Four books. I'm writing about four books. This is a new multiple book post record! But I felt that these books were appropriate to put together as they all revolve around a similar theme. Since we are approaching Halloween, what better time to talk about...
...witches!!!
Three of these four books are by the author Hester Fox, whom I mentioned in a previous post that included her 2023 novel The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. After reading several more of her works, I can see that Ms. Fox most definitely follows a formula and, so far, always in the genre of gothic historical fiction. While her stories are not what I would consider particularly highbrow, nor do they stick with you after the final page, they are certainly entertaining. And sometimes, that's just what you need. (Hot dog books, am I right?) If you go into one of her novels with this mindset, you might find yourself swept up in a dark, broody past, typically set in mid-19th century New England (Blackwood Library being the one exception among those that I've read thus far).
Anyway, the first of these witchy novels that I'd like to talk about today is Hester Fox's debut book:
The Witch of Willow Hall
After a series of damning rumors destroy the reputation of the Montrose family, sisters Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline -along with their parents- find themselves moving from Boston to the small town of New Oldbury, Massachussetts. Set in the early 1820s, the Salem witch trials are a thing of the past...but not forgotten. As Lydia (our main protagonist and first person narrator) begins to notice strange things around the country estate, things take a supernatural turn. Lydia eventually discovers her family's dark secrets and scandals but, most of all, she learns that certain traits -and abilities- run in the family.
I hated how this book opened. Like, HATED IT and almost refused to read it any further than the first few pages. People who know me understand one thing very well: I do not abide animal cruelty. In any form. I don't tolerate it in books, TV, movies, anything. The animal can end up fine but, if you're a storyteller and you put an animal in distress, then I'm simply no longer interested in anything you have to say as a writer or as a human being. As such, you can imagine my disappointment when the story opened by describing -in moderate detail- an event taking place where my favorite animal was killed. While I understand Hester Fox's use of this event to illustrate the goodness in the main character (who absolutely loses her shit at this loss of a beloved pet), I do not appreciate it. ONE HUNDRED THUMBS DOWN FOR THIS, MS. FOX!
In a very uncharacteristic act, I continued reading. I don't know why I did, but I did so with caution. I knew that if one more animal got hurt, I'd be done. (That was it, by the way.) However, the book was filled with a number of other triggers that, for people like me, can be quite problematic. [At the risk of spoilers, readers beware: A baby dies (possible miscarriage). A child dies (actually, two kids die). There are some mildly graphic mentions of hangings and house fires. There is consensual incest.]
Ew. Come to think of it, why did I like this book?
OK, so some weird and gross shit happens. It was the 1800s, man! People were weird AF! But there was a lot of action in the book that did not fall under any of these categories and was not gross. I just felt compelled to share some common triggers with y'all.
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| "It was the 80s, man! I told you, the 80s was a wild place." |
Personally, I love the theme of witchcraft. When I say witchcraft, I'm not referring to the dark arts or sinister practices, rather to the idea of women asserting power when and where they can. Imagine growing up in a world where you had no voice, your only purpose was to make a good match (hoping he wasn't an asshole), serve your husband, procreate, and keep it tight. Your entire existence was subservient, reading novels was frowned upon and led to mental distraction, your appearance indicated your level of sanity (looking disheveled being the equivalent of insanity), and you were so tightly buttoned up -both literally and figuratively- that any misspoken word could destroy your reputation. All this while your bones are being contorted in tiny, pointed shoes and your lung capacity diminished in disfiguring corsets. It's no wonder we all got the vapors!
But there is something about witchcraft that reasserts a level of power. Think about the symbols of witchcraft: an understanding of nature and herbs (in a cauldron?) to heal and soothe, a broom to maintain cleanliness of a space, a cat to chase the mice away (still thinking hygiene, not to mention companionship), a connection to other women and their shared wisdom. That's witchcraft.
Ultimately, it is this sort of witchcraft that is wielded in this book. Generations of women, passing down their compassion, wisdom, and understanding to their daughters, granddaughters, and beyond. Isn't that a lovely thought?
But yeah. Some spooky and gross shit happens too.
A Lullaby for Witches
I'm just going to include the description for this book from it's Amazon page because I could do no better:
"Two women. A history of witchcraft. And a deep-rooted female power that sings across the centuries.
Once there was a young woman from a well-to-do New England family who never quite fit with the drawing rooms and parlors of her kin. Called instead to the tangled woods and wild cliffs surrounding her family’s estate, Margaret Harlowe grew both stranger and more beautiful as she cultivated her uncanny power. Soon, whispers of “witch” dogged her footsteps, and Margaret’s power began to wind itself with the tendrils of something darker.
One hundred and fifty years later, Augusta Podos takes a dream job at Harlowe House, the historic home of a wealthy New England family that has been turned into a small museum in Tynemouth, Massachusetts. When Augusta stumbles across an oblique reference to a daughter of the Harlowes who has nearly been expunged from the historical record, the mystery is too intriguing to ignore.
But as she digs deeper, something sinister unfurls from its sleep, a dark power that binds one woman to the other across lines of blood and time. If Augusta can’t resist its allure, everything she knows and loves—including her very life—could be lost forever."
Unlike the witches in The Witch of Willow Hall, we encounter a darker force in the sequel-ish novel A Lullaby for Witches (also by Hester Fox). Of the books I've read by this author (to date), this one is my least favorite. The concept was intriguing, but the characters were bleh. Ultimately, the plot felt contrived and the conclusion was forced. I did like the main characters' connections to the Montrose family from The Witch of Willow Hall, but it fell short in most every other way. In fact, it was so unmemorable that I'm done talking about it.
The Widow of Pale Harbor
In yet another novel by Hester Fox, we encounter the idea of witchcraft, but in a non-magic sort of way. None of the characters in this book possess any actual powers, although rumors swirl in accusation of such wickedness.
Set in the sleepy, idyllic town of Pale Harbor, Maine, we meet the newly bereaved Gabriel Stone, a widower intent on honoring his late wife's wishes of spreading the transcendentalist movement. While Gabriel doesn't particularly believe in transcendentalism himself, his wife was passionate about it and, feeling a sense of guilt at her death (childbirth), he feels compelled to do something for her. It's weird and far-reaching, but people do weird things for grief, I guess.
Meanwhile, the spooky, witchy widow Sophronia Carver ("She has a tail!") is living alone up at Castle Carver (not a castle, just a bigass house) with only three discreet servants to help her. The entire town suspects Sophronia of having killed her late husband, a well-respected businessman and magazine editor, whose cosmopolitan appeal charmed the residents of the small town.
Remember how I said Hester Fox had a formula? It applies here, too. But please also remember what I said about that: "While her stories are not what I would consider particularly highbrow, nor do they stick with you after the final page, they are certainly entertaining. [...] If you go into one of her novels with this mindset, you might find yourself swept up in a dark, broody past, typically set in mid-19th century New England" (source: me).
Just like the premise for the character of Gabriel Stone, the entirety of this book is far-reaching from a critical standpoint. But, these unbelievable prompts are what propel the plot (alliteration!) and allow for readers to be entertained.
Finally, in a deviation from Hester Fox, I have one more book about witches.
The Girl and the Witch's Garden
This final book centering on witches is nothing like the previous three. In fact, this is a children's novel by author Erin Bowman.
When young Piper Peavey's father is diagnosed with cancer, she is sent to live with her estranged mother and distant grandmother at the mysterious Mallory Estate. Upon arriving, Piper learns that her mother has taken in a number of other children -all with magical abilities- while neglecting her own daughter. Frustrated at her mother's apparent enthusiasm for her foster kids, Piper becomes hurt, jealous, and determined to figure out what is behind the strange happenings at Mallory Estate.
I was honestly drawn to this book by the cover art. Isn't it charming?!?!?!?! I love the illustration (especially the cat) and thought that my own daughter might enjoy the book, so I checked it out from our local library. At the end of the story, she and I agreed: although it wasn't a particularly memorable read, it was (like those of Hester Fox) entertaining for the duration. It's about the ride, right?
Clearly drawing from more classic children's literature (think: Harry Potter, The Secret Garden, etc.), The Girl and the Witch's Garden is a charming read, even for adults. Themes of loss, grief, friendship, belonging, and family are all included in this story of the main character and her discoveries. (Of note: There are some potential triggers in this book as well including, but not limited to abuse, neglect, loss of a parent.)
Four different books, mostly enjoyable, all featuring something pertaining to witches. Happy reading and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
