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The Butterfly Witch

The Butterfly Witch

£3.99 GBP
20 Second Synopsis

A Standalone Ethereal World Novel

From witch trials to world wars, Gwen has survived centuries carrying magic she can’t use — and secrets she can’t share.

But when enemies close in, can she protect the magic and herself?

A haunting, time-crossing story of love, fate, and survival. 

Full book description

A Standalone Ethereal World Novel


She survived witch hunts and world wars, but can love save her from time itself?

1612 – Born into a powerful line of witches, Gwen has always been a disappointment, a girl without magic in a community that reveres it. When news of the Pendle witch trials reaches Gwen’s coven, they cast a desperate spell to shelter orphaned magic. But a cruel twist of fate leaves Gwen to bear the burden alone, cursed to carry magic she cannot wield and hunted by those who would claim it.

1939 – For centuries, Gwen has been running. Always alone. Always afraid. Until she meets Walt, a world-weary spy who asks for nothing but her friendship. As war looms and shadows deepen, Gwen wonders if Walt’s secrets run even deeper than her own.

1976 – Haunted by his service in Vietnam, private investigator Dan is barely scraping by. When a wealthy client hires him to find a missing woman, he almost refuses – until he witnesses a murder that changes everything.

The deeper he digs, the more he realises that Gwen is the woman time forgot. And if his client finds her first, the magic she has guarded for centuries, and Gwen herself, may be lost forever.

A sweeping tale of love, friendship and the fragile threads that bind us across lifetimes.

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Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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S
Shaun
Stunning book!

This book is beautifully written. Set between Wales and England, the story instantly felt familiar and grounding, making it so easy for me to connect with the characters.

We begin with Gwen, our FMC - gentle, caring, and layered with just the right amount of vulnerability to make her feel real. Then comes Dan, her perfect counterpart: inquisitive, protective, and the kind of character who feels like he belongs on the page with her.

Emma’s writing is simply beautiful - lyrical without ever losing its heart, and immersive enough that I didn’t want to put the book down. I was completely drawn into this world from the very first chapter and couldn't put it down!

I can’t wait to discover more of the world. 5/5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

S
Sarah Macpherson
Magical world building

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a standalone Ethereal Word novel but completely ok to read as your first book if you are coming to this without reading anything Ethereal World before. Please go read the others, they are smashing!

How do I sum this up without getting over excited and littering my review with spoilers? All I really want to do is surmise the whole plot, I adored this story and want to share just how wonderful it was. Must resist.

Split into 3 time periods, 1612, 1939-1960 and 1976 all following Gwen, her life magically extended by a spell gone wrong, cast by her beloved Grandmother. The magic depicted is in the main gentle, nature based and exactly the kind that a much littler me kept hoping would kick in, soon please. This is the beautiful world where we first meet Gwen and the descriptions of her early life in Wales and her appreciation and connection to nature and animals are wonderfully illustrated. Hiraeth is not a new word or concept but this depiction was a stunning demonstration of it.

Adored the world building, concept and characters and without even a hint of a spoiler the ending had me on the edge of my seat and then in tears of joy. Oh, and I might need to go google cello lessons…

L
Lauren Hamilton
What a beautiful story of discovering your worth.

This book was so action packed! I was on the edge of my seat for so much of it, not a single dull moment. But at its core (the way I took it) it’s such a beautiful story of self discovery and acceptance.

The characters in this book were second to none; so many of them stand out to me, even if they didn’t have major roles in the story. Most of all clementine the dog. If nothing else in this review convinces you to read Emma’s books the fact that she always includes animals in the most beautiful ways should.

Her writing is so impactful and moving I’ve got so many quotes saved that I’ll have to share as soon as the book is out. The writing style is the perfect mix of clear and concise with a helping of whimsy. I loved reading it!

Magic is everywhere, but there’s a lot of it in this book.

J
Judith Oak
A magical triumph

A magical triumph, the fourth book in the Ethereal world, The Butterfly Witch is a beautifully written, nail biting, heart-stopping adventure through the magical world created by E L Williams. Whilst is it a standalone book, it draws in some of the characters from the other 3 books and adds some detail which lovers of the Ethereal world will enjoy. I was totally drawn into Gwen’s world and was hooked from page 1. The characters are believable and full of life and colour, you feel like you really know them.
Hard to put down, if I’d had the time, I would have read the book in one sitting. E L Williams’ imagination is remarkable, and the way she weaves the magical into the real world is seamless and totally believable. A stunning and beautiful representation of magic, I will never look at butterflies in the same way again. If you haven’t read the other 3 books, I highly recommend you do, I will be re-reading them very soon and hoping that a fifth book will be on its way in the near future!

Reviewer avatar
Emma Shepherd
A Story That Stays With You ✨️

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 by E.L. Williams. 🦋 Spoiler-free.

I was lucky enough to ARC read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩, and I knew right away E.L. Williams had created something special. It’s beautiful, emotional, tense in all the right places, and full of heart. I laughed, I cried, I swore at certain moments, and I loved every second of it.

E.L. Williams has a way of writing that makes the world fall away. Her stories don’t just unfold around you they wrap around you. There were moments I could feel the sun warming my skin, taste the tang of salt in the air, hear the whispers of the breeze through the grass. I wasn’t just reading Gwen’s story; I was there, walking every step with her.

Gwen is such a beautifully layered character resilient yet vulnerable, strong yet achingly human. I felt everything alongside her. There’s something deeply moving about watching someone carry so much and still keep going. Her story is about survival, resilience, and finding connection when the world has tried to take everything from you. I felt her loneliness like it was my own, worried for her, hurt alongside her, and celebrated every flicker of hope she found.

And then there’s Walt. I don’t want to say too much, but the bond between him and Gwen is one of the most quietly powerful parts of the book. There’s a gentleness to it, a sense of safety and understanding that gave me goosebumps. Their connection felt like home. That’s the magic of E.L. Williams’ writing: her characters step off the page and leave footprints on your heart.

This is a story about survival, found family, and love that stretches across lifetimes. It’s full of beauty, grief, love, and hope. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 is the kind of story that lingers one of those rare books that makes you feel like you’ve lived it, not just read it

While 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 is a standalone novel, If you’ve read the other Ethereal World books, you’ll feel the familiar magic woven beneath the surface. And if you haven’t? I highly recommend picking them up.

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