Review: 'The Women of Wild Hill' by Kirsten Miller

Disclosure: I received a free review copy from the publisher. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. [*]

In the realm of literary exploration, I found myself at a curious crossroads with The Women of Wild Hill ^[*]. What initially drew me in? Perhaps it was the vibrant cover, reminiscent of an otherworldly spell. Or maybe it was the echoes of witchy horror whispering from my past. The author, Kirsten Miller, was a name I recognized but had never yet explored. So, despite it collecting dust on my shelf since October, a product of life’s unexpected detours—I finally opened its pages.

The novel unfolds against the backdrop of Wild Hill, a mystical slice of Long Island where nature's raw powers converge. Here, girls are gifted with extraordinary abilities—some so dark they wrestle with the fear of their own potential. Miller weaves a tale steeped in magic and familial legacy, beginning with the ghost of a witch wronged by the colonizers whose presence lingers over the land. Sadie Duncan, a young Scottish woman with unique gifts, was permitted to stay, and thus began a lineage of powerful women known as the Duncans. This lineage is one that has seen generations grapple with their gifts, but tragedy strikes, and the last of the Duncans, foreseen to be the mightiest, flees.

In California, Brigid Laguerre has transformed her dark endowment into a platform of fame and fortune, while Phoebe, her sister, contributes to the quieter, hidden world of herbal remedies in Texas. All the while, Sybil, Phoebe’s daughter, remains blissfully unaware of the potent bloodline from which she hails, having carved her niche in the culinary arts. As fate would have it, these three women are drawn back to Wild Hill to confront their shared past, prodded by an ancient force, the Old One, who seeks to reclaim their destinies and steer the course of humanity.

As I immersed myself in this book, I found myself speedreading, partly due to time constraints but also in an effort to form an opinion for this review. The feminist undertones felt somewhat heavy-handed, particularly from my perspective as a male reader. While I appreciate the intent behind these messages, they overshadowed the narrative for me.

The plot itself was a mixed bag. It fluctuated between moments of intrigue and stretches of mundanity that left me feeling underwhelmed. Miller's writing is accessible, the dialogue crackling with life, and the descriptions adequate, though often lacking the sharpness that could have heightened the atmosphere.

The Women of Wild Hill ^[*] struck me as an average read, a tale that did little to captivate my imagination. The palpable “wokeness”—for lack of a better term—was strikingly evident and ultimately detracted from my enjoyment. If you find solace in tales of witches, enchantment, and the supernatural, you may very well find this book to your liking. For me, however, the magic just didn’t resonate. ╌★★½☆☆

〜B.J. Burgess