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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Not terrible, but I prefer a little more history in my historical fiction.
1645 - Long before Salem - witch trials in England. Wonderfully woven tale of the Witchfinder's (Matthew) Sister (Alice). I felt immersed in this story, feeling the horror of the times. Very well done.
A silly, tedious, bizarrely episodic treatment of a fascinating period in English history. The main character is an idiot (you might find yourself wishing for her to be hanged along with the witches) and her brother - meant to be the villain of the piece - is about as menacing as a librarian. Some of the prose is decent but the author is seriously lacking in good characterisation, decent plot, and can't build suspense to save her life. One to avoid.
Revising this review to add my opinion on how the book should have concluded:
1.5 stars from me.
Revising this review to add my opinion on how the book should have concluded:
Spoiler
I thought Rebecca West was going to turn out to be a witch, and was the cause of Alice's repeated miscarriages, Joseph's death, and Matthew's eventual death. Seeing that there was something in the strawberry beds, and later something that flattened a whole field of corn, it appears that Underdown was going to pull towards a definite supernatural element, but sadly abandoned this more interesting tone to focus on Alice having a whine about how meeannnn Matthew is.1.5 stars from me.
I’ve read a few books around this theme and found this one didn’t hold my interest as well as some others did.
Left me very confused, was excited for the story line but was very disappointed.
Enjoyed this, loved the increasing realisation of Alice as she spends time with her brother.
Also interesting to realise that still so much of what was said about women then is still said today, how our differences and biology are apparent weaknesses in mind or body.
Would’ve enjoyed more historical content.
Also interesting to realise that still so much of what was said about women then is still said today, how our differences and biology are apparent weaknesses in mind or body.
Would’ve enjoyed more historical content.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was extremely well written, and Beth Underdown's vivid, but not excessive, details really enhanced the reading. The story, although based on the real figure of a witch hunter in England in the 1640s, was not predictable and so it moved along. She sets up the narrator as locked in an attic in the first chapter, and that helps to keep some suspense throughout the novel. The characters are believable, and the narrator sounds like a person of the time period, not someone who was placed from our century into that one as can often happen in historical novels. I like what the author did with the the witchfinder's character and motivations and that of the townspeople that helped in the accusations and trials. It is a good story about how evil can be condoned by a large group of people.
emotional
informative
mysterious
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Title: The Witch Finder's Sister by Beth Underdown
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I absolutely loved this book on audio! It had me intrigued right from the start and I was rooting for Alice throughout! The book is based on fact but the author has woven a fictional tale around the truth with the character of Matthew Hopkins being real but no record of him having a sister Alice. The author also includes a note on her inspiration on the real events at the end of this book which I found so fascinating and also really added to the story. She did an excellent job at creating this historical fiction thriller.
The book is set in England in 1645, with the main character Alice Hopkins. She returns to the small town she grew up in to her brother after the death of her husband. There is a new darkness spreading in the town with neighbors whispering. Alice soon discovers her brother Matthew is a ruthless witch hunter. She becomes horrified by the truth of what her brother is doing and the reign of terror he has spread. She has to decide whether to intervene or stay safe. Inspired by real life events of the notorious witch finder general Matthew Hopkins, the author tells the tale of this harrowing experiences of women with this man.
The writing in this is excellent with a brilliant atmospheric setting. She really does set you back in 1600s and feel fear throughout never knowing which woman would be accused of witchcraft in the book. She really shows the controlling element men had on women and the fear they created around these "witches" while the men that burned them were seen as saviours, a crazy thought in today's world. The book is tense from start to finish and I couldn't get enough of it. Overall, I loved this one and would definitely recommend it!
#audiobook #audiobookrecs #audiobookreccomendations #bookblogger #bookrecs #bookrecommendation #bookreview #bookreviewer #witchybooks #bookstagram
Title: The Witch Finder's Sister by Beth Underdown
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I absolutely loved this book on audio! It had me intrigued right from the start and I was rooting for Alice throughout! The book is based on fact but the author has woven a fictional tale around the truth with the character of Matthew Hopkins being real but no record of him having a sister Alice. The author also includes a note on her inspiration on the real events at the end of this book which I found so fascinating and also really added to the story. She did an excellent job at creating this historical fiction thriller.
The book is set in England in 1645, with the main character Alice Hopkins. She returns to the small town she grew up in to her brother after the death of her husband. There is a new darkness spreading in the town with neighbors whispering. Alice soon discovers her brother Matthew is a ruthless witch hunter. She becomes horrified by the truth of what her brother is doing and the reign of terror he has spread. She has to decide whether to intervene or stay safe. Inspired by real life events of the notorious witch finder general Matthew Hopkins, the author tells the tale of this harrowing experiences of women with this man.
The writing in this is excellent with a brilliant atmospheric setting. She really does set you back in 1600s and feel fear throughout never knowing which woman would be accused of witchcraft in the book. She really shows the controlling element men had on women and the fear they created around these "witches" while the men that burned them were seen as saviours, a crazy thought in today's world. The book is tense from start to finish and I couldn't get enough of it. Overall, I loved this one and would definitely recommend it!
#audiobook #audiobookrecs #audiobookreccomendations #bookblogger #bookrecs #bookrecommendation #bookreview #bookreviewer #witchybooks #bookstagram
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced