The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs

A modern-day historian at a Boston university works to complete her book about colonial-era accused witches while confronting supernatural occurrences in her own life. Connie Goodwin must balance her academic career, a complex relationship with her partner Sam, and mounting evidence that her family carries a centuries-old curse. The narrative moves between present-day Boston and New England's witch-hunting past as Connie researches her ancestors' involvement in colonial witchcraft. Her investigation leads her to Grace Hobbs and the Daughters of Temperance Hobbs, women whose stories remained hidden in archival documents and family lore. Through parallel timelines and interwoven histories, the story explores themes of legacy, female scholarship, and the price of knowledge. The book continues themes and characters from Howe's earlier work "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" while examining how the past reaches into the present.

Readers note this sequel to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane works as a standalone novel, though many recommend reading both books in order. Readers appreciated: - The detailed academic setting and research scenes - Historical details about New England witchcraft - The blend of past and present storylines - Strong female characters - The author's knowledge of early American history Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first half - Too much focus on academic minutiae - Less engaging than the first book - Some found the ending rushed Review scores: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (230+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The academic portions felt authentic but dragged down the story" - Goodreads reviewer "Loved how it built on the first book while creating its own identity" - Amazon reviewer "Expected more witchcraft, got a lot of dissertation writing" - Goodreads reviewer

The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston A present-day witch grapples with her centuries-long past while trying to escape a dark force that has pursued her through time.

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The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe A graduate student researches Salem's witch trials and uncovers evidence that links her to a colonial-era practitioner of traditional magic.

The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston A mute woman with mysterious powers navigates marriage, magic, and malevolent forces in nineteenth-century Wales.

🌟 Katherine Howe is herself descended from Elizabeth Proctor, who survived the Salem Witch Trials, and Elizabeth Howe, who was hanged as a witch in 1692 🌟 The book is a sequel to "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" and continues to explore the connection between academic research and historical witchcraft in New England 🌟 Many of the historical documents referenced in the novel are based on real archival materials from Harvard's Widener Library and the Massachusetts Historical Society 🌟 Temperance Hobbs was inspired by real colonial-era women who were skilled in herbal medicine and often walked the line between accepted medical practice and accusations of witchcraft 🌟 The author, Katherine Howe, has served as a historical consultant for the hit television series "Salem" and has taught American colonial history at Cornell University