Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Alice Molland has been studying under Goodwife Luscombe for months, learning to treat the ailments of townspeople and craft healing remedies from the plants and flowers growing just beyond their doorsteps. However, when one of Goody Luscombe’s patients dies, Alice finds herself among the crowd gathered to witness her mentor’s execution for witchcraft. Faced with this devastating loss, Alice must decide whether to continue her mentor’s work—or risk meeting the same fate herself.
In her debut work of fiction, The Making of a Witch, Judy Molland delivers a compelling and richly detailed historical narrative. Drawing inspiration from a familial connection to the protagonist, Molland explores the gender and class biases that shaped life in seventeenth-century England. Through vivid descriptions of authentic remedies and rituals, the story immerses readers in a time before modern medicine, when broken bones were diagnosed by touch and fevers treated with herbs like rosemary and sage. The novel thoughtfully examines the risks associated with healing practices in this era, particularly for women of lower social standing, while also highlighting the strength of familial bonds and the consequences of misplaced trust.
I give The Making of a Witch 4 out of 5 stars. From a historical fiction standpoint, the novel is engaging and well-researched, especially in its depiction of medicinal practices and the tension between tradition and progress. However, I often felt an emotional disconnect from Alice, as though key aspects of her character and motivations were not fully explored. This sense of distance extended to her mother and sister, leaving some of their decisions difficult to fully understand.
Similarly, when Alice moves in with extended family, their willingness to take such significant risks on her behalf feels underdeveloped and somewhat implausible given the dangers they face. While the chapter lengths are manageable and the pacing generally steady, some place names and herbal ingredients proved difficult to pronounce, occasionally interrupting the reading flow. Additionally, several plot developments are foreshadowed too heavily, reducing their impact—for example, Alice and her father’s curfew violation, her encounter at the pond, and the events surrounding her cousin’s wedding. The repeated references to Goody Luscombe’s execution also become somewhat redundant over time.
Despite these criticisms, the novel offers a unique and worthwhile perspective on a coming-of-age story set in a turbulent historical period, told through the lens of a young woman navigating both societal expectations and personal danger. This angle, in particular, adds depth and originality to the narrative.
With death, assault, and discussions of off-page sexual assaults, this book would be best suited for readers over the age of 13. Readers who enjoy Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series, particularly Magic Lessons. I would also recommend this book to readers who are looking to learn more about how natural remedies began and were used before modern medicines were developed, or anyone who enjoys fiction set around the courts of Oliver Cromwell or Charles II.
The Making of a Witch will release on June 9th. You can preorder your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!
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