A review by keeliesavage
The Village Healer's Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I really, really enjoyed this book. It follows Mary Fawcett, a healer in a small village who is accused of witchcraft by a man "sent by parliament" to hunt down witches. When a local (horrible) man is murdered in an unknown way, covered in ritualistic scars, focus turns on her, her mentor and others who experiment as the possible culprits. Mary and some local friends have to go and figure out what happened to him to clear their names. I really, really enjoyed this well-written, engaging book. It felt like the author had done her research when she talked about different recipes and methods of healing that Mary used. 

I normally love a twist ending but this one was hard on me. Finding out that the person who has spent years teaching Mary to heal and develop her intuitive skills was the one creating discord in the community and sacrificing people for her cause of finding the philosphers stone was something I definitely didn't see coming.