If witches would be real, can they still haunt an entire village in the present?

Synopsis

Now: When Megan’s father gets a letter containing a secret from the past, he asks her to go to the Cornish village of St Mawgen Cove to get to the bottom of the mystery. Megan is happy to take a holiday after a challenging year but as soon as she checks into The Ship Inn something feels amiss. There are noises in the room above, the locals tell tales of smugglers and shipwrecks and she can’t escape the story of the witch who waits and watches, weeping on the top of the cliff.

1625: Susanna and her daughter Katel live a contented life, but without the protection of a husband and father, Susanna fears for Katel’s future as she blossoms into womanhood. The fishing community of St Mawgen Cove is close knit but when misfortune arrives in the cove, it’s not long before villagers are looking for someone to blame. And when talk turns to witches, Susanna knows she and Katel are no longer safe.

Can Megan bring peace to St Mawgen and to two women who have been broken-hearted for centuries?

My review

To help out her father after receiving an unexpected letter, Megan heads off to the Cornish village of St Mawgen Cove. And obviously it is nice that she can finally take a much needed holiday. The last things Megan expected, is that after checking in at the The Ship Inn, stories of the place being haunted are being told and believed in. Some rooms of the Inn even have inexplicable noises, that chase the guests away… All that is related to the tails of witches, shipwrecks and smugglers. Megan is especially intrigued by the story of Susanna and her daughter Katel, who in 1625 were living peacefully in St Mawgen Cove, even if Susanna had Katel out of wedlock and never married. And like a real good mother, Susanna worries about Katel, who is growing up to become a young woman. But with Katel befriending the wrong kind of person, and misfortune taking place in St Mawgen Cove, soon whispers and reasons for it start to arise. And when there is even talks about witchcraft, Susanna and Katel start to feel unsafe in a place that always felt like home to them…

I wouldn’t say that I believe in witchcraft, just like I wouldn’t say that I believe in ghosts or spirits. But I am not saying that they aren’t real, but for me to believe it, I need to see it with my own eyes, even if I rather not. In doubt, don’t tempt them 😊.

Of course there has been a time that people generally speaking, believed in witchcraft, especially the bad kind of witchcraft. And we all know that many women have been wrongfully accused of being a witch and even persecuted and murdered for just gossip and mean talks…

When I started to read this book, I was wondering how the author would link the story of Megan with the story of Susanna. Of course, with Megan going to St Mawgen Cove for a holiday/ favour to her father, it was rather easy to make the connection. But even if Megan is staying at The Ship Inn, it is not just a matter of making that common thread work between the both main characters.

But I loved it reading how Megan heads off to St Mawgen cove, and how her story is getting linked with Susanna’s story.

Right from the start, I liked Megan, even if we don’t share the same beliefs. I do believe that there are herbs that can help with certain ailments, but I don’t believe in crystals, the power of stones etc. But of course, everyone is free to believe what they want. And what harm can it do?

But the reason I liked Megan, is for her open mind, her kind character, her ability to read people. When she discovers what her father has been keeping a secret, it would be normal to get angry, furious even. But not Megan, she listens to her father, understands his fears and doubts, and is even willing to test the waters. She also shows a healthy dose of curiosity but also a lot of common sense.

It’s clear that she is passionate about her job, but she also clearly needs a break, away from business. Of course you can take Megan away from her job, but you can never take out the passion for the crystals and herbs out of Megan. Even when she should be relaxing, and not having a care in the world (with the exception of helping her father), she cannot just stop listening to people and offer some kind of help and advice, however she can.

While staying at the Inn, she quickly learns about the myths, and she is even the witness of a few peculiar incidents. Incidents that gave me goosebumps, as I am 100% sure that I would be running away screaming if I were in Megan’s shoes. But that is also testimony of Megan’s character, that even if she is a bit scared, she won’t let the incidents chase her away. On the contrary, she wants to discover what happened centuries ago…

Centuries ago that bring us to the world of Susanna and Katel.

Susanna is a strong woman, an independent woman, in a time it isn’t expected from women to stand on their own feet. She is a smart woman too, she has a lot of knowledge to help people. In that aspect, she looks a lot like Megan.

She is a strong woman, as she is a mother, but no man in her life. That doesn’t mean that she hasn’t loved before, otherwise Katel wouldn’t have been born, right? 😊 But Susanna is also a woman with a conscience, who does the right thing, she doesn’t cross any line, no matter what.

Susanna is also a loving mother to Katel, who honestly isn’t always the easiest of daughters. Perhaps it’s because of Katel’s age, that she is easily influenced, or other reasons, but Katel in this story takes a few turns, that worried me. Her friendships aren’t always the wisest ones.

And I could understand Susanna’s worries… because as a mother, you always want to protect your  children. And Susanna for sure wants to protect Katel from evil, not only evil friendships, but also evil gossips.

Of course we know that things won’t end well, but it is until the very last that we are able to discover who the haunted ghosts are, what the reason is for them not to have peace, and why some of them are seeking revenge.

I found this an intriguing story, absolutely, as I needed to have the answers to all my questions. But it was also a heartwarming yet also heartbreaking story. Because we see so much love in it, but also how painful that love can be. How much joy love can bring, no matter which kind of love that is, but also how it can drive people to extremities…

Even if there were aspects in this book that I don’t (want to) believe, I found myself having the need, the urgence to keep reading the stories of Megan and Susanna, two women in different times, but so alike in many ways. Women that are strong, smart and loving, but have endured pain in their lives too. Women that love unconditionally and protect their loved ones at any cost, even if that may or may not be at their own stake…