Cunning Women

I enjoyed listening to this audio book. The narrator had good pace and clear enunciation. At first I found the story difficult to follow due to there being a number of characters being introduced and two narrators. It was interesting to be offered views of Daniel and Sarah (main narrators) from the other persons point of view.

The story is about a family who believe they have been touched by the devil and both mother and eldest daughter have the ability to heal and curse. They live in an uneasy atmosphere ostracised by the local villagers who hold them in deep suspicion but also turn to them for healing when illness or other medical conditions prevail. Sarah’s devotion to her little sister, and her drive to protect her from evil spirits, is heart warming. Daniel, a earthy farm owner’s son, falls in love with Sarah and plots to make her acceptable in his father’s eyes as a prospective wife. Sarah’s family’s fate takes a turn for the worst when a new magistrate is appointed.

The plot is complicated, with many complex characters who develop and change though the narrative.. Is Sarah able to place a curse on someone? Daniel’s love is challenged and he questioned whether he really knows the girl he has secretly asked to become his wife.

Set in the 1600's Sarah Haworth and her family are believed to be witches. They are feared and are outcasts and are the only family living in a small village which was abandoned after the plague. This is a story of forbidden love and overcoming obstacles to be together.

I listened to this via audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator. I love historical fiction and I loved this dark story. It's my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

This atmospheric historical fiction was an incredible surprise and I’m so glad I managed to find this little gem.

One day of spring in 1620 Lancashire, Sarah find herself once more struggling to find any food or money to feed her family, for witches aren’t welcome in the village... until one day, the young Daniel shows a spark of humanity. The star crossed lover story is tumultuous, frightening sometimes and a danger to many.

There are no words to describe how perfectly well-written some passages are. The author has a unique skill in setting an eery and gloomy atmosphere which perfectly describes the village, its townfolks and the witches.

This isn’t a story of clichés, fancy spells, sparkling eyes and shiny wands. The cunning women are exiled, they live in the muddy part of the forest, they get stoned and insulted in public. In this sense, whilst the book is obviously a fiction, is it firmly set in a realistic background which makes it all the more enjoyable.

The suspense is maintained all the way to the very last chapter and as you might know, I really love it when I have no idea what’s going to happen!

My only remark? It was a bit of a slow start. I understand this decision as it was important to set the scenery, but it felt like it dragged a little.

It is worth mentioning that I noticed that very (too) often, the voiceover in audiobook has a northern accent, sometimes for no reason (I’m currently listening to a story about a Londoner but the voiceover sounds very northern). But in this instance, it was spot on, a really amazing choice and it served the story really well.

A great audiobook with a fantastic narrator.

The cunning women is a tale of "witch" girl coming of age. She is warned by her mum that her life shall not be that of normal girls her age and she cannot love, but falls in love with a local farm boy Daniel nonetheless.

Daniel and Sarah's love if a pure one which is not influenced by the locals who think her family is cursed by the devil until a new magistrate comes to town and naturally the village blame her family for funny goings-on on in the village.

Its a tale of young love, friendship and fear of the unknown. A really well written and gripping read.

I really enjoyed this book. I love reading about the past and the way that different communities behaved. The characters in this book are mesmerising, the wise women with the skill to heal and to help who are misunderstood and seen as evil and possessed. This age old story of women being misunderstood needs to be heard. I’m so pleased these stories are being told still. I listened to this book as an audiobook and thought that the author really did a good job of using her voice to give the different characters Life and it made the story really vivid in my mind.

Being a Lancashire girl myself, I've grown up hearing about the injustice and intrigue surrounding the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. 400 years on, they are still quite a big deal around here. In local schools, we teach about how the twelve accused were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. Ten of these 'witches' were found guilty and executed for their 'crimes'. We know their names and we are familiar with their stories.

This novel is set a decade afterwards, in the shadow of those trials. It is not a good time to have marked skin or to be dishing out herbal cures and curses to your neighbours, but Sarah Haworth's family do just this. Lee develops a real sense of desperation in this novel, and it is clear that Sarah's family are really living life on the edge - something is bound to tip the balance. The family are desperately poor, and make money were they can. Feeling that they have the 'gift', Sarah and her mother take their chances in order to survive, whilst Sarah's brother treads an equally dangerous path by stealing from others.

I'll admit that I was expecting this novel to be centred on witch trials - perhaps picking up the stories of those who had been left behind in their aftermath. It's not. I quite liked that this family aren't classed as witches. Whilst the family are seen as being different and the villagers are wary of them, they are known to be cunning folk: they are also held in a certain respect, and their help is sought in times of need.

The relationship between Sarah and Daniel is central to this story, and I'd describe it as a historical romance rather than an exploration of witchcraft. Their relationship certainly has an interesting dynamic to it and they experience a rollercoaster of events.

In terms of the novel's themes, witchcraft is not really one of them, and this may disappoint some readers. There is still plenty to this book, however. There has been plenty written about the witch trials themselves, and this is an interesting examination of what life was like for the poorest and most vulnerable in society in the 17th century - not a place I'd fancy timetravelling to myself. In the shadow of King James' 'Demonology', fear and suspicion rise quickly to the surface. This is a tale of betrayal and naivity, and also hope.

The only thing that irked me about this book is that, despite having lived in Lancashire all my life, I really didn't recognise this as the novel's setting. There was a lot of talk about people being fishermen, and having their nets and catches either cursed or blessed. Fishing is not a viable industry in the shadow of Pendle Hill. Perhaps it was set near to Morecombe, or Blackpool, but this wasn't very clear at all. In fact, I'm now wondering if it's actually meant to be set in Lancashire at all, or whether it is merely near to the trials in time rather than place.

One of the main problems that audiobook 'readers' experience is that it's virtually impossible to recap on details that you've forgotten or missed. I hope that the author will forgive me if it's just me not registering details about where the novel is actually set, but I found it all very vague, and would have valued more mentions of place names and descriptions of the setting, Lancashire or otherwise.

This audiobook is read by Taj Atwal, a British actress born in Norwich, and is best known for playing the role of Jasminder in 'Stella'. Her most recent role is that of 'Jasmin' in the new Kay Mellor British drama comedy, 'In the Club'. Atwal's voice is warm and empathetic. I enjoyed listening to her reading and it was well-paced and full of emotion. I felt that it added another level to the narrative and would recommend this audio version to others.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Cornerstone/ Penguin Random House UK for approving me for an audio ARC of this book.

I’m making more of an effort to read historical fiction and trying to dabble in the darker side of history. When I saw the synopsis of this one I was intrigued and wanted to dive straight in. The narration by Taj Atwal is done superbly, she captured all the passion and emotion, behind Sarah’s story in particular, and it made the listen all the more enjoyable.

To begin with I found the story a little slow to get going. I liked the short chapters, as this made it really easy to pick up and put down throughout the day but I felt there was a lot of groundwork laid and quite a few characters introduced that I sometimes got mixed up. It also took me a little while to get used to some of the old language that was used.

I’m pleased to say though that the story soon picked up and it was a lot easier to follow. I found the cures and curses fascinating and loved learning more about the early witchcraft. I thought this part was realistic and it was easy to see why the Haworth family were feared. It was brilliant to have the story told from both sides of the village, I often found myself siding with Sarah’s family though, as to me they just seemed like normal people who were trying to survive. Surely if you had mouths to feed you’d do anything to feed them? What made me laugh most about the villagers was how they were happy to take the curses and cures in private but out on the street they treated the Haworth’s like dirt. The villagers really showed their true colours in the final scenes.

I had a lot of admiration for Sarah, she was kind, thoughtful and desperate to have a better life for her and her family. Despite the reputation her family had she strove to change the village’s view of them but she wasn’t a pushover. I loved the relationship she had with Annie and the motherly role she took on. I often felt that Daniel never felt he was good enough and was quite happy to be Gabriel’s shadow. Daniel lacked self esteem but he had a heart of gold which would explain why he was so well matched to Sarah. He was quite naïve in his plan but he definitely didn’t lack courage. Gabriel was the most cunning of them all and his actions were despicable. I found myself squirming at his remarks and overall manor, he took bad boy to a whole new level.

Poor Daniel and Sarah were doomed from the minute they set eyes on each other. They strove to surpass anyone’s expectations and were determined to not let their roles in society keep them apart. I found myself rooting for them even though I knew they were star crossed. Their final decision was a true moment of undeniable love. What hit me the most was the relationship between Sarah and her family. Her loyalty to them and how she tried to protect them was beautiful. The final scenes packed a punch that really hit me in the gut and my heart broke for Sarah, her family and Daniel.

This was a beautiful tale full of hope, desire and ambition. I’m so excited to see what Elizabeth Lee writes next!

3.5 stars

In a small fishing village in Lancashire in 1620, Sarah, her brother and sister rely on their mother’s skills as a Cunning Woman to survive after the death of their fish man father. Shunned by the village and constantly on the brink of starvation, they are able to scrape out just enough to live on from the villagers’ secret reliance on cures for illnesses or help with unwanted pregnancies.

Sarah knows she is destined for the same life as her mother because of a mark on her skin that shows she has been chosen. When she falls in love with the local farmer’s son Daniel, she is torn between her longing for a new and normal life with him, and what she feels is her destiny with her family.

The arrival of a new magistrate sees a sudden shift in the attitudes of the village as he promises to expose ‘papists and witches’ plunging Sarah and her family into danger of discovery.

Will Sarah and Daniel be able to overcome the prejudices of the village and find happiness?

I have increasingly been drawn towards historical fiction about the witch trials of this period, and find it heartbreaking that superstition and fear caused so many women to be persecuted for being different or relying on traditional remedies.

The writing in this book is atmospheric, and the first person perspective of the protagonist lets you feel the joy and fear with Sarah as she becomes overcome with desperation as she is torn between wanting to protect her family and her longing for a new life.

Recommended for people who enjoy historical fiction such an The Familiars and The Mercies.

In 17th Century Lancashire Sarah Haworth and her family are barely surviving; her mother and Sarah herself have the mark. They are cunning women and with the arrival of a new magistrate it's the worst time to be a witch.

The narrator did a fantastic job at conveying the characters and the story itself was slow to start but enthralling. The novel was atmospheric and really brought to life the witch trials of that time and has made me want to read further into this period.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review

Set in Lancashire during the 1620’s when the fear of witchcraft was at its height, Cunning Women focuses on a developing relationship between a daughter of a ‘cunning woman’ and a local farmers son.

Sarah’s mother practises ‘witchcraft’ in terms of using nature to provide cures and curses and Sarah is aware of a mark that identifies her as having these gifts too. Although most of the local community have sought her mothers help in the past for illness and ailment, they fear their abilities especially when a new magistrate arrives and is very damning to any suspected witchcraft. The whole family are treated as outcasts so when Sarah meets the local farmers son, Daniel, she is surprised to find a spark between them.

This book is beautifully written, I especially like the Lancashire tongue that the dialogue is written in which was enchanted by the brilliant narration on the audiobook. The storyline is enjoyable and the relationship between Sarah and Daniel was one I was willing to work out against the odds. It did miss a wow factor for me and the ending was a little disappointing but overall this is a lovely, easy, enjoyable read which I would recommend.

I listened to this audiobook after reading the book and I appreciated how the voice of the narrator makes the characters vivid.
As for the book is a sort of "Marmite" book and your rating depends on the expectations because I was expecting a story about witches, magic and witch hunt.
There are references and the life of the characters is strongly affected by magic but at the end of the day it's more a woman fiction set in specific historical frame.
I like the style of writing and the character development even if the pace is a bit too slow at times.
I want to read other books by this author this one is recommended to anyone who want to read a good women's fiction story set in the past.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have absolutely loved listening to this audiobook. Although it is long (over nine hours) and it took me a little while to get in to the story and familiarise myself with all the characters, once I was in I was totally hooked. I loved the characters of Sarah and Daniel, and hated Gabriel (as the author intends us to I believe). The narrator's voice was entrancing and I became totally lost in the story towards the end. I am really enjoying historical fiction at the moment and Cunning Women is a great example of the genre. I would definitely recommend reading the physical book, or listening to the audiobook. Now I've finished the audiobook I might treat myself to a physical copy!

What a magical listen. A truly absorbing and heart wrenching tale of love, which craft, and discovery. Thank you NetGalley.

People rely on Sarah’s family for healing balms, protection and the odd curse, but it’s the 17th century and whispers of witchcraft are never far away. Sarah is used to being an outcast, but a forbidden relationship with a farmer’s son gives her a glimpse of how different her life could be. A gripping story and talented narrator make this a must read for historical fiction fans.

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K. Audio for the unabridged audiobook edition via NetGalley of ‘Cunning Women’ by Elizabeth Lee in exchange for an honest review. The audiobook is narrated by Taj Atwal and has a running time of 10 hours, 15 minutes at 1x speed.

This work of historical fiction is set in 1620s Lancashire where in a small hamlet, abandoned since the Plague, only one family dwells. The Haworths are a family of cunning folk and while considered outcasts by day, the villagers secretly visit them at night for healing balms, charms, and more.

Sarah Haworth is the novel’s narrator and lives with her mother, older brother, John, and little sister, Annie. One day Sarah meets Daniel, a gentle farmer’s son. The two begin a secret relationship and Sarah starts to dream of a normal life with him. Then a new magistrate arrives with an agenda to root out both papists and witches and it isn’t long before his eye falls upon the Haworth family.

While witchcraft is very much a part of Sarah and her mother’s lives, I felt that the story centred more on the forbidden love between Sarah and Daniel. It is quite a slow moving novel and I didn’t find myself overly invested in their relationship. However, the pace did pick up in the final chapters.

Although taking place only eight years after the Pendle Witch Trials it seemed a bit strange that there was little awareness of these tragic events in the Haworth household; whereas I would imagine that there would have been a network of communication between cunning folk especially in the same area of the country.

In terms of its audiobook, Taj Atwal Is a well known British actor and I felt that she brought a great deal of warmth and depth to the reading. She also utilised her skills with Northern accents to bring another level of authenticity to the narrative.

‘Cunning Women’ was beautifully written, yet I found that I wanted more magic and witchcraft as it felt rather pushed into the background as the focus was on the star-crossed lovers. It was a moving love story but overall the kind of novel that I liked rather than loved.

I did find the cover art impressive and the chapter titles very imaginative.