ARC Review: The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

From The New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston comes an enchanting tale of love and magic that weaves a modern day heroine together with the ancient Celtic past.

It has been one year since her husband’s sudden death and Tilda has moved to a secluded Welsh cottage to overcome her grief. She hoped her new home would end her visions of Mat’s death, but instead the lake seems to spark something dormant in her – a sensitivity, and a power of some sort. Animals are drawn to her, electricity shorts out when she’s near, and strangest of all, she sees a new vision; a boatful of ancient people approaching her across the lake.

On this same lake in Celtic times lives Seren, a witch. She is respected but feared, kept separate from the community for her strange looks. When a vision comes to her of the Prince in a nest of vipers she warns of betrayal from one of his own. Her loyal Prince believes her, but there are those in his inner circle who would blind him to the danger that lies in wait.

In her own time, Tilda’s grief begins to fades with her newfound powers and a fresh love. When she explores the lake’s ancient magic and her own she discovers Seren, the woman in her vision of the boat. Their two lives strangely mirror each other’s, suggesting a connection between the two women and their powers. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power, one reminiscent of Seren’s prophecy, she must rely on Seren and ancient magic to protect the new life she has come to love.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book or influence the content of my review.

Read: 26^th– 2^nd November 2015

Although this book is listed on Amazon as the third book in Ms Brackston’s Shadow Chronicles series, it can be read as a standalone title.

What did I like about The Silver Witch?

I haven’t read any of Ms Brackston’s previous books. However, I found myself captivated with her beautiful and descriptive use of language. I liked the way that this intriguing tale was told from both of our heroine’s perspectives. Tilda in the here and now and Seren in the Celtic past. The sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious scenes and romantic ones were all written particularly well giving us a good balanced plot, with a sprinkle of humour thrown into the mix.

Although this is a work of fiction, the attention to historic detail and the care that was obviously taken when writing her characters made Ms Brackston’s world and the people in it feel very real to me.

I loved the way the story kept us guessing in both the Celtic past and Welsh present; how were the worlds connected? Who was buried in the unmarked grave? What became of Seren and would Tilda solve the mystery in time to have her happily ever after?

Was there anything I disliked about The Silver Witch?

No (hence the 5 star review).

I have read reviews that complained of a slow start but I enjoyed the gentle way in which Tilda and Seren’s stories were revealed and how the mystery and subsequent danger gradually built, it’s reminiscent of our great literary heroes and the classics that have endured the test of time.

Basically, what I’m saying is…

The Silver Witch is a beautifully written paranormal tale that spans the ages. It has romance, mystery and danger with a duel plot that connects an ancient Welsh Celtic seer/shaman/witch and a modern-day ceramics artist looking to find herself after the tragic death of her new husband. No cliff-hangers and a self-contained story within one book. A good mystery, a lovely romance, paranormal happenings and all my questions answered by the end. I’ve loved reading this book!  

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery stories, historical fiction and paranormal tales as well as readers of YA novels too as there is no explicit sexual content and only a handful of expletives.

Have I sparked an interested? Do you want to read THE SILVER WITCH? Click on any of the links to check out the book yourself. Keep reading to find out more about the author.

About Paula Brackston

Paula Brackston lives in a wild, mountainous part of Wales. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and is a Visiting Lecturer for the University of Wales, Newport. Before becoming a writer, Paula tried her hand at various career paths, with mixed success. These included working as a groom on a racing yard, as a travel agent, a secretary, an English teacher, and a goat herd. Everyone involved (particularly the goats) is very relieved that she has now found a job she is actually able to do properly.

When not hunched over her keyboard in her tiny office under the stairs, Paula is dragged outside by her children to play Swedish tennis on the vertiginous slopes which surround them. She also enjoys being walked by the dog, hacking through weeds in the vegetable patch, or sitting by the pond with a glass of wine. Most of the inspiration for her writing comes from stomping about on the mountains being serenaded by skylarks and buzzards.

In 2007 Paula was shortlisted in the Creme de la Crime search for new writers. In 2010 her book 'Nutters' (writing as PJ Davy) was shortlisted for the Mind Book Award, and she was selected by the BBC under their New Welsh Writers scheme.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this review. I hope you found it interesting.

Bye for now,

Flora x