What do you think?
Rate this book
The Witches of Santo Stefano
An investigative journalist uncovers the haunting secret history of her own ancestors in a bewitching novel by the bestselling author of Daughters of the Lake.
When Cassie Graves discovers her husband’s affair, it’s enough to chip away at the foundation of her life. But after researching her family’s Italian ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and the warning that she may have walked into a trap.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the haunting discovery of who she really is.
When Cassie Graves discovers her husband’s affair, it’s enough to chip away at the foundation of her life. But after researching her family’s Italian ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and the warning that she may have walked into a trap.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the haunting discovery of who she really is.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Wendy Webb
9 books2,794 followersWENDY WEBB's novels are mysteries about long-buried family secrets, set in big, old haunted houses on the Great Lakes.
THE END OF TEMPERANCE DARE (2017, Lake Union) is set in a former tuberculosis sanatorium on Lake Superior, now a renowned retreat for artists and writers. When Eleanor Harper takes the helm as its new director and her first batch of visiting artists arrives, she begins to suspect this isn't going to be the restful retreat she thought it might be.
THE VANISHING (2014, Hyperion) is the story of Julia Bishop, who takes a job as a companion for a famous novelist, who the entire world thinks is dead. When she travels to the novelist's remote estate, she begins to suspect her too-good-to-be-true job offer is exactly that.
THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN (2013, Hyperion) is an Indie bestseller. It's the story of Grace Alban, who returns home after 20 years when her mother dies under questionable circumstances on the very day she (the mother) planned to reveal the truth about a tragedy that occurred during a party at Alban House long ago. A packet of old love letters and a lost manuscript by a famous novelist lead Grace to the haunted truth about what really happened that day.
Wendy's first novel, THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE (2010, Holt) was an IndieNext Pick, a Great Lakes Great Reads Pick and a Midwest Connections Pick. It won the prestigious Minnesota Book Award for genre fiction in 2011, and was a finalist for Le Livre de Poche's Prix des Lecteurs award in France in 2012.
A longtime journalist, Wendy lives in Minnesota.
THE END OF TEMPERANCE DARE (2017, Lake Union) is set in a former tuberculosis sanatorium on Lake Superior, now a renowned retreat for artists and writers. When Eleanor Harper takes the helm as its new director and her first batch of visiting artists arrives, she begins to suspect this isn't going to be the restful retreat she thought it might be.
THE VANISHING (2014, Hyperion) is the story of Julia Bishop, who takes a job as a companion for a famous novelist, who the entire world thinks is dead. When she travels to the novelist's remote estate, she begins to suspect her too-good-to-be-true job offer is exactly that.
THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN (2013, Hyperion) is an Indie bestseller. It's the story of Grace Alban, who returns home after 20 years when her mother dies under questionable circumstances on the very day she (the mother) planned to reveal the truth about a tragedy that occurred during a party at Alban House long ago. A packet of old love letters and a lost manuscript by a famous novelist lead Grace to the haunted truth about what really happened that day.
Wendy's first novel, THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE (2010, Holt) was an IndieNext Pick, a Great Lakes Great Reads Pick and a Midwest Connections Pick. It won the prestigious Minnesota Book Award for genre fiction in 2011, and was a finalist for Le Livre de Poche's Prix des Lecteurs award in France in 2012.
A longtime journalist, Wendy lives in Minnesota.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 19, 2024
I loved this book! The writing is easy and flows well, pulling you into the story quickly. I liked the characters and found Cass to be relatable. I loved the back and forth between the timelines and characters. I never got confused and was able to remember who everyone was. The setting was wonderful. It was nice to read a book where the lead was able to get things done without others trying to sabotage or keep things hidden. Cass had her mission and like her cousin says, made it happen. I really liked that. would read this book over again and have already recommended to people.
July 10, 2024
This book spoke to me in so many different ways. The love and importance of family and heritage really hit home. The digging through ones family tree to find answers and clarification really drew me in and I am sure many can relate to this. This book is definitely worth a read and I am hoping there will be a sequel.
September 24, 2024
This is my fifth book by this author and I absolutely love her writing style, her in depth descriptions and character development throughout all her books. She has an intricate way of writing that makes you feel like you are in the novel and experiencing everything that the characters are doing at the same time. Some of my favorite books by her are The Haunting of Brynn Wilder, the end of Temperence dare, the widow's walk, Daughters of the Lake. If you have not read those yet, what are you waiting for.
This book follows Cassandra Graves a middle-aged woman who works as a journalist, Cassandra is contacted by her cousin Maria who is doing some ancestry familial and finds some questioning information. Cassandra starts to do some digging and finds even more information and decides that since her life is falling apart after her husband of 25 years was caught cheating, she decides to travel to Italy and follow the clues to learn about her familial history.
Dante is a local from the little town of Santo Stefano where Cassandra travels to and is learning about her family history, he runs a shop with his family a honey shop, that Cassandra thinks her ancestors used to run and work over a hundred years ago. Cassandra works with Dante, Luna, and Renzo to work out what about her past is true and what is fiction.
This book is told in MPOV's it bounces between Cassandra, Rose, and her ancient family members, as the stories unfold and events start to happen, will Cassandra get the answers that she has come searching for or will she get more than she bargained for. I promise you this book is well worth the read. I devoured it in two days. If I wasn't so busy with mom life i could have easily finished this book in a couple hours, it had me turning the pages so quickly.
Thank you Net galley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this wonderful novel, until next time Wendy Webb I anxiously await your new book.
This book follows Cassandra Graves a middle-aged woman who works as a journalist, Cassandra is contacted by her cousin Maria who is doing some ancestry familial and finds some questioning information. Cassandra starts to do some digging and finds even more information and decides that since her life is falling apart after her husband of 25 years was caught cheating, she decides to travel to Italy and follow the clues to learn about her familial history.
Dante is a local from the little town of Santo Stefano where Cassandra travels to and is learning about her family history, he runs a shop with his family a honey shop, that Cassandra thinks her ancestors used to run and work over a hundred years ago. Cassandra works with Dante, Luna, and Renzo to work out what about her past is true and what is fiction.
This book is told in MPOV's it bounces between Cassandra, Rose, and her ancient family members, as the stories unfold and events start to happen, will Cassandra get the answers that she has come searching for or will she get more than she bargained for. I promise you this book is well worth the read. I devoured it in two days. If I wasn't so busy with mom life i could have easily finished this book in a couple hours, it had me turning the pages so quickly.
Thank you Net galley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this wonderful novel, until next time Wendy Webb I anxiously await your new book.
July 13, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of Webb's newest novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is not the first of Webb's books that I have read and I've always enjoyed them. The other books I've read of hers are all set around the Great Lakes and have some sort of spooky vibe. This was a departure in my opinion, but I LOVED it!
The story starts off in Minnesota with two cousins who are curious about their heritage after finding some information that they aren't aware of and that contradicts what they thought they knew. Cassie, still reeling from her split from her husband of 20+ years after she found he was cheating on her, decides to travel to Italy to try to track down her family's roots. What she uncovers changes everything she thought she knew about her family and her heritage.
Told from interchanging points of view from the past and the present, family lines are an integral part of this story.
Love, magic, mystery, a little supernatural element, and of course, an amazing Italian setting make this such an amazing story! Definitely a must read!
This is not the first of Webb's books that I have read and I've always enjoyed them. The other books I've read of hers are all set around the Great Lakes and have some sort of spooky vibe. This was a departure in my opinion, but I LOVED it!
The story starts off in Minnesota with two cousins who are curious about their heritage after finding some information that they aren't aware of and that contradicts what they thought they knew. Cassie, still reeling from her split from her husband of 20+ years after she found he was cheating on her, decides to travel to Italy to try to track down her family's roots. What she uncovers changes everything she thought she knew about her family and her heritage.
Told from interchanging points of view from the past and the present, family lines are an integral part of this story.
Love, magic, mystery, a little supernatural element, and of course, an amazing Italian setting make this such an amazing story! Definitely a must read!
September 18, 2024
Author Wendy Webb has wowed me in my first foray into her work. The Witches of Santo Stefano is a delightfully written read in which the characters are well-developed and the flow of writing is not hindered by the scope of POVs or timelines. I followed along easily and was intrigued prior to even turning the first page. Once I did so I was enthralled and unable to put this book down. It was exactly the kind of break from my recent dark romance reads that I needed on my time off and a story I will happily return to in the future.
The FMC Cass is a powerhouse who will see a course of action through to the very end, come what may. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from her perspective and found her relatable as a mature-aged female protagonist. There was a strong connection and correlation for me in the cultural and spiritual similarities pertaining to Cass’ ancestral history. The shining stars supporting this storyline are the reflection and exploration upon the importance of familial ties and one’s roots, the migrant's journey and the small details that create the greater whole.
A multigenerational tale of magic, mystery and the lives of a line of women of Italian descent whose secrets, traumas, pain, love and losses shape them each in ways that may have remained forever hidden if not for the curiosity and mid-life changes of a present-day family member. I cannot recommend this book more highly and am now determined to discover other works penned by Wendy Webb.
The FMC Cass is a powerhouse who will see a course of action through to the very end, come what may. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from her perspective and found her relatable as a mature-aged female protagonist. There was a strong connection and correlation for me in the cultural and spiritual similarities pertaining to Cass’ ancestral history. The shining stars supporting this storyline are the reflection and exploration upon the importance of familial ties and one’s roots, the migrant's journey and the small details that create the greater whole.
A multigenerational tale of magic, mystery and the lives of a line of women of Italian descent whose secrets, traumas, pain, love and losses shape them each in ways that may have remained forever hidden if not for the curiosity and mid-life changes of a present-day family member. I cannot recommend this book more highly and am now determined to discover other works penned by Wendy Webb.
September 18, 2024
THE WITCHES OF SANTO STEFANO by Wendy Webb
I love a good family genealogy mystery especially when it involves a little magic.
Investigative journalist, Cassandra (Cassie) Graves, travels to Santa Stefano, Italy to research her ancestry. She wants to know why her grandmother’s death certificate has the incorrect date and lists the cause of her death as “stregheria” or witchcraft.
I loved the descriptions of the village shops, the Italian landscape, the food and wine! The minor characters also added so much depth and color to the story. Also, how can you not love a protective dog and donkey?
I feel a cast of characters or family tree at the beginning would’ve been most helpful for keeping track of who’s who. Aside from that, this is a warm and cozy, not too saccharine, mystery. Perfect for upcoming spooky season!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Pub Date: September 24, 2024
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & AmazonPublishing / Lake Union
I love a good family genealogy mystery especially when it involves a little magic.
Investigative journalist, Cassandra (Cassie) Graves, travels to Santa Stefano, Italy to research her ancestry. She wants to know why her grandmother’s death certificate has the incorrect date and lists the cause of her death as “stregheria” or witchcraft.
I loved the descriptions of the village shops, the Italian landscape, the food and wine! The minor characters also added so much depth and color to the story. Also, how can you not love a protective dog and donkey?
I feel a cast of characters or family tree at the beginning would’ve been most helpful for keeping track of who’s who. Aside from that, this is a warm and cozy, not too saccharine, mystery. Perfect for upcoming spooky season!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Pub Date: September 24, 2024
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & AmazonPublishing / Lake Union
September 22, 2024
Told through the generations with the voices and POV of the family members the webs are woven to tell this tale love, magic and tragedy 🕸️
After find contradictory information about her family history and newly discovering her husband’s infidelity, Cassandra heads to Italy to heal and hopefully find the truth of her family history.
This is a great cozy read with a dash of romance, a chunk of history, a bit of magic and a sense of self discovery! Readers will enjoy the beautiful way the story is presented and the feel for the town of Santo Stefano. Just be weary not to upset the townspeople for they still fear the “Strega”🧙🏻♀️
Thank you to the author, Wendy Webb and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After find contradictory information about her family history and newly discovering her husband’s infidelity, Cassandra heads to Italy to heal and hopefully find the truth of her family history.
This is a great cozy read with a dash of romance, a chunk of history, a bit of magic and a sense of self discovery! Readers will enjoy the beautiful way the story is presented and the feel for the town of Santo Stefano. Just be weary not to upset the townspeople for they still fear the “Strega”🧙🏻♀️
Thank you to the author, Wendy Webb and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 14, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced e-copy.
The Witches of Santo Stefano was definitely different than the other Wendy Webb works I've read. Following Cassandra as she uncovers her family history, she finds more than she expects.
I had a hard time getting into this one. I loved the idea and premise of it, but the initial family history was tedious to follow. Following past and present was a look into uncovering the whole truth. I just found this to be a slow family history, and I struggled to connect with the family. However, if you like the idea of found family, ancestry, and a little bit of Witches, this one is for you! 2.5
The Witches of Santo Stefano was definitely different than the other Wendy Webb works I've read. Following Cassandra as she uncovers her family history, she finds more than she expects.
I had a hard time getting into this one. I loved the idea and premise of it, but the initial family history was tedious to follow. Following past and present was a look into uncovering the whole truth. I just found this to be a slow family history, and I struggled to connect with the family. However, if you like the idea of found family, ancestry, and a little bit of Witches, this one is for you! 2.5
September 25, 2024
The premise of this book is such a great one, and after reading the blurb, I was excited to jump right into it. Unfortunately, it was not what I expected. I love the whole found family idea, I love a book that has to do with witches and magic, but I'm not sure how I feel about this one. Overall, it just felt very flat. I expected more excitement and more witchy things as opposed to just mentions of them. I would have enjoyed it more if Cassie had had some sort of magical rebirth while in Santo Stefano, or even if her sister had some revelation or experience while Cassie was away. Her sister was mentioned quite a bit, to the point I thought she would have had a more significant role, but unfortunately, she did not. The book as a whole felt more like a backstory/ set up or introduction to a deeper story to come. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Wendy Webb for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Wendy Webb for this ARC.
September 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A nice read but something is missing
Cassie Graves is heartbroken when her marriage of twenty-five years ends with the exposure of her husband’s affair. When her cousin Maria hits a dead-end in her ancestry research, Cassie decides to take it up. As an investigative journalist, she has a nose for stories, and finding the truth of her roots feels important when her future is uncertain.
In Santo Stefano, Italy, Cassie starts to put together the stories narrated by her grandmother and the random clues provided by strangers. Seems the women in her family had power in their blood. If they were witches, what happened to them? Why did they move across the continents from Europe to the US?
The story comes in the first-person POV of Cassandra (Cassie) and third-person POVs of Fiora, Violetta, and Isabella.
My Thoughts:
The book starts with a prologue, showing a glimpse into the major events from the past in Santo Stefano. Then, we move on to the present where Cassie and her cousin discuss their family tree.
The narrative is slow-paced with chapters alternating in both timelines. While there’s no confusion (thanks to the names mentioned with the chapter head and the difference in POVs), this book needed a graphical representation of the family tree. Quite many characters are mentioned as mother, father, grandparent, niece, sibling, etc., in both timelines. This makes it hard to track who is who.
Cassie’s POV is done well, with a good blend of determination, maturity, vulnerability, anger, hope, confusion, etc. As a person in her late 40s or early 50s going through major upheavals in her life, she manages to make readers support her.
There’s subtle magic, just enough to add to the witch vibe. However, the setting and the atmosphere are wonderful. I loved the changing weather in Stefano and how it felt as if the place belonged to the past era.
There are animals too! Street cats, a large and fluffy herding dog, and two donkeys (my second book this month with donkeys in it).
In a way, the blurb reveals too much. The spell book doesn’t even appear until the last quarter. Moreover, it acts as a diary to help Cassie fill the gaps. This feels like wasted potential for such a powerful book.
The ending is rushed and weak as if we needed to wrap up everything in less than five pages. What was close to four stars until then crashed to 3.5 with the abrupt ending. A few things have been left hanging as well. Sustaining the momentum and adding another ten to fifteen pages would have elevated the story much more.
This is my second book by the author and somehow doesn’t feel as good as the one I read. While it had a few flaws, the narrative was compelling, and the atmosphere was more tangible than this one. It could be my expectations too, which were quite high.
To summarize, The Witches of Santo Stefano has a great premise and some good moments. However, it doesn’t reach its full potential, especially towards the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheWitchesOfSantoStefano
***
P.S: Cassie lets out a breath she didn’t release she had been holding (twice)!
One Liner: A nice read but something is missing
Cassie Graves is heartbroken when her marriage of twenty-five years ends with the exposure of her husband’s affair. When her cousin Maria hits a dead-end in her ancestry research, Cassie decides to take it up. As an investigative journalist, she has a nose for stories, and finding the truth of her roots feels important when her future is uncertain.
In Santo Stefano, Italy, Cassie starts to put together the stories narrated by her grandmother and the random clues provided by strangers. Seems the women in her family had power in their blood. If they were witches, what happened to them? Why did they move across the continents from Europe to the US?
The story comes in the first-person POV of Cassandra (Cassie) and third-person POVs of Fiora, Violetta, and Isabella.
My Thoughts:
The book starts with a prologue, showing a glimpse into the major events from the past in Santo Stefano. Then, we move on to the present where Cassie and her cousin discuss their family tree.
The narrative is slow-paced with chapters alternating in both timelines. While there’s no confusion (thanks to the names mentioned with the chapter head and the difference in POVs), this book needed a graphical representation of the family tree. Quite many characters are mentioned as mother, father, grandparent, niece, sibling, etc., in both timelines. This makes it hard to track who is who.
Cassie’s POV is done well, with a good blend of determination, maturity, vulnerability, anger, hope, confusion, etc. As a person in her late 40s or early 50s going through major upheavals in her life, she manages to make readers support her.
There’s subtle magic, just enough to add to the witch vibe. However, the setting and the atmosphere are wonderful. I loved the changing weather in Stefano and how it felt as if the place belonged to the past era.
There are animals too! Street cats, a large and fluffy herding dog, and two donkeys (my second book this month with donkeys in it).
In a way, the blurb reveals too much. The spell book doesn’t even appear until the last quarter. Moreover, it acts as a diary to help Cassie fill the gaps. This feels like wasted potential for such a powerful book.
The ending is rushed and weak as if we needed to wrap up everything in less than five pages. What was close to four stars until then crashed to 3.5 with the abrupt ending. A few things have been left hanging as well. Sustaining the momentum and adding another ten to fifteen pages would have elevated the story much more.
This is my second book by the author and somehow doesn’t feel as good as the one I read. While it had a few flaws, the narrative was compelling, and the atmosphere was more tangible than this one. It could be my expectations too, which were quite high.
To summarize, The Witches of Santo Stefano has a great premise and some good moments. However, it doesn’t reach its full potential, especially towards the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheWitchesOfSantoStefano
***
P.S: Cassie lets out a breath she didn’t release she had been holding (twice)!
September 19, 2024
Many readers know what it's like to hear or feel that they should 'just stick it out' for a while when it comes to a book or series. What I don't see as often, unless it concerns a debut author, is the same sentiment when it comes to authors. "The Witches of Santo Stefano" proves my instinct that while I enjoyed a few of Webb's books well enough, she could one day do something that really hit the spot for me.
The element that always kept that 'itch' in me was the way in which other words weaved in the magical realism elements. It always seemed a little too direct for someone looking for a literary work and not quite 'catchy' enough for someone coming from a fantasy or horror craving. The key to the success of it in this novel is that it's woven in a historical context where the is it/isn't it vibe that usually is tagged on with this more psychological take on magic was a part of every day life. Those same charms as they take form in present day. It creates a harmony in themes that is necessary for this genre to feel balanced, natural. In short, the most 'successful' to readers like me. For those seeking a 'transitional' book to try out a genre they're unsure of-this is by far the best so far from t his author.
As for the story itself, it slots very well into the 'cozy' genre that many are seeking. It's about finding a soft place to land and anchors even in times when the world, a community, or fate feels like it's at least a little bit against you. It is a very atmospheric book with a little town that will welcome you in with a hug in all the ways we romanticize a place to at least once in our lives. I was also pleasantly surprised about how many levels of unveiling that were woven into this family drama. There were several times I thought I must be nearing the end and, not in a dreaded way that can sometimes indicated tedium, was surprised to see there was more to be said. I hadn't been quite ready to let go of the vibe of this book.
It does have a couple elements that still were a bit clunky for me. While each chapter indicates perspective, the flip flop between the historical ears sometimes took an adjustment to remember just how far back, if it was the grandmother, great grandmother, or great-great gran at the focus of the moment. There is a coda that was sweet, but I would have been satisfied with an ending that excluded the snippet.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something that is a marriage of mystery, self discovery, historical, sprinkled with natural and possibly 'real' magics or sensibilities, and tied up with a cozy colored ribbon.
The element that always kept that 'itch' in me was the way in which other words weaved in the magical realism elements. It always seemed a little too direct for someone looking for a literary work and not quite 'catchy' enough for someone coming from a fantasy or horror craving. The key to the success of it in this novel is that it's woven in a historical context where the is it/isn't it vibe that usually is tagged on with this more psychological take on magic was a part of every day life. Those same charms as they take form in present day. It creates a harmony in themes that is necessary for this genre to feel balanced, natural. In short, the most 'successful' to readers like me. For those seeking a 'transitional' book to try out a genre they're unsure of-this is by far the best so far from t his author.
As for the story itself, it slots very well into the 'cozy' genre that many are seeking. It's about finding a soft place to land and anchors even in times when the world, a community, or fate feels like it's at least a little bit against you. It is a very atmospheric book with a little town that will welcome you in with a hug in all the ways we romanticize a place to at least once in our lives. I was also pleasantly surprised about how many levels of unveiling that were woven into this family drama. There were several times I thought I must be nearing the end and, not in a dreaded way that can sometimes indicated tedium, was surprised to see there was more to be said. I hadn't been quite ready to let go of the vibe of this book.
It does have a couple elements that still were a bit clunky for me. While each chapter indicates perspective, the flip flop between the historical ears sometimes took an adjustment to remember just how far back, if it was the grandmother, great grandmother, or great-great gran at the focus of the moment. There is a coda that was sweet, but I would have been satisfied with an ending that excluded the snippet.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something that is a marriage of mystery, self discovery, historical, sprinkled with natural and possibly 'real' magics or sensibilities, and tied up with a cozy colored ribbon.
June 25, 2024
Eu poderia descrever esse livro de muitas formas diferentes, a verdade é que ela é um tipo de livro muito diferente, difícil de encaixar num gênero específico. O que eu mais amei nesse livro é a atmosfera que a autora conseguiu criar. O cenário idílico de uma cidade medieval montanhosa na Itália, a magia centenária das mulheres, o poder da natureza, dos animais, das ervas... É tudo muito mágico e bonito e você sente como se as cenas envolvessem você conforme vai lendo a história. A escrita da Wendy é muito fluída e apesar de ser um livro com muitas informações, duplo idioma, dupla timeline e vários pov, você nunca se perde porque a autora conseguiu dar uma voz muito nítida a cada um dos personagens. num tem exatamente um mistério - você não sente medo ou tensão pelos personagens, é mais uma curiosidade -, é mais um segredo que você fica muito sedento pra descobrir junto com a MC. Só não dei 5 estrelas porque fiquei um pouco confusa com a cena final, não entendi se a ideia era dar um gancho pra um próximo livro... Se não era, o epílogo poderia ter sido descartado na edição.
I could describe this book in many different ways, the truth is that it is a very different type of book, difficult to fit into a specific genre. What I loved most about this book is the atmosphere that the author managed to create. The idyllic setting of a medieval mountain town in Italy, the centuries-old magic of women, the power of nature, animals, herbs... It's all very magical and beautiful and you feel as if the scenes envelop you as you read the story . Wendy's writing is very fluid and despite being a book with a lot of information, double language, double timeline and several POVs, you never get lost because the author managed to give a very clear voice to each of the characters. It doesn't exactly have a mystery - you don't feel fear or tension for the characters, it's more of a curiosity -, it's more of a secret that you're very thirsty to discover together with the MC. I just didn't give it 5 stars because I was a little confused by the final scene, I didn't understand if the idea was to provide a hook for a next book... If it wasn't, the epilogue could have been discarded in the editing.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I could describe this book in many different ways, the truth is that it is a very different type of book, difficult to fit into a specific genre. What I loved most about this book is the atmosphere that the author managed to create. The idyllic setting of a medieval mountain town in Italy, the centuries-old magic of women, the power of nature, animals, herbs... It's all very magical and beautiful and you feel as if the scenes envelop you as you read the story . Wendy's writing is very fluid and despite being a book with a lot of information, double language, double timeline and several POVs, you never get lost because the author managed to give a very clear voice to each of the characters. It doesn't exactly have a mystery - you don't feel fear or tension for the characters, it's more of a curiosity -, it's more of a secret that you're very thirsty to discover together with the MC. I just didn't give it 5 stars because I was a little confused by the final scene, I didn't understand if the idea was to provide a hook for a next book... If it wasn't, the epilogue could have been discarded in the editing.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2024
Whenever I see that Wendy Webb has a new book coming out, I get very, very excited. She has a knack for transporting me/readers into the lives of her characters. I loved being a silent observer as Cassie Graves investigates her family's past while making changes to her present and future in The Witches of Santo Stefano! I found this book to be addictive, engrossing, magical, and beautiful. I loved the feeling of community and friendship which are paired with family secrets and mystery in this book.
Cassie had her life altered when she discovered her husband's affair. She's a smart and savvy woman and after having her heartbroken, she decides to go to Italy to continue researching her family's history especially that surrounding the death of great-grandmother Violetta whose death certificate states her cause of death is stregoneria—witchcraft! I love a good book about witches and/or witchcraft, so this was a no brainer for me!!! Plus, it is written by Wendy Webb!!!!!! I could not wait to dig in and Wendy Webbb cast her spell on me!
I loved the theme of researching one's family. Cassie's trip to Italy and her research was intriguing. I loved how those in the community became invested in her research as well, sharing what they knew or heard. I also loved the talk of witches, the found spell book, and the glimpses into the lives of the characters in the past and present.
I could not get enough of this book. I found it to be engaging, enticing, and hard to put down. As I mentioned, I enjoy Wendy Webb's writing. I love her vivid descriptions, her characters, and the plots of her books. I found this book to be atmospheric and magical!
The characters are well drawn, and I was invested in their plight. I would have enjoyed spending time with all of them. Plus, the descriptions of Italy, the hospitality, the delicious food and beautiful landscapes had me wanting to pack my bags and grab my passport!
This book touches on family, community, the kindness of strangers, self-reliance, love, romance, loss, and magic!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, addictive and pure magic!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Cassie had her life altered when she discovered her husband's affair. She's a smart and savvy woman and after having her heartbroken, she decides to go to Italy to continue researching her family's history especially that surrounding the death of great-grandmother Violetta whose death certificate states her cause of death is stregoneria—witchcraft! I love a good book about witches and/or witchcraft, so this was a no brainer for me!!! Plus, it is written by Wendy Webb!!!!!! I could not wait to dig in and Wendy Webbb cast her spell on me!
I loved the theme of researching one's family. Cassie's trip to Italy and her research was intriguing. I loved how those in the community became invested in her research as well, sharing what they knew or heard. I also loved the talk of witches, the found spell book, and the glimpses into the lives of the characters in the past and present.
I could not get enough of this book. I found it to be engaging, enticing, and hard to put down. As I mentioned, I enjoy Wendy Webb's writing. I love her vivid descriptions, her characters, and the plots of her books. I found this book to be atmospheric and magical!
The characters are well drawn, and I was invested in their plight. I would have enjoyed spending time with all of them. Plus, the descriptions of Italy, the hospitality, the delicious food and beautiful landscapes had me wanting to pack my bags and grab my passport!
This book touches on family, community, the kindness of strangers, self-reliance, love, romance, loss, and magic!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, engaging, addictive and pure magic!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 27, 2024
The Witches of Santo Stefano by Wendy Webb is a master story-teller that beautifully weaves a stunning tale about the lives of six generations of women who started out in Rome then made their way to Santo Stefano and eventually the United States via Portofino, Italy and the Amalfi Coast where they entered through New Orleans. Eventually the family made their way on up to Lake Superior and a small town called Wharton, where the main character is from.
Upon learning her husband of 25 years has been cheating, Cassandra decides to take a break and go back to her childhood home in Wharton. There, her cousin informs her of mystery surrounding their great-grandparents, Violetta and Giovanni Moretti, though specifically Violetta. It seems the Violetta Cassndra knew growing up, died in Santo Stefano, Italy in 1911 with her husband due to witchcraft. The great-grandmother Cassandra knew as a child died at 95 years old loved by their community. She knew who her father was, he died by the Influenza in 1918, but the birth certificate sys Violetta was born illegitimate. What was the truth and how could she find out? Especially since Cassandra goes to Santo Stefano to research her family's past and many unexplained events begin to occur. But Cassandra's not alone. She has the help of her new friends and family, and the protection of five generations of Rossis and Morreti women before her to keep her safe and help unravel the mystery of what occurred to get Cassandra where she is.
This story is full of heartbreak, longing, mysticism, and love: most especially love. Love between parent and child; love between mother and daughter; love between husband and wife; and most especially the love one has for one's self.
Ms. Webb draws the reader in at the beginning of the book, and even though the pace is slow, you feel desperate to know what happens. The details Ms. Webb describes is rich and vivid, especially of those set in the historic Santo Stefano. Usually I can finish a book like this in one to two days, but this one took me three nights to complete, not that I am complaining. My only complaint is that the book came to an end!
Upon learning her husband of 25 years has been cheating, Cassandra decides to take a break and go back to her childhood home in Wharton. There, her cousin informs her of mystery surrounding their great-grandparents, Violetta and Giovanni Moretti, though specifically Violetta. It seems the Violetta Cassndra knew growing up, died in Santo Stefano, Italy in 1911 with her husband due to witchcraft. The great-grandmother Cassandra knew as a child died at 95 years old loved by their community. She knew who her father was, he died by the Influenza in 1918, but the birth certificate sys Violetta was born illegitimate. What was the truth and how could she find out? Especially since Cassandra goes to Santo Stefano to research her family's past and many unexplained events begin to occur. But Cassandra's not alone. She has the help of her new friends and family, and the protection of five generations of Rossis and Morreti women before her to keep her safe and help unravel the mystery of what occurred to get Cassandra where she is.
This story is full of heartbreak, longing, mysticism, and love: most especially love. Love between parent and child; love between mother and daughter; love between husband and wife; and most especially the love one has for one's self.
Ms. Webb draws the reader in at the beginning of the book, and even though the pace is slow, you feel desperate to know what happens. The details Ms. Webb describes is rich and vivid, especially of those set in the historic Santo Stefano. Usually I can finish a book like this in one to two days, but this one took me three nights to complete, not that I am complaining. My only complaint is that the book came to an end!
September 6, 2024
The premise of this story sold me, it sounded fascinating and unique. I read a lot so I am always on the hunt for something different and this book seemed to fill that niche. However, after reading it, I'm still not 100% sure what I think. This book was not for me and it took me a few starts and stops to get it read, however, basing my review solely on whether or not this was my type of book seems disingenuous.
So, instead I will tell you what i liked and what I did not like and build my rating from there. The family aspect of the book was interesting. Starting over is never easy and Cassie's approach was fun to through herself into a bit of a personal mystery. She ends this story better for it having learned about a whole limb on her family tree she was unaware of. The mysterious town full of secrets added to the story as did Cassie's strength to pick herself up after her husband's betrayal and set of to Italy, a place I find fascinating. The author does an amazing job of setting the stage with beautiful descriptions of Italy as well as regaling us about the tasty food along the way. I have two Italians grandparents so I felt this part of the story strongly. Again, that is something the author did nice job of. She added plenty of the feels for Cassie as the story moved along. The other characters were interesting and added to the story.
Now, for the parts I did not like. The beginning just did not grab my attention as I wished. I had a few starts and stops before I finally settled in to read. The pacing of the book was also a bit slow which failed to hold my interest fully at times.
Taking the good with the bad I am left with the question of how to rate this book. Honestly, I would say it is 3.4 - 3.6 which is really not a 3 or a 4. In the end i am rounding down simply because it took me three tries to get invested enough in this book to continue. Jazz up the beginning a bit and maybe the magic takes the book to a 4.
Finally, it was an interesting book if you stick with it. There is family, love, history, and magic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
So, instead I will tell you what i liked and what I did not like and build my rating from there. The family aspect of the book was interesting. Starting over is never easy and Cassie's approach was fun to through herself into a bit of a personal mystery. She ends this story better for it having learned about a whole limb on her family tree she was unaware of. The mysterious town full of secrets added to the story as did Cassie's strength to pick herself up after her husband's betrayal and set of to Italy, a place I find fascinating. The author does an amazing job of setting the stage with beautiful descriptions of Italy as well as regaling us about the tasty food along the way. I have two Italians grandparents so I felt this part of the story strongly. Again, that is something the author did nice job of. She added plenty of the feels for Cassie as the story moved along. The other characters were interesting and added to the story.
Now, for the parts I did not like. The beginning just did not grab my attention as I wished. I had a few starts and stops before I finally settled in to read. The pacing of the book was also a bit slow which failed to hold my interest fully at times.
Taking the good with the bad I am left with the question of how to rate this book. Honestly, I would say it is 3.4 - 3.6 which is really not a 3 or a 4. In the end i am rounding down simply because it took me three tries to get invested enough in this book to continue. Jazz up the beginning a bit and maybe the magic takes the book to a 4.
Finally, it was an interesting book if you stick with it. There is family, love, history, and magic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
June 4, 2024
The Witches of Santo Stefano by Wendy Webb is a multi-generational story about healing, magic, love, and heartbreak.
The story follows Cassandra, an investigative journalist who is researching her obscure family history that brings her to a small Italian town where she discovers shocking secrets about her ancestors involving witchcraft. While in Santo Stefano, Cassie crosses paths with curious townspeople whose whispers about witches, superstitions, and strange omens reveals her family's dark past that includes spells, concoctions, and forbidden love.
I absolutely loved this book. The Italian rustic charm juxtaposed with the folk magic of the witchy family was utterly enchanting. The healing aspects involving honey and herbs along with ancient rituals, captured the old world magic of Italy, which was brought to life by the author's perfect descriptions of the Mediterranean aesthetic. I enjoyed reading about the women's strong and supportive relationships with each other and their incredible bravery and survival instincts, and this was nicely balanced with their intuitive abilities and connection to nature such as bees, flowers, and animals.
In this story there are spell books, curses, enchantments, and folk healing that tells a story about resilient women and their earthy magic and no matter how hard and threatening life becomes, if you follow your heart, trust your intuition, and keep moving forward, things will always work out.
You never know what you might have inherited from your ancestors, but like Cassie, once you know, the healing and self-discovery is no different than the sweet nurturing qualities of a magically infused honey crafted by the witchy women of Santo Stefano.
The perfect summer or vacation read, an Italian Practical Magic and must read for witch fiction fans.
This was my favourite witchy book I have read in a few years.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Cassandra, an investigative journalist who is researching her obscure family history that brings her to a small Italian town where she discovers shocking secrets about her ancestors involving witchcraft. While in Santo Stefano, Cassie crosses paths with curious townspeople whose whispers about witches, superstitions, and strange omens reveals her family's dark past that includes spells, concoctions, and forbidden love.
I absolutely loved this book. The Italian rustic charm juxtaposed with the folk magic of the witchy family was utterly enchanting. The healing aspects involving honey and herbs along with ancient rituals, captured the old world magic of Italy, which was brought to life by the author's perfect descriptions of the Mediterranean aesthetic. I enjoyed reading about the women's strong and supportive relationships with each other and their incredible bravery and survival instincts, and this was nicely balanced with their intuitive abilities and connection to nature such as bees, flowers, and animals.
In this story there are spell books, curses, enchantments, and folk healing that tells a story about resilient women and their earthy magic and no matter how hard and threatening life becomes, if you follow your heart, trust your intuition, and keep moving forward, things will always work out.
You never know what you might have inherited from your ancestors, but like Cassie, once you know, the healing and self-discovery is no different than the sweet nurturing qualities of a magically infused honey crafted by the witchy women of Santo Stefano.
The perfect summer or vacation read, an Italian Practical Magic and must read for witch fiction fans.
This was my favourite witchy book I have read in a few years.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2024
🌟🌟The Witches of Santo Stefano🌟🌟
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶 0/5
Author: Wendy Webb @wendywebbauthor
Book Release Date: 9/24/24
Cassie Graves just recently celebrated her 25th anniversary and her son is now in college. Life is good. At least it was. Cassie is faced with the dreaded news that her husband has been lying and having an affair with someone for quite some time. She makes the decision to move back to her family home where her mother and grandmother lived.
When deciding to finally do some cleaning of areas of the home never touched, she finds a photo of Violetta, her grandmother. But it's not her grandpa in the photo with her and there is a birth certificate for her grandma that shows no father's name. To complicate matters more she finds a death certificate for her grandma from a time when she was very much alive. Cause of death.....Strega!
Cassie talks to her cousin about her findings and tells her that she saw the city Santo Stefano listed on the photo with the mystery man. Cassie decides it's time to travel overseas and find out her roots. That's when things get a little spooky. She's "seeing" things that others aren't. There's a big white dog that mysteriously appears. She swears she saw a donkey in her hotel.
After connecting with some locals that treat her like family, they help her to find her family's history as well as a very old journal that is actually the family grimoire. It is there the mystery unfolds even deeper and Cassie has family in multiple places in Europe and finds how her family made it to the US. She also meets Dante in Santo Stefano. I won't ruin that for you.
This books unfolds at a beautiful pace and they way history and modern day was woven together was superb. I loved every minute of this book and I am excited to say it's absolutely a 5 star read in my eyes!
Thank you to @NetGalley and @wendywebbauthor for my copy to read in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶 0/5
Author: Wendy Webb @wendywebbauthor
Book Release Date: 9/24/24
Cassie Graves just recently celebrated her 25th anniversary and her son is now in college. Life is good. At least it was. Cassie is faced with the dreaded news that her husband has been lying and having an affair with someone for quite some time. She makes the decision to move back to her family home where her mother and grandmother lived.
When deciding to finally do some cleaning of areas of the home never touched, she finds a photo of Violetta, her grandmother. But it's not her grandpa in the photo with her and there is a birth certificate for her grandma that shows no father's name. To complicate matters more she finds a death certificate for her grandma from a time when she was very much alive. Cause of death.....Strega!
Cassie talks to her cousin about her findings and tells her that she saw the city Santo Stefano listed on the photo with the mystery man. Cassie decides it's time to travel overseas and find out her roots. That's when things get a little spooky. She's "seeing" things that others aren't. There's a big white dog that mysteriously appears. She swears she saw a donkey in her hotel.
After connecting with some locals that treat her like family, they help her to find her family's history as well as a very old journal that is actually the family grimoire. It is there the mystery unfolds even deeper and Cassie has family in multiple places in Europe and finds how her family made it to the US. She also meets Dante in Santo Stefano. I won't ruin that for you.
This books unfolds at a beautiful pace and they way history and modern day was woven together was superb. I loved every minute of this book and I am excited to say it's absolutely a 5 star read in my eyes!
Thank you to @NetGalley and @wendywebbauthor for my copy to read in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved it!
June 4, 2024
A Critical Review of "The Witches of Santo Stefano" by Wendy Weebb "The Witches of Santo Stefano" by Wendy Weebb is a novel that delves into the intriguing mystery surrounding Cassandra's ancestors, particularly her great-grandmother, whose death certificate lists witchcraft as the cause of death. While the premise of the story is promising, my overall impression of the book is mixed. On a positive note, the exploration of the Rossi family's history was engaging and kept me interested throughout the narrative. The author's ability to intertwine elements of witchcraft and familial secrets added a layer of complexity to the plot, making it a compelling read. I found myself drawn to the characters and eager to learn more about their backgrounds and motivations. However, despite these strengths, I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered after finishing the book. The story felt incomplete, lacking the depth and resolution that I have come to expect from Wendy Weebb's previous works. It seemed as though this novel was merely a setup for future stories involving the same characters, leaving loose ends untied and questions unanswered. It is my suspicion that "The Witches of Santo Stefano" serves as a precursor to a series of books that will further explore the lives of the Rossi family. While I am intrigued by the potential for future stories set in different locales and eras, I can't help but wish for a more satisfying conclusion to the initial mystery presented in this book. In conclusion, "The Witches of Santo Stefano" is a novel with both strengths and shortcomings. While the narrative is captivating and the characters are well-developed, the lack of closure and resolution left me wanting more. Despite its flaws, I am curious to see where Wendy Weebb takes the Rossi family next and hope that future installments will provide the answers and satisfaction that this book lacked.
July 28, 2024
Wendy Webb is one of my favorite modern-day gothic writers. She has created a world on Lake Superior in Wharton that is so detailed and haunting. We know the innkeepers, the bookstore owners and the owner of the local greasy spoon. The Witches of Santo Stefano is a departure, however, the essence of Wharton continues.
Cassandra, a childhood Wharton resident, has returned to her childhood home after her parents' death, her son leaving for college, and the devastating discovery of her husband's second life. Her beloved cousin lives a few blocks away and has been indulging in the genealogy of their family. The two women, who are best friends, meet and find that what they had always been told does not align with the records that they have found.
Cassie then travels to Italy, to the small village listed on the paperwork, with the goal of finding out the truth of her families origin. The cast of characters that she encounters feel like the Italian version of Wharton residents. Together, they all connect the dots, and find out the truth in the Rossi/Moretti family line.
--
As mentioned, this is not my first Wendy Webb book. While I did miss the people of Wharton, this introduction to the people of Santo Stefano felt just as familiar. Webb is able to build a world with her words. I could see the village, the dog, the shops. It's a talent that very few writers are able to do.
As expected, there's a big of 'magic', but it all works, as it should. I hope that we revisit Cassie in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and Wendy Webb for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Cassandra, a childhood Wharton resident, has returned to her childhood home after her parents' death, her son leaving for college, and the devastating discovery of her husband's second life. Her beloved cousin lives a few blocks away and has been indulging in the genealogy of their family. The two women, who are best friends, meet and find that what they had always been told does not align with the records that they have found.
Cassie then travels to Italy, to the small village listed on the paperwork, with the goal of finding out the truth of her families origin. The cast of characters that she encounters feel like the Italian version of Wharton residents. Together, they all connect the dots, and find out the truth in the Rossi/Moretti family line.
--
As mentioned, this is not my first Wendy Webb book. While I did miss the people of Wharton, this introduction to the people of Santo Stefano felt just as familiar. Webb is able to build a world with her words. I could see the village, the dog, the shops. It's a talent that very few writers are able to do.
As expected, there's a big of 'magic', but it all works, as it should. I hope that we revisit Cassie in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and Wendy Webb for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 28, 2024
*The Witches of Santo Stefano* is a captivating read with beautiful, accessible prose and vivid imagery. The author’s descriptive writing is so immersive that I felt I was right there in Italy with Cassie and her ancestors, experiencing their lives right alongside them.
The book sets a strong scene, and once Cassie arrives in Italy, the plot really takes off! I don’t want to talk about too much of the plot in this review because I think it is worth reading the book to get the true depth of everything. I was thoroughly engaged the entire time and absolutely loved traveling through Italy and time. The mystery was engrossing, and despite predicting the ending, the quality of writing made it thoroughly enjoyable. I especially enjoyed some of the more suspenseful moments towards the end of the book.
As for the writing style, I felt like each chapter ended neatly and transitions between chapters were well done. However, I found the family tree could be tricky to follow without a visual aid, but it did not greatly detract from the experience. Oh, and a minor quibble: the word “padded” is used a lot to describe walking, which felt a bit repetitive.
Overall, *The Witches of Santo Stefano* is an excellent read with a compelling mystery and richly detailed prose. Highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This review was written with the assistance of AI, based on all of my chapter and book notes. However, the sentiments expressed are genuine, reflecting only my personal experience with this book.
The book sets a strong scene, and once Cassie arrives in Italy, the plot really takes off! I don’t want to talk about too much of the plot in this review because I think it is worth reading the book to get the true depth of everything. I was thoroughly engaged the entire time and absolutely loved traveling through Italy and time. The mystery was engrossing, and despite predicting the ending, the quality of writing made it thoroughly enjoyable. I especially enjoyed some of the more suspenseful moments towards the end of the book.
As for the writing style, I felt like each chapter ended neatly and transitions between chapters were well done. However, I found the family tree could be tricky to follow without a visual aid, but it did not greatly detract from the experience. Oh, and a minor quibble: the word “padded” is used a lot to describe walking, which felt a bit repetitive.
Overall, *The Witches of Santo Stefano* is an excellent read with a compelling mystery and richly detailed prose. Highly recommended!
Disclaimer: This review was written with the assistance of AI, based on all of my chapter and book notes. However, the sentiments expressed are genuine, reflecting only my personal experience with this book.
September 20, 2024
Thank you to Wendy Webb, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a fan of Webb's ghost stories, but because her audios are published by Brilliance, who doesn't share with libraries, I haven't been able to listen to many of her books. So when I saw this one pop up, I requested it without reading the blurb or knowing anything about it. I was disappointed to find it's more women's fiction than anything, though there are a few haunting scenes. But I found myself more and more invested the further into the story I got, intrigued by the mystery, caring about Cassie and her ancestors---and the animals! I don't care to jump around in time or head hop, which knocks a star off for me, but I cared enough about finding out what happened that it didn't irritate me too much.
I don't typically care for Xe Sands as a narrator; she makes everything sound melancholy and emotionally charged, couldn't sound matter-of-fact or clinical if she tried. I actually stopped listening to Kristan Higgins's books because I couldn't stand Xe's melodramatic style. So realizing she was the narrator was another disappointment, but I can't deny she's brilliant at those exact things---sounding melancholy and emotional. I cried over a dead donkey because of her.
Overall, not at all a bad book, just not entirely to my taste/what I wanted it to be. Anyone who likes women's fiction or digging into family mysteries or simply multi-generational tales should enjoy this book.
I'm a fan of Webb's ghost stories, but because her audios are published by Brilliance, who doesn't share with libraries, I haven't been able to listen to many of her books. So when I saw this one pop up, I requested it without reading the blurb or knowing anything about it. I was disappointed to find it's more women's fiction than anything, though there are a few haunting scenes. But I found myself more and more invested the further into the story I got, intrigued by the mystery, caring about Cassie and her ancestors---and the animals! I don't care to jump around in time or head hop, which knocks a star off for me, but I cared enough about finding out what happened that it didn't irritate me too much.
I don't typically care for Xe Sands as a narrator; she makes everything sound melancholy and emotionally charged, couldn't sound matter-of-fact or clinical if she tried. I actually stopped listening to Kristan Higgins's books because I couldn't stand Xe's melodramatic style. So realizing she was the narrator was another disappointment, but I can't deny she's brilliant at those exact things---sounding melancholy and emotional. I cried over a dead donkey because of her.
Overall, not at all a bad book, just not entirely to my taste/what I wanted it to be. Anyone who likes women's fiction or digging into family mysteries or simply multi-generational tales should enjoy this book.
June 1, 2024
The Witches of Santo Stefano by W. Webb, published by Lake Union Publishing, is a full length novel that spans decades. Telling the stories of Fiora, Violetta, Cassandra and Mariah, all relatives living in different times. And this are their stories. An intriguing read, twisty and full of unexpected turns, kept me in suspense rather quickly.
Blurb:When Cassie discovers her husband’s affair,her life is crumbling. After researching her family’s ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and a warning.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the discovery of who she really is.
Blurb:When Cassie discovers her husband’s affair,her life is crumbling. After researching her family’s ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and a warning.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the discovery of who she really is.
June 12, 2024
I received an advance copy of The Witches of Santo Stefano from Netgalley. This book is currently set to publish on Sept 24, 2024
3.5 Stars
The Witches of Santo Stefano is the multigenerational story following 5 women in the Rossi family across Italy to the United States and back again.
We follow newly separated Cassie Graves to Italy as she begins healing her broken heart by finding answers to her lost ancestry. Along the way, we get as caught up in the mystery of her family as Cassie, we feel her betrayal from her husband, and we fall in love with both the people in Santo Stefano and the town itself. The story moves between Cassie's story and that of the women before her in an intriguing tale of powerful women.
While I enjoyed this book very much, there were times I struggled to follow who was who and how they were related. A family tree would have been very helpful. I also didn't resonate with the title of Witches, these women were intuits with the healing touch.
I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good multigenerational story built around strong female leads.
3.5 Stars
The Witches of Santo Stefano is the multigenerational story following 5 women in the Rossi family across Italy to the United States and back again.
We follow newly separated Cassie Graves to Italy as she begins healing her broken heart by finding answers to her lost ancestry. Along the way, we get as caught up in the mystery of her family as Cassie, we feel her betrayal from her husband, and we fall in love with both the people in Santo Stefano and the town itself. The story moves between Cassie's story and that of the women before her in an intriguing tale of powerful women.
While I enjoyed this book very much, there were times I struggled to follow who was who and how they were related. A family tree would have been very helpful. I also didn't resonate with the title of Witches, these women were intuits with the healing touch.
I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good multigenerational story built around strong female leads.
September 12, 2024
This is my first time reading a Wendy Webb book and I really enjoyed it. Her writing flows really well especially when shifting through the different characters and time settings.
In present day Minnesota, Cassandra and her cousin Maria want to learn more about their family who originated from Italy. Cassandra decides to travel to the tiny town of Santo Stefano to rediscover her roots. There she meets and befriends some of the townspeople. They are a friendly bunch and they begin to help her find out more about her ancestors. Meanwhile, the book also goes back in time and tells the story of her (great-great), and (great)-grandmother. Perhaps the townspeople of old were not as friendly!
I really enjoyed the Italian setting. The town and atmosphere was vividly described - as was the delicious food! The story was told at just the right pace and kept my interest all throughout. It's sprinkled with a tiny bit of "old world" magic that's just perfect for this time of year 🎃
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.
Publishes on September 24, 2024
In present day Minnesota, Cassandra and her cousin Maria want to learn more about their family who originated from Italy. Cassandra decides to travel to the tiny town of Santo Stefano to rediscover her roots. There she meets and befriends some of the townspeople. They are a friendly bunch and they begin to help her find out more about her ancestors. Meanwhile, the book also goes back in time and tells the story of her (great-great), and (great)-grandmother. Perhaps the townspeople of old were not as friendly!
I really enjoyed the Italian setting. The town and atmosphere was vividly described - as was the delicious food! The story was told at just the right pace and kept my interest all throughout. It's sprinkled with a tiny bit of "old world" magic that's just perfect for this time of year 🎃
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.
Publishes on September 24, 2024
September 26, 2024
Family history research leads Cassandra, a resident of Wharton by Lake Superior, to discover an alarming anomaly on her late great-grandmother Violetta’s birth certificate. To get to the bottom of the mystery, Cassandra travels to Italy, Violetta’s homeland.
As well as showing Cassandra’s present-day search for the truth, the story is also told from the viewpoints of several of her forebears. These older timelines reminded me of The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, not only due to the number of ancestors and generations to keep track of, but also because of the beautiful touches of magical realism.
I’ve read several of Wendy Webb’s ghostly suspense novels, but this moved into different territory with a sweeping tale of enchantments, cures, curses and suspected witchcraft. The writing was of Wendy Webb’s usual high standard and came with the bonus of sumptuous descriptions of Italian architecture, customs and food.
A delight from start to finish.
This is an independent review of an early NetGalley copy. I thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.
As well as showing Cassandra’s present-day search for the truth, the story is also told from the viewpoints of several of her forebears. These older timelines reminded me of The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, not only due to the number of ancestors and generations to keep track of, but also because of the beautiful touches of magical realism.
I’ve read several of Wendy Webb’s ghostly suspense novels, but this moved into different territory with a sweeping tale of enchantments, cures, curses and suspected witchcraft. The writing was of Wendy Webb’s usual high standard and came with the bonus of sumptuous descriptions of Italian architecture, customs and food.
A delight from start to finish.
This is an independent review of an early NetGalley copy. I thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.
September 29, 2024
The Witches of Santo Stefano is a story told in multiple voices and timelines. it begins with Cassandra in the present day whose marriage has broken up. She and her sister begin to research their family history, especially after finding a death certificate for their beloved great grandmother, showing that she died in 1911 from witchcraft when she had, in fact, only died a few years ago. Cassie decides to travel to Italy to learn about her family history and also heal from all the heartache she was experiencing. Other voices are that of Cassie's great grandmother, her great great grandmother, and her grandmother - all strong women beekeepers and healers. There's a lot more going on in the story including a touch of the supernatural and the mystery of why the women in her family couldn't find or keep love in their lives. This is such a beautiful story that drew me in right away with its likeable characters and gorgeous scenery - and it gave me the happy ending that I love so much. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2024
The Witches Of Santo Stefano
By: Wendy Webb
5 Stars
This is a story that spans generations of women. When Cassie Graves digs up secrets on her ancestors, more and more secrets abound. This leads her on a life changing journey to Santo Stefano to find out who she is and who she came from.
This story was filled with mystery and magic. Witches and healers have been persecuted through many thousands of years, and this book shows that even in more modern times, those persecutions are real. This story was about history and learning who we are, who we are meant to be. It was captivating and enticing. It was written beautifully and sent me on a roller-coaster of emotions. The pain. The love. The magic. They could be felt coming from the pages.
I have been a huge fan of Wendy since I found her years ago, and this book was yet another magical masterpiece.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review
By: Wendy Webb
5 Stars
This is a story that spans generations of women. When Cassie Graves digs up secrets on her ancestors, more and more secrets abound. This leads her on a life changing journey to Santo Stefano to find out who she is and who she came from.
This story was filled with mystery and magic. Witches and healers have been persecuted through many thousands of years, and this book shows that even in more modern times, those persecutions are real. This story was about history and learning who we are, who we are meant to be. It was captivating and enticing. It was written beautifully and sent me on a roller-coaster of emotions. The pain. The love. The magic. They could be felt coming from the pages.
I have been a huge fan of Wendy since I found her years ago, and this book was yet another magical masterpiece.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review
August 21, 2024
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was not familiar with this title nor the author before coming across it on Netgalley, but a book about witches set in Italy definitely caught my attention. I enjoyed this title. I liked the characters and wanted to cheer for Cassie as she headed to Italy in the wake of a bad divorce to find answers about her family and hopefully refind herself in the process. I could imagine being in the little Italian town with her and loved how the townspeople welcomed her in with Italian hospitatity and good food. Loved the dual time periods as we read about Cassie in the present and her ancestors stories from the past. Both are good stories on their own. Enjoyable read more about relationships, personal growth, and family ancestry with a little touch of magic.
I was not familiar with this title nor the author before coming across it on Netgalley, but a book about witches set in Italy definitely caught my attention. I enjoyed this title. I liked the characters and wanted to cheer for Cassie as she headed to Italy in the wake of a bad divorce to find answers about her family and hopefully refind herself in the process. I could imagine being in the little Italian town with her and loved how the townspeople welcomed her in with Italian hospitatity and good food. Loved the dual time periods as we read about Cassie in the present and her ancestors stories from the past. Both are good stories on their own. Enjoyable read more about relationships, personal growth, and family ancestry with a little touch of magic.
September 24, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and author Wendy Webb for this arc copy!
This story follows Cassandra as she travels to Italy to figure out a newly discovered family mystery. While there, weird things start happening around her. She starts seeing things that aren’t really there… and every where she turns it seems like it has something to do with witch craft. She meets several people who are in some way connected to her family, and with their help, she is more determined than ever to figure out the truth.
This switches from past to present, showing the history of Cassandra’s ancestors in San Stefano and the reason they fled to America.
This was a really fast read for me. I think the author did a great job connecting the past with the present, describing the location, and creating likable characters. Read if you like:
Witches
Found family
Multiple POV’s
Romance
Cozy mystery
History
This book is out now! Go grab a copy! ❤️
This story follows Cassandra as she travels to Italy to figure out a newly discovered family mystery. While there, weird things start happening around her. She starts seeing things that aren’t really there… and every where she turns it seems like it has something to do with witch craft. She meets several people who are in some way connected to her family, and with their help, she is more determined than ever to figure out the truth.
This switches from past to present, showing the history of Cassandra’s ancestors in San Stefano and the reason they fled to America.
This was a really fast read for me. I think the author did a great job connecting the past with the present, describing the location, and creating likable characters. Read if you like:
Witches
Found family
Multiple POV’s
Romance
Cozy mystery
History
This book is out now! Go grab a copy! ❤️
September 25, 2024
4.5/5. I really wanted this to be a 5 star read for me, but it just didn’t hit. Wendy Webb is known for gothic, atmospheric suspense with a good mystery. This was certainly gothic and atmospheric, with a bit of suspense and not really a whole lot of mystery. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it for what it was-a story of a woman researching her family history, and along the way, finding herself. But the parts of her family history that were a mystery to her, were being told to us in flashbacks, so we got the answers long before our main character did. One answer was never solved though, and it seems the audience learns so much more than the main character does, which can be off putting if you’re rooting for the MC to discover everything. Also, and maybe it’s just a me problem, but I was constantly mixing up Giovanni and Giuseppe. Overall, it was a wonderfully told story, but not what I went into expecting it to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews