A review by amothersmusings1
Widdershins by Helen Steadman

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.