The Witch's Daughter

By: Paula Brackston

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is 384 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 farmers' 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. Listeners will long remember the fiercely independent heroine who survives plagues, wars, and the heartbreak that comes with immortality to remain true to herself, and protect the protégé she comes to love.

©2010 Paula Brackston (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Lots of potential...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

For the most part, yes. I felt myself wanting the book to continue in more detail at certain points, yet other parts seemed very drawn out. It could have been much better if the storyline had not meandered quite like it did. It felt a bit rushed, and I wonder if it wouldn't have been better as several books- one for each era of Bess' life.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The fact that there was actually some hard-core Satanic worshipping going on was a bit shocking...most books about witches make it a point to avoid that subject. Bess' upbringing was probably the most interesting storyline to follow throughout the saga. The way the villain shows up eventually in every era became very redundant, and I would say that is the biggest flaw of this book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I HATED the voice the narrator used for any male character. It was a terrible, drab, creepy sort of voice that didn't suit the author's intentions for some of the character's, I felt. It took away from Gideon's character a great deal, I felt. If I'd been reading the book to myself, he would have had a much more sultry, seductive voice, which would have made me understand his allure and power over Bess.

Light hearted & campy. I enjoyed it anyway.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would leave the actual words of Bess' chants and incantations out. The simple and juvenile language of them was inconsistent with the strength of her power and maturity of her character. Some things are better left unsaid. Let the wording remain esoteric; it would add believability to the story.

Would you recommend The Witch's Daughter to your friends? Why or why not?

I'd recommend it to friends who enjoy light heart, campy books. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that as long as they aren't expecting an Anne Rice or Diana Gabaldon book.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The Scottish accent wasn't good at all. I felt her male voices in general weren't as good as her female voices. The men all sounded too similar and I couldn't quite forget it was a female narrator (unlike Davina Porter). That said, her female voices were great. I heard a clear distinction between them. I love their different accents; they made the performance as a whole, much better.

Did The Witch's Daughter inspire you to do anything?

The book inspired me enough to order the next book. ;-) That says enough, yeah?

It was promising

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and found the execution lacking. The foundation of the book was solid and was developed well but when I was finished I found myself wondering if I would have continued to read it if I was reading it instead of listening to it and I don't believe I would have. The narrator does a great job but there really isn't a lot of actual action. I really wanted to like it more than I did and I kept waiting for the payoff. I didn't hate it but I also won't be getting the sequel

Cover photo more compelling than the book

What did you like best about The Witch's Daughter? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the theme of the book about a witch who strives to rise above her creation. The story just fell flat for me and was not compelling. I had hoped for more detail, more examples of her historical experiences. I wanted to learn more about her and why she led her life the way she did.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

No surprise - it was as expected.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Marisa Calin?

Possibly. I found the narration interesting in that she brought vocal changes to the characters that made them unique to the ear.

Could you see The Witch's Daughter being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Maybe a short mini series but they'd have to really flesh out some more detail. I did not identify the characters with any particular actors.

Any additional comments?

It wasn't a bad read/listen, just not nearly as good as some that I've enjoyed lately. I wasn't driven to finish this story, just hate to leave one unread.

Time Thrill

What did you love best about The Witch's Daughter?

I loved going through the ages with Bess. Her perspective of the world and how it changed was really thrilling.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters! They were so unpredictable and so uniquely them. I could not have asked for a better story.

What about Marisa Calin’s performance did you like?

I liked her accent. It is not perfect British and that really lent to the story. She has made me believe she was who I wanted her to be.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes! I read/listened it way too quickly.

Any additional comments?

Love this author. This is my first time listening/reading her and I would so recommend anything she has written.

magic, fantasy, witches and excitement

while this book may have been slightly predictable, i found it to be just what i was looking for right now. it was an easy read, full of fun and magic and my favorite supernatural, witches. it had the perfect mix of romance (if you can call it romance), magic and story. and it didn't take itself too seriously or drone on for too long. it was the perfect length novel with the perfect amount of drama and buildup.

bess was a great narrator, i loved the intertwining of her past and present story. the historic fiction element that was brought into the story in her unveiling her long life was smart...kept me interested in both her modern day story and her past.

would definitely read another witch tale from this author

Not interesting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this book. This book had potential but in the end was just OK and I wouldn’t have purchased the book had I known. The book is basically about a girl who becomes a witch and beholden to the guy who changed her. She spends her life trying to stay away from him, and does for the most part, but when she is confronted by him she always gets away easily. The main part holding up this story are the little stories in between her evading the one who gave her the witch powers – and those stories aren’t interesting.

Would you ever listen to anything by Paula Brackston again?

I would think twice about reading anything she writes because I wasn't impressed with this book

good listen

enjoyed this audiobook, good narration and good story. looking forward to the next book

A Little Underwhelming

What did you like best about The Witch's Daughter? What did you like least?

The narrator was great but the story felt meandering and lacked focus. I didn't feel compelled by any of the characters.

What could Paula Brackston have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The ending totally fell flat. I felt like she could have done more with the characters.

Have you listened to any of Marisa Calin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only one I've heard.

Do you think The Witch's Daughter needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I'm not sure I liked the characters enough to read another.

Any additional comments?

Not my favorite.

Wanted to love it, but lacking something.

Firstly, the narrator is really great, you can tell the difference between each character. Except her Scottish accent is so terrible it sounds like a Transylvanian accent.
As for the story I really enjoyed some of the elements, especially the witchy stuff, but when they threw in satanism I was angry. Witches do not believe in Satan. Also the author kept bringing up Wicca wasn’t introduced until the 20th century. I would have liked to have read more about Bess’s life journey too, the author kept mentioning her fellow witches, but we never meet any of them until the end. I’m on the fence about the next book in the series, I might try it in hopes it is better than this one.