All the Parts of the Soul

by Catherine Fearns

The year is 1545; Geneva has defeated the Catholic forces of the Duke of Savoy and established itself as the center of the Reformation, with John Calvin as its spiritual leader. But peace is fragile, and in a city ravaged by plague, the atmosphere is one of fear and suspicion. So when new rumors of witchcraft emerge from the isolated village of Satigny, Calvin sees an opportunity and plucks a reclusive young magistrate to investigate.
Henry Aubert was orphaned by plague at the age of twelve, and since then, he has lived alone, consumed by fear and by the temptations he finds in the margins of his book collection. Now, for the first time, he is forced to confront the possibility of society, friendship, even love. Local healer Louise de Peney is kind and beautiful but skirts dangerously close to the fringes of his investigation. Can he escape the horrific task he has been set? And is it too late to save a soul that has too long been turned in on itself?

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Witches, Fantasy, Gothic

199 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2023

Reviews

[Netanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was like a punch in the gut. Seeing the witch craze in 16th century Geneva, through the eyes and mind of witch hunter Henry Audet, was insane, nauseating at times, and deeply moving. The research that author Catherine Fearns did to make this story come alive - blending historical characters both known and unknown, with fictional characters - was richly done. Reading this book took me right back to the classroom, to a women's studies course I took many years ago where we studied the witch hunts of medieval Europe. This story was really well done, and deserves a wide readership. This is not horror, per se, but the story is the more horrific for being historical.

I am also reminded why I always thought John Calvin was an uptight ass.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this opportunity. Richly deserved kudos to Fearns!

[Sophie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Parts of the Soul has a piece of my heart. This was beautifully dark and highlighted a twisted part of European history that people often forget - the witch-craze that killed around 50,000 people.

I think this was so well researched, utilising historical facts mixed with fiction to create an incredible story highlighting what women faced in the sixteenth century but from a male perspective. A unique take on witchcraft stories, as this was told through the male recluse turned magistrate who was tasked with hunting witches in a small village.

I felt myself getting so angry while reading from his perspective, but obviously, that was the point, and I think it was well executed (excuse the pun). Overall, it was a beautiful historical fiction story that pulled on my heart strings and made me emotive, so it's a great read.

Thanks to Catherine Fearns and Netgalley for the review copy.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Thou shalt not permit a sorceress to live.”

This was a wonderfully dark and grim historical fiction. I loved the concepts: witches, plagues, dark magic, etc. and was so frustrated at times with the archaic perceptions of women!

You can tell the author put so much work into her tale, from all the descriptive details, to the chapter titles, and richly developed characters.

This is one story you won’t want to miss reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Quill and Crow Publishing House for a copy!

[Paperwitches ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hit about 27% before I realized I would just not be able to get into this book. I love the topics of the plagues, historical fiction, historical horror, and the witchcraft trials (esp the European burning of witches) but I just couldn’t stomach this. To a certain extent, there is a level of horror that just takes enjoyment in the suffering of women. Blatantly or non blatantly, and I get that this was done for a purpose. But it just was NOT my cup of tea.

I feel like others really really enjoy its more disturbing aspects (i.e: extreme horror readers) and its topic! It wasn’t badly done at all. It just wasn’t for me.

I will be skipping posting to Amazon since this is under 3 stars. I will post to Goodreads.

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal book.

All the Parts of the Soul is an extremely uncomfortable read, but incredibly captivating in its horror. Through the eyes of Henry Aubert, a magistrate from Geneva during the witch trials of 1545, you’re forced to witness the misogyny and cruelty inflicted upon those accused of witchcraft.

If you want a well-researched historical fiction novel, this is for you.
If you want a book with incredible prose, this is for you.
If you want to seethe with feminine rage, this is absolutely for you.

It’s genuinely hard to describe how this book made me feel, which I mean in the most positive way. The male protagonist is a loathsome man, whose struggle with the justification of torture for the greater good makes you sick to your stomach. I have never wanted to scream at a character in a book as badly as I have with this one. I was horrified at times while reading; I was captivated throughout.

Catherine Fearns did an incredible job with this novel, and I will be thinking about it for a very long time. A highly recommended read for those who are comfortable with discomfort.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

[Diana Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Quill and Crow Publishing House and author Catherine Fearns for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very well-researched and quite horrifying at times. I felt that the pace really slowed down from about a third of the way through to about 75% of the way through, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

All the Parts of the Soul Catherine Fearns is a historical horror that opens with a bang. Henry Aubert has been fascinated with the destruction of witches since he was a tween and is zealously devoted to Calvin and his ideals. He’s sent to a village that is suffering from a plague and is confronted with what appears to be witchcraft, and the town starts to fall into chaos as everyone starts accusing each other of making deals with the Devil.

Fearns doesn’t hold back, exploring the more twisted and bloody parts of the witch trials of Europe without treating it like it’s a spectacle for entertainment or shock value, instead exploring Henry’s twisted and off-putting yet well-written interiority. Henry is not likable by any stretch of the imagination and many parts of his POV will have you screaming ‘how can you be so blind?’ but I think that’s part of the brilliance of this work. I can’t stand him, I’m horrified by him, I feel sorry for his victims, but his convictions are so strong and he believes in his goodness so much that he constantly tells himself he is doing what God and Calvin want him to do and if he is wrong, then, surely, surely, his positive intentions mean something and you can see how we got from the beginning of book to the end.

Content warning for depictions of torture and mentions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to readers who can handle some of the more stomach-turning aspects of the witch trials and those who are open to exploring unlikable main characters.

[Megan Rose]

A very well written book. You can clearly see the extensive historical research put into All the Parts of the Soul. This book is an interesting take on the witchcraft hunts of the 16th century and doesn't shy away from the true horror of what many women went through.

However, I did find it a bit too gory for me, and at certain point I skimmed through some scenes. Overall, it was an interesting book with a vast background into the horror and terror of the witchcraft hunts.

Thank you NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Reading Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book. I really enjoyed this in depth book about witch hunting! What a rollercoaster of emotions. Too see the process through a witch hunters eyes was a very unique experience. The details and history were perfectly written without losing any flavor of the story. I don't want to write too much about the story. I say if you like reading about history and witch hunting this should be on your top ten list. I flew through this book.

[Cel Jel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch-hunts in Geneva and surrounds when Calvin is in Geneva influencing the beginnings of Protestantism there. Plague is still killing in the city and surrounding areas and a young magistrate is sent to a village in the district to find out if there are witches there. The story is based about the ways in which confessions were sought.
A hard book to read but opened my eyes to the horrors of church and state.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read and just as hard to decide on a rating. This book is written about the “witch-craze” in 1500s Europe.
It’s written from the POV of a witch hunter/magistrate and probably one of the most vile characters I’ve ever read in a book. It made me want to throw the book across the wall but it was also so well researched that it kept me extremely interested.
As I shared in some Kindle quotes throughout the book, there is some excellent writing here. It’s just a tough read and it won’t be for everyone.

[Gordanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming! Stay tuned!

[The Bibliophile Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow this book was not so easy to read. Dark and deep this book takes you to the sixteenth century Geneva when around 500 plus people were burnt mostly women under suspicion of witchcraft.

This might be the most infuriating book I have read with the most infuriating male protagonist (not infuriating in a good way) written in the historical fiction. And then I thought many people even today are like Henry Audet. Not letting women abort when it is their right under the name of being prolife is one of the most unjust a religion can put into practice against women. Why not men? Do you ask the men when you ask women not to abort to take the responsibility? I don't see it happening.

Anyways so over-all this story is amazingly researched and written but I felt that it lacked depth. I did not feel anything for any characters, we didn't really get connected to them but just superficial parts of them. We don't really know them and that is what disappointed me.

I would have liked to read more about this historic events that took place in Geneva. There are so many lines where misogyny is oozing like a bad pus but I know that was the point of the book but even then at some points it became too much to take.

It's dark and twisted mind of the men that era that is so blinding that it made me stop a lot while reading to process how they thought.

Overall a good read but I would have liked to read in more depth.

Rating : 3.5 stars


Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark look into the mind of a witch hunter in Geneva during the witch hunt craze of the 1500-1600s. While I know the witch hunts of the past were horrific, this is like being there, seeing and feeling the horrendous inner workings of it. I also feel like Henry is a true characterization of someone in that time. While I am horrified by this because of the truth it reveals. I loved it because it paints such a vivid picture of the past and honestly a glaring warning for the future for those who follow blindly.

[Kelly ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully crafted book. As a reader, I felt delighted to read about the extensive research of the author and her entrancing prose that keeps us engaged in the story. I loved the perceptive and the real accounts of witch-hunting just as it had been done in the past, without censure. Overall, a very fascinating and enjoyable read.

[Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might be one of my favorite reads this year. And if it doesn't get you fired up then you're reading it wrong lol. It covers the European Witch Hunt and the thousands of people that died. It was such a beautiful dark historical fiction book, and one that if you like fiction or historical fiction you should definitely check it out. Witches, plagues, black magic all of the above.

[Annachiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Catherine Fearns for providing an ARC of All The Parts of the Soul”

I must begin by stating that this book has firmly established itself as my favourite read of the year. Catherine Fearns presented her work as "uncomfortable reading," a description with which I wholeheartedly concur. It is worth emphasising that sometimes, discomfort serves as the catalyst necessary to awaken our awareness of the profound injustices that marked the European Witch Craze. If you seek a literary masterpiece that not only enthrals with its narrative but also imparts profound insights, look no further. However, I must forewarn you: "All The Parts of the Soul" will undoubtedly stoke the flames of your feminine rage!!

The story unfolds with Henry Aubert, a magistrate from Calvinist Geneva, venturing beyond his accustomed city confines to investigate rumors of witchcraft in the village of Satigny. For Henry, a man who had rarely ventured beyond the city limits and clung tenaciously to his comfort zone, this mission, sanctioned by John Calvin and the Reformed Church, marks a dramatic departure from his life thus far.

This book, in all its raw and haunting beauty, moved me to tears and compelled me to vocalize my frustrations. I anticipate that its impact will resonate within me for at least the next six months. The narrative is artfully woven from the perspective of Henry Aubert, revealing the disturbing depths of male pleasure derived from the degradation and dehumanisation of women, the stripping away of their dignity. The author masterfully portrays the folly and delusions of these men as they zealously pursue their religious missions, perched high on their self-righteous pedestals, deluding themselves as messengers of God and arbiters of justice.

Catherine Fearns deserves immense praise for her meticulous research and development of this story. The seamless integration of fictional characters with historical figures and events is a testament to her skill. Reading "All The Parts of The Soul" is an emotional rollercoaster that will evoke a wide range of feelings in its readers.

Throughout my reading of this exceptional work, I couldn't help but feel that no matter how well-considered and eloquent my review may be, it will never fully capture the essence of this book. I find myself thoroughly bewitched (if you'll pardon the pun), and I will continue to sing its praises indefinitely.

[Maria Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚.”
All the Parts of the Soul by @catherine_fearns
Let me start by saying I could not put this book down!
I'm not sure if this is a book I can say I "enjoyed" reading. It wasn't really supposed to be that kind of book. It’s thought-provoking and it is absolutely written to make you feel uncomfortable while reading it. Throughout the entire book, I had to remind myself that a female author wrote this - and I mean this in the most complimentary way.
The story unfolds with Henry Aubert, a magistrate from Calvinist Geneva, venturing beyond his accustomed city confines to investigate rumours of witchcraft in the village of Satigny. It tells the story of the trials from the perspective of the witch hunter, and it gets into the gritty details of what these women endured just because they were different or because someone deemed to call them a "witch" in a time when tensions were high.
This book was clearly thoroughly researched, and I could really tell the amount of effort that went into gathering all the information and presenting it authentically. When writing historical fiction, there is a fine line between info-dumping and contextualization; the balance in this book was very well done.
It’s a very fast-paced novel that is gruesome and frustrating because I just wanted to shake the narrator and bring him to his senses. However, as a reader, you just have to "endure" his point of view and be a powerless witness to his journey. The absurdity the churches and condemners as well as accusers do to torture innocent women who did no wrong. Weak-minded men of position and jealous women take enjoyment in the abuse, torture, rape, and murder of others to justify their ludicrous, non-fact-based beliefs.
An uncomfortable read, but engaging nonetheless with a very clear message: There are not always happy endings in real life.
Thank you, @NetGalley, @catherine_fearns and @quillandcrowpublishinghouse for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The only way in which I am trapped is in being a woman. I am afraid. I have no rights."

"If I think of someone constantly, does it then mean I am in love? Or does it mean I have been possessed, bewitched?"

"All our best and worst plans are made in the middle of the night."

All the Parts of the Soul is a beautifully written historical fiction describing a series of witch trials in Savigny, circa 1545. The narrative is presented as a series of diary entries from Henry Aubert, a Geneva junior magistrate instructed by John Calvin himself to root out the devil in Savigny. The story portrays Auberts transformation from an inexperienced magistrate to a seasoned witch hunter, including his struggle with justifying his persecutions, and falling in love with Louise de Peney, an intelligent local woman.

I have read many fictional novels about witchcraft and witch trials, but this is the first I've read from the point of view of the witch hunter. It was interesting (terrifying) to watch the transformation, and how quickly Aubert accepts torturing people, supports accusing innocent women, all in the name of God. Make no mistake, this is no love story. For many women this is a horror story. It is particularly frustrating reading this (historically accurate) narrative because you can feel the pain of these women, who have done nothing wrong except be intelligent, be beautiful, be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and to be completely at the mercy of these disillusioned men.

A particularly dreary weekend allowed me to devour this novel in less than 24 hours, and in that time, I have enjoyed discussion of many of the events in this book with my fiancé (this would be a great book for a book club). It's easy to draw parallels between the witch trials and modern misogynistic views of women. A man can do no wrong. A woman can do everything wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital ARC of "All Parts of the Soul", in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣. 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙩, 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙣.

Well this was certainly an uncomfortable read.

This is a story told from the POV of a “witch hunter”, who is so steadfast in his faith, that he won’t let anything deter him from carrying out what he feels to be “God’s will”.

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤. 𝙊𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.

This is the story of a society with strong misogynistic beliefs. Of a city living under constant fear of the plague. Of a city undergoing reformation with extreme consequences.

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.

Our main character all at once seems naive and persuadable while still continuing to follow blindly the leaders surrounding him. I don’t think I’ve ever read a POV as frustrating as his.

The story itself was captivating; I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen, while simultaneously dreading what lay ahead.

A thoroughly well-researched novel, that will captivate and discomfort you all at once.

Thank you to @quillandcrowpublishinghouse and @netgalley for providing me an eARC of his book in exchange for an honest review.

What this book is giving:
✅ Historical Fiction
✅ Based on Real Events
✅ Geneva Witch Trials in 1545
✅ Conflicted & Frustrating Witch Hunter MMC
✅ Constant Dread
✅ Witch Trial proceedings

Please check TWs found in Appendix B

[Alma Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me first say, the existence and presence of this book in my universe is simply put something I am immensely grateful for. I had to go to the ocean to finish this, they say salt water is good for wounds, and if so, the entirety of my soul, my skin must belong to the sea, for the rage, the dignity with which it persists. My heart is broken and if I were not already so afflicted, graciously touched by insanity, as Poe would say.

This book is more than fiction or a history or a blending of the two. It is a perspective, a view into our ability to dehumanize each other and intellectualize it, to call it justice, to fancy ourselves superior for it. It is heartbreaking and important. It is terrifying and beautiful. It will not be evident through my simple words of review how my body protested in collective feminine rage by producing tears and banging fists at itself, the table, the sand and screaming at the sky. Louise De Peney is made of the dignity, the magic, the tenacity, the horrifying resilience in the best of us. Her fate, whether taken figuratively or literally, is the fate of any and all society has ever chosen or continues choosing to dehumanize. Her executioners are made of fear, mass hysteria, the hypocritical morality of so much judgement we have the capacity to hurl on one another. My soul is not always at ease with our humanity, nor should it be but I am grateful to be reminded of that through such a powerful story.

[Sabrina Voerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm issuing a formal complaint about this book because I stayed up way too late reading it. I simply could not put it down.

There is a fine art to writing from the perspective of a character who is, essentially, the bad guy. Not only to write it convincingly, but weaving in the psychology behind why a character does what they do, and how their thoughts and misunderstandings influence their actions. I was blown away by what Fearns was able to do throughout this novel with the character of Henry.

Not only are witch trials one of the most infuriating parts of history, where there is no logic to them and how they spiraled, but we also have a character who is infuriating leading the story. I don't want to say too much, though.

Usually I avoid historical fiction, because it tends to get bogged down with the history part, but Fearns weaves it in nicely, and after the first two chapters, it's less heavy on the historical elements, and more focused on the characters and the story.

The last few chapters I kept wanting to throw the book away because I was so mad, but at the same time, it was exactly what I wanted from this book. It's a weird feeling being so frustrated with a novel, and hating so much that happened, and loving the book so much.

I feel like this book is perfect, because it does exactly what it sets out to do.

[Kei ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1545 and spiritual leader John Calvin is at the helm. In a city ravaged by plague, the atmosphere is one of fear and suspicion. So when new rumors of witchcraft emerge from the isolated village of Satigny, Calvin sees an opportunity and plucks a reclusive young magistrate to investigate. Henry Aubert was now living alone in fear after being orphaned by plague at the age of twelve Now, for the first time, he is forced to confront the possibility of society, friendship, and even love in the form of local healer Louise de Peney.

All The Parts Of The Soul is a dark and deliciously unique view into the history of witchcraft. Fearns dives deep in making the reader feel as though we are standing on the plague-ridden streets, right along side the characters. However, while I personally enjoyed every aspect - it is quite heavy on female oppression (fitting the times) and there are a few scenes featuring gruesome themes. I would definitely recommend for anyone interested in a historical based horror, anyone adept at extreme horror would eat this one up.

Thank you to everyone involved for an advanced copy, All The Parts of The Soul is available now.

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a dark and twisted historical fiction centred around the witch trials. The concepts of witches, dark magic, the trials, and plagues was interesting because I haven’t really researched or read too much around the subject.

‼️ I would definitely search up trigger warnings if you intend to read this.‼️

Honestly this was hard to get through, mostly because this is generally not my type of book. The main reason I picked it up was because the cover intrigued me and I was interested in reading more about European history.

This book was a slow start and just felt like it was being dragged on but started to pick up pace once you are half way through.

You can tell that the author put some much work and dedication into this story from the descriptions of everything, the Latin chapter titles, how well written the characters were, and highlighting what women experienced in the fourteenth-sixteenth centuries from a male perspective. It really was quite horrifying at times.

Overall, this book was well executed and interesting but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I do recommend it if you love dark historical fiction.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a well-written and well-researched book on the witch craze in Europe.
This is difficult to read: the horror that unfolds once accused of witchcraft is brutal, frustrating and beyond hope.

Throughout the book, you are inside the head of the young and inexperienced witch hunter, Henry Aubert, and accompany him on his first investigation, his first torture, and the inevitable witch trial.

It was extremely frustrating to look at the events through Aubert's eyes, and yet so well done by the author. Aubert's interpretation and rendition of what other characters do or say, doesn't stop you, as the reader, from seeing how wrong he is.

The reader's hope is what moves the story forward. Hope, that the witch hunter finally understands or listens to what people are telling him, is what made me read this book within a couple of days.

An uncomfortable read, but engaging nonetheless

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the author.

[quillsandpages · Rating 5 out of 5]

***This is a review of an ARC sample from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Thank you to Netgalley and Catherine for letting me read this amazing book.
Usually, I wouldn't say I like historical fiction but this book was simply good albeit a bit heartbreaking. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. It did have an ominous feeling that something big was about to go down that kept me reading nonstop. I have read about Witch trials before (mostly articles) but never the storybook set around that time. This was my first story read and the details of the trials in Europe were gruesome. I feel for all those people who were wrongly accused and died during that time. One of the lowest points of humanity in history.

The book was good, strong plot and a strong conclusion. I have written a detailed review. It's on my blog.

Read My full review here!!
https://www.quillsandpages.com/2023/1...

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/quillsandpages

[Anika Verhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for review.

Geneva, haunted by the plague, and introduced to a new belief, struggles with freeing their citizens and new territories from the grasps of evil. And young Magistrate Henry Aubert is one of the ones fighting the good fight. The fight that consists of hunting down witches, investigating the towns that evil has taken root in and extracting the truth from sinners - in any way necessary. And if that means getting to see another witch burn - well, Henry will simply accept the sin that causes him to stir at the sight.

This book was an incredibly interesting depiction of the witchhunt in europe around the 16th century. The way that women were forced into confessions, the kinds of people who conducted this torture. The intent behind the accusions.
It's a little scary, honestly, to see how these things might have worked on the inside - burning someone just to make an example, push someone into matyrdom, hunting every tiniest hint and taking everything at face value, no matter how mad the ramblings are. Everyone could suddenly be accused. And once you were, you were as good as dead.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted October 20th, but it somehow got moved to a different books page:

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, Happy release day. I tried to finish this book before it's official release, but time was not on my side for that.

I'm not sure if this is a book you can say you "enjoyed" reading. This book wasn't really supposed to be that kind of book. It was thought-provoking and it was absolutely written to make you feel uncomfortable reading it (as warned at the beginning of the book). It tells the story of the trials in the perspective of the witch hunter, and it gets into the gritty details of what these women endured just because they were different or because someone deemed to call them a "witch" in a time when tensions were high. This book was very well-written and it did everything it set out to do. I would be aware of the trigger warnings going in, because this book isn't going to be for everybody, but if it's something you can handle, I would absolutely recommend it.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest criticism of this book is the trigger warnings are at the end. This seems bizarre to me.
Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's not for the faint of heart, not quite horror but definitely some more gruesome and sordid details.

The book is driven by Henry's dialogue of the events, intertwined with his own struggles and thoughts of what he is doing, his character made me feel uncomfortable and frustrated, which I think was intentional. Louise on the other hand, her character is beautiful, caring and independent. The interrogations and trials of the witches were very detailed and clearly well researched. As a woman I felt deeply saddened and honestly horrified by the end of this book, knowing what they went through for simply being women, how easy it was for them to be taken from their families, tortured and murdered.

Catherine Fearns is a fantastic writer and I urge anyone who has an interest in the European Witch Craze to read this book.

[Gracy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Catherine Fearns and BookSirens for this ARC.

All The Parts of The Soul is a deep dive into the history of atrocities that were inflicted on innocent people in the name of religion. Set in Geneva in the 1500’s the book takes you into the mind of a Calvinist follower who uses his political position and religious doctrines as a means to justify his cruelty, misogyny and dark fantasies. All The Parts of The Soul is an eye opening and sad reminder of how women were viewed as deceitful, feeble minded, insatiable witches who used any means necessary to trick men or harm those around them. It’s not a light read and the descriptions of brutality inflicted on the innocent can be difficult to digest but it’s a tragic part of history and one that must never be repeated or forgotten.

This book is well written and researched and the author does a fantastic job keeping the reader engaged. I highly recommend.