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  • The Ward Witch

  • Unholy Island, Book 1
  • By: Sarah Painter
  • Narrated by: Katie Villa
  • Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (79 ratings)

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The Ward Witch

By: Sarah Painter
Narrated by: Katie Villa
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Summary

Mysterious, magical, and a little bit deadly. Welcome to Unholy Island.

Esme Gray runs the guest house and tends to the ethereal wards that protect the island. She’s sheltering from a terrible past and will do anything to stay safely hidden.

Luke Taylor has been searching for his missing twin for months, but has begun to believe that his brother might be dead. With his hope in tatters, a tip off leads him to a remote tidal island in the North Sea. It’s further out than the famous Holy Island, and far stranger.

Visitors shouldn’t be able to stay for more than two nights, so when Luke breaks this rule, the close-knit community is sent into turmoil. The residents of Unholy Island have secrets and they intend to keep them.

When Luke stumbles across one of the islanders dead on the shore, he finds himself under suspicion, made worse by his own troubles washing up on the tide.

Esme is drawn to Luke, but she doesn’t trust her own instincts. That’s not ideal for a witch—especially when there is a killer on the loose and a storm is rolling in....

The Ward Witch is the first book in a brand new contemporary fantasy series from the best-selling author of magical fiction, Sarah Painter.

*The Ward Witch is set in the same world as the urban fantasy mystery books, Crow Investigations, but it is the start of a separate series and can be enjoyed independently.

©2023 Sarah Painter (P)2023 Sarah Painter
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What listeners say about The Ward Witch

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great introduction to the series

I think this is the start of another great series by Sarah Painter and I can’t wait for the rest of the books

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A very different pace from the Crow series

I recognise that this book was establishing a new landscape and characters. However, I found it poorly paced. I’m not entirely clear why it was called the Ward Witch. It was told from at least one other perspective.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another new world to explore!

I cannot fi d fault with Sarah Painter's writing. She has walked us over the border to anothwr new world. New characters, new rulesnof life,new loves. Long may the stories come!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

I love Sarah Painters books. The way they are normal world with a bit of mysticism!
I’m looking forward to more of them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

new favorite

it is a good story with a good narrator voice, thats comfurtable to listen to. you're kept guessing and curious through out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love Sarah's book, this new series is astounding as ever ❤️

I love the way Sarah blends modern day life with the magical and mysterious, absolutely brilliant 👏 😀 👌

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story well read

Sarah Painter is such a great story teller. I enjoyed the nod to her other series of stories and I’m looking forward to more from this one. Great narrator too very enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such a cosy witchy story!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were really relatable and I loved the idea of such an island. A delight to listen to!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous

I loved the nods back to the crow series. Can't wait for the next one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Modern magic and tourism

Island of magical types with a murder thrown in. It was good but not great. I can’t quite put my finger on why but it’s probably worth a read.

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