* Thank you to Random Things Tours and Helen Steadman for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Solstice (The Widdershins Trilogy Book 3) by Helen Steadman
Synopsis
England, 1673. Still a world of witches, witch trials and witchfinders.
When a new vicar arrives to take over the parish of Mutton Clog, the village finds itself in the grip of puritan fever, and suspicious eyes are turned on Rose Driver.
Rose’s mother, brother and grandmother were all put to death by the fanatical witchfinder, John Sharpe.
Almost quarter of a century after the Newcastle witch trials, Sharpe is no longer a threat. Rose should be safe in her quiet village, but is history about to repeat itself?
Find out in Solstice, the powerful conclusion to The Widdershins Trilogy, which tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world.
The Widdershins Trilogy was inspired by the little-known Newcastle witch trials, where fifteen women and one man were hanged for witchcraft on a single day in August 1650.
My review
I previously reviewed both Widdershins and Sunwise, the
first two books in this powerful series. I absolutely loved them, and their
plots and shocking ending have stayed with me. I was very excited to read the series
conclusion, Solstice. Although this is book three of the trilogy, you most
definitely don’t need to read the previous books to know what’s happening (although
I highly recommend that you do!).
The protagonist, Rose Driver, is a skilled shepherdess accused
of witchcraft by Mutton Clog’s new vicar and his evil daughter, Patience.
Patience becomes obsessed with proving that Rose is a witch, especially after
she finds out Rose’s secret past. Chapters are told from both women’s points of
view.
Steadman is the queen of writing a truly unhinged baddie, I
loathed John Sharpe in the trilogy’s first two books, and I felt the same about
Solstice’s antagonist, Patience. The actions of these characters will stay with
you and chill you to the bone.
Helen Steadman’s wonderfully descriptive writing transports
the reader to the parish of Mutton Clog, and her sound historical research
brings the story to life. Even though I know this is the final instalment of
the Widdershins series, I can’t help but hope that the author might revisit it
one day! Highly recommended.
Click here to buy your own copy!
About the author
Helen Steadman's first novel, Widdershins and its sequel, Sunwise were inspired by the 1650 Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf is about a group of master swordmakers who defected from Germany to England in 1687. Helen's fourth novel, God of Fire, is a Greek myth retelling as seen through the eyes of Hephaestus, perhaps the least well known of all the Olympians. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who left Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword.
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