I received a review request for Escape from Witchwood Hollow from someone on author Jordan Elizabeth’s marketing team. I was intrigued by the premise, and so I happily agreed to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As the story begins in October 2001, Honoria has just moved to the small town of Arnn with her older brother, and her aunt and uncle. She has just lost her parents in the September 11^th terrorist attacks, and her new guardians feel that it is in everyone’s best interest to leave the city and start anew upstate. They move into a historic home; her aunt dreams of converting their new abode into an inn, and Honoria starts school. Her new classmates tell her about the town folklore about the woods around the town, and how they are inhabited by a witch. People who have gone into the woods have remained last forever. After being dared/tricked into going into the woods by her new classmates, Honoria feels drawn to the woods wonders if the stories are true.  

The story skips around various time periods, from a young woman in the 17^th century, to a young woman in the 19^th century, and then back to the present day. These subplots are even more fascinating than the main story, and help to provide the backstory. The witch’s origin story and her motivation are explored, and it’s a fascinating addition to the story.

I was a little distracted by the constant “name dropping” of clothing brands in the descriptions of what characters were wearing. It seemed out of place for the genre, where the brands were relatively unimportant to the overall story.

I would recommend Escape from Witchwood Hollow. This book will appeal to its target “young adult” demographic, as well as to fans of the genre.