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novelshire's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
The fourth book of the Witches of Woodville sees us return to the village in December 1940, and you know what that means? Festive, yuletide, folkloric horror with a touch of canoodling!
In some ways, this feels a bit like a return to the folklore horror of the first book, The Crow Folk, with WW2 more in the background this time (although it makes it's presence felt in other ways). When the village postman is oddly compelled to slip out early and deliver a mysterious package into the middle of the woods, the ancient Holly King is summoned, and the whole village is at risk. It's up to Faye and the other witches to solve the mystery of his return and the motives of a fairy of dubious character. And to add to that, there's the return to the village of a soldier on leave, suffering from the horrors he's witnessed and having strange visions.
The characters are as charming and eccentric as always, and I love that Woodville feels like a village on the edge, not just of the war, but of the strange magics that seem to be drawn to it.
An incredibly enjoyable read, funny and fast-paced. The cosy fantasy/folklore horror elements are perfect for anyone who enjoys a festive ghost story at Christmas. The Holly King is yet another great instalment in the series. If you've enjoyed the previous books, then this will not disappoint. If you haven't read any of them yet, why not?
Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a netgalley copy for review
In some ways, this feels a bit like a return to the folklore horror of the first book, The Crow Folk, with WW2 more in the background this time (although it makes it's presence felt in other ways). When the village postman is oddly compelled to slip out early and deliver a mysterious package into the middle of the woods, the ancient Holly King is summoned, and the whole village is at risk. It's up to Faye and the other witches to solve the mystery of his return and the motives of a fairy of dubious character. And to add to that, there's the return to the village of a soldier on leave, suffering from the horrors he's witnessed and having strange visions.
The characters are as charming and eccentric as always, and I love that Woodville feels like a village on the edge, not just of the war, but of the strange magics that seem to be drawn to it.
An incredibly enjoyable read, funny and fast-paced. The cosy fantasy/folklore horror elements are perfect for anyone who enjoys a festive ghost story at Christmas. The Holly King is yet another great instalment in the series. If you've enjoyed the previous books, then this will not disappoint. If you haven't read any of them yet, why not?
Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a netgalley copy for review
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