Scan barcode
A review by sallyreads_
The Famine Witch by Stephen Black
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
The Famine Witch was an enjoyable read based in Belfast, Ireland in 1847, during the Great Famine/ Irish Potato Famine, and follows two creatures from Irish folklore; The Black Lady known as a Cailleach and the Abhartach. The Abhartach and the witch are both enemies, fighting over the lands ridden by death, disease and hunger as the Cailleach seeks her revenge on the descendants of the folks who hung her as a witch, two centuries prior. Now as history repeats itself, Maggie Malone is the town's new religious scapegoat, a hysteria driven by religion, hunger, and greed of the wealthy. Maggie has to do what's right to protect her brother and herself from the malicious forces set out to get them, both ancient and human.
While I admire the premise of the story, I felt like the Black Lady's vengeance was a bit ambiguous, her feud with the Abhartach was not as tense and she became a vengeful creature even towards those who follow her path, using her followers as stepping stones for her selfish cause, seemingly similar to what the wealthy of the town did to regain control of the poorer masses when they made Maggie their sacrificial lamb.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I admire the premise of the story, I felt like the Black Lady's vengeance was a bit ambiguous, her feud with the Abhartach was not as tense and she became a vengeful creature even towards those who follow her path, using her followers as stepping stones for her selfish cause, seemingly similar to what the wealthy of the town did to regain control of the poorer masses when they made Maggie their sacrificial lamb.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.