Reviews

The Bewitching by Jill Dawson

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bamairi's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

A really interesting exploration/ reperformance of all the social politics that created the possibility for and passion that went in to witch trials. The representation of the social stratification and the way it permeated every social interaction was most interesting to me (the misogyny, also, but I've thought more about that). How Alice's refusal to be cowed by her "social betters" creates such rage and threatens the fragile social ecosyste in a way that directly speaks to her "guilt" was really interesting. Also brought in the problem of the enclosures, and the way that the changing religion disrupted people's understanding of what was expected of them and their neighbours. A really clear political drama that took it beyond just the interpersonal gripes (although that, too). The language is fun and atmospheric and the storytelling is gripping, even though you know what will happen from the start.

kaia001's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nmellor's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

Whilst I liked the overall plot of this book and how it explored historical misogyny and attitudes to women, the pacing felt quite slow which detracted from the story. I felt it dragged out the plot and was quite repetitive in places.

flomc's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mitchk's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed the fenland landscape of this novel. The watery fen was used really well as a backdrop to the persecution and tragedy that unfolded. What made this book so compelling for me and an important read - was the fact it was inspired by true events. The era of hysteria, witch-hunting and class being a such a huge determinant factor in your fate - holds such lessons and warnings for the present.

Content Warnings

harrietthacker85's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

jmatkinson1's review against another edition

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4.0

Martha has served the Throckmorton family for years, looking after their children, and now the family has moved to a large and comfortable house in a fenland village. However the girls start suffering fits and then one of them accuses a neighbour, Alice Samuel, of bewitching them. What chance does Alice have against the godly and highborn family who accuse her?
Set in Tudor times, this story predates most of the tales of witchfinding in the 17th century but it does not fall into the trap of being a 'tudor' novel. The book is a fictionalised account of a true story in which a local woman was accused of causing death by witchcraft which was a hanging offence. The story is ambiguous in places, particularly with regard to the relationships with the Throckmorton family but is sympathetically written and very sad.