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nekomeith's review against another edition
2.0
3.5
Very interesting but I couldn’t stand the romance troupe the author went with, I’m tired of guys that say they are only interested in one girl but still flirt with other girls to make her jealous.
It was still a good look at what horrible things the accused went through and just how prejudiced and unfair their trials were.
Very interesting but I couldn’t stand the romance troupe the author went with, I’m tired of guys that say they are only interested in one girl but still flirt with other girls to make her jealous.
It was still a good look at what horrible things the accused went through and just how prejudiced and unfair their trials were.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful, romantic and tragic. The Salem Witch Trials have fascinated me for years. It’s so hard to imagine how so many innocent people were condemned to die solely on the faulty testimony of mainly unscrupulous young women. Condemn Me Not is based on the engaging true story of Susannah North Martin, the author’s 10th great grandmother who was falsely accused of witchcraft.
I loved the way the author approached this story. It’s told from two different time periods: the romantic courtship of Susannah and George beginning in 1646, and Susannah’s imprisonment and trial in 1692. It switches back and forth between Susannah’s & George’s passionate love story, and the horrendous prison conditions and trial of Susannah and her fellow inmates as they await their fate. Interspersed between the two narratives are excerpts from the actual transcripts of the Salem Witch Trials.
The audiobook version was fantastic. Nancy Peterson did an amazing job distinguishing between the young, vibrant Susannah and her elderly 70 year old self. The narration was so well done that at first, I thought there were two separate narrators because the voices were so different. I loved the way she voiced all the characters giving them each a unique personality and really bringing the story to life. The story was even more powerful as an audiobook.
I loved George, the handsome, roguish widower who captures Susannah’s heart. His charming, teasing personality completely won me over. I also enjoyed getting to know Susannah as a young, hopeful woman experiencing the first throws of love and marriage and the mature woman going through the horrors of false accusations, degradations, starvation, and awaiting death. Even though I knew the outcome, I was hoping somehow there was an alternate ending and Susannah could be saved. Despite the bleak circumstances, the author delivers a heart wrenchingly, beautiful ending.
This is definitely a must listen/must read book that will captivate historical fiction and historical romance fans alike. I received an advanced complimentary audiobook from the author but also purchased the ebook version. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
Cw: clean with some passionate kissing and intimate touches (non graphic), fade to black scenes between a married couple, historically accurate portrayal of prisoners stripped naked and private parts discussed (non graphic)
I loved the way the author approached this story. It’s told from two different time periods: the romantic courtship of Susannah and George beginning in 1646, and Susannah’s imprisonment and trial in 1692. It switches back and forth between Susannah’s & George’s passionate love story, and the horrendous prison conditions and trial of Susannah and her fellow inmates as they await their fate. Interspersed between the two narratives are excerpts from the actual transcripts of the Salem Witch Trials.
The audiobook version was fantastic. Nancy Peterson did an amazing job distinguishing between the young, vibrant Susannah and her elderly 70 year old self. The narration was so well done that at first, I thought there were two separate narrators because the voices were so different. I loved the way she voiced all the characters giving them each a unique personality and really bringing the story to life. The story was even more powerful as an audiobook.
I loved George, the handsome, roguish widower who captures Susannah’s heart. His charming, teasing personality completely won me over. I also enjoyed getting to know Susannah as a young, hopeful woman experiencing the first throws of love and marriage and the mature woman going through the horrors of false accusations, degradations, starvation, and awaiting death. Even though I knew the outcome, I was hoping somehow there was an alternate ending and Susannah could be saved. Despite the bleak circumstances, the author delivers a heart wrenchingly, beautiful ending.
This is definitely a must listen/must read book that will captivate historical fiction and historical romance fans alike. I received an advanced complimentary audiobook from the author but also purchased the ebook version. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily given.
Cw: clean with some passionate kissing and intimate touches (non graphic), fade to black scenes between a married couple, historically accurate portrayal of prisoners stripped naked and private parts discussed (non graphic)
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
Susannah North Martin stands accused of witchcraft in 1629. At 71 years old, Susannah has led a full life raising her many kids and grandkids and spending time with her loving husband, George. However, Susannah was also known for speaking her mind and not caring what others thought of her which led to tension with some of her neighbors. Years later, Susannah finds herself imprisoned along with five other women in the Salem jail who have been accused of Witchcraft.
I am an avid reader of historical fiction and nonfiction concerning the Salem Witch Trials. Some stories are deeply rooted in fiction with magic and good witches; though my favorite books are those rooted in history and carefully reconstructed by the ancestors of the accused women themselves. Heather B. Moore does just this, an ancestor of Susannah North Martin herself, Heather has lovingly created the best and worst parts of Susannah's life so we can see how she lived and how she died. I loved how the book went back and forth between Susannah's life at 25 years old as she was meeting George Martin and establishing a family and 1629 while she was imprisoned in a jail cell. Most books written about the trials focus on just that, the trials. I enjoyed learning about Susannah's life and the political and personal reasons that she may have led to the accusations of Witchcraft. It was very interesting to see Susannah enjoying and living her life as a normal person and not just an accused witch. The time spent in the jail cell was also very interesting. I liked the focus on the camaraderie between the six women and their feelings about being accused and found guilty. In many books about the Salem witches, there is a touch of magic thrown in, in Susannah's case her touch of magic was just right and just enough. Overall, a heartfelt and fact-based recreation of the life and death of Susannah North Martin.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I am an avid reader of historical fiction and nonfiction concerning the Salem Witch Trials. Some stories are deeply rooted in fiction with magic and good witches; though my favorite books are those rooted in history and carefully reconstructed by the ancestors of the accused women themselves. Heather B. Moore does just this, an ancestor of Susannah North Martin herself, Heather has lovingly created the best and worst parts of Susannah's life so we can see how she lived and how she died. I loved how the book went back and forth between Susannah's life at 25 years old as she was meeting George Martin and establishing a family and 1629 while she was imprisoned in a jail cell. Most books written about the trials focus on just that, the trials. I enjoyed learning about Susannah's life and the political and personal reasons that she may have led to the accusations of Witchcraft. It was very interesting to see Susannah enjoying and living her life as a normal person and not just an accused witch. The time spent in the jail cell was also very interesting. I liked the focus on the camaraderie between the six women and their feelings about being accused and found guilty. In many books about the Salem witches, there is a touch of magic thrown in, in Susannah's case her touch of magic was just right and just enough. Overall, a heartfelt and fact-based recreation of the life and death of Susannah North Martin.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
melissadegraffbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction. I really enjoyed this story of one of the women accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch trials. It struck the right balance of detailing what happened without being completely depressing. The relationship between the main character and her husband was very sweet and endearing.
chelz286's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really fascinating read, based off of a true person accused of witchcraft in the author's family lineage. Susannah North Martin was accused of witchcraft in spring 1692 and this novel is the imagined retelling of what happened during her time in jail as well as her life leading up to this point. The Salem Witch Trials are still such a fascinating topic and little is still known really about how this got to be what it was during that time. Once accused, there was hardly anything anyone could do to prove their innocence and that title sadly became a death sentence. Unlike a few others accused, Susannah had lived most of her life already and had raised her children and welcomed some grandchildren as well but others were not so lucky. I highly recommend this read for anyone who is interested in the Salem Witch Trials as the author does add historical court records through out the novel. I loved the back and forth of the story of telling Susannah's life. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
heiditighe's review against another edition
Excellent book! Good back and forth between past and present day. Tons of tears.
carrieksnider's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book! I like how the author weaved the main character's present (in jail awaiting trial) with her years meeting her husband. The love story was as sweet as the trial was bitter. There were a few times where I thought the word choices were too current. But overall I loved it, especially since it was based on a real person -- the author's ancestor.
vickimarie2002's review against another edition
5.0
I have always found the Salem trials very interesting and very sad, of course. I am also a fan of Heather B. Moore and the fact that she wrote a book about Susannah Martin whom she is descended from, was a must read for me. Great writing and great view on what those poor women had to go through.