Salt & Broom

Although I had November reading plans lined up, all that got derailed when I saw this month’s Amazon First Reads selections. Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher was compared to one of my favorite novels, Jane Eyre, and I was helpless to resist. And after having some health issues lately, I was in need of a comfort read, so this went straight to the top of my reading list.

Summary

Jane Aire is a witch, and though her employer generally keeps that a secret, he does pass on her information to a local man in need of help. So Jane ends up at Thornfield Hall, where Mr. Rochester is hoping that she can put an end to some recent hauntings. As Jane gets closer to stopping the increasingly dangerous events, she and Mr. Rochester are also getting closer to each other…

Review

Salt & Broom starts off slowly, but immediately brings the Jane Eyre references. When this book’s protagonist, similarly named Jane Aire, is hired to undo a curse, she ends up at Thornfield Hall where creepy hauntings have occurred. She’s a healer more than a witch, but nonetheless uses her unique skills (and a bit of sleuthing) to unravel the mystery and end the curse.

I’m not super into witches, so I appreciate that this book leans more into herbalism and healing as opposed to broomsticks and cauldrons. I also enjoyed the mystery aspect, with differing accounts about what has been happening depending on who Jane talks to. The spooky factor is there, making this an excellent read for this time of year. Fires, deaths, revenge… this amplifies the darker themes of Jane Eyre.

Speaking of Jane Eyre, this isn’t the first retelling I’ve read. This book does lean strongly into the names and vibes of the original book, but it’s also wholly original and isn’t afraid to deviate from the plot. Salt & Broom stands on its own, but those who’ve read the Charlotte Brontë classic will enjoy the references.

And if you’re like me and love the romance aspect between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, this book allows that romance to bloom here, too. Jane Aire is still employed by Mr. Rochester, but the relationship feels less forbidden here. It’s not a spicy romance, but I did enjoy the romantic subplot.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Salt & Broom! It’s a different take on Jane Eyre that doesn’t require readers to be familiar with the source material. This witchy mystery is fun and stands on its own. I’ve read a few Jane Eyre retellings lately and am excited to read more! I also look forward to reading more from Sharon Lynn Fisher.

Get the Book

You can buy Salt & Broom here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Fantasy
Setting	England
Number of Pages	282
Format I Read	Ebook (Amazon First Reads)
Original Publication Date	December 1, 2023
Publisher	47North

Official Summary

A gifted healer unravels the mysteries of a cursed estate—and its enigmatic owner—in a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre.

“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.