Trish's Reviews > Of Sorrow and Such

Much like Valente's stories, I came by Slatter's by coincidence and recommendation. Yes, I love stories about witches - the ones about great magic spells as much as ones about women who simply know how to heal with plants and are hunted for it. The ones I love most fall somewhere in between, like this one.

We meet Patience Gideon, a witch. She can use all sorts of herbs for abortions, for healing, for killing, ... and mixes those herbs for things that need actual magic. There are many witches in this world, some of them even shapeshifters. Some pass by Patience's cottage and stay a few days to be safe. Always in exchange for knowledge.
The village where she lives knows at least of some of her skills and while they are all "good Christians" (except for the other witches living there secretly), they don't move against her.
But when a young shapeshifter is stupid enough to get caught, priests and other "good people" call for blood.
Hangings, burnings, beatings, rape ... witches or women unable to give their husbands what they want ... there are many reasons for these women to be mistreated.

I started reading about actual witch hunts and trials because I was fascinated of the blend between superstition, advanced (for the standards back then) medicine, and tales of independent women refusing to bow to convention. Many preferred to die standing than live kneeling and I get it.
This book represents just such women without vilifying all men. There is no generalization here. Some women (witches even) are stupid or treacherous or egocentric, some men are rapists and worse, other women feel a certain sisterhood or just want to get by and other men are sweet and honest. Most are several things at once. Just like real people.

Seeing the women here being afraid but also smart and creative in getting by, living their day-to-day lives, protecting themselves, spiced with the gift some of them have; seeing the betrayal but also the sisterhood, practically feeling the coziness of Patience's kitchen, smelling the flowers in the garden and the herbs in the forest - not every author can breathe life into their tales in such a way.

The author's writing style is beautiful in an unassuming way, descriptive and vivid. The people, as I said, are all "real" and tragic figures or inspiring characters. The audiobook's narration perfectly matches the humble writing style. This has therefore definitely not been the last story by this author I've read and I need to get my hands on the paperback edition.