Book-It 'o15! Book #9
The Fifty Books Challenge, year six! ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) This was a library request.
Title: The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston
Details: Copyright 2013, St. Martin's Press
Synopsis (By Way of Front Flap):
"Paula Brackston transports readers to the windswept mountains of Wales in this beautifully written, enchanting novel-- an enthralling tale of love and magic.
In her small, early-nineteenth-century Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana. She is quick and pretty enough to attract a suitor, but there are things that set her apart from other girls. Though her mind is sharp, she has not spoken since she was a young girl. her silence is a mystery, as well her magic-- the household objects that seem to move at her command, the bad luck that visits those who do her ill. Concerned for her safety, her mother is eager to see Morgana married, and Cai Jenkins, the widowed drover from the far hills, who knows nothing of the rumors that swirl around her, seems the best choice.
After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother and wary of this man whom she does not know and who will take her away to begin a new life. But she soon falls in love with Cai's farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Here, where frail humans are at the mercy of the elements, she thrives, her own wild nature and her magic blossoming. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly he beings to win Morgan's affections. It's not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village.
A dark force is at work there-- a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana, even at the expense of those closest to her. Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself from all newcomers, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything. "
Why I Wanted to Read It: Despite my complaints about various aspects of the "All Souls Trilogy", it was still an engaging, enveloping story, after finishing it, I was, well, missing it a little. Three five hundred page books over a couple months times will do that to you.
The final book in that series clearly was leaving things open for the next, so I was hunting for more info about future books in the series. Not much luck, but Amazon's recommendations included this book.
The blurb I read (which was NOT the one included on the front and back flaps) sounded somewhat interesting and despite the fact it might be a "romance" novel (ew), it was definitely historical fiction (potential yay!) and although the "witches" it was describing were strictly fictional (not Pagan, I mean), I can enjoy pretend "witches", too.
How I Liked It: I've never actually read a romance novel (at least, not that I'm aware) so I don't know what indicates "Wow, this is actually good for the genre!" to "Wow, this is really poorly written!"
The book starts off decently, despite the trope-laden premise. The setting is strong and the author does a solid job of capturing a great deal of the pastoral landscape.
But as if afraid that she's getting too good, she almost immediately reverts to cliche.
You see, the source of pain for the main character, the mute with the shadowy past, is a murdering, intolerant reverend, who apparently was not capable of being intolerant and horrible all on his own, he needed to be a reptile man secretly under the control of...
The super-nice-seeming lady friend of the main character's husband that he didn't marry for some unspecified plot reason!
But lest you think that this is just another eyeball-roll inducing catfight (the lady friend is super jealous of the main for stealing "her" man), it's actually not the man she's interested in at all, it's a super secret magic well on his property that she's been trying to get to forever but has somehow continued to be unsuccessful.
A battle ensues, and it's not as climatic or as interesting as it should be (or, you know, at all) and in the end? The ignorant and intolerant villagers stop being ignorant and intolerant (including, once again, the murdering reverend) because they just do, that's all. They were under the evil lady friend's spell, too, and not just giving in to mob mentality.
This book reminds me of an instance that's occurred before during this challenge, but that I've yet to actually name (at least, as far as I can remember): when a book is so bad it makes another book you didn't think was excellent seem sublime by comparison.
Because after reading this, I suddenly have newfound appreciation for the All-Souls Trilogy.
And in case you were wondering, since it is a romance novel? Sex is mentioned, but it's not that explicit (thankfully, in this case) and is kind of a buried part of the plot.
Title: The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston
Details: Copyright 2013, St. Martin's Press
Synopsis (By Way of Front Flap):
"Paula Brackston transports readers to the windswept mountains of Wales in this beautifully written, enchanting novel-- an enthralling tale of love and magic.
In her small, early-nineteenth-century Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana. She is quick and pretty enough to attract a suitor, but there are things that set her apart from other girls. Though her mind is sharp, she has not spoken since she was a young girl. her silence is a mystery, as well her magic-- the household objects that seem to move at her command, the bad luck that visits those who do her ill. Concerned for her safety, her mother is eager to see Morgana married, and Cai Jenkins, the widowed drover from the far hills, who knows nothing of the rumors that swirl around her, seems the best choice.
After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother and wary of this man whom she does not know and who will take her away to begin a new life. But she soon falls in love with Cai's farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Here, where frail humans are at the mercy of the elements, she thrives, her own wild nature and her magic blossoming. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly he beings to win Morgan's affections. It's not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village.
A dark force is at work there-- a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana, even at the expense of those closest to her. Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself from all newcomers, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything. "
Why I Wanted to Read It: Despite my complaints about various aspects of the "All Souls Trilogy", it was still an engaging, enveloping story, after finishing it, I was, well, missing it a little. Three five hundred page books over a couple months times will do that to you.
The final book in that series clearly was leaving things open for the next, so I was hunting for more info about future books in the series. Not much luck, but Amazon's recommendations included this book.
The blurb I read (which was NOT the one included on the front and back flaps) sounded somewhat interesting and despite the fact it might be a "romance" novel (ew), it was definitely historical fiction (potential yay!) and although the "witches" it was describing were strictly fictional (not Pagan, I mean), I can enjoy pretend "witches", too.
How I Liked It: I've never actually read a romance novel (at least, not that I'm aware) so I don't know what indicates "Wow, this is actually good for the genre!" to "Wow, this is really poorly written!"
The book starts off decently, despite the trope-laden premise. The setting is strong and the author does a solid job of capturing a great deal of the pastoral landscape.
But as if afraid that she's getting too good, she almost immediately reverts to cliche.
You see, the source of pain for the main character, the mute with the shadowy past, is a murdering, intolerant reverend, who apparently was not capable of being intolerant and horrible all on his own, he needed to be a reptile man secretly under the control of...
The super-nice-seeming lady friend of the main character's husband that he didn't marry for some unspecified plot reason!
But lest you think that this is just another eyeball-roll inducing catfight (the lady friend is super jealous of the main for stealing "her" man), it's actually not the man she's interested in at all, it's a super secret magic well on his property that she's been trying to get to forever but has somehow continued to be unsuccessful.
A battle ensues, and it's not as climatic or as interesting as it should be (or, you know, at all) and in the end? The ignorant and intolerant villagers stop being ignorant and intolerant (including, once again, the murdering reverend) because they just do, that's all. They were under the evil lady friend's spell, too, and not just giving in to mob mentality.
This book reminds me of an instance that's occurred before during this challenge, but that I've yet to actually name (at least, as far as I can remember): when a book is so bad it makes another book you didn't think was excellent seem sublime by comparison.
Because after reading this, I suddenly have newfound appreciation for the All-Souls Trilogy.
And in case you were wondering, since it is a romance novel? Sex is mentioned, but it's not that explicit (thankfully, in this case) and is kind of a buried part of the plot.