Published By: Fly On The Wall
Pages: 280
Released On: 01/09/2025
In medieval Locklear, Agnes harbours a dangerous secret―she can touch fire without being burned.
As war rages beyond the town and whispers of witchcraft echo through its streets, Agnes navigates arranged marriages, rivals’ schemes, and the threat of the hangman’s noose.
When a desperate bargain with a local widow goes awry, Agnes’s world erupts in flames―she is accused of witchcraft.
In a society that fears female power, can Agnes find the strength to forge her own destiny?
*****
Thanks to Fly On the Wall for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Rachel’s book The Finery; it was original, well to me anyway, and really well done.
There was a lot I liked about this book.
Firstly, the premise. I love old books, particularly those set 100+ years ago and older, usually when there’s a young woman forced to be quiet in a time where she was expected to behave. And add magic and witchcraft to the equation and it’s a clear winner.
I liked the characters. Agnes was a bit naïve at times, but she had this strength throughout it, not an obvious physical strength but in a way that made her stronger. There’s a lot of other characters of course, some main and some background, some I liked more than others, but they all worked well individually and in Agnes’ story. Although I will say this is a woman’s story. The men, on the whole, I disliked greatly.
I think Rachel does an impressive job in creating a sense of space and atmosphere. You can even smell the story at times – not that you always want to. But you’re immediately put into this story and you can fully envisage the world around you.
Its sort of a look at feminism against the patriarchy, but not in the obviously modern way. You’ve got these women who have to do what women did in that time, submit, be a housewife, a mother etc. But they don’t always want to be submissive, and that’s when the ‘witchcraft’ words is considered. You’ve got the boys and men that have aways lived as the rulers, and so when the women start rebelling, they can’t cope with it, they can’t believe why they would be doing it, and so there must be magic about. It always amazes me, whether I read fiction or non-fiction about witchcraft and witch trials etc. that as soon as a woman does something a man can’t explain, then she must be a witch. It’s funny in a sad way.
It is less about the witchcraft in my view, although that is obviously a key aspect. For me, it was more about Agnes and how she coped with her new life, and her rivalries with other women, her desperation etc. She completely stole the show.
This is only my second of her books. It’s’ very different to The Finery but she clearly has talent and I’m looking forward to more.
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