Salt & Broom: Witchy & Inviting
If you’ve ever wished Jane Eyre had just a touch more magic, Sharon Lynn Fisher’s Salt & Broom delivers exactly that. This reimagining takes the beloved gothic romance and layers in witchcraft, curses, and cozy mystery vibes that make it a perfect fall read. From the moment I saw the enchanting cover, I was sold—no back-cover blurb needed. The story inside lived up to the promise of its design: charming, atmospheric, and just spooky enough to keep you turning pages by candlelight.
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Hype Report
Goodreads has Salt & Broom at 4.10 stars. I agree. Appropriately-Hyped
Aesthetic
The Cover
The eye-catching cover art sold me Salt & Broom. I didn’t even read the back. I knew it would be witchy from the title and the illustration. Sold. It’s lovely. The typography is fitting to the theme. The entire design is extremely well-balanced.
Interior
Well-laid-out ebook. No issues. The use of typography in the chapter titles was awkward when there was more than one like or something in parentheses. This is minor and only noticeable to someone looking for it.
Did the design affect whether I bought the book?
100% sold me this book.
Summary
In Short
A Jane Eyre reimagining in which Jane Aire is a witch who is hired to diagnose and cure the cursed estate of Thornfield and subsequently becomes enamored with her employer, Mr. Rochester.
From the Publisher
“Fans of Jane Eyre will go feral for this.” —The Everygirl
Salt and broom, make this room
Safe and tight, against the night.
Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest challenge of her sheltered girls’-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward Rochester. And he’s hired her only as a last resort.
Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester—who’s becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day. Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she’s growing to love from a threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined.
Character Analysis
Unlike many heroines in cozy mysteries, Salt & Broom‘s Jane does undergo some character development. She embraces who she knows herself to be and gains confidence in her skills. Both she and Mr. Rochester are likable, and they make a natural pair. The other characters are painted just as much as they need to be to forward the plot.
I could not always distinguish between the voice of fear and the voice of my own guiding spirit.
Writing Style
Is the writing style friendly? Can I say that? It seems like the reader is pals with Jane (and occasionally Rochester when we get his POV). Salt & Broom flows easily, and the pacing is medium. World-building is minimal, but magical or paranormal elements are explained to allow unfamiliar readers to follow without issue. I found the writing had a levity that was almost humorous, but pulled back just enough without distracting from the danger implicit in the story.
After all these years of wondering who my parents were, and why they had abandoned me, the greatest treasure I’d carry away with me was the realization that I could be whole without them.
Themes
Themes of friendship, trust, and growing to know and trust yourself. There is a romantic storyline and another about family that weave in around the mystery of the cursed estate.
Critical Evaluation
The Salt & Broom plot was solid and the storytelling engaging. Descriptive sections held enough information to form a mental picture, and focused on items that were integral to the reader’s understanding of the story (paranormal items or persons) and to offer some foreshadowing. Fisher also writes effective dialogue and beautifully weaves in subtext to further the subplots.
I smiled despite my self-inflicted peril; it was a half-wild, magical place.
Personal Opinion
This is a fun, light read, perfect for fall weather and spooky season. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick story.
Recommendation
Readers who like Jane Eyre, witchy vibes, cozy mysteries, and period romances, Salt & Broom is for you. Or check out this list of other Witchy Reads!
Do you like re-imaginings of classics or fairytales? Which are your favorites?
Buy This Book
May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.
Happy Reading!
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