An Age of Winters

A Novel

By: Gemma Liviero

Narrated by: Sarah Naughton, Alex Wyndham

In the seventeenth century, witchfinders rule and paranoia thrives in a chilling novel about unrequited love, persecution, and betrayal by the bestselling author of The Road Beyond Ruin and Broken Angels.

In 1625, the Franconian village of Eisbach has been plagued by disease, famine, heinous crimes, and a merciless winter. Katarin Jaspers is the maidservant to the enigmatic Reverend Zacharias Engel, appointed by Rome to cure the village of suspected diabolism and save every God-fearing soul.

Zacharias soon finds his first witch, and the public burning of a local man could spell the end of misfortune. As a sense of peace settles over the village, Katarin finds herself increasingly infatuated with Zacharias, who is a disruption to her predictable existence and a balm for her cruel past. But peace for Katarin is short-lived. Margaretha Katz—the new midwife—is seen as a rival for the reverend’s attention. Fear and recrimination reach a fever pitch when a great tragedy sets the town fully on edge.

With the walls of winter closing in around Eisbach once again, rumours flourish and villagers turn on each other. Now, no one is safe from the pyre.

©2024 by Gemma Liviero. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Liviero brilliantly creates an atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and helplessness for villagers locked in an icy landscape…with characters, both malicious and blameless, [that] keep the pages turning to an unforgettable ending. This book will disquiet and unsettle you in the best way, as only a deft writer can.”—Historical Novels Review (Editors’ Choice)

The ending is awesome

You have to stick with it. It pays off. It takes a bit to get into it and the ending is a total shocker. The narration was great and it turned out to be a great book.

The ending

I rarely rate and when I do it isn't 5 stars. Really enjoyed it. Why does this category need a 25 word minimum.

Beautiful voice and very good narration.

Story was interesting with a mysterious ending. I will need to go back and listen to understand exactly who, or were all witches.?

How different!!

Witch burning, and a serial killer on the loose. Most intriguing. I wasn’t expecting the twist.

Not my typical murder mystery, but I loved it!

This story took me my surprise! Although the time is set hundreds of years ago, the story is engaging and has so many good twists and turns. The character development is amazing. I loved it!