The Silver Witch: A Novel

Tilda's husband died in an accident. A year later, she moved into a small cabin by a lake that was meant to be their dream home. It was only after moving to the small Welsh village that things began to happen to, and around Tilda that she had never experience before. It started out farily small, timepieces that stopped working, electricity that suddenly became temperamental. He computer became difficult, but that is the way of computers, so it took me a while to decide that was connected with her growing power. Because power was indeed what it was.

Seren, an ancestor from many generations before was connected to this power, but in a way that was not revealed until nearly the end of the book. That there was clearly a relationship between Seren and Tilda was clear much earlier in the story. Speaking of relationships, it is not just the one with Seren that plays a part in this intriguing tale that blends present with past in such a compelling and fascinating story. There are just a handful of characters really, and many quite likable, in the end. Even those that we may feel leery about at first, end up coming 'round. I read this in one sitting, because I was so drawn into the story.

Look for history, legend, magic and more in this well told tale.

Tilda, a widow of one year, has finally moved into the remote Welsh cottage that she and her husband were going to live in until an accident put an end to their plans. She hopes to work on her pottery and find peace. Once there, however, strange things start happening. Modern things- whether it be the electricity, gasoline engines, or simply mechanical things like a grandfather clock- start refusing to work when she is around them. Then she sees a vision on the lake- three people in a canoe, not dressed in modern attire. Finally, she is seeing a horrific vision of a mutilated woman- a very angry mutilated woman- threatening her. And it all seems to be connected with an archeological dig next to the lake.

In the novel’s second point of view, Seren lives in a hut by the same lake, more than a thousand years before Tilda’s time. Seren is a witch and a shaman who prophesizes for the local prince, who lives on a man-made island in the lake. She and the prince are in love, but the prince is married- a marriage made to cement an alliance.

As Tilda learns more about the past, she also gains control over the powers she seems to have acquired by coming to the lake. But can she gain control well enough to defeat the very powerful ghost that is rising from the grave the archeologists are excavating?

I enjoyed this book a great deal, although it took me a while to get into it. I loved the setting and season; winter in the secluded lake area puts Tilda largely on her own, despite a love interest. The ending managed to surprise me; it was obvious that the grave was very important but who was in it was not who I expected! Great atmosphere and I liked most of the characters, although some were rather flat, there to just serve a function. I’ll be looking for Brackston’s previously published books now.

The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston is a wonderful fantasy based upon a real place and time. There are two main characters; and there is a special and real physical condition which some people have, that makes the book very interesting. I won't give this away though I'm sure some other reviews will.
Tilda is a potter from the present day living in Wales and Seren is a shaman or witch from the about 1000 years ago. I spent most of my working life as a potter so I had a special interest in the character, Tilda. Though I found some questionable pottery references such as her wood firing of the kiln, it wasn't enough to make me think, "oh that's wrong" and lose interest in the book. I still found it a lot of fun.Their stories take place in the same location near a lake in the Welch countryside.The author wrote with alternate chapter telling each individual's stories. She brings their lives together in a very masterful way. Clues are given to the conclusion of the book, which I found a great deal of fun.There is action, humor and a great deal of connections to be made with the information being given the reader.
I have always enjoyed fantasy stories, but found so many of them have become over the top in terms of the "powers", bizarre character names and the brute force of the characters. The Silver Witch is different. Keep in mind this is not a story about some nasty cauldron boiling modern image of a "witch". It is the witch of the early peoples who practiced the Old Religion such as the Celts.
This is a fantasy story that is very enjoyable, fun, and interesting to read. I highly recommend this book to those who like a quick and enjoyable fantasy.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION'S Pack Alpha - Chelle:
--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls

The Silver Witch is a beautifully written Celtic fantasy with dual points of view. At first, the changing POV and tense tripped me up slightly, but as I got into the next two switching chapters I realized how fabulous that storytelling method could be.

The book, taking place in both present and far past with interweaving storylines, was - pardon the pun - bewitching and magickal. We get to travel the road of Tilda, a modern-day artist overcoming the trials of her differentness and the weight of her grief at the loss of her husband as she desperately tries to build a new life in this beautiful, remote part of Wales. As well as Seren - witch, seer, and shaman to Prince Brynach, as she loses herself to the love that they come to share despite the problems it causes, and tries to keep him safe from the dangers that abound - both within and without of those closest to them. After we're introduced and immersed in both of their exciting journeys, we get to watch as their paths cross when circumstances bring them together through time and space, providing a tale rife with history (I found out that the setting of the book is one near and dear to the author's heart), growth, rebirth, triumph, love, and intrigue.

The Silver Witch was another winner by Ms. Brackston, and I am so very happy that I was given the opportunity to read it. I am coming to absolutely love these stories, and look forward to each new one that she puts out.

I highly recommend all of Ms. Brackston's work, but The Silver Witch is perfect for those looking for a fantasy romance steeped in history (though I cannot say one way or the other if the events referenced are actually factual) with two tales of finding love despite adverse circumstances, all tied together with a beautiful magickal bow.

*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars

I am in serious, serious cover lust with this novel. Paula Brackston always has such great covers for her ‘witch books’ and this one is my favs to date! I have really enjoyed Brackston’s witch books, they are always a fun little escape for me, not overly complicated but they have a solid story mixed with a little romance….not to mention I love books with magic.

For me personally, I still liked The Winter Witch the best, the chemistry and romance between those characters really hooked me. The Midnight Witch was alright for me but didn’t have the same chemistry that the first book had, so I had high expectations for this one.

I loved the Celtic angle and setting of this story! The duel story lines alternating between Seren and Tilda was fun. I liked how their stories meshed and complimented the other.

Tilda had a lot of room for growth. She started as this timid, almost ‘broken’ heroine so she had a lot of room to grown into her character which I really liked. While at first I wasn’t a big fan of her, about a quarter of the way through she started winning me over and developed into this strong, independent, powerful woman. I really really liked watching her evolve.

The romance between Tilda and Dylan while sweet, almost seemed too soon. I felt like it might have worked better if Tilda moved into the house ready to move on, I didn’t feel like she was really ‘ready’ for a new love in her life based on how she was in the beginning.

Dylan was a solid love interest, honorable, kind, and unconditional in his feelings. As a romantic interest he was wonderful. I wish there had been more sexual tension between him and Tilda though, he seemed so open to a relationship with her…..which on one hand I liked but on the other I felt like there could have been more tension.

The story started a little slow for me, I was eager to learn more about Seren and it just seemed like the beginning drug on longer than necessary.

Overall though I did like this book and felt that it was ‘good’, it didn’t blow my mind but it was good and I would continue reading more books by her. I was interested in the story and the character development enough to continue reading it. If you liked Brackston’s other books then you will probably enjoy this one as well!

The Silver Witch is a brilliant combination of old Celtic mythology and a modern witch coming into her own. This book covers duel timelines, and POVs, with ease. I found myself loving the story of a modern witch discovering the history of her magic.

Tilda is a recent widow who moves to the house her and her husband bought before his death. She is a bit of a recluse, and doesn’t drive due to her fear. Her seclusion makes her a bit reliant on the people she meets in town where there is a dig going on next to the lake by her home. Seren is a seer and a shaman living in old Celtic times. She is the Prince’s seer and she also has his undying affection. Seren’s only concern is to keep her Prince safe, even when evil threatens to take his life. It is up to her to protect him, but she ends up being the one in need of protection from a woman scorned. These two stories are told as the dig in town progresses digging up an ancient curse. Tilda finds strange things happening and she might be the source, but she must uncover the mystery of what happened to Seren before they unearth whatever is buried at the lake.

I really enjoyed the writing style in this story. Although, at first the two women seem to have no connection, both stories were well told. This book held my interest, I couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery once the connection was revealed. There were some questionable parts, and the author skipped over the timeline a bit. Maybe I just wanted all the details, I am greedy like that.

Tilda was a lot of fun. She moves into this house and then she has some strange things happen to her. She is an artist and an albino, and so her eccentricities make sense. She begins by being told of the history of the lake, through visions. She consults a local historian and the leader of the dig to help her figure out if what she is seeing is true, or she is just crazy. At the same time we read all about Seren, an ancient albino witch, and how she accepted her fate. Their stories both have to be told as their circumstances demand the truth come out.

I really don’t want to give away the whole story. This was a good book. The author did an excellent job of combining old and new stories. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

The Silver Witch
In the past…
Many centuries ago when the old religion was still practiced side by side with Christianity and wise women were still valued there lived, Seren, a shaman/witch caring for her prince and his peoples on a hamlet near the shores of Llyn Syfaddan (Lake Llangors).
In the present…
A year after the tragic death of her husband in a car accident returning from their honeymoon, potter Tilda Fordswells finally takes possession of the cottage where they were to live. The small house is in the village of Llangors, near an ancient lake of the same name, nestled at the foothills of the Welsh Brecon Beacons mountain range. Moving on is harder that she expected and for more reasons than just her grief. Strange things are happening and she’s also experiencing troubling visions, very different then flashbacks she endured immediately following Matt’s death, no these have a prophetic feel to them. Is she seeing ghosts, is it a message from the distant past or has she simply lost her mind? She’s convinced the answers lie with the lake and it’s history and she’s determined to find out what is happening and why.

Master storyteller Paula Brackston takes readers back to her mystical homeland for this haunting and fascinating witch’s tale. There’s magic not only in her story but in how she melds two timelines with fiction and fantasy, reality and imagination and myths and legends into a beautifully bewitching yarn by way of her mesmerizing visual narrative that draws readers right into her folktale. Her characters, the good, the bad and the scary are all indelibly real in their portrayals and absolutely convincing in their actions. The effect is an all encompassing, unforgettably emotional experience for her readers.
Paula you’ve taken me on some incredible journeys, this being no exception I loved Seren and Tilda and I can’t wait to meet your next spellcaster!

Ceramic artist Tilda Fordwell has moved into the Cottage in Welsh that she and her husband had purchased. But sadly they never got to live there. One year before Matt died in a traffic accident, but Tilda hopes that the lovely cottage and the peaceful surrounding will be good for her. But strange things start to happen after a while, electrical shorts outs and visions. Is there something, someone from the past that is reaching out to her?

I read The Midnight Witch last year, but I couldn't really take to it. The story didn't work for me, but this book; the parallel storyline with Tilda in the present time and Seren in the past work well for me. I liked how the two stories were linked to each other and I enjoyed both stories and how the events in the past influenced in the future. I was I admit a bit enjoyed sometimes with Seren and Prince Brynach. Mostly how blind he was about the danger they were in despite how Seren warned him. She's a god damn seeress, but he seemed to listen tp her only when he wanted to. And frankly I could understand Brynach wife for being angry with Seren.

In the present time, Tilda is trying to figure out why she is having "power" and what the visions means and I found it intriguing to learn more of the past from her point of view at the same time reading about it as Seren is living it.

I liked the book, but I didn't love it. It was enjoyable to read, but it wasn't really a book that had an impact on me. I liked Tilda's story best I think, I found it more interesting and I was never annoying with her as I was with Seren and Prince Brynach. Tilda and Dylan's relationship worked for me in that it didn't felt rushed. And, reading the ending made me wondering if them meeting perhaps was meant to be...

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

3.5 stars

I am in serious, serious cover lust with this novel. Paula Brackston always has such great covers for her ‘witch books’ and this one is my favs to date! I have really enjoyed Brackston’s witch books, they are always a fun little escape for me, not overly complicated but they have a solid story mixed with a little romance….not to mention I love books with magic.

For me personally, I still liked The Winter Witch the best, the chemistry and romance between those characters really hooked me. The Midnight Witch was alright for me but didn’t have the same chemistry that the first book had, so I had high expectations for this one.

I loved the Celtic angle and setting of this story! The duel story lines alternating between Seren and Tilda was fun. I liked how their stories meshed and complimented the other.

Tilda had a lot of room for growth. She started as this timid, almost ‘broken’ heroine so she had a lot of room to grown into her character which I really liked. While at first I wasn’t a big fan of her, about a quarter of the way through she started winning me over and developed into this strong, independent, powerful woman. I really really liked watching her evolve.

The romance between Tilda and Dylan while sweet, almost seemed too soon. I felt like it might have worked better if Tilda moved into the house ready to move on, I didn’t feel like she was really ‘ready’ for a new love in her life based on how she was in the beginning.

Dylan was a solid love interest, honorable, kind, and unconditional in his feelings. As a romantic interest he was wonderful. I wish there had been more sexual tension between him and Tilda though, he seemed so open to a relationship with her…..which on one hand I liked but on the other I felt like there could have been more tension.

The story started a little slow for me, I was eager to learn more about Seren and it just seemed like the beginning drug on longer than necessary.

Overall though I did like this book and felt that it was ‘good’, it didn’t blow my mind but it was good and I would continue reading more books by her. I was interested in the story and the character development enough to continue reading it. If you liked Brackston’s other books then you will probably enjoy this one as well!

The Silver Witch is a brilliant combination of old Celtic mythology and a modern witch coming into her own. This book covers duel timelines, and POVs, with ease. I found myself loving the story of a modern witch discovering the history of her magic.

Tilda is a recent widow who moves to the house her and her husband bought before his death. She is a bit of a recluse, and doesn’t drive due to her fear. Her seclusion makes her a bit reliant on the people she meets in town where there is a dig going on next to the lake by her home. Seren is a seer and a shaman living in old Celtic times. She is the Prince’s seer and she also has his undying affection. Seren’s only concern is to keep her Prince safe, even when evil threatens to take his life. It is up to her to protect him, but she ends up being the one in need of protection from a woman scorned. These two stories are told as the dig in town progresses digging up an ancient curse. Tilda finds strange things happening and she might be the source, but she must uncover the mystery of what happened to Seren before they unearth whatever is buried at the lake.

I really enjoyed the writing style in this story. Although, at first the two women seem to have no connection, both stories were well told. This book held my interest, I couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery once the connection was revealed. There were some questionable parts, and the author skipped over the timeline a bit. Maybe I just wanted all the details, I am greedy like that.

Tilda was a lot of fun. She moves into this house and then she has some strange things happen to her. She is an artist and an albino, and so her eccentricities make sense. She begins by being told of the history of the lake, through visions. She consults a local historian and the leader of the dig to help her figure out if what she is seeing is true, or she is just crazy. At the same time we read all about Seren, an ancient albino witch, and how she accepted her fate. Their stories both have to be told as their circumstances demand the truth come out.

I really don’t want to give away the whole story. This was a good book. The author did an excellent job of combining old and new stories. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

The Silver Witch
In the past…
Many centuries ago when the old religion was still practiced side by side with Christianity and wise women were still valued there lived, Seren, a shaman/witch caring for her prince and his peoples on a hamlet near the shores of Llyn Syfaddan (Lake Llangors).
In the present…
A year after the tragic death of her husband in a car accident returning from their honeymoon, potter Tilda Fordswells finally takes possession of the cottage where they were to live. The small house is in the village of Llangors, near an ancient lake of the same name, nestled at the foothills of the Welsh Brecon Beacons mountain range. Moving on is harder that she expected and for more reasons than just her grief. Strange things are happening and she’s also experiencing troubling visions, very different then flashbacks she endured immediately following Matt’s death, no these have a prophetic feel to them. Is she seeing ghosts, is it a message from the distant past or has she simply lost her mind? She’s convinced the answers lie with the lake and it’s history and she’s determined to find out what is happening and why.

Master storyteller Paula Brackston takes readers back to her mystical homeland for this haunting and fascinating witch’s tale. There’s magic not only in her story but in how she melds two timelines with fiction and fantasy, reality and imagination and myths and legends into a beautifully bewitching yarn by way of her mesmerizing visual narrative that draws readers right into her folktale. Her characters, the good, the bad and the scary are all indelibly real in their portrayals and absolutely convincing in their actions. The effect is an all encompassing, unforgettably emotional experience for her readers.
Paula you’ve taken me on some incredible journeys, this being no exception I loved Seren and Tilda and I can’t wait to meet your next spellcaster!

Ceramic artist Tilda Fordwell has moved into the Cottage in Welsh that she and her husband had purchased. But sadly they never got to live there. One year before Matt died in a traffic accident, but Tilda hopes that the lovely cottage and the peaceful surrounding will be good for her. But strange things start to happen after a while, electrical shorts outs and visions. Is there something, someone from the past that is reaching out to her?

I read The Midnight Witch last year, but I couldn't really take to it. The story didn't work for me, but this book; the parallel storyline with Tilda in the present time and Seren in the past work well for me. I liked how the two stories were linked to each other and I enjoyed both stories and how the events in the past influenced in the future. I was I admit a bit enjoyed sometimes with Seren and Prince Brynach. Mostly how blind he was about the danger they were in despite how Seren warned him. She's a god damn seeress, but he seemed to listen tp her only when he wanted to. And frankly I could understand Brynach wife for being angry with Seren.

In the present time, Tilda is trying to figure out why she is having "power" and what the visions means and I found it intriguing to learn more of the past from her point of view at the same time reading about it as Seren is living it.

I liked the book, but I didn't love it. It was enjoyable to read, but it wasn't really a book that had an impact on me. I liked Tilda's story best I think, I found it more interesting and I was never annoying with her as I was with Seren and Prince Brynach. Tilda and Dylan's relationship worked for me in that it didn't felt rushed. And, reading the ending made me wondering if them meeting perhaps was meant to be...

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

"The Silver Witch" by Paula Brackston is soooooooo good. It's full of adventure, magic, spirits, and ghosts of the scary sort. A beautifully written story, it's characters multidimensional (some, in more ways than others), had such tremendous flow I couldn't pull myself from its mystical current. This is a book I found myself curled up with all day with the phone turned off for hours at a time.

This is a truly mystical and magnificent read that no goddess should miss.

Two lives, centuries apart. Intertwined in ways that neither could have imagined, battling an evil that could destroy what they both love the most. This is the basic premise behind The Silver Witch, by Paula Brackston. A story about history, love and grief, with a little bit of witchcraft in the mix.

Tilda Fordwells is still hurting after losing her husband in an accident a year ago. Before he died, they bought a cottage in a remote part of Wales overlooking a gorgeous lake valley. She finally musters the strength to move into their cottage and to begin working on her art again, when strange things start happening to her. As she tries to discover whether she is finally losing her mind in her grief, Tilda learns that - sometimes - the past truly can come back to haunt us.

I hesitated for a while before I finally decided to try this. My pile of books to be read gets larger and larger, so I am trying to be a little bit more selective in what I choose. However, the Celtic history is what finally drew me in, and I'm quite glad it did. I truly enjoyed the story, and the way it moved between the story of Tilda in the present and Seren in the past. Sometimes, the frequent back and forth can be disconcerting and disorienting, but that was definitely not the case here.

I not only enjoyed reading this book, I plan to look up the other books by Brackston and check them out as well. And with my huge TBR pile, this is saying quite a bit!

The story itself was very interesting, until the end, which felt a little bit too neat, and almost rushed. That lost one star from me. The other star was lost due to the author's extensive use of the word "giddy." It was so overused in the first 2/3 of the book, that it became jarring. She'd done such a great job of weaving a magical narrative, except then the word giddy would appear yet again, yanking me right out of the tale. I know this sounds nit-picky, but it began to feel as if she had no other way in which to describe the emotional experience of her primary characters. Since I listened to the audiobook, this was especially frustrating - and perhaps more noticeable, than had I simply read it. What is frustrating is that a good editor should have caught this early on.

Anyhow, this is my first encounter with Brackston, and were it not for these two issues, I would have enjoyed it far more. I'm not sure if I will give her work another look-see, though perhaps reviews from friends could convince me to give her another go in the future. Again, there was so much that was good in here - perhaps had the ending felt a little less contrived, I'd feel even better about it.

They live a thousand years apart yet Tilda and Seren live on the same lake in Wales. The book seamlessly alternates between Tilda’s and Seren’s story. It’s has historical fiction, romance, paranormal, mystery, and adventure.

Magical, this book transports me to each woman’s time and place. I can sense and feel the place come alive, the beauty of nature, and the people. The wonderment of what it might have been like. There is lots of inner dialogue including emotions, doubts, and certainty’s which I enjoyed and others may find tedious. Both women are strong and independent in pursuing their life path and overcoming major life obstacles. Seren is a witch and a shaman for the prince. Tilda is a runner and ceramic artist. The theme of this book was interconnectedness of life which is done in the stories about magic, culture, wars, and politics.

There are so many beautifully written passages, here’s one that ties it to the title, “The moon is full, its beams pure and strong, touching the surface of the lake with silver.” The action is well written and easy to follow. This book is a pleasure to read.

*** SPOILER ***

I had a problem with the ending, I can’t figure it out or I missed something. Why was the evil sprit released when the casket was opened, when the witch's body was outside the casket? If it weren’t for that I would give it a five.

The Silver Witch is a fantasy novel with historical references. Tilda and Seren are the two main characters, and the book alternates between them, slowly revealing how they’re connected. Tilda, recently widowed, moves to Ty Gwyn the cottage that was meant to be her and her late husband’s first home together. It’s located beside a lake where the only crannog in Wales exists. There inexplicable things begin to happen to her. Like the lights going out, clocks stopping and strange and frightful visions. Unsure what to make of it all she seeks out the help of a retired history professor and his nephew.
Seren, an inhabitant of the same area of Wales, only a thousand years in the past, is her community’s resident prophet, witch and shaman. She is a loner, somewhat aloof, feared and respected by her neighbors not only because of her unusual appearance, but also her because of her power.
As one who enjoys both historical fiction and fantasy, this book was right up my alley. I found the peek into ancient Celtic culture fascinating. The plot is nicely paced, and it held my interest throughout the book. The author’s prose is utterly beautiful in this enchanting story. I loved it.

This was the first novel by Paula Brackston that I read and I was so glad I did. I had not expected much, to be absolutely honest, and I had picked it up as a light read. I had never heard of the author before, the story sounded interesting, and I admit that I was taken by the front cover, never a good reason for buying a book. However, what I found inside was an author who is actually able to write. It's such a shame that lots of 'Witch' novels are written by people more in love with the idea of magic than with writing, but Brackston is able to demonstrate that she has the ability to craft language beautifully. The pace of the novel is not fast but I believe this mirrors the sense of time, the magnitude of history, and sense of ancestral connection, the novel is setting out to portray. I enjoyed the novel so much I went out and brought all her other novels, which have also demonstrated thoughtful crafting of language.

To start off, I really enjoyed The Silver Witch.

It was a bit difficult to "get into" at first, and I wasn't sure about the manner in which it switched between the two main characters in two very different time lines. It took me a while to figure out that both characters shared the same "affliction".

It was weird, it was otherworldly, and I really liked the book. It's not a long read, but it's an enjoyable one. It's got a bit of romance, but it isn't a graphic novel. Because the main focus of the story is on two women, it's probably more chick lit than a book I'd give a guy to read, but there is no reason men can't enjoy the story too. It's a great book to curl up beside the fire with and enjoy a cup of something hot as you read. That's exactly what I did!

Tilda is a brilliant character. Every minute of being seems to be important to Tilda, as she comes to understand her new life and to question the events around her.

This is a beautifully written book. How she is and what she does seem to become irretrievably linked: “Steam begins to mist the mirror, so that her reflection is even more ghostly than usual. She wipes the glass and peers at the pale young woman who peers back at her. Swirls of vapor blur the image.

“I could fade away entirely. It wouldn’t require effort. Just grow a little fainter every day” (7).

I found it jarring to have the Seren aspect to this story. Yes, important, but Tilda could have stood alone. I guess then it would not have been all Celtic and quasi-historical and everything.

In the beginning I struggled with this book. I was not feeling it. Yet, I like this author's writing and wanted to give it another chance. So glad to report that it was my mood and the moment. Sometimes a book strikes you but it has to be the exact right moment and mood or the book will not do anything for you.

I really liked Tilda. I thought she was going to be a downer. Just because some of the books I have read where the woman has lost her spouse, until they do some growing again, they are a wallflower. Yet, Tilda was strong, kind, and interesting.

Seren's story was on the lacking side in the beginning. It was mainly focused on Tilda. So I was saddened by this lop-sidedness. But the parts I did read with Seren I found captivating. I liked this book.

The stories of a ceramic artist and an ancient seer converge in a remote Welsh village. Tilda, the artist, moves to an isolated cottage after the sudden death of her husband. Despite a fear of the water she is drawn to the nearby lake. Strange and scary things begin to happen . As she makes tentative steps towards a new love and life, all is threatened by a malignant presence.

This is an enjoyable read. Seren, the seer, embraces her powers and her differences but Tilda seems a bit shrill and unstable. Seren's narrative is in the first person while Tilda's is in the third, something I found annoying. The magical scenes are nicely done and the secondary characters,the professor, Thistle the dog, add color and interest. All in all it is an interesting and inventive tale.

The Silver Witch by Paula Brackstone is a wonderful book, set in an actual location in Wales and filled with magic! It tells the story of ceramica artist Tilda, who moves into a Welsh cottage she and her deceased husband purchased before he died. But strange things start happening...lights start flickering on and off, watches and clocks stop tellin g time, animals are drawn to her...and oh yes, visions of ancient Welsh life and people start surrounding her life!
I thoroughly loved the way the story went from modern times to ancient Wales...great summer reading material!

Review Originally Posted At: www.FictionForesight.com

In accordance with current FTC Guidelines, please let it be known this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Bewitching 4 Stars!

The Silver Witch is an awesome blending of historical truths, myths & legends and modern twists and turns.

A Quick Summary:

Two women, divided by centuries, are intertwined by a force beyond their understanding. Call it fate. Call it destiny. Whatever it is, Tilda and Seren are wrapped up in it.

One year ago, Tilda Fordwells' world was turned upside down when her newlywed husband Matt was killed in a car accident. In order to try and move on with her life, Tilda decides to relocate to her Welsh hilltop and lakeside home. The same home that was purchased by the newly married couple, before tragedy struck. Tilda would like nothing more than to go about her work, and achieve some sort of peace, but this is not to be. Instead of finding the tranquility she was looking for, she starts to notice strange things happening. Whether it's grief, insanity, magic, or simply coincidences, Tilda is determined to get to the bottom of things.

Serene lives on the very same lake as Tilda, but many centuries before. It is her job as a witch, seer and shaman to help protect her prince and his people. It is during this time that circumstances are set in motion that will have ramifications hundreds of years later. For Tilda that is. Tilda must work through the past to figure out the present, and save the future.

The Good:

First lets start off with the historical content. Obviously, as this book is historical fiction, history plays a major role; specifically Celtic history, myth and legend. In most circumstances, I find historical fiction tolerable because it's well researched. In this particular instance, I found "well researched" to be quite an understatement. In fact, I was so curious as to how accurate this information was, that I proceeded to research it myself upon finishing the book. What I found was that Paula Brackston takes a lot of pride in her work. She did the research, and she it well. It was so interesting to see how much of historical truths, and how much of Celtic myth's and legends were drawn upon. I would go so far as to say that this book peaked in me a fervent interest in this topic. Now of course she takes some liberties, after all this is still fiction, but nonetheless, the detail is there.

In spite of this being largely fantasy and historical fiction, there is also a bit of romance. Now it's not the kind of romance that would make a person "swoon" (or however you want to say it). But it did tug a bit at a few heartstrings. I mean come on, who could be stone-faced in light of finding love after tragedy. Romance is the main focus, but at the same time it's not overwhelming. I mean it's clearly there, but the story works with it, not because of it.

When it comes to the main characters, such as Tilda, Serene, the Prince, the Professor and so on, Paula Brackston does a great job with characterization. They all have their little quirks and feel real. They have legitimate features, fears, hopes, and such, that make them not only realistic, but relatable. In the same aspect, I like that Serene is bold. I don't mean that she's crass, or mean in any way. I just like the fact that she know's how things are, how they should be, and she acts accordingly. She's smart, intuitive and grounded, without being overly so. It's refreshing to find a character who's not unnervingly naive.

I loved the blending of the past and future. It was done in such a way that each story could hold up on it's own, but still flowed well together. Usually when I read books like this, I tend to dislike them because they leave off on the most interesting parts of one story, and then dive into the other; sort of like mini cliffhangers. This doesn't happen in The Silver Witch. It's sort of like the author completes her thoughts on that particular story for the time being and moves on to the other one. Yet it flows in such a way that it all adds up in the end. The movie Crash comes to mind.

A quick shout out to the settings in this book. The descriptions are amazing and detailed (to a fault in my opinion). You can really picture the Crannog, the lake, the cabin, just everything. It's actually a bit refreshing to read a story that features a somewhat unusual location as the primary setting. It sets it a part from every other fantasy read, and in a good way.

The Bad:

As I just got done mentioning, the setting is amazing. But that's sort of the problem as well. I felt a bit too much of the story was focused on the details of the surroundings, as opposed to the characters themselves. If you cut the amount of time spent describing setting in half and added that to the action in the book, the rating would have been 5 stars for sure. It just felt like after awhile the descriptions were taking away from the story instead of adding to it.

Branching off of the over-done descriptions, I would say the story was a bit slow. This, to me, is especially poignant in the first several chapters. Afterwards, it's a bit less noticeable with everything else going on. In fact, in the end I felt like the story approached it's finish way to quickly. I suppose you could say that's how most stories go, slow to begin and quick to finish. However, it was quite a bit more noticeable in this book.

I mentioned in the good that the main characters were very well described. There was a reason to why I specifically pointed out the main characters and didn't mention the secondary characters. That reason you ask? They felt flat. They felt as if the only purpose they played was for functionality and necessity, as opposed to the author actually desiring the character to be there. Not quite sure if that makes any sense...I mean to say that they only felt real enough to fulfill the storytelling, and nothing more.

Finally, and maybe this is trivial, but I did not appreciate all of the pottery information. I mean yes I understand that's the main characters job. Yes I understand that it is important to her, and that is what she would be worrying about. I understand that. I just feel like too much time was focused on her work, and not enough time was focused on her problems. Maybe she used it as a hiding mechanism, that much seems clear. I just did not like reading a fantasy novel, and spending a good sixth of the book or more learning about pottery... or running.

Other:

Just a quick heads up that there are actually two points of narration in this book: 3rd person present and 1st person present. Don't worry, Paula Brackston blends these two quite well. Can you tell, yes. But is it overwhelming, or does it detract from the story in any way, I don't think so at all. In fact, it seems to make the blending of past and present more feasible and seamless.

Overall:

The Silver Witch is a tale of love, loss, magic and mystery that will have you overcome with emotions until the bittersweet end. It is heartwarming, intriguing, magical and engrossing. When you combine the sheer aptitude of storytelling that Paula Brackston has, with her enticing portrayal of historical information, you get a story you can thoroughly enjoy the whole read through. That's exactly what this book is, thoroughly enjoyable.

(www.FictionForesight.com)

The Silver Witch is an incredible story that quickly drew me into its magic filled plot. The characters were exciting and I was eager to discover what the author had in store for them. It took me just two days to read this novel because I couldn't stop reading. This is definitely a must read. I have a spot for this great book on my bookshelf for rereading.

Review by: Rockchick

Disclosure: Free review copy from the publisher/author for an honest review.

Well, I really enjoyed this book...Creatively designed and doesn't go too far into fantasy nor "evil destruction". I loved the historical setting in Wales and there was much more "meat" to this book than the Winter Witch. Tilda was strong in discovering her gift and the parallel lives between she and Seren were well written. Ms. Brackston kept the story moving. It's now almost midnight on a Saturday night and I'm very pleased with how this book was written. The ending was just a tad off, but overall Loved it!!

Two points of view from two characters in two different timelines. Tilda, the potter, is a widow who lost her husband in a tragic accident. She moves to a cottage she and her husband planned on retiring to. Seren, the witch who lived a thousand years before in the same place had fallen in love with a prince who is married to another for an alliance. Tilda, being affected by the same place, starts using magic and growing in power.

An interesting story.

Imagine a silver witch, an albino, a soothsayer from the past who uses her visions to guide her prince in tenth century England. Now jump to the present. One of her descendants feels compelled to move to a cottage by the lake where the ancient witch met a violent death. Unbeknownst to Tilda, the descendant, she, too, has magical powers. These gradually become apparent as she is visited by visions and apparitions from the past. To this witches' brew, Brackson adds murder and mayhem, toil and trouble and the reader's own pot boils over with interest and the desire to find out what is going on.
The author effectively alternates points of view between Tilda and her ancient ancestor, Seren, to show the ingredients that were added to her pot. Brackson slowly unravels the mysteries of the past and the reason for Tilda's increasing powers adding even more flavor to her concoction and then she adds tension by throwing an evil witch into her potent brew. This apparition takes corporeal form and escapes from her grave to seek revenge for past wrongs.Ingredients come to a roiling boil before the story ends and the result is a savory brew of imagination.
I enjoyed my drink from this boiling fomentation of magic and mystery, of Celtic history and ancient war.