Book Review: The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman

Pages: 416

Genre: Adult Fiction/Historical Fiction 

Pub. Date: September 8, 2016

Publisher: Scribner

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam’s first wife—banished for refusing to do as she was told. We Fly Together…

By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.

While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed.

 

Ava Abbot is happy to leave her family's farm behind as she has a scholarship to Radcliffe College. She meets her roommate Lauren Bell, who is well-off and knows about her magical inheritance. As Ava and Lauren navigate life at college in the 1950s, they also form a friendship despite being pulled in two different directions. They are both recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret group of witches who support one another while at Radcliffe. As time passes at college, Ava finds herself drawn to Jamie Mather, the son of the influential Mather family, which has ties to the original Puritan witch hunters. Obviously, this is a problem. Also, while at Radcliffe, Ava learns more about her ancestors, their ties to magic, and their interesting past. Fans of Alice Hoffman will relish the historical details as the 17th-century letters that Ava reads paint a vivid picture. There's also Hoffman's usual strong themes of sisterhood, magical realism, as well as a strong sense of place in The Witches of Cambridge.

I really enjoyed the characters of Ava and Lauren in The Witches of Cambridge. They are both bonded to one another after a close call, and their friendship, despite their differences, becomes a key part of the story. Ava's path takes her to Jamie Mather, whom she is drawn to despite knowing about his family's history. Whereas Lauren's path takes her to the darker side of magic as she becomes Professor Sharpe's research assistant. This relationship morphs into something more, but quickly becomes dangerous. Both women rely on one another and the story has all of Hoffman's usual themes of sisterhood while highlighting the oppressive nature of the patriarchy.

While I enjoyed the characters in The Witches of Cambridge, I can't say I overly connected with them. I felt like I was coming along for the ride, but not necessarily invested in their story. On the other hand, my favorite aspect of the novel was the sense of place. Hoffman does a superb job bringing to life Cambridge in the fall. It was atmospheric, moody, and had vivid historical details revealed in the letters from the 17th century, as well as dark academia vibes, which makes it a great option for fall reading.

While I was expecting so much more from the talented Alice Hoffman, I am still glad I read it, as it really feels like The Witches of Cambridge is meant to be read in the autumn. In the comments below, let me know if you are a fan of Alice Hoffman and if you have read or if you plan to read it this fall.