The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore follows Rebecca West during the 17th century witch hunt craze in England, spearheaded by "Witchfinder General" Matthew Hopkins (again, I couldn't help picturing Vincent Price given his film.) Similar to Margaret Meyer's The Witching Tide, the women of Manningtree are one by one accused by Hopkins and his associates… Continue reading Review: The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore
Ashes and Stone by Allyson Shaw is a creative non-fiction account of women accused of witchcraft throughout Scottish history, particularly in the 16th through 18th centuries. Shaw details her personal journey traveling around Scotland to visit the forgotten, often neglected monuments to the those who lost their lives to witchcraft craze. Reading Ashes and Stone… Continue reading Review: Ashes and Stones by Allyson Shaw
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a 17th century tale concerning the Vardo, Norway witch trials. If you think this sounds familiar, that's because The Witches of Vardo by Anna Bergman features the same subject matter. While there are some shared character names and similar beautiful writing styles, the stories themselves are quiet different.… Continue reading Review: The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
A Daughter's Place by Martha Batiz follows real historical figure, Isabel de Cervantes (a surname she did not gain until much later), the illegitimate daughter of Miguel de Cervantes, the famous author of Don Quixote. In 1599 Madrid, Isabel is plucked from her humble life working in a tavern and supporting her little sister and… Continue reading Review: A Daughter’s Place by Martha Batiz
I somehow only recently discovered A Mercy by Toni Morrison, but the 17th century Americas POVs and exploration therein immediately drew me because I feel like many historical fiction narratives of enslaved people are set in the 19th century. A Mercy follows a small cast of characters, namely Florens, a young enslaved girl who is… Continue reading Review: A Mercy by Toni Morrison
A Poisoner's Tale by Cathryn Kemp gives life to the alleged real life 17th century poisoner Giulia Tofana. Kemp's tale opens in Palermo, Sicily where Giulia is taught by her mother how to make the infamous Aqua Tofana poison. While her mother charges for other herbalist and remedy work, distribution of the Aqua is always… Continue reading Review: A Poisoner’s Tale by Cathryn Kemp
How many historical novels about women being accused of, and/or actually being witches can I read? Well, the number is infinite, as this subject with forever interest met with its intersection of social history, feminism, gender politics, othering, etc. That said, The Witching Hour by Margaret Meyer has been on my TBR for a while.… Continue reading Review: The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer
The Maiden of Florence, based on true events, follows orphan Giulia Albizzi who is pulled from the Pieta and taken into the care of the Medici Grand Duke for a larger scheme. Having been raised in the Pieta, Giulia is naive of the world and of men. Growing up an orphan with fleeting friendships in… Continue reading Review: The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa
I first fell in love with Lauren Groff's writing with her 2006 Atlantic short story "L. DeBard and Aliette." It has stuck with me since I first read it in graduate school, yet for some reason I haven't actually read any of her novels until The Vaster Wilds (Matrix has been on my to-read list… Continue reading Review: The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Cunning Women by Elizabeth Lee is set in 1620 in Lancashire and follows Sarah, a young woman from an outcast and destitute family known for their "cunning." Each woman in her family is marked by the devil, has a familiar, and has knowledge of herblore to make and sell remedies to the nearby village that… Continue reading Review: Cunning Women by Elizabeth Lee
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