Scan barcode
A review by annegoodreads
The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Have you read a book that reminds you of another book? The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston gave me the same vibes as The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. They both have a semi-immortal heroine who is haunted by a sinister dark evil man. The Witch’s Daughter has more magical, fantasy-type elements to it though. It begins in 1627 Wessex with Elizabeth Ann/Bess/Eliza/Elise watches her Dad and siblings die from the plague. Her mother, a gifted healer saves Bess. Her mother is hanged as a witch. Bess survives only to be accused of witchery. At her Mom’s command, she goes to Warlock Gideon Masters who uses his Book of Shadows to teach Bess witchcraft. We then go to modern-day Matravers, England where Elizabeth is living in peace. She befriends teenager, Tegan who has a natural gift. She then teaches Tegan the ways of a Hedge Witch. Part of the teachings require Bess to go through her 300+ years of life to pass on her cautionary tale to Tegan. So we see how Bess Hawksmith became Dr. Eliza Hardwick in London in 1888. She meets Jack the Ripper while ministering to the Whitehall prostitutes in 1888. I loved the historical fiction part of the story. She then becomes Nurse Elise Hardwick in 1917 Flanders. We see what a fiercely independent heroine Bess is through history in that she uses her craft to help others. Gideon continues hunting her and she has to stop him so he won’t continue harming innocent people. The middle felt a little slow but the end was really good. I’m excited for the next book The Return of the Witch.