Reviews

The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich

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l_brina's review

4.0

I liked the book a lot! It was a short read but worth it. My favorite part was when Judith sternly told Mr.Boott "My friends are going to pass." They ended up leaving because the men stated that they we're out numbered. Overall, I really liked this book.

maralyons's review

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3.0

Being from Lowell, Massachusetts and having worked as a seasonal Park Ranger at the Lowell National Historical Park in college, I was dying to read this as soon as I saw the cover! Overall, it was an interesting story and I liked the ways witchcraft was used to bolster their strike and Union. This story takes place in the 19th century and incorporates accurate depictions of life as a Mill Girl, buildings/landmarks, and even some significant historical figures. The story mostly follows Mill Girls living in a boardinghouse, including: young, determined Judith who fights against poor working conditions; and Hannah, a Seer, who helps teach the girls spells. The writing style was a bit difficult to read as it seems like it could’ve been written in the period it depicted. For that reason, I felt a bit disconnected from the characters. I also wished this was a longer story, so it would be easier to get to know characters better. It’s clear Malerich has done a lot of research about Lowell and the life of a Mill Girl, which really made the burgeoning city come to life! Many of the textile mill buildings still exist in Lowell, so it was fun for me to picture what things were like in the 19th century.

Thank you NetGalley and TorDotCom for providing this digital ARC.

lindsayb's review

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2.0

I really liked the concept behind this, but it wasn't nearly as compelling as I'd hoped.

bookswithleigh's review

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3.0

I truly love a good novella. I think there's something incredibly artful about being able to compile a story that feels larger than its page count while still making the best use of the page and leaving filler at the door. The Factory Witches of Lowell did an admirable job sticking to those principals, yet I still felt there was something just...lacking about it? I was invested in Judith and Hannah (and oh, the way Malerich played with truth and honesty between them once the spell was cast in the beginning, and the way it was brought back at the end, *chef's kiss*), yet I felt I wanted more from the witchcraft aspect of the novel. I understand the author usually has little control over what goes into the summary of their book, but I suppose it just led me to believe it would be more present than it was.

That being said, I really enjoyed the bit of magic we did get. Using spells through weaving, kitchen-work, and spit was a wonderful way to build the world and show how women claimed duties that were sometimes forced upon them and made them their own, and even turned them against their oppressors.

If you're looking for a short, interesting read about sapphics fighting for equal wage in a time where such things were unprecedented, this novella is for you!

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆ (i.e. "A Good Book")

salderson's review

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3.0

I love how C.S. Malerich combined the very real issues and events surrounding union creation at the turn of the 20th century, with the fantastical element of witches. And to be honest, her portrayal of witchcraft had realistic elements in it. I would definitely call this magical realism.
I loved that the book was short - sometimes the story the author has to tell is short, and it's better to keep it short than to fill it with a bunch of filler that doesn't add anything to the story.
The story itself is pretty interesting, but I had a hard time at the end when Hannah was magically healed from her long term illness. I felt like the end was just too perfect and too rushed. I also wanted to know - what happened to the other girls who were sent in to end the strike? While I do love the fact that the book isn't too long, I think that the ending could have been just a little less rushed.
Overall a good book with a great message. I would definitely recommend this book for teens and young adults.

rquickly's review

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2.0

This is clever in terms of world-building, but not in terms of character development or progressive writing. While this book was promising, the way slavery is written is extremely off-putting here. Slavery is written in comparison to creatures and abstract objects than actual enslaved people. Even the visions invoke images of the White people that owned others. It is just very bewildering that no one read this in editing and asked it to be revised in a more compassionate take. It is just very strange to read a book that talks about slavery in such pieces without any mention of actual people, but rather the act of buying people. Black individuals aren't given any individuality. It was novel in terms of concept, it was written well for being so short, but these oversights are incredibly apparent.