A Time of Witches ⭐⭐⭐💫

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin


G👀dreads About Summary

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, Magical Realism

The How/Why: I'm going to assume SM since it was just published 9-1-2026. Plus it's spooky season. I must get on with my Witch List.

⭐⭐⭐💫  

🎉🎊 Overall Storytelling? 

  • Setting the stage. Atmosphere, Vibe 🎉🎉🎉🎉
  • Likeable Characters: Protagonist, Supporting Cast, Extras 🎉🎉🎉🎉
  • Unlikeable Antagonist 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
  • Executing the premise 🎉🎉🎉🎊
  • Lives up to the promise 🎉🎉🎉🎊

🎣🎏 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎏

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe 🤷 

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author?  Maybe 🤷 

⚠️💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? T0rturɇ & ImƤriŞ0nment, Vi0lɇncɇ, MiŞoǥyny, Ǥriɇf & DɇaṪh of a Parent.
T&V said to be more atmospheric dread than gore. 

🌶️🫑Spice? No

 🌪 Plot Twist? No

 👟 Pace? Pretty good

 💻 Tidbits ~ Dedication: "For those of us who still believe in quiet magic there is a little witch in all of us."

Character Cheat Sheet:

1645 Suffolk, England
Sybil: Main protagonist. Wealthy, highly educated widow who becomes a prime target for the men in her town.
Magistrate Robert Walsingham: A powerful local suitor who targets Sybil out of spite, working alongside the real-life Witchfinder General. He ties to Asher in the modern day timeline. 
Matthew Hopkins: The historical, real-life "Witchfinder General", on a mission to hunt down, torture, and execute accused women.
Jacinda: Sybil's younger sister, she tries to shield and protect from the mounting hysteria.
Thomas: A sympathetic vicar who tries to help Sybil. 

Modern Day Savannah, GA to England
Lilith: Modern-day protagonist. Grieving the loss of her mother, experiencing unexplainable magical occurrences and memories of a witch trial.
Cora: Lilith's deceased mother whose secrets and hidden journals drive Lilith's journey to England.
Asher: Eccentric, reclusive owner of the decaying Brackenmere Manor Estate who holds the final pieces of her family lineage.
Aunt Jacqueline: Asher's elderly aunt and B&B host. She helps bridge the present day with the events of 1645.

In a nutshell: In modern day Lilith must find a way to save Sybil from being burned at the stake in 1645. If she fails, their bloodline would end with Sybil and Lilith will cease to exist.

It’s not listed as time travel but it’s time travel. It wears the mask of Magical Realism and Historical Fantasy. A magical plot device is a magical plot device - 
to-may-toe/ta-mah-toe.

Lilith has to uncover her ancestral secrets with no time to spare. Sybil is on “trial” for being a witch and no amount of torture will force a confession to crimes she didn’t commit. Lilith is already fading away.
It was a slow burn race against time.

Breaking the Rules: Culturally and Historically we are always told "you cannot change the past, you can only change yourself". Will the author boldly challenge that rule? Can Lilith save Sybil which would ultimately rewrite her ancestry?  

Favorite Character: The fortune teller Lilith goes to in the beginning when she still doesn't believe in magic. 

Favorite Quotes:
"Look to your past. The answers of the present are always in the past."

"What we write for our heart is not always read kindly by the world."

⚠️Check trigger warnings. The torture is said to be more atmospheric dread than gore. It was still pretty horrific. The psychological weight of these women who were starved, confined, and disgraced in an effort to make them confess to being witches was hard to bear.

🎧 Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld - Always fabulous! 

🎧8.45 hours (Listened on: Hoopla) 🕮 384 pages

Not from the book 
but this is always my question!

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