Novel taking place in Salem, MA at the time of the witch trials. The story incorporates both real and fictional characters. Told from 3 vantage points, the daughter (one of the accusers), her father (a respected citizen of Salem) and her Aunt Susannah (one of the accused). Good book. ( )

Novel taking place in Salem, MA at the time of the witch trials. The story incorporates both real and fictional characters. Told from 3 vantage points, the daughter (one of the accusers), her father (a respected citizen of Salem) and her Aunt Susannah (one of the accused). Good book. ( )

I became curious about the stories of the Salem witch trials. This book follows a family who lives in this small town. I can totally understand how the insanity was spread, and I was glad to see that the father found out his own guilt. Preaching about the evil men do and their punishment made their children afraid, instead of loving God and each other they pointed fingers and were able to manipulate an entire town.
Very nice story but I expected more burning at the stake instead of inner turmoil at the constant.
It could have been a bit more well rounded, but it was a nice take on the times. ( )

1691, Suzannah Morrow arrives from England to visit on her request her sister and her family who live in Salem. When her sister dies from childbirth Suzannah stays to care for her brother in law Lucas, and the three children, Charity, Jude and baby faith. Haunted by her own sin, sixteen year old Charity believes that Suzannah has taken the road of the devil. When the young girls of the village start to show signs of bewitchment no one can imagine the horror that will descend upon the village. Suzannah then starts to see what terrible danger she is now in.

My Thoughts:

This book is a perfect read for the lead up to Halloween. Based loosley on true events of the Salem witch trials it shows how little villages and close knit communities are full of superstition. One wrong word and nobody is safe. The story is told from the point of views of Charity, Lucas and the Suzannah.

Charity tells about her mother death and the arrival of her aunt Suzannah. Her aunt only wants to help her but Charity cannot see this and is easliy lead by the girls in the village. Could grief play a part in her actions. Lucas wants only the best for his famliy but very quickly falls for the beautiful Suzannah then believes that he too was bewitched. Suzannah only wants to help and look after her dead sister family but finds out quickly that it is not going to be easy, and she herself cannot help her own attraction to Lucas. When she is imprisioned for witchcraft she still tries to look out for the family.

As the story builds so does the tension. I really couldn’t put this book down. It shows how superstition and religion can run riot in a small town and get out of hand. The authors note explains a little of what went on and some of the characters in the book are real people. What I didn’t realise is that men too were impriosned for witchcraft and also children as young as four.

I will be looking out for more books by Megan Chance and would highly recommend this book. The only reason I didn’t give the book 5 stars is that I read the last page not realising that it was the last one. I turned the page expecting something else not to be left wondering ( )