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thebooktrail88's review
5.0
Visit the real locations in the novel Widdershins
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Gripping, heartbreaking, insightful, chilling - oh yes - very very chilling. This is one book I won't forget in a hurry. It's based on true facts - the witch trials of Newcastle in the 1650s which were the result of women being persecuted for being women, for giving birth, for taking remedies to soothe pain as they went against God's will apparently....
There are two stories - Jane and John - Jane is a young girl living with women accused of the worst crimes, trying to make her way in the world and being controlled by men at every turn. John is the innocent young boy marred by tragedy and circumstance but it's his transformation which chilled me to the core. Soon he too, is a witch hunter himself -how he changes has to be one of the most frightening things I've witness in a while - I say witness as that's how I felt reading this - as a witness to a shocking period of history. Sharp, raw, visceral language of the day helps cement this in your mind. The aroma of the herbs and the local remedies in the book will scent your tears as they fall...
image:
Gripping, heartbreaking, insightful, chilling - oh yes - very very chilling. This is one book I won't forget in a hurry. It's based on true facts - the witch trials of Newcastle in the 1650s which were the result of women being persecuted for being women, for giving birth, for taking remedies to soothe pain as they went against God's will apparently....
There are two stories - Jane and John - Jane is a young girl living with women accused of the worst crimes, trying to make her way in the world and being controlled by men at every turn. John is the innocent young boy marred by tragedy and circumstance but it's his transformation which chilled me to the core. Soon he too, is a witch hunter himself -how he changes has to be one of the most frightening things I've witness in a while - I say witness as that's how I felt reading this - as a witness to a shocking period of history. Sharp, raw, visceral language of the day helps cement this in your mind. The aroma of the herbs and the local remedies in the book will scent your tears as they fall...
openmypages's review
5.0
Narrator Performance: 5 stars
Book Rating: 5 stars
Widdershins tells the story of the Newcastle witch trials in 1650, but we join the story when two of the characters whose fates will collide at this horrific event are children.
We see how John, the witchfinder, became so passionate about the work he does through the death of his mother, his wife and child as well as the influence of his abusive father and reverend uncle. We hear the stories of his progression into the career and the women accused along the way. Like with many other stories of this ilk, there is terrible aggression towards Eve's cursed daughters where women who have any knowledge or influence or cross the wrong man are deleted from society in the most horrific way. John is probably the most unlikable character I’ve ever read. I know history is full of these men but oof I just wanted to punch him more and more with every word and action.
Jane is a midwife's daughter whose life seems unfairly cursed from the start. Circumstance after circumstance leads her to her ultimate fate. It nearly seemed inescapable that she would end up where she did. As a woman with a brain and an opinion and a desire to make choices that followed her heart and not a sense of duty she set herself apart in a dangerous way. I was so empathetic towards her and found myself really wishing there was a way out for her. My favorite part of her story was the discussions of the herbs and treatments used at that time point. Oh and the END!
It’s definitely a slow moving story with the trials occurring quite near the end but the details of the time help build the tension to a crescendo. Lots of scenes are quite graphic and the description of the women’s “crimes” will make your blood boil but it is accurate to the trials of the times. Check this one out if you liked Phillippa Gregory’s Tidelands.
Thanks to Love Book Tours for an audio copy. All opinions above are my own.
Book Rating: 5 stars
Widdershins tells the story of the Newcastle witch trials in 1650, but we join the story when two of the characters whose fates will collide at this horrific event are children.
We see how John, the witchfinder, became so passionate about the work he does through the death of his mother, his wife and child as well as the influence of his abusive father and reverend uncle. We hear the stories of his progression into the career and the women accused along the way. Like with many other stories of this ilk, there is terrible aggression towards Eve's cursed daughters where women who have any knowledge or influence or cross the wrong man are deleted from society in the most horrific way. John is probably the most unlikable character I’ve ever read. I know history is full of these men but oof I just wanted to punch him more and more with every word and action.
Jane is a midwife's daughter whose life seems unfairly cursed from the start. Circumstance after circumstance leads her to her ultimate fate. It nearly seemed inescapable that she would end up where she did. As a woman with a brain and an opinion and a desire to make choices that followed her heart and not a sense of duty she set herself apart in a dangerous way. I was so empathetic towards her and found myself really wishing there was a way out for her. My favorite part of her story was the discussions of the herbs and treatments used at that time point. Oh and the END!
It’s definitely a slow moving story with the trials occurring quite near the end but the details of the time help build the tension to a crescendo. Lots of scenes are quite graphic and the description of the women’s “crimes” will make your blood boil but it is accurate to the trials of the times. Check this one out if you liked Phillippa Gregory’s Tidelands.
Thanks to Love Book Tours for an audio copy. All opinions above are my own.
historic_chronicles's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Inspired by true events, Steadman vividly captures the superstition and religious tensions that gripped the North East of England during the witch trials of the 17th Century.
What follows is a chilling and harrowing account of the atrocities and injustice aimed primarily at women which made these two novels disturbing yet gripping with horrifying realism.
I found the use of our two completely different narrators provided an unfiltered and unapologetic approach to showcasing life from different perspectives presented remarkably well in a unique and even poetical style.
The setting of North East England is described beautifully and truly brings the narration to life with the author's masterful world-building skill.
A gut-wrenching and brutal tale, The Widdershins Series is atmospheric with the build up of fear and hysteria of the witch trials and one that is likely to stay with you long after you finish the final page.
Thank you so much to @helensteadman1650 and @randomthingstours for organising this book tour and providing me with copies of this incredible story, this is definitely not one to miss.
What follows is a chilling and harrowing account of the atrocities and injustice aimed primarily at women which made these two novels disturbing yet gripping with horrifying realism.
I found the use of our two completely different narrators provided an unfiltered and unapologetic approach to showcasing life from different perspectives presented remarkably well in a unique and even poetical style.
The setting of North East England is described beautifully and truly brings the narration to life with the author's masterful world-building skill.
A gut-wrenching and brutal tale, The Widdershins Series is atmospheric with the build up of fear and hysteria of the witch trials and one that is likely to stay with you long after you finish the final page.
Thank you so much to @helensteadman1650 and @randomthingstours for organising this book tour and providing me with copies of this incredible story, this is definitely not one to miss.
amothersmusings1's review
5.0
‘Did all women have something of the witch about them?’
I’ve always been interested in the stories of women who were persecuted as ‘witches’ and the shocking trials that occurred around the world in the 1600’s.
“Widdershins” is book one in the *Widdershins series by author Helen Steadman and is inspired by the real life Newcastle witch trials, where up to sixteen people were executed on the same day, marking it as the biggest mass execution for witchcraft in the country. Being my local area I was intrigued to read about this event.
The story is based on real life events, whereby the author created an imagined story of a woman named Jane, who escaped the hangman’s noose from the Scottish ‘witch-finder’.
To say I felt tearful, uncomfortable, enraged and deeply saddened by this story, would be a HUGE understatement! To be accused of witchcraft, simply by being a woman and then sentenced to a cruel death, is one of those events in history that is simply unforgettable and inexcusable. Helen Steadman has captured perfectly the atmosphere of the time, the emotions and feelings of the women at risk of accusation and also the viewpoint of the ‘witch-finder’ and his beliefs that these people have the devil within them. The misogyny, bullying, and abuse from certain men was truly horrific to read and the author held nothing back in this regard. Superbly researched, the author has put her heart and soul in writing this book.
I feel like it’s so wrong to say I really enjoyed this book, due to the nature of the subject but I honestly did and felt a massive empathic connection with the women accused.
There are records that show those persecuted in this story were buried in unmarked graves in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church, Newcastle. The executions took place on the Town Moor in Newcastle, of which I have visited often. I was totally unaware of its history but I know the next time I go, I will definitely feel their pain and anguish. The names of the accused, who were unlawfully executed, are named at the end of the book and I took time to read each name with a huge sadness in my heart.
#Widdershins - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Widdershins - is a term meaning to go counter-clockwise, to go anti-clockwise, or to go lefthandwise, or to walk around an object by always keeping it on the left.
hkar0610's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
4.75
bristoni74's review
1.0
I had high hopes for this book as I love historical fiction and reviews were very positive. However, I DNF. I read the first third of the book which has alternating chapters of John whose mother dies at birth, and is sadisticly abused by his father and Jane who is raised by her mother, a midwife and healer. Whilst it was obvious the outcome for these characters, that wasn't what stopped me from reading this book. John becomes an evil man who believes he is doing God's work and must root out evil and Jane is an ordinary girl who by simply being a woman can be accused of witchcraft. Despite the source material (based on a true story) this didn't draw me in at all and I skipped to the final 2 chapters to find out the conclusion.
serenityyou's review
5.0
This is based on real-life events of the 1650 witch trial in Newcastle. I never realised this until I finished the book. I love reading books about witch trials and knowing that these actually happened makes it even better.
I listened to this on audio and love the narrator and her accent.
this is told in alternative chapters of Jane and John. John’s mother died in childbirth and he went to live with the woman who delivered him, who his dad claimed was a witch. When John is older he also believes this and starts a vendetta against her.
Jane lives with her mum who uses herbs etc for healing. She has a partner and becomes pregnant, but he dies before they can marry.
I really enjoyed this so much. John made me so mad and it is totally unbelievable how people actually thought these people were witches for doing the smallest thing. I just loved it! a massive 5/5 stars for me.
Can’t wait to listen to the second book in this series.
I listened to this on audio and love the narrator and her accent.
this is told in alternative chapters of Jane and John. John’s mother died in childbirth and he went to live with the woman who delivered him, who his dad claimed was a witch. When John is older he also believes this and starts a vendetta against her.
Jane lives with her mum who uses herbs etc for healing. She has a partner and becomes pregnant, but he dies before they can marry.
I really enjoyed this so much. John made me so mad and it is totally unbelievable how people actually thought these people were witches for doing the smallest thing. I just loved it! a massive 5/5 stars for me.
Can’t wait to listen to the second book in this series.