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The Crow Folk

The Witches of Woodville, Book 1

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About this listen

 'Beautiful and engaging and clever and what more could you ask for in a book?' Manda Scott, bestselling author of A Treachery of Spies

'A story that is full of magic and delight that will thrill readers of any age' Rowan Coleman, author of The Girl at the Window

‘A rural Ben Aaronovitch!’ C. K. McDonnell, author of The Stranger Times

As Spitfires roar overhead and a dark figure stalks the village of Woodville, a young woman will discover her destiny . . .

Faye Bright always felt a little bit different. And today she’s found out why. She’s just stumbled across her late mother’s diary which includes not only a spiffing recipe for jam roly-poly, but spells, incantations, runes and recitations . . . a witch's notebook.

And Faye has inherited her mother’s abilities.

Just in time, too. The Crow Folk are coming. Led by the charismatic Pumpkinhead, their strange magic threatens Faye and the villagers. Armed with little more than her mum's words, her trusty bicycle, the grudging help of two bickering old ladies, and some aggressive church bellringing, Faye will find herself on the front lines of a war nobody expected.

For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes this delightful novel of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . .

Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series!
#1 The Crow Folk
#2 Babes in the Wood
#3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn
#4 The Holly King
#5 The Corn Bride

Praise for THE CROW FOLK

'Stay has brewed a cracking blend of charm and creepiness in The Crow Folk. A rip-roaring tale of bravery and witchcraft on the wartime home front, expertly told with lashings of wit and warmth' Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World

'Warm, witty, witchy wartime fun. With Mark Stay as writer you're always guaranteed a magical read' Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries

'You'll love it: Doctor Who meets Worzel Gummidge' Lorna Cook, author of The Forgotten Village

'A jolly romp with witches, demons, and bellringing. Pratchett fans will enjoy this, and Faye is a feisty and fun hero. Dad's Army meets Witches of Eastwick' Ian W Sainsbury

‘Mark Stay’s brilliantly written Witches of Woodville books are somehow funny, cosy, clever and disturbingly dark all at the same time. Terry Pratchett fans will LOVE em’ Lucy Strange

'Extremely funny, full of imagination, verve and typical English "home counties" wit' Irish Independent ©2021 Mark Stay (P)2021 Simon & Schuster UK 20th Century Coming of Age Cosy Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Humorous Magic Mystery Village Witchcraft Exciting Funny Witty Magic Users
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What a lovely book! Think WW11 era with some scarecrows and witches thrown in for good measure. It was at times creepy, at times funny, tugged a bit at the heartstrings and it was full of gorgeously nostalgic historical detail. It reminded me of something I might have read as a youngster.
This is a wholesome book, one that doesn’t depend on gore, sex, violence, etc. for its appeal. That makes it a rare gem and suitable for anyone aged about 12 and upwards. The audiobook is beautifully narrated.
Really looking forward to the sequel, “Babes in the Wood”.

Just Gorgeous!

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Warm, funny, kind and wise. This is the perfect comforting book for our troubling times.

Really good

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Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next one. Quirky characters, a well-paced story, some very heartfelt moments, great narration. Just a bit less magical & whimsical than I hoped somehow. Curious about where the story will go next though!

Throughly enchanting

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I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. Beautiful prose and an entertaining cast of characters.

A great book

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A witty, whimsical, engaging and sometimes eerie story set during WW2. The narrator’s tone and delivery was reminiscent of the Ealing film comedies, which is exactly right! for this setting and characters. Looking forward to the next one...

Delightful…

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