Book Review 📚
All The Parts of The Soul by Catherine Fearns - 4/5 ⭐

I can't remember the last time I picked up a brilliantly amazing dark historical fiction. Actually, I don't remember ever picking up a DARK history fiction, full stop. Fantastic.

The best thing about this book was just how easily you get lost it in. There was nothing enjoyable about it, but in a good way! It was compelling in the story of the Geneva Witch Trials. A lot of thought and detail went into the book. I was engrossed and couldn't put it down. It was super dark and really had me questioning so much!

I absolutely loved that the POV was from a witch hunter rather then a witch. I thought that was an incredible touch, to see it from a different person.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

All Parts of the Soul has a piece of my heart. This was beautifully dark and highlighted a twisted part of European history that people often forget - the witch-craze that killed around 50,000 people.

I think this was so well researched, utilising historical facts mixed with fiction to create an incredible story highlighting what women faced in the sixteenth century but from a male perspective. A unique take on witchcraft stories, as this was told through the male recluse turned magistrate who was tasked with hunting witches in a small village.

I felt myself getting so angry while reading from his perspective, but obviously, that was the point, and I think it was well executed (excuse the pun). Overall, it was a beautiful historical fiction story that pulled on my heart strings and made me emotive, so it's a great read.

This book is super dark and so good. It takes place during a time I don’t know a time and event I don’t know a lot about, witch trials in Europe. Compared to the Salem witch trials, I really know just about nothing about the ones in Europe. I also barely remember like, Calvinism and the Reformation, so it was really interesting to read this. It is written from the perspective of this… incel magistrate who becomes a witch-hunter working directly under Calvin himself. The mental gymnastics this man puts himself through were truly wild to witness. This book, as with any about any witch trial book, is so pertinent to today’s world - the misogyny, the spread of conspiracy and misinformation, the crowd mentality and the almost… I don’t know, like, apparent innate human need to oppress people to create more power for oneself. Louise is a brilliant messenger and representative of all “othered” groups who just want the freedom to BE - women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people.

Some parts are infuriating, while some are satisfying. But I can’t seem to make myself enjoy reading this.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

This is my favorite kind of historical fiction. It was told well. Obvious that research was done diligently. Story told well. Characters are engaging and interesting. I just wish that this had been longer.

Vorweg, ein wunderschönes Cover!!
Und auch ein wunderbares Buch. Hexen, female rage, Mittelalter. Hier findet man alles. Fearns hat so einen Schreibstil, welcher einen fesselt und nicht mehr loslässt. Ich konnte das Buch in einer Nacht nicht weglegen.

“𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚.”
All the Parts of the Soul by @catherine_fearns
Let me start by saying I could not put this book down!
I'm not sure if this is a book I can say I "enjoyed" reading. It wasn't really supposed to be that kind of book. It’s thought-provoking and it is absolutely written to make you feel uncomfortable while reading it. Throughout the entire book, I had to remind myself that a female author wrote this - and I mean this in the most complimentary way.
The story unfolds with Henry Aubert, a magistrate from Calvinist Geneva, venturing beyond his accustomed city confines to investigate rumours of witchcraft in the village of Satigny. It tells the story of the trials from the perspective of the witch hunter, and it gets into the gritty details of what these women endured just because they were different or because someone deemed to call them a "witch" in a time when tensions were high.
This book was clearly thoroughly researched, and I could really tell the amount of effort that went into gathering all the information and presenting it authentically. When writing historical fiction, there is a fine line between info-dumping and contextualization; the balance in this book was very well done.
It’s a very fast-paced novel that is gruesome and frustrating because I just wanted to shake the narrator and bring him to his senses. However, as a reader, you just have to "endure" his point of view and be a powerless witness to his journey. The absurdity the churches and condemners as well as accusers do to torture innocent women who did no wrong. Weak-minded men of position and jealous women take enjoyment in the abuse, torture, rape, and murder of others to justify their ludicrous, non-fact-based beliefs.
An uncomfortable read, but engaging nonetheless with a very clear message: There are not always happy endings in real life.
Thank you, @NetGalley, @catherine_fearns and @quillandcrowpublishinghouse for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, Happy release day. I tried to finish this book before it's official release, but time was not on my side for that.

I'm not sure if this is a book you can say you "enjoyed" reading. This book wasn't really supposed to be that kind of book. It was thought-provoking and it was absolutely written to make you feel uncomfortable reading it (as warned at the beginning of the book). It tells the story of the trials in the perspective of the witch hunter, and it gets into the gritty details of what these women endured just because they were different or because someone deemed to call them a "witch" in a time when tensions were high. This book was very well-written and it did everything it set out to do. I would be aware of the trigger warnings going in, because this book isn't going to be for everybody, but if it's something you can handle, I would absolutely recommend it.

All the Parts of the Soul by Catherine Fearns takes place in 1545 Geneva and is told from the first person POV of magistrate Henry Aubert. Henry is tasked with investigating claims of witchcraft in a small nearby village; Henry has never led an investigation on his own before, and is both nervous and excited about the potential for his career.
This book is very hard to review; It was beautifully written, however I have never wished so much for a main character to get the plague and die slowly before. This was a very thoroughly researched story, written with horrifyingly accurate detail, that reminds the reader of a truly terrible time in our history.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

150 years before The Salem Witch Trials, a dark chapter unfolds…

Excellent. Great atmosphere, wonderful tension, bone-chilling plot. Well done!

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙩, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙣.

Well this was certainly an uncomfortable read.

This is the story told from the POV of a “witch hunter”, who is so steadfast in his faith, that he won’t let anything deter him from carrying out what he feels to be “God’s will”.

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤. 𝙊𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.

This is the story of a society with strong misogynistic beliefs. Of a city living under constant fear of the plague. Of a city undergoing reformation with extreme consequences.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

Our main character all at once seems naive and persuadable while still continuing to follow blindly the leaders surrounding him. I don’t think I’ve ever read a POV as frustrating as his.

The story itself was captivating; I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen, while simultaneously dreading what lay ahead.

A thoroughly well-researched novel, that will captivate and discomfort you all at once.

Thank you to @quillandcrowpublishinghouse and @netgalley for providing me an eARC of his book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book, uncomfortable read.

How does that work?

ALL PARTS OF THE SOUL by Catherine Fearns
Pub Date : October 20th, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

We're talking about witch hunt from the PoV of the magistrate leading the investigation. The narrator is a man unable to express or understand emotions. He is blinded by his faith and the law. He has no redeeming story.

So, how can I like this story?

I guess, hope? Hope that someone will raise and scream against the system. Hope that this is just a deception. Hope that the main character will "wake up".

It was rough. It's a horrible part of history full of gratuitous vicious crimes. A part of history where women fell to the hands of men, accused of all sorts of things. Everything out of the ordinary was a confirmation bias. It's important that their stories are told.

There are not always happy endings in real life.

I would like to thank @NetGalley and quill and crow publishing for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A haunting and horrifying tale of the witch-craze in the 15th century. It is told from an unexpected point of view: that of a magistrate and "inadvertent" witch hunter who gives insight into the absolute ridiculous "logic" (of course lack thereof) of the witch hunt and the absurd practises back then.

This fast-paced novel was gruesome and frustrating because you just wanted to shake the narrator and bring him to his senses. However, as a reader you just have to "endure" his point of view and be a powerless witness to his journey.

The author's research was extremely well done and I enjoyed a story set in Geneva, where I could recognise geographical areas and imagine the scenery.

Thank you NetGalley and Catherine Fearns for providing an ARC of "All The Parts of the Soul”

This book is haunting. I have read many, many books on Witch trials and medieval torture, and this book isn’t short of awful details which will make you sad and angry, but it’s not these details that haunted me after I finished reading,
The Male voice…the narrator of this story, is so accurate, so infuriating and so one track minded that it made everything that was happening even worse, because he took pleasure in what he was seeing, he twisted innocent gestures and words to flatter himself and he represented every man who took part in those evil trials and murders. I hated him.
This is, like I said, a haunting book, but it’s an important one, it must be read, these barbaric trials need to be condemned and the victims, who are beginning to be pardoned, need to be acknowledged.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Throughout the entire book, I had to remind myself that a female author wrote this - and I mean this in the most complimentary way. The narrator, Henry, felt natural, and the time-period accurate sexism was genuine sounding. This book was clearly thoroughly researched, and I could really tell the amount of effort that went into gathering all the information and presenting it authentically. When writing historical fiction, there is a fine line between info-dumping and contextualization; the balance in this book was very well done, and it felt essential for Henry to provide historical information whenever he did.

Having this story be told from Henry's point of view instead of one of the women who was being accused of being a witch was very interesting. I have rarely seen a book taking place during the Salem Witch Trials where the narrator is a man, let alone the prosecutor of said witches. This book did it very well, though - I was wary at first, but I enjoyed the change.

Overall, this book was super interesting and a perfect fall read.

Thanks to Catherine Fearns for providing me this ARC!

I Must begin by stating that this book has firmly established itself as my favourite read of the year. Catherine Fearns presented her work as "uncomfortable reading," a description with which I wholeheartedly concur. It is worth emphasising that sometimes, discomfort serves as the catalyst necessary to awaken our awareness of the profound injustices that marked the European Witch Craze. If you seek a literary masterpiece that not only enthrals with its narrative but also imparts profound insights, look no further. However, I must forewarn you: "All The Parts of the Soul" will undoubtedly stoke the flames of your feminine rage!!

The story unfolds with Henry Aubert, a magistrate from Calvinist Geneva, venturing beyond his accustomed city confines to investigate rumors of witchcraft in the village of Satigny. For Henry, a man who had rarely ventured beyond the city limits and clung tenaciously to his comfort zone, this mission, sanctioned by John Calvin and the Reformed Church, marks a dramatic departure from his life thus far.

This book, in all its raw and haunting beauty, moved me to tears and compelled me to vocalize my frustrations. I anticipate that its impact will resonate within me for at least the next six months. The narrative is artfully woven from the perspective of Henry Aubert, revealing the disturbing depths of male pleasure derived from the degradation and dehumanisation of women, the stripping away of their dignity. The author masterfully portrays the folly and delusions of these men as they zealously pursue their religious missions, perched high on their self-righteous pedestals, deluding themselves as messengers of God and arbiters of justice.

Catherine Fearns deserves immense praise for her meticulous research and development of this story. The seamless integration of fictional characters with historical figures and events is a testament to her skill. Reading "All The Parts of The Soul" is an emotional rollercoaster that will evoke a wide range of feelings in its readers.

Throughout my reading of this exceptional work, I couldn't help but feel that no matter how well-considered and eloquent my review may be, it will never fully capture the essence of this book. I find myself thoroughly bewitched (if you'll pardon the pun), and I will continue to sing its praises indefinitely.

"All the Parts of the Soul" by Catherine Fearns is a gripping historical fiction novel that transports readers to the turbulent year of 1545 in Geneva, a city defined by its religious conflicts, the shadow of the plague, and the looming specter of witchcraft. Fearns skillfully weaves a narrative that explores themes of faith, fear, love, and the complexities of human nature.

Set against the backdrop of the Reformation, with John Calvin as the spiritual leader, the story follows Henry Aubert, a reclusive young magistrate haunted by the traumas of his past. Orphaned by the plague at a young age, Henry has lived a solitary life, finding solace in the books that surround him. However, when rumors of witchcraft emerge from the nearby village of Satigny, he is thrust into a world of fear and suspicion.

Fearns' portrayal of Geneva during this period is vivid and immersive. The city's atmosphere is filled with tension, and the fear of the unknown looms large. The author's attention to historical detail is commendable, and readers will feel transported to this tumultuous time.

The character development in the novel is exceptional. Henry Aubert is a compelling protagonist whose internal struggles and growth are at the heart of the story. His journey from isolation to connection with others is beautifully rendered, and readers will find themselves rooting for him.

The supporting cast of characters is equally well-drawn, with Louise de Peney, the local healer, standing out as a strong and complex character. The relationships that develop between these characters are central to the narrative, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story.

Fearns' writing is eloquent and evocative, capturing the essence of the era and the emotions of her characters. The pacing is well-structured, with a gradual buildup of tension that keeps readers engaged. The exploration of themes such as the human desire for connection and the consequences of fear-driven actions gives the narrative depth and relevance.

As the investigation into witchcraft unfolds, the novel becomes a thought-provoking exploration of belief, superstition, and the power of fear to shape societies and individuals. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of faith and doubt, leaving readers with much to ponder.

In summary, "All the Parts of the Soul" is a masterfully crafted historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a richly detailed and emotionally charged world. Catherine Fearns' storytelling prowess shines as she explores the human condition in a time of uncertainty and upheaval. This is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will resonate with fans of historical fiction and those who appreciate a nuanced exploration of faith and fear.

This was a wonderfully crafted book. As a reader, I felt delighted to read about the extensive research of the author and her entrancing prose that keeps us engaged in the story. I loved the perceptive and the real accounts of witch-hunting just as it had been done in the past, without censure. Overall, a very fascinating and enjoyable read.