The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

The Briar Book of the Dead

Author: A.G. Slatter

Genre: Fantasy

Publish Date: February 2024

Read: March 2025

Favorite Quote: It’s important, Ellie, that they feel we’re a very benevolent dictatorship. It means we can get away with more.

Story Synopsis: Ellie Briar has no magic. Her cousins are witches. Her mother, grandmother, and aunts all have magic. She descends from a long line of powerful witches residing in the town of Silverton, keeping the peace and balancing the natural world with the ecclesiastical. When the matriarch, Gisela, dies unexpectedly, Ellie is thrust into a leadership position she wasn’t quite ready for. In her role, she begins to uncover horrid truths about her family. Given that she has no magic, she can often move unseen, unraveling the mystery of her family and ancestors.

Why does this book beguile? I had no idea what to expect when I started reading The Briar Book of the Dead. This is a quiet novel but compelling. The plot advanced well, and I wanted to keep reading. Each small event that happened built on the last, weaving a web that could only be unraveled by our heroine. The Briar Book of the Dead is powerful, enjoyable, quippy, and extremely well-written.

Bookshop.org Link*: The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

Amazon Link*: The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

If you’re interested in this, read*: Gallant by V.E. Schwab - Bookshop.org / Amazon.com