SPOILER ALERT: NO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AND PLAN ON READING WITCH FINDER!
Well this book takes off running from the get go as it's picks up directly after the end of the first book Witch Finder.
Luke has failed in his task to kill witch Rosa, and now they are on the run together. They have fled from everything they know, from Rosa's family and her new fiance as well as from Luke's uncle and The Brotherhood who tasked him with killing his chosen witch. What Luke has done is a crime in the eyes of The Brotherhood and Luke know that they both will be hunted down with the ultimate punishment of death. Their flight is desperate and difficult ad they must learn how to hide and how to survive while fighting their burgeoning feels for each other.
After the explosive final scenes of Witch Finder I was so keen to find out where the story would go next and what I found was a natural progression to Luke and Rosa's tale. They are on the run and desperate to escape, desperate to gain some sort of life and future for themselves and it it completely impossible not to find yourself rooting for them whole-heartedly. They are being hunted left, right and centre by both the witch hunters and by Rosa's fiancé Sebastian Knyvet, the man who Luke now believes killed his parents. Hunted for witchcraft, hunted for betrayal, hunted for possession and you feel every inch of their sense of despair and the urgency they feel for freedom.
As the couple fight to stay hidden and survive we get to experience their feeling as they begin to realise exactly how deep the feeling run for each other and it's a beautiful thing to witness as both are unsure of how they feel and don't seem to realise how deeply the other feels for them either, the realisation comes gradually but so sweetly. Who would have thought a witch hunter could fall for a witch?
What is there to love about this book?
I loved everything about the book, the romantic side of things is brought much more to the forefront in this book but it's not as in your face as it could have been and I was grateful for that as it allowed other aspects of the book to come through. The romance is bitter-sweet to witness and beautifully treated and we have a new twist to the tale with a possible sting where Luke now has his suspicions that Rosa's former fiancé Sebastian is the one behind his parents murder but it doesn't quite fit properly as it would mean Sebastian would have had to have killed them while very young himself..... hmmm, all will be revealed.
Was there anything not so good?
No really the only niggle I have still is the whole 'who would have thought a witch finder would fall for a witch thing' but I think I've spent far too much time with a certain vampire slayer who was in love with a vampire that it's made it all a bit 'well of course they'd fall for each other, that's the way it goes'..... if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, it works but it's written as if it would never happen but head knows it will ALWAYS happen.
Was it an interesting read?
Very, although it doesn't quite have the same period feel as the last book but I think that is because the actions moves away from London into the countryside and I actually missed the feel you got of the time period, it felt more like it could all be happening in the now rather than being identifiable as the past. The story itself is growing quickly but there is still enough mystery, enough secrets to the tale to keep you completely enthralled throughout.
Was it enjoyable to read?
It was, again as the last book was the story is so engaging that you need to keep on turning the page t find out what happens next. The tale doesn't let up it's tight grip on the reader and the twists and turns are beautifully put together that you can't hep yourself. Pure escapism and a joy to read.
Was it a well written book?
Very, as everything I've said before should go to proof, this is a wonderfully thought and immaculately put together tale of love against adversity, how love can conquer all, how the bad will never overthrow the good. After two books I am now a complete fan of Ruth Warburton's books and I'm now going to get her other series of books about witches (which I believe is set in the present but has links to the Witch Finder books) as she has completely won me over with her style and pace. It's a great, great book.
Would you recommend it to others?
Most certainly, if you love YA books about witches then you should give these a go as they are really worth the read and I have been thoroughly entertained by them...... so gutted that this is the final book in this series and how I wish there was more to come but as Ruth has said (to me via Twitter) she likes an open ending!