The Witch Of Tin Mountain By Paulette Kennedy
The Witch Of Tin Mountain By Paulette Kennedy
My Review
Introduction:
I saw this little gem on Amazon First reads and couldn’t resist. I’m a sucker for anything witchy and I was also really happy to see that this book was getting lots of good press over on Instagram and Tiktok because it really does deserve it. Let’s take a look at why!
About The Book
The Witch Of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy
Synopsis
In Depression-era Arkansas, something wicked has come to a haunted mountain town in a novel of uncanny suspense by the author of Parting the Veil.
Blood and power bind three generations of women in the Ozark Mountains. So does an evil that’s followed them across the decades.
1931. Gracelynn Doherty lives peacefully on Tin Mountain, helping her adoptive granny work her cures. Despite whispers that the women are witches, the superstitious locals still seek them out, whether to remedy arthritis or a broken heart. But when evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town promising miracle healing, full bellies, and prosperity, his revivals soon hold Tin Mountain in thrall—and Granny in abject fear.
Granny recognizes Josiah. Fifty years ago, in a dark and desperate moment, she made a terrible promise. Now Josiah, an enemy, has returned to collect his due.
As Granny sickens and the drought-ridden countryside falls under a curse, Gracelynn must choose: flee Tin Mountain and the only family she knows, or confront the vengeful preacher whose unholy mission is to destroy her.
MY REVIEW
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This book was written between two time periods and in two points of view. The first point of view is Gracelynn, a young woman who lives on Tin Mountain in Arkansas during the great depression in 1931. The second point of view is from Deidre in 1881 who fits into Gracelynn’s story in an unexpected way that’s revealed close to the conclusion of the novel.
I thought the time period picked by the author for this was amazing, and really enjoyed the setting of both points of view and both time periods. I loved learning about Arkansas, and about the way Gracelynn and her grandmother lived primarily off the land. I also enjoyed how the author utilised the travelling preachers to create the antagonists of the novel and found it really interesting that their extreme Christianity was but a smokescreen for their darker appetites.
I found Gracelynn to be really brave and courageous as a character, and did relate to her more closely than Deidre who it seemed was somewhat naïve when it came to men and relationships in general, though for the time period I suppose this was to be expected.
I enjoyed the Sapphic side of this story very much as well, and thought the parallels drawn between the two narratives to be engaging. Both their stories really kept me turning the pages, and I loved the concept of both women being ostracised by a community they’d done so much to help and aid, in spite of their reputations. It seems that the author was making the point, and very much invested in the idea of, the female reputation and the way it can be dismantled so easily by the male. Especially when the women being targeted are spinsters, childless, or just outside of the norm of women of their time period. I also found the character of Gentry to be both well executed and interesting to observe as the reader. He was definitely playing the long game with Deidre, and coming to realise that Gracelynn was his target all along was both a twist I wasn’t expecting, and masterfully pulled off by the author.
I loved the witchcraft elements in this story, and the way that Gracelynn protected Morris and Seth from the white authorities in Arkansas in 1931, how the two of them finally ended up together in California and really did find happiness. The mountain itself also played an interesting role, in that it not only held fast to the past tragedies of Anneliese, but has created a battleground for future generations to avenge her loss.
For some characters, I feel Morris, Seth, and Deidre in particular, true happiness could only be found away from this place. Deidre seems to evade her destiny on the mountain and find something real with Evelyn. Even Gracelynn feels this way too in the beginning, with savings burning a hole in her pocket as she plans to flee to the west coast with Abby. It is then a great testament to her character and her courage that she chooses to stay, and that even in the epilogue we find her on the mountain. Confronting her demons means claiming the mountain as home, as hers. She does this as the reader cheers her on, and her success is both hard-won and sweet.
If you love period fiction, love stories about love and the strength of family ties, about the potency of legacy and past transgressions, of magic and the strength of women, this is the book for you. With a five star rating from me, I suggest you bump this little gem up your TBR immediately.
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