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The Witch of Tin Mountain
In Depression-era Arkansas, something wicked has come to a haunted mountain town in a novel of uncanny suspense by the author of Parting the Veil.
Blood and power bind three generations of women in the Ozark Mountains. So does an evil that’s followed them across the decades.
1931. Gracelynn Doherty lives peacefully on Tin Mountain, helping her adoptive granny work her cures. Despite whispers that the women are witches, the superstitious locals still seek them out, whether they suffer from arthritis or a broken heart. But when evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town touting miracle healing, full bellies, and prosperity, his revivals soon hold Tin Mountain in thrall—and Granny in abject fear.
Granny recognizes Josiah. Fifty years ago, in a dark and desperate moment, she made a terrible promise. Now Josiah, an enemy, has returned to collect his due.
As Granny sickens and the drought-ridden countryside falls under a curse, Gracelynn must choose: flee Tin Mountain and the only family she knows or confront the vengeful preacher whose unholy mission is to destroy her.
Blood and power bind three generations of women in the Ozark Mountains. So does an evil that’s followed them across the decades.
1931. Gracelynn Doherty lives peacefully on Tin Mountain, helping her adoptive granny work her cures. Despite whispers that the women are witches, the superstitious locals still seek them out, whether they suffer from arthritis or a broken heart. But when evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town touting miracle healing, full bellies, and prosperity, his revivals soon hold Tin Mountain in thrall—and Granny in abject fear.
Granny recognizes Josiah. Fifty years ago, in a dark and desperate moment, she made a terrible promise. Now Josiah, an enemy, has returned to collect his due.
As Granny sickens and the drought-ridden countryside falls under a curse, Gracelynn must choose: flee Tin Mountain and the only family she knows or confront the vengeful preacher whose unholy mission is to destroy her.
331 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2023
7245 people are currently reading
22246 people want to read
About the author
Paulette Kennedy
7 books905 followersOriginally from the Missouri Ozarks, Paulette Kennedy now lives with her family in a quiet suburb of Los Angeles.
When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys tending to her garden, knitting, and finding unique vintage treasures at thrift stores and flea markets.
As a history lover, she can get lost for days in her research—learning everything she can about the places in her stories and the experiences her characters might have had in the past.
This dedication to research infuses her world-building with realistic detail and creates a cinematic, immersive experience for the reader.
Paulette’s next novel is The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, a domestic gothic set in the 1950s about a homemaker who develops psychic abilities after a viral illness.
When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys tending to her garden, knitting, and finding unique vintage treasures at thrift stores and flea markets.
As a history lover, she can get lost for days in her research—learning everything she can about the places in her stories and the experiences her characters might have had in the past.
This dedication to research infuses her world-building with realistic detail and creates a cinematic, immersive experience for the reader.
Paulette’s next novel is The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, a domestic gothic set in the 1950s about a homemaker who develops psychic abilities after a viral illness.
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August 26, 2022As the author of this novel, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who takes the time to read and review The Witch of Tin Mountain. This novel is my love letter to the place I’m from, the Ozarks, as well as a celebration of divine feminine wisdom and the resilient, unbreakable spirit of women everywhere.
If you enjoyed novels like Practical Magic, A Secret History of Witches, or The Witch’s Daughter, you will also enjoy The Witch of Tin Mountain.
Thanks so much for all your support!
A note about content warnings:
While potentially triggering content is mostly referenced and not depicted explicitly, this novel contains references to child abuse and neglect, including sexual and physical abuse. Sexual assault, dubious sexual consent, self-harm/suicide, addiction, alcoholism, death and dying, racism, homophobia, murder, attempted murder, fire/arson, and abortion, adoption, and childbirth are also mentioned within this novel.
If you enjoyed novels like Practical Magic, A Secret History of Witches, or The Witch’s Daughter, you will also enjoy The Witch of Tin Mountain.
Thanks so much for all your support!
A note about content warnings:
While potentially triggering content is mostly referenced and not depicted explicitly, this novel contains references to child abuse and neglect, including sexual and physical abuse. Sexual assault, dubious sexual consent, self-harm/suicide, addiction, alcoholism, death and dying, racism, homophobia, murder, attempted murder, fire/arson, and abortion, adoption, and childbirth are also mentioned within this novel.
December 7, 2022
In a Nutshell: An interesting story. Too many characters with similar problems, so it becomes a tad confusing. But overall, a good atmospheric read.
Story Synopsis:
NOTE: Don’t read the Goodreads blurb. It reveals too much.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 The prologue set in 1831 provides the right introduction to the main events. I love it when a prologue is used to spur the story on rather than just revealing something that is to come later in the book.
😍 This is a woman-oriented book, but unlike what you would expect, the female protagonists aren’t just strong but also flawed. They live, they err, they learn, and they fight. Always better to see realistic women than perfect role models. The book is like an ode to womanpower.
😍 The imagery is outstanding. The writing brings alive the Ozark Mountains and the beliefs and lifestyle of their people. Even their dialogues are written in the local dialect, lending a touch of authenticity to the proceedings.
😍 The content is atmospheric, while not being outright horrifying. The spooky elements add to the fun. There is a fair amount of magical realism too.
😍 Through the various reverends/preachers in the story, the author highlights the flaws of blind faith in humans who claim to be proponents of a higher order. While I was initially unsure of the target of her writing, this line in the author’s note makes her opinion clear – “This novel is in no way an indictment of Christianity or religion, but of hypocrisy.” Brava, author! This entire track was written well.
😍 The story begins slowly but proceeds at a steady pace.
😍 There are interesting LGBTQ subplots in both the timelines.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😑 The events and circumstances in both the timelines are quite similar. Even the people recur in both timelines, the only difference being in their respective ages. As such, keeping the two tracks distinct in your head becomes quite tricky. Having two voices (first person for Gracelynn and third person for Dierdre) helps to some extent, but except for the pronouns, there’s nothing much to distinguish the emotions of the two women.
😑 Adding to the confusion is the sheer number of characters in each timeline, some of whom have a major role to play and some are just minor passers-by in the plot. Some of them are even interlinked through the timelines.
(I must add: The reason for the repeated characters and their interconnections between timelines becomes clear at the end of the book. But this doesn’t make the journey easier.)
😑 There are a few plot points that stay unexplained till the end.
This is the author’s second novel. After reading her debut work ‘Parting the Veil’, I had had somewhat mixed feelings, but I remember how good she was with the paranormal bits and her scene settings. I am happy to say that these two elements are strong even in her second book, AND she has improved upon most of the points I had mentioned. This was a far better reading experience, and I will surely try more of her works.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Witch of Tin Mountain”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
1931, Arkansas. Nineteen-year-old Gracelynn helps her adoptive granny in the work of being a healer and midwife to the citizens of Tin Mountain. Though there are rumours that the two are witches, people still approach them for cures. This changes when a travelling evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town and claims to be a miracle healer. There is something strange about him, but the residents of Tin Mountain don’t see it. Only Gracelynn and her granny realise that the danger is far worse than it appears.
The story comes to us in two voices and two alternating timelines, with Gracelynn’s 1931 perspective being written in first person, and another key character Dierdre’s pov coming from 1881 in third person. There are also minor interludes from a grimoire.
NOTE: Don’t read the Goodreads blurb. It reveals too much.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 The prologue set in 1831 provides the right introduction to the main events. I love it when a prologue is used to spur the story on rather than just revealing something that is to come later in the book.
😍 This is a woman-oriented book, but unlike what you would expect, the female protagonists aren’t just strong but also flawed. They live, they err, they learn, and they fight. Always better to see realistic women than perfect role models. The book is like an ode to womanpower.
😍 The imagery is outstanding. The writing brings alive the Ozark Mountains and the beliefs and lifestyle of their people. Even their dialogues are written in the local dialect, lending a touch of authenticity to the proceedings.
😍 The content is atmospheric, while not being outright horrifying. The spooky elements add to the fun. There is a fair amount of magical realism too.
😍 Through the various reverends/preachers in the story, the author highlights the flaws of blind faith in humans who claim to be proponents of a higher order. While I was initially unsure of the target of her writing, this line in the author’s note makes her opinion clear – “This novel is in no way an indictment of Christianity or religion, but of hypocrisy.” Brava, author! This entire track was written well.
😍 The story begins slowly but proceeds at a steady pace.
😍 There are interesting LGBTQ subplots in both the timelines.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😑 The events and circumstances in both the timelines are quite similar. Even the people recur in both timelines, the only difference being in their respective ages. As such, keeping the two tracks distinct in your head becomes quite tricky. Having two voices (first person for Gracelynn and third person for Dierdre) helps to some extent, but except for the pronouns, there’s nothing much to distinguish the emotions of the two women.
😑 Adding to the confusion is the sheer number of characters in each timeline, some of whom have a major role to play and some are just minor passers-by in the plot. Some of them are even interlinked through the timelines.
(I must add: The reason for the repeated characters and their interconnections between timelines becomes clear at the end of the book. But this doesn’t make the journey easier.)
😑 There are a few plot points that stay unexplained till the end.
This is the author’s second novel. After reading her debut work ‘Parting the Veil’, I had had somewhat mixed feelings, but I remember how good she was with the paranormal bits and her scene settings. I am happy to say that these two elements are strong even in her second book, AND she has improved upon most of the points I had mentioned. This was a far better reading experience, and I will surely try more of her works.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Witch of Tin Mountain”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
March 7, 2025
This is a hard one to rate for me... I think I'll go with 3 stars because while the prose is beautiful and atmospheric I had a hard time following the timelines and who's POV we were hearing from.
The chapters are labeled with who's pov we're hearing from which is great, but I still found that I kept second guessing which time we were in and who was related to who.
This is also one of those books for me that when someone asks what it's about and I have no words to answer because I'm still over here like:
It's not over complicated, I just found it a little hard to follow which might just be due to the audio. But I don't think I would have stayed engaged if I switched to the kindle version. I found the pacing a little slow.
I have two more books from this author on my TBR to get to soon - hope I have a better experience with those.
💙Historical Fiction
🧜🏻♀️Witches x Demon
💙Gothic Atmosphere
💙Magical Realism
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
The chapters are labeled with who's pov we're hearing from which is great, but I still found that I kept second guessing which time we were in and who was related to who.
This is also one of those books for me that when someone asks what it's about and I have no words to answer because I'm still over here like:
It's not over complicated, I just found it a little hard to follow which might just be due to the audio. But I don't think I would have stayed engaged if I switched to the kindle version. I found the pacing a little slow.
I have two more books from this author on my TBR to get to soon - hope I have a better experience with those.
💙Historical Fiction
🧜🏻♀️Witches x Demon
💙Gothic Atmosphere
💙Magical Realism
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
June 13, 2023
It’s 1931 in Arkansas, and Gracelynn lives on Tin Mountain, helping her granny with herbal cures for the nearby town. There are whispers that the women are witches, but as they’re helpful and don’t cause trouble, they’re generally left alone. But an evangelist comes to town and begins to stir up trouble. Granny recognizes the evangelist from her past, someone she hoped she’d never see again. As tensions rise, Gracelynn realizes that it’s up to her to save her family or flee the new dangers that plague the land.
This story is told from dual POVs – Deidre in the 1880s, and Gracelynn in 1931. While I generally enjoy dual POVs, this one didn’t work for me. The two protagonists’ characterizations were quite similar, which made them feel like they lacked unique voices. This made it difficult to feel an emotional connection to either character – they were written well enough to not detract from the work, but not well enough for me to become invested in either of them. Added to this, the events in their timeline were almost completely parallel. This led to confusion in keeping the two timelines separate as well as a sense of boredom and repetition as neither story felt unique. I did enjoy that the women in the story were flawed. This wasn’t a case of all-women-are-perfect feminism, but rather a realistic look at realistically flawed people who learned from their errors.
Another issue I had with this story was that it was so on-the-nose. The symbolism and metaphors were so blatantly obvious that it detracted from the message and impact the read could have had. Similarly, it felt that the author tried to throw in too many social issues, which left none of them feeling adequately explored or impactful. The setting also never came alive for me. Based on the cover and the description, I expected to be completely immersed in the setting with a small-town mountain feel and the added atmosphere of the supernatural elements. But it never felt immersive or alive. This could partially be due to the fact that I couldn’t find a connection to the characters, which then leaked into the rest of the book for me.
I wanted to love this one, and many other reviewers did, but I had too many issues with it to enjoy it. If you enjoy historical fiction with supernatural elements, you might enjoy this read. My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This story is told from dual POVs – Deidre in the 1880s, and Gracelynn in 1931. While I generally enjoy dual POVs, this one didn’t work for me. The two protagonists’ characterizations were quite similar, which made them feel like they lacked unique voices. This made it difficult to feel an emotional connection to either character – they were written well enough to not detract from the work, but not well enough for me to become invested in either of them. Added to this, the events in their timeline were almost completely parallel. This led to confusion in keeping the two timelines separate as well as a sense of boredom and repetition as neither story felt unique. I did enjoy that the women in the story were flawed. This wasn’t a case of all-women-are-perfect feminism, but rather a realistic look at realistically flawed people who learned from their errors.
Another issue I had with this story was that it was so on-the-nose. The symbolism and metaphors were so blatantly obvious that it detracted from the message and impact the read could have had. Similarly, it felt that the author tried to throw in too many social issues, which left none of them feeling adequately explored or impactful. The setting also never came alive for me. Based on the cover and the description, I expected to be completely immersed in the setting with a small-town mountain feel and the added atmosphere of the supernatural elements. But it never felt immersive or alive. This could partially be due to the fact that I couldn’t find a connection to the characters, which then leaked into the rest of the book for me.
I wanted to love this one, and many other reviewers did, but I had too many issues with it to enjoy it. If you enjoy historical fiction with supernatural elements, you might enjoy this read. My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 20, 2023
3.5 Stars
This was the most aggravating thing to rate. I actually loved the book but some things were enough to bug me so I can not give it a full four or even five star rating.
I'll start with what bugged me...and don't worry I rarely talk about plot in my book. Read the synopsis or other reviews for that.
The story is told from two timelines one of the characters is based in 1931 and the other in 1881. Which is totally fine, their voices were just so similar that it took awhile to get used to them enough that I felt some connection with them.
The whole wanting to be a social warrior thing. You have religious trauma, multiple same sex relationships, abuse, mental health...so much going on. I felt preached at sometimes. All the men are mostly bad in this book. I know they can be turds but all of them?
Now for what I loved and I really LOVED these parts of the book.
The Granny Witch storyline. That is totally my kryptonite. (Well and dang southern books with the meth slung in). I LOVED this one. It's set in the Ozark mountains and I think the author really did her homework on some of the herbal cures and types of things that are practiced.
The women's friendships. These ladies stuck together. None of them were really perfect and they even admitted that.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
This was the most aggravating thing to rate. I actually loved the book but some things were enough to bug me so I can not give it a full four or even five star rating.
I'll start with what bugged me...and don't worry I rarely talk about plot in my book. Read the synopsis or other reviews for that.
The story is told from two timelines one of the characters is based in 1931 and the other in 1881. Which is totally fine, their voices were just so similar that it took awhile to get used to them enough that I felt some connection with them.
The whole wanting to be a social warrior thing. You have religious trauma, multiple same sex relationships, abuse, mental health...so much going on. I felt preached at sometimes. All the men are mostly bad in this book. I know they can be turds but all of them?
Now for what I loved and I really LOVED these parts of the book.
The Granny Witch storyline. That is totally my kryptonite. (Well and dang southern books with the meth slung in). I LOVED this one. It's set in the Ozark mountains and I think the author really did her homework on some of the herbal cures and types of things that are practiced.
The women's friendships. These ladies stuck together. None of them were really perfect and they even admitted that.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
January 25, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley
Book Reviewer Confession: I write and re-write my reviews before they ever reach the eyes of the public. Most of the time they are nice and orderly. Other times, I have to reshape my tone and approach. Some become a chaotic mess.
Welcome to the chaotic mess, I currently find myself in.
First, I tend to choose books based solely on their covers. Second, I love a good tale with witches that are either imagined by others to be witches or are the real deal. Third, I do love a good generational story that follows several women of the same family.
The Witch of Tin Mountain certainly hits the criteria. The cover captures the atmosphere of the author's Arkansas mountain setting. The two main protagonists-Deidre( 1881) and Gracelynn ( 1931) are women who belong to a family of real-deal witches. Both encounter a demon who masquerades as a preacher who is intent on bringing the evil side out in each woman.
Why is it that most of a woman's problems have to do with a man?
Why indeed?
What I felt was confusing in this novel was that Deidre and Gracelynn were very much similar in nature. So much so, that I failed at times to keep the characters in each storyline straight. This also caused my interest to begin wandering around the 60% mark. Mind you, I found the author's note and her own personal family history to be so interesting. For lack of a better description, I just feel "meh" after my reading experience.
#TheWitchofTinMountain #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date: 01/02/23
Goodreads Review Pub. 23/01/23
Book Reviewer Confession: I write and re-write my reviews before they ever reach the eyes of the public. Most of the time they are nice and orderly. Other times, I have to reshape my tone and approach. Some become a chaotic mess.
Welcome to the chaotic mess, I currently find myself in.
First, I tend to choose books based solely on their covers. Second, I love a good tale with witches that are either imagined by others to be witches or are the real deal. Third, I do love a good generational story that follows several women of the same family.
The Witch of Tin Mountain certainly hits the criteria. The cover captures the atmosphere of the author's Arkansas mountain setting. The two main protagonists-Deidre( 1881) and Gracelynn ( 1931) are women who belong to a family of real-deal witches. Both encounter a demon who masquerades as a preacher who is intent on bringing the evil side out in each woman.
Why is it that most of a woman's problems have to do with a man?
Why indeed?
What I felt was confusing in this novel was that Deidre and Gracelynn were very much similar in nature. So much so, that I failed at times to keep the characters in each storyline straight. This also caused my interest to begin wandering around the 60% mark. Mind you, I found the author's note and her own personal family history to be so interesting. For lack of a better description, I just feel "meh" after my reading experience.
#TheWitchofTinMountain #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date: 01/02/23
Goodreads Review Pub. 23/01/23
January 18, 2023
I wish I could fall in line with everyone who loved this book, but it didn’t work for me.
The story is told in dual timelines, 1931 and 1881, which we consistently bounce between throughout the book. One is written in third person past, the other in first person present. Despite that distinction, I struggled to keep them separate. The characters and language were too similar, and each timeline had a lot of characters, all with tangled relationships. We also stretched back to 1831 on occasion, just to make sure we were paying attention.
To further complicate things, the author threw every current hot topic into the plot. We have multiple gay relationships in both timelines, racism, misogyny, sexual assault, religious conflict, and on it goes. Much of this didn’t flow well, and the sheer volume took away from the meaning of any one particular issue.
I didn’t get a good sense of atmosphere. Aside from this being a small community in the deep south, I couldn’t picture anything.
This book was marketed as gothic fiction, but to me it was straight up supernatural historical fiction. I didn’t get that cloying, suffocating feel of gothic fiction, nor did the atmosphere come alive, which is a hallmark of gothic fiction.
I do think there’s a strong story hiding within all the clutter, but I would have much preferred a stripped down, more focused version.
The story is told in dual timelines, 1931 and 1881, which we consistently bounce between throughout the book. One is written in third person past, the other in first person present. Despite that distinction, I struggled to keep them separate. The characters and language were too similar, and each timeline had a lot of characters, all with tangled relationships. We also stretched back to 1831 on occasion, just to make sure we were paying attention.
To further complicate things, the author threw every current hot topic into the plot. We have multiple gay relationships in both timelines, racism, misogyny, sexual assault, religious conflict, and on it goes. Much of this didn’t flow well, and the sheer volume took away from the meaning of any one particular issue.
I didn’t get a good sense of atmosphere. Aside from this being a small community in the deep south, I couldn’t picture anything.
This book was marketed as gothic fiction, but to me it was straight up supernatural historical fiction. I didn’t get that cloying, suffocating feel of gothic fiction, nor did the atmosphere come alive, which is a hallmark of gothic fiction.
I do think there’s a strong story hiding within all the clutter, but I would have much preferred a stripped down, more focused version.
May 30, 2025
He was Ever a Mimic...
THE WITCH OF TIN MOUNTAIN
by Paulette Kennedy
4 stars. The incubus is a male demon seeking to couple with a woman; They are especially drawn to witches...
The witch's attraction to the incubus...
... is nearly irresistible, and each time she gives in to sex with him, she becomes weaker and less powerful...
Eventually...
Pregnancy occurs, and the witch's health suffers. Giving birth is hard, and the child is called a cambion....
Once the cambion is born, the witch's descendents forever have demonic blood...
Reverend Josiah Bellflower...
Shows up on Tin Mountain and pitches his revival tent in Sutters Holler. The good Reverend was ever a mimic...
Blending in wherever he found himself...
Bellflower has returned to Tin Mountain to collect from Gracelynn Doherty and her Granny on a debt 50 years overdue...
Bellflower's curse...
... can only be broken by the maiden, the mother, and the crone who must speak the demon's true name three times...
Overall, I liked the story, and I kept turning the pages to see what happens next. What I didn't really like so much was the author's fixation on the characters sexual fluidity. Some of them were outright gay and most of them were bisexual which I thought really didn't belong in the early 1800s. I would have liked to move past this TMI once it was established and get back into the fascinating storyline of the witches and their demon.
Also, there was a sequence involving a trial near the story's end that I found tedious to get through because it was very much like the trial in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD but not in a good way. This sequence didn't ring true to me because, unlike TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, this totally unbelievable trial happens closer to modern times, and I believe society has learned a lot since then.
Summing up, this story is good, and I recommend it if you can overlook a few of its flaws.
THE WITCH OF TIN MOUNTAIN
by Paulette Kennedy
4 stars. The incubus is a male demon seeking to couple with a woman; They are especially drawn to witches...
The witch's attraction to the incubus...
... is nearly irresistible, and each time she gives in to sex with him, she becomes weaker and less powerful...
Eventually...
Pregnancy occurs, and the witch's health suffers. Giving birth is hard, and the child is called a cambion....
Once the cambion is born, the witch's descendents forever have demonic blood...
Reverend Josiah Bellflower...
Shows up on Tin Mountain and pitches his revival tent in Sutters Holler. The good Reverend was ever a mimic...
Blending in wherever he found himself...
Bellflower has returned to Tin Mountain to collect from Gracelynn Doherty and her Granny on a debt 50 years overdue...
Bellflower's curse...
... can only be broken by the maiden, the mother, and the crone who must speak the demon's true name three times...
Overall, I liked the story, and I kept turning the pages to see what happens next. What I didn't really like so much was the author's fixation on the characters sexual fluidity. Some of them were outright gay and most of them were bisexual which I thought really didn't belong in the early 1800s. I would have liked to move past this TMI once it was established and get back into the fascinating storyline of the witches and their demon.
Also, there was a sequence involving a trial near the story's end that I found tedious to get through because it was very much like the trial in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD but not in a good way. This sequence didn't ring true to me because, unlike TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, this totally unbelievable trial happens closer to modern times, and I believe society has learned a lot since then.
Summing up, this story is good, and I recommend it if you can overlook a few of its flaws.
April 22, 2022
This book is phenomenal! Full of cults, witchcraft, and steeped in the folklore of the Ozarks, it's going to keep your heart racing and force you to keep the nightlight on!
August 3, 2023
I tried with this one as who doesn't love a good witch story over generations. After 35% and jumping around from 1831 to 1881 to 1931, I lost track and interest. DNF
April 4, 2023
"I may be new to witching, but I wasn't born yesterday."
This was fantastic! My unexpected sleeper hit for the year so far, The Witch of Tin Mountain wove a rich tapestry of magical legacy, the evil that covets it, and the strength of women united against a common enemy across space and time.
If you're familiar with the podcast Old Gods of Appalachia, which I'm always yelling about, this excellent book read like a season of that show. Folk magic from the Ozarks, a demonic entity come to town with decades-old ill intent, powerful women connected by blood and friendship, defiant queers undaunted by the times or locale. The vibes were impeccable, as the youths say.
The book deftly switches between multiple POVs of various women in Gracelynn's lineage, from her in 1931, Deidre in 1881, and back to Anneliese in 1831. I never found these switches confusing, showing how well done the writing and the voices for each character were. Instead, the time switches served their purpose well, building tension, fleshing out the witchy lore, and building that creeping sense of dread towards the climax of the novel.
The pacing was excellent for this sort of plot; in just over three hundred pages, the setting, characters and relationships all felt really well fleshed out, while the plot never slowed. The ending was extremely satisfying, and the one last POV timejump was perfect.
Fans of witchy fiction, dark folk stories, and feminist historical fiction should really enjoy this.
This was fantastic! My unexpected sleeper hit for the year so far, The Witch of Tin Mountain wove a rich tapestry of magical legacy, the evil that covets it, and the strength of women united against a common enemy across space and time.
If you're familiar with the podcast Old Gods of Appalachia, which I'm always yelling about, this excellent book read like a season of that show. Folk magic from the Ozarks, a demonic entity come to town with decades-old ill intent, powerful women connected by blood and friendship, defiant queers undaunted by the times or locale. The vibes were impeccable, as the youths say.
The book deftly switches between multiple POVs of various women in Gracelynn's lineage, from her in 1931, Deidre in 1881, and back to Anneliese in 1831. I never found these switches confusing, showing how well done the writing and the voices for each character were. Instead, the time switches served their purpose well, building tension, fleshing out the witchy lore, and building that creeping sense of dread towards the climax of the novel.
The pacing was excellent for this sort of plot; in just over three hundred pages, the setting, characters and relationships all felt really well fleshed out, while the plot never slowed. The ending was extremely satisfying, and the one last POV timejump was perfect.
Fans of witchy fiction, dark folk stories, and feminist historical fiction should really enjoy this.
July 18, 2022
Kennedy weaves an achingly beautiful tale full of dark folklore, powerful women, and spine-tingling suspense. Deirdre and Gracelynn’s story will grab you by the heart, and stay with you long after the last page.
January 16, 2023
Eh...
The story had a good premise, but it was a overly simple and hokie. I'm not anti LGBTQ community, but not everyone of the main characters have to be gay, and not every heterosexual male is a sleezebag Villian either. It lacks a healthy balance.
The story had a good premise, but it was a overly simple and hokie. I'm not anti LGBTQ community, but not everyone of the main characters have to be gay, and not every heterosexual male is a sleezebag Villian either. It lacks a healthy balance.
January 1, 2023
This was too religious for me, not, what I thought it would be. Too much jumping around and too much of the hallelujah’s going through this book. Not a good start to a new year.
April 5, 2025
In Depression-era Arkansas, something wicked has come to a haunted mountain town. Blood and power bind three generations of women in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. So does an evil that’s followed them across the decades.
The story is not a M/M or a F/F romance, but it does have a LGBTQ theme. It's told through the perspective of three women living in the Ozark Mountains who are bound together by not only family ties, but an uncomprehensible, unspeakable evil.
Anneliese was burned to death as a witch in 1831. She's the author of the Grimoire...a book that has been passed down through the generations by the women. The book is part diary, part recipes, and part spells and curses.
Fifty years later, in 1881, we meet Deirdre, a woman living in the village of Tin Mountain, Arkansas. She adds entries to the book. Then in 1931, there is Gracelynn who finds the Grimoire and reads the history of the first owner of the book, Anneliese. She asks Deirdre about Anneliese and the book, but Deirdre is very reluctant to talk about anything in the past, which Gracelyn finds rather strange. Afterall the previous owners are dead and it's all just history...right?
Eventually, Gracelynn realizes that there is something strange that is reoccurring...a demon that has taken the form of a traveling preacher. He retunes to their village like clockwork, every fifty years and seems to be searching for something. Then when Gracelynn eventually figures out that the reason the demon preacher comes back is he's searching for a child. Now that she has this knowledge, she is more determined than ever to try and save her village.
This was absolutely one of the best books that I have read thus far this year. It was "spooky", chilling and almost impossible to put down. The entire story is well paced, and the characters all have such unique stories, and each one has one, though each story is a slight bit different.... but all with a common theme. The demon goes by three different names, a different one each time he reappears, and the author has created him so well...so eerie and incredibly real. This entire story is so real, that images may remain in your mind for days.
A word of caution to future readers...There are some scenes and/or references to sexual assaults, violence, sex, incest, abortion, murder, and demonology. Yeah...that's a lot, but it's what adds to the believable horror of the entire story. Some reviewers even called it historical horror...and some were not 100% sure that it even "was fiction." Overall: If you enjoy tales of the supernatural, or witches and demons, you will certainly enjoy this one.
The story is not a M/M or a F/F romance, but it does have a LGBTQ theme. It's told through the perspective of three women living in the Ozark Mountains who are bound together by not only family ties, but an uncomprehensible, unspeakable evil.
Anneliese was burned to death as a witch in 1831. She's the author of the Grimoire...a book that has been passed down through the generations by the women. The book is part diary, part recipes, and part spells and curses.
Fifty years later, in 1881, we meet Deirdre, a woman living in the village of Tin Mountain, Arkansas. She adds entries to the book. Then in 1931, there is Gracelynn who finds the Grimoire and reads the history of the first owner of the book, Anneliese. She asks Deirdre about Anneliese and the book, but Deirdre is very reluctant to talk about anything in the past, which Gracelyn finds rather strange. Afterall the previous owners are dead and it's all just history...right?
Eventually, Gracelynn realizes that there is something strange that is reoccurring...a demon that has taken the form of a traveling preacher. He retunes to their village like clockwork, every fifty years and seems to be searching for something. Then when Gracelynn eventually figures out that the reason the demon preacher comes back is he's searching for a child. Now that she has this knowledge, she is more determined than ever to try and save her village.
This was absolutely one of the best books that I have read thus far this year. It was "spooky", chilling and almost impossible to put down. The entire story is well paced, and the characters all have such unique stories, and each one has one, though each story is a slight bit different.... but all with a common theme. The demon goes by three different names, a different one each time he reappears, and the author has created him so well...so eerie and incredibly real. This entire story is so real, that images may remain in your mind for days.
A word of caution to future readers...There are some scenes and/or references to sexual assaults, violence, sex, incest, abortion, murder, and demonology. Yeah...that's a lot, but it's what adds to the believable horror of the entire story. Some reviewers even called it historical horror...and some were not 100% sure that it even "was fiction." Overall: If you enjoy tales of the supernatural, or witches and demons, you will certainly enjoy this one.
Read
August 20, 2022DNF. Not for me. The writing style is solid, and the Ozarks setting is well drawn. But I was struggling with the dual POVs because the two female main characters were really similar in speech and personality, and the different time lines made me feel like the book was jumping around rather than telling a cohesive story.
March 26, 2023
The history of three generations of witches living in the Ozarks rang true for me. I enjoyed how they brought the first witch into the conversation via her grimoire/journal.
February 24, 2023
That intriguing cover image. Phew just suckered me in and got me to request the book from Net Galley.
Dual timelines with witches and an evil demon were enough to get me excited to get into the book. And for the most part, the author has done excellent work, taking the reader thru a fictional town called Tin Mountain and the curse that exists in the land from the burning of a witch called Annaliese. The journey then takes us thru two timelines, Dierdre in 1881 and Gracelynn in 1931 where the women in both eras must fight against more than poverty to live life on their terms.
Paulette Kennedy captures the imagination of the reader with some flawless writing. Tin Mountain was a picture in my eyes easy to imagine with its set of small minded people and their prejudices, asking for help from the witches but afraid to declare to the world. The spooky atmosphere of the hollow and the paranormal elements with visions adds to the chilling scenario even though the author carefully controls her tale without veering towards horror.
Dierdre is characterized as wilful and headstrong initially and I loved how the author showed her growth as she learns from her mistakes and takes on the demon to save her granddaughter. Gracelynn is however kinder as she has seen the darkness hidden inside a man from a young age and knows to be wary of all men. There are elements of LGBTQ romances in both timelines and a considerable number of characters and subplots in the story that tend to confuse the reader a bit. And even though the overlapping becomes clearer towards the end, I wish there was a clear demarcation of Gracelynn and Diedre’s thought process that would have helped to keep the timeline separate. Sometimes the emotions conveyed by both women are so similar that I had to return and check if I am reading about Deidre or Gracelynn and the only reason why I am going with 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Dual timelines with witches and an evil demon were enough to get me excited to get into the book. And for the most part, the author has done excellent work, taking the reader thru a fictional town called Tin Mountain and the curse that exists in the land from the burning of a witch called Annaliese. The journey then takes us thru two timelines, Dierdre in 1881 and Gracelynn in 1931 where the women in both eras must fight against more than poverty to live life on their terms.
Paulette Kennedy captures the imagination of the reader with some flawless writing. Tin Mountain was a picture in my eyes easy to imagine with its set of small minded people and their prejudices, asking for help from the witches but afraid to declare to the world. The spooky atmosphere of the hollow and the paranormal elements with visions adds to the chilling scenario even though the author carefully controls her tale without veering towards horror.
Dierdre is characterized as wilful and headstrong initially and I loved how the author showed her growth as she learns from her mistakes and takes on the demon to save her granddaughter. Gracelynn is however kinder as she has seen the darkness hidden inside a man from a young age and knows to be wary of all men. There are elements of LGBTQ romances in both timelines and a considerable number of characters and subplots in the story that tend to confuse the reader a bit. And even though the overlapping becomes clearer towards the end, I wish there was a clear demarcation of Gracelynn and Diedre’s thought process that would have helped to keep the timeline separate. Sometimes the emotions conveyed by both women are so similar that I had to return and check if I am reading about Deidre or Gracelynn and the only reason why I am going with 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
July 27, 2022
Hauntingly atmospheric and crackling with life, THE WITCH OF TIN MOUNTAIN is an unforgettable story of family, magic, love, hypocrisy, and the power—for good or evil—we all carry with us. The richly painted Ozark setting leaps from the page, and all three interlaced storylines are captivating, heartbreaking, and triumphant in equal measure. I inhaled this book in two days. Witchy readers won't want to miss it.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC for review!
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC for review!
February 17, 2025
Goodness gracious almighty 😭 I LOVED this book!!!
If it was possible= 10 golden stars. One of the best novels I have ever read and I will reread it, more than likely several times. Amazing writing; this is by far my favorite Paulette Kennedy book I have read. She has easily become one of my favorite authors and this book screams why. Unexpected twists and turns, witchy but good-hearted, and full of so much love. SO good. 💓 Highly recommend!!!
If it was possible= 10 golden stars. One of the best novels I have ever read and I will reread it, more than likely several times. Amazing writing; this is by far my favorite Paulette Kennedy book I have read. She has easily become one of my favorite authors and this book screams why. Unexpected twists and turns, witchy but good-hearted, and full of so much love. SO good. 💓 Highly recommend!!!
July 21, 2022
Summary:
Gracelynn Doherty has special talents just like her Granny and she uses them to help make cures for the folk of Tin Mountain. Despite helping many a family, Gracelynn and her Granny are still treated with suspicion and as outcasts from the community. Though accusations of witchcraft are never far from folks’ minds, Gracelynn’s family, for the most part, live a peaceful life.
That is until the travelling preacher, Josiah Bellflower, comes to town with promises of healing both the people and the land. However, he is not what he seems and is old enemy come back to haunt Granny after 50 years. With his arrival comes a curse upon Tin Mountain and the pretending preacher swiftly turns the town against Gracelynn and her grandmother with his manipulative and cunning ways.
With Granny falling sick, it is up to Gracelynn to uncover the past and save not just herself but her family and the folks of Tin Mountain from Bellflower’s vengeance and deadly deceptions.
Thoughts:
Set in the Depression era, the story is gripping from the very start with a compelling story of mystery, peril and the supernatural. From the start, I was immersed in the world of Tin Mountain and it’s haunting atmosphere. The Ozark setting as well as being developed through the descriptive writing was built upon through the language and colloquialisms used, which I felt really gave it character and suited the story well.
The story is told through two points of view, Gracelynn Doherty’s story in first person in 1931 and Deirdre Werner’s in third person in 1981. I felt that by using a different perspective for each it made it easier to keep track of which character the story was focusing on and helped differentiate the points in time. The two timelines really aided to build the story and drew parallels between the events of the past and the present (of the book).
I thought it was cleverly done how the sections in the past gradually revealed secrets and history without ever giving too much away so that it would affect the impact of the mysteries and events in Gracelynn’s story. Both characters were engaging and likeable, and though they shared some similarities, I felt they were still distinct from each other in their thoughts and behaviour.
Kennedy created a haunting atmosphere throughout and tension that steadily increased as the story went on. There was a real sense of threat developed, in both timelines, as both characters struggled with deviance and machinations employed by Bellflower. There were also tender moments that provided a breathing space for the reader and a change of pace.
The story built up to the climatic events of the final chapters and whilst they were full of action, it never felt rushed. The ending itself felt satisfying and touching with the characters finally rewarded for all the battles they had to go through.
Overall:
I found The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy utterly enthralling and loved every minute of reading it. The characters with their secrets and struggles were engaging and the haunting atmosphere created just added to the feeling of suspense and tension. In fact, as you might have noticed, I could find nothing that I did not like or would change about this story, which is a rare thing indeed.
This is one of my top reads so far this year and I will definitely be recommending others to pick up this book up when it is released in December (in the UK).
Rating: 5/5
Gracelynn Doherty has special talents just like her Granny and she uses them to help make cures for the folk of Tin Mountain. Despite helping many a family, Gracelynn and her Granny are still treated with suspicion and as outcasts from the community. Though accusations of witchcraft are never far from folks’ minds, Gracelynn’s family, for the most part, live a peaceful life.
That is until the travelling preacher, Josiah Bellflower, comes to town with promises of healing both the people and the land. However, he is not what he seems and is old enemy come back to haunt Granny after 50 years. With his arrival comes a curse upon Tin Mountain and the pretending preacher swiftly turns the town against Gracelynn and her grandmother with his manipulative and cunning ways.
With Granny falling sick, it is up to Gracelynn to uncover the past and save not just herself but her family and the folks of Tin Mountain from Bellflower’s vengeance and deadly deceptions.
Thoughts:
Set in the Depression era, the story is gripping from the very start with a compelling story of mystery, peril and the supernatural. From the start, I was immersed in the world of Tin Mountain and it’s haunting atmosphere. The Ozark setting as well as being developed through the descriptive writing was built upon through the language and colloquialisms used, which I felt really gave it character and suited the story well.
The story is told through two points of view, Gracelynn Doherty’s story in first person in 1931 and Deirdre Werner’s in third person in 1981. I felt that by using a different perspective for each it made it easier to keep track of which character the story was focusing on and helped differentiate the points in time. The two timelines really aided to build the story and drew parallels between the events of the past and the present (of the book).
I thought it was cleverly done how the sections in the past gradually revealed secrets and history without ever giving too much away so that it would affect the impact of the mysteries and events in Gracelynn’s story. Both characters were engaging and likeable, and though they shared some similarities, I felt they were still distinct from each other in their thoughts and behaviour.
Kennedy created a haunting atmosphere throughout and tension that steadily increased as the story went on. There was a real sense of threat developed, in both timelines, as both characters struggled with deviance and machinations employed by Bellflower. There were also tender moments that provided a breathing space for the reader and a change of pace.
The story built up to the climatic events of the final chapters and whilst they were full of action, it never felt rushed. The ending itself felt satisfying and touching with the characters finally rewarded for all the battles they had to go through.
Overall:
I found The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy utterly enthralling and loved every minute of reading it. The characters with their secrets and struggles were engaging and the haunting atmosphere created just added to the feeling of suspense and tension. In fact, as you might have noticed, I could find nothing that I did not like or would change about this story, which is a rare thing indeed.
This is one of my top reads so far this year and I will definitely be recommending others to pick up this book up when it is released in December (in the UK).
Rating: 5/5
January 6, 2023
My oh my did I enjoy this! The Witch of Tin Mountain is a historical fiction novel that’s infused with magic and witchcraft.
Through dual timelines the story follows generations of witches who are forced to contend with an evil that has been haunting them for decades.
I was captivated from the very beginning by Paulette’s writing and all storylines of the women that interwove through.
It was the perfect cross between witchy folklore and creepy religious vibes.
It felt very folkloric and it was obvious to see Paulette’s love for the Ozarks shine through.
Overall the tone of the story is very dark and unsettling which was perfect.
Paulette has been kind enough to share some trigger warnings in advance. I will note these here.
Abuse in many forms, death and dying, substance abuse, self-harm, suicide and abortion.
Thank you so much to Paulette for gifting me an ARC of the Witch of Tin Mountain to read and review!
Through dual timelines the story follows generations of witches who are forced to contend with an evil that has been haunting them for decades.
I was captivated from the very beginning by Paulette’s writing and all storylines of the women that interwove through.
It was the perfect cross between witchy folklore and creepy religious vibes.
It felt very folkloric and it was obvious to see Paulette’s love for the Ozarks shine through.
Overall the tone of the story is very dark and unsettling which was perfect.
Paulette has been kind enough to share some trigger warnings in advance. I will note these here.
Abuse in many forms, death and dying, substance abuse, self-harm, suicide and abortion.
Thank you so much to Paulette for gifting me an ARC of the Witch of Tin Mountain to read and review!
March 17, 2023
DNF - 50%?
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy was a Bookstagram Made Me Do It and unfortunately ended up being a huge miss for me. I got the audiobook through Kindle Unlimited and while I loved the narrators, they sounded rather similar, and the stories of our 2 MC's were also so similar that it ended up being hard to follow along with the story. Maybe it would have been better if I had read it, but the plot wasn't what I had expected and there was barely anything happening. For that reason, I just couldn't get interested enough to care what was going on and ended up at a DNF.
Would still recommend if it sounds good to you though as clearly, I am in the minority here.
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy was a Bookstagram Made Me Do It and unfortunately ended up being a huge miss for me. I got the audiobook through Kindle Unlimited and while I loved the narrators, they sounded rather similar, and the stories of our 2 MC's were also so similar that it ended up being hard to follow along with the story. Maybe it would have been better if I had read it, but the plot wasn't what I had expected and there was barely anything happening. For that reason, I just couldn't get interested enough to care what was going on and ended up at a DNF.
Would still recommend if it sounds good to you though as clearly, I am in the minority here.
November 26, 2023
This was everything I love in a historical witchy gothic novel. The story unfolds over two points of view - one in 1881 and the other 1931. I did have to pay attention to whose chapter I was reading as the two points of view and main characters were quite similar, however this is part of the plot of the women and it's clear at the end why it was told like this.
The novel also focuses on same sex relationships during each time period and weaves in superstitions, folklore and healing magic as the plot of the charming preacher who bewitches the village unfolds.
This novel packs a lot into it, it was very emotive and the lives of the two main women were full of love, hardship, love and grief.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author.
The novel also focuses on same sex relationships during each time period and weaves in superstitions, folklore and healing magic as the plot of the charming preacher who bewitches the village unfolds.
This novel packs a lot into it, it was very emotive and the lives of the two main women were full of love, hardship, love and grief.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author.
October 2, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
There is a lot to like about The Witch of Tin Mountain. Generations of witches in neverending conflict with a shadowy demon with strong powers and a dark obsession; right up my alley and pretty much everything I'm looking for in a book.
"What is the difference between good and evil? Truly? It's all a matter of perception. Every bit of it. Wars. Plagues. Famine. Saints and sinners. Angels and demons."
Even though the two storylines took place fifty years apart, I really struggled to keep them straight. The characters were going through the same problems, and it would take pages before I could sort out which one I was reading about. It should not have been as difficult as it was for me, so I may be a distracted reader, but every time I came back to the book, it took longer than I should have to orient myself back into the story.
The Witch of Tin Mountain definitely got better as it went. The narrative picked up as Deirdre and Gracelynn figured out what was going on and started to form plans and take action. There were some strange moments... But there was a clear direction, and even though you knew what was coming, the journey was interesting.
There are a lot of side characters and plots that come and go seemingly at random and some plot holes to overlook, but I enjoyed the main characters and their journeys and how everything came together in the end. It might have been a little messy, but we got there.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
There is a lot to like about The Witch of Tin Mountain. Generations of witches in neverending conflict with a shadowy demon with strong powers and a dark obsession; right up my alley and pretty much everything I'm looking for in a book.
"What is the difference between good and evil? Truly? It's all a matter of perception. Every bit of it. Wars. Plagues. Famine. Saints and sinners. Angels and demons."
Even though the two storylines took place fifty years apart, I really struggled to keep them straight. The characters were going through the same problems, and it would take pages before I could sort out which one I was reading about. It should not have been as difficult as it was for me, so I may be a distracted reader, but every time I came back to the book, it took longer than I should have to orient myself back into the story.
The Witch of Tin Mountain definitely got better as it went. The narrative picked up as Deirdre and Gracelynn figured out what was going on and started to form plans and take action. There were some strange moments... But there was a clear direction, and even though you knew what was coming, the journey was interesting.
There are a lot of side characters and plots that come and go seemingly at random and some plot holes to overlook, but I enjoyed the main characters and their journeys and how everything came together in the end. It might have been a little messy, but we got there.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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October 2, 2024
Good story, I loved the passed down family heritage loving feel of the book. I didn’t quite like all of the jumping back and forth in timelines, but I understand why it was written that way. Some parts of the book really hit home for me and I am sure a lot of people can relate. When she said that it is Surreal how everything kept on, kept on going after someone died - Shouldn’t time stop for grief even for a moment, so one might catch their breath before things started moving again. Anyone who has lost someone or has had any sort of life shattering event knows how you are paused and emotional as the world still whips by around you and you are just expected to instantly move on. I Also loved the line of how Being a woman is not always an easy thing and one must find peace and happiness whenever and wherever she can. Sadly, this line also hit my heart, “Babies die for all sorts of reasons,that is just life…”
I enjoyed the book and would say it is a good read.
I enjoyed the book and would say it is a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2022
5 stars
Paulette Kennedy's The Witch Of Tin Moutain brings us a haunting tale of three powerful witches who are being chased by an evil spirit, spanning centuries. Kennedy crafts a detailed work of art by writing in two different points of view: Gracelynn (1900s, 1st person) and Deirdre (1800s, 3rd person).
This is my first foray into the magic realm and LGBTQIA (mostly f/f). I'm pleasantly surprised how well I enjoyed this book. Romance is sprinkled here and there but it isn't the front runner of the story. I was startled at first by the different points of view (1st and 3rd) but it really adds to the story as a whole, being able to get a glimpse of what the witches thoughts were and how they entertwine. The evil spirit is cunning and seductive which adds to the story, making it exciting.
I'm getting a slight book hangover (its so good) from this, so I shall search for her other book. Her writing is amazing! Happy reading! Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Paulette Kennedy's The Witch Of Tin Moutain brings us a haunting tale of three powerful witches who are being chased by an evil spirit, spanning centuries. Kennedy crafts a detailed work of art by writing in two different points of view: Gracelynn (1900s, 1st person) and Deirdre (1800s, 3rd person).
This is my first foray into the magic realm and LGBTQIA (mostly f/f). I'm pleasantly surprised how well I enjoyed this book. Romance is sprinkled here and there but it isn't the front runner of the story. I was startled at first by the different points of view (1st and 3rd) but it really adds to the story as a whole, being able to get a glimpse of what the witches thoughts were and how they entertwine. The evil spirit is cunning and seductive which adds to the story, making it exciting.
I'm getting a slight book hangover (its so good) from this, so I shall search for her other book. Her writing is amazing! Happy reading! Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2023
Paulette Kennedy’s The Witch of Tin Mountain cleverly interweaves the threads of three generations of women, and what starts as a quiet, simmering horror turns into a bubbling and brewing revenge against an insidious returning evil.
I knew from Anneliese’s opening chapter that I was going to inhale this book. A witch burns, but her story’s not over, it continues through her descendants, and the promise of revenge had me by the throat.
The Ozarkian setting leaps off the page — it’s so clear how much heart and soul went into writing it. I love how the author uses nature and weather to create tension — so many subtle things that just gave me the chills. The land remembers and knows something’s wrong and the reader can’t ignore it.
On Anneliese, Deirdre, and Gracelynn: you can try and take their power away but it will haunt you. Their stories include such important and still relevant to today themes of bodily autonomy and choice.
If you’re a reader that likes hope at the end of your horror novels, there’s plenty of it here, which was so refreshing to see. This book is about three generations of women overcoming an evil that stalks their bloodline, so while there’s a smattering of romance and heartache throughout their stories, this book is not romance, AND YET, (SPOILERS:) I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to see how many of the characters still get happily ever afters anyways <3
Author includes content warnings at the front of the book.
Thank you Paulette Kennedy and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
I knew from Anneliese’s opening chapter that I was going to inhale this book. A witch burns, but her story’s not over, it continues through her descendants, and the promise of revenge had me by the throat.
The Ozarkian setting leaps off the page — it’s so clear how much heart and soul went into writing it. I love how the author uses nature and weather to create tension — so many subtle things that just gave me the chills. The land remembers and knows something’s wrong and the reader can’t ignore it.
On Anneliese, Deirdre, and Gracelynn: you can try and take their power away but it will haunt you. Their stories include such important and still relevant to today themes of bodily autonomy and choice.
If you’re a reader that likes hope at the end of your horror novels, there’s plenty of it here, which was so refreshing to see. This book is about three generations of women overcoming an evil that stalks their bloodline, so while there’s a smattering of romance and heartache throughout their stories, this book is not romance, AND YET, (SPOILERS:) I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to see how many of the characters still get happily ever afters anyways <3
Author includes content warnings at the front of the book.
Thank you Paulette Kennedy and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
March 17, 2023
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I enjoyed this book based on the fact that it felt different to other witchcraft stories I have read. Once again, I liked the historical element and the depiction of America in both the 1880s and the 1930s. However, I did find the story quite slow to get started and I struggled to differentiate between the two time periods.
I enjoyed this book based on the fact that it felt different to other witchcraft stories I have read. Once again, I liked the historical element and the depiction of America in both the 1880s and the 1930s. However, I did find the story quite slow to get started and I struggled to differentiate between the two time periods.
December 19, 2024
I’m a sucker for anything set in Appalachia, so I thought this would be a light read during the busy holiday time.
I’ve never liked bouncing back and forth in time, which this book does with alternating POV’s in 1831, 1881, and 1931. And. It was just a little…silly. For me. This might be great for fans of the old tv series “Charmed” or anything similar. DNF at 30%.
I’ve never liked bouncing back and forth in time, which this book does with alternating POV’s in 1831, 1881, and 1931. And. It was just a little…silly. For me. This might be great for fans of the old tv series “Charmed” or anything similar. DNF at 30%.
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