Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Full of talking scarecrows, witches and bell-ringing. I liked this, I just wasn't wowed by it, and I found it a little slow at times. Fun and easy reading, it hovered somewhere between the vibe of cosy crime fantasy style and children's fiction. I did enjoy being reminded of Jack Pumpkinhead from 'Return to Oz' and might have to indulge in a nostalgic re-watch...

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

I would heartily recommend this book. Trust me, I was a bookseller. And I very much look forward to more books in The Witches of Woodville series. I feel that there could be a film or TV series here.

Faye Bright lives with her father, in a pub, in a small village called Woodville during the Second World War. Their position, in Kent, means that bombing is a constant threat and Faye does her bit by helping out as an air raid warden but she is devastated when she finds that her hobby of bell-ringing is to be suspended for the duration of the war.  Faye's mother died when she was a very young girl and neither she or her father have really recovered from her loss - so Faye is angry and upset that the long peal the ringers were due to ring in honour of her mother will not now happen. It is with this sense of anger that she finds an old notebook of her mother's which seems to suggest that she was a witch. And here is where the adventures begin. Armed only with her mother's book (including its interesting sounding recipe for jam roly-poly as well as spells and arcane drawings) Faye finds herself pitted against walking scarecrows, a sinister pumpkin-headed man and every busy-body in the village. Luckily, two of latter turn out to be witches too and they begin to work together to save Woodville from something just as dangerous as the Luftwaffe. 

I absolutely adored this book - and am delighted to see it subtitled 'Witches of Woodville #1. It made me think of Pratchett (NEVER a bad thing) but also of all kinds of other things. There's a hint of St Mary Mead about the village, or maybe the villages of Midsomer, and the scarecrows and Pumpkinhead are an unsettling Oz/Doctor Who mash-up, Faye herself is a great character - funny, unhappy, feisty and brave - and I'm looking forward to seeing her develop. In fact, given the blend of some of my favourite things - folklore, a hint of the magical, a good coming of age story and a sense of place and history - I'm eagerly pacing the floor for the next in the series generally. I'd happily recommend this to readers of fantasy, horror and folktales from 12 upwards

I'm happy this is the first in a series because i loved this mix of folk horror, historical fiction and fantasy.
Great world building and excellent character development, a fast paced plot that kept me hooked, excellent world building.
I thoroughly enjoyed as it's gripping and highly entertaining.
Can't wait to read the next book, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In 1940s Kent Faye is a young woman navigating the Second World War, the rigours of bell-ringing and the colourful locals. And she had just discovered that that her dead mother was a witch and a large group of scarecrows have come to life and are terrorising the town.

It's a fun premise and the local coven is (too) clearly based on Terry Pratchett's witches but the execution falls far short of genuine comparisons. Faye is seventeen but reads as someone about 13 and the book struggles to overcome this contradiction, veering wildly between jokes aimed at younger readers and content for older readers. The plot is largely predictable except a crucial detail that is withheld from the reader so that the reveal is confusing and feels tracked on. Disappointing but may be entertaining for some younger readers.

Faye Bright's world is turned upside down when she discovers her mother was a witch!

Faye was just four when her mother passed away. And her father doesn't talk much about her. But when Faye discovers a book filled with spells and runes—and a recipe for jam roly-poly!—that belonged to her mother, it's the first time she's had a chance to get to know something about her. Which is why Faye is so determined to keep the book a secret.

And a good thing too, because The Crow Folk have arrived and their one goal is finding that book!

I absolutely adored The Crow Folk!

So Pumpkinhead has arrived! And the first thing he does is raise all of the scarecrows as his minions. This coincides with Faye's discovery of her mother's book, which Pumkinhead can feel but cannot locate on his own.

See, the witches have a code and one of its mainstays is to never write things down. But Faye's mother knew that she wasn't going to be around to teach Faye all of the things she knew about witchcraft, so this was her only way of ensuring that the knowledge would be passed down.

Oops!

And since no one ever told Faye anything at all about her mother's powers, she has no idea just how much trouble she can cause.

Double oops!

I almost hate to say it because I know just how much work goes into a book, but I read this in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. And since it is the first in a series, that means I have that much more time to wait for the next book to release. But really, I loved this book so much!

First there's Faye, a boisterous and stubborn girl who is very set in her ways. She's seventeen and WWII is going on, so many of the village's men are gone away to war. And Faye doesn't exactly fit in with the other women in town—much the same, as she learns, as her own mother.

So plot and characters are fabulous but then there's the setting! Stay does a really wonderful job with his world building. Obviously WWII England is not a time or place that I personally experienced, but the book perfectly combines the historical setting and the witchy atmosphere!

The Crow Folk is a real delight and I absolutely cannot wait to join the Witches of Woodville on further adventures!

I was expecting a lot of things going into The Crow Folk. I can’t say that a place on my favourites shelf was one of them. But here we are.

The story follows Faye Bright, a young girl living in a rural part of Kent in the midst of WWII. When she happens across her late mother's diary, she barely has any time to understand the strange writings and incantations before a group of unwelcome visitors begin to terrorise the village she calls home. Witches, scarecrows, and a bunch of birds — Mark Stay's The Crow Folk will have you laughing one minute and teary-eyed the next. I'm warning you now, you will definitely fall in love with each and every one of these characters.

This was such a fun and light-hearted read! I kept finding myself laughing at the sheer absurdity of some of the situations our witches found themselves in, and the great friendships that they developed along the way. I will say that I was kind of skeptical at the beginning; I wasn't sure how to feel about all the ~scarecrow shenanigans~, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Mark Stay's ability to create such beautiful writing, witty characters, and a super enjoyable plot is what earns The Crow Folk its five stars. My only complaint is that I read this way too quickly. I need more of Terrence Bright in my life. Need.

Finishing this left me in such a peaceful state of happiness. If you want something whimsical and full of feeling, or just something that will make you laugh, I definitely recommend picking this up!

A compelling tale of witchcraft, demons and um…bellringing, The Crow Folk is the latest novel from author Mark Stay and the first in The Witches of Woodville series.

Set in 1940s rural Kent, The Crow Folk tells the story of 17 year old Faye Bright who lives with her father following the death of her mother when she was just a little girl. Faye has always felt different and when she discovers a diary belonging to her mother packed full of rituals and spells, she soon discovers why. But that’s not all. The Crow Folk have arrived in the village and their magic is threatening the locals – it’s up to Faye with the help of her mum’s book to try and put a stop to the scarecrows before it’s too late.

Mark Stay is no stranger to fantasy novels but The Crow Folk is his best work yet. This is an incredibly compelling read and Stay’s slick writing immediately transports the reader into this world of strange magic. But The Crow Folk isn’t a horror story, although you’ll never see Worzel Gummidge in the same light ever again. It’s in fact an absorbing tale of love and loss, with just the right amount of creepiness thrown in. The book is incredibly witty, therefore drawing comparisons to Terry Pratchett which is largely due wit and Stay cleverly combines humour and suspense to create a magical read that’s packed full of charm and warmth.

The world that Stay has created is full of familiar characters (particularly if you live in a small village) and he’s done a fine job of portraying small-town England during the Second World War, with a nod to Dad’s Army with Faye’s role as a volunteer for ARP patrol (“Put that light out!”). The villagers are all believable in their portrayal and Faye is a great central character; instantly likeable, smart, strong and determined, and she’s well supported by her close friend, Bertie and her endearing father. Likewise villagers Charlotte and Mrs Teach are strong characters and intriguing enough to keep you turning the the page.

The Crow Folk is an enchanting story which captures the imagination and sets up The Witches of Woodville series perfectly. The second book can’t come quick enough!

Amusing and slightly disturbing, "The Crow Folk" is a YA fantasy story, with a touch of mild horror. It was an enjoyable read, with an interesting plot, but felt a little bit slow in parts. The characters are an oddball mix, and the interactions between them are perfect. Mark Stay has a solid writing style, that makes this book easy to read.

This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to @RandomTTours

I thought this book would be a corker of a read when I read the blurb. I’m so glad I was right. This is an unusual book and I haven’t read anything like it in a while; part historical fiction, part horror and part folklore. I loved it. It’s an entertaining read that held by attention from start to finish. Despite the supernatural events (living scarecrows, demons and witches) it never gets too dark. I couldn’t recommend this enough.

Inanimate objects coming to life. A lineage of magic. An unforgiving demon. A world war.

'The Crow Folk' is the story of Faye, a teenager, who stands out as the 'peculiar' one in her village, while a war shuts down an activity she lives the most, ring-bearing. Meanwhile, the underworld and the real world have come into a confluence and weird things start happening.

The book doesn't give much importance to the war, which I felt was a major contributing factor to it being such a good read; it just borders on historical fiction while the main theme is fantasy. Such strong characters and a well-scripted plotline!

There were so many incidents that made me crack up; especially little kinks of Faye's relationship with her dad. He deserves extra appreciation and I really do hope the next book involves more of him and his lame dad jokes.

If you're looking for a good fantasy read, do pick this up. I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

Our protagonist Faye Bright is a smart & capable girl, pushing against the constraints of the restrictive expectations of society (and her neighbours) in 1940s rural England. Faye helps her Dad run the village pub, and is part of the church bellringing team. She's helping out with the war effort and trying to find her place in the world.

Faye has found her late mother's notebook, which contains a message just for her. It's full or strange runes and incantations - and a cracking recipe for jam roly-poly. It seems Faye's mother may have been a witch, and she expected that Faye would grow up to share her powers.

Now something has woken the Scarecrows, and they don't want to go back to their fields. There's something sinister happening in the countryside. With the intimidating Miss Charlotte - long suspected of being a witch, and the affable Mrs Teach reluctant to share any of their secrets Faye may be the only person that knows how to save the village.

Equal parts warmth and wit, this is a novel about witches, demons and the nature of loss and grief.
I found this novel incredibly enjoyable, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series when they are published.

I've seen comparisons made to Terry Pratchett's Discworld, and I think that does the author no favours. It's also unnecessary, as this book stands on its own merits.

#magic #WWII #HomeFront

Charming, fun and just the right amount of creepy, Mark Stay does an excellent job of creating a small English town during WW2 and populating it with darling characters. I will definitely be reading the next installment.

The Crow Folk - (The Witches of Woodville #1)

A really unusual tale that includes magic, whimsy, suspense and humour. I loved the dialogue, it really made me chuckle to myself a few times. Overall I thought it was a really enjoyable quick read and I'm really looking forward to reading some more in this series! Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for allowing me the chance to read and review this book in return for an honest review.

Fantastic! Imagine a Terry Pratchett penned Ealing comedy directed by Tim Burton. An enjoyable mix of fact (set in WW2) and fantasy featuring witches, scarecrows, bellringers and more!

Full review to follow before pub date.

What a truly lovely book I really enjoyed this, Faye is 17 years old and this is the beginning of the 2nd world war in England and she lives in a sleepy little village full of secrets.
This story has magic and bell ringing and lots of fun I don’t want to give too much away but I know I’m looking forward to book 2.
If you love village life stories centred around the war and comedy then you’ll love this

4 1/2 stars rounded up.
This has the potential to become a new favourite series.
WW2 is raging on the continent and there are strange goings on in the already slightly odd village of Woodville - and by strange I mean walking, talking scarecrows. Faye, daughter of the local landlord, bellringer & ARP volunteer, is determined to uncover the truth. Why don't the rest of the villagers seem to see what's really happening? Why has her mum left her a strange book? Is the woman who lives in the woods and sleeps in the nuddy really a witch? Who are the Crow Folk?
If you love Terry Pratchett's Witches books and the characters of Lancre then you'll enjoy the dynamics & oddness of the Woodville villagers.
A really enjoyable, slightly creepy, folky fantasy.

This book is unlike anything I've ever read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The story gripped me from the start and I have a habit of trying to guess what comes next but I was wrong every time. Such a well thought out plot. Really looking forward to next in the series.

Reading the description of this book, I was very excited to start reading it. I was rather wary of the comparison with the great Terry Pratchett, and I worried that I would be disappointed. This book is not discworld, it's set in 1940 in a rural corner of Kent. War forms a backdrop to the story, with spitfires flying overhead, creating an atmosphere of distrust and anxiety. Faye Bright is the seventeen year old protagonist, the daughter of the village pub landlord, and she is still angry about the death of her mother when she was four years old. Whilst sorting through junk in the cellar she comes across a book full of rituals and spells written by her mother. At the same time, strange things are happening with the scarecrows and it's a all getting out of hand.
This is a story about witches demons and magic. It is also a story about loss, love and acceptance. Infused with a witty humour (that draws the comparison with Terry Pratchett), it is a quick and light read. The characters in their rural idyll are strongly drawn. This is the first book in a series featuring the witches, and I can wait to read the next book.