Book review of The Making of a Witch, an historical fiction novel by Judy Molland. Set in 17th century Devon, this book is based on the life of Alice Molland, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in England.
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Synopsis
With the hanging of her mentor for witchcraft, Alice Molland vows to become the best healer in Devon. Her journey is not easy, though. Over the next few years, she deals with her father’s tragic death, her mother’s increasing infirmity, and the effects of low wages.
She falls in love, but her lover is the son of a rich merchant. When she falls pregnant, he abandons her. Her attempt to hold him accountable leads to threats and ostracism, and she has to go live with her aunt in a nearby village.
Years later, her ex-lover finds out about their son, Tommy. Fearing for Tommy’s safety, Alice resorts to desperate measures to save him. When her plans backfire, Alice is formally accused of witchcraft and imprisoned in Exeter to await trial.
Review
The Making of a Witch took me a while to get into. Many events seemed unrelated to what had already happened and the overall plot (at least until the end of the book). However, once Tommy started asking about his daddy, I was so keen to find out what happened next.
I couldn’t help but love Alice. She has so many hopes and dreams that she tried to work towards without getting in trouble. Unfortunately, she lived in a time when women were punished for stepping outside of society’s expectations for them.
I liked how the “magic” was mostly nature-based. Other than the moon ceremonies, a lot of what Alice does that makes people suspicious of her is herbal medicine. It felt much more believable than spells and potions would have been.
The historical setting felt authentic, even if it was non-specific. There were dates given to each chapter, but without the brief mentions to the restoration of the monarchy, it could have been set anytime in that early modern, pre-industrial era. Speaking of, I found it interesting how the restoration of the monarchy didn’t change much. I suppose it didn’t change much in the lives of ordinary people, but I hadn’t thought about it before.
Conclusion
Have you read The Making of a Witch? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
