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A review by saylaurmoon
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy
4.0
↠ 4.5 stars ⭐︎
January 2023 Amazon First Read Pick
The Witch of Tin Mountain is a gothic historical fiction set in the Ozarks. The story is told in two different timelines: one is set in 1881 and told in third-person, and the other set in 1931 and told in first-person. Gracelynn and Granny share similar abilities, and they use them to provide cures to the people of Tin Mountain. While the townspeople are grateful for their cures, many are suspicious of them being witches, but they never let this fear disrupt the peace. Until a new preacher, Josiah Bellflower, comes to town and brings about an ancient curse on Tin Mountain and turns the people of Tin Mountain against Gracelynn and Granny. After Granny falls sick, Gracelynn must unveil the secrets of the past in order to save the town from the evil and vengeance of Bellflower.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kennedy’s imagery creates a haunting atmosphere from the very beginning, allowing me to be fully immersed in the story. In a female-focused story, I found the characters to be well-written, strong, and engaging. Badass witches? Count me in. I love that the story touched on themes of hypocrisy and blind faith.
I was not sure how I was going to feel about the dual timelines, but I surprisingly enjoyed this writing style. I did not find it difficult to keep track of the details from each timeline, and I think the choice of writing one timeline in third-person and the other in first-person allowed me to keep them distinct. The different timelines aided the progression of the story, gradually revealing history and secrets without giving away too much, helping to build suspense.
All in all, I enjoyed this novel. It is compelling, haunting, and complex. Lovers of dark folklore and witches, this is a must!
January 2023 Amazon First Read Pick
“Wherever a witch’s blood is spilled, a curse remains on the land. That’s the saying, all right. Nobody ever blames the men that do the killing and the burning, do they? Instead, they blame the witch.”
The Witch of Tin Mountain is a gothic historical fiction set in the Ozarks. The story is told in two different timelines: one is set in 1881 and told in third-person, and the other set in 1931 and told in first-person. Gracelynn and Granny share similar abilities, and they use them to provide cures to the people of Tin Mountain. While the townspeople are grateful for their cures, many are suspicious of them being witches, but they never let this fear disrupt the peace. Until a new preacher, Josiah Bellflower, comes to town and brings about an ancient curse on Tin Mountain and turns the people of Tin Mountain against Gracelynn and Granny. After Granny falls sick, Gracelynn must unveil the secrets of the past in order to save the town from the evil and vengeance of Bellflower.
“What is the difference between good and evil? Truly? It’s all a matter of perception. Every bit of it. Wars. Plagues. Famine. Saints and sinners. Angels and demons.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kennedy’s imagery creates a haunting atmosphere from the very beginning, allowing me to be fully immersed in the story. In a female-focused story, I found the characters to be well-written, strong, and engaging. Badass witches? Count me in. I love that the story touched on themes of hypocrisy and blind faith.
I was not sure how I was going to feel about the dual timelines, but I surprisingly enjoyed this writing style. I did not find it difficult to keep track of the details from each timeline, and I think the choice of writing one timeline in third-person and the other in first-person allowed me to keep them distinct. The different timelines aided the progression of the story, gradually revealing history and secrets without giving away too much, helping to build suspense.
Spoiler
I remember my “oh shit” moment when I realized how the two timelines were related to each other! They were perfectly intertwined.All in all, I enjoyed this novel. It is compelling, haunting, and complex. Lovers of dark folklore and witches, this is a must!