Isobel

by Jane Parkhurst, Rowena Morrill (Cover Artist)

ISOBEL
Radiant, innocent, her perfect oval face crowned by a glory of red-gold curls, Isobel left the Inverness convent a devout servant of God. Then - ravaged a shocked by a brutal marriage - she learned a new kind of devotion - to evil! And a sensuous devotion to the mysterious Frenchman who brought her ecstasy.

By day she was a model village wife. On moonlit nights - when the coven people called and her lover summoned - she rode in wild abandon to do demonic mischief. And even murder!

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Witches, Historical Fiction, Witchcraft

287 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Grady Hendrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Och! What’s a firey-haired Scots lassie to do when she’s forced into marriage with a man she canna stand? Well, if it’s 1630 and you’re Isobel Gowdie, the only witch who ever freely confessed to her crimes, you don’t have to milk cows then lie on your straw bed thinking of England while your hateful husband churns up some babies in your belly. You can be a witch and go dance around at sabbats and have sex with the Devil. Wheeeee! Based on the real-life story of Isobel Gowdie, in Jane Parkhurst’s historical novel, herb-gathering leads to ESP, which leads to lucid dreaming, which leads to Devil sex. Isobel loves scrumping Satan because he is actually her tall, dark French lover, Etienne de Beauvoisin, in disguise. The good times come to a screeching halt when, for unknown reasons, Isobel decides that being reamed by the Dark One isn't much fun and she'd rather go back to grubbing around in the mud. +10 for ridiculous Scottish accents.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the Amityville Horror, Isobel, a mass market paperback horror is ‘based’ on a true story – but it doesn’t read that way, in fact, I wasn’t even aware the events of which this book is based on (1600’s witch trials/demonic cult worshiping, sex with supernatural beings etc…) were the primary source material. Reading Isobel, for what it is; b-grade horror and a product of the mass market 70’s and 80’s boom, makes it all the more devilishly delicious.

Isobel is a young, innocent (though not naive), attractive and devoted church goer circa 1630 who, despite having been paired with her true love to be wed when she comes of age, ends up being betrothed to an old and violent man who makes her life miserable – until, she secretly has an abortion which then leads her down a path of darkness and debauchery – and copious copulation with the devil himself!

This book is a slow burn but the payoff is there. Whilst witchery is on the peripheral, Isobel is more a cult book with some supernatural elements thrown in to spice up the story. I enjoyed every minute. Highly recommend.

[Billy Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is based on a true story of the self-proclaimed witch Isobel Gowdie. The story begins in 1652 Scotland and it develops as love story between two young people. The traditions and courtship of the era are well exposed by Parkhurst. The friends and family of Gowdie add to the drama of the hardships that a woman of that era faced. The novel is a tragedy so although Parkhurst dedicates one third of the book to the love story, it quickly turns sour. It becomes dark and tragic, with the setting of an abused woman in a new marriage. Faith and religion are core to the novel as it was pervasive in everyone's life in Scotland 17th century. The fall of Isobel from almost a novice nun to maiden of the Devil is told in detail. The witchcraft rituals and ceremonies with explicit satanistic erotica and supernatural powers are well described in the book.

In the end, this book delivers a fictional take on the tragic life of Isobel Gowdie and a look at witchcraft and devil worshipers in the 17th century. I enjoyed the read for what it is and if you are into tragic love stories with a twist of the occult then this book will be a treat!

[Norman Van Der Linde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by true events the story of the only person to willingly turn themselves in for witchcraft knowing full well that it would lead to torture and death. A fascinating look into the the witch trials and the beliefs of the time. This is a must read for anyone interested in history, supernatural or just a great yarn.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LoVe this novel.. I re read it about 3 times a year!

[Mikepottz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isobel spending three years in a convent before being sent home due to a sick mother at the request of her despicable, detestable, vicious father's request. Her religion was strong and a calling. She decides she wants to marry her childhood sweetheart and it was decided. However her father decides to sell Isobel to pay for a huge debt to a black bearded, perspiration stench killer with hairy spider fingers, leery eyes, able to pierce through layers of clothing, a complete abomination of a human. She escapes back to the Covent but is pursed by black beard and her father. She is given back and she renounces God. The heartbreaking forced marriage, lost all hope, sold off like garbage, her last words to her father, " you will rue this day". Her first night in bed she is shockingly attacked, unrelenting thrusting, screams, pain, torment, completely broken. She will seek medicine from a witch to destroy her husbands monster now growing inside her. Witches are strangled by garrotte, body burned and scattered to destroy the witches forever if they are caught. She will renounce God, be cut and the blood sprinkled over her head by the devil on a satan communion. Satan will spread her legs. She will be watched by a toad who sends messages to the devil. Ceremonies of naked dancing, feasting, desecrating cemeteries, taking recently dead babies, skulls, teeth to make spells. She will continue this life until she is betrayed and she will seek the help of God knowing there is only one end for her. Compelling story describing devil worshipping exquisitely.

[Mike (Hail Horror Hail) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total, blasphemous fun.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book! I’m surprised this isn’t more popular. Out of all the horror novels I’ve read, this is one of the few that delivers. The main point of the book is witchcraft and the majority of the book deals with this! Too often I see horror novels hold out and wait until the last 50 pages to get to the point. This book pretty much gets right into it.
Some may complain the resolution is a bit rushed. I actually like how quickly it ended. It seemed natural and gave a sense of urgency to the last chapter.

[Thebiblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a real woman Isobel Gowdie who was a Scottish woman that confessed to witchcraft at Auldearn near Nairn during 1662. Jane Parkhurst does an amazing job creating a story filling in the blanks as to why this woman would confess openly to being a witch. Loved this book!

[Karisa Sortor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s only January and I’ve already read the best book I’ll read this year. Before this one it’d been six months since I read a book I genuinely couldn’t put down. When I had to stop reading this book I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wish so badly miss Jane Parkhurst Nancy Smith had written more like this. I read this book on archive.org and half way through I ordered an old (and very expensive) paperback copy from eBay to own. I wish I could find more info about the author. Her writing style is so modern and unputdownable yet this book is 50 years old? Incredible.

[Sarah Ehinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably for the era this was written in, it was quite controversial. Telling the story of a women who was abused by those in power in her community,how she struck back, and the price she paid. Set in an era where women were treated as property and religions of all types warred against each other.

[Onyinyechi Ndukwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel in 2001ish as a teen and was mind blowing 🤯. I wish someone can send me a copy. It is quite costly on Amazon.

[♠ Ñℑ¢Κ ♠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this a higher rating, as it certainly kept me turning the pages (the deliciously descriptive satanic rituals and the coven itself are a delight), but much like it's titular character, the narrative starts to crumble towards the end. After everything Isobel endures, resulting in the hardening (and liberation) of her character against her oppressors, she seems to just give up her arduously earned destiny right at the crucial moment, leaving us with a disappointing and ultimately unsatisfying resolution. Some may feel I've missed the point, as undoubtedly Jane Parkhurst wanted to retain a sense of history regarding the 'real' Isobels fate, but the weak and lamentable finale can't help but leave a musty aftertaste.