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Aurora (9 KP) rated The Witchfinder's Sister in Books

Nov 7, 2018 (Updated Nov 7, 2018)

The Witchfinder's Sister

Beth Underdown | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(4 Ratings)

Book Rating

Historically-accurate setting (4 more)

Gripping

Emotional

Dramatic

Well-written characters

Emotional and Dramatic Historical Fiction

This book had me hooked from the start. I adore the amount of research done by Underdown to create the world of Alice Hopkins so artfully and accurately. Not only does the author capture the turbulence of the English civil war and the complex social systems of the time, but she also brings the reader into that world through the intensely relatable emotions felt by Alice throughout the story. Underwood expertly develops the personalities and flaws of each character in really believable ways, creating the complex relationships that we often see in real life. The story is also often pushed forward by gossip and secrets which the reader must choose whether or not to believe, adding an extra element of mystery to an already thrilling read.

After visiting many of the towns mentioned in the book (Manningtree, Mistley Wells, Colchester, Ipswich), I am in awe of the detail that Underdown used to bring these places to life. While some artistic license was taken (and described in the Author's Note), this book remains a beautiful and chilling glimpse into England's dark past.

Kudos

Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Teeth Marks in Books

Jan 31, 2019

Teeth Marks

Matthew Weber | 2017 | Horror

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Teeth Marks is a chilling collection of southern gothic horror. In fact, it’s because of its setting in the south that I read it–I’m rather partial to my home. With several stories ranging from normal, every day people to monsters and ghosts, there’s a story in Teeth Marks for just about every horror fan.

There are twelve stories total in this collection, each one with a different theme. My favorites were “Suburban Facebreaker”, “Cookies”, “The Red Card”, and “Waist Deep”–which is particularly gory. “Suburban Facebreaker” deals with badly behaving parent figures. “Cookies” reminds readers in the reality of karmic justice. “The Red Card” has a decidedly Twilight Zone feel to it, and “Waist Deep” deals with the effects of gossip. All of these are really great tales.

My only complaint with this collection is that it was surprisingly void of colloquialism. There were places where popular Southern phrases would have fit better. Alas, this is not enough for me to take a star away from the collection, as it was amazing.

I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.

Kudos

Deborah (162 KP) rated The Beau Monde: Fashionable Society in Georgian London in Books

Dec 21, 2018

Greig's book takes a look at the Beau Monde - the fashionable elite - ranging from the 'Glorious Revolution' up to the early part of the 19th century. The Beau Monde and The Season were instigated by the more important role of parliament following the deposition of James II by his daughter and her husband - William III & Mary II. The peerage would spend a good deal of their time in London attending parliament, and so so social 'Season' was born. It was interesting to see the extent to which politics permeated the fashionable society and the importance of 'gossip' and 'chit chat' which letters from wives to husbands can be full of. The book covers jewellery and dress, exile from the Beau Monde and fraudulent claims to membership, court attendance and much more. Particularly with the clothing and jewellery, I think this would really have been enhanced with coloured plates, but sadly all the illustrations are black and white.

In her introduction, Greig states that this book has grown out of her doctoral thesis on the subject. It is a quite a scholarly read, but not completely inaccessible to the general reader.