The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Haven’s father was a diver and a dreamer.  He never did quite get the big find he was always searching for, but he was close. His messages to Haven conveyed his excitement—but then he died suddenly.  Now Haven has come to Positano, an area known for its many shipwrecks, and the place where her father made his last dive. She’s working for a major company and has been allowed to assemble her own dive-team, all women. The goal is to map shipwrecks, but Haven is determined to find the treasure her father believed he had found.

Two hundred years earlier, Mari DeLuca is trying to escape Positano—not so much the village, but the sea that surrounds it.  Mari is one of the Strega del mare, sea witches who have have used their magic to keep Positano safe from invaders and prosperous enough to support their families. The sea is their ally, but because the sea took her mother and her sister, Mari learned to hate the sea.  And now she may have found a way to escape it.

Penner does a lovely job of mixing supernatural elements with the reality of diving and underwater research.  Haven and Mari are both strong, interesting characters who are motivated by love, both romantic and love of family.  When the storylines come together, it’s a beautiful thing.

I was especially intrigued by the descriptions of the Strega and the ocean; it’s a complex relationship, both beautiful and terrible as the sea gives and takes.  While I am not really a fan of dual timelines, it did work out in the end.

If you’re looking for a little light fantasy, romance, and an exotic location, give The Amalfi Curse a try. 

Of Witches, Salem, and Hysteria: Beyond the Movie Witch

Recommendations by Christy H.

In the new horror film “The Witch” a family is cast out of their Puritan village for somewhat hazy, although most definitely religious, reasons. William and Katherine decide to build their own homestead right at the edge of the untamed New England wilderness. However, they and their five children soon learn that there is something unnatural lurking in the woods. And while that something is dangerous so is the fear and paranoia slowly growing within their own family.

After seeing this, I went on a book-adding frenzy for my to-read list – anything relating to Puritans or witches. Here are a few that I’m looking forward to reading (and a recommendation I’ve already read.)

Fiction

The Minister’s Daughter by Julie Hearn

Nell is a healer, herb gatherer, and midwife.

Grace is a minister’s daughter: refined, sweet, and innocent.

These two women could not be more different, and when Grace and her younger sister start pitching fits and speaking in tongues suspicious eyes look to Nell.

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Martha and Sarah Carrier are like most any mother and daughter. They love each other but they are often at odds with each other as well. Sarah stands by her mother, however, when Martha is accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.

Susannah Morrow by Megan Chance

Fifteen year old Charity is trying to cope with her first young heartbreak which isn’t easy to do when there is no one to turn to for comfort. Charity‘s mother died in childbirth and her stoic Puritan father has been withdrawn ever since.  A small hope comes in the form of her aunt Susannah Morrow who has arrived from London.

But independent Susannah struggles in the strict community. Suspicion towards her begins to grow and soon “the fanaticism, repressed emotions and sexual guilt in Salem explode into a form of hysteria that will make its name infamous.”

The Fever by Megan Abbott

            This book isn’t about Puritans, and it’s not set in the past. It’s not even really about witches. But the comparisons are easy to see.

            When Deenie’s best friend seizes up in class in what can only be described as “a fit” rumors fly faster than Deenie can keep up. Soon girls are having fits left and right and no one can explain why. As hysteria and suspicion grow, Deenie struggles to understand what is happening.

Non-Fiction

Six Women of Salem: the Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials by Marilynne K. Roach

            Most people know the story of the Salem Witch Trials. Many even know prominent names of some of those involved. But Roach zeroes in on six specific women in an effort to transform trivia tidbits into real, three dimensional human beings. 

A Delusion of Satan: the Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials by Francis Hill

            Called a “grisly read and an engrossing one”, Hill details the Salem Witch Trials from the spiteful accusers who seek vengeance to a four year old “witch” who was chained to a wall.

American Jezebel: the Uncommon Life of Ann Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans by Eva LaPlante

            Although not specifically about witches, Ann Hutchinson was certainly called that - among other pejorative terms like “instrument of Satan” and “Jezebel.” Her only crimes seemed to be hosting a weekly religious study group (of sorts) in her home and expressing discontent with local ministers, or as someone more directly put it: “[being] more bold than a man.” Tried and banished from her own community, Hutchinson made an everlasting impression in women’s history.

Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon

Reviewed by Ambrea

Matthew Corbett, following Magistrate Woodward as he duly devoted clerk, arrives in Carolina's Fount Royal under the unenviable task of investigating reports of witchcraft.  Rachel Howarth has been accused of murder, witchcraft, along with a list of sundry crimes and misdemeanors, and she is all but sentenced for her perceived crimes.  However, a greater evil lurks in Fount Royal—one that will test Matthew’s resolve to seek truth and endanger the very foundation of his faith.

For the most part, I really enjoyed Speaks the Nightbird.  It’s incredibly precise and beautifully detailed, depicting Fount Royal and Matthew’s subsequent exploration of the town with such grace and detail as to make it feel real.  I simply loved the realism and history that Robert McCammon afforded his novel:  it gives Speaks the Nightbird a life entirely of its own.

While I can’t say it’s a lovely novel—in fact, it’s filled with cruelty, danger, murder, deceit, violence, abuse and tragedy (among other grotesque things).  It isn’t a novel for the faint of heart, that’s certainly assured—it has been so lovingly crafted by its author that it creates a singularly pleasant experience in the reading.  It’s not necessarily a thrill-a-minute story, but it keeps a decent pace and lays out enough bread crumbs as to entice readers to dig deeper and explore farther into the dark heart of Fount Royal and its surrounding wilderness.

Additionally, I liked that McCammon made careful note of Matthew’s emotional and physical state as his investigation proceeds, pinpointing great moments of change, remarking upon his intellectual and emotional evolution.  Matthew is such a critical character to Speaks the Nightbird that I thought it only appropriate that the author spends a great portion of his time dedicated to noting Matthew’s character development.  I like that, as a reader, I get to see the full range of his growth.

Not only does McCammon allow his readers the opportunity to enjoy the development of his characters, he also fully immerses his readers in the world he seeks to create.  Speaks the Nightbird dives headfirst into the history of early, colonial America, broaching subjects of even the most unsavory origin and touching upon the incredible cultural differences between the modern world and the Carolina Territory in 1699.

For instance, I discovered mention of wasps used as pest control.  Apparently, wasps were allowed to build nests in the homes of colonial settlers, in order to control the population of mosquitos and other pests, which is a prospect that I find entirely terrifying—and, of course, mystifying in the modern age.  Likewise, I stumbled upon instances of bloodletting and “blistering” (don’t ask) in medical treatments.  It’s truly fascinating to compare the world I know and the world of the distant past, which McCammon shows me, and see the incredible differences between them.

As much as I enjoyed Speaks the Nightbird, I should be completely honest that McCammon’s novel isn’t the best choice if a reader finds oneself made squeamish by blood—or uncomfortable with shocking behavior, including but not limited to murder, brutality, bestiality, abuse, greed, torture, and etc.

I must admit that I was scandalized by Fount royal and its superstitious citizenry.  Surprised, horrified, disgusted, sickened—scarred may even be accurate—just to name a few of the feeling that influenced my emotional state.   I mean, there’s the utterly horrible dean of the almshouse where Matthew lived as a child and the noxious Shawcomb, neither of whom is technically a citizen of Fount Royal; however, I think that’s beside the point.  There really is no respite from the terrible things that seem to keep happening.

Full of adventure, intrigue, suspense and mystery, Speaks the Nightbird is a truly amazing piece of work.  It’s a massive undertaking, but I was emotionally invested for so long that I simply had to find out the truth, like Matthew.  When finished, I found it brought a feeling of accomplishment rivaled by no other; however, I would recommend reading McCammon’s novel in moderation and keeping one warning in mind:  expect the absolute worst to happen, because it will—and it has ample opportunity to get worse.

 

Matthew Corbett Series
1. Speaks the Nightbird
2. The Queen of Bedlam
3. Mister Slaughter
4. The Providence Rider
5. The River of Souls
6. Freedom of the Mask (2016)

Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries

Reviewed by Jeanne

Juliet Blackwell has been writing her Witchcraft mysteries since 2009 but since I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short, I’m only now starting the series. Lily Ivory is a natural witch, born with a talent for brewing and botanical magic.  As a child, Lily had been more or less abandoned by her parents and was raised by an adopted grandmother who began training the girl to use her powers.  She left her grandmother ostensibly to continue her training but searched for her father instead.  That did not turn out particularly well, but Lily is frugal with details. Now she’s in San Francisco, running a vintage clothing store and trying to blend in with normal humans. She tries to keep her abilities a secret in an effort to avoid being ostracized as she was before, but the local supernatural grapevine soon picks up on her presence and she receives a visit from Aidan Rhodes, a local and very powerful witch.  Aidan brings her a gift, of sorts:  a familiar, who looks very much like a goblin.  Fortunately, he can alter his shape into something a bit less unsettling—a pot-bellied pig. He can still be annoying, however.

Secondhand Spirits, the first book in the series, has Lily settling in and beginning to meet people. Because her powers set her apart, she’s had little experience with certain social interactions; for example, she’s never before had any close friends.  She gets a lead on an elderly lady with some vintage garments for sale, but while she’s checking out the clothing a child goes missing.  It turns out that the area has a history of missing children.  Concerned, Lily tries to set up some supernatural protection for the woman, but her attempt fails:  the woman is found dead.  Now Lily is determined to get to the bottom of both the murder and the missing children.

I’ve read two books in this series so far and have found Lily to be an appealing hero as she learns about her craft.  The author throws in a few spells just for good measure, mostly general information on creating charms or protective spells.  There’s a romance with a human skeptical of the paranormal, some friends, a couple of enigmatic souls, and, of course, Oscar the goblin/pig for a touch of comic relief.  I also liked the tidbits about vintage fashion and the care of antique clothing the author throws in.  The Haight- Ashbury setting is used to good advantage, featuring both fog and traces of counter-culture vibes.  

While the series isn’t quite what I’d call a cozy, it isn’t a gore-fest, either. The investigations have their share of blood and creepy details but the author doesn’t dwell on them. There is a dark undertone but it's not a "sleep with the lights on after reading" type, at least not for me. Each book picks up just about where the last one left off without much of a time lapse, but I don't think this is a series that you have to read in order unless, like me, you simply prefer to do it that way.

And no, there isn’t a cat.  Lily is allergic.

Here’s a list of the books in the series:
1. Secondhand Spirits
2. A Cast-Off Coven
3. Hexes and Hemlines
4. In a Witch's Wardrobe
5. Tarnished and Torn
6. A Vision in Velvet
7. Spellcasting In Silk