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vi_holmes's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
While a couple chapter had some pacing issues, overall this was a great read! I caught myself holding my breath a few times! It was so tense and so captivating! It's obvious that the author did extensive research and took great care to give these people a story that so viscerally puts you in their time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Sexual assault
blissofalife's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I was a little disappointed with the climax and ending. It felt like we were building up to some grand reveal which never came. Even the title of the book felt a little misleading? Familiars were mentioned, but never obviously attached or showed clear purpose. I didn’t really understand Fleetwood obsession with Alice, but maybe that was the point and I missed it. And the big reveal about her husband having another family? Why did that just fizzle out at the end and come to nothing? We spent half the book with her being so distressed about it and in the end the solution is: “I’ll just ignore it.” But the reveal at the end that these were real characters and loosely. (very loosely.) based on real events was super interesting to me!
I did, however, love the attention to historical detail and dedication to - as far as I can tell - historical accuracy in the descriptions of interactions between the classes and feelings and views of the time. As well as what the characters were wearing, and why.
I did, however, love the attention to historical detail and dedication to - as far as I can tell - historical accuracy in the descriptions of interactions between the classes and feelings and views of the time. As well as what the characters were wearing, and why.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Classism
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
rangerwing75's review against another edition
2.5
The plot wasn’t for me. The only thing I really liked was Alice and Fleetwood’s friendship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Blood, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
emilykaegi's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
It took a bit to get into the book but then I loved it. Shuttleworth was a great narrator and I loved the ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Sexual assault
makienzl's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
This book was enjoyable, but you really have to suspend your disbelief. Some of the behavior of the characters is definitely ridiculous for the time period. For instance the protagonist is married at 4 years old??? Maybe someone may have been betrothed but not married…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual assault
spookyreader's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
deliriah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
mary_lake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Really fantastic book. I picked it up because I'd already read The Foundling and Mrs England and loved them but, having exhausted the witch trials during my history class a few years ago, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it.
I was completely wrong.
This book has an utterly compelling narrative, intertwining together the lives of Fleetwood, mistress of the manor, and Alice, a poor girl who lives in the village a little way away. Both women were fascinating characters and I enjoyed reading them.The mystery surrounding whether or not Alice was a witch and what exactly the other Pendle Witches were doing was crafted really well and I thought it a good ending that many questions were left unanswered or only hinted it.
I knew of the Pendle Witches but my school had focused on the Matthew Hopkins period, during the English Civil War, so I really had no idea about this particular witch trial until reading this book. I was surprised to find out halfway through, by Google, that all the characters were real historical figures from 1612, all either involved in the witch trial or living near it when it happened. Of course, this story weaved from this figures is made up and there's no evidence the real Fleetwood and Alice knew it each other, but knowing the characters were based on real people, made this already fascinating story even more so.
Having read The Foundling and Mrs England now as well, I've noticed Halls has a habit of placing two very different, well developed female characters together (often where one is in a position of power over the other) in a historical setting and having that relationship, with its shifting dynamics, guide the story. There are also very strong themes of motherhood and the mother/mother figure's relationship to their children, as well as feminism and what it meant to be a woman at that time in history. All of this I love and I think Halls' portrays these themes and characters excellently.
I'm so glad I picked this book up in the end; I absolutely devoured it and anxiously await Halls' next novel!
I was completely wrong.
This book has an utterly compelling narrative, intertwining together the lives of Fleetwood, mistress of the manor, and Alice, a poor girl who lives in the village a little way away. Both women were fascinating characters and I enjoyed reading them.
I knew of the Pendle Witches but my school had focused on the Matthew Hopkins period, during the English Civil War, so I really had no idea about this particular witch trial until reading this book. I was surprised to find out halfway through, by Google, that all the characters were real historical figures from 1612, all either involved in the witch trial or living near it when it happened. Of course, this story weaved from this figures is made up and there's no evidence the real Fleetwood and Alice knew it each other, but knowing the characters were based on real people, made this already fascinating story even more so.
Having read The Foundling and Mrs England now as well, I've noticed Halls has a habit of placing two very different, well developed female characters together (often where one is in a position of power over the other) in a historical setting and having that relationship, with its shifting dynamics, guide the story. There are also very strong themes of motherhood and the mother/mother figure's relationship to their children, as well as feminism and what it meant to be a woman at that time in history. All of this I love and I think Halls' portrays these themes and characters excellently.
I'm so glad I picked this book up in the end; I absolutely devoured it and anxiously await Halls' next novel!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
alomie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Solid book, it took me a while to get through the audio book, it's not one that will stay on my shelves, but definitely worth picking up if you like historical fiction based on real people and events.
It was possibly about 100 pages longer than I would have liked but overall I enjoyed the story.
Fleetwood the main character is a strong leading lady and very worthy in trying to save her poor midwife Alice who is accused of witchcraft and the murder of a child.
It was possibly about 100 pages longer than I would have liked but overall I enjoyed the story.
Fleetwood the main character is a strong leading lady and very worthy in trying to save her poor midwife Alice who is accused of witchcraft and the murder of a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
wallflovver's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
there's something about this book that had me absolutely hooked, i was spending my days looking forward to unravelling more of this story as soon as i had the chance.
im a sucker for female friendship stories, especially ones where the two seemingly have nobody else and grow together, making their days less lonely and filled with light.
i especially loved the imagery of foxes following Fleetwood, to represent her bond with Alice even when they are apart.
i generally disliked the male characters, and felt great sympathy for the women in this story. as is true for women at the time, the society they lived in cost them their lives.
the mix of fiction and historical fact in this book was really interesting, i enjoyed the way it was presented.
the writing style was really nice and easy to consume, i got thru this book really quickly and had no issues with understanding the story and its plot points
overall i was completely gripped by this story and was pleased with the ending
im a sucker for female friendship stories, especially ones where the two seemingly have nobody else and grow together, making their days less lonely and filled with light.
i generally disliked the male characters, and felt great sympathy for the women in this story. as is true for women at the time, the society they lived in cost them their lives.
the mix of fiction and historical fact in this book was really interesting, i enjoyed the way it was presented.
the writing style was really nice and easy to consume, i got thru this book really quickly and had no issues with understanding the story and its plot points
overall i was completely gripped by this story and was pleased with the ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault