saguaros's review
3.0
I generally do not read a lot of historical novels unless there are some element of fantasy as well, but I do enjoy stories taking place during certain eras and/or events. I am also a bit fascinated by the witch hunts and trials that happened in Europe and New England during the 17th century and this is precisely why I requested this book and was very interested in reading it.
The novel tells the story of sixteen-year old Maggie Blair who lives with her very angry and spiteful grandmother on the island of Bute in seventeenth-century Scotland. The first third of the novel deals with her life on the island, the tensions between the inhabitants and her grandmother and the subsequent accusations of witchcraft. Maggie finds herslef accused and sentenced to death and is forced to flea the island. She takes refuge in her uncle's house on the mainland. There she thinks she can finally lead a peaceful life, but trouble seems to follow her. Her uncle Hugh is a Covenanter, a group of Scottish men and women who want a church free of the King's rule. By refusing to akcnowledge the King as the head of the Church and to attend any services lead by any royal-appointed bishop, they were soon fined, persecuted and even executed. Maggie finds herself more and more involved, never sure where she stands in her beliefs, but still willing to risk her own life to save her uncle and his family.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is, in my opinion, a fascinating YA historical novel. This was partly due, I must admit, to my total ignorance of the history of the Covenanters (presbyterians) in Scotland, and I was so happy to learn more about the subject. I thought the book was a bit too long, though. It's hard to say why as I look back on it, because the story always moved forward, there rarely were any idle moments or unnecessary long descriptions. It did cover a lot of time and events, from Maggie's life on the island, to her life with her uncle, to her quest to help him, and back. But I must say that I was immerse in it nonetheless, I read it relatively fast, and I absolutely needed to know how it would finish. There is no love story in this novel (what a change!) and is purely the story of a girl's journey and of a specific period in Scotlnad's history.
There was a disconnect between the first and second part of the book. While both dealt with religious persecutions of two different kinds, one born of hatred, ignorance and fear, the other out of power and control, plot-wise they felt almost unrelated. Maggie could have had any other reason to see her uncle without having to flea due to false accusations of witchcraft. The only connection between the two parts was the character of Maggie herself and her emotional and psychological growth spurred by all of these events. As a protagonist Maggie is well developed, starting as an uneducated, fearful and slowly developing into a smart and braver young women. Her growing process was slow and sometimes frustrating, but it felt true at the same time. I sometimes wanted her to be more proactive, more outspoken, just more, but then I realized I was comparing her to all those fantasy heroines I like, not to what a seventeenth-century Scottish girl would be. Once I realized my mistake, I was able to appreciate her more. In the end, I liked this book and it did make me want to maybe pick up more historical novels in the future.
The novel tells the story of sixteen-year old Maggie Blair who lives with her very angry and spiteful grandmother on the island of Bute in seventeenth-century Scotland. The first third of the novel deals with her life on the island, the tensions between the inhabitants and her grandmother and the subsequent accusations of witchcraft. Maggie finds herslef accused and sentenced to death and is forced to flea the island. She takes refuge in her uncle's house on the mainland. There she thinks she can finally lead a peaceful life, but trouble seems to follow her. Her uncle Hugh is a Covenanter, a group of Scottish men and women who want a church free of the King's rule. By refusing to akcnowledge the King as the head of the Church and to attend any services lead by any royal-appointed bishop, they were soon fined, persecuted and even executed. Maggie finds herself more and more involved, never sure where she stands in her beliefs, but still willing to risk her own life to save her uncle and his family.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is, in my opinion, a fascinating YA historical novel. This was partly due, I must admit, to my total ignorance of the history of the Covenanters (presbyterians) in Scotland, and I was so happy to learn more about the subject. I thought the book was a bit too long, though. It's hard to say why as I look back on it, because the story always moved forward, there rarely were any idle moments or unnecessary long descriptions. It did cover a lot of time and events, from Maggie's life on the island, to her life with her uncle, to her quest to help him, and back. But I must say that I was immerse in it nonetheless, I read it relatively fast, and I absolutely needed to know how it would finish. There is no love story in this novel (what a change!) and is purely the story of a girl's journey and of a specific period in Scotlnad's history.
There was a disconnect between the first and second part of the book. While both dealt with religious persecutions of two different kinds, one born of hatred, ignorance and fear, the other out of power and control, plot-wise they felt almost unrelated. Maggie could have had any other reason to see her uncle without having to flea due to false accusations of witchcraft. The only connection between the two parts was the character of Maggie herself and her emotional and psychological growth spurred by all of these events. As a protagonist Maggie is well developed, starting as an uneducated, fearful and slowly developing into a smart and braver young women. Her growing process was slow and sometimes frustrating, but it felt true at the same time. I sometimes wanted her to be more proactive, more outspoken, just more, but then I realized I was comparing her to all those fantasy heroines I like, not to what a seventeenth-century Scottish girl would be. Once I realized my mistake, I was able to appreciate her more. In the end, I liked this book and it did make me want to maybe pick up more historical novels in the future.
jahnaromano14's review
3.0
I feel as though this book is not necessarily "good literature," but certainly a good read. It was enjoyable and an easy read, and people who enjoy historical fiction and a strong female narrator would like this novel. While at points the prose can seem just a bit academic and even simple, I enjoyed it, and finished the book in three days. If you're looking for something simple, informative, and entertaining, then go for this book.
p0laris's review
5.0
This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever.
Before I gush about why I loved this book, I just need to say that I love the cover. From a photography standpoint, the photo is spectacular; the silhouette of the girl, against the expansive background and cloudy sky, with her reflection in the foreground...it's gorgeous! I also love the title, which fits the book perfectly.
Now, about the book: I think the strongest point of The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, is that it features a set of strong characters. Maggie is a great character, who doesn't always know what to do, or how to stand up for herself. She does know what is right and wrong, though, and this knowledge helps her to do what needs to be done in the story. She constantly pushes herself to do what she knows is right, even if doing so puts her in a bad position.
Maggie's grandmother is quite the character, at times giving meaning to the phrase "old hag." But even she has a depth to her that shows you why she seems a little rough. Other characters like Tam, Annie, and Hugh Blair, are all given extreme personalities, but are developed well enough that you believe them.
The Blair family was especially interesting to read about. They are what seemed like an accurate depiction of a presbyterian "rebel" family (also known as Covenanters) during the time period when King Charles II (and then King James the VII) began ruling the church, and hunting down those who refused to conform, or to recognize him as the head of the church. The Blair family has strong (if a bit extreme) morals, and refuses to conform, which brings some interesting and real conflicts into the book. In fact, everything in this book seemed horribly real. The witch trials were frightening, and the way the soldiers treated the Covenanters was utterly terrible. Laird really brought the time period alive, reminding the reader that not all of history is pretty.
Side note: I actually didn't know about "Covenanters," or the "Killing times" until I read this book, and was so intrigued, that I went and researched it after reading. It was a very interesting time in history.
Now, the book does have a bit of a slow pace to it. Things happen over the course of about a year (maybe even a little longer; I admit that I didn't pay that much attention to the timeline), so the action isn't immediate, and doesn't all happen at once with one huge climax. Instead, things happen over time, there are many obstacles to overcome (danger is always lurking), and the character growth is subtle. But it is exactly how I like my historicals: rich in detail, true to the time period, and not paced according to today's standards.
I highly recommend it!
Before I gush about why I loved this book, I just need to say that I love the cover. From a photography standpoint, the photo is spectacular; the silhouette of the girl, against the expansive background and cloudy sky, with her reflection in the foreground...it's gorgeous! I also love the title, which fits the book perfectly.
Now, about the book: I think the strongest point of The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, is that it features a set of strong characters. Maggie is a great character, who doesn't always know what to do, or how to stand up for herself. She does know what is right and wrong, though, and this knowledge helps her to do what needs to be done in the story. She constantly pushes herself to do what she knows is right, even if doing so puts her in a bad position.
Maggie's grandmother is quite the character, at times giving meaning to the phrase "old hag." But even she has a depth to her that shows you why she seems a little rough. Other characters like Tam, Annie, and Hugh Blair, are all given extreme personalities, but are developed well enough that you believe them.
The Blair family was especially interesting to read about. They are what seemed like an accurate depiction of a presbyterian "rebel" family (also known as Covenanters) during the time period when King Charles II (and then King James the VII) began ruling the church, and hunting down those who refused to conform, or to recognize him as the head of the church. The Blair family has strong (if a bit extreme) morals, and refuses to conform, which brings some interesting and real conflicts into the book. In fact, everything in this book seemed horribly real. The witch trials were frightening, and the way the soldiers treated the Covenanters was utterly terrible. Laird really brought the time period alive, reminding the reader that not all of history is pretty.
Side note: I actually didn't know about "Covenanters," or the "Killing times" until I read this book, and was so intrigued, that I went and researched it after reading. It was a very interesting time in history.
Now, the book does have a bit of a slow pace to it. Things happen over the course of about a year (maybe even a little longer; I admit that I didn't pay that much attention to the timeline), so the action isn't immediate, and doesn't all happen at once with one huge climax. Instead, things happen over time, there are many obstacles to overcome (danger is always lurking), and the character growth is subtle. But it is exactly how I like my historicals: rich in detail, true to the time period, and not paced according to today's standards.
I highly recommend it!
wakela's review
5.0
First let me say that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this cover. It is so beautiful.
This book had actually been previously released in the UK under another name. It is going to be making its US debut in just a short while.
Elizabeth Laird allows the reader to step back in time to 17th century Scotland. It was a time of struggle and strife. Young Maggie Blair was falsely accused of witchcraft as many others were. It was common back then to quickly call someone a witch because you didn’t like them. Thus ending their life.
Unlike many women, Maggie managed to escape her captures and goes on the run. She ends up at her uncle’s house in the hopes of hiding out. However, trouble is close on her heels.
I really loved the vivid descriptions of the people and places. I have always wanted to go to Scotland since my mom’s family is from there. This book helped transport me there.
In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.
This book had actually been previously released in the UK under another name. It is going to be making its US debut in just a short while.
Elizabeth Laird allows the reader to step back in time to 17th century Scotland. It was a time of struggle and strife. Young Maggie Blair was falsely accused of witchcraft as many others were. It was common back then to quickly call someone a witch because you didn’t like them. Thus ending their life.
Unlike many women, Maggie managed to escape her captures and goes on the run. She ends up at her uncle’s house in the hopes of hiding out. However, trouble is close on her heels.
I really loved the vivid descriptions of the people and places. I have always wanted to go to Scotland since my mom’s family is from there. This book helped transport me there.
In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.
emslovestoread's review
4.0
I wasn't too sure about this book when I requested the ARC from NetGalley, to be honest. I thought it would be just another paranormal witch book. Clearly, I didn't do my homework very well, because it wasn't just another witch book.
Maggie is unfairly accused of being a witch in her 17th century Scottish village. The horrors she must endure are enough to break one's heart. Seriously. At first, it all seems too unbelievable and too much. But then go and read some historical accounts of what accused witches went through during that time period, and you realize that perhaps Maggie got off easy.
Maggie was definitely my favorite character and her strength quickly endeared her to me. It's a hard-fought battle though, as she's something of a weakling to begin with. I love that we're able to watch her grow and come into her own.
I love the realism in this book. I'd fully expected some sort of paranormal romance, but it isn't at all. It's just plain good historical fiction. LOVE.
I love that Elizabeth Laird doesn't get bogged down in descriptions, like can happen sometimes in HF. She gives us enough to 'see' what's happening and where, and then lets our imaginations take over.
I've been wracking my brain, trying to think of something that didn't really work for me. Um. Um. Um. Okay, nada. It all worked. I seriously thought this was a beautifully written book that captured my interest and fulfilled its unspoken promises of greatness.
I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction, fans of the period, and fans of true witch trial stories.
I'm giving this my 'Pick me' rating.
Maggie is unfairly accused of being a witch in her 17th century Scottish village. The horrors she must endure are enough to break one's heart. Seriously. At first, it all seems too unbelievable and too much. But then go and read some historical accounts of what accused witches went through during that time period, and you realize that perhaps Maggie got off easy.
Maggie was definitely my favorite character and her strength quickly endeared her to me. It's a hard-fought battle though, as she's something of a weakling to begin with. I love that we're able to watch her grow and come into her own.
I love the realism in this book. I'd fully expected some sort of paranormal romance, but it isn't at all. It's just plain good historical fiction. LOVE.
I love that Elizabeth Laird doesn't get bogged down in descriptions, like can happen sometimes in HF. She gives us enough to 'see' what's happening and where, and then lets our imaginations take over.
I've been wracking my brain, trying to think of something that didn't really work for me. Um. Um. Um. Okay, nada. It all worked. I seriously thought this was a beautifully written book that captured my interest and fulfilled its unspoken promises of greatness.
I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction, fans of the period, and fans of true witch trial stories.
I'm giving this my 'Pick me' rating.
littleladyluna's review
4.0
Sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair lives with her grandmother in seventeenth centry Scotland and is just trying to get by. They don't have much money and Maggie is actually pretty afraid of her Granny, Elspeth, but she isn't the only one. The townspeople already fear Elspeth and whisper that she is a witch because she and Maggie never attend church (an act that was considered a crime and punishable by law) and because Elspeth has been known to use herbs and chants to heal. When the Macbean family shuns Maggie and Elspeth, Elspeth's temper is unleashed and she announces that the newest Macbean baby will soon die. When the baby dies a few weeks later, Elspeth and Maggie are arrested for witchcraft and after a quick trial where numerous townspeople bring false evidence against them, they are sentenced to death by hanging. With the help of a family friend, Maggie escapes and locates her Uncle Blair and his family who are Covenanters who believe that the King of Scotland is trying to take over the church and they must defy his rule. Although she doesn't share their beliefs, Maggie takes her place within the family and begins to think that she can settle down and live a happy life. However, just as she is getting comfortable, one of her accusers appears and brings trouble with her.
First, I want to say how beautiful I think the cover of this book is! I am often swayed by a gorgeous cover and then disappointed if the book doesn't quite stand up to the expectations set by the cover art. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed with this story. Maggie is a very likable character and though she is a bit of a pushover at the start, she soon comes into her own and shows a lot of courage to face the obstacles thrown in her way. The villain, Annie, was despicable enough that I shuddered when she made her way to the Blair farm and I hoped she met a terrible fate at the end of the book. I was unfamiliar with the history with the Covenanters but this book provides a lot of history and detail surrounding them so I didn't feel lost because of my lack of knowledge. The story moved very smoothly and there were many times I refused to stop reading (although I really needed to) because I wanted to see what would happen to Maggie next. I thought this was a great, quick read.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
First, I want to say how beautiful I think the cover of this book is! I am often swayed by a gorgeous cover and then disappointed if the book doesn't quite stand up to the expectations set by the cover art. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed with this story. Maggie is a very likable character and though she is a bit of a pushover at the start, she soon comes into her own and shows a lot of courage to face the obstacles thrown in her way. The villain, Annie, was despicable enough that I shuddered when she made her way to the Blair farm and I hoped she met a terrible fate at the end of the book. I was unfamiliar with the history with the Covenanters but this book provides a lot of history and detail surrounding them so I didn't feel lost because of my lack of knowledge. The story moved very smoothly and there were many times I refused to stop reading (although I really needed to) because I wanted to see what would happen to Maggie next. I thought this was a great, quick read.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
owlishbookish's review
4.0
This is the review as it appears on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter:
I had been dying to read this book since March. I finally got my chance when my local library got a copy at long last. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair may be about the fallout of a witch trial, but don't let the genre listings on Goodreads deceive you. This is a very well-written historical fiction novel, not a paranormal one. It rekindled my appreciation for straight historical fiction and, in the process, taught me about a period of Scottish history I had never heard of in full detail before.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair takes place during a year from an eight-year period of Scottish history known as The Killing Time, during which Presbyterianism (a form of Puritanism) was under attack by the British monarchy, resulting in the deaths of many Scottish Presbyterians. In addition to that, witch hysteria was not unheard of, resulting in the prosecution and deaths of several men and women. Maggie must contend with both of these dangers. Her journey throughout southern Scotland is both riveting and courageous as she tries to stay one step ahead of those who would do her harm.
There is a lot of talk about religion, including copious excerpts from the Bible. This definitely went a long way to set the scene for the religious fervor that was held by the Covenanters, as well as the dire straights they found themselves in at the hands of the "Black Cuffs" (i.e. "Red Coats" aka British troops). As Maggie jumps out of the frying pan that is her conviction under false witness as a witch and into the fire that is her uncle's harrowing Covenanter world, Maggie finds that she has a strength far beyond what she thought she possessed. She transforms from meek, anxious Maggie into strong, self-assured Maggie. This beautifully illustrated the transformative powers of adversity and self-reliance.
The characters in this book were extremely well done. From Maggie's grandmother to the vagabond piper, Tam, each character has a distinctive personality that jumps right off the page and sucks you into the story. It was very easy to imagine each character as I read more about them. The bad guys in this novel are provoking and truly horrible people, which added to the urgency of Maggie's escape. The only character flaw that made reading a bit difficult was the repetition of particular thoughts on Maggie's part. After the fifth time of reading the same inner monologue, I was hoping for something more. However, that is only a small part of the story. The rest more than made up for it.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair was well worth the wait. I am very happy to have read this one and would buy this for my collection. I will definitely be encouraging my daughter to read it when she is older. It was informative, imaginative, and thought-provoking. It was an excellent foray back into historical fiction. I give this book 4 hoots!
I had been dying to read this book since March. I finally got my chance when my local library got a copy at long last. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair may be about the fallout of a witch trial, but don't let the genre listings on Goodreads deceive you. This is a very well-written historical fiction novel, not a paranormal one. It rekindled my appreciation for straight historical fiction and, in the process, taught me about a period of Scottish history I had never heard of in full detail before.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair takes place during a year from an eight-year period of Scottish history known as The Killing Time, during which Presbyterianism (a form of Puritanism) was under attack by the British monarchy, resulting in the deaths of many Scottish Presbyterians. In addition to that, witch hysteria was not unheard of, resulting in the prosecution and deaths of several men and women. Maggie must contend with both of these dangers. Her journey throughout southern Scotland is both riveting and courageous as she tries to stay one step ahead of those who would do her harm.
There is a lot of talk about religion, including copious excerpts from the Bible. This definitely went a long way to set the scene for the religious fervor that was held by the Covenanters, as well as the dire straights they found themselves in at the hands of the "Black Cuffs" (i.e. "Red Coats" aka British troops). As Maggie jumps out of the frying pan that is her conviction under false witness as a witch and into the fire that is her uncle's harrowing Covenanter world, Maggie finds that she has a strength far beyond what she thought she possessed. She transforms from meek, anxious Maggie into strong, self-assured Maggie. This beautifully illustrated the transformative powers of adversity and self-reliance.
The characters in this book were extremely well done. From Maggie's grandmother to the vagabond piper, Tam, each character has a distinctive personality that jumps right off the page and sucks you into the story. It was very easy to imagine each character as I read more about them. The bad guys in this novel are provoking and truly horrible people, which added to the urgency of Maggie's escape. The only character flaw that made reading a bit difficult was the repetition of particular thoughts on Maggie's part. After the fifth time of reading the same inner monologue, I was hoping for something more. However, that is only a small part of the story. The rest more than made up for it.
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair was well worth the wait. I am very happy to have read this one and would buy this for my collection. I will definitely be encouraging my daughter to read it when she is older. It was informative, imaginative, and thought-provoking. It was an excellent foray back into historical fiction. I give this book 4 hoots!
martha_schwalbe's review
3.0
I wasn't really sure what to expect by the jacket or the title so I kept reading to learn about the betrayal. I enjoyed the story and the ideas behind it; however, I had to suspend my knowledge of life and history at times to believe the events as described in the story.
For example, Maggie grew up in a very poor household, yet she became an excellent reader in less than a year. She was described as being socially backward, raised by her grandmother, yet by the end of the book she'd become a very social, outgoing person.
The book is kistorical fiction and includes interesting information about the Protestants in Scotland so if you have readers who want historical fiction I would recommend this book to strong readers.
For example, Maggie grew up in a very poor household, yet she became an excellent reader in less than a year. She was described as being socially backward, raised by her grandmother, yet by the end of the book she'd become a very social, outgoing person.
The book is kistorical fiction and includes interesting information about the Protestants in Scotland so if you have readers who want historical fiction I would recommend this book to strong readers.
occhilism's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is probably going to be the best book I'll read this year. The ending was tied up better than most books I've read so far, it was such a satisfying ending. Even though we don't know how Maggie will specifically go ok with her life, the ending left no questions at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Abortion and Fire/Fire injury