Guest Post & #Giveaway: Her Darkest Hour by Suzy Henderson
- Archaeolibrarian
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Book details:
Publication date: May 8th 2025
@AuthorSuzyHenderson @XpressoBookTours
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England, 1939. A young witch. A nation at war. A spy hiding in plain sight.
As war looms over Britain, Eliza MacLean wants nothing more than an ordinary life. Raised on the Isle of Mull, she’s spent years denying her gifts—just as her mother insisted. But her grandmother taught her differently, whispering ancient knowledge of herbs, charms, and spells.
When her grandmother dies, Eliza seeks refuge in Cambridge with her cousin and the women of the WVS. But beneath its spires and blacked-out streets, Cambridge hides more than just scholars and soldiers. A secret network of witches is working to protect Britain from an enemy who knows magic is real—and seeks to weaponise it.
Drawn into the fight, Eliza is thrust into a world of espionage, deception, and occult warfare. Her rare abilities catch the attention of MI5 agent Alex Fletcher, who needs her help to unmask a deadly spy before it’s too late.
As she learns to harness her power, Eliza finds herself torn between duty and love, risking everything for Jim, a fighter pilot whose fate seems written in the stars. But war is ruthless, and magic has a price.
With the spy closing in and the war reaching new heights of peril, Eliza’s only hope of saving those she loves is to embrace the very magic she’s spent a lifetime hiding—no matter the cost.
But some powers were never meant to be used.
Perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches and The Rose Code, Her Darkest Hour blends historical fiction with supernatural intrigue in a gripping tale of war, witchcraft, and sacrifice.
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Magic, Espionage, and the Quiet Rebellion of Eliza Maclean
Not all heroes charge into battle. Some slip through shadows, keeping secrets even from the ones they love.
When I began writing Her Darkest Hour, I knew I wanted to tell the story of a young woman who was more powerful than anyone realised—including herself. Eliza Maclean leaves the windswept wilds of the Isle of Mull to stay with her cousin in Cambridge, grieving the loss of her grandmother and the quiet life she’s left behind. But Eliza has always held a secret close to her heart: she is a witch.
Her story unfolds in the liminal spaces between worlds—between peace and war, tradition and modernity, silence and defiance. And when MI5 recruits her to help root out a German spy, she discovers that her magic might be the most powerful weapon she owns.
Eliza’s strength isn’t loud. It’s not the kind that makes headlines. Like many women during the Second World War, she steps up without fanfare. The same skills once dismissed—intuition, empathy, spiritual insight—become invaluable tools in the fight against the enemy.
I wanted to write a different kind of wartime heroine. One who doesn’t fit the mould. Eliza’s magic is quiet, emotional, deeply connected to the earth and her ancestors. And yet, it gives her an edge in a world dominated by codes, secrets, and betrayal.
The title Her Darkest Hour is both a nod to the wartime phrase and a reflection of Eliza’s personal journey. She must choose between hiding what she is and embracing it—even if it means risking everything.
If you love stories about strong but subtle heroines, old magic meeting modern war, and the power of believing in yourself even when the world doesn’t, I hope you’ll enjoy Eliza’s story as much as I loved writing it.
With warm wishes,
Suzy Henderson
Author’s Note
I share this story with full respect for all faiths and beliefs. The witchcraft depicted in Her Darkest Hour is inspired by traditional folklore and healing rituals—not dark or harmful magic. My goal is to explore how people across time have turned to hope, belief, and ritual in the face of fear.
Suzy Henderson is the author of The Beauty Shop, Madame Fiocca, and SPITFIRE, novels which are set during the turbulent times of World War Two. She also writes romance and recently released a novella, Christmas in the Highlands, a best seller on Amazon UK.
Her debut novel, The Beauty Shop, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion. It is based on the true story of pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe, and the Guinea Pig Club – an exclusive club for RAF pilots and airmen who required plastic surgery as a result of their war injuries and were under the care of this enigmatic New Zealander.
Madame Fiocca is also based on a true story. This gripping adventure follows the tempestuous life of SOE heroine, Nancy Wake before and during the Second World War.
Suzy lives with her family on the edge of the Lake District, where she can be found rambling around lakes, country lanes or roaming the fells. Armed with a pen, a love of reading and a growing obsession with military and aviation history, she is often lost in the 1940s, writing historical fiction.
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