Another great story that keeps you intrigued until the very last page.
I really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend

What a truly magical book. I adore these witches of Woodville stories and never miss one.
Each witch has her own past and way of doing things and this is more apparent during this 4th book.
Faye has to deal with her growing powers and the past regarding her mother when the Holly King is brought back and wants to retake over the land.
Mrs Teach is dealing with her first Christmas without her beloved husband and Charlotte is as ever alone but this time she too must deal with her past and her present and make choices she’s been avoiding.
A great read from start to finish a must read for any Woodville witches fans you won’t regret it.

I am absolutely loving this series, the story just keeps getting better. The characters are brilliant, and it’s so satisfying to learn more about them.
The author has done a fantastic job of mixing myth and legend, with the spirit of a small village during WWII. The whole thing is just magical.
I particularly loved the Christmas theme, especially with the Holly King being absolutely terrifying. Very different to the current renderings, and much closer to the original telling.

I have a sneaking suspicion I will be rereading this at Christmas! I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series and this one was even better. Threads of village life, folk horror, folk lore and witchcraft all combine for a magically compelling read. This was exactly what I was looking for. Loved it.

I had no idea that Mark Stay's delightful historical fantasy was the 4th in the Witches of Woodville series, but fortunately it worked fine as a standalone. This is set in December 1940 with many of the villagers doing their bit for the war effort, including the Home Guard Volunteers led by Captain Marshall, amidst a background of rising prices, food rationing, loss of lives, and Luftwaffe bombing air raids. As you might imagine, everyone is looking forward to the upcoming Chrismas festivities, but instead have to contend with the terrors and threat of Woodville and its residents being wiped out, a place with a history of having fallen victim to the strange and peculiar. It all begins with the postie Eric Birdwhistle delivering a package at the hollow oak in the woods that results in the resurrection of a demigod, the Holly King.

In this fun and entertaining narrative, the ancient Holly King is intent on reclaiming his woodland kingdom and being rightfully worshipped by all, in the process unleashing the deadly mayhem and chaos that follows. 18 year old witch Faye Bright, in a relationship with Bertie Butterworth, is the daughter of the pub landlord of The Green Man, Terrence, having lost her mother, Kathryn, when she was young, leaving Faye desperate for any information about her. Faye is being mentored by Mrs Philomena Teach with her handbag, and Miss Charlotte Southill with her katana sword, the 2 other village witches. They are secrets that are uncovered, Faye is going to learn more about her mother, and all the witches are set to be tested to their very limits, will they succeed in saving Woodville?

Mark Stay hits the mark with his plotting and writing, overflowing with magic, the darkest with the snow blizzard, the Feast of Fools, the Lord of Misrule, and a diabolical dangerous mist in which everyone loses their mind. The witches have a party to crash, aided by Sid and the spirit of the woodwose, but can they counter the conflict, and divisive tactics of the Holly King, and the dreadful truths that emerge? I enjoyed this far more than I expected to, I adored the characters of Faye, Charlotte and Philomena, along with the complexities of Sid, the horrors of war which had changed the man he used to be so fundamentally. This is the perfect festive read, it is tense, edgy and dark, yet simultaneously light and comic. I have to say that I am looking forward to the next in this historical fantasy series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This is the best book yet. All the characters are back, Faye, Charlotte and Mrs Teach and the story is great. Well done Mark Stay. I would give it more than five stars if I could. Highly recommended.