The Devil's Glove

by Lucretia Grindle

Northern New England, summer, 1688.

A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.

Salem started here.

Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.

Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when they are summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.

As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is a meticulously researched tale of supernatural suspense and intrigue, based on the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village's dark and mysterious past?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Witches, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, 17th Century

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2023

About the author

Lucretia Grindle was born in Boston Massachusetts and grew up spending half her time in the United States and half her time in the UK. Continuing as she started out, she still splits her time, but now calls the coast of Maine home.

Reviews

[johnny ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

the prose is absolutely gorgeous, let’s get that straight. unfortunately this novel is all illustration of pre-witch trial life. everything is painstakingly described in detail, yet there is a lack of substance. i feel that this novel could be condensed into a prologue, or rather a companion novel to the true story. this “book one” does not grip me enough to read the second. not many things actually happen. this feels like more of a study on life in this time period, not a comprehensive novel.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I must say about this book is that it was not what I had expected as I had expected it to be a novel about the Salem Witch Trials. There are many novels which have this as its dominant theme and I have enjoyed several of them. However, this book was refreshingly different in that it covers the time prior to this well known historical period. Although the witch trials are present, the subject was more a background note than the main focus.

If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:

https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.netgalley.com/member/book...

I received this book from The Book Whisperer, Casa Croce Press, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

Ms. Grindle is very in depth in her writing, she is very talented. She works well with character development and it was easy to remember the characters, as they were introduced at different times with their own stories. As many supporting characters as there were, she did a great job developing each one. Although, I felt as if some parts were overly descriptive, she does take advantage of describing the scenes in great detail, the smells, the colors, and the layouts. There were some very intriguing parts to the story that had me engaged and wanting to know what happened next. I did read the book in one day wanting to know what happens to Resolve and Deliverance. There are a few unexpected plot twists that were interesting and unexpected, which I liked.

At times, there seemed to be quite a bit of unnecessary, long descriptions and backstories that ended up not mattering. I skimmed over some paragraphs which seemed to not affect the point of the story at all. I think I was expecting more witchcraft then what was represented, as the point of this book was based on the history of the Salem Witch Trials. The ending was not what I expected, not in a good way or a bad way, I was expecting an ending that was more in depth and had more of an explanation.

I really wanted to absolutely love this book, as I am intrigued by the Salem Witch Trials. I was hoping for more in depth views of witchcraft, curses, hexes, and spells. If that is what you are looking for, it is not in this book. There is little mention of witchcraft and witches, although accusations and insinuations of who the witch or witches are. I didn't hate the book, I didn't love the book. Overall, it was a good book,

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, wonderful characters (some you grow to love, others you despise madly), provides an interesting look into life in a frontier town and the fears and pressures of the early colonial New England world. Can’t wait for the sequel!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we know from the summary that The Devil's Glove is about the Salem witch trials or more like a few years before the witch trials actually took place. I have this fascination with the Salem witch trials and have for a very long time. I am always looking for a book or movie about the trials. So when I read the summary for The Devil's Glove I knew right then and there that I had to read it.

The Devil's Glove is definitely way different than other books on the Salem witch trials as it starts before the trials ever happened. I really enjoyed reading The Devil's Glove. I enjoyed getting more background on the people that were involved or more like the ones that were accused of being a witch. I was pulled in from the start. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and learning what part they played. The Devil's Glove was a nice refresher on the Salem witch trials.

The Devil's Glove takes place in the summer of 1688 and is about a woman and her daughter accused of being the devil or witches. Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance were taught by the Indians how to heal.

While people were suspicious of their healing powers they did trust them enough to bring them a pregnant woman. They learn that this woman was dying because she had been poisoned but by the time she was brought to them, it was too late. The woman and her child died. Rumors spread quickly about them being witches.

The dead woman’s son came to visit them one day asking a lot of questions about his mother’s death. They gave him their suspicions about her death. He believed them as he had been thinking the same thing as well.

I really enjoyed following The Devil's Glove as they unraveled the truth behind it all. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as I wanted to know it all now. I can’t wait to read more in book two of the Salem series.

I do highly recommend The Devil's Glove to all fans of the Salem witch trials. Pick up your copy of The Devil's Glove today and dive into a different kind of, but great story on the Salem witch trials!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to say. I was expecting a story about witches. No mention of witches until the last couple of chapters. I’m not saying this book was bad though. It was just not a book about witches. Witch trials. Accusations of witches. Anything witches. The last few chapters brought out talk of the main character and her mother possibly being accused of being witches.

I was going to go right into the second book and may still. At this point maybe it will be what I expect.

A story of a girl who lives with her mother in the 17th century while it seems her father is abroad working. Maybe he just left them. Who knows. Not a whole lot about him.

I’m really at a loss as to what to say about this book. It was good but not a story about witches or trials or witchcraft. No accusations of witchcraft really. Talk of it near the end is all. It was good but left me with a lot of head scratching. I’m hoping that when I do read the second book I’ll be able to give a better review. I can’t even remember names in this one. Well except Abigail. Abigail was somewhat of a wild child. Possibly even a murderer. And Thaddeus. He was Abigail’s older brother and a love interest to the main character.

I gave this one 3 stars. It will not be a memorable read for me.

[Terri Minton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually set in the time period before the Salem witch trials. It wasn't full of "action" but the story line is interesting. It has kept my attention and I'm going to begin the 2nd of the series immediately.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book set in the 17th century at a time when just knowing how to swim could help folks accuse you of being a witch. It’s about Deliverance and her daughter Resolve they live in Massachusetts and the militia is in town and one of the soldiers goes to visit the mom and her daughter because they attended his mother recently when she was poisoned. When Deliverance tells Yhung Theo Dodd that she believes his eight-year-old sister Annabelle had a hand and his mom and her unborn babies death he grimly agrees and says he tried to warn his poor mother. The militia is in town because the settlement had been attacked and they were there to round up all the indigenous people they could catch deliverance and her her daughter quickly let out in their boat to warn their friends. It’s a tribe of indigenous people that her dad left them with when he went to fight with the militia years before it is also the people who taught Deliverance everything she knows about healing. It mainly focuses on her daughter and her daughter‘s best friend Jada once the militia starts bringing in indigenous people however Resolve starts to feel a wedge between her and Jayda after hearing the unkind remarks her best friend says about the captives. Although this isn’t the best summary because there is way more to this book there’s super natural happenings A menacing eight-year-old and not to mention the great detail of life at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you love historical fiction then you definitely should read The Devils Glove Buy Lacretia Grendel I totally and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received it from NetGalley and the book whisperer but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Marilyn Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Glove is a beautifully written book, rich with emotion and description. Our main character takes us immediately into her world and slowly but steadily reveals its depth. The pacing is wonderful, keeping the reader engrossed but not overwhelmed, and the major themes of the work come out right when they should , clearly at the 3/4 mark. Hang in there with this novel, as it is worth it on several levels.

The storyline deals with a time very little represented in historical fiction, of the New England area when the Puritans were still new to the land and the plight of the previous pioneers, the Huguenots, still fresh in their memories. The culture of the time is explored in depth through the characters’ lives and gives a new slant to what happened over the next few years in Salem. This is not a book to rehash the trials of that later time in detail, but to give the reader a sense of the culture and hardships that these settlers, for good or bad, had to go through before the frenzy in Salem exploded. It shows a direct link to the later witch-hunt, in showing some of its roots and is a valuable bit of historical fiction for that. We are so removed now from that time, that it is almost incomprehensible how such misogyny could have arisen. Thanks to Grindle’s research, we have some hypotheses. 5stars for The Devil’s Glove. Well done.

Many thanks to The Book Whisperer, Casa Croce Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of The Devil's Glove. While I enjoyed parts of this story, as a reader it was really difficult to understand what it was about at any given time. It felt like there were several half finished thoughts throughout with no real conclusion. I found myself constantly asking " ok what's the point of adding this to the story." Parts of the story were compelling and interesting but overall this book felt unfinished and lacked cohesion.

[Beatrice Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resolve and her mother, Deliverance, changed their names when they moved to the New World, hiding their pasts to fit in with the English and ensure there was no suspicion directed at them. They are healers, using herbs to help keep the habitants of the small village in good health, and are very good at what they do. But they are often called to the most difficult of cases, and the patients do not always survive. Especially when they have been poisoned.

The death of Avis Hobbs was a tragedy, and by the time Resolve and Deliverance reached the house, there was nothing that could be done. But the town has its suspicions against the two healers, and while they keep their friendliness with the local tribes hidden, there are those in the village who would happily call them both ‘savage’ or have them strung up for witchcraft. For an entire village plagued with fear on the edge of war, mass hysteria is only one small step away.

I absolutely loved Resolve, she is kind, and fiercely loyal to her mother, but not afraid to do what she feels is right. She has what seems to be a relatively peaceful life, collecting herbs, looking after the cow and goats, and spending time telling stories and gossiping with her best friend. That is, when she is not being accused of one thing or another, and trying to avoid people in the village.

A character I found incredibly interesting was Abigail Hobbs, Avis’s daughter. She is a child many adore, for she looks angelic, but some of her actions come across as exactly the opposite. A beautiful young child, seemingly possessed by a dark spirit and made to do wicked things. For a town so quick to pass judgement on evil, their obsession over, and protection of, a child who seems incredibly troubled is strange, and further shows how Resolve and Deliverance are ostracised from the village. Abigail might come across as infinitely more ‘evil’ than Resolve and her mother, but Abigail was born in the village, and Resolve joined it. No matter how important she and her mother may be, they are still outsiders. I don’t want to give away spoilers, for Abigail is central to a lot of the plot in this book, but I definitely followed Resolve’s opinion of her throughout the book. In a way, this also made me like Resolve a lot more, for I found myself relating to her way of thinking.

The fear of witchcraft was, indeed, a plague that spread across the world. One wrong move and you could be accused, and there is not much you could do to change anyone's mind after they had decided on it. Even something as simple as being able to swim – for everyone knows that witches float. Fear can be deadly, and with a threat of war against the ‘savages’, the finger is pointed at anyone who might be responsible for the evil doings happening around them. Traitors inside the village could be everyone’s downfall, so sympathisers must be rooted out. No matter that Resolve and Deliverance had saved many lives within the village, that very fact was enough to bring suspicion down upon them.

There are hints throughout the story that Resolve may not entirely fit into the village, as she finds herself with strange dreams, visions, and cryptic messages from Yellow Bird, a member of one of the native tribes. With a hint of witchcraft wafting through the air, you only think of one thing as she explains what she is experiencing, and it is something that made me incredibly afraid for her safety as I read. While these themes were not overly explored in this book, the ending definitely geared the story up for them to develop and become a more integral part of the story in the next book.

I feel as though I did not read this book, but instead experienced it. The author has done a wonderful job with bringing the characters and time period to life, and I became engrossed in the words and felt the emotions as though I were in the village with Resolve, and fearing for the safety of those I, too, cared about. The characters may only breathe among the pages, but as I read, they came to life. A good book is one you cannot put down; a great book is one you can’t escape, and this book was definitely the latter. I absolutely recommend you read this book, it was amazing!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a good many accounts of the Salem witch trials, but "The Devil's Glove" introduces a narrative, and narrator, I've not encountered before.

The fact that the book is set in Falmouth (Maine) is the first unexpected piece. Introducing the tension between the English and Native peoples in the aftermath of the King Philip's War into the narrative is another.
And there is genuinely something uncanny happening with protagonist Resolve Hammond, and the Hobb family, which will upset the equilibrium of the settlement as much as their leaders' ham-fisted treatment of their Native neighbours.
And farther south, in Boston, preacher Cotton Mather and his son are stirring up hysteria around witchcraft and devilry...

This book particularly shines in the relationships between characters. The developing relationships between Resolve Hammond and Thaddeus Hobbs, and Thaddeus's problematic sister, Abigail, are compelling and convincing. Equally, the breakdown of an older friendship, and the reasons behind it, is beautifully rendered. The manner in which familial love between mother and daughter is depicted is heart wrenching. There is not a character in the story who is not fully developed, even those who we encounter only briefly.

Although when reading historical fiction I often pause to look up references that interest me, I did not revisit any of my other books on the Salem Witch Trials. To begin with, I read "The Devil's Glove" in a single afternoon. But not a single aspect of the historical details struck me as inaccurate in any way. The description of life in 17th-century Eastern Massachusetts (Maine was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony) feels almost flawless.

The book ends with the prospect of another chapter of the story yet to come. I hope so!

[Crayola5pack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book because I had an interest in reading something that had to do with the history of the Salem witch trials. This is not exactly that, as it is the time right before that had occurred, but it is a very interesting story, characters and time in history. Clearly this is more historical fiction almost fantasy, but intriguing just the same.

There is much more plot revolving around the indigenous tribes and the settlers, and the strife and miscommunications that happened, at times due to language barriers and at other times because there were people who wanted the tribes to be savages and not trustworthy. Very interesting.

I am giving this 4.25 stars, not quite a 5 star read because honestly there are so many characters, names, history (prior to the story’s plot) and subplots that, at times, it becomes confusing trying to keep everything straight, most especially the vast cast of characters, but it is still thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing. This is the first of two books in a series and I will most definitely be continuing the story, as book 2 will, I believe, actually be more of the time period I originally picked the book to get to. Very interesting and would recommend to fans of historical fiction, fantasy, witchcraft, indigenous people and colonialism.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet the author and get a signed copy of this book.

I am interested in the period and the witch trials. This book explores the life of early American settlers and their juxtaposition with the indigenous communities. It also looks at the distrust that the puritan communities had for natural healers and independent women.

It's well written and interesting but it dies end on a bit of a cliffhanger as I believe it is book 1 of a series.

[Terry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and passionately well written. As the story unfolds, it takes you into a world full of mysteries, deceit, betrayal, love and heartbreak. You come to know each character as if you too live among them. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m working on writing my review right now. It will be posted here after it goes live on my blog.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is an interesting prequel to the Salem Witch Trials. Deep historical research and supernatural elements are blended together in beautiful prose that helps the reader understand how a community might reach a point where they are accusing each other of witchcraft.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prose is absolutely beautiful, but there were times where it was just too much. I found myself skimming section several times throughout the novel and never felt like I had missed anything crucial to the story. That being said, I’m a sucker for historical fiction and anything set in New England and/or witch trial, so in the end, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Village Whispers

A story of what happens when a village turns against someone because of jealousy, envy and hatred. what happens when one person or one event causes mass hysteria. The harm it can cause and the lives it can destroy.

The Hammonds, Resolve and her mother Deliverance live in a small New England town in the year of 1688. They have had an interesting life, spending the war with the native people to keep them safe, they now pose as English to appease the English in this small town. They try to fit it, but they really do not.

Deliverance heals with herbs which makes her suspect as a sorceress. The local midwife hates her as she is jealous that she can heal what she cannot. It is usually too late or very dire before Deliverance is called as a last resort. When she is called she goes. When she goes to treat a poisoned woman she finds out secrets of the town and she is whispered about when the woman dies.

Then comes a time when their loyalties to the town and the English or their loyalties to the natives are tested. When a human caused disaster happens, one of their own doing, Deliverance is the only person that can help, but she is foiled by someone filled with jealousy. Then the whole town turns against her.

It is a beautifully written book and written in a pose type writing which I found to be quite different but I enjoyed very much. The characters were all set well, and I thought the character of Abigail very interesting as well as the character of Resolve.

It is a story that leaves a sneak peak that could be a future book which just might feature some Salem witch trials which this appears might be a prequel to . If so I would certainly like to read the next book.

Thanks to Lucretia Grindle for writing a book in such a beautiful pose, to The Book Whisperer for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amount of research and detail in this book really is fascinating and well done. The prose is enchanting. The Devil's Glove is about the Salem witch trials or more like a few years before the witch trials actually took place. The Devil's Glove takes place in the summer of 1688 and is about a woman and her daughter accused of being the devil or witches. Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance were taught by the Indians how to heal. In a world where even knowing how to swim can be enough to be called a witch, delve into the life of Resolve and let her take you back to where it began. A point in time in which people persecuted what they did not understand and/or those who would not follow the masses but took information and learning from many sources. Our main character takes us immediately into her world and slowly but steadily reveals its depth. The storyline deals with a time very little represented in historical fiction, of the New England area when the Puritans were still new to the land and the plight of the previous pioneers, the Huguenots, still fresh in their memories. The culture of the time is explored in depth through the characters’ lives and gives a new slant to what happened over the next few years in Salem. This is not a book to rehash the trials of that later time in detail, but to give the reader a sense of the culture and hardships that these settlers, for good or bad, had to go through before the frenzy in Salem exploded. The characters may only breathe among the pages, but as I read, they came to life. It shows a direct link to the later witch-hunt, in showing some of its roots and is a valuable bit of historical fiction. Resolve will begin the summer as a child, but by its end she will be facing her future as a woman. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is the first book in the Salem series and is the start of the tale, beginning and ending before Resolve/Susannah arrives in Salem. She lives with her mother (Rachel/Deliverance) in the Eastward, a small village far away from Boston and their machinations.

Deliverance is a healer, taught by the Native Americans when they lived in The Greening, under Ashawonks' care. They also have their own gift that grows stronger over time. Deliverance and Resolve don't exactly fit in with the village for a number of reasons, including the fact they originally came from Jersey, Deliverance is a healer who deals with life and death, and they are friendly towards the 'savages', to name just a few. As the story unfolds, you meet with numerous characters, both 'good' and 'bad' who may just change your mind as you carry on reading.

There is layer upon layer to this story, each one taking you a little deeper, and I loved that! It is a slow story; giving time to the build-up, to the story and characters, which is sometimes lost in faster-paced novels. There were twists I never saw coming, plus sad things I did. I loved the ending, how it gave closure to this part and yet left me wanting more immediately.

In a world where even knowing how to swim can be enough to be called a witch, delve into the life of Resolve and let her take you back to where it began. HIGHLY recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 24, 2023

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle is the fictional possible prequel to what happened in Salem in the 1600s and 1700s. It is a thriller, although not the same kind we read today. The language is formal and lovely, but it gets hard to read in large bursts: best read in small helpings. It is an education in mass hysteria. The mass is smaller, but just as deadly when jealousy and hate take aim at a person for things we now consider ordinary. It makes me ask? Are we doing the same thing today? The characters were solid. The plot steeped in history. The pacing worked within the previously stated context.

It takes place in 1688 in Falmouth, not too far from Salem. It is largely told in first person by Resolve (real name Susannah-Resolve for protection) when Resolve and her mother are called to the bedside of a dying woman. It seemed obvious she had been poisoned but the earlier carers had not taken the obvious step so it was pretty much over when they arrived. The only thing that was odd was the woman’s daughter, Abigail, and she continued to be odd throughout the book. Because Resolve’s mother was friendly with the natives, that made her suspect. Because she was able to save sick folks from dying, that made her suspect. Because she committed suicide, that made her suspect along with her, her daughter, Resolve. An interesting story steeped in American history, it was an interesting read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Devil’s Glove by The Book Whisperer, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #TheBookWhisperer #LucretiaGrindle #TheDevilsGlove

[K_IndieWoods · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite things to read is realistic historical fiction. The kind that can draw me into a time and place making me feel like I am experiencing everything of that world first hand. Lucretia Grindle has done just that in The Devil's Glove. She transported me to the early colonial days of New England in a small Puritan settlement of less than 100 people. She painted such a vivid picture of not only the land but also of the Puritan settlers whose strong beliefs, superstitions and past traumas had them living in a state of fear. This fear paired with jealousy and gossip created a powder keg of tension just waiting to ignite.

For ten years Deliverance Hammond and her seventeen year old daughter Resolve have been living in Falmouth. As a natural born healer, Deliverance is often called upon when someone is injured or falls ill. Her skill and knowledge have been enhanced by the years she spent living with the natives during the time of King Philip's war. Now as Deliverance is suffering from an unknown illness of her own, she still feels duty bound to help her neighbors in need. Even when it's the same neighbors that whisper her name. Resolve and her mother share a strong, yet unspoken, spiritual bond. In the summer of 1688 a series of events will unfold that will both strengthen and sever these ties. Resolve will begin the summer as a child, but by its end she will be facing her future as a woman.

Book Quote: "I think of the sour smell of fear, of the quick fumbling movements it begets, of its broken voice. Of how fear parses out those it seizes, weakening their minds, setting them apart like a fever or a pox. And how, like a fever or a pox, it is contagious."

This book is the first in a series about Salem. Although this book does not take place in Salem, what it does is give a rich and detailed explanation of the main character Resolve Hammond. Not to be mistaken for an overdone prologue, this story is a phenomenal tale of life in an early Puritan settlement. Grindle creates an eerie, tension filled ambiance as she explores the fears, mistrust and dangers of life for the early settlers. Some readers may be in a hurry to get to the witchy world of Salem, but I loved being wrapped up in this small village surrounded by the wilderness. I look forward to the next installment in this series. I would recommend this as a top read for fans of Historical Fiction.

I was gifted an advanced review copy of this book from Book Whisperer and the author. This review is my honest opinion and I am leaving it here voluntarily.

[Mks Bookcorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Lucretia Grindle for gifting me a copy of The Devil's Glove in return for my honest opinion.

3/5 stars

Northern New England, summer, 1688. A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft. Salem started here. Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers. Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when they are summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community. As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

What I Loved
-Very detailed and well thought out.
-Characters were well thought out and easy to remember

What I didn't enjoy
-Several details and stories were told, but they didn't have any purpose to the final story or plot.
-The ending was just kind of eh to me, I didn't hate it but I also didn't like it.

Final thoughts
While I enjoyed this book there were points where I was confused by where details were going and whether they were going to matter to the plot. I wish it was a little more cohesive with some of the details and then I would have loved it!

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lucretia Grindle for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Devil’s Glove coming out May 1, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In the year 1688, in Northern New England, Salem is forming into the place it will become during the infamous witch trials. But that won’t be for a few years. In the meantime, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the locals.

Their existence becomes even more chaotic when they’re called to tend to a poisoned woman. As they reveal dark secrets through their healing, rumors of war form in the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the settler community.

As Resolve is disturbed by unusual dreams, she questions everything about her family, her closest friend, and herself. Things are changing. If the truth comes to the surface, the repercussions will be felt far beyond this small settlement.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m obsessed with stories about Salem witches, so I was interested in checking this out. I thought the writing was lovely and poetic. The characters were interesting and I thought the historical background of the book felt accurate. Judging by the title, I thought it would be slightly more horror driven. It didn’t really have the horror element I thought it would. There were parts that didn’t quite capture my attention. But overall, I really enjoyed the story. I thought it was a great prequel to the Salem story that is usually told.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys books about witches!

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

It takes a little while to get used to the writing style, emulating I imagine the speech patterns of the late seventeenth century. It’s stilted and somewhat hard to read, digest, interpret. Even so, the narrative is heavy in prose.

It’s the story of Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, who are trying to assimilate into the village of Falmouth. Deliverance, most especially, has become somewhat of a personality known for her cures and limited medical expertise, which has resulted in both a positive and negative in the villagers' suspicion. It is generally felt she gained much of her knowledge from the local natives who are viewed with fear.

There is a lot of mistrust regarding the local tribe having a recent history of conflict still strong in the minds of the villagers. Events are beginning to push war to a reality when an orchestrated, peaceful solution is badly mishandled. In the meantime, Resolve is betrayed by her friend, the one person she thought could be trusted.

Heavy with description, exceptional details, and weighed down somewhat by unnecessary backstory, the main storyline tends to wallow at times.

A historical fiction novel obviously the benefit of research but not quite the pace or plot expected. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Net Galley eARC. With her father away in England Resolve Hammond and her mother struggle to thrive in a coastal New England village in 1688. When he first went away her father left them in the care of the local Indians who taught them herbal healing and other wildcraft which they now use to aid their neighbors. Despite their help the villagers eye them with suspicion and there are murmurs of witchcraft from some. With tensions on the rise with the local "savages" their lives become even more precarious. When a local woman is poisoned and hostilities erupt with the Indians Resolve discovers some dark secrets and hidden truths. This well researched and authentic feeling narrative relates the back story of the people and events that preceded the Salem witch trials that would ensue a few years hence. The characters , included John Alden, are well developed although I found the pace to be somewhat slow. I have long had an interest in the Salem witch trials and this is presented as a the first entry in a trilogy relating to the subject. There was little indication of witchcraft in this novel and I feel that this epistle set up the scene for what was to follow. I did learn that "evil is the devil's glove" as I had been curious about the title. I look forward to learning in more detail in book two of the build up to the infamous Salem witch trials. A solid read for any fan of early day Colonial history.

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Glove is a story that predates the famous Salem Witch Trials, a story about a mother and daughter's relationship, a town's way of trying to make sense of what they don't understand, and even their unfair relationship with the Savages (Indians and French alike). Lucretia has done well in bringing characters to life that are under the offensive labels of Savages and Changeling/Witches that are very real, very human, and very much just like anyone we know, and has crafted a story that, while most of us know of the Salem Witch Trials, most probably don't really know the stories and/or events that helped lead up to the trials. She has done an excellent job of creating a narrative that drops you into the late 1600's and pulls you into that world very quickly to get a feel for how life was during that time, how people interacted with each other, almost to the point of how you could see yourself being right there with them. The next part of the book takes you on a journey with Resolve as she starts to learn things that change the way she looks at her world, her friends, her loved ones, and even herself. The ending isn't what I thought it would be, but I could see how that pulls you into wanting to dive into the next book, which I will end up doing. Intriguing and informative without being boring.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Glove is a story that predates the famous Salem Witch Trials, a story about a mother and daughter's relationship, a town's way of trying to make sense of what they don't understand, and even their unfair relationship with the Savages (Indians and French alike). Lucretia has done well in bringing characters to life that are under the offensive labels of Savages and Changeling/Witches that are very real, very human, and very much just like anyone we know, and has crafted a story that, while most of us know of the Salem Witch Trials, most probably don't really know the stories and/or events that helped lead up to the trials. She has done an excellent job of creating a narrative that drops you into the late 1600's and pulls you into that world very quickly to get a feel for how life was during that time, how people interacted with each other, almost to the point of how you could see yourself being right there with them. The next part of the book takes you on a journey with Resolve as she starts to learn things that change the way she looks at her world, her friends, her loved ones, and even herself. The ending isn't what I thought it would be, but I could see how that pulls you into wanting to dive into the next book, which I will end up doing. Intriguing and informative without being boring.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Victoria Baldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle

In 1688 Resolve, a seventeen-year-old girl, lives in a small village in Northern New England. Tensions are high as there is talk that there are Witches in a nearby village, in Salem, and if you are in anyway different you could easily be branded a Witch, a crime punishable by death. There is also a danger that they can be attacked by Native Indians at any time. The villages are very racist and hateful towards the Native Indians and think that they are savages

Resolve’s mother, Deliverance has lived with the Native Indians in the past and has been taught by them how to heal different ailments using herbs and plants, she can also communicate with native Indians and has been called many times to translate. I would also like to point out that everyone in the village may look at Deliverance in a suspicious way for knowing how to heal ailments but if they are sick, she is the first person they would go to for help.

I loved this book, I could not put it down as I wanted to know what will happen next in the lives of Resolve, Deliverance and the intriguing Abigail. It felt like the book ended on a cliff hanger and there should be a second book to continue the story.

I would like to thank Net Galley and The Book Whisperer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review