Witch

By: Finbar Hawkins

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan

Narrated by actress and comedian Gemma Whelan, best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones

In 17th-century England, civil war rages and witches have become pawns in a plot to oust the king. Red-haired Evey does not want to be a witch, but she cannot deny the magick coursing through her veins. In a country seething with civil war, superstition, dread and dark forces are at work. A storm is coming. After witnessing the brutal murder of her mother by witch-hunters, Evey vows to avenge her and track down her killers. Fury burns in her bright and strong. But she has promised her mother that she will keep Dill, her little sister, safe. Dill: the gifted one, their mother's favourite. Dill, who their mother entrusted with the scrying stone, which should rightfully be Evey's.

Battling a terrible jealousy of Dill, Evey seizes the scrying stone and abandons her little sister with their Aunt Grey at the coven in the woods. Even though Evey longs to be free she has a promise to keep and she cannot rest until justice is done. She sets off to town where the men who murdered her mother are gathering for the witch trials. But as the lust for blood and retribution rises to fever pitch, will Evey keep true to the bonds of sisterhood and to the magick that is her destiny?

A breathtaking debut about the power of women, witchcraft, fury, revenge and the ties that bind us.

©2020 Finbar Hawkins (P)2020 W. F. Howes

Beautiful revenge story

Short and sweet. This one addresses all of the ugly feelings we feel, even when we don’t want to admit to them. I really enjoyed it.

Kind of a mess.

This book could have been great. This big issue for me was that this book was so clearly written by a man. The female struggles sounded like someone explaining things they heard fifth hand. I wanted to like it, but was very disappointed.

very entertaining!

I enjoyed the added bits of history, and the characters were interesting. It balances dark and sad moments with action and relationships very well

Great story

This is a great story, it isn't the longest but still leaves you engrossed the whole time. I love the emphasis on women as witches, revenge, and compassion all in one. Whelan was also a very good narrator and left you really feeling for the characters. Her voice was also very smooth and nice to listen to. Sometimes she was a little slow, but I seem to think all narrators are a little too slow for my liking. Maybe that's me - luckily there is a speed up button! I generally have to do it around 1.5 to make it sound more natural. Beautiful story. Story: 5/5, Narrator: 4/5.

Otherness

Finbar Hawkins gave Evey a voice that is expressive and belies a sense of otherness. A young woman, forced to care for her young sister upon the sudden and brutal attack and death of their wise woman mother, Evey is terrified and alone. I found the story interesting and felt drawn to the young woman’s plight.