"Wood creaked beneath my feet, like I stepped out upon a still pond. And floating upon it, I saw a bed of cotton sheets with a quilt of many threads. A table and chair, a silver brush waiting for hair. And an oval mirror above them all, filled with the light that fell from a gilded window."
I have just finished reading Witch by Finbar Hawkins which is an extraordinary novel of the witch trials. I have read lots of novels that tackle this subject, but I have to say that this is one of the finest in terms of the style of writing. As you can see from the extract above, Witch is a lyrical novel, told in a poetic style and the language has that magical, fairytale quality that I love. It sings off the page, like a cross between a nursery rhyme and an old fable, retold around the fireplace on a cold winter's night.
It is a book that draws you in from the very first sentence and as it is written in regional dialect, it feels very authentic and original right from the start. It is clear that this author loves language, that he enjoys the musicality of words strung together in just the right way. I got the impression that he thinks very carefully before choosing a particular word, creating magical phrases that are entirely original, such as a blade being hatched from a cane. This is the kind of training we had on the MA, so it came as no surprise to me to find that he too holds an MA in creative writing.
The novel is about a young girl who witnesses her mother's death during the witch craze of the 1600's. She is torn between the need to keep her little sister safe and seek revenge on those who killed her mother. When it comes to the crunch, she takes the path of revenge and the novel follows her journey as she seeks out her enemies.
There is magic and spell-casting woven throughout the tale, with themes of betrayal, war and superstition being key factors in the turning of the plot. At times it feels quite threatening, as witches are hunted, but I wouldn't say that it's a scary book. It is a book which questions if revenge is justified when it turns the victim into the perpetrator? It could also serve as a warning, never to cross a witch!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel over the past couple of nights and I was completely absorbed by this dangerous world. If you like witchy books you will enjoy this one. And if you enjoy reading poetic prose, Witch is one of the finest examples I've read in a long time. Happy Reading!
BB Marie x
AD This book was sent to me by the publisher for review purposes. It is available now in paperback and digital formats.
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