The Vanishing Witch - Karen Maitland - Guest Book Review

Published by Headline

Guest book review by Lisa Weir

Wow!  Just....WOW!!

A riveting, page-turning whopper of a book that had me captivated – in fact, positively bewitched – from the start.  Blending history, superstition, folklore, murder, mystery and witchcraft sublimely, this book is an absolute must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Set in Lincolnshire in 1380, we are swept away to the time of King Richard II, when, led by his advisor John of Gaunt, he raises taxes to an all time high; a price that the majority of peasants cannot pay leading to the infamous peasant’s revolt.

One such peasant is river boatman Gunter, struggling to pay not just the new taxes but the rents owed by him to rich landowner and wool merchant Robert of Bassingham.

Robert has his own problems with his cargoes going missing, losing him money but fortunately he has the friendship of a new widow to appease him; Mistress Catlin is as divine a specimen of womankind as ever there was and Robert becomes enchanted with the young widow, a welcome change from his scold of a wife but when his wife passes away and he takes Catlin to be his new bride, things don’t go as well as he would have wished in his new little family as jealousy and suspicion between servants and sons abound.

And who is the mysterious friar seen following the players of this novel?  What part has he to play in the bad luck and woes that befall Robert one after the other?

As the peasants struggle and eventually lead a rebellion that has seen no precedent and as Robert gradually loses control of all he holds dear, the reader becomes enmeshed in a world that comes alive in with the medieval superstition, the fear of witchcraft and the plain cruelty and greed that renders the rich richer and the poor poorer in these squalid and fearful times. 

I was utterly lost in this medieval world; each chapter is headed by a spell, charm or ancient lore which fascinated me; the author’s knowledge of the true facts of the Peasant’s Revolt and of ancient folklore are woven together so brilliantly they lend a magical and mysterious element to the story as the reader is tantalized by the puzzling events surrounding the characters and tries to work out whether witchcraft is indeed at work or if it is just the exaggerated workings of our brains throwing us off the real scent.....It might be a big read but it’s a read that will have you spellbound and leave you 100 per cent satisfied. 

Huge thanks to Lisa for reading and reviewing this novel for The Little Reader Library! Lisa blogs at The Book Addicted Housewife, do visit her fab book blog too!


Read an interview with the author on JaffaReadsToo blog.

Spirit of Lost Angels - Liza Perrat

‘I wondered how much longer I could continue such an existence.’

This is a gripping historical read about one woman's personal story during violent and changing times in 18^th Century France.

Victoire is our heroine in this moving tale of love, passion and sadness, set in revolutionary France. She has grown up in poverty in the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where she has seen her mother executed and her father tragically, cruelly and carelessly killed. She then finds herself in Paris, suffering at the hands of her employer, then enduring further horrors.

At times Victoire is driven to deep despair at her situation and the losses she has suffered in her life. Even when she is feeling less low, the threat is always there: ‘I feared la melancolie would creep upon me again – the sadness that seemed ever poised to spring on to my back and wrap its malevolent arms around me for the slightest reason.’

Yet despite this deep sadness, she is stoic and brave, for at times he has to be in order to survive. As the force for change and revolution grows, Victoire will need all her strength if she is to play a part in creating huge change in her country and overthrowing the current corrupt regime. Throughout the tale, Victoire regularly thinks about the angel pendant made of bone that she once wore, and gave away in the hope that it would be a link between her and a very special person one day. 

The author introduces a great cast of characters, some in Lucie-sur-Vionne, many in Paris, whom Victoire meets and who impact on her life in different ways, all contributing to the person she becomes. I very much enjoyed the interaction she had with these characters, in particular in Paris.

The author has evidently undertaken her research to bring this novel to life, full of detail of the times to add authenticity, but never overwhelming or distracting from the progression of the exciting storyline. As a result I felt transported back to this time period, it was brought to life for me, and I could clearly and vividly imagine the places and situations in which Victoire found herself.

Liza Perrat has written a compelling, strong and beautiful debut novel with a spirited, engaging heroine and convincing historical detail which I really enjoyed reading. The plot keeps moving throughout; the story is pacy and exciting. I was drawn into the story and I grew to care deeply about Victoire and what happened to her, and I found myself rooting for happiness to come to her and for a better life to be around the corner.

Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in a series of novels under the title ‘L’Auberge des Anges’, which is wonderful to hear because I would be very keen to read more from this author.

Reviewed by Lindsay Healy

Triskele Books 
Thank you to the author for kindly sending me a copy of this novel to read and give an honest review.
Find out more about Triskele Books here. 
You can follow the author on twitter here @LizaPerrat and visit her website here. 

Witchstruck - Victoria Lamb

Witchstruck is a Young Adult title set in the mid-1500s, which tells the story of 15 year old Meg Lytton.

Meg's father is a respectable farmer who, wary of her burgeoning interest in witchcraft (encouraged by her maternal aunt), arranges for her to serve the exiled Princess Elizabeth, who has been banished to the isolated, run-down palace of Woodstock by her sister, Queen Mary. Meg finds a kindred spirit in Elizabeth. The shadow of her mother Anne Boleyn, herself accused of witchcraft, hangs over the young princess and she is keen to further her interest in magic and astrology (her mentor/astrologer John Dee also makes a cameo appearance in the book).

Throughout the story Meg is pursued by two very different suitors: the dashing Alejandro, a Spanish priest-in-training whose mission is to ensure that Elizabeth and her retinue adhere to the Catholic faith; and the dastardly witchfinder Marcus Dent, a darkly evil and warped individual who has some very strange ideas about how to go about wooing a young lady!

I’m not much of a reader of Young Adult novels and was initially a little wary that there might be a bit too much teen romance for me, but I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact I found it to be more insightful and intelligently written than a lot of the ‘Tudor-lite’ adult novels that are around at the moment. Meg is a very engaging character and Alejandro, despite being described as ‘smouldering’ in the blurb (presumably to appeal to the teen/Twilight market), is a charming and enigmatic young man.

Victoria Lamb already has a well received adult Elizabethan novel under her belt (which I hope to read soon) and another one to be released next year. I understand that Witchstruck is the first in a planned series of books featuring Meg Lytton, and accordingly the ending, whilst both exciting and satisfying, is left wide open for the next instalment.

Reviewed by Denise Powell.

Guest reviewer Denise Powell has kindly reviewed this novel for The Little Reader Library - many thanks to Denise for this lovely, insightful review. Denise is a very keen reader whose reviews I always enjoy reading and whose opinion I trust when choosing a book.

Published by Corgi

You can visit Victoria's website here and follow her on twitter @VictoriaLamb1

Thanks to the author and publisher for kindly sending a copy of this novel to read and review.

666 Park Avenue - Gabriella Pierce

'Magic calls to magic'

Jane Boyle works in Paris where she is an architect. She grew up in rural France, in Alsace, with her Grandmother, after her parents died in a car crash when she was only a baby. After a whirlwind romance in Paris, she falls in love with Malcolm Doran, a very handsome, highly successful man. He proposes to her, and she accepts and sets off for New York City to make a new life there with him. She visits her Grandmother who she hasn't seen for many years, and who was always very overprotective of her, intending to share her good news before she leaves France, but sadness awaits her. Before leaving, Jane finds a note to her from her Grandmother, as well as an unusual ring, revealing something quite amazing and magical about herself and her past; something that explains some of the mysterious happenings she has experienced previously in her life which she hadn't been able to explain. 'She 'had power', but she didn't know how to use it - or how not to use it.'

Jane sets off with high hopes for her new start; it seems like a 'fairy-tale romance with a modern-day prince', despite the new knowledge about herself that now weighs her down. When she meets the rest of the Doran family at 666 Park Avenue though, she realises how wealthy and revered they are in New York City, and she also discovers they have some secrets of their own. Jane has trepidations about fitting in with the family, having come from a humble background herself, and now finding she is joining a New York society family. Then she discovers more about their past, and who they really are, and then the trouble really starts for Jane. If she thinks that the wedding planning is being taken out of her hands rather a lot, how will she cope knowing that Lynne, her mother-in-law to-be is none other than 'the wicked witch of the Upper East Side.'?

After first 'trying to ignore it in the hope that it would go away', as she learns more about those around her, and sees magic happen, Jane starts to try and understand her power and discover what her magical skills might be, where they originate from, and how she can control them. She finds herself rather swamped by the domineering Doran's, Lynne in particular, and I was willing her to assert herself and try and find the strength to stand up to them more sometimes early on in the story. But she discovers the dark history of witches and witchcraft within the family, the city and beyond, and eventually acts as she realises the truth about her new life and her situation. I felt for her in her new home, as she realised the plans they, and Lynne especially, had in store for her, and the expectations placed on her that were so far removed from the life she had known in Paris.

The house, 666 Park Avenue itself, comes across as being a spooky place, populated by the enigmatic, powerful Doran family; people appear suddenly and make you jump, there are secrets locked away, and the house is almost a character in its own right as it features strongly in the book.

I found this an exciting, fun and entertaining story which builds to a thrilling finish. There is romance to enjoy, glamour in the New York locations and fashions, and of course, magic! This is perfect if you are looking for something light-hearted and diverting to read, whether for reading over summer or alternatively curling up with on a cold dark night. As someone who doesn't read very many paranormal type novels, this felt like a good introduction for me to this genre, as it wasn't overly heavy on this element, but there was enough, for me, to make the story into a magical one. I would say this is more of an adult, or older young adult read than a young adult book due to some of the content. 

This novel is the first in a trilogy, so there is more to look forward to soon, with the second book, The Dark Glamour, being published for Kindle in September and in paperback in October.
Also, I understand that 666 Park Avenue has been made into a television series in America. 

Published by Canvas, an imprint of Constable & Robinson

Thank you to the publisher for very kindly sending a review copy of this novel.

New Year - New Challenge!

New challenge for 2012 - 

Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge!

Hosted by Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

I will aim for Initiate: Read 1 - 5 Witchy Books, as this is a fairly new area for me!

I will aim to read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, and

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.