Listen to a sample
The Last Witch of Scotland
- Author
- Philip Paris
- Narrator
- Samara MacLaren, Steven Cree
- Publisher
- Black & White Publishing
- Publish Date
- 13 April 2023
- Run Time
- 9 hours 33 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Rating
- 3.8 (6 reviews)
What to expect
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.
User Reviews
Book 3.8
Narration 4.5
-
3.0 3.0
While this book contains a story that echoes the wider unjustifiable horrors of witch trails in Scotland, it balances this with charming and endearing characters. Whilst reading, I pondered what it is to be a woman today, and how easy it has been for British society to seemingly forget this violent history against women. It also makes me think about women in other countries that still face this level of persecution, as well as the subtleties (and increasingly not so subtleties) of misogynism and sexism that still exist in Britain. I also consider my past female relatives who would have been alive during these times in Scotland and what they may have witnessed. A thought provoking read indeed! In terms of story telling it took a while for the witch element to unravel, but not necessarily a bad thing as it provided character development. Some character voices in the narration were a little grinding - perhaps intentional.
LSG5 2025-11-21 -
5.0 5.0
Harrowing but beautiful, wonderful narration
fluentindothraki 2023-11-06
Details
- Author
- Philip Paris
- Narrator
- Samara MacLaren, Steven Cree
- Duration
- 9 hours 33 minutes
- Release Date
- 13 April 2023
- ISBN
- 9781785305016
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Black & White Publishing
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Historical romance, Witchcraft / Witches, Witchcraft and wicca
- Rating
- 3.8(6 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.5(6 reviews)
Synopsis
'Compelling, evocative, heart-wrenching and beautifully written. Highly recommended.' - Fiona Valpy, author of The Storyteller of CasablancaBeing 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.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.