While hedge-witch Mama Grace tends to the needs of the poorer denizens of Bellamdale, respect for her power does not extend to her foster daughter, Sally Founder. Trying to save a cat from local bullies, Sally finds herself in dire straits, until rescued by the Nephilim Samdriel. In exchange, the young girl becomes the host for his disembodied spirit.

Their merging grants Sally some of Samdriel’s power, as long as their relationship remains secret—even as other spirits grow restless and call for blood. When evil omens spur new violence, Sally is granted sanctuary by Lady Bellingham of Briarstone Manor with promises of protection and an education. Yet, the young girl’s new home holds secrets of its own, and pretty gowns and fancy balls cannot keep the growing darkness at bay. Sally unwittingly becomes part of a broader game that has been played for untold centuries. Could even Samdriel’s power be enough to save the witch’s foundling and those she loves as an ancient evil comes searching for a prize that threatens the world?

Disappointed in her rejection by the arcane Society of Seekers, witch’s foundling Sally Founder resigns herself to life as the companion of Lady Bellingham. Secretly the Host to the disembodied spirit of Samdriel, she yearns for more. Her wish is unfortunately granted after a chance encounter with evil at a London ball forces Sally and Samdriel upon a path that could lead to the discovery of their mystical bond.

Having to deal with guests at Briarstone Manor suffering from their own tragedies and a scarred young man seeking revenge, the pair have their hands full. While werewolves prowl the estate’s borders, the young woman must find a way to protect her secret and her loved ones. As a bloodthirsty enemy looms in the darkness, Sally learns that secrets can be like a cage. The cost of her freedom could lead to the destruction of everything—including her heart.

Fleeing Briarstone Manor, Sally and her Nephilim spirit, Samdriel, arrive in London on a quest to find the father she never knew. Yet, the young woman becomes frustrated to the point of despair under the coal-blackened skies of the hostile city. Standing on the banks of the River Thames, she tempted to surrender all hope when help arrives in the form of Adrien Wordsmith and his loyal dog. Together, they save a mysterious woman from the frigid waters of the river and the three find safety and companionship at Adrien’s Emporium and home.

But their sanctuary soon comes under siege as old enemies, criminal gangs and the mystical Society of Seekers draw them into a growing conflict. For, in the shadows of old London, a deadly supernatural predator hunts other creatures of magic like Sally and her new friends. As the stakes rise and time runs out to find her father, she and Samdriel must take more and more desperate chances. The search for answers and her elusive father may cost the witch’s foundling everything – including her life.

The race for the Seal of Solomon has begun just as the arcane Society of Seekers reels from a schism within their ranks. Former members of the Society, the Sons of Enoch are powerful sorcerers with an agenda and a fanatical commitment to their divine cause. All who oppose them, or follow the path of evil as they define it, are to subjugated or destroyed. In the meantime, Sally and Samdriel strive to prove their worth while struggling to help Ernest and her father find a place for themselves in the Society. Rival forces plague their efforts and Sally begins to realize her friend Caroline may be at risk from the Sons of Enoch in a manner neither of them can fully fathom. Between Blood Walkers loose in London, opposing factions and a cursed innocent, Sally and Samdriel are hard pressed to balance the demands of their talents and their hearts. For a confrontation approaches, wherein the pair will face attacks from all sides in a battle against a power they never imagined.

Reviews for The Witch’s Foundling:

1. “A lot is going on in this book, and I found myself having to flip back and forth between pages because I was missing some of the nuances and implications of certain characters. It is a book that you need to take your time with to catch all the plot twists. This book keeps you intrigued, and I can’t say I ultimately figured it out before the end. 

Alison Williams has pulled together a solid novel that will be a great read on a spooky Hallowe’en night, curled up with a spicy tea and some candy corn. I recommend this to readers who enjoy books like Diane Setterfield’s Bellman and Black or the Thirteenth Tale.” – MJ Campbell – Reedsy-Discovery

2. “This was a brand new author to me which I discovered on Book Sirens and am very glad I gave her a chance. The novel started out with Sally who was found on the doorstep of Mama Grace. She was treated like an outcast and often tortured by her peers and other children of the area. She was eventually sent to live with a well to do friend of her foster mother. Sally also has a big secret “friend” that no one knows about which she keeps a secret while having lessons with her tutors in both academics, deportment, etiquette, etc. There is also many twists and turns along with the well-developed characters which held my interest. This is one of those stories that just when you think that you have it all figured out, the truth is revealed and wasn’t who the reader thought it was right up to the very end.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who fancies the paranormal and a good mystery with twists and turns plus surprises.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.” – Debra – Book Sirens/Goodreads

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