Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: ebook
Source: purchased by reviewer
Released: Reprint edition January 31, 2012
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Blurb from goodreads:
My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is three hundred and eighty-four years. Each new settlement asks for a new journal, and so this Book of Shadows begins…
In the spring of 1628, the Witchfinder of Wessex finds himself a true Witch. As Bess Hawksmith watches her mother swing from the Hanging Tree she knows that only one man can save her from the same fate at the hands of the panicked mob: the Warlock Gideon Masters, and his Book of Shadows. Secluded at his cottage in the woods, Gideon instructs Bess in the Craft, awakening formidable powers she didn’t know she had and making her immortal. She couldn't have foreseen that even now, centuries later, he would be hunting her across time, determined to claim payment for saving her life.In present-day England, Elizabeth has built a quiet life for herself, tending her garden and selling herbs and oils at the local farmers' market. But her solitude abruptly ends when a teenage girl called Tegan starts hanging around. Against her better judgment, Elizabeth begins teaching Tegan the ways of the Hedge Witch, in the process awakening memories--and demons—long thought forgotten.Part historical romance, part modern fantasy, The Witch’s Daughter is a fresh, compelling take on the magical, yet dangerous world of Witches. Readers will long remember the fiercely independent heroine who survives plagues, wars, and the heartbreak that comes with immortality to remain true to herself, and protect the protégé she comes to love.
Jax's thoughts:
This is a quirky book, a bit slower than I usually like, but interesting enough that I didn't put it down and forget about it. Usually the books that have a paranormal or supernatural element have a more fantastical feel to them. Brackston does a brilliant job of blending magic into our world. I think that may have been a good part of my fascination with it. This was a story of a woman, and her journey to reconnect with the world around her after a traumatic experience. The magic is inextricably tied to the plot, but doesn't overshadow the focus of the tale.
Tegan, ever the teen, hits all the right chords. Frustrated, frustrating, in need of a friend and mentor - she is a mirror to Elizabeth's own outsider status. Watching the two slowly build their friendship, testing trust, sharing their lives was touching. I would not say that this is a romance book. This is not about a couple falling into each other's arms and riding off into the sunset. The pivotal pairing is Tegan and Elizabeth, lost girl and surrogate mother, stumbling through an enormous generational gap to teach each other there's more to life than what you see at first glance.
I've seen this around, but yours is the first review I've read which really struck a chord with me. I'm putting it on my TBR list.
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