Reading the description of this book, I was very excited to start reading it. I was rather wary of the comparison with the great Terry Pratchett, and I worried that I would be disappointed. This book is not discworld, it's set in 1940 in a rural corner of Kent. War forms a backdrop to the story, with spitfires flying overhead, creating an atmosphere of distrust and anxiety. Faye Bright is the seventeen year old protagonist, the daughter of the village pub landlord, and she is still angry about the death of her mother when she was four years old. Whilst sorting through junk in the cellar she comes across a book full of rituals and spells written by her mother. At the same time, strange things are happening with the scarecrows and it's a all getting out of hand.
This is a story about witches demons and magic. It is also a story about loss, love and acceptance. Infused with a witty humour (that draws the comparison with Terry Pratchett), it is a quick and light read. The characters in their rural idyll are strongly drawn. This is the first book in a series featuring the witches, and I can wait to read the next book.