BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
(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

( )

The whole "creation" tale was done a bit different than I'm used it (though I've not read that much in the way of witch or wiccan story lines). Instead of being just born into the skill, its more of a learned skill and gift from another.

My favorite portions were those from Bess's past. Those flowed better for me, and the characters were more interesting. Even the stalker aspect that usually is a turn off for me in other books wasn't so off putting in this. But when those retellings ended and it rejoined the journal entries, it was more disjointed there, and had to readjust to the tone of the narration.

Its not a bad read, but I just wasn't enthralled with it. I didn't want to read because I wanted to know what happened next, but more so for finishing on the library deadline. I really enjoyed reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane a heck of alot more ( )

Marisa Calin (Narrator)
Good story
Felt it was missing something ( )

Looks like Paula Brackston has a new fan. ( )

Overall, it was a satisfying read. I loved the mix of historical fiction and fantasy. 3.8 Stars
It started out slow and a little confusing, but it picked up soon enough. I felt intrigued by Bess's story. My heart ached for her. Tegan is a complicated character, and I enjoyed her growth. Bess and Tegan's relationship is incredibly touching. ( )