Set in Scotland at the court of witch-hunting King James VI, this is the story of three women - born to follow very different paths - whose lives become dangerously intertwined as they attempt to defy the will of a King.

'WHAT A FASCINATING READ. I WAS TOTALLY IMMERSED IN THIS WORLD ANNA CREATED. SHE IS A WONDERFUL STORYTELLER' - LORRAINE KELLY

'A BEAUTIFULLY PORTRAYED AND IMAGINATIVE TALE OF WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL SCOTLAND IN ALL THEIR VULNERABILITY AND POWER' - S. G. MacLean, author of THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS

'IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING AND GREAT CHARACTERS' - Philip Paris, author of THE LAST WITCH OF SCOTLAND

1593, Scotland. King James VI launches a bloody witch hunt across the length and breadth of the country. But the women he fears most are already within his court.

Elspet is a spae-wife, a wise woman and healer from the isles of Orkney. Some might call her a witch.

When the king's new bride, Anna of Denmark, summons her to deliver her baby and cast a binding spell over the child, Elspet is trapped between two impossible choices - for she cannot refuse the queen, and she cannot be discovered by the king.

While Elspet struggles to hide her secret identity in a court that wishes her dead, another woman seeks her aid: Kitty Muirhead, outcast, persecuted and desperate to escape the shadows of her past. Kitty and the queen could not be more different, but they may yet be each other's salvation.

The hunt is closing in on the three women. They must concoct a reckless plan to save one another before that fearful death sentence is cast upon them - witch.

'Anchored by a marvellous central character, Caig's plot is brought to life by a strong female cast with distinct, well-drawn personalities' - Alastair Mabbot, THE HERALD

'Caig blends fiction with history for a great debut novel ... it had me hooked from the beginning' - SCOTTISH FIELD

"'What a fascinating read. I was totally immersed in this world Anna created. She is a wonderful storyteller'" - Lorraine Kelly, author of The Island Swimmer

"'Immersive storytelling and great characters. I look forward to reading more from Anna Caig.'" - Philip Paris, author of The Last Witch of Scotland

"'A beautifully portrayed and imaginative tale of women in medieval Scotland in all their vulnerability and power.'" - S.G. MacLean, author of The Bookseller of Inverness

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'Anchored by a marvellous central character, Caig's plot is brought to life by a strong female cast with distinct,
well-drawn personalities'

"'Caig blends fiction with history for a great debut novel . . . it had me hooked from the beginning'" - Scottish Field

"'Superbly researched, beautifully written and relentlessly paced . . . everything a historical thriller should be'" - M. W. Craven, author of The Final Vow

"'Affecting and compelling, Anna Caig brings history to life in this tale of women battling against the odds'" - Zoe Venditozzi, author of How to Kill a Witch

"'Richly satisfying and unapologetically feminist . . . I was riveted'" - Sarah Hilary, author of The Drowning Place

"'An exciting new voice in historical fiction. Caig brings to life a cast of fearless women striving for agency in a world that would deny them everything'" - D.V. Bishop, author of the Cesare Aldo series

"'Anna's haunting and moving novel casts a piercing light on the neglected voices of women in the sixteenth century . . . Immersive and heart-breaking'" - Zoe Rankin, author of The Vanishing Place

"'Full of intrigue and feisty female characters, this is a spellbinding debut that had me gripped'" - Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

"'A real page-turner . . . As the dangers close in on Elspet, you can't put the book down'" - The Orcadian

"'A powerful and evocative novel that brings to life a little-known chapter of history with heart and authenticity'" - Dr Louise Newson, author and physician

"'An accomplished and impressive debut'" - Paula Greenlees, Author of Journey to Paradise