I initially was drawn to this book due to the locality of the plot. Being local to the North West of England myself I have heard the many stories surrounding the Pendle Witches and the famous witch trails.
Although this was what initially drew me to the book, I really enjoy a character driven plot and this was exactly what I have found in this book. We are introduced to Fleetwood Shuttleworth, and from the first page I was invested in the young, fragile protagonist, living in a time when bearing a male heir is above all in importance. We see her anguish, inner turmoil and desperation to do her duty as a wife even though after three tragic miscarriages a doctor believes she would not survive another birth.
“Every gift he gave me was a token of my failure, and I wished I could burn them all and watch the smoke rise from the chimney and be swallowed by the sky.”
As the reader we have all the knowledge and hindsight of modern day science to draw upon yet in 1612 our young protagonist does not. As a reader you are only an observer to the unfolding plot and your investment into the well being of Fleetwood grows page by page. It is a rollercoaster ride especially as the friendship builds with the mysterious meeting with Alice Grey. It is certainly a tantalising read.
Although this was what initially drew me to the book, I really enjoy a character driven plot and this was exactly what I have found in this book. We are introduced to Fleetwood Shuttleworth, and from the first page I was invested in the young, fragile protagonist, living in a time when bearing a male heir is above all in importance. We see her anguish, inner turmoil and desperation to do her duty as a wife even though after three tragic miscarriages a doctor believes she would not survive another birth.
“Every gift he gave me was a token of my failure, and I wished I could burn them all and watch the smoke rise from the chimney and be swallowed by the sky.”
As the reader we have all the knowledge and hindsight of modern day science to draw upon yet in 1612 our young protagonist does not. As a reader you are only an observer to the unfolding plot and your investment into the well being of Fleetwood grows page by page. It is a rollercoaster ride especially as the friendship builds with the mysterious meeting with Alice Grey. It is certainly a tantalising read.