The Witching Tide

A Novel

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 05 Sep 2023 | Archive Date 05 Sep 2023

Description

Named a best historical novel of the year by The New York Times Book Review and “reminiscent of both The Scarlet Letter and Hamnet” (Jezebel), The Witching Tide is a powerful debut inspired by the true events behind a deadly witch hunt in 17th-century England.

East Anglia, 1645. Martha Hallybread, a midwife, healer, and servant, has lived peacefully for more than four decades in her beloved seaside village of Cleftwater. Having lost her voice as a child, Martha has not spoken a word in years.

One autumn morning, a sinister newcomer appears in town. A “witchfinder,” Silas Makepeace has been blazing a trail of destruction along the coast, and his arrival in Cleftwater strikes fear into the heart of the community. Within a day, local women are being detained. Martha is enlisted to search the accused women for “devil’s marks,” and finds herself a silent witness to the hunt.

Martha is caught between suspicion and betrayal; between shielding herself or condemning the women of the village. In desperation, she revives a wax witching doll that belonged to her mother, in the hope that it will bring protection. But the doll’s true powers are unknowable, Martha harbors a terrible secret, and the gallows are looming…

Set over the course of a few weeks that forever changed history, and for readers of Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood, The Witching Tide “illuminates a dark historical period and cautions against its recreation” (Kirkus Reviews).
Named a best historical novel of the year by The New York Times Book Review and “reminiscent of both The Scarlet Letter and Hamnet” (Jezebel), The Witching Tide is a powerful debut inspired by the...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781668011362
PRICE $28.00 (USD)
PAGES 336

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)

Average rating from 118 members


Featured Reviews

The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer is a historical fiction book set in the 1600s in a fictitious town on the coast of England near the water. It is about women who were killed for being able to out-think men, who were stronger and more able to achieve. It was an age when men were afraid and caused entire villages to become stifled with panic, and unable to stop the "tide" of searching out those who were considered "dangerous" to others. The thinking was to stop the "tide" of witches before they were able to teach others their tricks and spells. In that way, there were also women who were afraid of other women.

Meyer also creates a male character who is accused of witchcraft because he supported women. I am sure there is historical support for that, the book seems very well-researched from the facts that I know, so I assume it happened at times although rare.

Martha is a midwife and is also skilled in all types of healing. She is unable to talk so she uses signals and gestures to make herself understood. She finds herself in the middle of the search of her town for witches. Things unfold in expected and unexpected ways.

The book is un-put-downable, and a fresh telling of an old story that bears repeating. If this is a debut novel by Margaret Meyer, I will be keeping my eyes open for more,

Was this review helpful?

The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer is an excellent historical fiction that takes a look into a witch hunt during 17th century England.

I have always been fascinated by the culture, superstitions, religious associations, and societal attitudes concerning “witches” and sadly their persecutions and endings. Looking back at the storms, one can see it all coming to the surface from a multitude of avenues, and this complex web is spun…leaving us with this end result. This example is of no exception.

It was fascinating to go back to East Anglia during the 1600s when under the rule of James I of England/IV of Scotland, a lot of investigations, fears, trials, punishments, deaths, and internal/external changes were taking place in England were reignited. Those fears continued with his successors for a time as well during this century, and the cultural implications that this creates is massive.

The author does a great job bringing this example to us in her novel.

Very impressive.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Scribner for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/5/23 per publisher request.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book! I love all things witchy and this book was exactly what I needed in my life. I love historical fiction on the witch trials and witches and this book just fit everything I love in one. This is such a tragic story, but all historical witch stories are. I love the power of women shown in this book and the story. Margaret Meyer used amazing writing and details to really make you feel like you were from this time and in the book while reading.

Was this review helpful?

The author's use of imagery is so powerful in this book. The story is well written and does an excellent job of capturing the time period. As I read this novel I felt sorry for all the women that were accused of witches and had to go through similar ordeals.

I think The Witching Tide would be a wonderful novel for any book club. I highly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: