Hello!
This is my first post of February. I hope you're all living your best lives! I have just finished reading Witch by Finbar Hawkins, and I have to talk about it. I feel so impacted after reading the book I knew I just had to write a review for it. I had seen the cover for this book floating around online for a while, and I just had to have it. I got the book around the end of last year and just managed to read it within the last week or so.
Two daughters witness their mother's murder by witch hunters, and the older of the two Evelyn swears to look after her little sister Dil. The story is set way back in the olden days of Old English. We join the protagonist Evelyn of Birds on her journey of dark revenge-seeking out the hunters that broke up her family.
Firstly, the cover is stunning. Secondly, this book is very dark. It's quite hard-hitting at times, but the raw realism is part of what makes this story brilliant. Admittedly, at first, I found it difficult to get into because of the speech being in Old English. However, after the first couple of chapters, I got used to it and couldn't put the book down. I couldn't help but read over 100 pages every time I picked the book up, as the story goes on you're completely sucked into the narrative.
I have been reading quite a few witchy books lately and they've been set in modern times. So, it was refreshing to read a book about witches that really connects with nature. The imagery of the woods, the birds throughout, and the overall ethereal description of the settings was very pleasing to read. But very in contrast to the violence that occurs throughout. I love the protagonist's journey. I like how Hawkins shows us the dark parts of her brain, the parts where she enjoys putting her sister in her place, taking a precious item from her. The protagonist wasn't sugar-coated. She was believable. I liked the journey of self-discovery where she realises she is a witch like her mother and sister, and she realises her adoration and needs for her sister more than anything. Too often writers try to make their characters appear to be perfect, whereas Hawkins wasn't afraid to really flesh out Evelyn with faults as well as strengths. The character development arc was phenomenal. I loved how the hunted became the hunter. Reading her revenge story was sweet and empowering.
There was a plot twist that was so wickedly brilliant it made my stomach turn. It caused frustrations from the pits of my soul, and it was just pure brilliance. I have never felt so much emotion in such a short space of time. Witch was a powerful read, and I will be looking out for more of Finbar Hawkins' work in the future. Next on my reading list is Medusa by Jessie Burton!
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