The Witch's Daughter: A Novel

I enjoy historical fiction, anything supernatural, and anything celebrating feminine power or energy, so this was right up my ally. This book centers on Bess, a modern-day witch with a long (as in 400 years) and tragic past. We learn of her past as she tells it to a new, contemporary student of hers, a young girl who wishes to become a 'hedge witch', focused on the herbal healing arts and rituals. Bess is capable of much more than this, and as the story develops we learn why and how as she tells her dramatic story through three different time periods - the witch hunts of the seventeenth century, London of Jack the Ripper's day, and WWI. In each she is pursued by the personification of evil, and the book climaxes with their 'final' (not sure if it's final or not) battle in the modern day.
The witchcraft is interesting, the historical bits are very well rendered, and the story is overall compelling. I came to like Bess, but by the third time period (WWI) was getting a bit bored with the repeating story. It also got a little predictable at this point. I had some issues with how magic was represented too, and expected to find a bunch of reviews here from modern-day wicca/craft practitioners objecting to some of it. I don't see many, so maybe my concerns are overblown (and this isn't my expertise.)
So overall, an enjoyable read if you like this sort of thing, with some caveats.

I loved reading about the character throughout time. I enjoyed seeing her in different time periods and where she was when moments in history were happening. What I loved most were all of the mechanics of the witchcraft. I found this absolutely fascinating and completely entertaining.

This could have been an excellent story. Unfortunately, what begins as an interesting window into the life of a hedge witch turns out to be a cliche tale of obsessed and unrequited love. I give the author merit for her mostly accurate historical details and limited but factual offerings about practicing the craft, but in the end it reads more Harlequin Romance than an adventure into the life of witches.

The author drew me into this story from the first page and kept me there on a marathon reading session. Never a dull moment in this one. Not always predictable. Those with a queezie tummy might want to proceed with caution; there's more than a smidgen of descriptive blood and guts.

This book was plesantly amusing. The cover art is what drew me to the book, and quite honestly may be the best part about the book. The plot is alright though very disjointed. The book could have been tied together more fluidly rather than the abrupt changes that were only lightly connected by the inserting the character in modern times telling her story. Maybe a collection of short stories without the modern tie would have set better with me.

I loved reading about the character throughout time. I enjoyed seeing her in different time periods and where she was when moments in history were happening. What I loved most were all of the mechanics of the witchcraft. I found this absolutely fascinating and completely entertaining.

This could have been an excellent story. Unfortunately, what begins as an interesting window into the life of a hedge witch turns out to be a cliche tale of obsessed and unrequited love. I give the author merit for her mostly accurate historical details and limited but factual offerings about practicing the craft, but in the end it reads more Harlequin Romance than an adventure into the life of witches.

The author drew me into this story from the first page and kept me there on a marathon reading session. Never a dull moment in this one. Not always predictable. Those with a queezie tummy might want to proceed with caution; there's more than a smidgen of descriptive blood and guts.

This book was plesantly amusing. The cover art is what drew me to the book, and quite honestly may be the best part about the book. The plot is alright though very disjointed. The book could have been tied together more fluidly rather than the abrupt changes that were only lightly connected by the inserting the character in modern times telling her story. Maybe a collection of short stories without the modern tie would have set better with me.

I enjoyed this book so intensely! The book spans over almost 400 years so there are many interesting and different stories within the main story. The character development was was perfect. There is a lot action with the perfect amount of romance mixed in. I didn't want it to end.

The Witch's Daughter proves to be an engaging, enthralling story. So vividly the story is told, that imagining the colorful descriptions is not only easy, but impossible to not do. This is the first story from Paula Bravkston that I have read, but undoubtedly not the last.

Saved from burning at the stake by magic, she must run for her life for the rest of her life, which just may be forever. A good read with a few twists you may not catch until it's too late. I did not, however, like the ending but then it wasn't my story to write, was it!

The book was immediately engrossing! I loved the originality of the plot and the complexity of the main character. The book is a kind of historical fiction meets a little bit of fantasy, I love both genres. I've already recommended the book to several people and I've pre-ordered her next book, The Winter Witch. I wish there was more by this author that I could read!

I've always been interested in the thought of witchcraft, which is why I decided to read this book. It is written very well and is definitely a page turner. There is lots of detail, twists in the story, and of course a great ending.

Different not what was expected. Kind of disjointed. Some parts interesting others too descriptive like filling up space. If you like witch stories. You might like this book . I will not purchase the sequel.

by Paula Brackston
Yeah, always fancied myself as a bit of an apothecary, herbalist, naturalist, witchy kind of girl. Love potions and soothing balms shot through with the dark threat of an overlord's revenge.

I like books that are of a supernatural nature. I thought this book was a very good read, No filth, no cursing, everything you could want..Well, it was till the end. The worst, rushed -Zapp the book is over. Horrible ending.

I was looking for a recreational read and this satisfied. The author's approach is different, which was entertaining. The story moves because it doesn't get bogged down in interim details. Good book for beach or snowed-in day.

I was a little disappointed with the story line of this book. It was a different version of any witch type book I have read & I felt the story was scattered about. I finished it however & would only reccomend it to someone who likes a little "fluffier" witch novel.

Time is forever, and the things that occur within Time change. Witches daughters are timeless, and they are not witches-born, they are witches -learned.
And ... the " well learned witches"...
well... learn , witches!!

Different not what was expected. Kind of disjointed. Some parts interesting others too descriptive like filling up space. If you like witch stories. You might like this book . I will not purchase the sequel.

by Paula Brackston
Yeah, always fancied myself as a bit of an apothecary, herbalist, naturalist, witchy kind of girl. Love potions and soothing balms shot through with the dark threat of an overlord's revenge.

I like books that are of a supernatural nature. I thought this book was a very good read, No filth, no cursing, everything you could want..Well, it was till the end. The worst, rushed -Zapp the book is over. Horrible ending.

I was looking for a recreational read and this satisfied. The author's approach is different, which was entertaining. The story moves because it doesn't get bogged down in interim details. Good book for beach or snowed-in day.

I was a little disappointed with the story line of this book. It was a different version of any witch type book I have read & I felt the story was scattered about. I finished it however & would only reccomend it to someone who likes a little "fluffier" witch novel.

Time is forever, and the things that occur within Time change. Witches daughters are timeless, and they are not witches-born, they are witches -learned.
And ... the " well learned witches"...
well... learn , witches!!

At times the book was hard to follow. The storyline was intriguing. I had a hard time putting the book down. I wanted to know what Bess' next tale would tell. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good adventure.

Liza the witch who tells this story shares her story with a modern day teen in her little village. she shares how she becomes a witch- a necessity in the witch-hunting days it would appear and then some of her many "lives" after that time- the world wars, in between and up to present day. she also helps this young woman evolve to become a witch.
this book is not without a "bad guy" and of course he figures prominately in each of the segments as he "hunts" down Liza( or elisa, elizabeth or other iterations)
the book is well written in opinion, but parts were easy to gloss over for me, as it got a bit mundane. I did enjoy the fast paced ending and it did leave me satisified on how all was resolved. it could lead to a sequel as well, but not sure if it is warranted.