A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: September 1, 2026

After losing her mother, Lilith Legare feels unmoored, but the strange signs around her—her dreams, her birthmark, and her growing connection to the natural world—make her search for answers feel urgent and deeply personal. I loved watching her move from confusion into strength as she uncovered the truth about her ancestry and began to understand the power that had always been part of her. Her chapters had a mystery-adventure energy that kept the story moving, and I found myself rooting for her as she claimed her voice and stepped into her own identity.

Sybil’s timeline was the most heartbreaking and powerful part of the book for me. As an educated, independent (widowed) woman in 1645 Suffolk, she becomes a target simply because her knowledge, status, and resilience threaten the men around her. The horrors of the witch trials are written with such intensity that her chapters are difficult to read at times, but they are also impossible to look away from. Sybil’s strength, fear, love for her sister, and determination to protect those around her made her feel incredibly real, and her story carried so much emotional weight.

Overall, I thought this dual-timeline story was a beautifully written and deeply affecting historical fiction novel. Madeline Martin’s writing is strong, atmospheric, and full of feeling, balancing the magic and mystery with the very real brutality of the witch trials. I was also impressed by the secondary characters, who added warmth, tension, loyalty, and complexity to both timelines. Lilith’s storyline pulled me in as a journey of grief, discovery, and self-trust and Sybil’s story eviscerated me; the pain, loss and ultimate redemption gave me a reading experience I have never had and holding me in thrall until the very last page. This book stirred up so many emotions for me—anger, sadness, hope, and admiration—and even when the subject matter was painful, I felt completely invested in the women at the heart of the story. Highly recommended.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *