Thank you Libro.fm / Harlequin Audio for the ALC and Angela Books PR, #partner, for the advanced copy of A Time of Witches in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Hanover Square Press / Harlequin Audio
Published: September 1, 2026
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.
My thoughts:
I was fortunate to see Madeline Martin this past February at the Savannah Book Festival, and she spoke a little about this book and I just knew I had to read it. And it did not disappoint! This was the kickoff to my witchy reads and one that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
I loved the vibes that come across in this book – strong, resilient women are always a win for me and we get that here in spades! The dual timeline had me completely hooked and I was equally invested in both timelines – I never wanted to switch when it came time to, but at the same time, I was always eager to get back to the other, if that makes sense.
I have always been fascinated with the witch trials, and I loved how the author works that into this book. It’s so clear that she did her research here, though I haven’t read a book by her where she hasn’t. But even the present-day timeline had my attention – again, as I mentioned, I saw Madeline in Savannah, so that part of the story came alive to me and actually has me itching to go back and revisit through the eyes of Lilith. That might be happening quite soon!
I cannot recommend this book enough. It hits all the boxes for the type of read I was craving – an engaging historical read, some witchy vibes, a little hint of magic and a book I just couldn’t put down!
Audio thoughts:
While I did have the print copy, once I saw that Saskia Maarleveld was narrating this, I had to listen and what a treat that was! She did an amazing job, giving each character their own voice and infusing just the right emotion, tension and even accents into her voice as needed. It was perfection!
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