"If the Devil is poverty, and hunger, and grief, then yes, I think they know the Devil."
"If the Devil is poverty, and hunger, and grief, then yes, I think they know the Devil."
Before starting the review, let us enjoy the beautiful cover! I absolutely love it as much as I love historical fiction. This was the first book I read by Stacey Halls and I must admit, I like her writing, the pace is wonderful and I really enjoyed how little bits clicked together. I really enjoyed this book. Following Fleetwood, we explore the dangers of being a woman in the Jacobean era. Restricted in a misogynistic society rapt in piety and fear of witchcraft, childbirth is not simply the only threat to a woman’s life. Stacey takes us into the timeline of the Pendle Witches trial that took place in 1612 in Lancashire, she uses real events and people to create her own fictional retelling of events. I can’t say I loved the characters, though I did enjoy Fleetwood and Alice together, I love the frosty companions become intimate friends narrative. I disliked the male characters and even when Stacey “redeemed” Richard, I still thought him a bit of a d**k. What I really enjoyed is how Stacey didn’t make Fleetwood completely defiant like most narratives, she still remained confined by the invisible “leash” of marriage (to her frustration), yet we see her be smart and use it to her advantage so that she still remains safe within a marriage and is able to help Alice without endangering themselves.
Also, quick note and trigger warning- heavy theme of miscarriage, blood, child loss.
King James VI and I is well known for his obsession with witches and his book, “Daemonolgie”, is featured in the book alongside his bible. He is found to be uneasy after the Gun Powder plot that took place in 1605, leading to the distrust of the north in which traitors fled, therefore giving context to the precarious position the gentry of Lancashire, demonstrating the reason why Roger’s character became so desperate to uncover all the witches- so his region (and himself as Justice of the Peace) would fall back into the King’s favour. It also shows how the women within the region, especially the poor, became the victims of the witch hunt. Though perhaps the addition of Macbeth made it too much to a narrative already swamped with witches and kings etc.
It was really frustrating to read how confined women were to their posts, I always new history was never kind to women, but historical fiction (whether exaggerated or not) always presents a form of harsh reality. Fleetwood has a traumatic history with childbearing and birth, so it’s no surprise following her in the story it remains a constant anxiety, not only for herself but for her position, Alice, her mother and I guess, Richard. Fleetwood hasn’t really had it easy with marriage either- one being arranged while she was still a mere infant (and also hinting that there was assault?) and her marriage to Richard and her failed pregnancies. It was nice to see Fleetwood fight for some of her autonomy, she still remained an “unruly” wife at the end of the book, though perhaps only because she had finally bore two sons. The ending was satisfying, for sure!
I enjoyed Alice’s character and her criticisms to men and marriage, she was an enlightening character and perhaps one more modern within this historical narrative. I guess her character was to be the voice of our society and how we commentate on the past. I really loved her relationship with Fleetwood, it was lovely watching them warm up to one another and eventually saved each other. I wish Alice remained, though still glad she got a better ending than Roger.
Honourable mention to Puck, what a good doggo, sweet boy.
Before starting the review, let us enjoy the beautiful cover! I absolutely love it as much as I love historical fiction. This was the first book I read by Stacey Halls and I must admit, I like her writing, the pace is wonderful and I really enjoyed how little bits clicked together. I really enjoyed this book. Following Fleetwood, we explore the dangers of being a woman in the Jacobean era. Restricted in a misogynistic society rapt in piety and fear of witchcraft, childbirth is not simply the only threat to a woman’s life. Stacey takes us into the timeline of the Pendle Witches trial that took place in 1612 in Lancashire, she uses real events and people to create her own fictional retelling of events. I can’t say I loved the characters, though I did enjoy Fleetwood and Alice together, I love the frosty companions become intimate friends narrative. I disliked the male characters and even when Stacey “redeemed” Richard, I still thought him a bit of a d**k. What I really enjoyed is how Stacey didn’t make Fleetwood completely defiant like most narratives, she still remained confined by the invisible “leash” of marriage (to her frustration), yet we see her be smart and use it to her advantage so that she still remains safe within a marriage and is able to help Alice without endangering themselves.
Also, quick note and trigger warning- heavy theme of miscarriage, blood, child loss.
King James VI and I is well known for his obsession with witches and his book, “Daemonolgie”, is featured in the book alongside his bible. He is found to be uneasy after the Gun Powder plot that took place in 1605, leading to the distrust of the north in which traitors fled, therefore giving context to the precarious position the gentry of Lancashire, demonstrating the reason why Roger’s character became so desperate to uncover all the witches- so his region (and himself as Justice of the Peace) would fall back into the King’s favour. It also shows how the women within the region, especially the poor, became the victims of the witch hunt. Though perhaps the addition of Macbeth made it too much to a narrative already swamped with witches and kings etc.
It was really frustrating to read how confined women were to their posts, I always new history was never kind to women, but historical fiction (whether exaggerated or not) always presents a form of harsh reality. Fleetwood has a traumatic history with childbearing and birth, so it’s no surprise following her in the story it remains a constant anxiety, not only for herself but for her position, Alice, her mother and I guess, Richard. Fleetwood hasn’t really had it easy with marriage either- one being arranged while she was still a mere infant (and also hinting that there was assault?) and her marriage to Richard and her failed pregnancies. It was nice to see Fleetwood fight for some of her autonomy, she still remained an “unruly” wife at the end of the book, though perhaps only because she had finally bore two sons. The ending was satisfying, for sure!
I enjoyed Alice’s character and her criticisms to men and marriage, she was an enlightening character and perhaps one more modern within this historical narrative. I guess her character was to be the voice of our society and how we commentate on the past. I really loved her relationship with Fleetwood, it was lovely watching them warm up to one another and eventually saved each other. I wish Alice remained, though still glad she got a better ending than Roger.
Honourable mention to Puck, what a good doggo, sweet boy.