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A review by lm_waverley
Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington
4.0
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.