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A review by hookandbookclub
Cunning Women by Elizabeth Lee
4.0
I listened to the audiobook version of Cunning Women and I was gripped.
Sarah lives with her mother, brother and little sister at the top of a hill in Lancashire in the 1620s.
The Haworth family are ostracised by the community as Sarah’s mother is a ‘cunning woman’, feared and mistrusted, although the villagers are more than happy to go to her for cures and remedies, although they wouldn’t openly admit it.
When a spate of crimes shake the village, the inhabitants are quick to point their hypocritical fingers but are they looking at the wrong culprits?
Meanwhile, we closely follow Sarah in her quest to protect her family, while also listening to her own heart and what she wants for her future. Will she continue the cunning women line or will she escape for a more respected lifestyle when she gets the chance?
Sometimes it was difficult to keep up with all the names of the characters, particularly the male ones as there are several. (I think it’s just a problem I have with audiobooks because when I see a name written down it’s more memorable?!) But the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life with emotional range that suited such a deep tale of struggles.
I love this historical witchcraft type of genre and have actually learnt a lot from novels like this. This story as well as The Familiars is set near Pendle Hill, the site of many real historic witch trials in England. I went to university in Lancaster and have continued to be fascinated by the area and its history.
Thanks to @netgalley and @hutchheinemann for the ALC!
Sarah lives with her mother, brother and little sister at the top of a hill in Lancashire in the 1620s.
The Haworth family are ostracised by the community as Sarah’s mother is a ‘cunning woman’, feared and mistrusted, although the villagers are more than happy to go to her for cures and remedies, although they wouldn’t openly admit it.
When a spate of crimes shake the village, the inhabitants are quick to point their hypocritical fingers but are they looking at the wrong culprits?
Meanwhile, we closely follow Sarah in her quest to protect her family, while also listening to her own heart and what she wants for her future. Will she continue the cunning women line or will she escape for a more respected lifestyle when she gets the chance?
Sometimes it was difficult to keep up with all the names of the characters, particularly the male ones as there are several. (I think it’s just a problem I have with audiobooks because when I see a name written down it’s more memorable?!) But the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life with emotional range that suited such a deep tale of struggles.
I love this historical witchcraft type of genre and have actually learnt a lot from novels like this. This story as well as The Familiars is set near Pendle Hill, the site of many real historic witch trials in England. I went to university in Lancaster and have continued to be fascinated by the area and its history.
Thanks to @netgalley and @hutchheinemann for the ALC!