I’m not sure what it was about this book that made me put it aside. The protagonist was interesting, but the situation grated on me somehow. Perhaps as a pagan, I found the ‘evil witch’ trope uncomfortable? I’m sorry, this wasn’t for me, but I’m sure others will like it.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Perfect for Halloween Month! I love the cover, felt like an old fashioned horror book cover.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Malan Witch by Catherine Cavendish in exchange for an honest review. I am not sure why it took me so long to get to this book, other than my to be read pile is dauntingly enormous. This is the first book I have read by Catherine Cavendish and I could tell she was inspired by certain authors, but at the same time had her own unique take on horror. I really liked the story about the Malan Witches and how evil can sleep into a place for generations. I also cared about Robyn and her broken heart, her caring sister and brother in law and all the weird townsfolk. Who side were they on? I had all sorts of crazy ideas on what was going to happen and I was completely wrong and was glad. This was a delightfully creepy story and I can't wait to find more by Cavendish.

Catherine Cavendish first came on my radar four or five years ago and I was blown away by her mix of gothic and modern horror that sometimes even bordered on the extreme. I have tried to pick up all of her books since that time and am always on the lookout for something new. The Malan Witch looked to be another chilling novel from Cavendish and I was eager to dive right in.



Robyn Crowe thought the isolated cabin would be just the thing she needed to put her mind at ease. As she struggled to get over the death of her husband, she figured some quiet time at her sister’s isolated cabin would allow her to come to peace with her loss and her mind. The small village on the sea would be a quiet retreat for her and the cabin seemed to be the perfect retreat. As she settled into what the locals called “Malan Cottage,” she started to notice smells and strange noises at times. It was a bit unsettling, but all older structures have their quirks. Everything would be fine.



As the strange occurrences mount, Robyn decides to do some investigating into the history of the novel. She soon learns that the people in the village are not fond of the cottage and consider it to be an evil place. Long ago, there is a legend of the Malan Witches, and these witches were burned at the stake on at the exact location that cottage was later built. The witches, two sisters, had cursed the ground and their souls may still be trapped there. One of the witches has escaped from her trap and is seeking to set her sister free. Unfortunately for Robyn, she is the one found unwittingly in the way of the witch’s fury.



Catherine Cavendish really knows how to turn up the creep factor and The Malan Witch is a good example of this. The story starts out simply and almost kind of idyllic. The pace is languid and Robyn just seems to settle into the cabin. Even when the strange events start occurring, it really seems like more of a nuisance than a menace. Cavendish also takes time to develop Robyn’s character so that she seems real. This is, of course, not going to last and Cavendish handles the transition to horror with a deft hand. And once the story kicks into gear, it is terrifying,



The above is not to say that this is a slow read. With the book falling in the range of a long novella/short novel, there is very little to this story than what is needed. Cavendish is able to create a believable world and draw the reader in quickly and efficiently while not sparing any of the atmosphere needed to make the novel terrifying. It is that atmosphere that is the star of the novel. The Malan Witch is frightening because the horror of the story descends on the reader and holds the reader in its grasp for the entirety of the novel and even beyond. This is a haunting tale of revenge and redemption. It is the story of just how far one may go to right an injustice and what it is to truly be evil. I have enjoyed all of the books I have read from Cavendish and The Malan Witch is no exception. Highly recommended.



I would like to thank Silver Shamrock Publishing and NetGalley for this review copy. The Malan Witch is available now.

This was a little hard to finish but I loved the story itself although the characters were hard to like or understand

I love witch books. I love horror. Sadly I didn't love this book. I tried and just couldn't connect with any of the characters. I actually was kind of bored while reading.

Definitely some creep factor but ultimately very predictable. I didn't feel connected to the characters and had to force myself to finish.

“She can invade your dreams, posses your mind, force you to do her will...”

A nice little witch tale that starts out strong. As far as I’m concerned, any novella set in Cornwall already has my attention. Ghosts, witches, mermaids...everything!

Robyn slips away to a cottage leant out by her sister on the outskirts of St. Oswell , hoping to cope with the loss of her recently deceased husband. The summer retreat is not all seaside comfort and sunshine, however, as Robyn starts dealing with the usual symptoms of an uneasy holiday gone wrong story; noises, nightmares, and warnings from the cautionary villagers. I actually liked Robyn’s correspondence with the locals: most of these small town horror stories place characters against each other, and in the process, it takes while before anything actually happens.

Turns out that Robbyn’s cottage is tied to the Malan sisters, two hideous witches who are out for revenge.

The witches are scary enough, and even though this is a short read, I feel like the author could’ve provided more of a showy presentation with this-the Tudor dynasty, hag stones, and psychic powers are some of the traits I wanted to read more about. That and a stronger backstory.

Thanks to NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for providing me with a free e-ARC for my honest feedback.

Couldn't get into this one, sorry wasn’t for me. Plus I had other books on the go, sorry think I timed out on it too.

This was my first time reading Catherine Cavendish. I had seen her name a bit over the past few years, and decided it was finally time - especially seeing it from Silver Shamrock Publishing. I’ve experienced great stories from these publishing group and was excited to try another.
A story that is haunting, atmospheric and a strong witchy presence, I expected to love this tale. Unfortunately, I just could not connect to any of the characters and felt quite bored though-out. Their motivations never seem to fit in with their character, and seemed more as a plot device instead of fully fleshing out the story. This is especially shown with the quick acceptance of witches and magic. I can see how people love this tale. Unfortunately, it was just not for me.

The Malan Witch reminded me that I don’t read enough witchy stories. This story had the eerie creepiness that made you realise that witches aren’t so ugly old hag with warts on her face, a long misshapen nose, and a pointy hat. It was easy to imagine sitting around a campfire having this story read, it was cosy and mildly unsettling.

The Malan Witch has central themes of grief and loneliness being at the epicentre. Robyn has lost the love of her life in the most traumatic of consequences. Her husband died of cancer. She had to endure watching him be fit and healthy and robust what seemed like one minute to a shadow of his former self, not knowing who she was just that she was there supporting him. Incredibly sad. Her sister Holly suggests that she take some time to recuperate and heal at their holiday home. A little cottage on the Cornwall coast. Beautiful scenery, quiet and tranquil, everything that she is needing right now. The cottage has existed in one form or another for generations, her sister being the most recent occupants after it ended up derelict.

The house has an instant creepy feel. For one it stinks, kind of like a sulphuric smell. If you’ve read as much paranormal stories as I have, you know this isn’t good news. She finds out from a local (who also seems to be related to everyone in the village) that the house is seeped in legend. Two sister witches used to stay there and that the house is well named, translated into Devil’s cottage. The witches subjected the village to hell, and they were finally burned at the stake. Their spirits came back but where held in place by two dolls that were effigies of the witches. Robyn’s sister set one free by burning the doll and now one witch has come back with vengeance on her mind.

The Malan witch had a few moments that made me gasp but I felt it failed to really hit its mark. It was an intriguing story that could have been executed better, I guess I just didn’t find it that frightening. The fact that the witch could shapeshift was very cool and even more so that one of them was a crow. I have a massive thing for crows and ravens. I think ultimately I just wanted more from this story.

An uncomplicated horror novel.

The novel kicked off with Robyn Crowe, a young widow, moving to her sister’s newly purchased holiday house (The Malan Cottage), in an attempt to find a way out of the grief that was brought along with her husband’s death. The cottage was standing on a rather isolated place, with the nearest village being a pretty good distance away. The house had its own dark history, and it did not take long for Robyn to come across the truth. Centuries back, the place had been owned by two hideous witch sisters, Jowanet and Zenobie, who were burnt to death for their wicked deeds. No sign of their bodies was left behind but their soul remained back with an unquenchable thirst for revenge, and not long after the incident the village was once again being tormented. Although the souls were suppressed and locked away by a brave woman later on, a small mistake by Robyn’s sister set one of the witches free. The free soul of the witch was desperate for her sister, and Robyn stood between them. With the nefarious witch hanging around, the tour that was meant to fetch relief for Robyn ended up as a battle to secure the cottage and her sister’s family.

‘The Malan Witch’ is a rather plain novel with a very easy-to-follow storyline and simple characters. An ideal pick for someone looking for a horror story with plans of having a sound sleep.

The author has done a pretty good job with the details, allowing the readers to catch a glimpse of what is going on inside Robyn’s head. The story flows smoothly, making it an effortless read. Most of the time, the spotlight is on Robyn and only Robyn, and therefore, it cannot take much for the reader to grasp her emotions and thoughts.

There were a few places where the standard narration appeared to be a little disturbed. Other than that, in a place, the author had accidentally got the surname of a character wrong.

I cannot claim that the story worked for me but that is more of a personal opinion. I did not find the overall wrapping up quite satisfactory but once again, taste varies from reader to reader, so it’s better not to take my words too seriously before giving the book a shot.

Recommended for readers who are not looking for gruesome tales.

I did enjoy The Malan Witch although I thought the story could have had a bit more depth and thought that it was wrapped up too quickly. It is a novella rather than a full novel and I think it would have worked a lot better as a full novel with a more in-depth story maybe with a bit more examination of the witches past lives and their evil deeds.

The characters lacked a bit of depth and the antagonist manifested itself as a crow and for the first part worked well but didn’t add enough to the terror as the story progressed. The witches themselves did not play a big enough part of the story, except mostly as an evil crow that watches over the house which was a shame.

As it is a novella, the story progresses at a really fast rate, which for me lost some of the terror, suspense and intensity. For a quick slightly creepy read just before bed The Malan Witch is an enjoyable read without being too frightening. Expanding it into a full novel, I feel, would make a much better ghost story.

True rating would be a 2.5, but rounded up to 3 due to Goodreads' star system. This was... okay. Decent, basic witch story that doesn't at all reinvent the wheel. Which is fine, not everything has to, but nothing really stood out to me in this tale. Overall, it felt a bit rushed and strangely emotionless, especially towards the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book in less than 24 hours. That’s how much I enjoyed myself.

If you like: spooky settings, atmosphere, terrifying transformations, witches and haunted dwellings you’ll love this book.

One of the things that stood out to me was the theme of sisterhood. I found it a compelling part of the story. Two present day sisters intertwined with malevolent twin witches from the past.

And I despise crows. Well, actually I’m scared of them. “Another tap came, what sounded like claws jumping down from one stair to the next.” This made me visibly cringe.

Looking forward to devouring everything by Catherine Cavendish!

This started off as a great compelling read. The story pulled me in, Robyn was a great tragic character, and the setting was idyllic.
After Robyn has some issues at the cottage, she does too many things that I found to be not believable. Tension melted away and there was a lackluster ending.
Thank you to NetGalleyand Silver Shamrock Press for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Its a shorter book and things escalate fast. Once you start you wont want to put it down . If you enjoy books about witches this is a great one to read .

Robyn Crowe is looking for a retreat from life after the death of her husband, Simon. Luckily, her sister Holly has recently purchased and renovated an old seaside cottage known as Malan Cottage in a tiny, sleepy village in the English countryside. It should be perfect place for Robyn to grieve and recharge her batteries. That is, until weird feelings and events begin to disturb her plans of relaxation. Strange, unpleasant smells. The most creepy and aggressive crow ever. After some research and meeting with a village resident, Robyn learns that there is a lot of history and legend attributed to Malan cottage. It was said to be the birthplace and the final resting place of two powerfully evil witch sisters who were the daughters of Satan's right hand assistant. This sounds far-fetched but, to Robyn, feels all too real based on her unusual experiences in the house. I won't say more and spoil any of the fun. I went into this book without any idea of what to expect, and I was very pleasantly surprised. This is everything I love in a book. A super-creepy atmosphere, local lore woven into the story line, a fast-paced plot and a scare factor through the roof. I read this book in two sittings - late at night, of course - with the covers pulled up to my ears because I was sure a witch might be sneaking up on me at any moment. I was honestly holding the hand of my sleeping husband because I needed something to hold onto. If you enjoy stories about witch lore, ghosts and hauntings, you will love this book. I will be adding more books by @CatherineCavendish to by TBR list - her writing is very fun and appealing, in the darkest way possible. Thank you to @silvershamrockpublishing and @netgalley for providing this book in exchange for my review.

I love atmospheric little seaside cottage locations in stories, and Catherine Cavendish is amazing at giving these salty, windy places the justice they deserve. The Malan Cottage gave me the creeps even before the spookiness really picked up the pace, and that’s because there’s just something so haunting to me about cliffside waves and choppy waters. And if the moodiness of the story’s setting isn’t enough to give you goosebumps, there’s a witch or two here that definitely will!

The Malan Witch introduces us to Robyn, a woman visiting her sister’s recently purchased and renovated cottage in an attempt to relax and take a bit of a vacation after the passing of her husband shakes her world. Robyn was an easy character to get to know and relate to – an avid reader, she curled up with one of my favorite horror books within the first few chapters and that was enough for me to take a liking to her immediately!

Shortly after arriving, Robyn starts to encounter some weird happenings in the house. On a trip to the nearby small town, she meets with a few locals who tell her the story of sister witches that lived and practiced dark magic right where her sister’s new cottage is situated. I won’t go into too much of the witchy backstory here, because finding out about it was part of the fun of discovering what exactly what was happening to Robyn.

There were a few small things I wish had gotten a bit more expanding upon, like the relationship between Robyn & her late husband, which I feel would’ve packed a bit more of an emotional gutpunch. As it stands, without some extra bit tugging at our heartstrings and making us care, the mentions of Robyn’s husband could honestly have been omitted for me since they didn’t seem to make much of a difference either way. I also think that there were a couple bits of dialogue that seemed a bit too simple or easy for the story, things that were too convenient almost, like a particular phone call with Robyn’s sister, or happening upon the same few people that the characters need when they’re in the town. That said, none of these things dampened my enjoyment of it overall, to be honest! I still had a lot of fun.

I loved the symbolism in the story, from the small poppets (dolls) to the terrifying crow. If you love books featuring scary witches and spooky magic, this is a quick one that you’ll be able to jump into and finish in a day. It’d make perfect oceanside reading for anyone on vacation, but even curled up on bed like I was, it was a heck of a good time! I usually love everything Silver Shamrock Publishing puts out, and although this is my first book by Catherine Cavendish, I can already tell you it won’t be my last!

A classic witch story in a small coastal town with a dark legend.

Robyn is still recovering from losing her boyfriend and decides to spend some time away at her sister's new cottage. Cut off from the world she looks for peace and time to grieve and move on. However what she will find is an old legend and a witch that is coming for her.

A fast paced witch story with all the classic elements for a good ghost/witch story. Perfect for a quick spooky read. However the story and characters are really typical and there is nothing really new added to the stories we all have heard of many times before.