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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I actually loved everything about this book except for the fact the plot was so slow it made me go into a slump
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A prequel to Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’? One that brings every sense to life with the spirit, beauty, and sadness of Sycorax, mother to Caliban, who gets only the briefest of mentions in the stage show?
Yes please.
This beautiful novel imagines the life of this most fascinating of offstage witches as an outsider in a town governed by a former private, and administered by the beautiful councillor, Afalkay. The natural world plays as great a role in Sycorax’s life as the human, and the two are woven together in lush prose that brilliantly evokes bird song, salt sea air, sandy toes, market scents, sweat, sweet happiness, plus a spectrum of sympathy and pain.
Sycorax endures a lot for being Other and often has little or no opportunity to escape, but I never felt she was defined or defeated by the chronic pain and persecution she faces. There’s a glorious resilience about her and the way she draws strength from the natural world and the glimmers of human goodness. I loved her. And her mother.
It might not be your cup of tea if you’re in a plot-driven phase, but if you like the idea of a beautifully written novel that explores what makes a ‘witch’ in a refreshing, thought provoking way, with a fabulous little epilogue, look no further.
‘The Tempest’ was the first (and for a long time the only) Shakespeare play that really caught my imagination, but I always felt it was a shame we weren’t told more about Caliban and Sycorax. I was delighted when I saw this was due to be published. Heartfelt thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the review copy.
Yes please.
This beautiful novel imagines the life of this most fascinating of offstage witches as an outsider in a town governed by a former private, and administered by the beautiful councillor, Afalkay. The natural world plays as great a role in Sycorax’s life as the human, and the two are woven together in lush prose that brilliantly evokes bird song, salt sea air, sandy toes, market scents, sweat, sweet happiness, plus a spectrum of sympathy and pain.
Sycorax endures a lot for being Other and often has little or no opportunity to escape, but I never felt she was defined or defeated by the chronic pain and persecution she faces. There’s a glorious resilience about her and the way she draws strength from the natural world and the glimmers of human goodness. I loved her. And her mother.
It might not be your cup of tea if you’re in a plot-driven phase, but if you like the idea of a beautifully written novel that explores what makes a ‘witch’ in a refreshing, thought provoking way, with a fabulous little epilogue, look no further.
‘The Tempest’ was the first (and for a long time the only) Shakespeare play that really caught my imagination, but I always felt it was a shame we weren’t told more about Caliban and Sycorax. I was delighted when I saw this was due to be published. Heartfelt thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the review copy.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Charismatic and hypnotic life of a witch
—
Like a tale told by a high priestess from a distant time, Hetherington’s novel is charismatic and hypnotic, as the witch Sycorax tells the story of her birth, life and death, in a world of magic, monsters and men. Hetherington also infuses it with personal detail in Sycorax’s constant pain, a mirror to the author’s own chronic illness, and in so doing, makes Sycorax a witch of our times. Clearly, this book falls into the still trending genre of mythological fiction but is elevated by Hetherington’s point of view and a distinct authorial voice that is declarative, descriptive and passionate.
Be warned, however: as in all the best myths, there is violence and terror, awful deeds and even more terrible retribution, and sadness that may consume you. This is not an easy read, but one that is full of truths and therefore emotionally difficult. Read it for the captivating writing, but remember the threats held within.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective