Hellbane

by Anthony Esler

Nicholas Hellbane, the Witchfinder, rides into the Devonshire fishing village of Tartan's Cross on a winter's night in 1613. With him he brings an arsenal of weapons to rip human flesh in his fanatic mission to purge the populace of wickedness and devilry. He was the most feared witch hunter of that dark and brutal age.

But in Tartan's Cross he finds Alys, a dark gypsy witch-woman who instills a burning and tormenting passion within him. On the night of the witches' Sabbath, Hellbane comes face to face with the Devil himself.

Genres: Horror, Witches

311 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The brief little bio about this book gave the impression that it was a fictional story about the main character performing an exorcism on himself.... not the case. Therefore, I was a bit surprised with how the story played out. It's based more about witch trials, and how Hellbane, the main character, deals with the obstacles he faces from the people in the city of Tartams Cross. Not a bad book, if you're looking for a time passer.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Descriptively written bit of Witchfinder lore that flashed through British cinemas in the late ‘60s, early ‘70s. Nothing here you won’t see in Witchfinder General or Mark of the Devil, but the setting is fun and echoes the Hammer formula of the era. Main character is a confused mess of motivations whose heart grows three sizes times two in the finale for no real reason. But it’s a rare enough genre in literature to be enjoyable anyway.

[Moriah]

Have it, have read some of it and so far it is as interesting as its name.