Today is the first of many blog tours I have coming up and I am so excited! Lets kick off with a great dual timeline, witches, feminism all the way and a character called Alice ALWAYS gets my vote. (Full disclosure I'm an Alice in Wonderland fan.. my actual name is Emma.......)
De-tangling the plot: 1661, North Berwick One stormy night, healer Honor Seton and her daughter Alice are summoned to save the town lord's wife – but they're too late. A vengeful crusade against the Seton women leads to whispers of witchcraft all over town. Honor hopes her connections can protect them from unproven rumours and dangerous accusations – but is the truth finally catching up with them?
Present day, North Berwick
After an explosive scandal lands her husband in prison, Tess Blyth flees Edinburgh to start afresh in Thistle Cottage. As she hides from the media’s unforgiving glare, Tess is intrigued by the shadowy stories of witchcraft surrounding the women who lived in the cottage centuries ago. But she quickly discovers modern-day witch hunts can be just as vicious: someone in town knows her secret – and they won’t let Tess forget it…
Bobs and Books honest review:
I absolutely love this dual timeline. Tess and her daughter Jemima start a new life in Thistle Cottage and soon realise that the cottage is known within the village as "Witch Cottage". We then go back to the 1660s and see those events unfold in the same place under very different circumstances and situations. But the theme remains the same- feminism/female empowerment.
Honor is given status due to her late husband and the men in the village seem to find this a threat. Cue a witch accusation and trial to follow as a woman in power is dangerous.
Tess is fighting her own battle. Her ex-husband was caught in a public # metoo- esque scandal and she's trying to move on. Due to a silly social media comment she was shunned and is still feeling the pain caused.
Both women, years apart have very different battles to face, yet it appears that their battles are actually similar. Protecting their daughter, their integrity, their identity and moving on with their lives. Both women are hunted down.
This has a little bit of everything. You get drama, romance, creepy clues, twists, turns and some really shockingly brilliant significant moments. It has real pace and momentum and the events/clues build up very articulately. Some excellent minor characters too really enhance the story.
This will delight, shock and educate.
With many thanks to HQ digital for giving me the pleasure of being a part of this blog tour.
Out Wednesday 9 June.