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fakeppy's review against another edition
3.0
As I am quite enthralled by the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, I thought this seemed interesting. It wasn't as good as I had hoped, but it was not completely disappointing. The accounts of the young protagonist in prison were harrowing, and I was quite happily reading this in the confines of my warm, 21st century home!
mels6320's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not usually a historical fiction type of person, but this was intriguing to me since it was based on the woman's real ancestor's history. I can't believe the kind of torturous circumstances those poor people went through during the Salem witch trials. The accusers went to such lengths to create this fear in the world that they insisted that the "witches" confess to their sins to be saved. Those who did not abide by the game were the ones to be hanged. This is a very interesting look at that time in history, one that I did not previously know a whole lot about, and it really gives you a perspective of what happened during those wretched times.
kshatto18's review against another edition
4.0
Slow to start, but magical in its simple portrait of a Puritan family. I enjoyed the voice of young Sarah Carrier, and I enjoyed the lyrical moments in the prose. I felt like the last third dragged on with the scenes in prison, but perhaps the prolonged and agonized reading experience was meant to mimic the experience of the narrator. Overall enjoyable read. I would recommend for historical fiction lovers.
basementbookskc's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted a lot more from this book.
It attempted to be a kind of behind-the-scenes to the Salem Witch Trials. And in some ways succeeded, but was fairly unimaginative. Full of ugly history, conscientiously presented for its honest evil, but still somehow lacking.
The end falls short and left me with more questions, without that sense of wanting to read more.
The story telling comes and goes in waves.
It attempted to be a kind of behind-the-scenes to the Salem Witch Trials. And in some ways succeeded, but was fairly unimaginative. Full of ugly history, conscientiously presented for its honest evil, but still somehow lacking.
The end falls short and left me with more questions, without that sense of wanting to read more.
The story telling comes and goes in waves.
librarian_lee's review against another edition
4.0
Really wish good reads would let us give half stars. This one was about 3.5. Slow at times. Agree with other review that I wish it was from Mother's POV.
amris's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, and Religious bigotry
vicki_dealcuaz's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. A fictionalized account of what one family actually went through during the Salem Witch Trials, written by an ancestor of the family. Highly recommended!
asl4u's review against another edition
3.0
Tiny bit of a spoiler here -
The author does not represent the passage of time well - sometimes Hanna was 3years old - but then it would (if you count events and years mentioned in narrative) add up to her age being 12 or 13 - yet she never matured... and then you find out that the narrator is still referring to her as a 3 year old.
The characters are flat - even the main character - who talks all the way through - never develops a good stable personality and representation. The father has a secret - which is referenced throughout the story as a hook - but even when someone was "telling the secret" - it was mostly untold - and the REASON for the (shhhh - telling... oh... but you dont really understand what I'm talking about do you?!) - is never told -
nor is the reason for the secret in the first place...
the guy is trying to "protect" his kids - the same kids that he will not walk up two steps to help them walk down when they step out into sunlight the first time after months of imprisonment - and makes them walk like ducks following him home...
it was a favor?
so he's protecting them from knowledge of him and his past - but he's so into protecting them that he barely welcomes them home.
it just got harder and harder to read... but eventually I did finish it.
The author does not represent the passage of time well - sometimes Hanna was 3years old - but then it would (if you count events and years mentioned in narrative) add up to her age being 12 or 13 - yet she never matured... and then you find out that the narrator is still referring to her as a 3 year old.
The characters are flat - even the main character - who talks all the way through - never develops a good stable personality and representation. The father has a secret - which is referenced throughout the story as a hook - but even when someone was "telling the secret" - it was mostly untold - and the REASON for the (shhhh - telling... oh... but you dont really understand what I'm talking about do you?!) - is never told -
nor is the reason for the secret in the first place...
the guy is trying to "protect" his kids - the same kids that he will not walk up two steps to help them walk down when they step out into sunlight the first time after months of imprisonment - and makes them walk like ducks following him home...
it was a favor?
so he's protecting them from knowledge of him and his past - but he's so into protecting them that he barely welcomes them home.
it just got harder and harder to read... but eventually I did finish it.
jeanajen2024's review against another edition
5.0
Slow start, but worth the the wait. Kent begins the novel more than a year before the Salem witch hunt began and looking back, I can see why she did that. In giving the reader a year of background, she allows us a glimpse into the heart of Sarah Carrier.
Kent does an excellent job of weaving history with fiction and making the reader care deeply about the characters.
Kent does an excellent job of weaving history with fiction and making the reader care deeply about the characters.
sequoia_ld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75