A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate—and its enigmatic owner—in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre .
“Salt and broom, make this room
Safe and tight, against the night.”
Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort. Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester—who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.
This was in an ebook format – I believe it was part of the Amazon offering. It forms part of my attempt to clear down my existing TBR, and therefore is part of my #BeatTheBacklog 2024 challenge.
This book follows the main story of Jane Eyre, but with some significant changes. Jane Eyre is now Jane Aire, who has grown up at the Lowood school for orphans as the local herbalist/witch (something the school has a reputation for, even if not outright condoned.) Jane is sent to help out Mr Rochester in his sprawling house. The rest of the book is, of course, pretty much original and therefore subject to a certain set of spoilers.
The principal characters are similar to those in Jane Eyre, at least by name if not by actions. Jane finds out that the Doctor who attended Mrs Rochester as she died also loved her, so there is motive about attending her etc. The marriage with Rochester was mainly financial (rather that a love match). Many of the events have Mrs Rochester at the centre, much like the original. There is also a take on Jane and her being an orphan (spoiler!). Aire is forced to leave, as per the original, but comes back to use her skills in order to solve the issues at hand.
The Ending was close to the original but there is no “reader, I married him” moment. It was different enough to be satisfying
The title does tie up with the ore witchcraft side of things which this book is fairly heavy one – it’s certainly not a book for those who are not open or interested in these things.
Writing about books 