Another hit from Mark Stay that blew my expectations away. This return to the Kent village still recovering from the events in The Holly King was darker, creepier and chock-full of high tension action. Thank goodness for the underlying humour and stoicism that rallied the reader to face the revenge of the Nazi-occultist, Otto.
Rumoured to be the last one in the Witches of Woodville series, it was a joy and heart-breaking to revisit the beloved infamous residents, Faye, Bertie, Miss Teach and Miss Charlotte. With a wedding days away, excitement was in the air for the upcoming nuptials but with cold feet and a demon possessed vicar it was never going to be plain-sailing. Nothing prepared me for the evil leashed by Otto or by Mark Stay’s pen. It was difficult to witness the true effects of war on a much-loved village and characters you’re invested in but that is the power of novels. They make you care, and take you on an emotional and fearful journey. Then deposit you into a book hangover while you recover from the thrill.
With a talking budgie and ghostly children singing spooky songs to add to the strong cast of unforgettable personalities, The Corn Bride didn’t disappoint. It was historical fantasy at its best with explosive drama and imaginative magic blended with love and humour. The small factual details featured in the villagers’ lives immersed me into the era where community was strong and folklore based traditions had its place. It’s a must read but reading the previous book starting with The Crow Folk is essential.

I only recently found this series, and this is the PERFECT continuation! Cosy witchy, historical fiction with some horror beautifully woven in.
I don't think it is possible for there the be a better instalment to the Witches of Woodville than this, I loved every single second of it, and am having to get the kindle version so I can relive it all over again.

The Corn Bride is the fifth book in Mark Stay's awesome WW2 historical magical-realism Witches of Woodville series. I wholly recommend this series, starting with book one The Crow Folk.

Book five starts with heroine Faye taking some time away from her important war work to come home and marry her beloved Bertie, but the forces of evil are starting to range against her and her plans. Will she have time to defeat the Nazis, solve the mystery of ghostly singing children, understand her worrying vision of a burning giant corn-dolly bride and be back in time for tea?

A recommended read for lovers of Terry Pratchett.

** spoiler alert ** The fifth Witches Of Woodville book. If you’re reading this, you’re probably already a fan, and just want to know if this one is any good. And I’m happy to report it is, with plenty of the same lovely and warm but also threatening and scary vibe that has run through the series. I do think there’s a limit to how long we can keep reading tales about Woodville being menaced by occult villains though, which is why I was particularly excited by the epilogue here, which suggests a new direction for the books. I for one am very much up for Faye Bright, SOE!

I love this series and this was a worthy addition. Once again, Faye and Bertie are in the thick of things - right as they’re trying to make life plans, Woodville is breaking out in folk horror. Balancing planning a wedding and ghostly children, Faye is unwaveringly charming and the book grips you from beginning to end.

The world is ablaze in Mark Stay’s fifth instalment of the Witches of Woodville series as we join the inimitably charming Faye Bright as she heads back to Woodville for her nuptials with the ever-reliable Bertie. Except things keep getting in the way.

For one, she has been moved over to London under mounds of secrecy to train in the newly established Special Operatives Executive: Paranormal Division with Bellamy Dumonde. Then there is the appearance of ghostly children who can only talk in rhyme and bring with them the apparition of The Corn Bride.

However, returning back to Woodville, she has to face her biggest trial yet – organising a wedding!
The fifth outing for the Woodville Witches is a fantastic read, bringing back friends and foes of the last five books whilst mixing the usual comedic asides of the residents of Woodville with smatterings of folk horror and nail-biting thrills as Mark Stay takes his characters on their toughest journey yet.

In The Corn Bride, Mark Stay turns the jeopardy up to eleven in what could be the final outing for our favourite witches, and you will be wondering who will survive by the end.

Masterfully treading the boards between light and dark, The Witches of Woodville is truly a joyous gem of a series and as I have been saying on countless occasions it needs to be read by more and more people. I loved every page of it!

If you haven't already, please go and read this series! It's full of humour, a weird and wonderful bunch of villagers, folklore, magic and oddly cosy horror, all set during WW2. It follows Faye, who discovers that she is a witch and that, not only are there all sorts of strange things going on in her village, but that magic is being used by both sides in the war.

The fifth book in The Witches of Woodville series begins with Faye returning home for a May Day wedding after several months of secret witchy training in London. She spends the night before her return sheltering from an air raid in an Underground station. It's a long and dreary night but as people start to rise in the morning, Faye is drawn into a tunnel by the sound of children singing and she encounters their ghostly forms along with a sinister-looking Corn Bride and visions of fire and destruction. What can it mean for Faye and will the wedding go ahead?

The Corn Bride doesn't let the side down, it's another hugely entertaining story and I really hope it won't be the last one in the series. This one sees the village once more under threat, this time with added Nazi zombies, and the Woodville witches receive help from a possessed budgie, the ghost of girl who's taking death surprisingly well, and morris dancers

Faye continues to be a brilliant main character, slowly growing up and gaining confidence in herself and her powers throughout the books. I love the mix of humour with horror-tinged folklore elements that gives the story a strangely cosy feel despite, you know, the evil magic-wielding Nazi.

I am absolutely loving this series, the character development is amazing, and not just Faye but everyone around her. The witches, the villagers and especially dear, sweet Bertie. Although it has to be said, Faye is perfection. Smart, funny, intelligent and just incredibly down to earth.

This series puts me in mind of Tiffany Aching joining Dad’s Army, it’s wonderfully old fashioned and is full of warmth and humour. Although it does get dark in places.

The fifth outing for Faye and her fellow witches. Faye is about to marry Bertie but someone is out to stop the wedding and take his revenge on Woodville. Once again this is an entertaining read, full of action with great characters.