I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher Published by 47North on December 1 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Gothic
Pages: 287
Format: ARC
Source: Author
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The nitty-gritty: Sharon Lynn Fisher combines elements of Jane Eyre with the paranormal in this richly imagined story, dripping with Gothic intrigue and romance.
I always look forward to Sharon Lynn Fisher’s new books, and her latest is a wonderful treat for fans of Gothic mysteries. Salt & Broom is a Jane Eyre retelling full of witches, fairies and ghosts, and fans of the classic tale will recognize many of the character names, locations and plot points from the original, although Fisher puts her own unique spin on Brontë’s tragic romance. I was fully immersed in this book from the first page and it was very hard to put down.
The story follows Jane Aire, a thirty year old woman who has lived at Lowood School her entire life, having been orphaned as a baby. Jane is a practicing witch and a teacher who imparts her knowledge of herbal lore and remedies to the young students at Lowood. Despite the harsh conditions of the school, Jane is mostly happy, although she dreads interactions with Mr. Brocklehurst, the superintendent of the school.
One day her comfortable routine is upended when Mr. Brocklehurst tells her he’s sending her away. A gentleman named Edward Fairfax Rochester is having trouble on his estate, Thornfield Hall, and has requested the services of a witch. He’s offering a large sum of money to the school if Jane can help out, and so she agrees to make the trip to Thornfield Hall to meet with Mr. Rochester. Jane has no idea what the “trouble” could be, but she’s loyal to her home and only wants the best for Lowood and those who live there.
When Jane arrives at Thornfield, she meets the mysterious Mr. Rochester, who believes there is a curse on his house. The household staff have experienced odd things like finding spoilt milk or broken dishes (what Mr. Rochester refers to as “fairy pranks”), but some of them have seen scarier things, like “shadows” following them. One of the maids even claims to have seen the ghost of Rochester’s dead wife, Antoinette. Rochester hopes Jane can help break the curse, although Jane knows solving the mystery won’t be easy.
Fisher has perfectly captured the essence of Jane Eyre with her gorgeous writing style and language, and I felt as if I had been dropped directly into 1847 England. Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall and is swept up in several intriguing mysteries. First, she has to figure out how to fix whatever is happening at the estate, but in order to do that, she needs to get closer to the household staff and learn more about Antoinette’s death. There are also secrets buried behind the stern facade of Mr. Rochester, and Jane knows she must learn the truth if she’s to save Thornfield Hall. And perhaps the biggest mystery of all is Jane herself. Where did she come from? Who were her parents? And how is she tied to Thornfield Hall and the surrounding woods? Fisher has some surprising reveals in store for readers, and I guarantee you will have a fun time getting there.
There are so many little details in the story that added to the Gothic sensibility, like the poison garden for example, a garden full of medicinal—and poisonous—plants, grown during Antoinette’s illness in order to help her. It’s such a creepy idea, and of course I had to Google “poison garden” and it’s a real thing! The nearby woods, full of blackthorn trees, are suitably creepy and mysterious, and I loved the way Jane is connected to them. I won’t give too much away, but let’s just say the fairy realm plays a big part in this story, and I loved the way the author combined that with witchcraft, ghosts, family tragedy and romance. It seems like too many elements for one story, but Fisher seamlessly weaves them all together with Jane at the center of everything.
And speaking of romance, because this is a Jane Eyre retelling, you can expect a relationship to bloom between Jane and Edward, although it’s subtly done and doesn’t overwhelm the story. Edward is the perfect emotionally tortured Gothic leading man, and I thought he and Jane had just the right amount of chemistry for a story set in the Victorian era. This is primarily a mystery with added fantasy and romance elements, but the driving force is Jane’s search for answers, which keeps the story flowing nicely.
Jane is a wonderfully drawn character, a girl who has been though a lot in her life but always tries to stay positive. She knows as an orphan she has no chance of ever marrying and having a family of her own, but she dives head first into the mysteries of Thornfield Hall, determined to make things right. Along the way she makes some startling discoveries about her own past, which gives her hope that maybe she can change her fate for the better.
And I can’t forget about Sybil, the cat who appears at Jane’s cottage doorstep and decides to move in. Sybil acts as a sort of witch’s familiar, but she’s also much, much more (and you’ll have to read the story to find out what!)
This is another winner from Sharon Lynn Fisher, who just gets better and better with every new book. Fans of the author will love Salt & Broom, and for new readers, this is the perfect place to start.
Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
This author is new to me, but I find the premise of this story more than fascinating. Retellings of well-known stories always add something intriguing to the original material, and Salt and Broom seems to have that in plenty. One more for the TBR… 😉
Thanks for sharing!!!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THIN AIR, by Richard Morgan @SciFiMonth
I thought she did such a good job with the retelling, but also made it her own:-)
Gothic mysteries? Jane Eyre retelling? Witches, fairies and ghosts? Sounds good to me! And s much as I’m a romance fan I’m glad the relationship between Jane and Edward doesn’t overwhelm the story. It feels like it doesn’t need to with all the other elements of the story. Also, how gorgeous is that cover? I really want a hardcover now!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Book Blitz: Good Elf Gone Wrong by Alina Jacobs + Giveaway (INT)
I know, the cover is amazing. And such a fun story:-)
This sounds incredible and like everything I love in one book! Definitely adding it to my TBR.
It does have so many great elements, I hope you enjoy it:-)
I’m so excited to have a copy of this and glad you enjoyed it. It’s one of my favorite covers of the year too!
I agree, the cover is gorgeous. Enjoy!
This sounds amazing! Great review — I have a copy, and need to bump it up my priority list!
I hope you love it too:-)
Tammy I’m so glad you enjoyed SALT & BROOM!! Thank you for the wonderful post.
Thanks for visiting Sharon!!
This sounds interesting but I am always leery of Jane Eyre retellings as it’s my favorite classic book…lol.
Stormi recently posted…Two Bloggers One Book ~ IT by Stephen King
I totally get it:-)
If you’ve never read it, seek out the short story, Rappacini’s Daughter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It’s a real classic with a poison garden. I’ve reread it a couple times now and still love the story. Do you think this book would be as strong if you hadn’t already read Jane Eyre? I don’t recall if I’ve ever read that one.
It’s funny you mention Rappacini’s Daughter. I’ve never read that story, but I did read a book where the daughter was a character in the story. The name of the book escapes me now, but I loved it.
Ooooh… this sounds so interesting and that cover is beautiful! I’ll have to add this one to my TBR. 😀
Destiny @ Howling Libraries recently posted…December 2023 TBR & Journal Spreads
She’s such a good writer, and the mood is on point:-)
My giddy aunt. This sounds fantastic. Like surely this was written for me! I have to have it. Onto the wishlist.
Great review.
Lynn 😀
I hope you get to read it!
I love Jane Eyre and I love a good retelling so this one definitely appeals to me. I love that it sounds so unique but that there are plenty of shout outs to the original.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Thriller Thursday Review: #CrimeTime
It was so well done, she obviously took great care in the details:-)
I’m so glad I already have a copy of this, and reading your review has made me think I should make it one of my top priorities for 2024. I love the idea of a magical Jane Eyre retelling. Great review and I’m glad you enjoyed the book 😀
I’ll look forward to your review!
Love the cover! I also like reimaginings of classics, like this one seems to be. Great review!
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