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.
This is my first book by Madeline Martin, although I’ve seen her books around Bookstagram. I knew I had to grab this one because I love witchy stories, and the fact that it’s narrated by one of my favourite narrators, Saskia Maarleveld, made me sold! I’m glad I did because this is much more fast-paced than the typical dual-timeline historical fiction I’ve read, and I thought the length was perfect for the story. The book has two strong-willed, complex female protagonists—Lilith in the present and Sybil in 1645—whose stories are connected in ways that become clearer as the book unfolds. The story explores female power, generational trauma, the silencing of women, and betrayal in some pretty powerful ways.
The story is told in third-person POV, primarily following Lilith in the present and Sybil in the 1645 timeline. It gets off to a dramatic start with Lilith experiencing terrifying recurring dreams that send her to a fortune teller, who tells her that she must save the woman in her dream, Sybil, a woman burned alive in 1645, to save herself from no longer existing. From there, Lilith investigates her family history and connection to Sybil, taking her to England and Brackenmere Manor, where the story really takes off. I loved how quickly the mystery unfolds once she arrives there, especially as she almost immediately crosses time and space boundaries and sees the manor in 1645.
The 1645 timeline is so compelling because it brings the real-life English witch trials into the story. The author incorporates real historical events and figures into the narrative, and you can feel the amount of research she put into the book. Sybil is such a strong-willed and compelling character, ahead of her time. She’s an educated, wealthy widow who refuses to conform to what the men expect of her, and she comes from a line of women connected to the “power of the Earth.” Her younger sister, Jacinda, has a wild and difficult-to-control power that requires her to wear a bracelet to contain it. As the witch trials begin, Sybil is caught in circumstances that are completely out of her control and is accused of witchcraft under corrupt and heartbreaking circumstances. The scenes involving the prisoners and the interrogations were difficult to read at times and made me angry several times. The author did a great job of showing how vulnerable these women were, how little control they had over their own fate, and how the men in positions of authority manipulated circumstances. Truly heartbreaking!!
Lilith’s connection to Sybil is the heart of the story, and I enjoyed watching her slowly understand what her dreams and visions mean. Once Lilith begins seeing the past inside the manor, the story becomes even more immersive, as she begins interacting with someone who can help her change history.
The chapters are short, with lots of action and compelling dialogue, and I was able to binge this in a day. The audiobook is just under 9 hours (384 pages), and I found the pacing refreshing for a historical read. I think that combination of historical fiction and supernatural mystery, along with a faster pace, will make this appeal to a much wider range of readers than just historical fiction or witchy fans. And with spooky season right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to add this one to your TBR.
I did manage to predict the major twist, but there were smaller reveals that surprised me, and I enjoyed watching everything unfold. Lilith’s story can be read as a metaphor for generational trauma and inherited silence—and for breaking that cycle by reclaiming the voices, power, and history that previous generations of women were forced to surrender.
I also HIGHLY recommend reading/listening to the author’s note after finishing. Martin explains how the story was inspired by recurring dreams she had as a teenager and how the idea stayed with her for a long time before she wrote the book. She also talks about the extensive research she did into the English witch trials, her trips to England and Savannah, and the real historical figures and events that inspired the story. So cool and interesting!!
And if you’re an audiobook listener, definitely grab this one on audio! Saskia Maarleveld was phenomenal. Her pacing was spot on throughout, and I loved the variety of character voices, accents, and levels of intensity she delivered. Her performance made this much more bingeable than it would have been for me in physical format.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys witchy stories, historical events woven into fiction, strong female characters, and dual-timeline stories that cross the boundaries of time and space! Don’t hesitate if any of this resonates with you!
Narrator Performance
A Time of Witches is read by award-winning powerhouse narrator Saskia Maarleveld.
Maarleveld pulled me right into the story from the opening chapter, with her haunting delivery of Lilith having a terrifying recurring dream where she’s being burned alive. Once Lilith starts digging into the meaning behind her dream and visits a fortune teller, Maarleveld does a great job conveying Lilith’s growing sense of curiosity and urgency. You can hear the wheels turning in Lilith’s mind as she tries to figure out who the woman in her dreams is and what she has to do with her life. Then, when Lilith travels to England and arrives at Brackenmere Manor, Maarleveld shifts to more mysterious, atmospheric vibes. Lilith’s interactions with Asher, who manages the manor with his aunt Jacqueline, are engaging, and you can sense the chemistry between them.
One of my favorite parts of the performance was the way Maarleveld narrated Lilith crossing the barrier between the present and the 1645 timeline. During those scenes, I felt right there with Lilith as she watched fragments of the past unfold around her. Her interactions with Jacinda from 1645 are very compelling, as you can hear the confusion, wonder, and growing concern between them as they slowly realize that they have to work together to save Sybil.
There are a lot of characters, particularly in the 1645 timeline, and Maarleveld gives everyone distinct voices and accents appropriate for the time periods. Sybil’s scenes while she is incarcerated are narrated with a lot of emotional intensity. Her interactions with Edith and other prisoners are very believable, while the scenes between Sybil and Matthew Hopkins, who relentlessly interrogates her, made me infuriated. You can hear Sybil’s exhaustion while she desperately tries to answer his never-ending questions and he tries to break her down. Maarleveld does a brilliant job capturing how strong-willed, resilient, and determined Sybil is.
A major highlight for me comes toward the end, when Lilith, Jacqueline, and Asher make their way into Honeysuckle Grove to try to change Sybil’s fate. Maarleveld’s performance kept me on edge, and the scenes that follow in the 1645 timeline are narrated with urgency and emotion, making the whole sequence of events feel cinematic.
Overall, Saskia Maarleveld really elevates this story. Her character voices, emotional range, accents, timing, and pacing made this a very immersive listen. If you’re considering reading this or if you’ve enjoyed Madeline Martin’s books before, I HIGHLY recommend picking this up on audio. Maarleveld absolutely deserves all the stars for her performance!
Narrator Performance
A Time of Witches is read by award-winning powerhouse narrator Saskia Maarleveld.
Maarleveld pulled me right into the story from the opening chapter, with her haunting delivery of Lilith having a terrifying recurring dream where she’s being burned alive. Once Lilith starts digging into the meaning behind her dream and visits a fortune teller, Maarleveld does a great job conveying Lilith’s growing sense of curiosity and urgency. You can hear the wheels turning in Lilith’s mind as she tries to figure out who the woman in her dreams is and what she has to do with her life. Then, when Lilith travels to England and arrives at Brackenmere Manor, Maarleveld shifts to more mysterious, atmospheric vibes. Lilith’s interactions with Asher, who manages the manor with his aunt Jacqueline, are engaging, and you can sense the chemistry between them.
One of my favorite parts of the performance was the way Maarleveld narrated Lilith crossing the barrier between the present and the 1645 timeline. During those scenes, I felt right there with Lilith as she watched fragments of the past unfold around her. Her interactions with Jacinda from 1645 are very compelling, as you can hear the confusion, wonder, and growing concern between them as they slowly realize that they have to work together to save Sybil.
There are a lot of characters, particularly in the 1645 timeline, and Maarleveld gives everyone distinct voices and accents appropriate for the time periods. Sybil’s scenes while she is incarcerated are narrated with a lot of emotional intensity. Her interactions with Edith and other prisoners are very believable, while the scenes between Sybil and Matthew Hopkins, who relentlessly interrogates her, made me infuriated. You can hear Sybil’s exhaustion while she desperately tries to answer his never-ending questions and he tries to break her down. Maarleveld does a brilliant job capturing how strong-willed, resilient, and determined Sybil is.
A major highlight for me comes toward the end, when Lilith, Jacqueline, and Asher make their way into Honeysuckle Grove to try to change Sybil’s fate. Maarleveld’s performance kept me on edge, and the scenes that follow in the 1645 timeline are narrated with urgency and emotion, making the whole sequence of events feel cinematic.
Overall, Saskia Maarleveld really elevates this story. Her character voices, emotional range, accents, timing, and pacing made this a very immersive listen. If you’re considering reading this or if you’ve enjoyed Madeline Martin’s books before, I HIGHLY recommend picking this up on audio. Maarleveld absolutely deserves all the stars for her performance!
A Time of Witches is read by award-winning powerhouse narrator Saskia Maarleveld.
Maarleveld pulled me right into the story from the opening chapter, with her haunting delivery of Lilith having a terrifying recurring dream where she’s being burned alive. Once Lilith starts digging into the meaning behind her dream and visits a fortune teller, Maarleveld does a great job conveying Lilith’s growing sense of curiosity and urgency. You can hear the wheels turning in Lilith’s mind as she tries to figure out who the woman in her dreams is and what she has to do with her life. Then, when Lilith travels to England and arrives at Brackenmere Manor, Maarleveld shifts to more mysterious, atmospheric vibes. Lilith’s interactions with Asher, who manages the manor with his aunt Jacqueline, are engaging, and you can sense the chemistry between them.
One of my favorite parts of the performance was the way Maarleveld narrated Lilith crossing the barrier between the present and the 1645 timeline. During those scenes, I felt right there with Lilith as she watched fragments of the past unfold around her. Her interactions with Jacinda from 1645 are very compelling, as you can hear the confusion, wonder, and growing concern between them as they slowly realize that they have to work together to save Sybil.
There are a lot of characters, particularly in the 1645 timeline, and Maarleveld gives everyone distinct voices and accents appropriate for the time periods. Sybil’s scenes while she is incarcerated are narrated with a lot of emotional intensity. Her interactions with Edith and other prisoners are very believable, while the scenes between Sybil and Matthew Hopkins, who relentlessly interrogates her, made me infuriated. You can hear Sybil’s exhaustion while she desperately tries to answer his never-ending questions and he tries to break her down. Maarleveld does a brilliant job capturing how strong-willed, resilient, and determined Sybil is.
A major highlight for me comes toward the end, when Lilith, Jacqueline, and Asher make their way into Honeysuckle Grove to try to change Sybil’s fate. Maarleveld’s performance kept me on edge, and the scenes that follow in the 1645 timeline are narrated with urgency and emotion, making the whole sequence of events feel cinematic.
Overall, Saskia Maarleveld really elevates this story. Her character voices, emotional range, accents, timing, and pacing made this a very immersive listen. If you’re considering reading this or if you’ve enjoyed Madeline Martin’s books before, I HIGHLY recommend picking this up on audio. Maarleveld absolutely deserves all the stars for her performance!
