I had the pleasure of reading The Famine Witch by Stephen Black, published by Quill and Crow Publishing House. This late 2023 release was a captivating story of revenge, good vs. evil, and age old myths battling for the fate of one young woman.
The story follows Maggie Malone, a young woman living in Belfast during the year of the “Black ’47” as it is called in the book, aka 1847 or the year of the potato Famine. Maggie and her brother Jinks are central characters to a battle for the fate of Belfast itself, and become pawns in one woman’s plot to destroy an evil creature known only as Bloody Hands.
Although Maggie and Jinks are the central characters, the book does not hesitate to show other POV’s to grant readers a full picture of the story at hand. While this can be jarring at first, it isn’t poorly done. We see the POVs of Finnoula O’Kane, of the aberacht, of ships captains and religious men, as well as Annabell and Nell, some personal favorites of mine. While this kind of POV hopping can sometimes lead to an exhaustion of not getting to see the main plot unfold, I actually found myself equally invested in each POV. I never felt as though a specific character’s part of the plot was lacking, or boring, rather like peeling back layers of a city and looking deeper each time. I do think Annabell, Nell, and Maggie are perhaps my favorite POV’s, but the other’s did not in anyway detract from the story or impact.
Regarding the characters themselves, there are many. The central ones being Finnoula, Maggie, Jinks, Annabell, and Bloody Hands. All throughout the book their stories are woven together through unique twists and turns. What I loved the most was getting to see each of them from within their own mind, within their own POV, and truly understand their varying goals. It truly set up some unreliable heroes, and left me always asking myself who was truly “good” throughout the whole book.
The character interactions and voices were also something I think Stephen did a stellar job of writing. Not one of them felt shallow. Each carried their own voice, and each voice only added to the mixture of despair and misery that the book’s heroes fought against. Overall it was a visceral experience.
As for the plot, I was hooked from the start of the book. I admit to completing it in two sittings, only because sleep is apparently a human need when you work a 7am job. However, I couldn’t put it down once I picked it back up again. The plot weaves between each character adding layer on layer to the moral dilemma’s, the social commentary, and the need to see Maggie and her brother have a happily ever after.
I would recommend the Famine Witch to anyone who enjoys an emotionally impactful book full of rich historical fantasy, deep mythology, and gripping moral dilemma’s which leave you guessing till the end. The book will make you feel good, and sick, and horrible, and you won’t be able to look away from the page. It will bring tears, and laughter, and unease, and all of the amazing emotions. Overall, one of my favorite reads of the year so far.