Sorceress by Celia Rees

Series: Witch Child, Book Two

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: First: 4^th March 2002

This Edition: 6^th July 2009

Number of Pages: 320

Book: Bought

Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Fantasy, YA, YA-Child Crossover

Recommended Age: 11+

Contains: Violence, Death, Sexual References – Nothing Graphic

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Celia Rees

Sequel to the bestseller Witch Child.

Alison Ellman is still searching for information about Mary Newbury.  She has a diary and some scattered information about Mary’s life, but Mary has disappeared into the forests of New England and Alison has no way of following her across the centuries.

Then Alison meets Agnes Herne, a descendant of Mary’s who has a special skill that allows her to contact Mary in the spirit world.  Now at last we hear Mary’s story after her ill-fated time in Beulah – a story that takes her across the New World in an epic search for a home.

Review:

Mary Newbury was a witch.  She was discovered, and had to flee from the village in which she was living, but in the process was forced to leave her diary behind.  Nothing more is known other than that she escaped the village with her life.  Back in our time, Alison Ellman is desperate for more information on Mary, to find out what happened to her after the events of her diary.  And, just as she’s about to give up, Agnes shows up.  Agnes knows of a white woman who lived with her Native American ancestors’ tribe, and she believes that this woman is Mary.  Agnes also thinks that she is descended from the witch, and has her powers of sight.  With this, Agnes can live Mary’s life; see it all in her head.  She knows what happened to Mary and Mary wants her story told.  So.  What did happen to Mary Newbury?

I adored Witch Child and was desperate to know what had happened to Mary.  Sorceress was a very worthy sequel, in my opinion.  It was told by Mary, through Agnes, with the occasional chapters told in 3^rd person about Alison and Agnes’ research.  The writing was just incredible, as it always is with Celia Rees, and even better than in Witch Child– though the triple narrative could be a little confusing at times. 

Mary was just as strong as she was in the previous book – more so, actually.  She had matured a lot, gotten used to her gifts and even become an ever so powerful powwaw, sorceress, shaman – whatever you wish to call it.  Mary had had to go through a lot of pain, a lot of hardship, but instead of weighing her down, it just made her stronger and more vibrant.  Also, she got some amazing new skills: incredibly cool.

Agnes was equally strong, and was a powerful girl, much like Mary in her determination and will power.  She was just the kind of character you could like and trust instantly, as well as having a kind of air of mysterious magic surrounding her…  Fellow research-partner Alison was the most determined character I have ever read about.  Not in a bad way, just in an unwavering, focused manner.  She would do anything – anything – to find out what happened to Mary.  Warm, kind, enthusiastic and intelligent, I liked her just as quickly as I did Mary and Agnes.

While these were all amazing characters, what I loved most about Sorceress was the Native American ways of life.  I just loved learning more about all the rituals, the beliefs, how close they felt to the earth.  I hated the “white men” for trying to take their land: What right did they have?  None, in my opinion.  They could have all lived peacefully alongside one another…  Also in my opinion, the “white men” were more savage than the so-called “savages”.

This was a great book, full of history, family, loss and finding yourself.  I just loved the storyline, and all the characters, even though at times it was rather confusing.  It was wonderful to see what happened to all my characters, how they had changed.  I really love Celia Rees: she’s brilliant and all her stories feel so very real.  I honestly felt like I travelled back in time as I read.

I also learnt what true courage is, true bravery, true goodness.  And, I found the answer to my question from the previous book: magic really does exist.  In this world, at least.  Can but hope, right?

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Witch Child by Celia Rees

 Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)

Off the Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenges)

Happy Reading

Megan

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Series: Witch Child, Book One

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: Originally: 2000

This Edition: 6^th July 2009

Number of Pages: 256

Book: Bought

Genre: Historical, Magic, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Fantasy, Children-YA Crossover

Recommended Age: 11+

Contains: Nothing Unsuitable

Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize

Pages from a journal are loosely sewn into a quilt.  A quilt that lies undisturbed for more than three hundred years until it is carefully taken apart for cleaning and out of its folds falls a powerful and moving story.  The story of Mary – granddaughter of a witch.

A taunt, exciting novel, Witch Child holds the reader gripped throughout.

Review:

“I am Mary.  I am a witch.”

Witch Child tells the story of a girl named Mary, whose grandmother was hanged for being a witch.  She had to leave, before the townspeople turned on her as well.  And so she was taken away from the only home she’s know by a mysterious woman she’s never met, Mary is sent to America for her own safety.  But life aboard a ship of Puritans heading to the New World is just as dangerous as it was back home in England – maybe more so.  Can she keep her secret?  Or will she be discovered, and killed just as her grandmother was?

I was captivated, and literally devoured Witch Child.  It was an amazing, powerful story, and it was insanely addictive.

Told from Mary’s point of view, it’s written in the form of a diary that was found sewn into the seams of a quilt.  As I read, I felt like I had travelled back to the 1600s, and there were loads of little details that just made the history feel alive. 

Mary was a brilliant character, strong and brave.  I loved her spirit, and found myself feeling everything she felt.  Her voice was unique, and her emotions intense: she was an entirely believable character.

The supporting characters were brilliant as well, and all very real.  Jaybird, the Native American Indian boy; Martha, the Puritan who took Mary in; Reverend Johnson, the one who believes he’s a prophet of God, who I believe is really the evil one.  There were so many amazing characters, and they all went together to form a brilliant, realistic world.

The thing I liked most about this book was the history behind it.  The witch trials both fascinate and horrify me, ever since I learnt about them at the very beginning of high school.  It amazes me how narrow minded people can be, and how healers can be seen as “spawn of the Devil”.  Did you know that at least 250,000 women were killed, and in some villages were left with no women at all?  (I’d just like to point out that I didn’t actually get that from the book, it’s just a weird piece of information that I’ve remembered, for some reason or another.)  And the Native American Indian history and beliefs intrigued me too: how the settlers forced them out, their ideas on spirits, the way they live.  I wouldn’t have thought that the two would go together so well, but they did, and I loved the way they did.

The only downside: the concept of magic and witchcraft was left unclear.  Mary hinted at visions, controlling storms and voodoo-like dolls, but nothing was confirmed...  Unless that’s what Celia Rees meant for it to be like... to make you think, to wonder...

Overall, Witch Child was a brilliantly written story with authentic, unique characters and an amazing plot.  It was intense, addictive and ended with a horrible cliffhanger. Even though it’s written for 11+, I think everyone can enjoy the history in it!

Finally, a simple question:

Do you believe in magic?

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Sovay or Pirates! by Celia Rees

The Merrybegot by Julie Hearn (I Recommed This One: Another Witch-Trials Book)

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)

A-Z Reading Challenge (Hosted by Book Junky)

Off The Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenge)