Honno to publish Witsh: a haunting historical novel from Mari Ellis-Dunning

Set in sixteenth century Wales, amid the relentless rain and failing crops, midwife Sara Gwen is accused of witchcraft and her neighbours turn against her. Through the eyes of Dori Maredudd, a naïve gentry woman, Dunning weaves a dark tale of suspicion and fear.

Inspired by largely unknown Welsh witchcraft history, Dunning has nurtured a magical novel rooted in tradition and realism, creating a tale rich with bold feminism that will captivate readers of “witcherature” fiction.

Dunning says, “The stories of the women involved in early modern witch trials feel more relevant than ever at the moment, given the state of female reproductive rights and bodily autonomy across the globe.”

A must-read for fans of The Familiars by Stacey Halls, The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, Mari Ellis Dunning’s debut will bewitch readers.

“This story crept over me like the tide of fear, suspicion and paranoia surrounding the midwives, healers and soothsayers at the centre of this tale. I could not put this book down.” Rebecca Parfitt - Commissioning Editor, Honno

Mari Ellis Dunning’s debut poetry collection, Salacia, was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year 2019. She has since placed second in both the Lucent Dreaming Short Story Competition and the Sylvia Plath Poetry Prize. Her second collection, Pearl and Bone, was chosen as Wales Arts Review’s Number 1 Poetry Choice of 2022. Mari teaches at Aberystwyth University, where she delivers courses on feminist writing.