The Last Witch of Scotland

Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2024

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LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

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Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.

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The Last Witch of Scotland

By: Philip Paris

Narrated by: Samara MacLaren, Steven Cree

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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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'Compelling, evocative, heart-wrenching and beautifully written. Highly recommended.' - Fiona Valpy, author of The Storyteller of Casablanca

Being a woman was her only crime.

Scottish Highlands, 1727.

In the aftermath of a tragic fire that kills her father, Aila and her mother, Janet, move to the remote parish of Loth, north-west of Inverness. Blending in does not come easily to the women: Aila was badly burned in the fire and left with visible injuries, while her mother struggles to maintain her grip on reality. When a temporary minister is appointed in the area, rather than welcome the two women, he develops a strange curiosity for them that sets them even further apart from the community.

Then arrives a motley troupe of travelling entertainers from Edinburgh, led by the charismatic but mysterious Jack. It is just the distraction Janet, and particularly Aila, needs: for the first time in a long while, their lives are filling with joy and friendship, and a kind of hope Aila hasn't known since her father's death. But in this small community, faith is more powerful than truth, and whispers more dangerous even than fire.

Haunting and deeply moving, The Last Witch of Scotland is a story of love, loyalty and sacrifice, inspired by the true story of the last person to be executed for witchcraft in Britain.

Perfect for fans of Outlander, The Mercies and The Witches of Vardo, or for anyone with an interest in the history of witchcraft, late renaissance Scotland and Highland history.

Philip ParisSamara MacLarenSteven CreeBlack & White Publishing

Fiction

Great Britain

Historical

Historical Fiction

Magic

Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts

Romance

Witchcraft

Highlander

Scotland

Heartfelt

Magic Users

Fiction Great Britain Historical Historical Fiction Magic Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Romance Witchcraft Highlander Scotland Heartfelt Magic Users

Featured article: Witches in fiction: 12 historical fiction books to listen to this Halloween

Throughout history, women have been branded as witches by people scared of their power, confidence and independence. In days past, accusations of being a witch – thrown at women for everything from being talented at working with herbs to being in the vicinity of a death – could result in banishment or even death. These 12 audiobooks, perfect for the longer nights, colder weather and the Halloween season, tell the stories of women through history, from goddesses to regular women, through a mix of horror, fantasy and historical fiction.

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As a modern day witch in Scotland, this book was incredibly moving. Not only for the injustices faced by so called witches but for women everywhere.