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mastersal's review
4.0
Witches of Lychford is “a contemporary fantasy series about a coven of witches in a rural English town who navigate the complexities of modern life when it intersects with the occult.
This short little novella deals with something that could have fit into an old Hollywood movie - the building of a new supermarket - but with a little magical twist. I liked the writing and the small UK village setting ... it reminded me of the opening of the TV series, Midsomer Murders tbh, which is a favourite.
Not surprisingly I liked this book. I didn’t really love it but it did make me grin. The characters, especially Judith, were well drawn (probably more than other full books I’ve read). There were some really lovely lines, like:
“… seen so many times with victims, the harder your life has been, the harder it was to give yourself room for ethical choices. So were born cycles of abuse.”
I found that the novella was a very effective use of space which was excellent.
This short little novella deals with something that could have fit into an old Hollywood movie - the building of a new supermarket - but with a little magical twist. I liked the writing and the small UK village setting ... it reminded me of the opening of the TV series, Midsomer Murders tbh, which is a favourite.
Not surprisingly I liked this book. I didn’t really love it but it did make me grin. The characters, especially Judith, were well drawn (probably more than other full books I’ve read). There were some really lovely lines, like:
“… seen so many times with victims, the harder your life has been, the harder it was to give yourself room for ethical choices. So were born cycles of abuse.”
I found that the novella was a very effective use of space which was excellent.
Spoiler
For example, the solution turned out to be quite simple. If you know a powerful faerie prince why wouldn’t you ask for help after allbuildingtaste's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Great little novella that starts out strong for what I’m pleased to see is a series! The pacing reflects the author’s work in TV, with lots of scene breaks and a structure like a great pilot. I loved the main characters, laughed out loud a couple times, and was genuinely taken by surprise with one twist.
books_and_keys's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
kyleg1007's review
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Super quick read. Good little witchy book.
mystery_jem's review
1.0
DNF
I know this is a short novella, but I just couldn't slog my way through any more of it- I'm so bored. The writing is strange, and I had a hard time with it. So enough! On to something else.
I know this is a short novella, but I just couldn't slog my way through any more of it- I'm so bored. The writing is strange, and I had a hard time with it. So enough! On to something else.
drownedworld's review against another edition
4.0
I was immediately hooked by the quaint little village at the crossroads of all that is terrible and good and its inhabitants- think Paul Cornell by way of Neil Gaiman with a little Stephen King thrown in for good measure.
Witches of Lychford feels like an origin story and part of a much bigger tale which I hope to be the case as I'd like to read more tales of the old town crank, vicar and pagan.
Witches of Lychford feels like an origin story and part of a much bigger tale which I hope to be the case as I'd like to read more tales of the old town crank, vicar and pagan.
jencunn2024's review
2.0
Some readers will like this much more than I. It was about a 2.75 star for me. It was modern timeline mixed with traditional witch history and magic in the town of Lychford. It wasn’t as exciting or interesting as I was hoping for.
timinbc's review
3.0
3.5 stars really.
Well-written, well-plotted, nice twist at the end.
But curiously not engaging.
I know rural England, and understand a bit of the encroachment of the urban ick, and had no problem with the way that was handled.
Felt a bit like reading alternating pages of "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" with an M.C. Beaton murder story.
Perhaps I was prejudiced by having hoped for another Shadow police novel.
Well-written, well-plotted, nice twist at the end.
But curiously not engaging.
I know rural England, and understand a bit of the encroachment of the urban ick, and had no problem with the way that was handled.
Felt a bit like reading alternating pages of "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" with an M.C. Beaton murder story.
Perhaps I was prejudiced by having hoped for another Shadow police novel.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not entirely sure what went awry with this for me, because the ingredients are a whole bunch of my favourite things, but somehow when they all come together here it left me underwhelmed.