Widdershins
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Get 3 months for £0.99/mo
Widdershins
Buy Now for £14.99
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Narrated by:
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Christine Mackie
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By:
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Helen Steadman
About this listen
Bear witness to the quiet courage of the women who endured one of English history’s darkest chapters.
Step into the shadowy world of seventeenth-century England with Widdershins, a haunting historical novel that lays bare the terror of the 1650 Newcastle witch trials.
Jane Chandler is a natural healer whose knowledge of herbal remedies leaves her vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft in a society consumed by superstition.
In pursuit of her is John Sharpe, a witchfinder whose relentless crusade against witches is forged by religious zealotry.
In this compelling work of historical witch fiction, Widdershins blends meticulous research with evocative storytelling that immerses listeners in a turbulent and fear-stricken past.
©2017 Bell Jar Books (P)2025 Bell Jar BooksListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
“Impeccably written, full of herbal lore and the clash of ignorance and prejudice against common sense, as well as the abounding beauty of nature, it made for a great read. There are plenty of books, both fact and fiction, available about the witch-trial era, but not only did I not know about such trials in Newcastle, I have not read a novel that so painstakingly and vividly evokes both the fear and joy of living at that time.” Sally Zigmond, Historical Novel Society
“Widdershins is a dark and wonderful novel, rich in historical details, herbal lore, traditions and superstitions. Steadman’s clear eyed storytelling and colourful period voice give life to a vibrant cast of characters drawn against the backdrop of tragic historical events. A compelling and memorable tale!” Louisa Morgan, A Secret History of Witches
“A compelling and nuanced account of the clash of cultures that claimed so many lives. Steadman’s carefully interwoven narrative conjures a world of herbal lore, folk practice and belief and convincingly portrays the psychological and ideological forces that form a perpetrator, and the social structures that sustain him.” Helen Lynch, The Elephand and the Polish Question
We follow two narratives each as compelling as the other, one of Jane, a healers apprentice falsely accused of witchcraft, the other of John, a troubled soul with a dire upbringing resulting in an easily influenced persona that inevitably assumes the role of Witchfinder, hired to scour the land of ‘evil’ witchcraft.
Parts of the story are hard to witness, the torture that so many suffered is heart wrenchingly accurate. Due to this, Widdershins is for the adult reader, there are scenes of violence against women (including sexual violence), torture, execution, and violence towards animals. All written with painful accuracy, respectfully portraying what so many suffered during the age of witch trials.
Whilst I fell in love with the Widdershins tale, this was my first audiobook experience and I now know that audiobooks aren’t for me, the narrator was fantastic but I prefer to read the words and will be downloading the story to re-enjoy as a book later this month, with a more detailed review to follow on the blog on my website after.
If you’re looking for a witchy read with historical accuracy and a fantastic array of herbal lore - add to your TBR list.
A rollercoaster of emotions.
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I listened to the audio version but would describe the book as a page turner.
I really enjoyed the narrator and the accent was very suited to the book.
The book is well written and very informative.
I was shocked at numerous points including to hear how women who were nurses/midwives/herbal healers were accused of being witches.
I listened to this and was shocked at the thoughts in previous time that the monthlies were a punishment for women not doing their duty of having a child and they should suffer with the pains especially as I was going through a monthly whilst listening. I’m now looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Brilliant, did not disappoint
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At the start I loved both John and Jane but seeing how they grew and changed was both wonderful and heartbreaking.
It kept my attention well throughout and I am so excited to listen to the second one (Sunwise) to hear more about the characters and how the story develops. The cliffhanger that we were left on at the end of this gave me goosebumps.
So moving
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I was gifted this book as part of the book tour, in exchange for an honest review.
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Based on witch trials held in Newcastle in the 1650s, Widdershins follows the lives of two very different protagonists: Jane Chandler, an apprentice healer, and John Sharpe, witch finder. Each of these characters has their own tragedies to face and challenges to rise to as they navigate the harsh realities and religious superstitions of 17th Century England and Scotland.
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This was a brilliant piece of historical fiction, covering a topic as fascinating as it is horrifying. I was drawn in from the very start, through Steadman's raw and emotive writing, and continued to be engaged throughout the novel.
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In terms of plot, this was a slow burn. I kept waiting for the two stories to intertwine, which did take a while. However, this actually worked really well for the story and I didn't find myself feeling impatient. On the contrary, the storyline continued to be compelling and the gentle narration made this feel like an almost cosy read at times, despite the dark subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on audio.
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It was a difficult read at times though, as it highlights some awful realities from this period in history, including: execution, traumatic childbirth, child loss, and violence towards women. The treatment of women was utterly infuriating to listen to - I gave many an angry eyeroll at the ridiculous and hypocritical beliefs people held and John's chapters in particular became more and more challenging as the novel went on. Steadman doesn't hold back at all, and the result is uncomfortable but also powerful.
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Overall, this was a compelling and beautifully written (and narrated) novel that certainly evoked a reaction from me! I really felt for Jane, who was a strong and endearing main character, and the ending was the perfect emotional cliffhanger. I'm eager to see what awaits these two characters as the story continues in the next novel, Sunwise.
Wonderful!
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Very good story and characters
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