Witchborne - Rachel Grosvenor

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?

 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved Rachel Grosvenor's magnificent debut, The Finery, so I couldn't wait to read her next novel, Witchborne and it is as stunning as I thought it would be.  I love novels about witches/healers and their persecution so Witchborne is going straight on my favourites list.

17 year old Agnes has been born with the gift of fire but it's a gift that she must keep hidden or she will be accused of being a witch.  With her brother away fighting in the war against the crown, it falls to Agnes to bring back respectability to her family by being matched with the tanner's son at the Spring Feast.  Nobody asks Agnes how she feels about this, she is just expected to go along with the arrangement.

Agnes is very feisty and I loved her.  She shouldn't have to keep her gift hidden but the consequences of showing who she really is could be deadly.  It's heartbreaking to think how women were treated in the past and even something as innocent as visiting a local healer to help conceive could see both women branded as witches.  It made me ask myself the question: "What makes a woman a witch?" and the answer "the church" springs to mind.  Heaven forbid people should believe in something other than whichever god is being forced down their throats.

Mesmerising, compelling and immersive, Witchborne is a hugely atmospheric novel that immediately draws the reader in and refuses to let go.  I really couldn't put it down once I picked it up and I read it in two sittings (it would've been one sitting if I'd picked it up earlier in the day).  A very highly recommended read and another magnificent novel from Rachel Grosvenor.

I received a gifted ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Fly on the Wall Press (use code BOOKMAGNET10 for 10% off)

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

The Finery - Rachel Grosvenor

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. 

With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide...but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

 

What did I think?

It's always a little daunting when I start a book in an unfamiliar genre but I knew from the very first page that I was going to love The Finery.  So, if you say you don't read fantasy then definitely make an exception for Rachel Grosvenor's fantastic debut novel.

Professor Wendoleen Cripcot is almost 101 years old but she still has her wits about her and she refuses to be told what to do, especially by that young whippersnapper, the Dictator.  Wendoleen is such a feisty character and I absolutely loved her and her pet wolf.  The character of Wolf is easily one of my favourite fictional animal characters and I loved his voracious appetite that added a wonderful sprinkly of humour throughout the novel.

As Finer Bay is a dictatorship, there's more than a hint of revolution bubbling beneath the surface and when The Finery captures Wendoleen in their crosshairs she has no alternative but to join the revolution.  I absolutely loved this part of the story and I could almost 'hear the people sing' as they rose up and made their voices heard.

Incredibly entertaining and so vividly written, it's very easy to forget that The Finery is a fantasy novel as I was so completely immersed in the story from start to finish.  The Finery isn't just a magnificent debut, it's a groundbreaking novel that has put fantasy firmly on my list of genres.  Put Rachel Grosvenor on your bookshelf and your watch list, readers!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon