- Not sure what draws me to stories about the persecution of witches, but I’m drawn to them all the same. This was no exception.
I also recommend:
- Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
- The Fiddler’s Gun by A.S. Peterson
Summary from GoodReads:
In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.
Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.
My Review:
It took all of 10 minutes for me to be caught up in Maggie Blair’s story in The Betrayal of Maggie Blair. Right away, I knew this would be a tale I’d have difficulty setting down, and I devoured it in a single, long afternoon of reading (and what a joy that was).
I’m a big fan of girls with a spine, those able to take care of themselves and not needing to do the predictable (marry, sell themselves out in someway, etc). Maggie Blair faces trials like crazy – from being tried along with her grandmother for being a witch, to escaping and living dangerously in a time where British soldiers roamed Scotland and the Scottish were rebelling against the King being named the head of the Church rather than God.
Elizabeth Laird does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life and providing her reader with enough action to keep the interest level high, a fantastic villain who anyone would love to hate, and a main character who I could not only identify with, but also felt good cheering on with every decision she made.
I’m adding this to my list of books graced with strong-willed, adventurous female protagonists and will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Elizabeth Laird.
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