The Witch's Tree by Elena Collins - Book Review

The Witch's Tree by Elena Collins

Publication Date: 17th May 2022

Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Dual Timeline, Social Drama 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A slow start but worth it 

PC: Visual shared by the publishing house

Present Day: 

Selena decides to take a break and move to the countryside and recover from heartbreak. She chooses Sloe Cottage in the Somerset village of Ashcombe and is determined to heal and paint to her heart’s content. Her friend and business partner, Claire, encourages her to go ahead with the plan. Their business is doing well, and the duo can make more if Selena can paint during her stay at the cottage. 

Sloe Cottage is beautiful, though the original part feels cold no matter what. Selena tentatively makes friends with the locals while finishing a series of paintings. However, she cannot get over the feeling of sadness in the cottage. She starts to research the history of the place and the cottage, only to uncover some shocking incidents. 

Somerset, 1682: 

Grace Cotter is quite content taking care of her father and learning from Betty, her grandmother. Her herb garden, the blackthorn tree, and the wishing well keep her happy. There’s just one thing she wants to have a happier life. 

But hopes, dreams, and longing for a happy ever after are dangerous in times when superstitions rule the land. A single word or whisper could brand someone a witch and get them killed. Grace does her best to remain hopeful and kind. But when things take a turn for worse, she might lose everything… 

With more than three hundred years between the times, Grace and Selena are bound by an invisible thread. They need to heal and move on. Can Selena get another chance at love? Can Grace’s restless spirit be free from the bonds that tie her down? How do these women help each other? 

My Observations: 

• The book starts slow but picks up pace in the second half. The prologue and epilogue fit like a glove. I love how the author used them. 

• The writing is descriptive and atmospheric (a reason for the slow beginning) but covers a good amount of time from start to finish.

• I confess I didn’t like Selena at the beginning. She seemed too naïve and passive for a 38-year-old woman with a good career. But her character arc improved and got better as the story progressed.  

• The side characters (in the present-day track) are lively and bring much-needed positivity to the storyline. The cottage itself is a character, just like the blackthorn tree. 

• As with most dual timelines, I love the past track more than the present. Grace is a beautiful character. Her innocence suits her, given the timeline and age. 

• The past track effectively showed how gossip and rumors can take a life, and malice, more often than not, is the root cause. 

• The touch of paranormal blends seamlessly with the atmosphere in the book. 

• The prejudice against healers and women and the subsequent witch trials are well presented in the book. Except for the climax scene, the rest of it is not graphic or overwhelming. Even the climax manages to keep things from going OTT. 

To sum up, The Witch’s Tree is a beautiful and bittersweet story of Grace and Selena, connected through the expanse of time. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC.  

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