It’s no secret I have a soft spot for historical fiction. I cut my teeth on historical fics alongside fantasy as a child. Yes, I was that odd child in class reading Nathaniel Hawthorne before I could fully comprehend it. Reading books written in the past has always felt like stepping into a time machine for me. So it’s no wonder I still dive into the occasional well-written hist-fic when I need a break from fantasy 😉 Which is why I’m super excited to share my thoughts on To Rescue a Witch today. Stay tuned for my review + the giveaway from award-winning author Lisa A. Traugott!
TO RESCUE A WITCH
By LISA A. TRAUGOTT
Historical Fiction / Action & Adventure / Witch Trials
Page Count: 398 pages
Publication Date: March 1, 2024
It’s 1739. An abused girl accused of witchcraft must be defended by a man married to an actual witch...
William MacLeod, a fierce Scottish lawyer with a kind heart, takes on a daunting task—rescue young Annaliese from the clutches of her tormentors in the untamed wilds of Virginia colony and deliver her safely to her aristocratic father in London. But lurking in the shadows are enemies eager to expose MacLeod’s own wife, Fiona, as a witch with a dark secret.
Their perilous journey takes an unexpected turn when their ship wrecks, and Annaliese’s haunting nightmares and unexplained “Devil marks” trigger suspicion among the crew. Tension peaks when MacLeod must become Annaliese’s unwavering protector in a witch trial, where Fiona’s clairvoyance and a murder are unveiled.
To Rescue a Witch navigates themes of betrayal and redemption, in a spellbinding narrative that blends history, magic and the unyielding resilience of the human spirit.
Flawed heroes, mysterious wise women, and religious fervor abound in Lisa A. Traugott’s historical epic, To Rescue A Witch.
The gorgeous cover drew me in immediately, but the compelling characters and thrilling plot kept me reading. As someone who suffered abuse as a child, I’ll be the first to tell you this isn’t an easy book to read. What some characters do and others endure in the case of our heroine, Annaliese, is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re willing to be brave, this historical fiction is well worth the discomfort.
Traugott makes you root for Annaliese, her rescuer, William MacLeod, and his witchy wife, Fiona. While the book is told from a couple other points of view, you’ll be eager to circle back to these three. In the beginning, I had trouble picturing William as a hero. He’s fallen far away from his roots and family in pursuit of wealth and power from the even more powerful (and despicable). But when his benefactor, Lord George, learns his mistress and bastard daughter are in danger, William is dispatched from London to the Colonies.
There is so much to unpack and days after finishing, I keep ruminating how much to reveal here. To Rescue A Witch is so well woven a story, you really need to experience the journey for yourself. While there are dark themes like abuse, slavery, and rape, there are also moments of light. Annaliese is the candle or lighthouse in the dark for our characters but especially William. And through her, he is given someone to save, avenge, and most of all a mirror to face the man he has become.
What I loved most, more than the fantastic attention to detail and startling moments of humor, is the question Traugott poses. Who will you choose to be? William asks Annaliese this question when she must choose between carrying the legacy of her abuse, or leaving it behind to forge a new identity for herself. But William is also forced to choose, so the reader (if you’re me at least) may reflect. There are no perfect heroes, and the villains are truly constructs of the cruel times they live in. But they have a choice just as we do, today. And without spoilers, I’m confident you will be more than satisfied with the ending.
Give To Rescue A Witch a chance if you love found family, dark tales of hope, and a world that offers second chances. And may you be just as encouraged as I’ve been to chase the light.
MEET LISA A. TRAUGOTT
Lisa A. Traugott is an award-winning author and World Championship public speaker semifinalist — who also spoke five lines on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She lives in Austin with her husband, two kids and English bulldog, Bruno.
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Outstanding & enticing review. I really can’t wait to read this book (especially knowing the author has a prequel AND sequel in the works), and with that amazing cover, I must have it in print. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it. I’m sold.
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Thanks! I loved this one so much. Also just made my day there’s a prequel/sequel! She really sets things up for the next events, and knowing what I do about that period of history it may get really crazy. Also with you on the print edition! Probably adding this to my shelf with the next paycheck 😉
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