Paula Brackston
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Wissenswertes
- Andere Namen
- Brackston, P. J.
Davy, P. J. - Geburtstag
- 20th century
- Geschlecht
- female
- Nationalität
- UK
- Geburtsort
- Dorset, England, UK
- Wohnorte
- Wales
London, England, UK - Ausbildung
- Lancaster University
- Kurzbiographie
- Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.
Prior to solidifying her career as a fiction writer, Brackston worked as a groom on a racing yard, a travel agent, a secretary, an English teacher, and a goat herd. She attended Lancaster University, where she received her M.A. in creative writing. Brackston is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport.
She was born in Dorset, England, and grew up in Wales, where she now lives with her partner and their two children. She has lived in Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, where The Winter Witch takes place, and spent six years in central London near Fitzroy Square, where The Midnight Witch is set in seventeenth-century England. Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, the main character of The Witch's Daughter, lived in Brackston's hometown of Dorset.
Brackston's debut novel, The Witch’s Daughter, was originally published in February 2009 under the title The Book of Shadows and was intended as the first book in the proposed Shadow Chronicles series, followed by The Winter Witch. However, each of the novels are standalones that explore witches and their experiences through different times and settings. The Witch’s Daughter spawned a sequel titled The Return of the Witch in 2016. In Lamp Black, Wolf Grey, Brackston introduces Merlin as one of the main characters in the story.
Mitglieder
Rezensionen
GOODREADS has not yet posted the Audio version from MacMillan Audio, so I will enter this here, since I do have a hardbound copy as well. Goodreads used to provide an option to add other versions, but it's either gone, or they've accidentally hid it in some upgraded version of their site.
PRINT: 2021; St. Martin's (Griffin) Press; ISBN 9781250260697; 308 pages.
Digital: Yes
***Audio: COPYRIGHT: 11/23/2021; ISBN 9781250818874; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 10:48:38; PARTS: 10; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 309491 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: Found Things. Book 4
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Lydia Flyte – mysterious woman with spinning powers
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – Love interest - A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
Elizabeth Hawksmith – A witch Xanthe encounters in the 19th century
William J. Morris – Former proprietor of The Shop of Found Things
Erasmus Balmoral- Former sweetheart of Lydia Flyte
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
How I picked it: It’s the next book in the series.
What it’s about: Xanthe goes looking for Liam, bringing Harley with her. She learns more about her role as a Spinner, about Lydia’s past, about Time Steppers, and about other Spinners. I enjoy the cast of characters, as always, and how they are evolving.
What I thought: I am enjoying the expansion of Xanthe's assistants and the plot.
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction; time-travel; magic; witches/witchcraft
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 1820’s; 1878
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
“FOR CATHY – A GIFTED PHOTOGRAPHER, A TALENTED ICE SKATER, AN EXCELLENT TEACHER, AND A LOVELY FRIEND X.”
EXCERPT (From Chapter 3):
“When Xanthe arrived home it was to find the house empty save for Pie. While the dog was pleased to see her and greeted her effusively, she was no substitute for Flora. Xanthe badly needed to share her wonderful finds with her mother, as she did after any treasure hunt, but more than that, she needed to talk about the three things that were special to her. It was only seven thirty. With a sinking heart she realized her mother would be out celebrating with her friends after bell-ringing practice and might not be home for some time. Breaking her own rule about avoiding discussing Spinner business over the phone, she called Harley.
“Can you talk?” she asked.
“Give us a minute, hen,” he said.
She could hear the lively chatter of the pub in the background grow fainter as he found a quieter spot.
“OK, I’m in the backyard. Annie’s busy serving in the bar. Have you heard from Liam?”
“Not quite. I’ve found something that might take me to him, though.”
“You have? That’s bloody fantastic! What is it?”
“I’m not entirely certain.”
“You mean … you’ve found something that’s singing to you, but you don’t know what it is? Correct me if I’m wrong, lassie, but are you not the expert in all things antique?”
“Harley … I’ve found three things. Three things that are singing to me, each one as strong as the other!”
There was a brief, stunned pause, followed by a low whistle, before Harley said quickly, “You’re not thinking of going in that wee building of yours with all three, now, are you?” “No That’s the problem. I don’t know which of them to use. I did have the briefest vision of Liam.…” “Could you see where he was?”
“No, I just saw his face for a fraction of a second. And I couldn’t be certain which object sparked the vision. This has never happened before. And I haven’t come across anything like this in the Spinners book.… Maybe I should just take them out and stand close to the blind house, see if I get any more flashes of anything.”
“I’m coming over. Promise me you’ll not set foot in the garden before I get there?”
“OK. I promise.” She clicked off the phone and looked at the three objects now sitting unwrapped on the old desk in the shop. Pie sniffed them, decided they were of no interest, and jumped up onto the cushion of the captain’s chair for a nap.
Harley arrived at the shop door ten minutes later, a little breathless and clutching a net of limes. “I told Annie we were running short and I’d pop out to the supermarket and get some,” he explained, holding them up and following her inside. He spied the collection of finds on the desk. “Ah, so these are the magical objects, then?””
RATING:
5 stars. A wonderful continuation of the series.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
12/3/2022 to 12/9/2022… (mehr)
PRINT: 2021; St. Martin's (Griffin) Press; ISBN 9781250260697; 308 pages.
Digital: Yes
***Audio: COPYRIGHT: 11/23/2021; ISBN 9781250818874; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 10:48:38; PARTS: 10; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 309491 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: Found Things. Book 4
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Lydia Flyte – mysterious woman with spinning powers
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – Love interest - A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
Elizabeth Hawksmith – A witch Xanthe encounters in the 19th century
William J. Morris – Former proprietor of The Shop of Found Things
Erasmus Balmoral- Former sweetheart of Lydia Flyte
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
How I picked it: It’s the next book in the series.
What it’s about: Xanthe goes looking for Liam, bringing Harley with her. She learns more about her role as a Spinner, about Lydia’s past, about Time Steppers, and about other Spinners. I enjoy the cast of characters, as always, and how they are evolving.
What I thought: I am enjoying the expansion of Xanthe's assistants and the plot.
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction; time-travel; magic; witches/witchcraft
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 1820’s; 1878
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
“FOR CATHY – A GIFTED PHOTOGRAPHER, A TALENTED ICE SKATER, AN EXCELLENT TEACHER, AND A LOVELY FRIEND X.”
EXCERPT (From Chapter 3):
“When Xanthe arrived home it was to find the house empty save for Pie. While the dog was pleased to see her and greeted her effusively, she was no substitute for Flora. Xanthe badly needed to share her wonderful finds with her mother, as she did after any treasure hunt, but more than that, she needed to talk about the three things that were special to her. It was only seven thirty. With a sinking heart she realized her mother would be out celebrating with her friends after bell-ringing practice and might not be home for some time. Breaking her own rule about avoiding discussing Spinner business over the phone, she called Harley.
“Can you talk?” she asked.
“Give us a minute, hen,” he said.
She could hear the lively chatter of the pub in the background grow fainter as he found a quieter spot.
“OK, I’m in the backyard. Annie’s busy serving in the bar. Have you heard from Liam?”
“Not quite. I’ve found something that might take me to him, though.”
“You have? That’s bloody fantastic! What is it?”
“I’m not entirely certain.”
“You mean … you’ve found something that’s singing to you, but you don’t know what it is? Correct me if I’m wrong, lassie, but are you not the expert in all things antique?”
“Harley … I’ve found three things. Three things that are singing to me, each one as strong as the other!”
There was a brief, stunned pause, followed by a low whistle, before Harley said quickly, “You’re not thinking of going in that wee building of yours with all three, now, are you?” “No That’s the problem. I don’t know which of them to use. I did have the briefest vision of Liam.…” “Could you see where he was?”
“No, I just saw his face for a fraction of a second. And I couldn’t be certain which object sparked the vision. This has never happened before. And I haven’t come across anything like this in the Spinners book.… Maybe I should just take them out and stand close to the blind house, see if I get any more flashes of anything.”
“I’m coming over. Promise me you’ll not set foot in the garden before I get there?”
“OK. I promise.” She clicked off the phone and looked at the three objects now sitting unwrapped on the old desk in the shop. Pie sniffed them, decided they were of no interest, and jumped up onto the cushion of the captain’s chair for a nap.
Harley arrived at the shop door ten minutes later, a little breathless and clutching a net of limes. “I told Annie we were running short and I’d pop out to the supermarket and get some,” he explained, holding them up and following her inside. He spied the collection of finds on the desk. “Ah, so these are the magical objects, then?””
RATING:
5 stars. A wonderful continuation of the series.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
12/3/2022 to 12/9/2022… (mehr)
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 10/16/2018; St. Martin's Griffin, First Edition; ISBN 978-1250072436; 320 pages.
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 10/16/2018; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 12:49:49; PARTS: 12; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 366683 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: The Little Shop of Found Things. Book 2
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Samuel Appleby – An architect in the 17th century
Alice Merton—A maid in the 17th century
Margaret Merton – Alice’s mother
Geraldine (Geri) – The owner of the teashop across from the Antique shop
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
I confess. I DO judge a book by its cover. I saw this one in Barnes and Noble and was instantly intrigued, so I checked it out online from Overdrive/LAPL and I was not disappointed! I love Xanthe! She shares all of my interests—even the little chatelaine, that enchants her when she “meets” it, strikes a chord (I was once enchanted by a tiny fountain pen (which I now own) that had been made to hang from a chatelaine.)
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction
LOCATIONS:
Marlborough; Wiltshire Countryside; Great Chalfield
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 17th Century
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Psychometry; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
"For Melanie: Celebrating fifty years of friendship. Here’s to another fifty!”
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1:
“It is a commonly held belief that the most likely place to find a ghost is beneath a shadowy moon, among the ruins of a castle, or perhaps in an abandoned house where the living have fled leaving only spirits to drift from room to room. To believe so is to acknowledge but half a truth, for there is a connection with those passed over to be found much nearer home. Every soul that once trod this brutal earth leaves their imprint upon the things that mattered to them. The things that they held, the things that once echoed to the beat of their hearts. That heartbeat may yet be felt, faint but clear, transmitted through the fabric of those belongings, linking us to the dear one long gone through however many years have passed. Or at least, some may feel it. Some can hear its fluttering rhythm. Some can sense the life force that once thrummed through the golden metal, or gorgeous gem, or even the tattered remnant of a wedding gown. Some have the ability, the sensitivity, the gift to be able to connect to those lost ones through these precious objects.
Xanthe Westlake was such a person. The tall, young woman with the tumble of golden curls falling about her shoulders was possessed of that special gift. She had been barely eight years old when first it had shown itself. On that particular day she held a small silver teapot, turning it over in her hands, smiling brightly.
“You like that, Xanthe?” her mother, Flora, asked.
She nodded, running her fingers over the intricate filigree pattern on the cool silver. “It’s a happy teapot,” she told her.
“Really? How do you know?” “Because I can hear it singing,” she said, holding it up. “It was a present from a sailor to his daughter. He’d been away at sea for a long, long time, and when he came home he gave her this, and she made tea for them both. She loved her father very much.”
“Wow,” her mother said. “You got all that from the teapot?”
At the time, she must have thought such a proclamation merely the product of a youthful imagination, but later, when she inquired as to the teapot’s provenance and discovered that it had originated in Spain and been part of a sea captain’s estate, well, then she began to take notice of her child’s opinions. From that day, she started giving Xanthe things to hold to see if they would “sing” to her. And sometimes they did. And so her daughter would accompany her on buying trips to hunt for treasures. There was never any question but that she would go into the family business.”
RATING:
5 stars. Well done. I have a new author to explore! (New to me, I mean.)
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
2-24-2022 to 3-7-2022… (mehr)
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 10/16/2018; St. Martin's Griffin, First Edition; ISBN 978-1250072436; 320 pages.
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 10/16/2018; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 12:49:49; PARTS: 12; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 366683 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: The Little Shop of Found Things. Book 2
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Samuel Appleby – An architect in the 17th century
Alice Merton—A maid in the 17th century
Margaret Merton – Alice’s mother
Geraldine (Geri) – The owner of the teashop across from the Antique shop
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
I confess. I DO judge a book by its cover. I saw this one in Barnes and Noble and was instantly intrigued, so I checked it out online from Overdrive/LAPL and I was not disappointed! I love Xanthe! She shares all of my interests—even the little chatelaine, that enchants her when she “meets” it, strikes a chord (I was once enchanted by a tiny fountain pen (which I now own) that had been made to hang from a chatelaine.)
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction
LOCATIONS:
Marlborough; Wiltshire Countryside; Great Chalfield
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 17th Century
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Psychometry; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
"For Melanie: Celebrating fifty years of friendship. Here’s to another fifty!”
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1:
“It is a commonly held belief that the most likely place to find a ghost is beneath a shadowy moon, among the ruins of a castle, or perhaps in an abandoned house where the living have fled leaving only spirits to drift from room to room. To believe so is to acknowledge but half a truth, for there is a connection with those passed over to be found much nearer home. Every soul that once trod this brutal earth leaves their imprint upon the things that mattered to them. The things that they held, the things that once echoed to the beat of their hearts. That heartbeat may yet be felt, faint but clear, transmitted through the fabric of those belongings, linking us to the dear one long gone through however many years have passed. Or at least, some may feel it. Some can hear its fluttering rhythm. Some can sense the life force that once thrummed through the golden metal, or gorgeous gem, or even the tattered remnant of a wedding gown. Some have the ability, the sensitivity, the gift to be able to connect to those lost ones through these precious objects.
Xanthe Westlake was such a person. The tall, young woman with the tumble of golden curls falling about her shoulders was possessed of that special gift. She had been barely eight years old when first it had shown itself. On that particular day she held a small silver teapot, turning it over in her hands, smiling brightly.
“You like that, Xanthe?” her mother, Flora, asked.
She nodded, running her fingers over the intricate filigree pattern on the cool silver. “It’s a happy teapot,” she told her.
“Really? How do you know?” “Because I can hear it singing,” she said, holding it up. “It was a present from a sailor to his daughter. He’d been away at sea for a long, long time, and when he came home he gave her this, and she made tea for them both. She loved her father very much.”
“Wow,” her mother said. “You got all that from the teapot?”
At the time, she must have thought such a proclamation merely the product of a youthful imagination, but later, when she inquired as to the teapot’s provenance and discovered that it had originated in Spain and been part of a sea captain’s estate, well, then she began to take notice of her child’s opinions. From that day, she started giving Xanthe things to hold to see if they would “sing” to her. And sometimes they did. And so her daughter would accompany her on buying trips to hunt for treasures. There was never any question but that she would go into the family business.”
RATING:
5 stars. Well done. I have a new author to explore! (New to me, I mean.)
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
2-24-2022 to 3-7-2022… (mehr)
Garden of Promises and Lies by Paula Brackston
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 12/15/2020; St. Martin's (Griffin) Press; ISBN 9781250072450; 320 pages.
Digital: Yes
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 12/15/2020; ISBN 9781250772633; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 10:40:06; PARTS: 10; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 304409 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: Found Things. Book 3
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Benedict Fairfax—A sinister Spinner
Lidia Flight – mysterious woman with spinning powers
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
Petronella Wilcox - A bride-to-be
Evie Wilcox - Younger sister of the bride-to-be
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
A suspenseful story of time travel, antiques and romance; this third book held my attention as well as the first two.
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 19th Century
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Psychometry; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
“FOR DEE. WHO IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT A WICKED STEPMOTHER, AND WHO KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT GARDENS AND ANTIQUES. HERE’S TO ENJOYING LOTS OF BOTH IN HAPPIER TIMES.”
EXCERPT:
“The moon shadows in the garden created unfamiliar shapes beneath the tumbling climbers and chaotic shrubs. From the window seat of her attic bedroom, Xanthe had a clear view of the muddle of borders and the barely tamed lawn as they began to emerge from the chill of winter. The roof-scape of the sleeping town beyond the redbrick garden boundary glistened under a light frost. She thought of how quickly the weeks had passed. Christmas and New Year had come and gone in a blur of activity in the antique shop and extra bookings for the band. Then there had been January sales to organize, and work on the room of mirrors in order to accommodate the new vintage clothing venture. And now it was the first day of March, and their first spring in Marlborough, with the slumbering garden at last beginning to properly reveal itself again after the bare winter months.”
RATING:
5 stars. A wonderful continuation of the series.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
11/25/2022 to 11/29/2022… (mehr)
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 12/15/2020; St. Martin's (Griffin) Press; ISBN 9781250072450; 320 pages.
Digital: Yes
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 12/15/2020; ISBN 9781250772633; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 10:40:06; PARTS: 10; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 304409 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: Found Things. Book 3
Major characters:
Xanthe Westlake – primary character—young lady with special gifts
Flora Westlake — Xanthe’s mother—Antique Shop’s primary owner
Benedict Fairfax—A sinister Spinner
Lidia Flight – mysterious woman with spinning powers
Harley – The owner of the Three Feather’s pub
Liam – A guitar playing automotive enthusiast
Petronella Wilcox - A bride-to-be
Evie Wilcox - Younger sister of the bride-to-be
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
A suspenseful story of time travel, antiques and romance; this third book held my attention as well as the first two.
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Wikipedia, “Paula Brackston (aka P. J. Brackston, P. J. Davy, and Mabli Roberts) is the New York Times bestselling[1][2] author of The Witch's Daughter and other historical fantasy novels. She also writes the fantasy crime Brothers Grimm Mystery series under the pseudonym P. J. Brackston.[3][4]”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fiction; Fantasy; England; Historical Fiction
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary; 19th Century
SUBJECTS:
Antiques; Psychometry; Time Travel; Occult; Romance
DEDICATION:
“FOR DEE. WHO IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT A WICKED STEPMOTHER, AND WHO KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT GARDENS AND ANTIQUES. HERE’S TO ENJOYING LOTS OF BOTH IN HAPPIER TIMES.”
EXCERPT:
“The moon shadows in the garden created unfamiliar shapes beneath the tumbling climbers and chaotic shrubs. From the window seat of her attic bedroom, Xanthe had a clear view of the muddle of borders and the barely tamed lawn as they began to emerge from the chill of winter. The roof-scape of the sleeping town beyond the redbrick garden boundary glistened under a light frost. She thought of how quickly the weeks had passed. Christmas and New Year had come and gone in a blur of activity in the antique shop and extra bookings for the band. Then there had been January sales to organize, and work on the room of mirrors in order to accommodate the new vintage clothing venture. And now it was the first day of March, and their first spring in Marlborough, with the slumbering garden at last beginning to properly reveal itself again after the bare winter months.”
RATING:
5 stars. A wonderful continuation of the series.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
11/25/2022 to 11/29/2022… (mehr)
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(Available in Print: 1/18/2011; Thomas Dunne Books; ISBN 978-0312621681; 320 pages.)
(Available as Digital)
This edition-Audio: COPYRIGHT: 12/18/2012; PUBLISHER: MacMillan Audio; DURATION: 13:22:22; PARTS: 12; Unabridged; FILE SIZE: 385232 KB
Feature Film or tv: No. At least, not yet.
SERIES: I don't think it was intended to be one with this first book, but became one. At any rate, this is Witch's Daughter Book 1.
Major characters: (I was listening rather than reading, so may not have spelled names correctly)
Elizabeth Hawksmith - Protagonist
Ann Hawksmith - Elizabeth's mother
John Hawksmith - Elizabeth's father
Margaret Hawksmith - Elizabeth's sister
Thomas - Elizabeth's brother
Tegan - A young girl in the village (2007)
Gideon Masters - Antagonist
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
When I picked up a book from the series of “The Little Shop of Found Things”, I noticed that the author had written this book before she wrote any of those, so I put it on hold. So far, I prefer the “Little Shop” series because this one dwells for a good long while on a somber set of circumstances and attitudes. There is also a lot of text devoted to the antagonist, and as I have mentioned before, I don’t need to hear that much about just how evil a character is. There are many similar elements between this book and that series—characters are similar, but that’s not a complaint.
I think this is out of the author’s control, but whereas I really love the packaging (book covers) of the “Little Shop” series books, I don’t care for the cover of this one. I get that I’m seeing a dress here and boots, but I think it’s the lighting and/or the full-front angle of the boots that show no depth that gives the impression of deformity and I can’t tell if that’s the intent, or why it would be.
I see now that there is a sequel to this, so yeah, I will have to read that in hopes that it will prove a bit happier.
AUTHOR:
Paula Brackston. According to Amazon, “Paula Brackston lives in the historic city of Hereford on the Welsh border. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and has been a Visiting Lecturer for the University of Wales, Newport. Before becoming a writer, Paula tried her hand at various career paths, with mixed success. These included working as a groom on a racing yard, a travel agent, a secretary, an English teacher, a script reader, and a goat herd. Everyone involved (particularly the goats) is very relieved that she has now found a job she is actually able to do properly.
In 2007 Paula was shortlisted in the Creme de la Crime search for new writers. In 2010 her book 'Nutters' (writing as PJ Davy) was shortlisted for the Mind Book Award. The following year she was selected by the BBC under their New Welsh Writers scheme. 'The Witch's Daughter' became a New York Times bestseller. Her books are translated into five languages and sold around the world.”
NARRATOR:
Marisa Calin. According to Wikipedia, “Marisa Calin is an American-born English actress, writer and producer.”
GENRE:
Fantasy; Historical Fiction
LOCATIONS:
Matravers, Wales; Bathcombe, Wessex
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary 2007; 17th Century
SUBJECTS:
England; Witches; Witchcraft; Warlocks
DEDICATION:
"For Simon, who knows what it took”
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1: “Bathcombe, Wessex, 1628”
“Bess ran. The clear night sky and fat moon gave ample illumination for her flight. She feared the dawn, for with it would come the discovery of her absence, and then the hunt would begin. The fetters still fastened around her legs rattled against her anklebones with every stride, a single broken link on each all that remained of her chains. Metal rubbed through young skin until a thin slick of blood trailed in her wake. Her bare feet slapped through the shallow mud, retracing a route that was so familiar as to be imprinted in her mind, clearly mapped, allowing no false turns as she fled beyond the village boundary and ran toward the woodland. Still the short journey felt longer than it ever had, the trees seeming to recede before her, recoiling from her boiling panic, never coming nearer however hard she ran.”
RATING:
4 stars.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
3-30-2022 to 4-5-2022
… (mehr)