In Manningtree in 1643, there are not many men and the witches run it all. Rebecca has lost her father and husband and is tired of the boring day to day life. Then one day someone who calls themselves a witchfinder general comes into town. He starts asking questions and the rumors start and put women like Rebecca at risk.
This book weaves the tales of the witch trails in England. It shows how suspicion and rumors can turn anyone bad. Women are tired of being 2nd class and what will the men do.
The story was read well and pulled me into this great story.

“Witch is just their nasty word for anyone who makes things happen, who moves the story along.”

THE MANNINGTREE WITCHES is a grisly, insightful historical fiction novel based on the real-life witch hunts that heightened during the English Civil War of the 1640s. I’m kind of baffled that I didn’t like this book more. There’s so much in here that’s absolutely my brand: appressed women carving out their inch of liberation! Witchy solidarity! A messy maternal relationship! The dark side of religion! Men are trash what else is new! I love how Blakemore took a figure from history and imbued her with a rich inner world; I always appreciate when women are allowed to be their complex, crass, brilliant selves. Perhaps the audiobook was not the best format for me for this one (though the narrator, Sofia Zervudachi, does an excellent job); between the writing style (which is lovely, bloody and real and poetic) and the historical context/Britishisms I kept getting lost. I wouldn’t want to turn others off of this though, as it’s a strong story; just not the right one (or the right timing, maybe) for me. Thanks to Catapult and Dreamscape Media for the eARC/ALC.

Content warnings: sexism/misogyny, child abuse, imprisonment, animal death, execution, illness, murder

I don't know what it is about historical fiction about witches, but I am always drawn to these narratives. This atmospheric novel, based on true events, was a phenomenal read, but listening to the audiobook as I read along was an absolute delight!

Please note that I DNF-ed The Manningtree Witches after 10%..

The narration was excellent and suited the tone and the narrative. I found the writing style too flowery and it was very distracting, especially when it the dialogue kept pausing to describe details that were unnecessary at that moment, like someone's mustache. I expect the plot to at least start in the first 10% of the book but unfortunately that wasn't the case here.

I am not against trying one of A.K. Blakemore's other books in the future because of the enticing premise of The Manningtree Witches.

Thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book so much. I was so excited to read what I thought would be a story of female empowerment during the witch trials of the 17th century, but I just couldn't get in to it. I think it was the prose. Yes, it was authentic to the times, but it's really hard to follow along. I'm very sad because I truly had high hopes for this one, but it just wasn't for me.

To be clear, there is an audience for this book. That audience will find it amazing. I just am not a member of that audience. I prefer faster moving stories.

I will not be posting this to Goodreads.

The Manningtree Witches is historical fiction, but oh boy did I learn a lot. Thank to the author, publisher and NetGalley

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* pretty good read, very long and it was different than i expected but still good

The Manningtree Witches is an excellent dark, spooky, suspected-witch thriller set in the 17th century that you should read or listen to this Spooktober 2021. This is a narrative about an English witch trial in which a young woman tries to find a way to exist in the middle of accusations. The author has written the ladies to be extremely mature and perseverant for the historical period in which they lived. They could or might not have been like that, but the modern representation astounded me. The picture of males, on the other hand, hasn't altered in ages, with them undercutting and blaming women. Anyway, this is a slow-paced, cryptic novel that will require your whole attention while reading, but I guarantee it will be worth it.

Thank you for the arc, Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.

I've read so many witch trial books. I wanted to love this book. I love that this is based on a true story of the witch trials in 1643. It took me several months to finish this because I didn't find it that interesting, tbh. I have seen many amazing reviews though, so if you are a witch trial aficionado...this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you so much to @Netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for this advanced listening copy for an honest review.

I could not get into the audiobook. The narrator has a thicker accent, that can be distracting at times.

Accusations of witchcraft fly in Manningtree in the seventeenth century, and a feisty young woman is caught up in them. The story follows Rebecca West, the only daughter of a widow. As two unmarried women living on their own, they are prime targets for accusations of witchcraft when a new arrival in town identifying himself as Witchfinder General arrives. Under his direction, the puritanical town quickly descends into the madness of witch trials, with accusations flying. I enjoyed this book and the familiar voice, but it does get quite dark at times.

This book is marketed pretty strangely. The illustrated cover led me to think this book had some modern elements, but it is a medieval book about witches. Would recommend for fans of high fantasy.

I’ve been trying to write this review for a couple of days now and having a hard time with it. I’m not really sure how I feel about the book. While I did eventually enjoy reading it, it took awhile to get into. It has a slow beginning while the author introduces and begins to develop the characters and scene. This slow pace works for the novel in the long run as the characters she presents are complex and multidimensional. The author doesn’t just tell us about them she shows us who they are and what their relationships are like and why.
It is the time of the English Civil war, between the parliamentary forces and the royalists. The men are off fighting. Hunger reigns in the villages as the crops rot in the fields and no new planting is being done. Women are left alone to fend for themselves. As the deprivations increase many turn to their Puritan religion to explain common hardships eg: deaths of animals, butter that will not churn and the loss of children from common childhood diseases and malnourishment. These are now seen through superstitious eyes as evil occurrences with the devil’s influence at their root. Enter Mathew Hopkins’ a real historical figure who self styles himself The Witch hunter. In real life Hopkins is believed to be responsible for the deaths of over 100 women in a short 2 to 3 year period. Most of these women were alone with no husbands or male relatives to protect them. They were often poor but independent and outspoken. Two qualities not held in high regard in females by the Puritans of 17th century England.
The novel centers around Rebecca West, a 16 year old girl, her mother Anne West, known to all as the Bel Dame and an assortment of their friends. They are poor and the BelDame is known to be slovenly, cantankerous and goes unescorted to the local pub. When Hopkins settles into Manningtree he sets his sights on them, turning the townsfolk against them. When a young boy sickens then dies they along with their friends, which includes Mother Clarke an old decrepit and disabled woman, are accused. Mother Clarke and Ann West are both real historical persons. It is the accusations leveled against them, their subsequent arrest and trial along with some supernatural occurrences that form the basis of the multifaceted storyline.
One issue I have with the book is the frequent use of complex words by Rebecca West. Are we to believe that a semiliterate young woman in the 1600’s would use words like denuded and extemporize. Would she really make statements like “she is in one of her philosophical moods”. It was totally unnecessary and annoying in an otherwise historically accurate novel.
This was a nice read in all and I can recommend it for anyone who likes to read novels that reflect the actual historical record but with a little paranormal activity on the side.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Netgalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Is nothing new anymore?

Standard Historical Fiction on the subject of witchcraft, has jumped the proverbial shark. In fact, it jumped it a long time ago.

Because I think the subject is quite interesting (at least in theory), I keep picking these up and hoping for something different, or at least a fresh perspective.

Alas, in The Manningtree Witches, we get all of the same shopworn themes and subgenre tropes as we have in all of its predecessors.

There are hypocritical lusty men. There is the usual brand of body horror that is supposed to shock us but is mostly just gross. There are women behaving strangely and then turning on each other to save themselves, and as for the alleged witchcraft? It’s mostly the usual nasty animal violence (and in this one, lucky you, some bonus animal violence perpetuated by witch hunters!) Sigh.

Cap all this tired and unappealing content with a deeply unlikable character whose angsty, bratty behavior had me actively rooting against her by the end of the novel, and you’ve got a recipe for yet another witchcraft novel you can definitely skip.

The audiobook version only presents greater problems. The narrator is obnoxious to the point where I wanted to stop listening. It was almost unbearable to listen to her shrill, over-emotive dialogue for secondary characters.

The audiobook narration is excellent! Really great characterization done by the narrator.

The pacing of the story is very slow, kind of dragged and got boring in parts. But overall the witch hunt plot is always fascinating.

The book portrays a dark period in English history through the point of the Rebecca West. The story is set during the English Civil War, in 1963, in a small town populated by women due to men joining the war. The narrator finds herself and the women around her accused of being witches. The Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, is the one leading the charges against these women.

Blakemore does a great job portraying how women who did not play their established roles in society - being mothers, obedient wives, caretakers - women who spoke their minds, were seen as working with the devil. By telling the story through Rebecca’s point-of-view, the author is giving her power and voice, the voice of women who were often silenced.

The story of these characters persecuted in which trails is the story of many vulnerable women tortured and condemned to death on witch trials not only in Europe, but around the world. The Manningtree Witches is a beautifully written, complex and dark historical fiction book. I’ll definitely be looking out for Blakemore’s next book.

If you are looking for an European witch trials book - THIS IS IT! Look no farther because this book really did do early witch trials justice.

We all know that witch trials were not about actual witch craft 99% of the time, but a way to get rid of people you simply "did not like". It could be that a woman was outspoken, knew how to read, was poor, the list goes on and on. This subject is more than witches, its about silencing women and using them as the scape goat for all problems. With this book being set in the 1640's it SCREAMS "women are the problem" for literally everything and to be honest, its not wrong for the era of this book.

Our main character, Rebecca, is a daughter of a widow who is poor, loud, dirty and is not what society expects from a woman. We start the book by seeing her life and the others around her when we are soon introduced to the famous Matthew Hopkins. Matthew is here for one thing, and only thing only- to find witches. He soon decides that Rebecca is not only a witch, but that her mother is one of the leaders of the coven.

We follow Rebecca' and the others story of being on trial for witch craft under Matthew Hopkins. There was some parts in this book that just ripped my heart out. I found it very difficult to read just simply knowing that things like this did happen in real life. It is crazy to me, but it all happened. I also found this book to be very dark, but at the same time, how could it not be?

Overall, if you are looking for a book on witch trials, this is a great pick!

The Manningtree Witches is a perfect dark, atmospheric, suspected-witch story set in 17th century you need to read / listen this Spooktober 2021. This is an English witch trial story of a young woman trying to find a way to exist amidst accusations. The author has written the women to have immense maturity and perseverance for the time they lived in. They may or may not have been like that, but the contemporary portrayal amazed me. The portrayal of men on the other hand, ugh they haven’t changed in centuries; undermining and accusing women. Anyway, this is a slow moving distinctively mysterious story that will demand your attention while reading, but I promise it is worth it.

Thank you Dreamscape media via Netgalley for the alc.

I really enjoyed the language in this and thought the audiobook narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life. The story itself was good but not great -- predictable at times, and I felt the second half of the book dragged a bit. I will definitely check out future works by this author!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and the author, A K Blakemore, for a chance to read and review the debut novel, "The Manningtree Witches". What a beautiful, lyrical and atmospheric journey into the 17th century witch trials. I was blown away by the visceral and often disgusting descriptions of bodies and their functions, but also the unsettling feeling and sense of dread that accompanied the deliberate prose. You can tell that A K Blakemore is a poet. Sofia Zervudachi's narration was a terrific choice for the audio. The breathy, sometimes husky nature of her tone and delivery was transporting.

I would love to acknowledge that while this is entirely it's own and with it's own authorial voice, fans of "The Mercies" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave will really appreciate this one!

It can be so hard to give nuance to something most people are, at least basically, familiar with. Witches and the witch trials are embedded into our culture and media. What sets this apart as a historical tale is that it's strength comes from the top notch writing, careful research and seamless addition of those facts, along with the relationship of the female characters in the book as well as a wonderful, flawed and interesting main character and the humanization of the accused. This doesn't feel like a sensationalization of history, rather the type of story that reminds you a=of the very real people who were involved. There is an attention to poverty and oppression, cruelty and passion. Blakemore isn't intent on giving us misunderstood, "innocent" girls. Instead we get smart, aware, faltering, impulsive, confused and afraid girls, because their tragedies are not lessened by their "shortcomings". The problem is not the complexities of human nature, it is the control and power of the witch hunters and the Puritan executors.

I love that in experience imprisonment and being accused, the main character finds a common ground and an understanding for the other women. She sees her mother more clearly. They accept the ways in which trauma has presented in each other. What a great, and seasonally appropriate read!