The Orphan Witch    by Paige Crutcher Order:  USA  Can Griffin, 2021 (2021) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson In The Orphan Witch, a coming of age fantasy by Paige Crutcher, Persephone May has had a difficult upbringing. She was abandoned as an infant at a firehouse and raised in a series of foster homes. Odd things happen around her, her unintentional use of magic causing her to be rejected time and time again. The story opens in 1919 on the Isle of Wile, where Amara Mayfair makes a bargain for power and magic, just as her ancestors had done a century earlier. It then fast forwards to 2019, where Persephone is 'cursed to be alone' - when anyone looks into her eyes, their personality changes to 'pure unfiltered rage' and bad things happen. Then she meets Hyacinth Ever, who presses her to visit Wile Isle off the coast of North Carolina, an island charged with power. When she does so, it changes her life - and that of others. Persephone stays with Hyacinth and her sister Moira, who teach her to control her magic, and call her cousin. She learns of their family feud with the powerful Way sisters; travels outside of time to a very special library of the lost and falls in love with its librarian, Dorian. She comes of age, breaks a curse, and accepts the consequences. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews