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Take Height, Rutterkin: Witches of the Vale
Joan Flower and her daughters enjoy a pleasant life in the Leicestershire village of Bottesford. When tragedy strikes and the three women find themselves with no source of income, their comfortable lifestyle becomes a thing of the past.
The women are fortunate in finding temporary employment at Belvoir Castle and, while it lasts, they manage quite well. But a series of incidents and thoughtless deeds result in the three being dismissed.
Joan sees this dismissal as a personal attack on her family by the immensely rich, Sir Francis and Lady Cecilia Manners. He desire for revenge on the people who had brought her family down drives her to do things she would not ordinarily have done and whispers of devilish practices soon circulate…
Is this the beginning of the end for the Flower women?
The women are fortunate in finding temporary employment at Belvoir Castle and, while it lasts, they manage quite well. But a series of incidents and thoughtless deeds result in the three being dismissed.
Joan sees this dismissal as a personal attack on her family by the immensely rich, Sir Francis and Lady Cecilia Manners. He desire for revenge on the people who had brought her family down drives her to do things she would not ordinarily have done and whispers of devilish practices soon circulate…
Is this the beginning of the end for the Flower women?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
465 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2021
1 person want to read
About the author
Millie Thom
13 books101 followersMillie Thom is a former geography and history teacher with a degree in geology and a particular passion for the Anglo Saxon and Viking era. She was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1947, and happily admits to being a 'boomer'.
After completing a teacher training course in Liverpool in 1968, she moved to Yorkshire to take up her first teaching post. This was at a secondary school in a small mining village, where most of the children - and more than a few of the staff - spoke in a dialect riddled with 'thees', 'thous', 'hast thas' and wilt thas'. She also met her husband to be at this time, a teacher at a rival school - the rivalry always being in the not-so-gentle sport of rugby!
In 1970 Millie and her husband moved down to Wantage for six years. Wantage is known a King Alfred's town, since it is the place where he was born. In 1976 she moved up to Nottinghamshire, and still lives there with her husband, midway between Lincoln and Newark. Their six grown up children all live close by.
Since retiring from teaching, Millie has been writing the trilogy about King Alfred that has been screaming to be born for so many years. Book 1, 'Shadow of the Raven' is already published on Amazon, and Book 2, 'Pit of Vipers' is presently nearing completion.
After completing a teacher training course in Liverpool in 1968, she moved to Yorkshire to take up her first teaching post. This was at a secondary school in a small mining village, where most of the children - and more than a few of the staff - spoke in a dialect riddled with 'thees', 'thous', 'hast thas' and wilt thas'. She also met her husband to be at this time, a teacher at a rival school - the rivalry always being in the not-so-gentle sport of rugby!
In 1970 Millie and her husband moved down to Wantage for six years. Wantage is known a King Alfred's town, since it is the place where he was born. In 1976 she moved up to Nottinghamshire, and still lives there with her husband, midway between Lincoln and Newark. Their six grown up children all live close by.
Since retiring from teaching, Millie has been writing the trilogy about King Alfred that has been screaming to be born for so many years. Book 1, 'Shadow of the Raven' is already published on Amazon, and Book 2, 'Pit of Vipers' is presently nearing completion.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2025
Note: I received a free copy of this e-book through Booktasters in return for an honest review.
Witch-hunting was one of the many evils of our past society. Unfortunately, many regions and communities across various parts of the world still practice punishing those they think are witches. The Author captured one such instance from the history of three women in 16th-century England. Did the author succeed in conveying the intended emotions in the book? Let’s delve deeper.
***Author:** Millie Thom **Language:** English **No. of Pages:** 465 **Format:** eBook **Genre:** Historical Fiction*
John Flower and Joan Flower and their two daughters live happily in Bottesford, a village in Leicestershire. While John is often away due to his work and visits them every week or fortnight. On the other hand, Joan is a very proud woman, making her unpopular among the villagers. One fine day, when John Flower was going back to work after his weekend, he met with an accident and died. This puts the whole Flower family into Poverty. They are occasionally hired at the Belvoir Castle as temporary employers; however, a series of misdeeds put them out of employment at the Castle. Joan Flower considers the dismissal of her elder daughter unfair and takes unusual revenge. On the other hand, they also do prostitution, which earns them the wrath of the womenfolk of the village. All these culminate and make the three witches. The whole book is about these incidents, witchhunting by the men of power, and the tortures they go into to prove their innocence/guilt.
I would call this book **An excruciatingly painful read** because of the slow narration and almost no pace after a point. The author goes on to give us a back story of the Flower family, and when they are witch-hunted and brought into questioning, not only do the flower girls go through the torture, but as readers, we also go through it because of the pacing and repetition of incidents. We ask readers to know the backstory already, and instead of passing through that, the Author decided to tell us the smallest of details, which wasn’t necessary at all.
Instead, the author could have started directly by questioning the flower women, and through their accounts, we are told the back story; this way, we needn’t read the same thing over and over again. While the intent of the Author was good, we readers don’t deserve to be put through this. I almost skipped multiple pages of the questioning sessions, which didn’t interest me because it was evident they were going to judge these women guilty.
One more issue with the book was the third person narrative the book took, and I really didn’t understand what the author wanted us readers to feel because the book took an almost neutral stand, and we readers were just witnesses of what was happening, which didn’t sit well with me. This narration style might have been the biggest reason the book didn’t work for me.
Overall, this book didn’t work for me, and I didn’t have one good thing to write about.
Until next time, Ciao 😇
Witch-hunting was one of the many evils of our past society. Unfortunately, many regions and communities across various parts of the world still practice punishing those they think are witches. The Author captured one such instance from the history of three women in 16th-century England. Did the author succeed in conveying the intended emotions in the book? Let’s delve deeper.
***Author:** Millie Thom **Language:** English **No. of Pages:** 465 **Format:** eBook **Genre:** Historical Fiction*
John Flower and Joan Flower and their two daughters live happily in Bottesford, a village in Leicestershire. While John is often away due to his work and visits them every week or fortnight. On the other hand, Joan is a very proud woman, making her unpopular among the villagers. One fine day, when John Flower was going back to work after his weekend, he met with an accident and died. This puts the whole Flower family into Poverty. They are occasionally hired at the Belvoir Castle as temporary employers; however, a series of misdeeds put them out of employment at the Castle. Joan Flower considers the dismissal of her elder daughter unfair and takes unusual revenge. On the other hand, they also do prostitution, which earns them the wrath of the womenfolk of the village. All these culminate and make the three witches. The whole book is about these incidents, witchhunting by the men of power, and the tortures they go into to prove their innocence/guilt.
I would call this book **An excruciatingly painful read** because of the slow narration and almost no pace after a point. The author goes on to give us a back story of the Flower family, and when they are witch-hunted and brought into questioning, not only do the flower girls go through the torture, but as readers, we also go through it because of the pacing and repetition of incidents. We ask readers to know the backstory already, and instead of passing through that, the Author decided to tell us the smallest of details, which wasn’t necessary at all.
Instead, the author could have started directly by questioning the flower women, and through their accounts, we are told the back story; this way, we needn’t read the same thing over and over again. While the intent of the Author was good, we readers don’t deserve to be put through this. I almost skipped multiple pages of the questioning sessions, which didn’t interest me because it was evident they were going to judge these women guilty.
One more issue with the book was the third person narrative the book took, and I really didn’t understand what the author wanted us readers to feel because the book took an almost neutral stand, and we readers were just witnesses of what was happening, which didn’t sit well with me. This narration style might have been the biggest reason the book didn’t work for me.
Overall, this book didn’t work for me, and I didn’t have one good thing to write about.
Until next time, Ciao 😇
September 15, 2025
When life robs the three Flower women of their only source of income, they make ends meet and, for a brief time, life appears to be bearable again. Yet words and actions have consequences, and soon the three Flower women learn that there is a way of life awaiting for them even below sheer poverty.
The everyday joys and struggle of the villagers of 17th century
Bottesford, Leicestershire, are intertwined and influenced to the point of no return by the rich living at Belvoir Castle. This is going to be experienced first hand by the three women. What else could life possibly throw at them now? A witch trial, and one during which Millie Thom plays her characters like an expert psychological puppeteer.
On reading Take Height, Rutterkin, one is skillfully reminded of the women’s lack of status in society during the Jacobean era, and of the conflict between the Church and the everyday prejudices of the masses.
But with all the sorrow and the challenges the Flower women were faced with, what comes through in this book is their will to stay alive, as it is human nature to survive at all costs. And what a twist Millie Thom has for her readers at the very end!
As for Rutterkin, know that he is a white Tom cat…
Just like in her Sons of Kings book series, which I read and enjoyed, in Take Height, Rutterkin Milli Thom surprises the reader with a clever plot twist after another. And the sudden changes in the story-line make perfect sense, while still being unexpected. For this, I read Take Height, Rutterkin way past my bedtime for two nights in a row.
I enjoyed how the story came full circle in the end, and the glimmer of hope in humankind that the author gave us in its closing chapter.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the extra chapter providing additional info on the witch hunt that blasted throughout Europe during the 15-18th centuries, the biography used by the writer for this book, as well as the author’s personal view on Bottesford village, where she lived.
Take Height, Rutterkin by Milli Thom is a historical fiction novel that will stay with you after you read it through the sheer will of her main characters, especially Phillipa Flower, but also through its uplifting and whimsical ending.
The everyday joys and struggle of the villagers of 17th century
Bottesford, Leicestershire, are intertwined and influenced to the point of no return by the rich living at Belvoir Castle. This is going to be experienced first hand by the three women. What else could life possibly throw at them now? A witch trial, and one during which Millie Thom plays her characters like an expert psychological puppeteer.
On reading Take Height, Rutterkin, one is skillfully reminded of the women’s lack of status in society during the Jacobean era, and of the conflict between the Church and the everyday prejudices of the masses.
But with all the sorrow and the challenges the Flower women were faced with, what comes through in this book is their will to stay alive, as it is human nature to survive at all costs. And what a twist Millie Thom has for her readers at the very end!
As for Rutterkin, know that he is a white Tom cat…
Just like in her Sons of Kings book series, which I read and enjoyed, in Take Height, Rutterkin Milli Thom surprises the reader with a clever plot twist after another. And the sudden changes in the story-line make perfect sense, while still being unexpected. For this, I read Take Height, Rutterkin way past my bedtime for two nights in a row.
I enjoyed how the story came full circle in the end, and the glimmer of hope in humankind that the author gave us in its closing chapter.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the extra chapter providing additional info on the witch hunt that blasted throughout Europe during the 15-18th centuries, the biography used by the writer for this book, as well as the author’s personal view on Bottesford village, where she lived.
Take Height, Rutterkin by Milli Thom is a historical fiction novel that will stay with you after you read it through the sheer will of her main characters, especially Phillipa Flower, but also through its uplifting and whimsical ending.
May 13, 2025
Take Height Rutterkin Witches of the Vale vividly transforms us back to women’s challenges in the 17th century. Millie Thoms’s research on what happened to the Flower women is the foundation for the development of the characters in this novel. The weaving of her the town’s ancestral knowledge with her attribute for fictional writing brings to life the challenges for women of that era. The reader can easily transfer the strife of those times to present-day challenges of women everywhere. Threads of jealousy, vengeance, survival, and torture are descriptively displayed throughout the pages. The driving forces running through the heart of this work are the many facets of how society, men in particular, attempt to control women. The author descriptively brings to life the consequences of these centuries’ old norms and behaviors.
Because John Flower has a position at Belvoir Castle, which increases the status of the Flower family, town folk are jealous. But they are not just jealous of the Flower family’s status but also jealous of the beauty of the Flower women. When tragedy strikes the family, which results in the death of John Flower, the breadwinner, many in the town strike at the family by accusing them of witchcraft.
While the Flower daughters are in the gaol, they are tortured until they say the words that they are witches and that they put spells on the family at Belvoir Castle. There is no due process. So eventually the Flower daughters admit that they did put spells on the family and that they are witches.
Obviously, Millie Thom has done extensive research into the Flower family’s plight along with a descriptive context of those times. Though her torture scenes were a bit too much for me, she describes it gruesomely for all of those gore and haunted movie fans.
Because John Flower has a position at Belvoir Castle, which increases the status of the Flower family, town folk are jealous. But they are not just jealous of the Flower family’s status but also jealous of the beauty of the Flower women. When tragedy strikes the family, which results in the death of John Flower, the breadwinner, many in the town strike at the family by accusing them of witchcraft.
While the Flower daughters are in the gaol, they are tortured until they say the words that they are witches and that they put spells on the family at Belvoir Castle. There is no due process. So eventually the Flower daughters admit that they did put spells on the family and that they are witches.
Obviously, Millie Thom has done extensive research into the Flower family’s plight along with a descriptive context of those times. Though her torture scenes were a bit too much for me, she describes it gruesomely for all of those gore and haunted movie fans.
January 26, 2025
Take Height Rutterkin: Witches of Vale is an excellent historical fiction novel that takes place in the 1600s in England. The novel centers around Joan Flowers and her daughters, Margaret and Phillipa, and the drastic changes in their life after the sudden death of John Flowers. John’s death left a widowed Joan and the two children without a father.
The novel is a tale of revenge, bad choices, and retribution. Most importantly, it is a novel about the circle of life. The three women of Flowers’ family are envied by the other women in town for their beauty and station in life. In an abrupt turn, after John Flowers death, the Flowers’ family social standing is reduced to that of a Goodwife or a non-elevated social status. At this juncture, a mob mentality towards the family starts to form with gaining momentum as the Flower’s family women are forced to make dire decisions for economic survival.
Decisions made in resentment and with vengeance are fueled with negative emotions and thought to be salvation to bad situations. Yet, as the novel shows, the family’s fate was written in stone and waiting to rise to life when an opportune or vulnerability time enabled the townswomen to seek vengeance and cast blame.
A well-written historical fiction novel that depicts the hardships and difficulties cast upon women that had to go it alone suddenly due to misfortune.
The novel is a tale of revenge, bad choices, and retribution. Most importantly, it is a novel about the circle of life. The three women of Flowers’ family are envied by the other women in town for their beauty and station in life. In an abrupt turn, after John Flowers death, the Flowers’ family social standing is reduced to that of a Goodwife or a non-elevated social status. At this juncture, a mob mentality towards the family starts to form with gaining momentum as the Flower’s family women are forced to make dire decisions for economic survival.
Decisions made in resentment and with vengeance are fueled with negative emotions and thought to be salvation to bad situations. Yet, as the novel shows, the family’s fate was written in stone and waiting to rise to life when an opportune or vulnerability time enabled the townswomen to seek vengeance and cast blame.
A well-written historical fiction novel that depicts the hardships and difficulties cast upon women that had to go it alone suddenly due to misfortune.
July 2, 2024
’ll come right out with this: I LOVED this book. This is the second book by this author that I’ve read. I was about to read the second in her series, when I saw she had a new title out. The blurb pulled me in and I decided to read this first.
The Flower family faces hard times when John Flower, husband and father, dies, and it isn’t too long before life goes awry. Joan Flower, the mother, and her two daughters, Margaret and Phillipa, are living a life they never imagined … and it is not the good kind.
As if prostituting themselves wasn’t difficult enough, soon they are accused of witchcraft. Enough said on the plot, except to say that's it wonderful.
Author Thom is a gifted author. Her storytelling, her characterizations, her pacing, and her ability to weave twists into a plot are exceptional. Historically, I found it fascinating to learn about how women suspected of witchcraft were treated: brutally and without remorse. The scenes in the court and the jail/gaol were so well crafted that I could see them unfold in front of me. The ending was clever and unexpected — worth staying up into the wee hours to finish.
Highly recommend. A truly impressive work.
The Flower family faces hard times when John Flower, husband and father, dies, and it isn’t too long before life goes awry. Joan Flower, the mother, and her two daughters, Margaret and Phillipa, are living a life they never imagined … and it is not the good kind.
As if prostituting themselves wasn’t difficult enough, soon they are accused of witchcraft. Enough said on the plot, except to say that's it wonderful.
Author Thom is a gifted author. Her storytelling, her characterizations, her pacing, and her ability to weave twists into a plot are exceptional. Historically, I found it fascinating to learn about how women suspected of witchcraft were treated: brutally and without remorse. The scenes in the court and the jail/gaol were so well crafted that I could see them unfold in front of me. The ending was clever and unexpected — worth staying up into the wee hours to finish.
Highly recommend. A truly impressive work.
September 15, 2024
The author casts a mesmerising spell in Take Height, Rutterkin. This is a story of survival. The book plunges the reader into the darkest parts of human existence as young Margaret Flower, imprisoned, waits another day of torture. Life for the Flower family has changed since the loss of their father, Joan's husband. Rumours soon spread of witchcraft and Joan and her daughters, Margaret and Phillipa life hangs in the balance.
Joan's feelings towards the church are aired early in the story—She holds the church responsible for her father's death when she was a young girl, leaving her mother and her destitute. This event changes Joan, leading her into a world of potions and witchery for which her family will pay the ultimate price.
The author brings the 17th century to life. Her descriptive dialogue pulls you into life in the village of Bottesford, Leicestershire. You feel the Flowr family's emotions, their sacrifices, love, stubbornness, and their anger as you travel back in time.
This is an authentic, and well-written story that will live on long after the last page is read.
Joan's feelings towards the church are aired early in the story—She holds the church responsible for her father's death when she was a young girl, leaving her mother and her destitute. This event changes Joan, leading her into a world of potions and witchery for which her family will pay the ultimate price.
The author brings the 17th century to life. Her descriptive dialogue pulls you into life in the village of Bottesford, Leicestershire. You feel the Flowr family's emotions, their sacrifices, love, stubbornness, and their anger as you travel back in time.
This is an authentic, and well-written story that will live on long after the last page is read.
May 2, 2024
This book was recommended to me, so I didn't read the blurb before reading. I was expecting a young adult playful novel. I couldn't have been more wrong.
It took a few chapters, but then I was so curious about the outcome I could hardly tear myself away from reading. Imagine my surprise when I got to the shocking end to discover it was based on a TRUE story!!!
As explained in the back of the book, the author had taken a few liberties that were not based on historical reference in writing the story, but even with that revelation, the story was unimaginably tragic. It certainly opened my eyes even more to the horrific injustices of women suspected of witchcraft or even men accused of sorcery centuries ago. I shudder to consider how many people were subjected to the travesty doled out in the form of "a fair trial" that were executed by ignorant and fear driven nobles and peers.
I recommend this book.
It took a few chapters, but then I was so curious about the outcome I could hardly tear myself away from reading. Imagine my surprise when I got to the shocking end to discover it was based on a TRUE story!!!
As explained in the back of the book, the author had taken a few liberties that were not based on historical reference in writing the story, but even with that revelation, the story was unimaginably tragic. It certainly opened my eyes even more to the horrific injustices of women suspected of witchcraft or even men accused of sorcery centuries ago. I shudder to consider how many people were subjected to the travesty doled out in the form of "a fair trial" that were executed by ignorant and fear driven nobles and peers.
I recommend this book.
December 6, 2023
A skillfully spun tale on the 17th century witch trials is always good this time of year! The deft weaving of fact and fiction draw you into the emotional tale from the beginning.
Joan, Philippa, and Margaret fall on desperately hard times after the death of their patriarch. Turning to the world's oldest profession, they draw the ire of the local women. The subsequent tortures they endure start a harrowing path that forces the reader to confront our own biases, and to explore what the human soul is capable of...from both sides.
While this story is slower paced than most that I tend to enjoy, I'm very glad I gave it a chance. A tale to be enjoyed by all!
Joan, Philippa, and Margaret fall on desperately hard times after the death of their patriarch. Turning to the world's oldest profession, they draw the ire of the local women. The subsequent tortures they endure start a harrowing path that forces the reader to confront our own biases, and to explore what the human soul is capable of...from both sides.
While this story is slower paced than most that I tend to enjoy, I'm very glad I gave it a chance. A tale to be enjoyed by all!
November 22, 2023
Before I started reading this, I think I was expecting a novel in the dark fantasy genre, but this felt more like a historical mystery, and I liked it a lot.
I found that I took an instant interest in the characters, and found them instantly likeable. I was quickly drawn in, and once that happened, I felt very at home in the story and its setting. I finished it in a couple of hours. I think at the time when I decided to read it, it was exactly the type of book that I was in the mood for - well-written historical fiction.
I found that I took an instant interest in the characters, and found them instantly likeable. I was quickly drawn in, and once that happened, I felt very at home in the story and its setting. I finished it in a couple of hours. I think at the time when I decided to read it, it was exactly the type of book that I was in the mood for - well-written historical fiction.
December 2, 2023
A historical fantasy read.
The start of the story is a bit slow and sluggish. Too many background characters are introduced which later don't hold much importance. The pace doesn't pick up but gets engaging when the conflict makes an appearance. It has decent narration. There was a bit too much emphasis on the details of how witchcraft was handled which got a bit flat for me.
Overall a decent read.
Also the title is just too random for me given who rutterkin is.
The start of the story is a bit slow and sluggish. Too many background characters are introduced which later don't hold much importance. The pace doesn't pick up but gets engaging when the conflict makes an appearance. It has decent narration. There was a bit too much emphasis on the details of how witchcraft was handled which got a bit flat for me.
Overall a decent read.
Also the title is just too random for me given who rutterkin is.
August 16, 2024
The advice of a big sister is always needed even for the stubborn Margaret.
My, how a day can change the trajectory of a family's life forever. Worries now creeping on Joan as she's is financial responsible for the family. With change comes a great deal of sacrifices and those sacrifices make change worth the adaptation.
My, how a day can change the trajectory of a family's life forever. Worries now creeping on Joan as she's is financial responsible for the family. With change comes a great deal of sacrifices and those sacrifices make change worth the adaptation.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews