This is a very well written book but I'm afraid it's not the book for me. Unfortunately I really struggled to get into the story and engage with the characters

Set in 1620 in Lancashire, Daniel, perceived by some as weak, powerless, naive falls in love with the wild, spirited Sarah, daughter of the cunning woman living on the 'cursed hill'. Filled with atmosphere, Elizabeth Lee has carefully woven tale of forbidden love in her debut novel where she describes a time in history when accusations of witchcraft against healers led to a time of terror for people, and particularly women, for practicing perceived 'dark arts'. Determined to overcome their polarised backgrounds, Daniel and Sarah plan a future together, with shattering consequences. I read this book from cover to cover, almost unable to put it down. I quickly grasped the 'rhythm' of the writing as the characters developed, the story evolved and although occasionally, I could 'see' the way the drama was unfolding, this didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Great debut and look forward to Elizabeth's next novel.

A strong and engaging debut, this tale of star crossed lovers in Lancashire England in 1620 is reminiscent of Bridget Collins’ The Binding with young people trapped by their circumstance in poverty and magic rooted in pagan belief. It is heartily enjoyable, with a strong narrative throughout and a love for readers to root for. It really got me thinking about cult mentality and the power one loud voice has over others, so I now can’t wait for her follow up novels.

I would like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. Unfortunately I didn't like the book and gave up around 10%. It was quite brutal in places and I didn't like any of the characters. Not what I was expecting .

This took me a while to get into, possibly because it isn't the type of story I would usually choose. However, I'm pleased I continued. It was thought provoking to realise how other people's superstition and ignorance can impact lives. I felt annoyed on the character's behalf. Which proves it is powerful writing in my opinion. Definitely an interesting read.

I hate to write a less than glowing review but unfortunately I found this book disappointing. 

I had very high hopes for this debut from the outset since it is recommended for fans of The Mercies, which I really enjoyed. Due to this comparison, I was expecting a highly atmospheric read, with vivid descriptions of the land and compelling protagonists. Instead, I would categorise this novel as more of a romance and even then, it wasn't a particularly good one. 

The term 'insta-love' comes to mind. This is often used in reviews for YA novels, which is interesting as I felt that this read like a mediocre YA novel. The story is told from the perspectives of Sarah, marked as a witch and living as an outcast with her family in an abandoned plague village, and Daniel, a sensitive farm boy. Upon meeting they are instantly drawn to one another but there is little development in their relationship before the pair are wildly in love. (Spoiler: It didn't help that Daniel later turns on Sarah as quickly as he fell for her, in way that seemed wildly out of character.) It's a real shame because I feel that with further character development, their relationship could have been really compelling.

When I read a historical novel, I want to be entirely transported to that time and place, and that simply doesn't happen here. Aside from the description of clothing and food, there's little to paint a picture of the 1620s Lancashire setting. I also found that the pacing didn't work. The first three quarters of the novel are slow, with a sudden flurry of events in the last quarter. Because the main driving force of the books is the weak romance, it's not a steady build to a stunning crescendo but a load of waiting around until someone claps some symbols. 

I wonder if the entire book might have worked better had the story been told solely from Sarah's point of view. If we had been left to question Daniel's thoughts and motives more, then perhaps their romance and his (SPOILER) brief betrayal would have worked better. I would have liked to have seen more development of Sarah's mother, too, I think. 

It does seem that I am in the minority as a disappointed reader, so don't let this review put you off if you think you'd like to read the book. I am still grateful I had the opportunity to read this, so thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me with an advanced e-copy.

I had a hard time getting through the story. Especially the first half where I felt not much happened and I didn't feel any connection to the characters and what was happening. 
There was a big thing that happened in the second half of the book that peaked my interest for a moment but I lost my interest pretty soon again.
Unfortunately this was disappointing to me an didn't really enjoy it.

A beautifully atmospheric story that brings home what it was to live during a time of suspicion and persecution. The intolerence of the townsfolk is both sad and terrifying and I felt all of Sarah's anger and desperation. I loved this book.

Lee's debut novel is an evocative, authentic and bewitching tale of finding courage, strength and kindness despite prejudice. How can young love escape the weight of expectation from family, society & He who claims her? What is the price of altering your destiny & denying your soul? Magnificent!

A classic historical fiction take on witchcraft and the treatment of Cunning Women was well explored.
This fit well in the genre with some lovely language, although slow to start.

Cunning Women is set in a small
Lancashire village after the plague, when women are still commonly accused of being witches, and when magistrates can condemn anyone to death on little more than the word of a spiteful neighbour. Sarah’s household are feared and outcast by the local villagers; they have nothing to protect them from poverty and ruin since her father died, and fall back on herbal medicines and spells to make a desperate living. Daniel, a young and empathetic young farmer, is the first to break through the fug of superstition and discrimination surrounding this ill-understood family, but a blossoming romance is tested to the limit by the prejudices of their surroundings. 

I found it hard to get into this book for a long while, but the emotion in it is fairly harrowing and it did get to me eventually. More than anything this story really shines a light on the intolerance and cruelty that women or outsiders of any kind were subjected to in this period, for that I think it’s a brilliant and useful read. 

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

but there’s bad blood between the families as his father blames Mam for the death of his wife during childbirth.   Daniel plans to smuggle Sarah into his father’s house as a dairymaid until the time comes when they can be married.     But the course of true love never runs smooth and when the farmhand, Gabriel,  tells him a few white lies about Sarah as revenge for her cursing him with a temporary skin affliction the plan begins to go awry.  
In the village community, there had been a change of magistrates which does not bode well for the Haworths.  When Magistrate Thompson finally goes too far with one of the village girls, he is replaced with Magistrate Wright, who soon begins to talk of papists and wants to see witch jars on the threshold of every house.  It won’t take long before he turns his attention to the family at the top of the hill.  And when 2 of the Haworths protectors die in horrible, tragic circumstances Sarah must make a choice that will change their lives forever.
I liked the atmosphere of this book; the mystery of the cunning women and their knowledge passed down through generations.  Mam presents it to Sarah as inescapable, she has no choice and the reader is introduced to the harshness of her life after the death of her husband.  A life that she suggested to Sarah if she wants to bring money into the house. Sarah wants more and through Daniel she can provide for her family. But she is well aware that she has the power as when she successfully curses Gabriel. Annie notices the change in her when she becomes a dairymaid and she doesn’t like it.   
Sarah was an intriguing character as she sought to escape her destiny and choose a more conventional life. But could she do it for the rest of her life?   Would she be able to or would her talents re-appear?  It’s an intriguing question as there would, inevitably, come a time when she would be driven to use them again. Annie was another engaging character, a true woodland child, who is waiting for her mark to know that she’s also been chosen. It’s a time of change in the village as the old ways are beginning to be suppressed and the cunning women driven out.
A confident debut novel and I look forward to the author’s next novel.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Seventeenth Century Lancashire Witch Hunt

Sarah lives with her family as outcasts. They are the cunning women, knowledgeable of healing herbs, and branded witches by the outside world. Friendship blossoms for Sarah when she meets farmer's son, Daniel, but the threat of superstition and life-threatening danger looms large in the figure of a zealous new magistrate.

The novel is dual-narrative, alternating between Sarah's and Daniel's points of view. Their voices are not sufficiently distinct.

A solid historical fiction.

A gorgeous historical fiction that felt like i was in a sarah waters novel. Beautiful characters and evocative writing, I couldn’t help but read on.

1620’s Lancashire, county of the earlier, well documented Pendle Witch Trials, and where history may be about to repeat itself. Both Sarah Howarth and her mother, residents of a small fishing community, share a birthmark, marking them out as witches.

Sarah and her family - her mother, sister Annie, and brother John, live on the outskirts of the community, in a run down house, in an abandoned plague hamlet, overlooking the village. Known as ‘cunning women’ (brother John doesn’t seem to have the ‘gift’), he doesn’t have the birthmark for a start), they keep themselves to themselves, and are generally shunned and feared by the villagers, but they do receive visitors under cover of darkness, people who require healing, or spells to bring about long held desires.

Sarah becomes involved with local farmer’s son, Daniel, after watching him tame a horse, and they realise that, for all their differences, they are falling in love.

They begin to dare that they might be able to lead a normal life together, and secretly make plans for that, until a new magistrate arrives in the village, and he doesn’t take kindly to ‘cunning women’ who forsake God!

It was a slow start, and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, apart from Daniel, but I enjoyed it more as it progressed, when tensions were raised with the arrival of the new magistrate, and he began to make his presence felt. He threatens the very survival of Sarah’s family, and those of like minded people too.

Set in 1620 a story of a poor family living on the edge of a god fearing community, it is a time of superstition and people live by it. Daniel falls in love with Sarah, whose mother is the one everyone turns to for potions and charms. She is known as The Haworth Hag and her family are the first to be blamed for any wrong doing at all. Sarah and Daniels romance has to be kept away from the adults. There is u rest in the village due to a new Magistrate, a discoverer of witches and hanger of the Papists too.
This story is rich in detail and history as well as creating and weaving the narratives together so as to turn the tension up constantly. I empathised with Sarah and Daniel in their predicament and was spurring them on throughout. That is the sign of a good storyteller, when you feel you care what happens to the characters.
Great book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the book.

A bewitching tale of star crossed love.

Lancashire, 1620, Sarah Haworth and her family are outcasts, made poor by the death of their father and living in a hamlet abandoned since the Plague.  They are the cunning folk; their only means to survive are to provide potions, tinctures and cures for the villagers behind closed doors. Although the locals are happy to use the cunning folks powers, they blame the Haworths’ for every misfortune that befalls the village, which the new magistrate is keen to use to his advantage.

Can love blossom between Sarah and a young farmer’s son, Daniel against all odds?

For me, this has echoes of Romeo and Juliet, fated lovers on opposing sides.  I fell in love with Daniel and Sarah and their fledgling love, filled with hope and promise, despite everything that conspires against them. 

Lee does a fantastic job of weaving both the narratives of Sarah and Daniel together, while seamlessly ramping up the tension. The story has a great richness to it, immediately immersing you in a period in history that was filled with fear and superstition. 

A stunning debut novel. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I requested this book as I live in Pendle Witch Country, and whilst it wasn't quite what I was expecting, I found it to be a good read. It was well written and the characters were well drawn and the story built up to a tense, sad but ultimately satisfactory conclusion.  Recommended.

Great characterisation and storytelling. I found this novel hard to warm to at the beginning but found the premise interesting enough to keep reading!

I read *Cunning Women* right after I read *The Manningtree Witches*, and they fit together very well. They are both about early modern women accused of witchcraft by toxic patriarchal communities. I would like to include trigger warnings for sexual assault, murder, and torture and murder of children.

The first half of *Cunning Women* did not hold my attention very well, but the second half was worth the wait. It was a wild rollercoaster.