Status
Publication
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is three hundred and eighty-four years. Each new settlement asks for a new journal, and so this Book of Shadows begins... In the spring of 1628, the Witchfinder of Wessex finds himself a true Witch. As Bess Hawksmith watches her mother swing from the Hanging Tree she knows that only one man can save her from the same fate at the hands of the panicked mob: the Warlock Gideon Masters, and his Book of Shadows. Secluded at his cottage in the woods, Gideon instructs Bess in the Craft, awakening formidable powers she didn't know she had and making her immortal. She couldn't have foreseen that even now, centuries later, he would be hunting her across time, determined to claim payment for saving her life. In present-day England, Elizabeth has built a quiet life for herself, tending her garden and selling herbs and oils at the local farmers' market. But her solitude abruptly ends when a teenage girl called Tegan starts hanging around. Against her better judgment, Elizabeth begins teaching Tegan the ways of the Hedge Witch, in the process awakening memories�??and demons�??long thought forgotten. Part historical romance, part modern fantasy, Paula Brackston's New York Times bestseller, The Witch's Daughter, is a fresh, compelling take on the magical, yet dangerous world of Witches. Readers will long remember the fiercely independent heroine who survives plagues, wars, and the heartbreak that comes with immortality to remain true to herself, and protect the protégé she comes to… (more)
Similar in this library
User reviews
It seems that Brackston wanted to write historical fiction. The most powerful parts of the novel, and by far the longest, are Bess's just living in the four periods of time covered by the novel: the present, 17th century England, London during the Ripper months, Passandale and World War One. The WWI section is particularly evocative with graphic and heart-breaking pictures of the men dying in the trenches, the futility of the battle orders, the terrible hospital conditions, the utter hopelessness. When Bess starts to use her magic, it is a jolt. What is fantasy doing in this setting? The same can be said, to a lesser degree in the section dealing with the bubonic plague and witch hunts of the 17th century and the squalid London streets and the lives of prostitutes in 1885.
There is a reason for so little magical use. Bess began her magical journey as a healer, a witch who used her powers to save lives. The necessity to escape the witch hunts puts her in the power of Gideon Masters, a powerful black arts sorcerer. It is from him she receives immortality (did she know this when she began her studies? The author doesn't tell us or I missed it). When she sees him in the final ceremony fornicating with demons. she flees and he pursues her through time, following any magical trail she might leave in her wake. This is the given reason why she uses magic sparingly, to evade Gideon. She becomes a doctor, a nurse, a seller of soaps, oils, and candles moving on before anyone can question her agelessness or before Gideon can capture her.
The novel is well-structured. Bess responds to a teenager who may have a healing gift. As she nurtures the lonely girl, Bess finds her own longing for companionship easing. She tells Tegan part of her history but has to resort to disneyesque parlor tricks to finally persuade the girl that magic is real. (Really! In a novel where magic is portrayed as either totally evil or a powerful healing force, the sudden appearance of dancing fairies, cute white mice, and self-pouring iced tea pitchers is really disconcerting.)
One interesting aspect is Bess's mentor/pursuer. Gideon is evil. He relishes pain, suffering, is in his element on a battlefield where men are horribly mangled and dying. He is also very handsome, can be charming, and is certainly sexually alluring. The author does not change him in the novel. He suddenly doesn't begin to show empathy, doesn't start turning toward the Light. He stays bad, even if he says he loves Bess and they belong together for eternity. No redemption, no becoming a good guy for love of a good woman. Bess hates and fears him. Good for her! And good for the author for not pulling the switch and making her villain a dark hero. At least in this book.
Was it well written?
Yes. Very. It is written in a mix of the title character's Diary-like entries interspersed with storytelling from the title character's history. It is unusual, but Brackston makes it work quite handily.
Was
The problem is that it was not a happy ending. It didn't end well for anyone really. The story was rather slow, but suited the material. I would have been able to look past the flaws and probably fallen in love with the book if it had a positive outcome. But...it didn't.
The story is about a life filled with tragedy more than anything else. So, if you enjoy tragedies, I would recommend it to you. If you have had enough of the tragedies of our daily lives and, like I do, prefer books that have a "Happy Ever After" (or even just a "Happy-for-Now") ending, I would suggest you skip "The Witch's Daughter" until you are in the mood for a tragedy.
Anywho, I read this for Early Reviewers. This kind of book is definitely my style, but this wasn't one of the greats. I understand why Bess would use an old fashioned style of language, but it felt uneven and odd and sometimes Bess's extreme
Written as a Book of Shadows, much like a diary, this tale chronicles the life of a witch, Elizabeth Hawksmith, from the
Her history takes her thru England in the time of jack the Ripper, and thru the battlefield in WWI. Woven inot her life's history is and account of her living present day, in a small village, where she thinks she can finally be safe. she meets a young girl there named Tegan. A lost and troubled girl, who finds her way into Elizabeth's heart. The problem - Elizabeth's old Ememy Gideon has found Tegan too, and using her to get to Elizabeth. After 400 years of running, can she finally face him, and save Tegan from his evil ways?
The book itself is told in beautiful detail. It
While initially I felt this was going to be a slow read, once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The novel has a very literary feel to it and is in turns tragic and lovely. I felt a genuine admiration for Bess/Eliza/Elizabeth. I found her interactions to be realistic and the narrative enjoyable. I would have like to have explored Gideon more, but all in all, a book I would highly recommend.
Synopsis: Brackston’s novel is about a witch, Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, who was born in England in the 1600s. Surviving the Black Death with the aid of her mother (a noted and respected healer), Bess finds herself in a harrowing situation. Eventually she finds herself training as an apprentice witch to a warlock named Gideon Masters. Through him, Bess learns the craft – but the power that she learns to wield becomes too frightening, and she flees. In a dire time of need, Bess relies on a magic spell that bestows on her the gift/curse of immortality.
Now in 2007, Elizabeth meets up with a promising young girl named Tegan, whom Elizabeth takes as her hedge witch apprentice. By forming a lasting relationship with Tegan, Elizabeth comes face to face with her fears, learns to stop running, and take a stand against an evil that has been hounding her for centuries. The overall message of the book is not to be afraid of who you are – nothing nor no one can hold you back from fulfilling your destiny. It is only when Elizabeth confronts her fears and truly accepts her powers that she is made whole.
oldstick.
In present day England Elizabeth finds herself settled into a quite life. Alone she tends her gardens, and sells herbs and oils at the local market. Her solitary life is abruptly disrupted when a teenage girl called Tegan begins hanging around. Against her instincts Elizabeth takes pleasure in her company and her perceptive nature. Soon she begins teaching the ways of the hedge witch. Tegan is an eager pupil, and Elizabeth uses tales of long ago to school her in what it's like to be a witch, and how she came to be who she is today. But what of Gideon? Has he finally given up or is he just patiently waiting for an opportunity to capture Elizabeth and make her his own??
It seemed fitting to read a book about witches this Halloween. I was drawn into this story right off the bat, although I did struggle a bit with the prologue. I filled it away with the hopes that it would make sense by end (it did, mostly...). There was an easy flow between the past and present as I got to know Elizabeth and Tegan. The stories from the past were interesting little vignettes that were unique on their own, but fit together to create a picture of who present day Elizabeth really is. There is a fair amount of "magic speak" that was foreign to me. Even thought I didn't understand the exact language (or words) I was able to glean enough of their meaning from the context. I suppose that's to be expected in a book about witches and magic. There are scenes of pretty graphic violence and the descriptions of some of the evil elements and even Gideon himself are quite vivid, resulting in some intense imagery. I can imagine the special effects for a movie version would be very frightening indeed!
I moved quickly through the book and in no time found myself nearing the end. I had in mind how I thought things might turn out, and I saw the potential for a variety of scenarios. And while I won't tell you how it all ended, I will tell you that I was disappointed. I felt gypped. It almost seems like Ms. Brackston just wanted to be done, and went with the most cliche ending while of course leaving plenty of threads that could be picked up in a sequel.
In summary I'd say it was a good book with some interesting bits of history mixed with a few different relationships, dappled with magic and wrapped up with a predictable bow. Not bad for a seasonal selection, but I won't be going out of my way to read book two should it appear!
The ending was disorganized, overdone, and lacked any shred of plausibility. It was like a badly directed episode of Charmed with all the flashy magic included. I was definitely disappointed in the way it ended, especially because I had enjoyed the writing so much up to that point. So, for me, The Witch's Daughter was simply OK. Definitely not the worst I've read lately.
The ending was disorganized, overdone, and lacked any shred of plausibility. It was like a badly directed episode of Charmed with all the flashy magic included. I was definitely disappointed in the way it ended, especially because I had enjoyed the writing so much up to that point. So, for me, The Witch's Daughter was simply OK. Definitely not the worst I've read lately.
The ending was disorganized, overdone, and lacked any shred of plausibility. It was like a badly directed episode of Charmed with all the flashy magic included. I was definitely disappointed in the way it ended, especially because I had enjoyed the writing so much up to that point. So, for me, The Witch's Daughter was simply OK. Definitely not the worst I've read lately.