The Last Witch in Edinburgh BY Marielle Thompson

In The Witches of the Rae Apothecary, set in an alternate 1824 Edinburgh, fear of execution for witchcraft looms over every woman. In a city where invoking the wrong person's ire can be deadly, Nellie Duncan, a beautiful and solitary young woman, finds herself drawn to the Rae Women’s Apothecary. There, she meets the fiery Jean Rae and the other women who, guided by the winter deity Cailleach, practice witchcraft with independence and strength. The apothecary becomes Nellie’s refuge and training ground as she learns the art of nature-based magic and begins a passionate romance with Jean.

As Nellie delves into the mysteries of witchcraft and the Cailleach’s power to return from death, a dark threat emerges. An ancient enemy of the Cailleach seeks to strip away the deity’s influence and eradicate her witches, unleashing patriarchal violence and chaos. When tragedy strikes, Nellie flees, spending the next two centuries in hiding.

Now, as love rekindles her courage, Nellie returns to Edinburgh, where oppressive forces have evolved but are no less menacing. Determined to confront her past and fight against the new forms of patriarchy, Nellie embraces her inner strength and the transformative power of resistance. The Witches of the Rae Apothecary is a lush, atmospheric novel that blends witchcraft, queer love, and Scottish folklore into a compelling and emotional journey of empowerment and defiance.