Whilst planning for my witch themed book, I knew instantly that Sorceress should be on my list of books to read, as the first book in the series 'Witch Child' had been one of the first fictional witch books I had ever read. In fact, it has now astounded me how many are now available, considering how few paranormal books could be purchased ten to fifteen years ago in the UK.I have to say from reading both the books in this series, I loved Sorceress the most. I couldn't put it down and I was so glad to be back in the company of Mary, alongside her new spiritual companion Agnes.In this sequel, we find Mary ousted from the New England community and saved from death by Jaybird, whom had featured in the first book. The budding relationship between Mary and Jaybird, begins so beautifully as she becomes accepted within the Native American community. Unfortunately life is not easy for Mary and her family and she experiences situations that no one should ever have to deal with. This is definitely a case of 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.' A couple of the scenes I found were rather gut wrenching and left me contemplating my own family. Within the first book, the story was told through the hidden journals of Mary that were discovered in an ancient quilt. I was pleased that Sorceress took a different approach and the story was told through the eyes of Agnes, who has a family and spiritual connection to Mary. I loved the fact that the ways of the Native Americans were described in such detail within this book, as I have always found them so fascinating. I have always been compelled to find out more about their beliefs as they are just so different to the society in which I was brought up in. I love that their belief in spirit is so strong. Celia Rees has managed to bring their traditions and beliefs alive in this book, encouraging further investigation by the reader. I loved the way the book almost felt real. The way it is written has you questioning whether it actually happened or not. You wonder if Alison Ellman is actually real, and really has been investigating Mary's life. I found it gave an interesting slant to historical fiction. Some of the information provided in the book details the real history of the Native American race which only added to my speculations.This book really had a completely different feel to it from Witch Child. Witch Child was caught up with the traditions of the English settlers, which seemed rigid and claustrophobic, where as the Native American traditions allowed for more openness and freedom. My favourite scene in the book is the tender steps taken into the blossoming relationship between Mary and Jaybird. The way it is described brings the tenderness and first feelings of love alive. It made my skin tingle as I read how Mary how finally found some happiness, even though it was to be short lived.It is plainly obvious that the author carried out extensive research before embarking on this story. I would even believe that she wrote out the back stories for the majority of the characters as a few are included in the transcripts. This book feels like a labour of love. The author has taken time to bring all her characters, including the secondary ones to life. She has made the book feel real and I came away quite inspired.Mary is a strong character, who fights adversity to find her own pathway through life. As to whether she is actually a witch, that is questionable still. Personally I view her as a healer. She learns how to save people using the methods she had been taught by her grandmother and White Eagle. She was probably at the forefront of modern medicine that we experience today. Celia Rees has long been a favourite author of mine and I would definitely recommend that you read one of her books.
The sequel to Witch Child, its places itself mostly during King Phillips War, also known as Metacom's war (essentially when the Native American tribes first realize that European settlers are an existential threat, and banded together to try to expel them from the New England Colonies in the late 1600's). The protagonist is a modern day Native American college student, studying anthropology, who has read the book about Mary (witch child) and recognizes that she might be the same white medicine woman who is said to have joined her tribe, and spawned generations of powerful medicine women. Reading the book seems to awaken her own powers and she starts having visions that take her back in time to the Mary of the 1600's, extending the story told in Witch Child. The book is deceptively thick, which might intimidate some students, but that's because the print is large and the paper stock is heavy; it's actually a fairly quick read.The story starts out strong when it is in the modern day, but then in my opinion gets lost and confused when it shifts into Mary's story in the 1600's. While the average reader might rush past these early modern parts in search of the story line left off in Witch Child, as an anthropologist who has studied native Americans, I really appreciated the details given about the controversies inherent in the study of modern day Native Americans. The protagonist's aunt seems to represent the personification of Native American power, and how the tribes are currently taking back that power by insisting that their ancestors remains, and their religious articles be treated with respect and honor. (Try to imagine if you might some other nation, for example the Chinese, taking over the US and then disinterring the corpse of former US president and putting it on display in one of their museums, how might you feel about it?) As many tribes are matriarchal rather than patriarchal (although I'm not sure about the case of the specific tribe discussed), it is also appropriate that this power be manifested in woman. I also appreciated the authors overview, albeit a shallow one, of the economics of tax free status and casinos and how they are used, in the best case scenarios, on the reservations to increase the socioeconomic status the tribe. Again, while many readers might rush past these bits, there is actually a great deal of information in here for teachers who are introducing their students to aspects of native American culture.However, then the story switches from the present to the past and gets really murky. It seems a mixed amalgam of a lot of different works of historical fiction and fact: In some ways its disturbingly similar to the story of Mary Jemison (who was an historic captive who stayed with and became an important person in her tribe and is still revered by them today), its descriptions of native American religions is almost identical to that in the clan of cave bear books (by Jean Auel), and in the sections when Mary comes into contact with the French it feels horribly reminiscent of Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker which are an alternative history of the Mississippi Valley also based on the assumption that Magic is real.While it's highly entertaining and talks about a war that is all but forgotten these days, its more a 'suggested read' than something I could use in a classroom as part of a history lesson
What do You think about Sorceress (2003)?
Okay this book was good. Not the best but good. I liked it but didn't love it. This book was more about Mary then it was about Agnes, in fact I didn't hear much of Agnes in the book. I guess I would have liked to but......I don't know, I just wanted more Agnes. Anyway, I learned a lot from this book about history and the hardships of Native Americans. The last book centered around the English and their troubles, but this one was more around the Native Americans and their troubles. At times it re
—Violet
This book was good and I did enjoy reading it, I rarely read books based on America at this time period despite having an interest in Native Indians (the last one I read was really sad, [The last of the Mohicans] so it was really interesting reading this story on it. It was sad at parts and also really exciting and heart warming at others. The change between the two times slightly annoyed me as it was like as soon as I got into one story it would suddenly change and I'd have to try and remember where abouts I was in the story of the other girl. It also isnt as good as the first book but sequals rarely are as good as the first in the series. I did enjoy reading up on all the letters and interviews at the end, though got confused over some characters as they hadnt been mentioned since the first book which I hadnt read in a while so I was trying to remember bits about them. But yes, other than all that, I really did like reading it. It's an easy light read. I dont think it matches up to the first one but still really good.
—Lynne weir
I really did not understand this book until the middle and the end, but it is this girl named Mary that from the seventeenth-century who was self-professed witch,and the book was telling her story, mean while it is a girl named Agnes that was born centurys later, and Agnes read a book about Mary that asked if anyone knew her please contact the author.and Mary was dying in the forests where it was snowing, but she rescued by a man named Ephraim.on the other hand Agnes decided to investigate how Mary died with the help of a lady named Alison.Agnes had knew her aunt m had knew something about Mary,so she wanted to go to new York where she and her aunt m lived, but she was in Boston for college, and she had no way to go see her aunt m, until Alison volunteered to take her.her aunt had artifacts that used to be Mary's.also while Agnes was in Boston she had these flash backs about Mary well it like she was living in events from the long ago past she is the kind of girl who likes to investigate.this book reminds me of a time when I was younger about six year old I did not really know my mom so i started asking my family about her and I even got to see her.also Alison want to know why Mary died.and Agnes has this special powers where she can live the events of the past and Mary was using her to tell her story.I like the character Mary but I do not know why I like her. I want to all the sorceress books.the book leave s you asking a question.well me. I really recommend this book for the people that like sequels.but I do not think this book is is easy for someone like me that's in the 8th grade
—Olivia Lawson
