Review of The Witch's Daughter

The Witch’s Daughter

By Paula Brackston

            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 farmer’s 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, 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 to protect the protégé she comes to love.

I am assuming you know that I love a good witch story. Don’t know why I am drawn to these types of stories other than they are always fascinating to me. This book was a little slow going for me at first but I think it is because it is a hard read. The words are small and the lines close together. Sometimes a paragraph will consume a whole page which makes it harder to read too. The language of old English is something to also pay attention too. The book is well thought out and very well written. I will warn that this is NOT a young adult book. There is one scene in the book that is quite disturbing so beware. It is a demonic and sexual scene that gives a little too much detail for my taste. Other than that the rest of the book is pretty clean. So that is up to you to look over or to just avoid the book altogether.

I will give this book 4 stars. I almost gave it 3 stars but the story is so well written I couldn’t do it. So I will leave it at 4 stars with my warning above. The author did leave it open to have a sequel. If so, I will be reading it too.