The Witch in the Well

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And I'm glad that I continued, because it DID get quite interesting to me, especially the clash between Cathy and Elena over who can write about Ilsbeth. And I can kind of see some of the criticism around this, because it does get quite melodramatic... but I didn't feel like it was out of character for either of them to behave as they did, given their personalities and histories. This is a superb folk horror tale that delivers an imaginative feminist take on the historical persecution of witches through the conflicting viewpoints of three complex and at times believably unlikeable female protagonists.” — Toronto Star

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? I wish I read the book everyone else apparently read and loved. This was severely disappointing to me. Both Elena and Cathy's narration was annoying and somewhat unhinged. Cathy lived in intense paranoia, convinced everyone in town is talking about her and hates her (to be fair they do when they all suspect she killed Elena (not a spoiler)), obsessed with the concept of Ilsbeth. Elena, dead by the book's beginning, was very "new aged social media," using hashtags in her private journals and speaking at length about listening to your SOUL'S VOICE (it is always written in all caps) to find your WILL and INNER STRENGTH. Between the years 1500 and 1660, up to 80,000 suspected witches were put to death in Europe. Around 80 percent of them were women thought to be in cahoots with the Devil and filled with lust. Germany had the highest witchcraft execution rate, while Ireland had the lowest. 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. What happened to Ilsbeth was highly unjust, and I found it was time to state that fact. I also wanted to remind you all that behind our local legend, there was a woman of flesh and blood.”a b c "Calls for memorial to victims of Scotland's witch trials". www.scotsman.com . Retrieved 6 March 2020. a b "The Witches Well: Edinburgh's witch trials memorial". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com . Retrieved 6 March 2020. Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family. How can a person be so utterly unpleasant? Whatever does she think she’ll gain by spewing like that at people who are practically strangers? If this is how she usually acts, I’m not surprised at all that people talk about her.”

Centuries ago, beautiful young Ilsbeth Clark was accused of witchcraft after several children disappeared. Her acquittal did nothing to stop her fellow townsfolk from drowning her in the well where the missing children were last seen.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 rivalry is all about a book both of them seem to be writing. And the book is all about a local witch accused of killing some kids ages ago and (metaphorically) pitchforked by the villagers for it. The witch is…well, you know where she is, the title tells you. Or perhaps, not just there, but also in the souls and minds of two very different women obsessed with her.We have a sorry history when it comes to gossip and rumors in this town, and we should all have learned our lesson by now: Not a single wagging tongue is innocent when the witch goes down the well.” The novel is well written and there are plot twists and suspense to keep you interested. The principal characters are very hard to like with the once upon a time friendship souring with the growth of intense rivalry and obsession over Ilsbeth is done very well. Cathy in particular is hard to like, she’s spiky and bitter whereas Elena is more upbeat but doesn’t necessarily have her feet on terra firma. The bitter rivalry definitely makes for interesting reading in this multilayered novel. The confrontation between the two doesn’t go well. Elena is surprised and disbelieving that Cathy is writing a book on the same subject, while she is certain hers will be the definitive one since she has Ilsbeth’s spirit guiding her. Ilsbeth Clark was accused of witchcraft centuries ago when area children went missing. Townspeople doled out her punishment by drowning her in a well.