"Wilby says everything there is to say about Gowdie, and then some." - Fortean Times January 2011
"This is in my opinion the finest reconstruction of the thought-world of somebody accused in an early modern witch trial yet made, making sense of elements that most people would find wholly fantastic." (Ronald Hutton, Pomegranate)
"Wilby's book is immensely engaging and rich with the promise of allowing us a better understanding of witches and their craft, particularly in the north of Scotland ... this book makes an invaluable contribution to its field of study, and everyone involved in writing about witches and witchcraft should be sure to read it." (Peter Maxwell-Stuart, Journal of British Studies)
"Wilby's study constitutes a major contribution and advance in witchcraft studies in general she has resurrected one form of witchcraft, and by implication witchcraft in general, from being an invention of maniacal Christian inquisitors into a credible form of spirituality which must be considered by any researcher in the field of comparative religion." (Clive Tolley, Shaman: Journal of the International Society for Shamanistic Research)
"Wilby restores agency and vitality to those individuals who are so often portrayed as the passive victims of a state or patriarchy-driven witch hunt, and offers a significant contribution to the field of witchcraft studies." (Sierra Dye, International Review of Scottish Studies)
"In the end, this book does what good research should: provide us with provocative, original interpretations and raise questions for further exploration." (Sabina Magliocco, Journal of Folklore Research)