Helpful Score: 3
The Witchs Trinity centers on a village in Germany in the 16th century and how the villagers slowly turn on one another by accusing each other of witchcraft in explanation of the long period of bad crops and starvation they have been experiencing. The main character, Gude, is an old woman who lives with her son, wife, and two children and is accused by her daughter-in-law as a convenient way to get rid of the old woman so they would no longer have to feed her. This occurs after Gudes dearest friend is accused and found guilty after a Priest tries her using the Witchs Hammer, a Bible of recognizing and dealing with witchcraft.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this short read and was able to finish it within a couple of hours. The author definitely has a good imagination. She does a great job of conveying Gudes vulnerability as an old woman, and does a fantastic job in blurring the lines so we dont know if Gude really is experiencing what is described in the book or if it is just an old womans imagination run wild. Also the glimpse we get of the teachings of the Witchs Hammer and the methods of torture used to exact confessions from the accused actually made me cringe. I cant imagine having to go through any of that.
I read The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent which centered on the Carrier family and the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. That story was interesting also but was dull and bogged down in parts and you sort of lost the characters. In my opinion Witchs Trinity is a much better read because I cant recall any dull parts at all. I loved the writing style and I hope I get to read more from this author.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this short read and was able to finish it within a couple of hours. The author definitely has a good imagination. She does a great job of conveying Gudes vulnerability as an old woman, and does a fantastic job in blurring the lines so we dont know if Gude really is experiencing what is described in the book or if it is just an old womans imagination run wild. Also the glimpse we get of the teachings of the Witchs Hammer and the methods of torture used to exact confessions from the accused actually made me cringe. I cant imagine having to go through any of that.
I read The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent which centered on the Carrier family and the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. That story was interesting also but was dull and bogged down in parts and you sort of lost the characters. In my opinion Witchs Trinity is a much better read because I cant recall any dull parts at all. I loved the writing style and I hope I get to read more from this author.
Helpful Score: 2
This was a good story. IT really gives you an insight as to what could cause such horrific events. Hunger tares a once communal village apart and turns neighbor against neighbor and even family against family. No one is safe from accusation and once accused your fate is pretty much sealed. I especially like that there were actual exerts from the The Malleus Maleficarum.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this to be a really frightening and alarming book. Not because it's written as a horror novel, it's not, but because it shows how easy it is for simple and kind people to turn against one another when "Life Goes Wrong". It's doubly alarming to me because while this book is fiction, it is based on things that really did occur repeatedly in history. And because it shows a glimpse of what one religion with too much power will do to exterminate the religion and beliefs of others.
