Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

In a unique take on a retelling of The Scarlet Letter, Laurie Lico Albanese successfully allows us to revisit the pages of Nathanial Hawthorne's novel by taking us into the suggested enchanted inspiration of the story. Isobel, a Scottish woman forced to come to America due to her apothecary husband's love of opium, is quickly abandoned by him as he takes all of their savings and boards a ship as a medic. Left behind, Isobel and Nathaniel develop feelings and our Scarlet Letter backstory begins.

I really appreciated all of the layers in this book - the retelling, synesthesia, embroidery, the Underground Railroad, and what it took to be considered a person in America in the early 19th century. The dual timeline between Scotland and Salem was really well done, as was the intertwining of Salem witch trials, having a child out of adultery, and the Underground railroad. This one is absolutely perfect for historical fiction lovers.