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Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her daughter Erin is unconscious in hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.
There's a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse.
Really enjoyed this one. A great mix of mystery and history as the narrative shifts between the present and olden times. Lots of great depth to the witchery and clearly a lot of research done for the historical parts as they're very transportive and evocative (author's note is very worth reading).
Got a bit confusing with all the characters in the historical parts, but the major players soon got shaded in and stood out.
There's a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse.
Really enjoyed this one. A great mix of mystery and history as the narrative shifts between the present and olden times. Lots of great depth to the witchery and clearly a lot of research done for the historical parts as they're very transportive and evocative (author's note is very worth reading).
Got a bit confusing with all the characters in the historical parts, but the major players soon got shaded in and stood out.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So this book I read in 3 days & the first book I've read by this author. I absolutely loved it. The back & forth with the present & past kept me guessing the whole time. Definitely will be reading more from this author! So glad this was one of my picks from BOTM for October!
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An excellent dual timeline mystical thriller that is based on the Scottish islands of Orkney and the historical witch trials. I loved both aspects of this book: the historical traditions and folklore of the Orcadian people and how terribly threatened their way of life was by greedy Earl's land grabbing and the patriarchal judgement that the old ways were against the church/Satanic; additionally the modern day characters trying to heal their own wounds and their connection to the mysteries of the past.
It is so well written with compelling dialogue, connection to the characters and the landscape, and with just the right amount of tension and shock to keep you hooked.
It is so well written with compelling dialogue, connection to the characters and the landscape, and with just the right amount of tension and shock to keep you hooked.
This was a BOTM pick from October that I finally got to. The fact that I didn't end up reading it during or right around my Salem trip probably did it a disservice but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I found myself far preferring the modern day timeline to Alison's in the 1500s. It was just so depressing to hear her story when we knew how it would end. The Witch Trials were disgusting and infuriating and just evil. Watching Father Colville manipulate every single thing to guarantee her execution was horrific. But because we knew she would be executed it was just chapters full of horrible things and the knowledge that it wouldn't get better.
The modern timeline was more interesting and I like figuring out how Erin and Senna (?) got involved with what they thought was the Trysgylle (?). It seemed a little wild that a young person would fall for such an obvious cult but...even millennials aren't immune.
The reveal that Clem (and therefore Erin and Freya) were descended from Alison wasn't terribly surprising but it did give the book a chance to end on just a truly excellent note, with Freya finding the Book of Witching and having it tell her to open it and "Now scream". A great and haunting final line.
I kept waiting for a reveal about the nurse Bea being Alison's daughter, Beatrice, or another relative, but alas.
It was a spooky read that reminded me, once again, how truly garbage people can be. 3.5 rounded up for the last line.
I found myself far preferring the modern day timeline to Alison's in the 1500s. It was just so depressing to hear her story when we knew how it would end. The Witch Trials were disgusting and infuriating and just evil. Watching Father Colville manipulate every single thing to guarantee her execution was horrific. But because we knew she would be executed it was just chapters full of horrible things and the knowledge that it wouldn't get better.
The modern timeline was more interesting and I like figuring out how Erin and Senna (?) got involved with what they thought was the Trysgylle (?). It seemed a little wild that a young person would fall for such an obvious cult but...even millennials aren't immune.
The reveal that Clem (and therefore Erin and Freya) were descended from Alison wasn't terribly surprising but it did give the book a chance to end on just a truly excellent note, with Freya finding the Book of Witching and having it tell her to open it and "Now scream". A great and haunting final line.
I kept waiting for a reveal about the nurse Bea being Alison's daughter, Beatrice, or another relative, but alas.
It was a spooky read that reminded me, once again, how truly garbage people can be. 3.5 rounded up for the last line.