Cover Image: The Witch's Kind

The Witch's Kind

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Wonderful characters brought to life by the beauty of the writing style. I was gripped by this novel from the first sentence. Loved the pacing. The slipping back and forth between the past and present was handled deftly. Thoroughly enjoyed, and I will be looking for more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

A very mixed feelings here. It was in between 2 stars and 4 stars in parts, for me.

The writing: was lovely and there were lot of things I enjoyed. Especially the narration was pretty nice and the descriptive part about nature, animals and places was definitely defined and well executed. I didn't care for the mixture of fantasy characters.

The present day was more enjoyable to read than the going back to past.

The husband was a bit laughable as a character - was a bit too over the top to be taken seriously.

Overall it was a bit too drawn out and could have been a tad tighter.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This wasn’t what I expected. To be honest I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like giving spoilers away but the ending 😍 phew. Intense

Was this review helpful?

Apart from the gorgeous cover, this story hooked me from the first chapter!
If you love fantasy with an outstanding writing that leaves you in awe then this is your next read!

Was this review helpful?

The Witch’s Kind is beautifully written and transports the reader to the shores of the Olympic Peninsula in the 1930s and 1940s. It is a sweet story that focuses on the parent-child bond and explores it well. Barry Anne’s life on the farm was absorbing and I wish more of the book had been focused on her life alone there. I was less enchanted with the amount of space in the plot awarded to Barry Anne and Will’s relationship, less information about him would have been more because I was left confused by why they were together, what they could possibly have seen in each other- even though Barry Anne was great, Will didn’t seem to appreciate anything about her. I kept wondering if Will had undiagnosed bipolar disorder and I flopped between pitying him and despising him. In the end Will’s simplicity was disappointing, after spending most of the book trying to figure him out he was not complicated enough as a character.

The book blurb, title, and beautiful cover seem to imply that this book is ABOUT witchcraft and witches, but this is a very light aspect of the story- I actually never really understood how the gift was more valuable than simple intuition or common sense. But it was a very interesting and fun type of magic.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to people who enjoy a little bit of the supernatural and character driven stories about the power of family and love. I will post this review to Goodreads without the mild spoilers.

Was this review helpful?

Such an enjoyable read! I totally enjoyed the writing, the plot, and the characters. The story is mostly about Barrie Ann and her Aunt Charlotte - their lives and the secret they share from their heritage.

Barrie Ann drops out of college to marry Will just prior to his deployment in World War II. What happens after their wedding date is the real story here. There is both heartbreak and joy in Barrie's life - and we can see this is the case with her Aunt Charlotte as well. Both Barrie Ann and Charlotte are very strong women who face hardship head-on and overcome the challenges. The dog named Willow is a treat in this book and I really want that dog! I think Willow was my favorite character!

There are paranormal elements in the story. Obviously a type of witchcraft as the title indicates, but there is a child with a special gift, some talk of aliens, and I felt the dog had some type of gift as well.

This is the second book I've read by Louisa Morgan. I read [book:A Secret History of Witches|33785695] earlier and enjoyed it as well. Both books portray strong women. I look forward to new works by this author as I truly like her writing style and character development.

Thanks to Louisa Morgan and Redhook Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

The Witch’s Kind is one interesting book. Witches? Magic? WWII? ALIENS? An awesomely feminist queer lady and a strong main character? And did I mention aliens? If you enjoy history with a touch of magic and intrigue then you’ll love this. Plus, an aunt-niece relationship that was so sweet, touching, and supportive. Aunt Charlotte reminded me a lot of my own aunt. Also, I can’t end this mini review without mentioning the true star of this book: Willow (when you read it, you’ll know.) An all around enchanting book.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Barrie Anne Blythe and her aunt Charlotte have always known that the other residents of their small coastal community find them peculiar -- two women living alone on the outskirts of town. It is the price of concealing their strange and dangerous family secret.

But two events threaten to upend their lives forever. The first is the arrival of a mysterious abandoned baby with a hint of power like their own. The second is the sudden reappearance of Barrie Anne's long-lost husband -- who is not quite the man she thought she married.

Together, Barrie Anne and Charlotte must decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves -- and the child they think of as their own -- from suspicious neighbors, the government, and even their own family...

Morgan’s unique writing style creates a dreamlike storytelling perfect for people who love fairytales and folklore. For some the writing may seem slow paced, but if you enjoyed A Secrete History Of Witches you will appreciate this novel as well.

While, I love fantasy books the many different elements added to this book were not what I was expecting. I cannot explain this fully without giving too much away. The story blends historical fiction, romance, and several different fantasy and magical realism elements.

Was this review helpful?

Suspend your ties to reality and let the story take you along. There are ups and downs, wonderous events and scary times. And the dog, oh how I wish she were mine.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.
This was a very interesting book. I truly enjoyed the characters. Aunt Charlotte was so precious and eccentric that you can not help but fall in love with her. You wish that you had one like her in your family if you did not already.
You want to protect Barnie Anne especially against her abusive husband. She deserves so much better than him. Her friends have loving husbands but hers is so inconsiderate and rude.
Her aunt gives her a puppy that they name Willow. Willow finds a baby on the beach. They name her Emma. Emma is special but so is Willow, Barnie Anne and Aunt Charlotte. They have a bond like no other.
You will be sticking with them and fighting for them throughout the entire storyline. You will love who they love and hate who they hate. You will understand why they do what they do. You know that you would probably do the same thing if you were in their shoes.

Was this review helpful?

This was not a genre book. There were no character motivations other than to keep a secret and survival. It's not what you think it is. It is a moving, slightly disjointed book about Barrie Ann, and her Aunt Charlotte, and Willow, and eventually Emma. It is moving, it has heartbreaking parts, it has parts of generosity and wonder and... I'll warn you now though, once this book and its characters worm their way into you, they don't let go.
This was another one that I read as much as I could, as solidly as I could. While eating, while driving, while in the bathroom, while I was supposed to be sleeping...you get it, right? I found myself awake at 4 AM wondering what would happen to them all now that I had closed the book. Now that the book was done...what happened to them after that? Did Emma grow up? Did she have the Gift? Was the farm successful? Did Will's parents ever write again?
All these questions, and I might never know the answers.

This is literary fiction that outshines and surpasses all other lit fic I've read. And I've read a ton.

This. Is. EXCELLENT!

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of the book from Netgalley and Redhook Books in exchange for an honest review
This book is about Aunt Charlotte and Barrie Ann, their relationship and 3 parts of Barrie Ann's life. Before WWII, during the war and post. Some of it is about Barrie Ann's pre marriage, marriage and post. Post talked about Barrie Ann's adopted daughter and dog. They are the peculiar people of the community, trying to protect their family's secret.
There is mermaids, witches, aliens, g-men, the whole shebang. The main focus is family relationships though that drive it forward. The best part is certainly Willow, who's the family dog that we all want. The book is okay, but it fell a little flat to me. Cool concept, the writing/pacing was fine. I just wish there was more plot and more exploration of the water witches. I was also expecting witches and got aliens (or is it mermaids?). I don't know, just wasn't what I was expecting.

Was this review helpful?

This just wasn't for me. I thought I was getting into a really good (maybe a bit creepy and mysterious) book about witches. What I got was something that felt like it didn't really know what it wanted to grow up and become. Was it about witches, WWII, the CIA, aliens, mermaids?? It was too much for me. I thought it needed to pick a subject a delve deep instead of skimming the surfaces of so much. What I did love was the author's ability to plant the reader very firmly in the location and era. From the first page you are drawn into the 1940's Pacific NW and it was really well done. Maybe this just needs a different title? Maybe I was just disappointed I didn't get what the title inferred?

Was this review helpful?

I was pretty disappointed by this expecting witches more and got aliens. Also, the author was a little bit too descriptive for my liking. I’m just not so much interested in the aliens theme.

Was this review helpful?

Barrie Anne Blythe is a woman with a past that consumes her present as the focus of her torment soon wanders back into her life, but before that happens she must decide with her Aunt Charolette what to do about a mysterious bundle her dog Willow led them to. Both women unique and strong face difficult decisions that war within themselves while uncovering the secrets of their new home. Can Barrie Anne escape a past of wrong choices and make a new live with possibilities or will she fall into bad habits and let her actions affect not only her but the ones around her? Charlotte, a unique woman with a strong desire the protect her heart broken niece finds herself drawn in to the unknown, and leaving her at a distinct disadvantage considering how she knows things. Step into a world that transitions between two different times to weave a complex and riveting story of two people's lives that come together over mysterious secrets and allure of discovering a new way of life.

I received this copy free from NetGalley and publisher for an unbiased review.
I personally love the progression of the story and how the present ties in with the past to weave and help us understand the motivations of the characters. It also allows us to see the progress they have made and see them in a stronger light. This book really speaks to me about courage and change while facing hard truths about ourselves and somehow making it through. It does have whimsy parts that seem utterly ridiculous but I think it makes it even more unique than traditional stories of witches that transition into paranormal or fantasy.

Was this review helpful?

I found this to be a gently absorbing, not your typical witch, tale. Combining water magic, otherworldliness and very human issues, the author kept drawing me back to see how this drama would play out when both a World and personal wars were being waged.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

World War II has ended, and Barrie Anne Blythe is content spending her days with her dog Willow on her farm in Washington. Yet while she is content, Barrie Anne is grieving. Having been abandoned by her husband Will during the war, she also lost their son just after he was born. However, one morning, after seeing a strange glow coming from the ocean near her farmhouse, Willow comes home carrying a bundle with a baby girl inside of it. Barrie Anne is delighted but also cautious for this baby girl is not ordinary- she can see that immediately (I won’t spoil that!). Enlisting the help of her Aunt Charlotte, both women try to piece together the story behind the baby that has come into their lives while also being wary of how she is presented to the outside world.

The Witch’s Kind is told in Barrie Anne’s present day with flashbacks to her time before and during World War II as she goes to college, falls in love, gets married and is left by her husband. What emerges is this beautiful story of love, loss and family. There is a bit of magic here as well, and I don’t just mean in the writing. I will say that some may be disappointed by the amount of magic in this book- it is light and sparse, but it is believable in the world into which you have entered. Barrie Anne can be very irritating in her earlier flashbacks- but this is simply because she is a naïve young woman. Her growth is evident as the story progresses and she faces some challenges. The Witch’s Kind is a truly lovely book. I loved the writing style, and I so badly wanted to be living in Barrie Anne’s cozy farmhouse. I do wonder if her name pays homage to the wonderful Anne of Green Gable series (Susan Barry, Anne Shirley, Gilbert Blythe?). I think fans of Paula Brackston and Suzanne Palmieri would enjoy this novel. This book is to be released on March 19, 2019. Check it out!

Was this review helpful?

Devouring this title! Great book. Cool characters, and fabulous settings. Has just the right mood/tone to it. This would make a great movie or tv series. Easy hand sell.

Was this review helpful?

Another great read that captivates from the start! 2 women find a unique child on the beach and their lives are never the same. Just enough mystical and realism to keep you drawn in to the end.

Was this review helpful?

The Witch's End was not what I expected it to be—not in a good or bad way. Just different. Based off the cover and title I was hoping for a book about the history of magic with a mini dash of romance and exciting family drama, but we don't get that. I personally had a hard time connecting with the characters but I still enjoyed learning more about them and reading their interactions. The writing and descriptions are beautifully done, and the author really makes you feel present. I also found it fun how the author jumps between two different decades between chapters.

Was this review helpful?