The Witch in the Well

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I could not wait for this to be over. I didn't want to DNF because, mistakenly, I thought perhaps I would have some sort of epiphany and it would suddenly all make sense. This novel has much in common with other Camilla Bruce books in that it is full of atmosphere which she always does incredibly well and it also has a dark theme. The dilapidated castle/Manor house of Elena’s uncle adds a considerable amount of creep and a smidgen of horror and is used effectively to highlight the dark tone and the sense of mystery and supernatural elements surrounding Ilsbeth. The folklore and legends that arise as a consequence of the witches drowning is also an excellent element. If I die of cold, the witch will keep the maids,’ said the wise woman weakly. Betty felt very sad and seeing her sadness, the wise woman said, ‘Keep me alive through the cold spell, Betty and perhaps we can still save your friends.’ The Witches' Well is a monument to accused witches burned at the stake in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the only one of its kind in the city. [1]

Bruce masterfully plays with perceptions of reality, truth, and magic. It’s a uniquely told and riveting read.” — BuzzFeed Over a hundred years ago, the citizens of F- did something rather bad. And local school teacher Catherine Evans has made writing the definitive account of what happened when Ilsbeth Clark drowned in the well her life's work. This story is told from multiple points of view, but there are also two primary perspectives from Cathy and Elena. I didn't like any of the characters. The story is told in the past and present-day format. There are a few creepy parts to the story, but they are not scary. It's also quite a complex read. Then finally, we have the perspective of the woman accused of witchcraft herself, Ilsbeth. Her story is VERY intriguing, and quite different than I was expecting. I don't want to say much more than that, other than the writings through which we get HER perspective are effectively "found footage" kind of papers.The town's people may not want their past raked up, but Catherine is determined to shine a light upon that shameful event. For Ilsbeth was an innocent, after all. She was shunned and ostracised by rumour-mongers and ill-wishers and someone has to speak up for her. And who better than Catherine, who has herself felt the sting and hurt of such whisperings?

For two hundred years, the well in the woods had a bad aura. In 1862, Ilsbeth Clark was accused of being a witch after several children disappeared. A judge acquitted Ilsbeth, but the villagers took things into their own hands and drowned her in the well. Reporter, Record (29 March 2016). "Should the women burned as 'witches' in Edinburgh be immortalised in a memorial?". dailyrecord . Retrieved 6 March 2020. But witches—whether actual or accused—still face persecution and death. Several men and women suspected of using witchcraft have been beaten and killed in Papua New Guinea since 2010, including a young mother who was burned alive. Similar episodes of violence against people accused of being witches have occurred in Africa, South America, the Middle East and in immigrant communities in Europe and the United States. Sources We have Elena, who is our "main" main character, I'd say. Her perspective is told in direct first person via diary entries. Elena's uncle's just passed away, and she's there to clean out his house to ready it for sale... but the history of the place, and the legend of a local witch (or woman accused of being one, which is a distinction without a difference given the attitudes of the time), tempt her to stay. More on this in a bit. Cathy is presented as embittered and jealous, never accepting responsibility for anything happening to her or the things she does, and always finding someone else to blame. She also refuses to compromise.

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Through Elena's journal entries, Cathy's blog, and another's writings, we learn of both the past and the present. It is a rather dark book, the atmosphere rather creepy, and your mind doesn't quite know who to believe -- the unreliable narrator could be everyone! The supernatural aspect was really good, and the beast unique. As far as people not understanding what happens in this book... well, that's kind of a shame, because it was actually REALLY good. Not at ALL what I expected, and quite dark and ominous. OK well I was hoping for that, because it is supposed to be Horror-tober after all, but too often with these kinds of books, you end up with a nice and tidy ending all wrapped up and pretty... but that's NOT the case with this one. The ending is very good, but if one had struggled to follow the narratives and events up to that point, it probably wouldn't make much sense. I would like to say that I had better news about The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce, but unfortunately, my experience was basically the same as the 3.09 average it has on Goodreads. I can't remember what drew my attention to this book in the first place, but I do have Bruce's You Let Me In sitting on my shelf so maybe that had something to do with it. I loved this book's gothic and witchy vibes the most, and it had an eeriness that was also quite fantastic. However, that was about where it ended for me regarding enjoyment. I found the storyline very confusing and had a hard time keeping the different characters straight. This may have been due to the audiobook, and although each chapter is broken into characters and seasons, for some reason I had a really hard time telling them all apart. There is the maid from Padstow Town, she rubbed the stone the colour of fire, the very same stone Prince Fire was turned into by the witch and she untangled little Lady Soft Wings. All this she did through love for her friends. The small people are her friends now, they will help her. The Prince of Fire is to make her wings.’

The court decided to use a controversial water test to determine her guilt or innocence. Sherwood’s arms and legs were bound and she was thrown into a body of water. It was thought if she sank, she was innocent; if she floated, she was guilty. Sherwood didn’t sink and was convicted of being a witch. She wasn’t killed but put in prison and for eight years. In the meantime, both women, inspired by the events at the well during their childhood, have taken it upon themselves to write books about Ilsbeth; to tell her story. Each believes they have the right to write it and the other one should stop. She gets more than inspired when she seems to connect with the ghost of Ilsbeth Clark, who, centuries ago, was accused of witchcraft after several children disappeared. Although acquitted, the town drowned her in the well. Elena decides her next book will be about Ilsbeth, who she feels was unfairly treated.There's a property, I guess a castle and a well on this property, where many years ago a local woman, Ilsbeth, who the townspeople believed was a witch, drowned. Thank you to the publisher, Tor, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was excited for this one. I'm sad it didn't work out. a b "Castlehill Reservoir and Edinburgh's Water Supply". Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours . Retrieved 6 March 2020. The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce is difficult to classify. I wouldn't say horror, but the supernatural aspect is creepy. It's also a mystery.

So, anyway. I'm usually not one to criticize other people for how they feel and react to a book, and I feel a bit bad for doing it even to the extent that I have here, but TRULY I feel like this book is quite good, and the framing and structure gives the reader everything they need. I can understand just not LIKING it - there were times when I absolutely didn't either - but it DOES make sense. The publication of “Malleus Maleficarum”—written by two well-respected German Dominicans in 1486—likely spurred witch mania to go viral. The book, usually translated as “The Hammer of Witches,” was essentially a guide on how to identify, hunt and interrogate witches. In Virginia, people were less frantic about witches. In fact, in Lower Norfolk County in 1655, a law was passed making it a crime to falsely accuse someone of witchcraft. Still, witchcraft was a concern. About two-dozen witch trials (mostly of women) took place in Virginia between 1626 and 1730. None of the accused were executed. Are Witches Real? They will come to the well whether we want them to or not, pulled by the power of our misery. Like calls to like, and there will always be the lonely ones who see in me – in us – a most enchanting reflection.”

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Now Betty, we must work hard to finish your tasks. Go to the chest and get a bottle from it. Fill the bottle with a note from every thrush you meet.’ As Betty approached the wood, thrushes flew to her, ‘We will give you songs, Betty.’ Overall though, it’s an interesting combination of local folklore with some mild horror and spooky supernatural with questionable narrators. It’s a good book but doesn’t hook me in the same way as In the Garden of Spite which remains my favourite Camilla Bruce book. Witchcraft at the University of Edinburgh". The Student. 10 November 2018 . Retrieved 6 March 2020.