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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good historical fiction with interesting characters. The ending is a bit too pat, but it's a minor criticism.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thou will want to pierce thy own heart with the Devil's tines after thee has read about them over and over ....and over again. They are forks! And while I understand the idea of writing in the dialect of the times, the thees and thous were too much. This story started out strong and I love other books by this author but it stalled and became incredibly repetitive. If the words for the devil were taken out (Devil, Satin, Lucifer), there would be little to this. I think it would have been good if it were about 200 pages shorter.
A compelling take on a brutal era particularly for women and I was really fascinated by the elements of witchcraft and thought it would be more magical realism instead of the mass up witch hunt. I did enjoy the twist at the end and the reveal but it felt like it was 300 pages too long with so much drawn out dialogue and descriptive descriptions of Mary’s garbage husband and terrible servant.
This was well written and compelling, if difficult to read at times (because of the abuse). At least, right up until the very end when the books veers sharply into fantasy.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
There is antiquated lamguage, but you get used to it very quickly. It reads like fast dialogue, and I appreciate it more because that's closer to what the English language was like back then. I would be disappointed if it's a book set in the 1600's and they talk like us nowadays. It's a faster read in the second half, but by no means was the first half boring. There's mystery, distrust, scemes, typical "she's a witch" gossip done by people of those ages. I might read it again in a few years, but it's a hard maybe. I didn't like the insta-love of Henry, but since it wasn't the main concept, I endured it. It ended well.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I grew up in the generation of “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” and similar stories. I’ve been to Salem and visited the memorial to the women tried there as witches. And I’ve lived enough life to know that people, no matter how hard they try, are prone to all of the foibles of humanity - pride, jealousy, etc.
If the historical setting of this book - which is accurate, if not just a bit light on description - isn’t of interest, or the Puritan mindset seems surrealistic, this isn’t the book for you.
If you’ve never read any of the history and the many books out there about women/witchcraft and the Puritan era - this is as good as any with which to start.
It’s a nice change to read a story like this from the viewpoint of an intelligent woman who accepts her social mores and roles, while still refuting the assumptions placed upon her biology. She sees the duality, even calls it out, but it doesn’t become a manifesto to feminism. It’s “domestic” feminism - knowing, seeing, intuiting, and finally acting in a way that is necessary, but not demanding attention for the act.
I gave it three stars because I, personally, wouldn’t read this book again (that’s my 4-star rating; 5 stars are books I will read again and again as ”personal classics”). BUT, it’s probably pushing a 3.98 otherwise.
If the historical setting of this book - which is accurate, if not just a bit light on description - isn’t of interest, or the Puritan mindset seems surrealistic, this isn’t the book for you.
If you’ve never read any of the history and the many books out there about women/witchcraft and the Puritan era - this is as good as any with which to start.
It’s a nice change to read a story like this from the viewpoint of an intelligent woman who accepts her social mores and roles, while still refuting the assumptions placed upon her biology. She sees the duality, even calls it out, but it doesn’t become a manifesto to feminism. It’s “domestic” feminism - knowing, seeing, intuiting, and finally acting in a way that is necessary, but not demanding attention for the act.
I gave it three stars because I, personally, wouldn’t read this book again (that’s my 4-star rating; 5 stars are books I will read again and again as ”personal classics”). BUT, it’s probably pushing a 3.98 otherwise.