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lindadielemans's review against another edition
A quiet, dark story. Very athmospheric, full of under-the-skin tension. I liked it!
cyclingarchivist's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book disjointed and dull. Her brother is on a witch hunt. That's about as exciting as it gets.
suekinaz's review against another edition
3.0
Disclosure - I received a free copy from Net Galley for an honest review.
This is a fictionalized version of a story about Matthew Hopkins, a "witchfinder" who existed in the 1640s. Thus, though told from his sister's perspective, as a document she supposedly kept, it feels a bit like a book from history - complete with what I consider dry, stilted language.
It's a troubling book, and has value, in my opinion, to keep us mindful of how women in particular have been treated historically. It was not, however, one of those reads I couldn't wait to return to. I doubt I'll recommend it to family/friends.
This is a fictionalized version of a story about Matthew Hopkins, a "witchfinder" who existed in the 1640s. Thus, though told from his sister's perspective, as a document she supposedly kept, it feels a bit like a book from history - complete with what I consider dry, stilted language.
It's a troubling book, and has value, in my opinion, to keep us mindful of how women in particular have been treated historically. It was not, however, one of those reads I couldn't wait to return to. I doubt I'll recommend it to family/friends.
hopeanvalkea's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
rgro's review
5.0
Really enjoyed this. Just wished they'd resisted that urge for the final sentence as the thought was already in my mind and it was a bit cliche to actually nail it down like that. But I forgive it because the rest was well written, paced and plotted. Also the narration was great.
louisemarley's review against another edition
5.0
The Witchfinder's Sister is set in the mid-1600s and opens with Alice returning to Essex to live with her brother, Matthew Hopkins. Her husband is dead and she is pregnant and destitute. Alice and Matthew were very close as children but they parted on bad terms when she married the son of their old servant, Bridget - the woman Matthew blames for the accident that left him scarred.
Alice is uneasy to realise that not only is their childhood bond is no more, Matthew intimidates her. One of the servants tells her he has a great book that has the names of all the witches written down in it. Yet this is the 17th century - who believes in witches?
But in the town there is talk. Young children have died and people are saying it was done with witchcraft. Alice assumes the gossip will come to nothing. The women arrested are obvious choices - elderly, eccentric, living alone. Despite Bridget's pleas for her to speak to Matthew, to do something, Alice remains quiet, believing the women will be found innocent. Instead, more women are seized and Matthew turns his attention to other towns and villages - and now he wants Alice to help him.
The Witchfinder's Sister is one of the best books I've read this year. It is beautifully written with so much historical detail I felt as though I was there, witnessing it all. The atmosphere is dark and brooding, with the occasional hint of the supernatural. The subject matter is bleak; it is based on real events, so anyone familiar with history will know there can be no happy ending for some of these women. However, the author has mixed fictional characters in with the real ones to keep the reader on edge, and there are a few very clever twists - including one I'm still thinking about!
From our 21st century perspective, it is easy to laugh at those who believed in spells, charms and witchcraft. But then you realise how easily a petty squabble can be blown up out of proportion, how easy it is to blame someone else for your misfortune - and suddenly The Witchfinder's Sister seems horribly topical.
There is not much actual violence in the novel, the subject matter is disturbing enough, but it is bleak in places. Anyone who enjoys well-researched historical novels, or real-life stories of witches, will love this. The cover is absolutely beautiful and the final line is brilliant. I'm hoping there's going to be a sequel!
I definitely recommend it - I'd give it six stars if I could.
Thank you to Beth Underdown, Viking (Penguin Random House) and NetGalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
Alice is uneasy to realise that not only is their childhood bond is no more, Matthew intimidates her. One of the servants tells her he has a great book that has the names of all the witches written down in it. Yet this is the 17th century - who believes in witches?
But in the town there is talk. Young children have died and people are saying it was done with witchcraft. Alice assumes the gossip will come to nothing. The women arrested are obvious choices - elderly, eccentric, living alone. Despite Bridget's pleas for her to speak to Matthew, to do something, Alice remains quiet, believing the women will be found innocent. Instead, more women are seized and Matthew turns his attention to other towns and villages - and now he wants Alice to help him.
The Witchfinder's Sister is one of the best books I've read this year. It is beautifully written with so much historical detail I felt as though I was there, witnessing it all. The atmosphere is dark and brooding, with the occasional hint of the supernatural. The subject matter is bleak; it is based on real events, so anyone familiar with history will know there can be no happy ending for some of these women. However, the author has mixed fictional characters in with the real ones to keep the reader on edge, and there are a few very clever twists - including one I'm still thinking about!
From our 21st century perspective, it is easy to laugh at those who believed in spells, charms and witchcraft. But then you realise how easily a petty squabble can be blown up out of proportion, how easy it is to blame someone else for your misfortune - and suddenly The Witchfinder's Sister seems horribly topical.
There is not much actual violence in the novel, the subject matter is disturbing enough, but it is bleak in places. Anyone who enjoys well-researched historical novels, or real-life stories of witches, will love this. The cover is absolutely beautiful and the final line is brilliant. I'm hoping there's going to be a sequel!
I definitely recommend it - I'd give it six stars if I could.
Thank you to Beth Underdown, Viking (Penguin Random House) and NetGalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
bookishly__introverted's review
4.0
Well-written. I would recommend the book with the warning that it's quite depressing.
thecaptainsquarters's review
4.0
Ahoy there mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were.
One standard “non-standard for me” genre is historical fiction. While I love history by itself, I enjoy historical fiction for the blending of history and getting to feel like the historical characters are real people. I mean, I know many of the historical characters in historical fiction books were real people, as that is the point. But I like the idea of knowing what they may have thought about the strange circumstances they found themselves in – especially if it involves women’s perspectives.
This story is told from the perspective of Alice Hopkins. Tragedy forces Alice to go back to stay with her brother whom she left under less than ideal circumstances. However, when she goes back she does not find the brother that she remembers. Matthew Hopkins has gone from a nobody to one of the most important figures in the village. Why? Because he is determined to hunt down all the witches.
Matthew Hopkins is the actual historical personage in this novel. He is credited with having helped kill over 300 women in the period from 1644 to 1646. Some believe that is over 60% of all “witches” killed in over three centuries. And he did that in just over TWO years. Ugh. He seems to even have given himself the title of “Witch-Finder General.”
Apparently he also wrote a book called “The Discovery of Witches” in 1647. Matthew Hopkins’ book was later used in law texts and to help catch witches located in the the United States, including Salem.
While there is no historical record concerning his sisters, Matthew Hopkins likely had two. I thought telling the story from a sister’s perspective was excellent. Alice was able to give her perspective on the women she knew who had been accused, life as a woman at the time, and how women actively participated in the accusations and torture of the “witches.” Even though women were seen as technically inferior and beneath men, their pettiness and gossip could be power in and of itself, and some of them used it.
I thought Alice’s story was disheartening and compelling. Every relationship shown was fraught with subtext and peril. In fact, the histories of all the characters were rich and in depth. The pace, while slow, was filled with tension and confusion about what was going to happen next. Even though it seems crazy that witch hunts existed then, I am reminded that they still occur today in some places of the world.
Overall this was a fantastic book that I am glad I read.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
One standard “non-standard for me” genre is historical fiction. While I love history by itself, I enjoy historical fiction for the blending of history and getting to feel like the historical characters are real people. I mean, I know many of the historical characters in historical fiction books were real people, as that is the point. But I like the idea of knowing what they may have thought about the strange circumstances they found themselves in – especially if it involves women’s perspectives.
This story is told from the perspective of Alice Hopkins. Tragedy forces Alice to go back to stay with her brother whom she left under less than ideal circumstances. However, when she goes back she does not find the brother that she remembers. Matthew Hopkins has gone from a nobody to one of the most important figures in the village. Why? Because he is determined to hunt down all the witches.
Matthew Hopkins is the actual historical personage in this novel. He is credited with having helped kill over 300 women in the period from 1644 to 1646. Some believe that is over 60% of all “witches” killed in over three centuries. And he did that in just over TWO years. Ugh. He seems to even have given himself the title of “Witch-Finder General.”
Apparently he also wrote a book called “The Discovery of Witches” in 1647. Matthew Hopkins’ book was later used in law texts and to help catch witches located in the the United States, including Salem.
While there is no historical record concerning his sisters, Matthew Hopkins likely had two. I thought telling the story from a sister’s perspective was excellent. Alice was able to give her perspective on the women she knew who had been accused, life as a woman at the time, and how women actively participated in the accusations and torture of the “witches.” Even though women were seen as technically inferior and beneath men, their pettiness and gossip could be power in and of itself, and some of them used it.
I thought Alice’s story was disheartening and compelling. Every relationship shown was fraught with subtext and peril. In fact, the histories of all the characters were rich and in depth. The pace, while slow, was filled with tension and confusion about what was going to happen next. Even though it seems crazy that witch hunts existed then, I am reminded that they still occur today in some places of the world.
Overall this was a fantastic book that I am glad I read.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
memoriesfrombooks's review
3.0
The Witchfinder's Sister, the debut novel by Beth Underdown, is the story of historical figure and witch hunter Matthew Hopkins told through the perspective of his fictional sister Alice. Because of the slow pace and the narrator of the story, the book does not give the broader historical picture and feels like a sideline view of the main plot. The atmospheric writing is my favorite part of the book and makes me look forward to seeing what Beth Underdown writes next.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/07/the-witchfinders-sister.html
Reviewed for NetGalley
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/07/the-witchfinders-sister.html
Reviewed for NetGalley