, 1922 and 2022, mainly narrated by Brigid. The narrators were great and really moved the characters along in an easy to follow complicated story. At times the novel was a little slow but I believe this was due to Brigid’s memory gaps. I preferred the audio over the kindle for this novel, it was easier to follow along with the audio. My favorite characters were probably Ophelia and Finola. There was good chemistry between Luc and Brigid. The characters were well developed with depth, wittiness, chemistry, had magical flare, and creative. The author’s writing style was complex, magical, good world building, and kept me engaged. I would recommend trying out the audiobook version.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle eBook and Audiobook
Date Published: 12/27/22
Author: Paige Crutcher
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This story combines fantasy, paranormal, romance, and time travel with witches with magic and sprinkling in heartbreak. I had both the kindle version and audiobook. There are two timelines, 1922 and 2022, mainly narrated by Brigid. The narrators were great and really moved the characters along in an easy to follow complicated story. At times the novel was a little slow but I believe this was due to Brigid’s memory gaps. I preferred the audio over the kindle for this novel, it was easier to follow along with the audio. My favorite characters were probably Ophelia and Finola. There was good chemistry between Luc and Brigid. The characters were well developed with depth, wittiness, chemistry, had magical flare, and creative. The author’s writing style was complex, magical, good world building, and kept me engaged. I would recommend trying out the audiobook version.
January 3, 2023
I just finished the lost witch by Paige Crutcher and here is my review….
It’s 1922 and Evermore is under the protection of the Goddess and Brigid Heron, who is in her favor, works to heal the villagers when the need arises. The witches of the Knight swear no fealty to the Goddess and want to harness the powers from the lake of dreams.
The only thing Brigid wants is a child but her Goddess won’t fulfill her wish…. One dau Luc Knightly, God of trickery comes to her with a proposition. One that changes the course of Brigid’s life….
Present day and Evermore is under siege and 2 of Brigids descendents call forth Brigid to help keep the monsters at bay. With no memory of how she got to the future, Brigid must work with the 2 witches and the God she can barely remember to seal the Lough and protect the island… But sealing it will come at a devastating cost… The life of her beloved daughter.
The title of this book really hooked me so I was super excited to get started. This book did not disappoint. Loved the characters, all of them. The development of them all was so well done and I found the chemistry between Brigid and Luc so complicated and beautiful. Luc was so misunderstood and watching him try and redeem himself was such a pleasure.
Amazing concept and executed with such skill that I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author. Everything was wrapped up perfectly, with such flourish, I felt engaged from the start and gripped until the very end.
If you enjoy books in the fantasy romance genre, then add this one to your list. 4 stars
Out today! Thank you st Martin's Press and netgalley for my review copy!
It’s 1922 and Evermore is under the protection of the Goddess and Brigid Heron, who is in her favor, works to heal the villagers when the need arises. The witches of the Knight swear no fealty to the Goddess and want to harness the powers from the lake of dreams.
The only thing Brigid wants is a child but her Goddess won’t fulfill her wish…. One dau Luc Knightly, God of trickery comes to her with a proposition. One that changes the course of Brigid’s life….
Present day and Evermore is under siege and 2 of Brigids descendents call forth Brigid to help keep the monsters at bay. With no memory of how she got to the future, Brigid must work with the 2 witches and the God she can barely remember to seal the Lough and protect the island… But sealing it will come at a devastating cost… The life of her beloved daughter.
The title of this book really hooked me so I was super excited to get started. This book did not disappoint. Loved the characters, all of them. The development of them all was so well done and I found the chemistry between Brigid and Luc so complicated and beautiful. Luc was so misunderstood and watching him try and redeem himself was such a pleasure.
Amazing concept and executed with such skill that I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author. Everything was wrapped up perfectly, with such flourish, I felt engaged from the start and gripped until the very end.
If you enjoy books in the fantasy romance genre, then add this one to your list. 4 stars
Out today! Thank you st Martin's Press and netgalley for my review copy!
December 31, 2022
3.5 stars
This is one of those odd books that didn’t quite do it for me, but if someone told me they adored this book I’d 100% understand why. The concept is unique, the characters are fun, and the earthy, witchy magic is A Vibe. There’s a mother-daughter relationship at the center and a trickster god for a love interest. In short, all things that should have made this the perfect book for me.
I think what held me back from adoring The Lost Witch is that I just didn’t connect much with the characters, particularly with our protagonist Brigid. I liked her a lot, but I never felt as attached to her as I wanted to be. The narration felt a bit distant from her for much of the book, and because her whole goal was trying to find her daughter but we didn’t get to spend any time getting invested in that relationship, I didn’t feel hugely invested in the stakes.
That said, I had a good time and I’m glad I read it. I really enjoyed the podcast thread of the story; it was unique and helped build the world and the community we were following.
Aoife McMahon did a wonderful job with the narration, but that’s no surprise. She’s a delight to listen to and seems to embody each character as she speaks their lines.
Advanced Reader’s Copy audiobook provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those odd books that didn’t quite do it for me, but if someone told me they adored this book I’d 100% understand why. The concept is unique, the characters are fun, and the earthy, witchy magic is A Vibe. There’s a mother-daughter relationship at the center and a trickster god for a love interest. In short, all things that should have made this the perfect book for me.
I think what held me back from adoring The Lost Witch is that I just didn’t connect much with the characters, particularly with our protagonist Brigid. I liked her a lot, but I never felt as attached to her as I wanted to be. The narration felt a bit distant from her for much of the book, and because her whole goal was trying to find her daughter but we didn’t get to spend any time getting invested in that relationship, I didn’t feel hugely invested in the stakes.
That said, I had a good time and I’m glad I read it. I really enjoyed the podcast thread of the story; it was unique and helped build the world and the community we were following.
Aoife McMahon did a wonderful job with the narration, but that’s no surprise. She’s a delight to listen to and seems to embody each character as she speaks their lines.
Advanced Reader’s Copy audiobook provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2023
This was a really good paranormal romance and it really stood out among the others I’ve read. There are so many fun elements in this book such as fantasy, witches, magic, curses, gods, time travel, mystery, undead creatures, and so much more! The Lost Witch really does have a little bit of everything in it, but somehow it all works really well together.
In this book there are two timelines that you follow, past and present. I enjoyed both and it was done in a way that wasn’t confusing to follow. The world building and magical components to the story were done really well by the author as they were well developed and unique.
This was a great witchy read and I definitely recommend giving it a try!
In this book there are two timelines that you follow, past and present. I enjoyed both and it was done in a way that wasn’t confusing to follow. The world building and magical components to the story were done really well by the author as they were well developed and unique.
This was a great witchy read and I definitely recommend giving it a try!
April 2, 2023
This started took a while to hook me, but once it did, I enjoyed the feisty characters and their battle of good vs evil. This book had strong feminist themes, including topics of female friendship and a mother/daughter relationship.
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