TO CONDEMN A WITCH
By LISA A. TRAUGOTT
Historical Fantasy
Publisher: Rose Castle Media
Pages: 399
Publication Date: August 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS
A stolen scroll. A cursed bloodline. A prophecy that binds three witches across life and death…
Scotland, 1729. When clairvoyant healer Fiona MacLeod discovers an enchanted scroll, she awakens a prophecy linking her fate to two other women: Eleanor, a servant-turned-mistress caught in a scandal, and Matilda, a vengeful ghost burned for witchcraft. Together, they must form a coven—maiden, mother, and crone—to protect a changeling child marked by ancient magic.
But a ruthless witch hunter is closing in—one who will stop at nothing to destroy the child and the women sworn to defend her.
Spanning the infamous Hellfire Caves of England to haunted Scottish glens and the wilds of colonial Virginia, To Condemn a Witch is a haunting prequel in the Tales of the Witchblood series—a dark tale of feminine power, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between witches who rise, no matter how often they are condemned.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa A. Traugott is the award-winning author of the Tales of the Witchborn series (To Rescue a Witch and To Condemn a Witch), a haunting historical fantasy saga in the realm of ghosts, goddesses, and rebellion. She double majored in history and theater to guarantee unemployment yet somehow became a full-time author. An original cast member on American Grit with John Cena, she also had five lines on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
She lives in Austin with her husband and two kids where they enjoy walking ghost tours and telling scary stories around the campfire. You can get a FREE chapter of To Rescue a Witch at LisaTraugott.com.
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REVIEW
Ms. Traugott must have a touch of the supernatural herself, because she concocted a spellbinding story that kept me engrossed for several hours straight. To Condemn A Witch is fantastical, with its themes of ancient spirituality and magic, and is also rooted in factual historical events. The combination makes for a fascinating read.
Told from multiple points of view, the story spans several decades and various locations, both real and fictional, including Scotland, London, across the Atlantic, the Virginia Colony, and the Otherworld. The author’s impeccable research provided a backdrop that was so vividly described, it almost felt like the reader time-traveled to witness the events firsthand as they unfolded. Many of the scenes were gruesome, horrifying, and some were even downright scary. But there were also tender moments and funny segments as well.
The major characters were complex and compelling. The villains (the witch hunter, the betrayed wife, the shape shifter) revealed themselves early and were consistent in their evil deeds. Those who were considered protagonists (the coven members — Fiona, Matilda, and Eleanor; William MacLeod) were not necessarily likable or sympathetic, but they had redeeming qualities that proved their humanity and placed them on the right side of the story. They had strengths and flaws, which gave them dimensions that enriched the story. Matilda especially stands out for having made realizations about herself throughout the course of the story that guided her actions later.
Although this book was released later than Book 2, I recommend reading it first before To Rescue A Witch for a more complete experience. Be aware of the contents that may cause anxiety or discomfort — violence, deaths, mature themes, slavery, and historically accurate but objectionable language.
To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLToCondemnAWitch on your preferred social media platform.
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Maida Malby 