This is an awkward book for me to review because, while I’m giving it a 3 based on writing, characters and plot … it’s a personal 2.5 for me based on the toxic relationship and lack of world building. So I've settled on a 2.75.

The story is interesting, the idea of a small village of women, children, and some older and infirm men trying to bring in crops, tend a animals, plant, collect wood, water, and more while trying to keep from being victimized by the Black Watch, bandits, and rival armies while their men are off fighting in the Jacobite rebellion — it sounded right up my alley.

Quickly the book stops paying attention to the small details of the day to day life and heads right into the magic which makes sense with them being witches, but it happens so fast and with so little … substance. It’s a wave of a magic wand and everything is fine. The focus then moves to Mairead and Constance falling in love which was … fast, and a little stilted, but given how it all unfolds makes perfect sense and added to the broken nature of Constance and her understanding of love.

And that understanding is toxic. It’s manipulative, harmful, with no care that what she’s doing might cause others harm so long as she gets to keep both her reputation and the woman she wants pliant in her arms. In the end, though, it all must come to a head and when Constance has to face what she’s done … she runs, with Mairead left to handle the fallout and the damage Constance leaves behind. Even when they come together for a reconciliation, Mairead is the one giving, yielding, forgiving while Constance gets to be forgiven … and I didn’t care for it.

Her redemption happens off page in the emptiness between the last chapter and the epilogue, and while it does have a happy ending, it isn’t one that I think Mairead deserved. Constance did actual, provable harm. She hurt people, lied, used her magic against people, killed people … and never really shows remorse. But still she gets to win in the end?

All that said, the writing is good, the pace is a little on the lazy side and there are several repetitive scenes, but it’s a solid book and I read it in one lazy afternoon. I just don’t like the messaging, or Constance, or Constance getting Mairead in the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I read a couple chapters of this I don't know why I just couldn't get into it. The story seems interesting so i'm not sure what the problem is.

This is really good historical work, rewritten to add fantasy elements. Plus, the cover is absolutely beautiful. Loved this.

Reminiscent of Kathleen Kaufman's HAG, Daughters of Nicnevin is a doorway into folklore, historical fiction, and witchcraft.
Although I was completely unfamiliar with Shona Kinsella prior to being approved for this title, I now wish to read her other novels.
Readers of this book would hopefully look to Julie Hearn's The Merrybegot aka The Minister's Daughter, which is set in England in 1645 (100 years earlier than Daughters). I would have completely inhaled this book as a teenager.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.