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Witches of Woodville #4
The Holly King
The Holly King is coming, and you’re on his list . . .
It's December 1940, and Christmas has come to Woodville. Faye Bright is looking forward to a good old knees-up after a year of supernatural mayhem and Luftwaffe air raids, but it seems glad tidings are in short supply.
Already contending with food rationing and sky-high beer prices, the village is upended by the arrival of the Holly King, an ancient power bent on reclaiming his woodland domain. No mortal magic can stand in his way.
As the winter solstice draws in and the villagers fall under the Holly King’s spell, Faye, Bertie and the witches race to prevent his sinister Feast of Fools from reaching its deadly conclusion. But when terrible truths threaten to tear them apart, can they confront the mistakes of the past to save the village from destruction?
Or has Woodville seen its last Christmas?
***
For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes the fourth novel in this delightful series of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . .
Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series!
#1 The Crow Folk
#2 Babes in the Wood
#3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn
It's December 1940, and Christmas has come to Woodville. Faye Bright is looking forward to a good old knees-up after a year of supernatural mayhem and Luftwaffe air raids, but it seems glad tidings are in short supply.
Already contending with food rationing and sky-high beer prices, the village is upended by the arrival of the Holly King, an ancient power bent on reclaiming his woodland domain. No mortal magic can stand in his way.
As the winter solstice draws in and the villagers fall under the Holly King’s spell, Faye, Bertie and the witches race to prevent his sinister Feast of Fools from reaching its deadly conclusion. But when terrible truths threaten to tear them apart, can they confront the mistakes of the past to save the village from destruction?
Or has Woodville seen its last Christmas?
***
For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes the fourth novel in this delightful series of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . .
Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series!
#1 The Crow Folk
#2 Babes in the Wood
#3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2023
44 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 16, 2023
Ok. So, I'm a fan. I love these books. Mark Stay knows how to make a great story. He stuffs them full of magic, adds in wonderful characters that you really, really care about, sprinkles a healthy touch of humour through out, mixes in a good dollop of weird and tops it all off with some dastardly villains. And, somehow, he manages to make each book better than the last.
The Holly King is everything you want and more. I would say I couldn't put it down but I did, often, as Mark turn up the anxiety levels and filled me full of dread about what was going to happen next. After summoning my courage, I soldiered on, with a stiff upper lip, and I'm glad I did.
Bravo, Mr Stay. Bravo!
The Holly King is everything you want and more. I would say I couldn't put it down but I did, often, as Mark turn up the anxiety levels and filled me full of dread about what was going to happen next. After summoning my courage, I soldiered on, with a stiff upper lip, and I'm glad I did.
Bravo, Mr Stay. Bravo!
August 22, 2023
What a truly magical book. I adore these witches of Woodville stories and never miss one.
Each witch has her own past and way of doing things and this is more apparent during this 4th book.
Faye has to deal with her growing powers and the past regarding her mother when the Holly King is brought back and wants to retake over the land.
Mrs Teach is dealing with her first Christmas without her beloved husband and Charlotte is as ever alone but this time she too must deal with her past and her present and make choices she’s been avoiding.
A great read from start to finish a must read for any Woodville witches fans you won’t regret it.
Each witch has her own past and way of doing things and this is more apparent during this 4th book.
Faye has to deal with her growing powers and the past regarding her mother when the Holly King is brought back and wants to retake over the land.
Mrs Teach is dealing with her first Christmas without her beloved husband and Charlotte is as ever alone but this time she too must deal with her past and her present and make choices she’s been avoiding.
A great read from start to finish a must read for any Woodville witches fans you won’t regret it.
September 29, 2023
I am, in an entirely self appointed manner, Mark Stays Number One fan (…after his lovely wife and children), and I can’t emphasise enough how much I love The Witches of Woodville series of books. I was so excited for The Holly King, and I pre-ordered it in hard copy, Kindle and Audible; once I start a Woodville novel, I can’t stop so need multiple mediums.
Not only does The Holly King not disappoint, but it sets the bar even higher than its predecessors. This enchanting novel effortlessly merges the mystical world of witches with the tumultuous backdrop of World War II, creating a spellbinding narrative that is as rich as it is delightfully funny. As a therapist, I was impressed and moved to see Mark tackle the realities of war and PTSD with both depth and empathy, and as our beloved Woodvillian’s like to remind us, “There is a war on.” It was time for us to feel that side of this story, and the author skilfully balances the dark undertones with humor. Well delivered one liners at the perfect moment will find you involuntarily snort-laughing, and it’s a beautiful thing. The characters, especially our magical witches, come alive with charisma and depth, making every page a joy to read. This unique blend of fantasy and historical war time fiction is a testament to the writer's imaginative prowess. A five-star novel that takes readers on a magical journey through darkness and delight, leaving an indelible mark on the fantasy genre.
Not only does The Holly King not disappoint, but it sets the bar even higher than its predecessors. This enchanting novel effortlessly merges the mystical world of witches with the tumultuous backdrop of World War II, creating a spellbinding narrative that is as rich as it is delightfully funny. As a therapist, I was impressed and moved to see Mark tackle the realities of war and PTSD with both depth and empathy, and as our beloved Woodvillian’s like to remind us, “There is a war on.” It was time for us to feel that side of this story, and the author skilfully balances the dark undertones with humor. Well delivered one liners at the perfect moment will find you involuntarily snort-laughing, and it’s a beautiful thing. The characters, especially our magical witches, come alive with charisma and depth, making every page a joy to read. This unique blend of fantasy and historical war time fiction is a testament to the writer's imaginative prowess. A five-star novel that takes readers on a magical journey through darkness and delight, leaving an indelible mark on the fantasy genre.
April 25, 2024
2.5 stars
Hmmm, I really loved book 3, but this one was back to the borderline ridiculous style of the Big Bad the first book had, which didn't work well for me. Plus, it had a much weaker plot I didn't really care for. (Sorry.)
It had some parts I liked - like the interactions between the three witches - but the villagers were mostly tedious through out the entire book.
And then there was Pearl... She wasn't just tedious, she was utterly obnoxious. Good riddance!
Faye was the only character with some sort of development in this instalment in the series. Bertie lost me a bit - and the sudden cliffhanger didn't leave me with a nice taste in my mouth.
I'll surely return for the 5th book anyway, but probably with a bit of trepidation.
Fingers crossed I'll like it better!
Hmmm, I really loved book 3, but this one was back to the borderline ridiculous style of the Big Bad the first book had, which didn't work well for me. Plus, it had a much weaker plot I didn't really care for. (Sorry.)
It had some parts I liked - like the interactions between the three witches - but the villagers were mostly tedious through out the entire book.
And then there was Pearl... She wasn't just tedious, she was utterly obnoxious. Good riddance!
Faye was the only character with some sort of development in this instalment in the series. Bertie lost me a bit - and the sudden cliffhanger didn't leave me with a nice taste in my mouth.
I'll surely return for the 5th book anyway, but probably with a bit of trepidation.
Fingers crossed I'll like it better!
August 20, 2023
I am absolutely loving this series, the story just keeps getting better. The characters are brilliant, and it’s so satisfying to learn more about them.
The author has done a fantastic job of mixing myth and legend, with the spirit of a small village during WWII. The whole thing is just magical.
I particularly loved the Christmas theme, especially with the Holly King being absolutely terrifying. Very different to the current renderings, and much closer to the original telling.
The author has done a fantastic job of mixing myth and legend, with the spirit of a small village during WWII. The whole thing is just magical.
I particularly loved the Christmas theme, especially with the Holly King being absolutely terrifying. Very different to the current renderings, and much closer to the original telling.
September 17, 2023
I’ve not encountered this series of books before, but will definitely be checking out the rest as I enjoyed this so much! The Holly King stands alone well, with a few references to (I presume) the other books in the series.
The world building in this book is really lovely. The era it’s set in is a love of mine, so combined with witches and paganism and you’ve got an easy win with me! I especially love the concept of witches helping the war effort.
The characters are likeable and the magic is well considered. A really enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
The world building in this book is really lovely. The era it’s set in is a love of mine, so combined with witches and paganism and you’ve got an easy win with me! I especially love the concept of witches helping the war effort.
The characters are likeable and the magic is well considered. A really enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
September 18, 2023
Another charming chapter in this brilliant series. I was going to “save” it until Christmas but I couldn’t wait!
March 14, 2024
This is another enjoyable escape to the village of Woodville, where we rejoin the villagers in the lead-up to Christmas. They have had quite the year so far, and are looking forward to the festivities whilst the war still rages overhead. However, the normal life of the village is going to be utterly ruined by the return of the Holly King. This demigod is not happy having been supressed for a long time and is going to use everything in his power to retake his woodland domain back.
Are the folks of Woodville not going to see this Christmas?
The plot was far more intense than the previous three books and I thought that the stakes were much higher for Faye and the other witches. It did strike me that there is not a huge amount of character development since the last book too, as they seem to be barely over the last drama as the next crisis arrives.
As with any series, the jeopardy in the story means that I know that the characters will emerge at the end of the story, but these books, as with any series are about the journey through the story. There was one bit that didn’t quite make sense to me, but as with the first three books, I really enjoyed my time in this world that Stay has created.
Are the folks of Woodville not going to see this Christmas?
The plot was far more intense than the previous three books and I thought that the stakes were much higher for Faye and the other witches. It did strike me that there is not a huge amount of character development since the last book too, as they seem to be barely over the last drama as the next crisis arrives.
As with any series, the jeopardy in the story means that I know that the characters will emerge at the end of the story, but these books, as with any series are about the journey through the story. There was one bit that didn’t quite make sense to me, but as with the first three books, I really enjoyed my time in this world that Stay has created.
August 30, 2023
The fourth book of the Witches of Woodville sees us return to the village in December 1940, and you know what that means? Festive, yuletide, folkloric horror with a touch of canoodling!
In some ways, this feels a bit like a return to the folklore horror of the first book, The Crow Folk, with WW2 more in the background this time (although it makes it's presence felt in other ways). When the village postman is oddly compelled to slip out early and deliver a mysterious package into the middle of the woods, the ancient Holly King is summoned, and the whole village is at risk. It's up to Faye and the other witches to solve the mystery of his return and the motives of a fairy of dubious character. And to add to that, there's the return to the village of a soldier on leave, suffering from the horrors he's witnessed and having strange visions.
The characters are as charming and eccentric as always, and I love that Woodville feels like a village on the edge, not just of the war, but of the strange magics that seem to be drawn to it.
An incredibly enjoyable read, funny and fast-paced. The cosy fantasy/folklore horror elements are perfect for anyone who enjoys a festive ghost story at Christmas. The Holly King is yet another great instalment in the series. If you've enjoyed the previous books, then this will not disappoint. If you haven't read any of them yet, why not?
Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a netgalley copy for review
In some ways, this feels a bit like a return to the folklore horror of the first book, The Crow Folk, with WW2 more in the background this time (although it makes it's presence felt in other ways). When the village postman is oddly compelled to slip out early and deliver a mysterious package into the middle of the woods, the ancient Holly King is summoned, and the whole village is at risk. It's up to Faye and the other witches to solve the mystery of his return and the motives of a fairy of dubious character. And to add to that, there's the return to the village of a soldier on leave, suffering from the horrors he's witnessed and having strange visions.
The characters are as charming and eccentric as always, and I love that Woodville feels like a village on the edge, not just of the war, but of the strange magics that seem to be drawn to it.
An incredibly enjoyable read, funny and fast-paced. The cosy fantasy/folklore horror elements are perfect for anyone who enjoys a festive ghost story at Christmas. The Holly King is yet another great instalment in the series. If you've enjoyed the previous books, then this will not disappoint. If you haven't read any of them yet, why not?
Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a netgalley copy for review
August 28, 2023
The fourth Woodville book continues the story of young witch Faye Bright and her Kent village in World War II. This one has a slightly darker edge than the others, with a returning soldier’s PTSD driving one of the main plotlines. In my last review of these I described them as Terry Pratchett writing a Dad’s Army novelisation, which holds even truer here, as alongside the jokes, the author has tapped into the same vein of anger and empathy that made Pratchett great. There’s also a strong streak of pagan folk horror in the book, which for me is great as I’m a sucker for anything with antlers walking upright through an ancient woodland. As before, this book isn’t going to revolutionise your life, but it’s going to make it better for a couple of hours.
September 7, 2023
I've read all of the books in this series. There are few mentions of the previous books, but only in passing, so you can read this book as a standalone novel without reading any of the others in the series.
This book feels slightly 'older' than the earlier ones and has leaned into the horror elements a bit more. Is Cozy Christmas Horror a thing? If so, this is it. It's scary, but in places it is also genuinely funny. The big fight with the Christmas ornaments made me giggle.
If you like Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, you'll enjoy these books. I'm looking forward to reading more books set in Woodville.
I received an ARC through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
This book feels slightly 'older' than the earlier ones and has leaned into the horror elements a bit more. Is Cozy Christmas Horror a thing? If so, this is it. It's scary, but in places it is also genuinely funny. The big fight with the Christmas ornaments made me giggle.
If you like Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, you'll enjoy these books. I'm looking forward to reading more books set in Woodville.
I received an ARC through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
September 13, 2023
The Holly King is the fourth book in Mark Stay's excellent Witches of Woodville series. A demi-god with antlers and a big white beard has awoken within the wood just in time for Christmas, but is disappointed to discover that the current villagers no longer properly venerate him. What to do but destroy them all?
Young witch Faye Bright continues her strong character arc, discovering more about herself and her family while trying to save the village with her friends. There's also a bit of snogging under the mistletoe with her beau, Bertie.
Another great instalment of this historical comedic fantasy (is that a real genre?) series.
Young witch Faye Bright continues her strong character arc, discovering more about herself and her family while trying to save the village with her friends. There's also a bit of snogging under the mistletoe with her beau, Bertie.
Another great instalment of this historical comedic fantasy (is that a real genre?) series.
August 26, 2023
The witches just get better with each book in this excellent series. It's Christmas time and Faye, Mrs Teach and Miss Charlotte must overcome the Holly King who has appeared in their village with the intention of destroying them all.
The characters are excellent, the humour just right and the plot delightfully entertaining. The character of Sid adds a certain poignancy to the story, reminding us of the horrors of war.
Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
The characters are excellent, the humour just right and the plot delightfully entertaining. The character of Sid adds a certain poignancy to the story, reminding us of the horrors of war.
Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
August 27, 2023
This is a wonderful addition to the Woodville series, with the same blend of magic and old fashioned charm. I loved the way the demigod, The Holly King, is brought to life, not in a mythological way, but as if he really was alive just after WWII. The romance side is coming along nicely too, and everything ends beautifully, with plenty of room for Woodville #5...
Blinking marvellous, and bring on the next one. Recommended in spades.
Blinking marvellous, and bring on the next one. Recommended in spades.
January 12, 2024
I read and enjoyed all the books in this series which mixes elements of Pratchett, historical fiction and delivers delightful stories.
This one was a very good one that I thoroughly enjoyed and was very happy to catch up with the characters
Well plotted, witty, entertaining.
Can't wait for the next story this author
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This one was a very good one that I thoroughly enjoyed and was very happy to catch up with the characters
Well plotted, witty, entertaining.
Can't wait for the next story this author
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 13, 2023
wasn't really my favourite out of the series, just personal preference really. fr was so claoe to beating the shit out of the holly king myself, goodness i hate that guy... I am also rooting for my boy bertie. Mr. Mark I shall say this.... bertie deserves the world, if you dont give him that im gonna need to have a few words with you >:( I love that guy
September 18, 2023
Have you been naughty or nice this year? Either way, the Holly King will bring out your darkest secrets and you certainly don't want to see what is moving in his sack...
Mr Stay does it again with a novel equal parts horror and humour, that is rooted in folklore and has the best set of witches this side of a Terry Pratchett novel.
Christmas will never quite feel the same after you've read this delightful seasonal tale of terror, trees and tinsel.
Mr Stay does it again with a novel equal parts horror and humour, that is rooted in folklore and has the best set of witches this side of a Terry Pratchett novel.
Christmas will never quite feel the same after you've read this delightful seasonal tale of terror, trees and tinsel.
December 26, 2025
God jól and a Merry Christmas people of Woodsville! 🎄
It’s a good book. I was generous giving this one a 4 star - I think the book itself is 4 stars. My personal enjoyment was closer to 3, but I just wasn’t quite the audience Stay was writing for and had different expectations coming into it.
First things first though: I’ve read this as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the series before and mistakenly picked this one up from the pile as a last minute purchase because the cover was different from the first three. I don’t think that ruined my enjoyment of it though - it actually still works well as a standalone!
I bought this at London Comic Con. I remember Mark asking me what made me pick this one up. Originally, I was just buying the End of Magic series, but my eyes drifted onto this book. I know why now:
1. The cover - beautiful!
2. The description he had of a “decadent orgy”… this part may have actually been why my expectations weren’t quite met in the book itself
3. It was coming up to Christmas and I thought I should grab myself a Christmas themed read
4. Historical fantasy!
5. The blurb
6. A quick skim of the reviews
The book has a brilliant British sense of humour woven into it. Even after a short time speaking with the author, I can really feel his sense of personality reflect in his writing. It was difficult to get used to at first, don’t get me wrong. That was perhaps due to my own expectations coming into it (I’ll get into that more later) which just meant I wasn’t expecting the YA-style writing and third person right off the bat. But I got used to it after a while.
The characters are lovable and despite skipping the first three books (oops), Bertie and Faye’s relationship is adorable and the ending was an exciting and pleasant finisher. Definitely unexpected, but built up and fit well!
(You know who) turning on (you know who #2) so suddenly was a little jarring. Her motives never felt very strong and I wasn’t very interested in her character. The reveal between her and Faye was the most interesting part about her, but that interest quickly faded after that part.
The book can also feel sooooo very long at times. The story itself is great, but sometimes I thought it could be said in less. Countless multiple perspectives that don’t add too much to the plot or story could have been left out and replaced with more actual, lengthy plot-juice. During the feast I skim-skipped so many POVs - Miss Charlotte’s and Sid’s especially.
But I think the biggest reason why I enjoyed it less than I rate the writing was because I started this book with wildly different expectations…… all from those first two words I saw when buying it: “decadent orgy!”
Now I don’t mean I was expecting (or even wanting) some wild sex book, not at all. Just that that those words led me to believe that the book was more adult-leaning than it was. I wasn’t totally misled, they did refer to the feast as an “orgy” a few times, and there was a brief mention of a married couple drunkenly kissing, but not an actual orgy that you’d imagine when saying those words today. Although, Stay’s descriptions of violence are sometimes very gory, which for me was brilliant. That’s what I thought I was walking into! But there are only a couple of descriptive moments like this in the book.
Although, honestly, I would have loved to read this book back in secondary school. The sometimes gory descriptions don’t worry me for a teen audience - I think it’s important to remember that Gen Z, and the newest generations like Gen Alpha, are very desensitised to things like this - we don’t tend to find them distressing or shocking, just more interesting, detailed, realistic and immersive.
But I did like this book. It has been a great fantasy Christmas read to get me in the spirit this year. The way that Stay pulls in elements of WWII into a folklore, witchy setting is amazing. I wish I walked in with different expectations but the book itself is “tickety-boo!”
It’s a good book. I was generous giving this one a 4 star - I think the book itself is 4 stars. My personal enjoyment was closer to 3, but I just wasn’t quite the audience Stay was writing for and had different expectations coming into it.
First things first though: I’ve read this as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the series before and mistakenly picked this one up from the pile as a last minute purchase because the cover was different from the first three. I don’t think that ruined my enjoyment of it though - it actually still works well as a standalone!
I bought this at London Comic Con. I remember Mark asking me what made me pick this one up. Originally, I was just buying the End of Magic series, but my eyes drifted onto this book. I know why now:
1. The cover - beautiful!
2. The description he had of a “decadent orgy”… this part may have actually been why my expectations weren’t quite met in the book itself
3. It was coming up to Christmas and I thought I should grab myself a Christmas themed read
4. Historical fantasy!
5. The blurb
6. A quick skim of the reviews
The book has a brilliant British sense of humour woven into it. Even after a short time speaking with the author, I can really feel his sense of personality reflect in his writing. It was difficult to get used to at first, don’t get me wrong. That was perhaps due to my own expectations coming into it (I’ll get into that more later) which just meant I wasn’t expecting the YA-style writing and third person right off the bat. But I got used to it after a while.
The characters are lovable and despite skipping the first three books (oops), Bertie and Faye’s relationship is adorable and the ending was an exciting and pleasant finisher. Definitely unexpected, but built up and fit well!
(You know who) turning on (you know who #2) so suddenly was a little jarring. Her motives never felt very strong and I wasn’t very interested in her character. The reveal between her and Faye was the most interesting part about her, but that interest quickly faded after that part.
The book can also feel sooooo very long at times. The story itself is great, but sometimes I thought it could be said in less. Countless multiple perspectives that don’t add too much to the plot or story could have been left out and replaced with more actual, lengthy plot-juice. During the feast I skim-skipped so many POVs - Miss Charlotte’s and Sid’s especially.
But I think the biggest reason why I enjoyed it less than I rate the writing was because I started this book with wildly different expectations…… all from those first two words I saw when buying it: “decadent orgy!”
Now I don’t mean I was expecting (or even wanting) some wild sex book, not at all. Just that that those words led me to believe that the book was more adult-leaning than it was. I wasn’t totally misled, they did refer to the feast as an “orgy” a few times, and there was a brief mention of a married couple drunkenly kissing, but not an actual orgy that you’d imagine when saying those words today. Although, Stay’s descriptions of violence are sometimes very gory, which for me was brilliant. That’s what I thought I was walking into! But there are only a couple of descriptive moments like this in the book.
Although, honestly, I would have loved to read this book back in secondary school. The sometimes gory descriptions don’t worry me for a teen audience - I think it’s important to remember that Gen Z, and the newest generations like Gen Alpha, are very desensitised to things like this - we don’t tend to find them distressing or shocking, just more interesting, detailed, realistic and immersive.
But I did like this book. It has been a great fantasy Christmas read to get me in the spirit this year. The way that Stay pulls in elements of WWII into a folklore, witchy setting is amazing. I wish I walked in with different expectations but the book itself is “tickety-boo!”
August 19, 2023
I had no idea that Mark Stay's delightful historical fantasy was the 4th in the Witches of Woodville series, but fortunately it worked fine as a standalone. This is set in December 1940 with many of the villagers doing their bit for the war effort, including the Home Guard Volunteers led by Captain Marshall, amidst a background of rising prices, food rationing, loss of lives, and Luftwaffe bombing air raids. As you might imagine, everyone is looking forward to the upcoming Chrismas festivities, but instead have to contend with the terrors and threat of Woodville and its residents being wiped out, a place with a history of having fallen victim to the strange and peculiar. It all begins with the postie Eric Birdwhistle delivering a package at the hollow oak in the woods that results in the resurrection of a demigod, the Holly King.
In this fun and entertaining narrative, the ancient Holly King is intent on reclaiming his woodland kingdom and being rightfully worshipped by all, in the process unleashing the deadly mayhem and chaos that follows. 18 year old witch Faye Bright, in a relationship with Bertie Butterworth, is the daughter of the pub landlord of The Green Man, Terrence, having lost her mother, Kathryn, when she was young, leaving Faye desperate for any information about her. Faye is being mentored by Mrs Philomena Teach with her handbag, and Miss Charlotte Southill with her katana sword, the 2 other village witches. They are secrets that are uncovered, Faye is going to learn more about her mother, and all the witches are set to be tested to their very limits, will they succeed in saving Woodville?
Mark Stay hits the mark with his plotting and writing, overflowing with magic, the darkest with the snow blizzard, the Feast of Fools, the Lord of Misrule, and a diabolical dangerous mist in which everyone loses their mind. The witches have a party to crash, aided by Sid and the spirit of the woodwose, but can they counter the conflict, and divisive tactics of the Holly King, and the dreadful truths that emerge? I enjoyed this far more than I expected to, I adored the characters of Faye, Charlotte and Philomena, along with the complexities of Sid, the horrors of war which had changed the man he used to be so fundamentally. This is the perfect festive read, it is tense, edgy and dark, yet simultaneously light and comic. I have to say that I am looking forward to the next in this historical fantasy series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
In this fun and entertaining narrative, the ancient Holly King is intent on reclaiming his woodland kingdom and being rightfully worshipped by all, in the process unleashing the deadly mayhem and chaos that follows. 18 year old witch Faye Bright, in a relationship with Bertie Butterworth, is the daughter of the pub landlord of The Green Man, Terrence, having lost her mother, Kathryn, when she was young, leaving Faye desperate for any information about her. Faye is being mentored by Mrs Philomena Teach with her handbag, and Miss Charlotte Southill with her katana sword, the 2 other village witches. They are secrets that are uncovered, Faye is going to learn more about her mother, and all the witches are set to be tested to their very limits, will they succeed in saving Woodville?
Mark Stay hits the mark with his plotting and writing, overflowing with magic, the darkest with the snow blizzard, the Feast of Fools, the Lord of Misrule, and a diabolical dangerous mist in which everyone loses their mind. The witches have a party to crash, aided by Sid and the spirit of the woodwose, but can they counter the conflict, and divisive tactics of the Holly King, and the dreadful truths that emerge? I enjoyed this far more than I expected to, I adored the characters of Faye, Charlotte and Philomena, along with the complexities of Sid, the horrors of war which had changed the man he used to be so fundamentally. This is the perfect festive read, it is tense, edgy and dark, yet simultaneously light and comic. I have to say that I am looking forward to the next in this historical fantasy series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
January 11, 2024
Okay, this is the second book of Mark Stay’s books that I have read this week. This time it’s a return to the village of Woodville, the magical village in Kent.
Yep, here we are joining our favourite witches, Charlotte Southill, Mrs Teach and the inimitable witch in training Faye right.
I love this series and cannot believe that we are up to the fourth book already!
In The Holly King, Faye and the village of Woodville have to fight a figure from Christmas past. The Holly King, who has returned to this world after being banished, along with his brother, The Oak King, to the mists of the ether.
You know the old thing about Father Christmas and him knowing whether you have been naughty or nice, well it seems that the Holly King revels in knowing these secrets and used to turn up every Yule (the beginning marked by the winter solstice) to signify the coming of the light on this the longest night.
Not only that, some deep dark secrets from the Bright (nee Winter) family come back from the dead as Faye learns more about her mother, and where her dad Terence got his war wound from originally.
Did I mention that I love this series? I did? Well, I don’t care! I have been reading a lot of Mark Stay’s books lately and as I said in my review of The End of Magic, I am a definite fanboy of Mark Stay’s work and think that I have demolished most his books now and have recently been going through the short stories that he has wrote about Charlotte Southill (who is definitely my fave character).
The Holly King returns more to the realms of the first book, The Crow Folk and has that air of seventies folk horror that permeated that story. However, whilst there is that air of horror, Mark Stay peppers the story with plenty of heartfelt humour. He has definitely got this off to a fine art and I think that this is what makes his books so bloody good and feels like chocolate for the eyes and ears.
As usual all the characters are so bloody good, and it is like been surrounded by family every time I open the pages of a Witches of Woodville book.
I have to say that I listened this one on audio again because Candida Gubbins is the voice of Woodville, she is such a talented voice artist and is able to put a distinctive personality into each character, male or female.
Right, can I just say – everyone needs to read these books. Even Miss Araminta Cranberry says so!
Now the only problem that I have is that I have to wait for the next one. Buggeration!
Yep, here we are joining our favourite witches, Charlotte Southill, Mrs Teach and the inimitable witch in training Faye right.
I love this series and cannot believe that we are up to the fourth book already!
In The Holly King, Faye and the village of Woodville have to fight a figure from Christmas past. The Holly King, who has returned to this world after being banished, along with his brother, The Oak King, to the mists of the ether.
You know the old thing about Father Christmas and him knowing whether you have been naughty or nice, well it seems that the Holly King revels in knowing these secrets and used to turn up every Yule (the beginning marked by the winter solstice) to signify the coming of the light on this the longest night.
Not only that, some deep dark secrets from the Bright (nee Winter) family come back from the dead as Faye learns more about her mother, and where her dad Terence got his war wound from originally.
Did I mention that I love this series? I did? Well, I don’t care! I have been reading a lot of Mark Stay’s books lately and as I said in my review of The End of Magic, I am a definite fanboy of Mark Stay’s work and think that I have demolished most his books now and have recently been going through the short stories that he has wrote about Charlotte Southill (who is definitely my fave character).
The Holly King returns more to the realms of the first book, The Crow Folk and has that air of seventies folk horror that permeated that story. However, whilst there is that air of horror, Mark Stay peppers the story with plenty of heartfelt humour. He has definitely got this off to a fine art and I think that this is what makes his books so bloody good and feels like chocolate for the eyes and ears.
As usual all the characters are so bloody good, and it is like been surrounded by family every time I open the pages of a Witches of Woodville book.
I have to say that I listened this one on audio again because Candida Gubbins is the voice of Woodville, she is such a talented voice artist and is able to put a distinctive personality into each character, male or female.
Right, can I just say – everyone needs to read these books. Even Miss Araminta Cranberry says so!
Now the only problem that I have is that I have to wait for the next one. Buggeration!
January 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I hadn’t read any of Mark Stay’s books before The Holly King, but I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and I love my historical fantasy books. After reading this book, I’ll definitely be looking into reading Mark Stay’s other books, particularly his Witches of Woodville books. This book felt as though it was bursting with magic from the first page. Stay’s writing is infused with this sense of magic and wonder throughout, and I never found myself becoming bored or thinking that any part of the book was dull or a drag.
I’m sure that coming into this series at Book 4 probably puts me at a disadvantage to those who have been reading this book from the start of the series, but I never felt as though I was at a disadvantage because Stay’s writing makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world he’s created and pick things up quite quickly.
Speaking of the world, I adored it. I was surprised by how effortlessly I was sucked into the world, a mystical world of magic and witches with WWII taking place in the background. That premise sounds like there should be some dissonance between the horror of war and the wonder of magic, and yet it felt natural and seamless.
Moving on to the characters, I found that they were interesting and very fleshed-out, with their own personalities and motivations. They didn’t feel two-dimensional, and even the characters who are minor or side characters are still interesting enough for the reader to become invested in them, and aren’t simply treated as throwaway or supplementary characters, there to simply bolster the main characters.
This was an interesting departure from what I normally read, even though it does have witches in it, as I tend to avoid historical fantasy fiction, but at no point did I ever find myself becoming confused or bored while reading it. I’d gladly read the book again, and I’m almost certainly going to read the other books in the series.
I hadn’t read any of Mark Stay’s books before The Holly King, but I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and I love my historical fantasy books. After reading this book, I’ll definitely be looking into reading Mark Stay’s other books, particularly his Witches of Woodville books. This book felt as though it was bursting with magic from the first page. Stay’s writing is infused with this sense of magic and wonder throughout, and I never found myself becoming bored or thinking that any part of the book was dull or a drag.
I’m sure that coming into this series at Book 4 probably puts me at a disadvantage to those who have been reading this book from the start of the series, but I never felt as though I was at a disadvantage because Stay’s writing makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world he’s created and pick things up quite quickly.
Speaking of the world, I adored it. I was surprised by how effortlessly I was sucked into the world, a mystical world of magic and witches with WWII taking place in the background. That premise sounds like there should be some dissonance between the horror of war and the wonder of magic, and yet it felt natural and seamless.
Moving on to the characters, I found that they were interesting and very fleshed-out, with their own personalities and motivations. They didn’t feel two-dimensional, and even the characters who are minor or side characters are still interesting enough for the reader to become invested in them, and aren’t simply treated as throwaway or supplementary characters, there to simply bolster the main characters.
This was an interesting departure from what I normally read, even though it does have witches in it, as I tend to avoid historical fantasy fiction, but at no point did I ever find myself becoming confused or bored while reading it. I’d gladly read the book again, and I’m almost certainly going to read the other books in the series.
January 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I hadn’t read any of Mark Stay’s books before The Holly King, but I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and I love my historical fantasy books. After reading this book, I’ll definitely be looking into reading Mark Stay’s other books, particularly his Witches of Woodville books. This book felt as though it was bursting with magic from the first page. Stay’s writing is infused with this sense of magic and wonder throughout, and I never found myself becoming bored or thinking that any part of the book was dull or a drag.
I’m sure that coming into this series at Book 4 probably puts me at a disadvantage to those who have been reading this book from the start of the series, but I never felt as though I was at a disadvantage because Stay’s writing makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world he’s created and pick things up quite quickly.
Speaking of the world, I adored it. I was surprised by how effortlessly I was sucked into the world, a mystical world of magic and witches with WWII taking place in the background. That premise sounds like there should be some dissonance between the horror of war and the wonder of magic, and yet it felt natural and seamless.
Moving on to the characters, I found that they were interesting and very fleshed-out, with their own personalities and motivations. They didn’t feel two dimensional, and even the characters who are minor or side characters are still interesting enough for the reader to become invested in them, and aren’t simply treated as throwaway or supplementary characters, there to simply bolster the main characters.
This was an interesting departure from what I normally read, and at no point did I ever find myself becoming confused or bored while reading it. I’d gladly read the book again, and I’m almost certainly going to read the other books in the series.
I hadn’t read any of Mark Stay’s books before The Holly King, but I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and I love my historical fantasy books. After reading this book, I’ll definitely be looking into reading Mark Stay’s other books, particularly his Witches of Woodville books. This book felt as though it was bursting with magic from the first page. Stay’s writing is infused with this sense of magic and wonder throughout, and I never found myself becoming bored or thinking that any part of the book was dull or a drag.
I’m sure that coming into this series at Book 4 probably puts me at a disadvantage to those who have been reading this book from the start of the series, but I never felt as though I was at a disadvantage because Stay’s writing makes it easy to immerse yourself in the world he’s created and pick things up quite quickly.
Speaking of the world, I adored it. I was surprised by how effortlessly I was sucked into the world, a mystical world of magic and witches with WWII taking place in the background. That premise sounds like there should be some dissonance between the horror of war and the wonder of magic, and yet it felt natural and seamless.
Moving on to the characters, I found that they were interesting and very fleshed-out, with their own personalities and motivations. They didn’t feel two dimensional, and even the characters who are minor or side characters are still interesting enough for the reader to become invested in them, and aren’t simply treated as throwaway or supplementary characters, there to simply bolster the main characters.
This was an interesting departure from what I normally read, and at no point did I ever find myself becoming confused or bored while reading it. I’d gladly read the book again, and I’m almost certainly going to read the other books in the series.
August 31, 2023
Briefly - Entertaining in a light way mainly.
In full
This is book four of the Witches of Woodville series however I'd not read any previous books so came to this afresh. It's December 1940 and we are in Woodville, a village in Kent. The war is taking a dark turn however it is going to get even darker in Woodville. A demigod, the Holly King, is returning to take control of his woodland realm, part of which is Woodville. There will be feasting first but then the Holly King will destroy Woodville unless someone can stop him.
Faye is a young witch just coming into her powers. She is dreaming and the dream features her mother who was also a witch before she died. But the dream keeps ending before she can find out what is going to happen. The village (or its environs) is home to two other witches. There is a very old one and one who is younger - always good to have a trio of such witches!
While there is quite a bit of action much of this tale is fairly light to me. The Home Guard get a look in and there are some "village characters" and personalities. Quite often everything is "tickety-boo" when it generally isn't. However from time to time the depth of this increases substantially - the Feast of Fools for example is very dark as is the woodwose. Some characters I really liked, Faye was fine however the older witch, Charlotte, I really liked and would have liked more of. Equally I found Faye's father intriguing and could have done with some more about him. I guess, as this is the 4th book, I'm somewhat behind the curve here. However I do think this can easily be read as a standalone story.
In the end this did seem a little light and jokey at times. The magic was powerful however almost completely unexplained. I did find the sense of time and places very good indeed and the wood was excellent. A decent read and entertaining with parts of it very good indeed. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This is book four of the Witches of Woodville series however I'd not read any previous books so came to this afresh. It's December 1940 and we are in Woodville, a village in Kent. The war is taking a dark turn however it is going to get even darker in Woodville. A demigod, the Holly King, is returning to take control of his woodland realm, part of which is Woodville. There will be feasting first but then the Holly King will destroy Woodville unless someone can stop him.
Faye is a young witch just coming into her powers. She is dreaming and the dream features her mother who was also a witch before she died. But the dream keeps ending before she can find out what is going to happen. The village (or its environs) is home to two other witches. There is a very old one and one who is younger - always good to have a trio of such witches!
While there is quite a bit of action much of this tale is fairly light to me. The Home Guard get a look in and there are some "village characters" and personalities. Quite often everything is "tickety-boo" when it generally isn't. However from time to time the depth of this increases substantially - the Feast of Fools for example is very dark as is the woodwose. Some characters I really liked, Faye was fine however the older witch, Charlotte, I really liked and would have liked more of. Equally I found Faye's father intriguing and could have done with some more about him. I guess, as this is the 4th book, I'm somewhat behind the curve here. However I do think this can easily be read as a standalone story.
In the end this did seem a little light and jokey at times. The magic was powerful however almost completely unexplained. I did find the sense of time and places very good indeed and the wood was excellent. A decent read and entertaining with parts of it very good indeed. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
January 22, 2024
Book Review 📚
The Holly King by Mark Stay - 4.5/5 ⭐
Well. I'll try my best to summarise this book with enough words, but I guarantee, it still won't do it justice.
Fantastic. The whole thing. From start to finish. Fantastic. I finished this book in 2 days and wow, what a brilliant start to 2024 for reading material. This one is going to stay with me for a while. It'll be a hard job to top this book for the rest of the year.
Faye - I ADORE her. Our FMC is not your usual "heroine". It's annoying to say, but we do in fact have the stereotyped heroines in books and Faye just isn't it. And that for me made this book everything and more. I live for her whole attitude, it was absolutely awesome! She's not your typical goodie to shoes and that made her so much more interesting.
Descriptions - phenomenal. There wasn't a single moment where I could not imagine it picture the scene that was set, or the way characters were perceived. Stay done a brilliant job of doing the hard work for me so it was as easy as sitting back and enjoying a good book.
I would easily give this book 5 ⭐ but I'm really very hard to get a 5 ⭐ out of, so 4.5 for me is basically a 5 ⭐
I can't recommend this book enough and I will now be going to find more books from Stay because his writing style and technique is impeccable.
The Holly King by Mark Stay - 4.5/5 ⭐
Well. I'll try my best to summarise this book with enough words, but I guarantee, it still won't do it justice.
Fantastic. The whole thing. From start to finish. Fantastic. I finished this book in 2 days and wow, what a brilliant start to 2024 for reading material. This one is going to stay with me for a while. It'll be a hard job to top this book for the rest of the year.
Faye - I ADORE her. Our FMC is not your usual "heroine". It's annoying to say, but we do in fact have the stereotyped heroines in books and Faye just isn't it. And that for me made this book everything and more. I live for her whole attitude, it was absolutely awesome! She's not your typical goodie to shoes and that made her so much more interesting.
Descriptions - phenomenal. There wasn't a single moment where I could not imagine it picture the scene that was set, or the way characters were perceived. Stay done a brilliant job of doing the hard work for me so it was as easy as sitting back and enjoying a good book.
I would easily give this book 5 ⭐ but I'm really very hard to get a 5 ⭐ out of, so 4.5 for me is basically a 5 ⭐
I can't recommend this book enough and I will now be going to find more books from Stay because his writing style and technique is impeccable.
October 25, 2023
Something has woken up beneath the roots of hollow oak and the Holly king is back to reclaim his woodland domain. The book has curse, magic, spells, revenge and war. It has a backdrop of world war 2. When a delivery person go to deliver the mail from post office to oak woods. He notices something strange is happening in the woods and he becomes bound to it. The ancient power is gripping everyone. Faye has to pay for her mother’s mistake as Pearl is on the quest of revenge. Each character has a purpose and some truths gets unveiled. Perhaps the deepest secret of Holly Kind encapsulated itself too. The awakening of the Holly king is both strange and dreadful. But everything is not how it seems to be. As the winter solstice draws in, Holly king executes his plan, will the villagers fall under his spell? or Faye, Bertie, and witches will be able to save the village? I loved the bond between Faye and Bertie and the ending was so unexpected.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher
December 30, 2023
4/5
Yuletide comes to Woodville and an ancient entity is freed from its binding. The Holly King comes and causes havoc in his wake for the witches of Woodville as secrets are revealed.
- This fourth book has a different vibe to the others
The other were very wartime, "keep calm and carry on" vibes whereas this one is more mysterious and looks into the effects of war of an individual.
- Faye grows up quite a bit in this book and you see her struggle with that and the revelations that are brought to light. I think this was very well done and also acknowledges the uncomfortable fact that everyone has secrets they choose to keep hidden for the greater good.
- Bertie is probably my favourite character now. He's just the sweetest and I adore him.
A mysterious festive entry into the Witches of Woodville series. I look forward to seeing how Stay takes the series forward.
Yuletide comes to Woodville and an ancient entity is freed from its binding. The Holly King comes and causes havoc in his wake for the witches of Woodville as secrets are revealed.
- This fourth book has a different vibe to the others
The other were very wartime, "keep calm and carry on" vibes whereas this one is more mysterious and looks into the effects of war of an individual.
- Faye grows up quite a bit in this book and you see her struggle with that and the revelations that are brought to light. I think this was very well done and also acknowledges the uncomfortable fact that everyone has secrets they choose to keep hidden for the greater good.
- Bertie is probably my favourite character now. He's just the sweetest and I adore him.
A mysterious festive entry into the Witches of Woodville series. I look forward to seeing how Stay takes the series forward.
March 27, 2024
I loved this, thrilling and not without losses and grief, we're tapping into the pagan mysteries and magics and the story darkens considerably. Not despairingly, but considerably darker than previous books. Faye is a capable witch, but she is reminded that there are forces greater than even she can handle. I loved how she handles "the humble-pie" (explaining this would be a spoiler, so I'll just have you take my word for it. It's a very good scene!).
I'm glad the council and the war is not taking up too much focus, I've had my fill of war stories. I still get it, it's ww2 and it is as dark as it gets. That's all I need to know, I am glad the author kept his focus on the little village and the drama there. That is quite enough, we get an approximation of where in the war effort we are from the backstories told by passers-by. Neatly done.
I'm glad the council and the war is not taking up too much focus, I've had my fill of war stories. I still get it, it's ww2 and it is as dark as it gets. That's all I need to know, I am glad the author kept his focus on the little village and the drama there. That is quite enough, we get an approximation of where in the war effort we are from the backstories told by passers-by. Neatly done.
December 29, 2024
A Christmas tale
The Witches of Woodville book 4 is just as good as the 3 that have gone before. I have part listened and part read this book.
Faye Bright and her compatriot Witches are beset by the Holly King, a pagan god who wants to be worshipped again. He manages, with the help of Pearl, a fairy, to infiltrate the minds of Shirley and Eric Birdwhistle, making them make and deliver a crown to him on the eve of Yule.
Mark Stay has written another fast paced book, mentioning the horrors of war and how it can affect people fighting for their freedom.
As always Candida Gubbins does a fantastic job of narrating this book, with correct Americanism's and different voices.
A great story set in a rural village during the second world war, this book shows how villages can come together to overcome any eventuality, even if there are sacrifices to be made along the way.
The Witches of Woodville book 4 is just as good as the 3 that have gone before. I have part listened and part read this book.
Faye Bright and her compatriot Witches are beset by the Holly King, a pagan god who wants to be worshipped again. He manages, with the help of Pearl, a fairy, to infiltrate the minds of Shirley and Eric Birdwhistle, making them make and deliver a crown to him on the eve of Yule.
Mark Stay has written another fast paced book, mentioning the horrors of war and how it can affect people fighting for their freedom.
As always Candida Gubbins does a fantastic job of narrating this book, with correct Americanism's and different voices.
A great story set in a rural village during the second world war, this book shows how villages can come together to overcome any eventuality, even if there are sacrifices to be made along the way.
November 2, 2023
Faye Bright faces her biggest threat yet, a bloomin' massive demigod!
She's got some control over her budding witchy powers, but she'll need the support of everyone in Woodville to defeat him. Isn't it just typical that the hilariously eccentric villagers just don't want to agree on anything?
Mark Stay is on top form once again in the latest Witches of Woodville story, packed with action, humour, and heart. This one has a slightly "darker" feel to it than the earlier books, but nothing to cause nightmares.
It's a powerful story with a bit of everything you fancy thrown in. The fourth in the series, but stands alone as well, so feel free to jump right in here, then go back and read the rest!
She's got some control over her budding witchy powers, but she'll need the support of everyone in Woodville to defeat him. Isn't it just typical that the hilariously eccentric villagers just don't want to agree on anything?
Mark Stay is on top form once again in the latest Witches of Woodville story, packed with action, humour, and heart. This one has a slightly "darker" feel to it than the earlier books, but nothing to cause nightmares.
It's a powerful story with a bit of everything you fancy thrown in. The fourth in the series, but stands alone as well, so feel free to jump right in here, then go back and read the rest!
November 23, 2023
I’ve read the entire Witches of Woodville Series. A young girl in WWII England discovers truths about her mother that change her life. The writing is vivid, the characters real, fun, normal, abnormal, and the descriptions take you back to that time in the world, in England, in a girl’s life. You could say that these books are young adult since the main character is one herself but that short sells their appeal to adults. You could say the books are fantasy but that short sells the real drama of life during the war that underlay the story. I highly recommend the whole series (and the others to come). The Holly King was rich with complex problems, and secrets, and the real fallout of war. Great stories to get lost in.
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