The Silver Witch: A Novel

by Paula Brackston Narrated by Marisa Calin

Overview

A year after her husband's sudden death, ceramic artist Tilda Fordwells finally moves into the secluded Welsh cottage that was to be their new home. She hopes that the tranquil surroundings will help ease her grief, and lessen her disturbing visions of Mat's death. Instead, the lake in the valley below her cottage 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 water.
On this same lake in Celtic times lived Seren, a witch and shaman. She was respected but feared, kept separate from the community for her strange looks. When a vision came to her of the Prince amid a nest of vipers she warned of betrayal from one of his own. Prince Brynach both loved and revered her, but could not believe someone close to him wished him harm, even as the danger grew.
In her own time, Tilda's grief begins to fade beside 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 strong connection between the women. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power, one reminiscent of Seren's prophecy, she must rely on Seren and ancient magic if death and disaster are not to shatter her life once more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Vivid Welsh historical details, haunting surroundings, and Gothic magical elements both enchant and perplex the reader as Tilda and Dylan strive to unravel the mysteries of the past before the present danger overwhelms them. Readers who savor richly detailed paranormal fiction or have enjoyed Brackston's previous novels will want to give this one a try.” —Library Journal on The Silver Witch

“Paula Brackston weaves a lyrical and lovely tale…As ever Brackston’s prose is sharp, precise, and a pleasure to encounter…Her world of witches and warriors, of the supernatural and divine, is one that will captivate many an unwary reader.”—San Francisco Book Review

“The Witch's Daughter is a must read for anyone who loves magic set in the real world, who craves a well-written novel with historical elements along with romance and witchcraft tied into a tension-filled plot and vivid imagery, and, of course, who seeks an escape from their own lives if only for a moment.” —Huffington Post on The Witch's Daughter

“...compelling and beautiful...a book to be savored. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful writer who always manages to take my breath away.” —SF Site on Lamp Black, Wolf Grey

Library Journal

03/15/2015
In her latest witchy historical romance (after The Witch's Daughter, The Winter Witch, and The Midnight Witch) Brackston interweaves two distinct story lines, told from the points of view of two women, revealing mystical connections between Tilda Fordwells and a tenth-century shaman named Seren. When Tilda moves into a Welsh lakeside cottage that she and her late husband had purchased, she develops new powers and begins to have frightening visions. The inexplicable happenings lead Tilda, along with the help of a handsome archaeologist, Dylan, to delve into the centuries-old story of Seren and the prince she was once responsible for protecting. VERDICT Vivid Welsh historical details, haunting surroundings, and Gothic magical elements both enchant and perplex the reader as Tilda and Dylan strive to unravel the mysteries of the past before the present danger overwhelms them. Readers who savor richly detailed paranormal fiction or have enjoyed Brackston's previous novels will want to give this one a try. [See Prepub Alert, 10/5/14.]—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib. & Information Ctr., Atlanta

Kirkus Reviews

2015-01-29
Grief, magic and the ancient world collide in Brackston's (The Midnight Witch, 2014, etc.) fourth novel.Still grieving the unexpected death of her husband, artist Tilda Fordwells moves into the remote cottage on a Welsh lake they had intended to share. But as Tilda becomes the center of a series of paranormal events, she soon realizes her pull to the area is anything but accidental. Equally unsettling are the curious new effect Tilda seems to have on electricity and the terrifying visions she's been having since settling into the cottage. Even as Tilda seeks to understand the bizarre new powers she possesses, she's blindsided by her attraction to Dylan, an archaeological diver hired to explore the ancient crannog that once dominated the lake. Alternating smoothly with the modern storyline is the tale of Seren Arianaidd, a 10th-century shaman charged with protecting Prince Brynach, the handsome royal who rules from the crannog on the lake. As the two stories unfold, the reader learns what ancient act of love and revenge ties the two women together—and what deadly, dark power has awoken from the dark waters of the lake. The story has moments of glory, but Brackston's writing, so solid in earlier books, vacillates unpredictably between evocative and uninventive. Her use of description also founders: A full page is dedicated to detailing the interior contents of a hut, and three various men are described as "wiry" in the first hundred pages. And while the reader may thrill to the idea of both a contemporary and a historical romantic storyline, the romance between Prince Brynach and seer Seren feels disappointingly devoid of foundation, chemistry and heart. It may be only the die-hard fans of Brackston's particular blend of history and fantasy that are able to overlook such missed opportunities. A stunning setting and bewitching premise make this book appealing, but Brackston's execution falls short of its mark.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169283051
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	04/21/2015
Series:	Shadow Chronicles , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged

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