The Enchanted

by Roberta Murphy

All her life, Olwen has lived in the small village of Pont Ysaf. Her childhood has been of happy make-believe as John, her beloved grandfather, has taught her all he knows of the magical world of Welsh legend in their daily walks through the beautiful Cwm Woods.

But when, after a long and painful illness, her grandfather dies, Olwen has no-one to warn her against the supernatural figure he most feared - the all-powerful creature who preys on human desire - the enchanter. And as Olwen reaches the full maturity of womanhood, she is tormented by a maelstrom of dreams and visions which draw her inexorably closer to the darkness of her family's past...

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[☯ DαякєηRнαℓ ❛ ᶜʳᵒᵘᶜʰᶤᶰᵍ ʰᵘᵐᵃᶰ ; ʰᶤᵈᵈᵉᶰ ᵗᶤᵗᵃᶰ ❜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Book Name) The Enchanted
(Book Series) None
(Book Series Number) 1#
(Author Name) Roberta Murphy
(Published By) Mandarin Paperbacks
(ISBN Number) 0-7493-0482-0
(Book Format) Paperback
(Time Taken To Read Altogether) 16 Days ( 12th to the 27th of October )
(Time Spent Not Reading) Uncertain ( Less The A Week )
(Total Reading Time) Uncertain ( No Less Than A Week )
(Final Rating) Five Stars (★★★★★)
(Book Smell) Rich Oldness
(Disclaimer)

This is an honest review brought to you by Daniélle. The following review is an honest perspective of my thoughts, feelings and experience reading the book specified. It was in no way, shape or form coerced or forced in any fashion. I do not accept bribes for good reviews or even bad ones nor do I bring in any perspective but my own. I will not say do not read this book just as I will not say do read this book. Whether you the reader of this review chooses to read the following book or not is completely up to you. Also whether you like or hate it, share or disagree with my opinion, is also completely up to you. Again this is a review of nothing but what I felt, thought and perceived. Hence it is an honest review of my personal opinion. Please enjoy.


(Impressions)

I write this review quite humbled. When I picked up the story of The Enchanted it was a few years ago. I don't quite remember when, why or who, all I know is that this book was given to me. I started reading it, but stopped after reaching a certain page in the prologue of the book. I returned it to my shelf where it sat until now. As you all know there is the yearly reading challenge, and I entered my lot as 12. So far I had only read 8 books and its already the month of October. Knowing I couldn't cheat, felt bad about heading to the library for a kids book, I looked at my shelf once more as I have an older collection of random books, either given to me or choices I would not randomly make but they had been cheap. I had had an inkling of what I wanted to read, definitely something small, quick, so I can not be a loser and finish up my yearly challenge. I remembered this book being small, and hence when I looked over my books, picked this one. Deciding to finally get my challenge going, get to my older books and actually finish the book this time. Boy was I in for a surprise.

The book, as with all books, started out as a mystery. I mean sure I read the synopsis (HIGHLY misleading by the way) and sort of knew what I was getting into but without knowing the big picture. So it started out fine. And then it went downright meh. I didn't really want to pick the book up nor was I completely comfortable reading it at times. I could only think 'holy crap so many sex references or my fave, another sex reference!' Actually I came to rely on there being sex references basically just jumping out at you on every other page. The relationship between Gwen and John Parry was also somewhat of a nerve hitter considering its the exact same story of my own parents. But I actually came to love that. A book that was written twenty odd years ago actually spoke of something which I could identify with in the modern day. Some scenes admittedly just put me down like how Olwen coveted her grandmother's ring, with such a snarky almost hurtful thought in her mind, on the way to her grandfather's funeral. I mean I was like really?! Now?! Inappropriate I say.

I also disliked how Olwen would string poor Gareth along. Loved it when he called her both a tease and a bitch since I agreed. I thought of Olwen as quite hot and cold towards the poor man. Then there was Olwen and her grandfather. At first the book starts with depicting the two as 'normal'. I may have thought that wow he's already thinking of her behaving, well, that already he's thinking she's up to no good with boys eh? And perhaps a hint of a temper, but nothing more. However as the story progresses the word 'unhealthy' is just an understatement when it comes to describing Olwen and John's relationship. And then there was John and Alice. Now that was downright fucked up man. And yet while I do not love the actual relationship, I did love the concept behind it. Human emotion. The human condition. Portrayed in a realistic dark light but real nonetheless. Since despite how sickening it is, this sort of thing does happen and that is another thing which I love of the author. She wrote about real things, real people, portrayed in a poignant, rich and enlightening way. Downright hauntingly too. She wasn't afraid to tackle such taboo topics and brought it to us in such an enigmatic way.

Since while the book had started to go meh and then really bad, it changed. I reached a point where I wanted to pick the book up and read. Where I wanted to know what happened next. Where I found myself wanting to slip into this rich and horrifyingly real story yet which held tender moments. My favourites would be where Olwen and her Grandmother came together again. And also I enjoyed watching Olwen change, for the better. What else I loved, cannot stress on how much I mean the word 'love' is the rich colourful detail. I mean I don't have a green thumb whatsoever yet I've always loved gardens. Especially the bright manicured ones. With all sorts of bright flowers arranged in a pleasing way or even a wild garden, one where you could literally lose yourself in and I must say the writers' description of the Cottage's garden, breath taking! I'm always a sucker for detail, for a writer describing their characters in detail and early on so I can form a good picture, Murphy took her time in this, but gosh that garden.

In the end however I feel that the book was a little rushed. I did not completely believe that Olwen had no secret longing or unfulfilled desires yet I know that she couldn't have defeated the enchanter any other way. I also wonder what in the end had happened to Alice Parry. Had she been freed? Had she ever been trapped to begin with? But in the end I won't lose sleep not knowing or with how it ended. I think the end end was just fine. I'm glad that Olwen defeated the enchanter, didn't go with her grandfather. I disliked the uncertainty of her relationship status with Gareth yet with how the end is worded, I understand it as well. I liked also that all the character's endings were hinted at. I can see beyond the end sort of. And in the end, I find myself gifting this book with five full stars. I had thought that the story was about magic and defeating evil, yet in the end The Enchanted is about human emotion, how relationship's can go bad or wrong. The human condition portrayed in a startling raw but real light. And while there is magic, it is also interwoven through reality, magic being turned into divinity. How it is through this divinity that one does not encounter supernatural creatures, but ghosts. Ghosts who wish to be heard still.


(The Characters)

Olwen Parry: I will readily admit that I did not love Olwen, the protagonist of the story, immediately. In fact I downright loathed her. She was too cold and too cruel and too much into what grandpa dictated. I hated how she treated other people, calling Mrs Flindy a bitch. Telling Morgan Pryce to shut up. Basically not loving and neglecting her grandmother. Going so far as to say that as a child while she was in the yard playing, her grandfather working in the garden nearby, that just the sight of her grandmother in the window ruined the whole moment of her being with her grandfather. I hated how she was hot and cold with Gareth, kinda threw herself at Bryn Brewen and actually entertained the idea of her and Alun Miller. I was glad however that with her grandfather gone, Olwen free, she started changing. I mean she went from wanting to die to be with her grandfather to wanting to live, wanting to go to college and make friends and love Gareth. I loved how she became kinder. Smarter. Learned a few things and in the end was well on her way to becoming a healthy young woman. In the end, yeah, she won me over lol.

John Parry: John is Olwen's grandfather. Alice's father and Gwen's husband. He at first seemed like a normal if somewhat slightly tempered old man. Yet with warning his granddaughter off boys as a kid, I sensed something amiss. I just never knew how amiss. He treated his wife poorly, and seemed to only ever love one person. He was dangerously good with a knife and in the end became more of a villain before being John once more, heading off to wherever it was he was meant to go. If he was ever this way on purpose, so demanding and so integrated in someone's life, who knows. It was unhealthy how he treated both his daughter and his granddaughter and in the end the mother did not make it out alright, but the granddaughter did. I'm afraid to say Olwen and her grandmother only ever found peace after his passing. It is a shame though he could only have loved one person at one time. How dysfunctional he was in how he treated those closest to him. Was John Parry a completely bad man? Bad person? No... I don't think so.

Gwen Parry: Olwen's grandmother, her grandfather's wife and Alice's mother. Gwen from the start had won over my heart. She's kind and courteous, generous and caring. She takes care of everyone and everything but herself and lived in basically a loveless marriage for most of her adult life. I disliked how she did everything for Olwen and got nothing back. I disliked how she was meek and didn't stand up for herself. In the end I am glad for her though. That she found some peace, some love. That her and Olwen's relationship improved vastly. She's just a saint and she deserves it!

Gareth Lloyd: The doctor's son, college student, possible ladies man. Gareth Lloyd is also Olwen's love interest. I really felt bad for him at how Olwen would come onto him, then chase him off. I loved it when he stood up to her yet I disliked that it seemed he had been with a lot of other woman. He didn't come across as a very strong character, also kinda easily lead on even if it was by Olwen. But in the end I think he's a good guy. Hopefully he'll stay. Though it put me off that he asked if he could sleep that night with Olwen but didn't really mean sleep. Why couldn't he? When Olwen had said that it was nice, then eating dinner together, he just had to say it would be better yet. Sure it would be and it was sort of, kind of romantic but why couldn't it have been enough no? Ah well, men.

Doctor Lloyd: Um was this dude's name ever mentioned? Either way, I liked the doctor. Olwen never did confide in him lol Oddly enough the good doctor came off stronger then his son. I liked how kind he was. Even John only ever disliked that he was a bit more London-ish for his tastes. I loved it even more though when he started falling for Gwen. Their romance is utterly adorable. I liked that there was no possession-ism in his eyes, just admiration for Gwen. Kinda wished I could have seen more of their romance. Gwen got so cute around him!

Pastor Rhys: Met briefly in the beginning, like a school kid he hurried along when Olwen finally cried at her grandfather's funeral. I kind of didn't want her to cry since she was so stubborn about it, wanted her to go to her grandfather. Yet if she had there wouldn't be a story, and it was best that she had cried. So two faceted there. Um, as you can tell not much to say on Mr Rhys.

Bryn Brewen: A man whom I may or may not have called a paedophile. He comes across this way, wanting to show Olwen always something in his house. Olwen not liking Bryn initially since, again, her grandfather hadn't liked him. Her gran had hinted that there was more to the story. Later we find out just what she meant. Bryn isn't a perv, he's an insomniac that never got over Alice. Who never found much after her. Lost his job, does poaching at night and odd jobs. Hasn't been able to be with another woman. Got scarred in the face by Olwen's grandfather. Remember that aforementioned he was deadly good with a knife? In the end I came to feel sorry for Bryn. In the end all he wanted to show Olwen was a picture of her mother. And in the end he thought with his head lol. Hopefully he'll be alright...

Alice Parry: Like John Parry, her father, we come to know of Alice as Olwen's mother. Her deceased mother. While Olwen never bothered with inquiring about her (something I did find odd) we come to know a lot about her. A disturbed and free spirited individual she had not been killed by her father, John. Instead she had killed herself and not everything Olwen had been told after had been true. I felt sorry for Alice, such a bright person yet shackled to something which she couldn't be free from. In the end it had proven too much for her. In the end we never did find out who Olwen's father exactly was. The only possible hint was that it was some London fellow. A haunting character, indeed.

Mrs Flindy: Debonair old lady who dresses inappropriately, speaks her mind, has a hissing cat named Cinders and sees the dead. Widowed and with both her son's AWOL Aunt Flindy always dresses up ridiculously, smokes and drinks and is visited each night by the dead. Olwen never had visited her previously however during the time of her change she did, found out some interesting things too. Overall I liked Mrs Flindy. A hard ball old lady with spunk.

Morgan Price: Driver extraordinaire. I feel a lot of sympathy for this poor bloke. A man who was forced to take care of his ailing mother for most of his life, when she died nothing much changed. Sure his relationship with the neighbours are better and he's, well, I wouldn't say 'stupid' but definitely silly, aloof. Not the most brightest or sharpest pencil in the set. A silly but loveable guy Morgan is just a lonely person. Never married, never a father not even by accident he spends his days driving the bus and sometimes other cars as well. He was the driver of Gwen and Olwen's ride to the funeral. I liked the scene where Olwen was on the bus, talking to Morgan. Liked how he had forgotten her little rude snap back in the day. How he doesn't hold grudges, hell how he doesn't even remember them. I hope he finds someone lol

Alun Miller: Asshole extraordinaire. I disliked Alun Miller from the start. How he interacts with other people and then his wife. Clearly he's a cheater and serial flirt and an effing liar telling his wife that Olwen flirted with him. So NOT true. He's also a dictator. If a guy told me what to wear, not to smoke, I'd fucking hit him in the crotch and tell him what he can go do while I walk off. Disliked him THOROUGHLY.

Rosamund Miller: Pathetic little tart. Inappropriate talking with a near stranger about her sex life, basically telling Olwen off too. Does she think she's smart? Oh since Alun comes home to her, likes her best that makes her superior? Better? Dumb fucking assed woman. I wanted to slap her in the end after not thinking all too much about her. Like you're nothing special sweetheart just your husband comes home to you after he fucks some random other tart. Get over yourself. HATED her.

Um, I think that's everyone???


(Final Thoughts)

Pleasantly surprised. In the end this book went from two to five stars. The story, the characters, the landscape, I loved it all despite how hard it was at times to read. I am glad to have read this book, glad to have met the people I did. Glad to have read their story and I would sincerely recommend this book to anyone. To be read at least once in a lifetime. I may revisit this tale, I may not. However I will never forget the garden, the Cwm or the twisted poignant tale. How I hated Olwen one moment, watched her change so profoundly, and loved her the next cause of it. Ehhh I feel like I'm forgetting something here... Ah well. Maybe its that I don't know the time of this book? It makes me think of the older days. Like a rural setting despite there being cars and telephones. I dunno I think I've said pretty much all that I have wanted to say. So guys, until the next book!

PS! Crap I remembered! Sssooo many Gwen type names! Also Aunt Pridwyn sounds sweet and cool :P

PPS; This book has to be read slowly. It can't be rushed as it's writing style is too unique. I also loved how there were mini flashbacks to the past, it brought the entire story together beautifully and it made it have much more sense. In the end not a lot of time passed in this book, also had a lot of scenes which usually could be described as 'mundane' however Murphy managed sheer genius in that it was never boring to read this parts. Great writing truly.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual novel in being written in present tense and from the third person. Olwen has been raised by her grandparents, and the story opens with her grandfather's funeral after a last painful illness, probably cancer. Even at the start there is a subtle unease about his character: although Olwen adored him, and they had an exclusive relationship which shut out her grandmother and everyone else, it is clear he had a nasty side. As the story progresses it becomes clear that he always had this; it only became more of a problem during his illness when he attempted to physically attack her, baring his teeth at her throat, and she had to be rescued by her grandmother, Gwen.

Part of the way in which he mantained their rather unhealthy exclusive relationship was to fill Olwen's mind from childhood with stories about the nearby woods and the enchanter who lurks within and who must be stared down unless he ensnare his victims by the stars within his sleeve. Although she is now about 20, Olwen becomes increasingly convinced that the enchanter is real and is pursuing her; also, that her grandfather is his victim and that she must free him, although it is increasingly obvious that they are different facets of the same being. She also has a troubled relationship with a young man and the story deals with her sexual awakening though part of that became a bit unnecessarily explicit for me, at least.

The substance of the book is secrets and lies - Olwen's mother is supposed to have died giving birth to her in London, but Olwen gradually learns a different truth through talking to neighbours and through visions she witnesses of the past. She also starts to open up to the possibility of a better relationship with her grandmother and other people, and gains an understanding of how much her grandmother, much younger than her grandfather, has sacrificed and how she now deserves a chance of a happier second marriage. The story is very atmospheric with some great descriptions of the world of natural things and the garden flowers which, especially the delphiniums, take on a sinister character. However, for some reason I can't explain, I didn't love it, so I have to award a 3-star rating.

[The Governess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book: initialy slow to begin with it picks up about halfway through the story. However, the wait is worth it and the slow build up is essential towards understanding the mindset of the main protagonist whose childhood in Wales was dominated by her Grandfather - a domineering, obsessive and overly controlling character.

The setting is a small village in Wales, beautifully described by the author, with additional gorgeous imagery of the protagonist's glorious cottage garden (at its very best during the height of a Welsh summer). Further description of the woods behind the main character's house and the enchantment held within heightens the imagery and brings the tale alive. The story itself is a mixed bag though: at times ponderous (with a lot of inner monologue), the plot does eventually even out and the pace picks up as the main character's memories of the dead take a life on their own within the enchanted wood.

All up, this book gives you a good psychological insight into the mind of a disturbed young adult; does a great job at recreating the idyllic life of a laid back Welsh village of the eighties; scares you a little with its hauntings; enchants you with its imagery and holds you with its great characterisation.

[Mamyaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enchanting adventure into magical realism. I loved the fears and the passions she evoked. The topic about forbidden loves and the struggle to rise above them is poignant and compelling. Awesome! XD

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book on a sale several years ago, and with libraries and bookshops being closed during the Covid-19 lockdown I started looking for the unread books on our shelves.

Verdict in brief: I can see why this one was remaindered.

At it's most basic level it is a love story between Olwen and Gareth, but Olwen can't love Gareth because she is troubled by the memory, or the ghost, of her grandfather, who she knows would disapprove. There is also the ghost of her mother, and a mysterious Enchanter, whose role one hopes might be clarified at some point in the story but somehow it never is.

It is somewhat disconcertingly written in the present tense, and goes on and on with vague threats that seem as though they ought to signify something but what they signify is never explained.