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The Plague Charmer: A gripping story of dark motives, love and survival in times of plague
An unlucky thirteen years after the Black Death, plague returns to England. . 1361. An unlucky thirteen years after the Black Death, plague returns to England . ' Fear and hysteria are portrayed with claustrophobic skill' THE TIMES 'Dark and enthralling... with an unexpected hero' JULIE COHEN From the bestselling author of Company of Liars , Karen Maitland, The Plague Charmer is a darkly compelling novel following a stranger who arrives in an isolated community in the grips of a medieval pandemic. When the sickness reaches the village of Porlock Weir, who stands to lose the most? And who will seize this moment for their own dark ends?The dwarf who talks in riddles? The mother who fears for her children? The wild woman from the sea? Or two lost boys, far away from home?PESTILENCE IS IN THE AIR. BUT SOMETHING DARKER LURKS IN THE DEPTHS. Why readers are gripped by The Plague Charmer 'Its horrors are vividly told but with an underlying sense of human resilience and hope''A real page turner''The best and worst of human behaviour in troubled times''Poignant, shocking and haunting''It was so easy to be drawn into this world...'
562 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2016
79 people are currently reading
1692 people want to read
About the author
Karen Maitland
19 books1,224 followersKaren Maitland, who also writes as KJ Maitland, has a doctorate in psycholinguists and lives in the beautiful county of Devon, close to Dartmoor where Agatha Christie had her writing retreat and Sir Arthur Colon Doyle wrote 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', one of Karen’s favourite childhood books.
Writing as KJ Maitland, 'A Plague of Serpents,' the final historical thriller in her Jacobean quartet, is now out in pb. Set in the aftermath of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, Daniel Pursglove is ordered to infiltrate the 'Serpents', a desperate band of Catholics plotting the death of the King, or face his own execution. The 1st book in the series -'The Drowned City', the 2nd - 'Traitor in the Ice', and the 3rd - 'Rivers of Treason', are all published by Headline.
Her first stand alone medieval thriller was 'Company of Liars', was set at the time of the Black Death in 1348. This was followed by The Owl Killers', 'The Gallows Curse', 'Falcons of Fire and Ice', 'The Vanishing Witch', 'The Raven's Head,' 'The Plague Charmer' and 'A Gathering of Ghosts', Her medieval novels are written under the name of Karen Maitland and are published by Penguin and Headline.
Karen is also one of six historical crime writers known as the Medieval Murderers – Philip Gooden, Susannah Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight and Ian Morson – who together write joint murder-mystery novel, including 'The Sacred Stone', 'Hill of Bones' and 'The First Murder', 'The False Virgin' and 'The Deadliest Sin' published by Simon & Schuster.
Writing as KJ Maitland, 'A Plague of Serpents,' the final historical thriller in her Jacobean quartet, is now out in pb. Set in the aftermath of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, Daniel Pursglove is ordered to infiltrate the 'Serpents', a desperate band of Catholics plotting the death of the King, or face his own execution. The 1st book in the series -'The Drowned City', the 2nd - 'Traitor in the Ice', and the 3rd - 'Rivers of Treason', are all published by Headline.
Her first stand alone medieval thriller was 'Company of Liars', was set at the time of the Black Death in 1348. This was followed by The Owl Killers', 'The Gallows Curse', 'Falcons of Fire and Ice', 'The Vanishing Witch', 'The Raven's Head,' 'The Plague Charmer' and 'A Gathering of Ghosts', Her medieval novels are written under the name of Karen Maitland and are published by Penguin and Headline.
Karen is also one of six historical crime writers known as the Medieval Murderers – Philip Gooden, Susannah Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight and Ian Morson – who together write joint murder-mystery novel, including 'The Sacred Stone', 'Hill of Bones' and 'The First Murder', 'The False Virgin' and 'The Deadliest Sin' published by Simon & Schuster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
February 6, 2017
I have read all of Karen Maitland’s novels and enjoyed them – although none quite as much as her debut, “Company of Liars.” That said, this is an excellent return to an England when plague swept the land. Most of the story takes place in Porlock Weir, an isolated coastal village, and the nearby manor house – Porlock Manor, with an absentee lord, Sir Nigel Loring.
This is a long and involved novel, with several storylines. One involves Porlock Manor and Sir Nigel’s newly married niece, Christina, who has produced a son that nobody seems sure belongs to her husband, Sir Randel. Just in case her new husband is not found to be the father, she is sent to the manor while her family decide what to do. When plague arrives in London, Lady Pavia, Sir Nigel’s cousin, also arrives, along with a further guest; Sir Harry Gilmore. With the plague at the doorstep, it becomes harder to keep secrets and, indeed, doors everywhere are closing, even on their neighbours.
One of the most interesting characters for me was Will, an ‘artificial dwarf’ (whose existence I never knew about before reading this book), who was thrown out of the manor and has been living near the village of Porlock Weir, engaging in petty theft, including the tempting piglet’s which belong to Matilda (known locally as ‘the Holy hag;). Matilda is, despite the difference in time and place, a character familiar to everyone – a devoutly pious lady, who confuses religion with morality and who thinks she knows best about everyone and everything.
Another of the main characters is village woman, Sara; mother to Luke and Hob. One day, there is a storm and a strange woman is rescued from the sea. Janiveer says she knows how to save the village from the pestilence – as long as one of them have the courage to give her what she asks for. Her arrival seems to coincide with the return of the plague and this brings about some of the most memorable scenes in the novel as the villagers succumb to the disease.
With the plague, the storyline involving Christina and another based upon Janiveer’s character, plus an added thread about a group of people who we would probably term a ‘cult’ nowadays and you have a rich and involved novel. However, Maitland is adept at keeping the novel moving, even if it does get a little bogged down in the middle. Generally, you are kept involved, interested and have much sympathy with the characters. This is richly atmospheric, with a good sense of the period and of the local superstitions, folklore and beliefs. She weaves a really evocative world – with a creepy, abandoned local village, the realistic, and hasty, way the local priest abandons the villagers to scurry back to the perceived safety of the manor and the despair of the villagers as the plague overtakes them.
Overall, although this is not my favourite Karen Maitland novel, it is an excellent read and I really enjoyed it. Certainly, I will continue to read anything she writes, as she never disappoints and I have to say that she writes about this particular period of history very well. I also always enjoy the way that I tend to learn things in her novels, as she does endeavour to make her books historically correct.
This is a long and involved novel, with several storylines. One involves Porlock Manor and Sir Nigel’s newly married niece, Christina, who has produced a son that nobody seems sure belongs to her husband, Sir Randel. Just in case her new husband is not found to be the father, she is sent to the manor while her family decide what to do. When plague arrives in London, Lady Pavia, Sir Nigel’s cousin, also arrives, along with a further guest; Sir Harry Gilmore. With the plague at the doorstep, it becomes harder to keep secrets and, indeed, doors everywhere are closing, even on their neighbours.
One of the most interesting characters for me was Will, an ‘artificial dwarf’ (whose existence I never knew about before reading this book), who was thrown out of the manor and has been living near the village of Porlock Weir, engaging in petty theft, including the tempting piglet’s which belong to Matilda (known locally as ‘the Holy hag;). Matilda is, despite the difference in time and place, a character familiar to everyone – a devoutly pious lady, who confuses religion with morality and who thinks she knows best about everyone and everything.
Another of the main characters is village woman, Sara; mother to Luke and Hob. One day, there is a storm and a strange woman is rescued from the sea. Janiveer says she knows how to save the village from the pestilence – as long as one of them have the courage to give her what she asks for. Her arrival seems to coincide with the return of the plague and this brings about some of the most memorable scenes in the novel as the villagers succumb to the disease.
With the plague, the storyline involving Christina and another based upon Janiveer’s character, plus an added thread about a group of people who we would probably term a ‘cult’ nowadays and you have a rich and involved novel. However, Maitland is adept at keeping the novel moving, even if it does get a little bogged down in the middle. Generally, you are kept involved, interested and have much sympathy with the characters. This is richly atmospheric, with a good sense of the period and of the local superstitions, folklore and beliefs. She weaves a really evocative world – with a creepy, abandoned local village, the realistic, and hasty, way the local priest abandons the villagers to scurry back to the perceived safety of the manor and the despair of the villagers as the plague overtakes them.
Overall, although this is not my favourite Karen Maitland novel, it is an excellent read and I really enjoyed it. Certainly, I will continue to read anything she writes, as she never disappoints and I have to say that she writes about this particular period of history very well. I also always enjoy the way that I tend to learn things in her novels, as she does endeavour to make her books historically correct.
October 29, 2016
4.5 stars
What makes a happy man sad, and a sad man happy? Why, time, of course, for all things pass. Just as the time of happiness passes, so does the time of sadness.
1361 the Great Pestilence returned after a 13 year reprieve. A different strain from the original appears,to which young healthy males were particularly prone, leaving communities of women and the elderly to fend without their menfolk.
Karen Maitland, the undisputed Queen, the Boss, the Bee's Knees of medieval fiction brings us another gorgeously spun tale, centring around a few key characters in the ancient fishing village of Porlock Weir, near Exeter. My favourite character was Will, a dwarf who has escaped his life as a jester and lives on the outskirts of the village. We have an apocalyptic cult, hags, crones, witches, bears. It was fascinating to watch the breakdown of society once plague entered the village and how quickly relationships unravel and then, just as amazing, the tenacity with which the survivors pull together again.
Recommended.
What makes a happy man sad, and a sad man happy? Why, time, of course, for all things pass. Just as the time of happiness passes, so does the time of sadness.
1361 the Great Pestilence returned after a 13 year reprieve. A different strain from the original appears,to which young healthy males were particularly prone, leaving communities of women and the elderly to fend without their menfolk.
Karen Maitland, the undisputed Queen, the Boss, the Bee's Knees of medieval fiction brings us another gorgeously spun tale, centring around a few key characters in the ancient fishing village of Porlock Weir, near Exeter. My favourite character was Will, a dwarf who has escaped his life as a jester and lives on the outskirts of the village. We have an apocalyptic cult, hags, crones, witches, bears. It was fascinating to watch the breakdown of society once plague entered the village and how quickly relationships unravel and then, just as amazing, the tenacity with which the survivors pull together again.
Recommended.
January 16, 2018
5 Reasons to read The Plague Charmer! You can also read the full post here on my blog.
Reason #1: The Atmosphere
Although it's hard to place yourself into the world of the story at first, simply because it's so dark, but still it pulls you in and overwhelms you. At times, it seemed I breathed the smell of the wet seaweed, felt the spray of the waves, sensed the cold gusts of wind. It's so incredibly atmospheric! I believe I have yet to read a novel about the middle ages that has pulled me in so much and really put me in a living painting of the place. Needless to say, it's not quite how I imagined the middle ages before, and it makes me very glad – because now they seem anything but boring!
Reason #2: All The Riddles!
(Yup, that is one of the riddles explained!)
The story makes heavy use of riddles – some of which you won't be able to place or figure out at all because they've hopelessly aged. Tied to the way of living of back in the day, they make absolutely no sense today, but they're so interesting to find out more about! As you read, some of them will be answered, some won't, but at the end of the book you will find a glossary with all the riddles and their explanations. That was purely magical for me. I feel like I learned so much!
Reason #3: The Language
If there's a glossary for the riddles, of course there's a dictionary as well. The book really does use old sayings and language much to its benefit. I believe, that's what contributes to the atmosphere so much, and I truly loved it. Even though I managed to guess at half the words as I was reading, I still read the glossary with pleasure and felt like I learned a lot.
Reason #4: Historical And Well Researched
Of course, I am by no means a specialist, seeing as how I seem to know nothing of the middle ages – but The Plague Charmer seemed well researched. Especially due to all of those explanations, legends and glossaries at the end of the book! I bow my head to the author, for teaching me this much about the time and doing such a great job.
Reason #5: Good Pace, Good Amount Of Suspense
It's not too slow, but not too suspenseful either! I am a gullible reader, so you might be able to catch up on what's going on faster than I did, but I know that I was constantly in a pleasant state of suspense. The story reveals itself at just the right pace – in time for you to form feelings about certain characters, hunches about others, and just to enjoy the atmosphere and the general feel, however dark it might feel at times.
Overall...
The Plague Charmer is no walk in the woods of a book – it can be dark and gory, raw and hurtful, but it's not sugar-coated, it's real and honest. It's also incredibly colorful, and submerges you into sort of a film reel about the times. This book was an experience for me, and I can say I was truly invested. Absolutely recommended!
I thank Headline Review for giving me a copy of The Plague Charmer in exchange to my honest opinion.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Reason #1: The Atmosphere
Although it's hard to place yourself into the world of the story at first, simply because it's so dark, but still it pulls you in and overwhelms you. At times, it seemed I breathed the smell of the wet seaweed, felt the spray of the waves, sensed the cold gusts of wind. It's so incredibly atmospheric! I believe I have yet to read a novel about the middle ages that has pulled me in so much and really put me in a living painting of the place. Needless to say, it's not quite how I imagined the middle ages before, and it makes me very glad – because now they seem anything but boring!
Reason #2: All The Riddles!
(Yup, that is one of the riddles explained!)
The story makes heavy use of riddles – some of which you won't be able to place or figure out at all because they've hopelessly aged. Tied to the way of living of back in the day, they make absolutely no sense today, but they're so interesting to find out more about! As you read, some of them will be answered, some won't, but at the end of the book you will find a glossary with all the riddles and their explanations. That was purely magical for me. I feel like I learned so much!
Reason #3: The Language
If there's a glossary for the riddles, of course there's a dictionary as well. The book really does use old sayings and language much to its benefit. I believe, that's what contributes to the atmosphere so much, and I truly loved it. Even though I managed to guess at half the words as I was reading, I still read the glossary with pleasure and felt like I learned a lot.
Reason #4: Historical And Well Researched
Of course, I am by no means a specialist, seeing as how I seem to know nothing of the middle ages – but The Plague Charmer seemed well researched. Especially due to all of those explanations, legends and glossaries at the end of the book! I bow my head to the author, for teaching me this much about the time and doing such a great job.
Reason #5: Good Pace, Good Amount Of Suspense
It's not too slow, but not too suspenseful either! I am a gullible reader, so you might be able to catch up on what's going on faster than I did, but I know that I was constantly in a pleasant state of suspense. The story reveals itself at just the right pace – in time for you to form feelings about certain characters, hunches about others, and just to enjoy the atmosphere and the general feel, however dark it might feel at times.
Overall...
The Plague Charmer is no walk in the woods of a book – it can be dark and gory, raw and hurtful, but it's not sugar-coated, it's real and honest. It's also incredibly colorful, and submerges you into sort of a film reel about the times. This book was an experience for me, and I can say I was truly invested. Absolutely recommended!
I thank Headline Review for giving me a copy of The Plague Charmer in exchange to my honest opinion.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
July 20, 2016
But we have little use for truth here. Truth is only one story among many.
Many moons ago I read Company of Liars by same author, and really liked it. So I may have gone in with high expectations. And to be fair the story had all the right elements: magical realism, religious fanatics, dwarfs and witches, yet I never felt totally drawn in. It may have been a case of too many characters and too many stories running simultaneously. The ending definitely picked up in pace, and I enjoyed the last 15%, but not enough to raise the overall rating of the book.
My absolute favorite part of the book was the historical notes, which were incredibly interesting. This is only my opinion, so please don't let it stop you trying out The Plague Charmer.
January 7, 2023
When you pick up a historical novel by Karen Maitland you can confidently expect a great sense of atmosphere, fascinating historical detail, an intriguing array of characters and a touch of the supernatural or mystical. The Plague Charmer delivers on all those counts.
The Plague Charmer was written way before the pandemic but having lived through it we can now perhaps understand a little better the fear and uncertainty the inhabitants of Porlock Weir experience when ‘The Great Pestilence’ returns. As the plague wreaks havoc in the village, one of the characters remarks, ‘I don’t reckon we’ll ever see weddings and happiness again after this. Feels like the whole world is dying’. When you add to the return of the plague – which on this occasion is attacking primarily the young and fit, and more men than women – a prolonged drought, ferocious storms and a total eclipse it’s not surprising that the villagers become fearful and a sense of hysteria spreads. And you can understand how readily they might believe someone who says they know a way to save them and rid them of the plague – for a price. Or that they might believe those who proclaim the plague is God’s way of ridding the world of sinners sparing only the ‘chosen’ ones. The latter forms a rather chilling storyline but one, as the Historical Note explains, that is based on historical fact. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking of the conspiracy theories that circulate on social media, preying on people’s fears and of how easy it is, in times of uncertainty, for individuals to manipulate others whether fuelled by religious zeal or a lust for power.
One of my favourite characters was Will, a dwarf or, to be more precise, a ‘fake’ dwarf. Who knew there was such a thing? The details of how that would have come about are actually quite shocking but his presence in the story is a neat way for the author to explore the theme of difference. He also has a wicked sense of humour – I loved the nickname ‘The Holy Hag’ he gives to one of the women in the village – and is adept at riddles. So is the author, it seems, as riddles or medieval proverbs appear at the start of each chapter. And, yes, the answers are at the back.
Like a lot of the author’s novels, The Plague Charmer is a fairly chunky book but it weaves together so many intriguing storylines and is populated with so many interesting characters that it never feels like a slog, at least it didn’t to me. Although I’ve read a couple of Karen Maitland’s historical novels I haven’t read them all and that’s certainly something I plan to correct.
The Plague Charmer was written way before the pandemic but having lived through it we can now perhaps understand a little better the fear and uncertainty the inhabitants of Porlock Weir experience when ‘The Great Pestilence’ returns. As the plague wreaks havoc in the village, one of the characters remarks, ‘I don’t reckon we’ll ever see weddings and happiness again after this. Feels like the whole world is dying’. When you add to the return of the plague – which on this occasion is attacking primarily the young and fit, and more men than women – a prolonged drought, ferocious storms and a total eclipse it’s not surprising that the villagers become fearful and a sense of hysteria spreads. And you can understand how readily they might believe someone who says they know a way to save them and rid them of the plague – for a price. Or that they might believe those who proclaim the plague is God’s way of ridding the world of sinners sparing only the ‘chosen’ ones. The latter forms a rather chilling storyline but one, as the Historical Note explains, that is based on historical fact. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking of the conspiracy theories that circulate on social media, preying on people’s fears and of how easy it is, in times of uncertainty, for individuals to manipulate others whether fuelled by religious zeal or a lust for power.
One of my favourite characters was Will, a dwarf or, to be more precise, a ‘fake’ dwarf. Who knew there was such a thing? The details of how that would have come about are actually quite shocking but his presence in the story is a neat way for the author to explore the theme of difference. He also has a wicked sense of humour – I loved the nickname ‘The Holy Hag’ he gives to one of the women in the village – and is adept at riddles. So is the author, it seems, as riddles or medieval proverbs appear at the start of each chapter. And, yes, the answers are at the back.
Like a lot of the author’s novels, The Plague Charmer is a fairly chunky book but it weaves together so many intriguing storylines and is populated with so many interesting characters that it never feels like a slog, at least it didn’t to me. Although I’ve read a couple of Karen Maitland’s historical novels I haven’t read them all and that’s certainly something I plan to correct.
November 1, 2016
Not quite Company of Liars level but still a good tale all the same.
Some of the characters felt a bit more one dimensional than in Maitlands other books but Will the Dwarf was a great character, sort of similar to Tyrion in Game of Thrones, generally shunned but still with a good heart .
The setup was done quite well and I enjoyed the little cheeky take on the creation of folklore through story telling built in to the end.
Some of the characters felt a bit more one dimensional than in Maitlands other books but Will the Dwarf was a great character, sort of similar to Tyrion in Game of Thrones, generally shunned but still with a good heart .
The setup was done quite well and I enjoyed the little cheeky take on the creation of folklore through story telling built in to the end.
July 17, 2016
"What I have to offer you cannot be bought with coins. I have a price, but it is not to be paid in gold or silver." She swept her sea-cold gaze around the circle of villagers huddled in the firelight. "I will save this village if just one among you has the courage to give me what I ask."
A brilliantly wrought fantasy--blissfully free of battle scenes--filled with the horrors of "The Great Pestilence," diviners, superstition, myth, charms, holy relics, and a banished court jester.
Will was not born a dwarf, he was created by his master, to be sold to a nobleman for his entertainment. For an unforgivable sin he was whipped and banished from court and now lives among the people in Porlock Weir, where he is scorned and disdained.
It is with Will that this story of the plague charmer begins.
The devoted reader of fantasy will delve deeply into this twisted tale to the exclusion of sleep and supper; a standalone from the word wizard Karen Maitland.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
A brilliantly wrought fantasy--blissfully free of battle scenes--filled with the horrors of "The Great Pestilence," diviners, superstition, myth, charms, holy relics, and a banished court jester.
Will was not born a dwarf, he was created by his master, to be sold to a nobleman for his entertainment. For an unforgivable sin he was whipped and banished from court and now lives among the people in Porlock Weir, where he is scorned and disdained.
It is with Will that this story of the plague charmer begins.
The devoted reader of fantasy will delve deeply into this twisted tale to the exclusion of sleep and supper; a standalone from the word wizard Karen Maitland.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2018
This exciting book by the author Karen Maitland is set in the Late Middle ages and the main topic is The Plague.
The Historical Notes concerning this tale, which you can find at the end of the book, are very well researched and documented by the author, followed by a wonderfully explained Glossary.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a beautiful drawn-map of Porlock Weir, Somerset, and surroundings, along with a lore saying and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1797-98 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge), and not to forget a wonderful Cast of Characters.
Story-telling is of a very good quality, for the author has the ability and the power of expression to bring her story to us in a most remarkable fashion, and the author strives to let her characters be real persons in this captivating tale of fear, plague and death.
It's another great story where ingredients like superstition, fear and all kinds of supernatural influences will play a very important part.
The book is set in the year AD 1361, at Porlock Weir, Somerset, and surroundings, thirteen years after the First Great Pestilence, and now this Second Great Pestilence will cause again a lot of great suffering and many deaths.
What will follow in this book is a village in hysteria caused by this Great 2nd Pestilence and where Sara, our main character, must somehow seem to survive after the disappearance of her two boys, Luke and Hob, and the death of her husband because of the Plague, while in this maelstrom of deadly events there are also others like Dwarf Will, the Jester, Matilda, the Holy Hag, Brother Praeco and his Chosen Ones, and last but not least Janiveer/Rosa who will all play a very important part within this intriguing dark tale.
Really recommended, because this lovely author is for sure the lady master of the dark tale, including this one, and that's why I would like to end this review like, "Riddle Me This: I'm Deadly, I'm Charming, I'm An Enchanting Dark Read"!
The Historical Notes concerning this tale, which you can find at the end of the book, are very well researched and documented by the author, followed by a wonderfully explained Glossary.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a beautiful drawn-map of Porlock Weir, Somerset, and surroundings, along with a lore saying and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1797-98 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge), and not to forget a wonderful Cast of Characters.
Story-telling is of a very good quality, for the author has the ability and the power of expression to bring her story to us in a most remarkable fashion, and the author strives to let her characters be real persons in this captivating tale of fear, plague and death.
It's another great story where ingredients like superstition, fear and all kinds of supernatural influences will play a very important part.
The book is set in the year AD 1361, at Porlock Weir, Somerset, and surroundings, thirteen years after the First Great Pestilence, and now this Second Great Pestilence will cause again a lot of great suffering and many deaths.
What will follow in this book is a village in hysteria caused by this Great 2nd Pestilence and where Sara, our main character, must somehow seem to survive after the disappearance of her two boys, Luke and Hob, and the death of her husband because of the Plague, while in this maelstrom of deadly events there are also others like Dwarf Will, the Jester, Matilda, the Holy Hag, Brother Praeco and his Chosen Ones, and last but not least Janiveer/Rosa who will all play a very important part within this intriguing dark tale.
Really recommended, because this lovely author is for sure the lady master of the dark tale, including this one, and that's why I would like to end this review like, "Riddle Me This: I'm Deadly, I'm Charming, I'm An Enchanting Dark Read"!
September 7, 2016
The players appearing in this medieval theatre in Portlock Weir are simple folk and have absolutely no concept of what horrors the script of The Plague Charmer has in store for them.
As the Great Pestilence returns for the second time to this costal village it holds its ailing residents hostage and won’t release them from its grip. That is until they pay the price that has been asked by a mysterious stranger rescued from the churning tide, although they began to regret their good deed almost immediately.
The arrival of the deadly infection coincides with a foreboding darkness in the form of an eclipse which signifies to some that the end of the world is nigh. This phenomenon creates the perfect conditions for a primitive survival mechanism to thrive. But barring your draughty door to your neighbour will not keep you safe from a vengeful conjuror who demands the impossible – one human life.
With a shortage of volunteers willing to throw their name in the ring to appease their unwelcome visitor, the gaggle of villagers and carefully selected supporting cast from outside Port Weir will immerse you in their layered, flailing world as they consider their options.
Depicted in a series of strikingly filthy and harrowing scenes as the sickness takes root, the alternating chapters are headed with the character’s name and are often accompanied by curious riddle. At first their stories appear disconnected, yet their individual challenges are united in one common cause – The Plague Charmer. Also stirred into the mix is malice, superstition, humiliation, vengeance, judgement, or far worse – becoming the focus of something inexplicable, or otherworldly.
Although this book has a higher than average page count to what I’m used to every one of them is worth savouring. And as an added bonus there’s an interesting glossary at the back of the book together with answers to the riddles posed in the chapter introductions. This is followed by a brief historical reference for some of the characters who step away from their place in ‘real’ world to make a guest appearance in The Plague Charmer.
The lyrical prose is impressive, yet feels so effortless. Without a doubt Karen Maitland is an author who spins the most wonderful words to create intricate historical tapestries for readers to feast their eyes upon.
(I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review, with my thanks.)
As the Great Pestilence returns for the second time to this costal village it holds its ailing residents hostage and won’t release them from its grip. That is until they pay the price that has been asked by a mysterious stranger rescued from the churning tide, although they began to regret their good deed almost immediately.
The arrival of the deadly infection coincides with a foreboding darkness in the form of an eclipse which signifies to some that the end of the world is nigh. This phenomenon creates the perfect conditions for a primitive survival mechanism to thrive. But barring your draughty door to your neighbour will not keep you safe from a vengeful conjuror who demands the impossible – one human life.
With a shortage of volunteers willing to throw their name in the ring to appease their unwelcome visitor, the gaggle of villagers and carefully selected supporting cast from outside Port Weir will immerse you in their layered, flailing world as they consider their options.
Depicted in a series of strikingly filthy and harrowing scenes as the sickness takes root, the alternating chapters are headed with the character’s name and are often accompanied by curious riddle. At first their stories appear disconnected, yet their individual challenges are united in one common cause – The Plague Charmer. Also stirred into the mix is malice, superstition, humiliation, vengeance, judgement, or far worse – becoming the focus of something inexplicable, or otherworldly.
Although this book has a higher than average page count to what I’m used to every one of them is worth savouring. And as an added bonus there’s an interesting glossary at the back of the book together with answers to the riddles posed in the chapter introductions. This is followed by a brief historical reference for some of the characters who step away from their place in ‘real’ world to make a guest appearance in The Plague Charmer.
The lyrical prose is impressive, yet feels so effortless. Without a doubt Karen Maitland is an author who spins the most wonderful words to create intricate historical tapestries for readers to feast their eyes upon.
(I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review, with my thanks.)
April 9, 2017
I found "The Plague Charmer" by Karen Maitland a bit hard to get into but once I did then I found it to be a fascinating look at the Middle Ages, Black Death, and the superstitions small villages possibly had at that time.
It was an amazing historical read with quite a few separate story lines that eventually match up for a fantastic ending. The medieval era is brought to life so well and the characters are very well developed so much so that I could vividly imagine them.
Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publishers (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.
It was an amazing historical read with quite a few separate story lines that eventually match up for a fantastic ending. The medieval era is brought to life so well and the characters are very well developed so much so that I could vividly imagine them.
Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publishers (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2017
this book was given tome by netgalley and the publisher for my open and honest review
maitland brings the black death to live in this novel with people's beliefs shrouded in myth as the black death didn't care for class or wealth. this novel is based in somerset and like how the characters are inter linked in their misery and finding a way out but over shadowed by church and beliefs.
maitland brings the black death to live in this novel with people's beliefs shrouded in myth as the black death didn't care for class or wealth. this novel is based in somerset and like how the characters are inter linked in their misery and finding a way out but over shadowed by church and beliefs.
January 16, 2019
This was the first book I read by Karen Maitland. It was recommended by a GR-list for books about the pest, that I looked up after reading and really liking Doomsday Book. I liked this one quite a bit as well, though I found the story contained a bit too many (mystical) elements. We experience the historical events through the eyes of several POVs who make a clear picture of the overall events. Every new chapter was introduced with a short medieval statement that was clearly related to the person / place of the POV. For example, for Sara it was about catching fish or Will’s chapter always started with a riddle Riddle me this: If you say my name, I vanish – answer . The answers are given in the historical notes at the very end and I urge you to read them, as they complete the picture of the novel and made me appreciate it more. My favourite character was probably Will: I liked his optimism despite the many wrongs he’s suffered, I like his sense for fairness and his courage and I also liked how well his character made me aware of what it meant to be a fool / jester / dwarf in the Middle Ages.
Apart from the characters I also like how well the author incorporated superstitions from that time into the story. This probably makes this a historical novel with fantastical or mystical elements, though I’m a bad at classification. However, as I said in the beginning, there were a bit too many elements interwoven . The author gives some reasonable explanations for all and that’s why I’ll round the 3.5 stars up. I’ve read that the author’s debut novel Company of Liars is even better and therefore added it to my TBR.
Apart from the characters I also like how well the author incorporated superstitions from that time into the story. This probably makes this a historical novel with fantastical or mystical elements, though I’m a bad at classification. However, as I said in the beginning, there were a bit too many elements interwoven . The author gives some reasonable explanations for all and that’s why I’ll round the 3.5 stars up. I’ve read that the author’s debut novel Company of Liars is even better and therefore added it to my TBR.
November 22, 2020
In a small village on the coast of southern England a mysterious woman is washed ashore. She asks for a sacrifice in order to prevent the plague coming to the village. There are various strands running through this novel which sees various people in and around Porlock Weir attempting to survive and protect their loved ones from the plague that swept England in 1361. At times it did feel there were too many storylines but otherwise this was a tantalising glimpse into medieval plague times.
December 7, 2016
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/1...
The Plague Charmer may be a ‘dark’ read however Karen Maitland has created colourful and interesting characters.
There are several narrations – from Weir folk Sara and Matilda we have life from the perspective of fisherfolk who need the land to provide for them to live. I loved the contradiction of how a village can pull itself apart but also work in collaboration; in Porlock Manor I was drawn in by the astute Lady Pavia, intriguing Christina, underhanded Sir Harry Gilmore and the stillroom maid; life with the charismatic Prophet in an underground cave was surreal and gave me all sorts of nightmares … ; Will, the fake dwarf who is a newcomer to the Weir but with connections to Porlock Manor; and of course Janiveer, the woman saved from drowning.
There are hard hitting scenes – Sara and her family sealed into their cottage is so vivid. It’s not just emotions that get pulled in but your senses too! It was almost a relief for me when they get out, despite the changes and harshness that meet them. Scenes underground with the Prophet made me feel like my skin was raw – exposed and vulnerable! I have to say there was something compelling in Aldith leading the St Vitas Dance while Father Cuthbert was trying to perform Mass in the church – I could ‘feel’ that energy. Abandoned village Kitnor was creepy and surreal … oh so much I could share! It was so easy to be drawn into this world. I didn’t see the threads that tie it all together, I was too busy enjoying being totally caught up living through this with these people (yes, it did feel real!).
Myth, legend, magic … I loved the fantasy as much as the historical. The pace and switching to different narratives with different settings means the story didn’t feel like 576 pages – I was engaged throughout. Definitely one to add if you like dystopian, historical or fantasy.
The Plague Charmer may be a ‘dark’ read however Karen Maitland has created colourful and interesting characters.
There are several narrations – from Weir folk Sara and Matilda we have life from the perspective of fisherfolk who need the land to provide for them to live. I loved the contradiction of how a village can pull itself apart but also work in collaboration; in Porlock Manor I was drawn in by the astute Lady Pavia, intriguing Christina, underhanded Sir Harry Gilmore and the stillroom maid; life with the charismatic Prophet in an underground cave was surreal and gave me all sorts of nightmares … ; Will, the fake dwarf who is a newcomer to the Weir but with connections to Porlock Manor; and of course Janiveer, the woman saved from drowning.
There are hard hitting scenes – Sara and her family sealed into their cottage is so vivid. It’s not just emotions that get pulled in but your senses too! It was almost a relief for me when they get out, despite the changes and harshness that meet them. Scenes underground with the Prophet made me feel like my skin was raw – exposed and vulnerable! I have to say there was something compelling in Aldith leading the St Vitas Dance while Father Cuthbert was trying to perform Mass in the church – I could ‘feel’ that energy. Abandoned village Kitnor was creepy and surreal … oh so much I could share! It was so easy to be drawn into this world. I didn’t see the threads that tie it all together, I was too busy enjoying being totally caught up living through this with these people (yes, it did feel real!).
Myth, legend, magic … I loved the fantasy as much as the historical. The pace and switching to different narratives with different settings means the story didn’t feel like 576 pages – I was engaged throughout. Definitely one to add if you like dystopian, historical or fantasy.
June 17, 2016
Has its own certain charm waiting for the right reader
The Plague Charmer is one dark atmospheric story that bubbles and churns with elements of: chilling history, folklore, damaged characters and enduring medical mysteries that all become nearly impossible to look away from or difficult not to gather some bauble of trivia to tuck away long after turning the final page. These types of tales that not only amuse but strangely enlighten the reader about poignant eras of the past are ones I always hope to come across and The Plague Charmer did not disappoint with its harboring of unknown weird tidbits of information regarding the 14th century. It did however slightly let me down with one or two anticipated storylines and one particular locale/topic that diverted from the central action and I’m not entirely sure I understood all of the quick false endings or the partially revealed mysteries (there were so many unanswered questions strewn all over). Still the interesting eclectic range of personalities with their many foibles and secrets along with the different illustrations of symbolism (from the sea, various saints, ancient legends etc) overbalanced the negatives in the chapters and kept me turning the pages. Overall I enjoyed this dark yarn and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique novel that has its own certain charm waiting for just the right reader.
* I would like to thank Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy The Plague Charmer
~*~For more reviews see http://asthefinalpageturns.blogspot.com
The Plague Charmer is one dark atmospheric story that bubbles and churns with elements of: chilling history, folklore, damaged characters and enduring medical mysteries that all become nearly impossible to look away from or difficult not to gather some bauble of trivia to tuck away long after turning the final page. These types of tales that not only amuse but strangely enlighten the reader about poignant eras of the past are ones I always hope to come across and The Plague Charmer did not disappoint with its harboring of unknown weird tidbits of information regarding the 14th century. It did however slightly let me down with one or two anticipated storylines and one particular locale/topic that diverted from the central action and I’m not entirely sure I understood all of the quick false endings or the partially revealed mysteries (there were so many unanswered questions strewn all over). Still the interesting eclectic range of personalities with their many foibles and secrets along with the different illustrations of symbolism (from the sea, various saints, ancient legends etc) overbalanced the negatives in the chapters and kept me turning the pages. Overall I enjoyed this dark yarn and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique novel that has its own certain charm waiting for just the right reader.
* I would like to thank Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy The Plague Charmer
~*~For more reviews see http://asthefinalpageturns.blogspot.com
February 11, 2018
Southern England, 1361. The plague is back and life in the small Somerset fishing village will never be the same again. This is a historical fantasy, very dark in parts. The history is well researched and as right as it ever can be. The fantasy, in many ways could be explained, but not quite all. Superstition is rife and ignorance abounds. A strange woman, sea witch, arrives and allegedly brings the plague because there is something she wants from the village. A dwarf (not natural, but manipulated as a baby for profit, this apparently actually happened) who is really a very good character, but vilified by all and Sara a packhorse owner`s wife tell most of the story. The village hag/witch gossip/religious fanatic tells some from her point of view. The people at the manor keep away from the commoners, but there is an interesting link with one village member. Two young lads (Sara`s sons go missing when their family cottage is boarded up with their dying father inside. They are `captured` by a religious sect and kept in a cave underground. A real page turner, will the boys escape? Will the sea witch get what she wants? The tension keeps up right to the end.
June 24, 2016
'Something was approaching, something evil, I could feel it. As if in some distant land the devil had just unfurled his wings and was even now flying over the sea towards us, his shadow reaching out before him to cover the land.'
With Karen Maitland you know what you are going to get, evocative writing which brings the medieval world to life, wonderful, empathetic characters all wrapped up in a bewitching tale.
It is hard to believe the brutality of life, the hardships and poverty endured by
the people of Porlock, Exmoor in 1361 - a microcosm of society at that time. This life is hard enough without the creeping fear that The Great Pestilence will return.
Magical historical fiction and this author is a master storyteller.
Highly recommended
With Karen Maitland you know what you are going to get, evocative writing which brings the medieval world to life, wonderful, empathetic characters all wrapped up in a bewitching tale.
It is hard to believe the brutality of life, the hardships and poverty endured by
the people of Porlock, Exmoor in 1361 - a microcosm of society at that time. This life is hard enough without the creeping fear that The Great Pestilence will return.
Magical historical fiction and this author is a master storyteller.
Highly recommended
March 31, 2020
This was a timely read, given current events.
This is the first Karen Maitland book I have read and I shall definitely be reading more. The blend of medieval Christianity and paganism is fascinating and clearly shows the fragile grip that Christianity had in Medieval England.
The story is well-researched and weaves actual historical events into the lives of ordinary people. I also found a lot of similarities between the rumours that surrounded the plague and the current situation. The stories of plague cures and causes and treatments that existed in the period of this book show parallels with the fake news that floods social media at the moment regarding COVID-19. One thing that thankfully is different is the way that sufferers are treated today than they were then. As far as I am aware no sufferers of COVID-19 have been boarded up in their house, although the government has been granted powers to enforce quarantine if necessary.
The story is also supplemented by a section at the end giving the historical and geographical background to the story. If you are a real nerd like me, you can even go on Google Earth and visit the locations mentioned.
This is the first Karen Maitland book I have read and I shall definitely be reading more. The blend of medieval Christianity and paganism is fascinating and clearly shows the fragile grip that Christianity had in Medieval England.
The story is well-researched and weaves actual historical events into the lives of ordinary people. I also found a lot of similarities between the rumours that surrounded the plague and the current situation. The stories of plague cures and causes and treatments that existed in the period of this book show parallels with the fake news that floods social media at the moment regarding COVID-19. One thing that thankfully is different is the way that sufferers are treated today than they were then. As far as I am aware no sufferers of COVID-19 have been boarded up in their house, although the government has been granted powers to enforce quarantine if necessary.
The story is also supplemented by a section at the end giving the historical and geographical background to the story. If you are a real nerd like me, you can even go on Google Earth and visit the locations mentioned.
December 19, 2018
This book is very dark in its story line it illustrates the devastation the plague brought to a relatively stable village and the way various characters behaved during this time. It also explores apocalyptic cults, belief in witches and the courage of the least in hard times. I won’t say it is a book for those seeking light reading or happy endings but it did hold my attention and was not a disappointment
May 16, 2023
a friend recommended this after i said the second ken follett book had a 'very disappointing plague'
well. this one was not disappointing!
well. this one was not disappointing!
January 24, 2021
Set in 1361, and with a clever blend of mysticism, superstition and folklore, The Plague Charmer looks at the catastrophic effects of a great pestilence which is sweeping England and as it moves inexorably towards Porlock Weir an impoverished fishing village on the edge of Exmoor, so does the threat of impending doom. The villagers eke out a lowly existence, reliant on land and sea for their meagre survival, and so when an enigmatic stranger emerges from the sea and offers them a deadly bargain which will keep them safe from the plague, well, therein lies their dilemma, to acquiesce, or not, is a decision they must make for themselves. However, the menacing gloom which emanates from this stranger is enough to deepen their sense of growing unease.
I’m deliberately being reticent about the story content because if you are familiar with this author’s writing, you will know that her work is incredibly difficult to review without giving too much away, but what I will say is that The Plague Charmer bears all the usual hallmarks of this talented writer. She infuses her novels with such glorious historical detail, that it becomes difficult, on looking up from the book, to adjust to life in the 21st century.
Life in the fourteenth century didn’t happen in a rush, and this is reflected in the way The Plague Charmer is allowed to evolve ever so slowly, but as always time and place is captured to perfection. There is so much historical detail that it truly reads like a medieval travelogue, not that you would want to return to Porlock Weir in 1361, but by the time you have finished The Plague Charmer, believe me, you will feel like you have been there and witnessed at first hand the blend of horror, superstitious terror and medieval chaos which this author brings so vividly to life.
The riddles and proverbs which head each chapter are fascinating and cleverly combine folklore and superstition into the narrative. The author’s complex historical detail, which is given at the end of the novel, shows just how much attention to detail goes into the story content. Even if I didn't know much about Karen Maitland as an author I would buy this book just for the cover, which tantalisingly, offers something deliciously dark.
I’m deliberately being reticent about the story content because if you are familiar with this author’s writing, you will know that her work is incredibly difficult to review without giving too much away, but what I will say is that The Plague Charmer bears all the usual hallmarks of this talented writer. She infuses her novels with such glorious historical detail, that it becomes difficult, on looking up from the book, to adjust to life in the 21st century.
Life in the fourteenth century didn’t happen in a rush, and this is reflected in the way The Plague Charmer is allowed to evolve ever so slowly, but as always time and place is captured to perfection. There is so much historical detail that it truly reads like a medieval travelogue, not that you would want to return to Porlock Weir in 1361, but by the time you have finished The Plague Charmer, believe me, you will feel like you have been there and witnessed at first hand the blend of horror, superstitious terror and medieval chaos which this author brings so vividly to life.
The riddles and proverbs which head each chapter are fascinating and cleverly combine folklore and superstition into the narrative. The author’s complex historical detail, which is given at the end of the novel, shows just how much attention to detail goes into the story content. Even if I didn't know much about Karen Maitland as an author I would buy this book just for the cover, which tantalisingly, offers something deliciously dark.
October 12, 2018
"First, you take a lusty infant - they must be strong to survive the moulding - and fit with an iron frame over its baby head and face. One of the iron bars with hooks on either end goes in that little toothless mouth to stretch the lips into a permanent wide grin. Dwarves are supposed to look cheerful, and it spares us the effort of having to fix our mouths into a grin in company. It wouldn't do for that smile to slip, now, would it?
"The other iron bars of the bridle flatten the baby's button nose and squeeze its skull so that the forehead bulges with wisdom and intelligence. Next you must rub the infant spine daily with the fat of tiny creatures - shrews or doormice, bats or moles are thought to be the most efficacious. Finally you strap the infant in its iron bridle into a snug, stout box, open at the front, of course, for you don't want to suffocate your little homunculus - think of all that wasted time and money ... as the baby grows in its box, it will be compressed and deformed, squished and squashed ever tighter until it emerges from its mould, formed like a gingerbread manikin into the squat little dwarf that lords and ladies so desire."
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The book is set in a town called Portlock Weir in 1361, thirteen years after the infamous Black Plague. Luke, brother to Hob and son to Sara, discovers an unusual box in the sand when the tide is out. Shortly after, a strange woman is pulled from the sea. Up in Portlock Manor, Lady Christina has given birth to a son but concerned of the prospect of scandal, her family has isolated them both in a tower with only the spiteful hag, Eda, for company. These story lines are only the starting point as different perspectives of the events unwinds the tale and branched out into a stunning conclusion.
Haunting, chilling, bewildering - The Plague Charmer was like this from start to finish. For a book that is 500+ pages long, you can guess it will probably be a slow burner. However, right from the beginning, I was intrigued by the scent of deceit and corruption. I would LOVE to know how Maitland develops her character-building - each were so three-dimensional with the worse of them always getting a rise out of me. The atmosphere of the entire was so on point - despite the fact summer was only just around the corner and the characters were suffering through a drought, the premise still made you shiver. The different narratives throughout made for some vivid storytelling, seething with grime, magic, malediction, brutality and heartbreak.
And I don't say heartbreak lightly - . The beauty of these books is the author has put so much passion and energy into them. She has found the most sinister yet tantalising pieces of our history and has put them into such a platform that is interesting to learn. I would highly recommend this book to all historical fiction and horror fans - you will not be disappointed!
May 18, 2017
WOW KM is good! Just the right mix of witchery, folklore and mud! I loved it! I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't stop turning the pages. It was mucky, dirty and raw. The story gripped: there was a murder (several all told) but that didn't get you - the plague was front and centre; there was a child - whose?; two lost boys; a fire; a quest; a flood; a storm. A village ripped to shreds, dripping in fear. Brilliant just brilliant. There was no let up in the writing. The human and the historical, the detail was magnificient. A superb book.
Toast
Toast
February 2, 2023
The sheer scale of this is incredible, peopled by complex characters and an utterly gripping, but it is quite astonishingly dark and gruesome.
Sometimes my inner archaeologist dreams of time travel. The graphic portrayal of sickness, poverty, fanaticism, desperation, and horror here is enough to put me off! The mid 1300s: a dismal time to be alive...
Sometimes my inner archaeologist dreams of time travel. The graphic portrayal of sickness, poverty, fanaticism, desperation, and horror here is enough to put me off! The mid 1300s: a dismal time to be alive...
June 30, 2018
Adventures abound.
February 7, 2018
Very charming 😉
February 9, 2025
Ok but this did kind of eat
October 18, 2018
A fun, easy read. Lots of interesting historical detail that really gave a sense of time & place to the novel. I liked the range of characters & that the short chapters were often written from particular characters viewpoints.
Would have liked to give three & a half stars rather than four as it wasn’t a novel that I’d read again, but if you’re simply after a good read, this is worth a look.
Would have liked to give three & a half stars rather than four as it wasn’t a novel that I’d read again, but if you’re simply after a good read, this is worth a look.
October 20, 2016
Karen Maitland is a great storyteller.
The Plague Charmer is a fascinating medieval tale full of atmosphere and superstition. It’s a long but an unputdownable book, bringing the medieval world to life in all its brutality and hardship. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is set in Porlock Weir in 1361 where a village is isolated by the plague when the Black Death spreads once more across England. Following an eclipse of the sun, as a storm rages along the coast, a ship is blown ashore bringing a dark stranger, Janiveer, to the village. She warns the villagers that the plague, raging in other parts of the country will soon spread to their village and offers to save them – but for a terrible price.
It’s a complex story, told from different characters’ perspectives, following the lives of Will, a ‘fake’ dwarf, Sara, a packhorse man’s wife and her family, Matilda, a religious zealot, and Christina at nearby Porlock Manor amongst others. It’s a tale of folklore, black magic, superstition, violence, torture, murder, and an apocalyptic cult – and also of love. As the plague spreads and more horrendous deaths pile up bringing fear and hysteria, families are broken up, and hostilities surface as the village is isolated, left to fend alone.
I thought Will a fascinating character. He was not born a dwarf, but was subjected to horrific treatment as a baby, strapped into an iron bridle, compressed and deformed as he grew to form a squat little dwarf. He is remarkably free of bitterness and capable of more humanity than most of the other characters. Sara, too shows strength of character as she perseveres in her search for her two missing sons.
I like the Historical Notes, providing more detailed information about the period, the people and the location, as well as the legends, and the answers to the medieval riddles that head Will’s chapters. I particularly like the information about the plague and the various religious cults of the period. The Glossary is also invaluable, helping to flesh out the detail.
The Plague Charmer is a superb combination of historical fact and fiction. I really enjoyed reading this detailed and chillingly dark atmospheric book. It’s a memorable story with a colourful cast of characters, full of suspense and drama.
My thanks to Headline for providing a proof copy via NetGalley and Lovereading.
The Plague Charmer is a fascinating medieval tale full of atmosphere and superstition. It’s a long but an unputdownable book, bringing the medieval world to life in all its brutality and hardship. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is set in Porlock Weir in 1361 where a village is isolated by the plague when the Black Death spreads once more across England. Following an eclipse of the sun, as a storm rages along the coast, a ship is blown ashore bringing a dark stranger, Janiveer, to the village. She warns the villagers that the plague, raging in other parts of the country will soon spread to their village and offers to save them – but for a terrible price.
It’s a complex story, told from different characters’ perspectives, following the lives of Will, a ‘fake’ dwarf, Sara, a packhorse man’s wife and her family, Matilda, a religious zealot, and Christina at nearby Porlock Manor amongst others. It’s a tale of folklore, black magic, superstition, violence, torture, murder, and an apocalyptic cult – and also of love. As the plague spreads and more horrendous deaths pile up bringing fear and hysteria, families are broken up, and hostilities surface as the village is isolated, left to fend alone.
I thought Will a fascinating character. He was not born a dwarf, but was subjected to horrific treatment as a baby, strapped into an iron bridle, compressed and deformed as he grew to form a squat little dwarf. He is remarkably free of bitterness and capable of more humanity than most of the other characters. Sara, too shows strength of character as she perseveres in her search for her two missing sons.
I like the Historical Notes, providing more detailed information about the period, the people and the location, as well as the legends, and the answers to the medieval riddles that head Will’s chapters. I particularly like the information about the plague and the various religious cults of the period. The Glossary is also invaluable, helping to flesh out the detail.
The Plague Charmer is a superb combination of historical fact and fiction. I really enjoyed reading this detailed and chillingly dark atmospheric book. It’s a memorable story with a colourful cast of characters, full of suspense and drama.
My thanks to Headline for providing a proof copy via NetGalley and Lovereading.
February 3, 2017
This is the third Karen Maitland book that I have read to date and so far I think it is my favourite one. It has an interesting cast of characters that you either love or hate according to their personality. I definitely found it a page turner and that is not always easy with historical fiction. There is a list of the people in the book just in case you need it, but I found I didn't as most of them were memorable in their own way, none more than Will the dwarf, purposely deformed at birth in a cruel cage to stunt his growth and twist his limbs.
Most of the story takes place in Porlock Weir a small harbour village dependant mainly on it's crops and fishing and whatever they can trade. A great storm one night causes a ship wreck. The villagers use Will (not that he has any choice) to rescue a woman who appears to all intents and purposes, dead. Will pulls her up anyway, risking the wrath of the sea by taking what is hers.
They take the woman to a cottage of one of the villagers and to their surprise she revives. There is something strange about the woman (Janiveer) though as she tells them that a great disaster is coming to their village and the only way to avert it is to give her the life of one of them. They refuse to pay the price and she leaves. The next day (or so) the bodies of two children tied together wash up on the beach.
Sara, the mother of two young sons, Luke & Hob take the dead children into her home, unable to think of them being thrown back into the sea. As they are prepared for burial, to her horror she finds they are victims of the plague. The children are hastily buried, but the harm is already done and the occupants of the cottage are sealed up together by the rest of the village to see if they are infected.
What follows is death, a fight for survival and the best and worst of human behaviour in troubled times. The villagers are desperate to find Janiveer, the woman whom they saved and who cursed the village at the same time. There is supernatural happenings, superstition and brutality, but for me the heart of the story was the dwarf, Will. He is short of height and has twisted limbs but he is the bigger man of all of them.
Most of the story takes place in Porlock Weir a small harbour village dependant mainly on it's crops and fishing and whatever they can trade. A great storm one night causes a ship wreck. The villagers use Will (not that he has any choice) to rescue a woman who appears to all intents and purposes, dead. Will pulls her up anyway, risking the wrath of the sea by taking what is hers.
They take the woman to a cottage of one of the villagers and to their surprise she revives. There is something strange about the woman (Janiveer) though as she tells them that a great disaster is coming to their village and the only way to avert it is to give her the life of one of them. They refuse to pay the price and she leaves. The next day (or so) the bodies of two children tied together wash up on the beach.
Sara, the mother of two young sons, Luke & Hob take the dead children into her home, unable to think of them being thrown back into the sea. As they are prepared for burial, to her horror she finds they are victims of the plague. The children are hastily buried, but the harm is already done and the occupants of the cottage are sealed up together by the rest of the village to see if they are infected.
What follows is death, a fight for survival and the best and worst of human behaviour in troubled times. The villagers are desperate to find Janiveer, the woman whom they saved and who cursed the village at the same time. There is supernatural happenings, superstition and brutality, but for me the heart of the story was the dwarf, Will. He is short of height and has twisted limbs but he is the bigger man of all of them.
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