Two sisters set sail on a bride ship from Normandy hoping to leave a curse behind them and find better lives in the wilds of 17th-century Quebec, only to meet a mysterious witch who forces them to confront the truth about magic—and their past.
Élisabeth Jossard boards a bride ship to New France with her sister Marthe, forced to start a new life after a scandal in her village in Normandy. She’s harbouring a dark secret and hopes that by coming to Montreal—the holiest place in the world, she’s been told—the saints will hear her pleas and lift the curse that plagues her.
When Élisabeth’s prayers go unanswered and she is unable to banish the spirit she believes is tormenting her, Marthe encourages her to turn to a powerful witch for help, the enigmatic stowaway Jeanne Roy. But Jeanne has secrets of her own, and when she refuses to help, Élisabeth’s resentment kindles a dangerous fire.
Inspired by the tales of Canada’s Filles du Roi, The Winter Witch examines how lies, arrogance, and ignorance can lead to witch hunts in any society.
Paperback, 384 pages
Published January 27, 2026
by Simon & Schuster
3.5/5 stars
It's been a while since I've read a Jennifer Chevalier, but it was the stunning cover that caught my eye. Pair that with Canadian historical fiction and I was all in.
Inspired by the stories of the Filles du Roi, this story follows sisters Elisabeth and Marthe who are sent from France to New France, to marry and start new lives. Different in personalities made for an interesting journey and also as they faced the realities of their new lives. Elisabeth's belief that she is cursed was a darker side to this story but it also didn't grab me like I'm sure the author intended, maybe the repetitiveness of her thoughts got to me.
I appreciated the historical elements and how the story had a theme of resilence, faith (though that wasn't central) and highlighted the dangers of ignorance - did these young women really know what they were in for.
All in all an intriguing and unique take on early Canadian history with a darker edge. It didn't completely pull me in, but still a worthwhile read. If you enjoy HF with a touch of mystery and folklore this would work.
This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #14
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