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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually am not one to enjoy a book more geared in the land of fantasy but I did find this one to grab my attention. Overall I think this is due to the fact that it focused on the oppression of women and those in the LGTBQIA2S+. Toward the end it did feela bit preachy and I think the author noticed this and clarified that it wasn't a "hate men" book and instead focused on the oppression of others and minorities. Love scenes were not crazy spicy but emotionally sweet and sexy. The writing was clear and easy to follow and I enjoyed the time line in the back for reference.
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5/5 ✨
First and foremost I want to say how thankful I am to the author and publisher to have received the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful opportunity.
“The Last Witch in Edinburgh” by Marielle Thompson was not my typical read. I think I saw “witch” and instantly thought of Manon Blackbeak or the witches from fantasy novels with spells and powers. This was not that type of witch.
This is advertised as a “gothic fiction” but I’d almost venture to call it a historical fiction. This has several elements that are based off of very real events and expresses the hardships of being a woman, LGBT+, and having a voice. I think Marielle almost hammers on it a bit too much, making it annoyingly repetitive the first 120 pages. A special quirk of mine being how often she talks of the pain of being beautiful. Thankfully, the book does progress to actually have more plot around 130 pages in.
Nellie, the main character, carries a very scared tone almost the entirety of the book which was difficult for me to read. Thankfully, it changes towards the end, but it is very grating even though it’s true to the characters feelings. I don’t personally like “weak women” in my books and that’s entirely what she was for the largest portion of it.
The story follows a girl trying to hold her household together with no mother, a drunk for a father, and a little brother to care for. Nellie is described is immensely beautiful and often thinks on how much of a hindrance it is. She is trying to survive in a city where just being a woman and upsetting someone can end up with a noose around your neck. She finds a group of women, witches, and starts to figure out that maybe her life is more than it’s presented… or, maybe it’s not.
Despite my irks about this book, I do admire it for how it was written and how some sentences were quite beautiful. I enjoyed the notes at the back that helped me appreciate the book more, like explaining the real events that inspired parts of the book and the real folklore origins. The author also put a lot of herself in this book, and I have to appreciate that, too.
It feels very political, and if you like that and like LGBT+ representation, this is your book!
First and foremost I want to say how thankful I am to the author and publisher to have received the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful opportunity.
“The Last Witch in Edinburgh” by Marielle Thompson was not my typical read. I think I saw “witch” and instantly thought of Manon Blackbeak or the witches from fantasy novels with spells and powers. This was not that type of witch.
This is advertised as a “gothic fiction” but I’d almost venture to call it a historical fiction. This has several elements that are based off of very real events and expresses the hardships of being a woman, LGBT+, and having a voice. I think Marielle almost hammers on it a bit too much, making it annoyingly repetitive the first 120 pages. A special quirk of mine being how often she talks of the pain of being beautiful. Thankfully, the book does progress to actually have more plot around 130 pages in.
Nellie, the main character, carries a very scared tone almost the entirety of the book which was difficult for me to read. Thankfully, it changes towards the end, but it is very grating even though it’s true to the characters feelings. I don’t personally like “weak women” in my books and that’s entirely what she was for the largest portion of it.
The story follows a girl trying to hold her household together with no mother, a drunk for a father, and a little brother to care for. Nellie is described is immensely beautiful and often thinks on how much of a hindrance it is. She is trying to survive in a city where just being a woman and upsetting someone can end up with a noose around your neck. She finds a group of women, witches, and starts to figure out that maybe her life is more than it’s presented… or, maybe it’s not.
Despite my irks about this book, I do admire it for how it was written and how some sentences were quite beautiful. I enjoyed the notes at the back that helped me appreciate the book more, like explaining the real events that inspired parts of the book and the real folklore origins. The author also put a lot of herself in this book, and I have to appreciate that, too.
It feels very political, and if you like that and like LGBT+ representation, this is your book!
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is incredible.
A commentary on patriarchy and the witch hunt set in a classic Greek story.
Readers will find Queer joy and representation amongst the needed fight for feminism against growing violence of patriarchy as well as an artful metaphor with climate change.
This book inspires me to push back against the current hateful political regime in the states while affirming that strong, queer, femine voices permeate history. AND feminine and gender minorities are not alone. That there are masculine voices who disagree with the prevailing tide and will pick up the fight along side.
You are not alone.
A commentary on patriarchy and the witch hunt set in a classic Greek story.
Readers will find Queer joy and representation amongst the needed fight for feminism against growing violence of patriarchy as well as an artful metaphor with climate change.
This book inspires me to push back against the current hateful political regime in the states while affirming that strong, queer, femine voices permeate history. AND feminine and gender minorities are not alone. That there are masculine voices who disagree with the prevailing tide and will pick up the fight along side.
You are not alone.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was enjoying the first half of this book as a sapphic historical fiction, and especially enjoyed the audiobook narration. Then the wheels seemed to fall off the cart! There was not enough character or plot development, and the final chapters had me groaning and rolling my eyes at both the “villain” and the way the characters apparently defeat him with feminist vibes. It’s 2025, and I suppose I’m just feeling too cynical for this story.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This had a lot of potential and some good story elements but there was a bit too much telling instead of showing. Specifically the “not all men” segment, when the author could have just included a good and helpful man as a side character. Ultimately, the vibes were off with this one and it was just okay. Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator has a lovely voice when speaking as all the Scottish characters (because she’s Scottish) but cannot do an American accent to the point that I wish she hadn’t tried to. So perhaps better read in ebook or physical format.