Sunwise
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Sunwise
Buy Now for £13.19
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Narrated by:
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Christine Mackie
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By:
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Helen Steadman
Summary
The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy: Book 2
When Jane’s lover, Tom, returns from the navy to find her unhappily married to his betrayer, Jane is caught in an impossible situation. Still reeling from the loss of her mother at the hands of the witchfinder, Jane has no choice but to continue her dangerous work as a healer while keeping her young daughter safe. But as Tom searches for a way for him and Jane to be together, the witchfinder is still at large. Filled with vengeance, the witchfinder will stop at nothing in his quest to rid England of the scourge of witchcraft.
Sunwise tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world. The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy was inspired by the little-known 1650 witch hunt, where fifteen women and one man were hanged for witchcraft on a single day.
©2019 Bell Jar Books (P)2024 Bell Jar BooksContinue the series
Critic reviews
“The novel is rich in fascinating details: Jane’s remedies and the village customs, partly Christian, partly pagan. Ancient names for plants and festivities, both seasonal and Christian, add colour to the narrative.” Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society
“A great read, not to be missed. Steadman’s skillful and resplendent prose leads the reader easily into villages, manses and cottages, festivities and day to day lives, with amazing detail and descriptions of a past age that jump off the page of the novel. The historical research is rich; scenes and spaces, deliciously visual, and the language employed by the protagonists and throughout the narrative is authentic and consistent, transporting us back in time just by virtue of its ancient tonality.” Susana Aikin, We Shall See the Sky Sparkling
"Sometimes charming, sometimes disturbing, and very firmly set in its time and place – don't expect an easy ride, though!" Lexie Conyngham, The Tender Herb
I loved this as much as the first one, what a sequel! Fans of historical fiction will love this book, such a great series. I absolutely loved the narrator too, she made it been better for me.
I love Jane, such a courageous woman who put up with so much, and I hated John - complete madman who deserves all that befell him.
It’s difficult to review this without giving things away so I urge you to just read it.
Historical Fiction At It’s Best
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Listener received this title free
Jane is pregnant with Andrew’s child, she’s still making remedies for sick people, she has learnt that Tom is returning home, he was not lost at sea as she once thought. She is stricken because she is now married to Andrew but wants to be with Tom.
On top of that, she has just been warned that John is after her.
I really enjoyed this audiobook just as much as the first, I liked how it continued straight after the first book so I didn’t find that I missed out on anything.
Helen Steadman has written both these completely different characters so well, I have vivid images of both inside my head, what they looked like, what they wore and even the expressions they made at certain points.
I was rooting for Jane to get her to wish and to be happy throughout that I could not stop listening to the audiobook and listened to it in one session!
The end was quite sad but that said the aftermath was very satisfying!
As before, Christine Mackie gave a great performance as the narrator and I definitely want to pick up more audiobooks read by her.
Overall, this has been a fantastic series and I am honoured to have been chosen to be a part of the book tour. Thank you.
So good
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Listener received this title free
As I said before Helen Steadman has a great ability to make the reader feel completely part of the story, evocating a myriad of emotions page by page. As in the first book, I have to compliment the narrator Christine Mackie whose performance was top notch again!
This second book starts right were the first ended and the confirmation of Tom's return to the little village. Jane is married to another man though, and they soon realise that her husband (who was Tom's best friend once) forced Jane to marry him through lots of subtle machinations.
In parallel runs the story of John Sharpe, the witch hunter who managed to get Jane's mum killed and whose fall into madness become deeper and deeper. Would Tom and Jane manage to be together again, with their daughter Rose? Will John Sharpe continue his persecution of Jane and her offspring? The answers I leave to you all to find out as I would definitely spoil all the twists and turns and horrific events ahead of you.
I know that I will keep reading this author's books as I love her writing and her storytelling. The story is again told in dual point of view, so that the stories work beautifully in synergy. In addition, I love how the author manages to convey important messages through the characters' stories, such as how genuine faith can be easily weaponised for one's purposes, making up excuses for themselves when doing the exact things deemed sinful. In opposition, Jane's character and her shining light really brought joy into my heart and she and her mum before her, kindled a desire to learn the healing properties of plant and herbs, as we've done for so many years.
If I haven't convinced you yet, then just experience this trilogy for yourself. I know you'll love it too!
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to listen to it and this is my honest opinion.
A heartbreaking story of madness and love!
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Much like Widdershins, we follow Jane and Mr Creepy witch hunter John as they narrate alternating chapters. Jane is now married and raising her daughter, and Mr Creepy is still being, well, creepy and awful but thankfully the actions of his abuse and sexual misconducts catch up to him in this book and I couldn’t have been more happier to finally listen to the consequences of his perverted actions. I was happy to see more of Jane and despite the unhappy situation she’s in, she still practices midwifery and healing to those who need it. I won’t go into much more detail as I don’t want to spoil Sunwise, or Widdershins, for anyone but you should all check out this book. It was just as amazing as the first one, and you can tell while reading through the alternating chapters it’s playing out like angel vs demon, good vs bad, and it really does stick in your mind.
Once again the narrator (Christine Mackie) has done such a fabulous job with bringing this book and it’s characters to life, I want her to narrate any historical fictions books I listen to in the future! If you’re a fan of historical fiction then you definitely want to pick up this book (and the first one if you haven’t already!).
Fantastic sequel!
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Follows on perfectly
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