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The Soprano
A Haunting Supernatural Thriller by the author of bestselling occult horror trilogy, Father of Lies.
REVENGE WAS NEVER THIS WICKED! For decades, this lonely English mining village has harboured an intricate web of jealousy, rage and deceit ....all carefully woven and interlaced with dark witchcraft....and it's about to come to fruition.
CONTAINS LOCAL ENGLISH DIALECT!
BOOK SUMMARY:
'It is 1951 and a remote mining village on the North Staffordshire Moors is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory. Cut off for over three weeks, the old and the sick will die; the strongest bunker down; and those with evil intent will bring to its conclusion a family vendetta spanning three generations.
Inspired by a true event, 'The Soprano' tells the story of Grace Holland - a strikingly beautiful, much admired local celebrity who brings glamour and inspiration to the grimy moorland community. But why is Grace still here? Why doesn't she leave this staunchly Methodist, rain-sodden place and the isolated farmhouse she shares with her mother?
Riddled with witchcraft and tales of superstition, the story is mostly narrated by the Whistler family who own the local funeral parlour, in particular six year old Louise - now an elderly lady - who recalls one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.'
REVENGE WAS NEVER THIS WICKED! For decades, this lonely English mining village has harboured an intricate web of jealousy, rage and deceit ....all carefully woven and interlaced with dark witchcraft....and it's about to come to fruition.
CONTAINS LOCAL ENGLISH DIALECT!
BOOK SUMMARY:
'It is 1951 and a remote mining village on the North Staffordshire Moors is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory. Cut off for over three weeks, the old and the sick will die; the strongest bunker down; and those with evil intent will bring to its conclusion a family vendetta spanning three generations.
Inspired by a true event, 'The Soprano' tells the story of Grace Holland - a strikingly beautiful, much admired local celebrity who brings glamour and inspiration to the grimy moorland community. But why is Grace still here? Why doesn't she leave this staunchly Methodist, rain-sodden place and the isolated farmhouse she shares with her mother?
Riddled with witchcraft and tales of superstition, the story is mostly narrated by the Whistler family who own the local funeral parlour, in particular six year old Louise - now an elderly lady - who recalls one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.'
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2017
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146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 17, 2017
The Soprano is a dark and atmospheric story of witchcraft, jealousy, hatred and revenge.
This is not a quick thrill fast paced novel, but a slower moving, foreboding and unnerving tale with depth and realism that left me feeling a little uncomfortable reading it at night while home alone. For the whole time I was reading this, I felt a cloud of darkness hovering over me, and I don’t think that was just because of the Cornish rain we’re having at the moment.
Although this story is set in the North Staffordshire Moors, I couldn’t help but picture this all happening here in Cornwall. The church on the cover made me think of St. Materiana’s Church in Tintagel, which we stumbled across in what seemed like the middle of nowhere on a rugged country walk a few years ago. The witchcraft focus made me think of Boscastle, probably due to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic there. The dark and atmospheric feel put me in mind of Bodmin Moor. On that note, I loved Jamaica Inn, by Daphne du Maurier, and I would certainly put this book in the same category for dark atmospheric feel, just with more witchiness (I suspect that’s not actually a proper word, but I like it).
Just when I thought I’d had more than my fair share of reading about creepy dolls in Frozen Charlotte last week, I was again faced with even more creepy dolls in this book. Eek!
This story triggered a memory from a few years ago. We’d recently moved to Cornwall and loved exploring and going on country and coastal walks. However, we got lost one time and stumbled across a tree in the woods with lots of colourful ribbons tied to it. As pretty as it looked, I felt myself on the verge of a Blair Witch inspired panic attack, and was relieved when we stumbled across a couple of strangers with a map, so we were able to find our way back to civilisation. Phew!
The Soprano is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last. I bought the Occult Horror Trilogy, Father of Lies, a few months ago, so I’m looking forward to reading that at some point too.
This is not a quick thrill fast paced novel, but a slower moving, foreboding and unnerving tale with depth and realism that left me feeling a little uncomfortable reading it at night while home alone. For the whole time I was reading this, I felt a cloud of darkness hovering over me, and I don’t think that was just because of the Cornish rain we’re having at the moment.
Although this story is set in the North Staffordshire Moors, I couldn’t help but picture this all happening here in Cornwall. The church on the cover made me think of St. Materiana’s Church in Tintagel, which we stumbled across in what seemed like the middle of nowhere on a rugged country walk a few years ago. The witchcraft focus made me think of Boscastle, probably due to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic there. The dark and atmospheric feel put me in mind of Bodmin Moor. On that note, I loved Jamaica Inn, by Daphne du Maurier, and I would certainly put this book in the same category for dark atmospheric feel, just with more witchiness (I suspect that’s not actually a proper word, but I like it).
Just when I thought I’d had more than my fair share of reading about creepy dolls in Frozen Charlotte last week, I was again faced with even more creepy dolls in this book. Eek!
This story triggered a memory from a few years ago. We’d recently moved to Cornwall and loved exploring and going on country and coastal walks. However, we got lost one time and stumbled across a tree in the woods with lots of colourful ribbons tied to it. As pretty as it looked, I felt myself on the verge of a Blair Witch inspired panic attack, and was relieved when we stumbled across a couple of strangers with a map, so we were able to find our way back to civilisation. Phew!
The Soprano is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last. I bought the Occult Horror Trilogy, Father of Lies, a few months ago, so I’m looking forward to reading that at some point too.
September 23, 2017
This was a real slow burner of a book, where lots of different threads of a story came together. There were a lot of characters who were all connected to each other, one way or another, and that make this novel very intriguing to read.
I have to admit that I got the shivers a couple of time, but that is to be expected when you read a Sarah England book, after all! She has a way of building atmosphere and of telling a eerie story very well and I had no idea where it was all heading until right towards the end, I have to admit.
I highly recommend this book, 4.5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to THE Book Club.
I have to admit that I got the shivers a couple of time, but that is to be expected when you read a Sarah England book, after all! She has a way of building atmosphere and of telling a eerie story very well and I had no idea where it was all heading until right towards the end, I have to admit.
I highly recommend this book, 4.5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to THE Book Club.
September 12, 2017
The Soprano by sarah England.
'It is 1951 and a remote mining village on the North Staffordshire Moors is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory. Cut off for over three weeks, the old and the sick will die; the strongest bunker down; and those with evil intent will bring to its conclusion a family vendetta spanning three generations.
Inspired by a true event, 'The Soprano' tells the story of Grace Holland - a strikingly beautiful, much admired local celebrity who brings glamour and inspiration to the grimy moorland community. But why is Grace still here? Why doesn't she leave this staunchly Methodist, rain-sodden place and the isolated farmhouse she shares with her mother?
Riddled with witchcraft and tales of superstition, the story is mostly narrated by the Whistler family who own the local funeral parlour, in particular six year old Louise - now an elderly lady - who recalls one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.'
OMG. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I love Sarah books. They just get better and better. I hope there is more to come. Highly recommended. A spooky read. But I loved it. A must read. Definitely worth more than 5*. Tbc on fb.
'It is 1951 and a remote mining village on the North Staffordshire Moors is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory. Cut off for over three weeks, the old and the sick will die; the strongest bunker down; and those with evil intent will bring to its conclusion a family vendetta spanning three generations.
Inspired by a true event, 'The Soprano' tells the story of Grace Holland - a strikingly beautiful, much admired local celebrity who brings glamour and inspiration to the grimy moorland community. But why is Grace still here? Why doesn't she leave this staunchly Methodist, rain-sodden place and the isolated farmhouse she shares with her mother?
Riddled with witchcraft and tales of superstition, the story is mostly narrated by the Whistler family who own the local funeral parlour, in particular six year old Louise - now an elderly lady - who recalls one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.'
OMG. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I love Sarah books. They just get better and better. I hope there is more to come. Highly recommended. A spooky read. But I loved it. A must read. Definitely worth more than 5*. Tbc on fb.
September 12, 2017
What a great read! It's a slow burner with a gradual build up of tension and a gallop towards the end. It's set mainly in 1951 during a snowstorm when a small village is cut off from the rest of the world for a few weeks. A woman goes missing and there are some odd happenings. Eerily atmospheric with a few twists and turns, it had me gripped to the last page.
The writing style creates a fantastic feeling of moodiness and unease throughout the story. It's quite dark and disturbing. It's not a scary tale as such, more menacing in its ambience! There is an array of wonderfully depicted characters, some quite sinister, each with their own axe to grind in more ways than one. The descriptions of the blizzard and snow are very evocative and realistic, I almost felt I was there. I nearly shivered with the cold! I won't be walking through any woods or looking at a doll in the same way fr some time. If you enjoy a book about witchcraft and superstitions with a hint of creepiness, then this is one for you.
I loved it. A fabulous tale of the macabre!
The writing style creates a fantastic feeling of moodiness and unease throughout the story. It's quite dark and disturbing. It's not a scary tale as such, more menacing in its ambience! There is an array of wonderfully depicted characters, some quite sinister, each with their own axe to grind in more ways than one. The descriptions of the blizzard and snow are very evocative and realistic, I almost felt I was there. I nearly shivered with the cold! I won't be walking through any woods or looking at a doll in the same way fr some time. If you enjoy a book about witchcraft and superstitions with a hint of creepiness, then this is one for you.
I loved it. A fabulous tale of the macabre!
September 2, 2017
I read an ARC of this book but have also purchased a copy because I know it's one I'll keep and read again on a dark and stormy night in deepest winter. It's a wonderful book, set in a remote northern village with a cast of colourful characters and a grudge that has its roots in witchcraft. On this subject, Sarah England knows her stuff - and what she imparts is unsettling enough, the sheer reality of it. This is no flight of fancy, this is what can and does happen, past, present and future, people harnessing the earth's natural energy, but for entirely the wrong reasons. THAT'S where the terror in this story lies. I won't give away the plot, suffice to say this is such an intelligent book, written in an almost literary style with vivid passages that will haunt you for days and weeks to come. It's complex, and it has depth, with characters both chilling and heartbreaking. Surprisingly, there's also a few laughs along the way courtesy of the child Louise - please will an adult just listen to her!!! As someone who devours stories of this kind, it's up there with the best of them, and I'm including the likes of Edgar Allan Poe in that.
September 10, 2017
Having read the author’s Father of Lies trilogy and her collection of short stories, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I wasn’t disappointed.
Spanning from 1885-2017, this story successfully manages to merge the past with the present in a way that makes you feel as if you’re travelling back and forth in time. The locations, characters, family dynamics and use of description help remind you where you are in the story, and which part of the family you’re with.
Sarah has a talent for building up the tension and making you want to know more about the characters, and what brought them to where they are. Each step back in time reveals more, so you gradually understand the actions of those in the present.
This is a dark spell-binding read, full of excellent characters, brilliant descriptions and a cold, biting atmosphere that I could almost feel through my kindle screen. If you enjoy supernatural and occult thrillers, then I highly recommend this book.
Spanning from 1885-2017, this story successfully manages to merge the past with the present in a way that makes you feel as if you’re travelling back and forth in time. The locations, characters, family dynamics and use of description help remind you where you are in the story, and which part of the family you’re with.
Sarah has a talent for building up the tension and making you want to know more about the characters, and what brought them to where they are. Each step back in time reveals more, so you gradually understand the actions of those in the present.
This is a dark spell-binding read, full of excellent characters, brilliant descriptions and a cold, biting atmosphere that I could almost feel through my kindle screen. If you enjoy supernatural and occult thrillers, then I highly recommend this book.
September 12, 2017
The Soprano is the first standalone novel of one of the most, skilful, talented master of the written word, Sarah England.
Sarah has such a way of crafting an innovative, complex plot that is both full of intrigue and deep seated intensity at the same time.
In this novel, the story plays out over 100 years and 3 generations. A story waiting to come to it's conclusion. Two families at war. Annie Bailey, matriarch and orchestrator of all that is to come is beside herself. When local businessman and staunch methodist minister, Aaron Danby, threatens to fell the sacred Odins tree, a tree that has been central, to a certain group of women for longer than they can remember, Annie hatches a plot and is in for the long term.
Odins tree is felled and two months later, on top of the old roots, a chapel is built. A show of what is to come, stamping out the past and offering a new beginning.
With the help of dark arts, witchcraft and the four that went before, is a tale of deep sadness and manipulation. And a secret that will tear a family apart for decades.
The chapters alternate and are told by different points of view, from different families and over many decades.
It's a story i really had to follow as the author uses, to great effect, the local dialect of the time. Which i loved as i felt it added to the already tense and eerie atmosphere and gave it more validity and authenticity.
This is not a fast paced tale, more of a slow burner that gives you enough to thoroughly immerse yourself in the novel. Giving you a chance to really get to know and have a feel for the individual characters. I personally felt this is actually a good way to go with what is, at times, a complex tale.
Really enjoyable and another fabulous book from ( in my opinion) the fast becoming Mistress of the dark & occult, Sarah England.
Did it make me stop in the middle of the night and listen to the trees? Yes. Did it make me double check myself when i heard animals in the woods next to me? Yes. Was that a baby crying or just a fox.....who knows.
My only problem upon finishing it is having to wait for the next.
But then, what a problem to have!
Sarah has such a way of crafting an innovative, complex plot that is both full of intrigue and deep seated intensity at the same time.
In this novel, the story plays out over 100 years and 3 generations. A story waiting to come to it's conclusion. Two families at war. Annie Bailey, matriarch and orchestrator of all that is to come is beside herself. When local businessman and staunch methodist minister, Aaron Danby, threatens to fell the sacred Odins tree, a tree that has been central, to a certain group of women for longer than they can remember, Annie hatches a plot and is in for the long term.
Odins tree is felled and two months later, on top of the old roots, a chapel is built. A show of what is to come, stamping out the past and offering a new beginning.
With the help of dark arts, witchcraft and the four that went before, is a tale of deep sadness and manipulation. And a secret that will tear a family apart for decades.
The chapters alternate and are told by different points of view, from different families and over many decades.
It's a story i really had to follow as the author uses, to great effect, the local dialect of the time. Which i loved as i felt it added to the already tense and eerie atmosphere and gave it more validity and authenticity.
This is not a fast paced tale, more of a slow burner that gives you enough to thoroughly immerse yourself in the novel. Giving you a chance to really get to know and have a feel for the individual characters. I personally felt this is actually a good way to go with what is, at times, a complex tale.
Really enjoyable and another fabulous book from ( in my opinion) the fast becoming Mistress of the dark & occult, Sarah England.
Did it make me stop in the middle of the night and listen to the trees? Yes. Did it make me double check myself when i heard animals in the woods next to me? Yes. Was that a baby crying or just a fox.....who knows.
My only problem upon finishing it is having to wait for the next.
But then, what a problem to have!
February 12, 2018
I'm sorry, but I found this book confusing and rather boring. I felt like the author was trying too hard to make the book scary. I really never connected with any of the characters. I normally have no problem with the device of moving backward and forward in time, but trying to keep track of all the characters and how they were related and what time period we were in was too much. I really never found any of the characters believable. Louise came the closest to being a believable character. The book title was about a character who was hardly seen. We really knew almost nothing about her.
September 2, 2017
Speechless!
I have no idea what I just read. But I had to finish it. It was difficult keeping up with the story line. The other books I've read by this author were really good. I also listen to them on audio. This one I would not recommend to my friends. It was just too much. And the language, even though it seemed appropriate for the era and the location, it was still a hard read for me. Hope everyone else enjoy it because I didn't.
I have no idea what I just read. But I had to finish it. It was difficult keeping up with the story line. The other books I've read by this author were really good. I also listen to them on audio. This one I would not recommend to my friends. It was just too much. And the language, even though it seemed appropriate for the era and the location, it was still a hard read for me. Hope everyone else enjoy it because I didn't.
September 21, 2017
Absolutely Brilliant
A dark tale of family cruelty, misfortune and ultimate revenge, spread across the generations. Not a ghost story as such but one immersed in witchcraft and black magic, of a very English nature.
A dark tale of family cruelty, misfortune and ultimate revenge, spread across the generations. Not a ghost story as such but one immersed in witchcraft and black magic, of a very English nature.
September 2, 2017
Set in different time periods about a family who live in a tight knit mining community on the edge of a foreboding moor. The stories are told by different family members and are centered around a time when the village is virtually cut off by the most severe snow storm any of them have ever witnessed. It is multifaceted and each person has there own take on events that have happened in the past and that are happening in their present time of 1951. I love the imagination which has gone into the book to bring the scary happenings to life and also the background of living in the early fifties where food was still rationed and where children were to be seen but not heard. I loved the book
September 4, 2017
A witch scorned indeed! Decades old grudges come to wicked life in this story about a family matriarch that sets wheels in motion that will have disastrous consequences for her enemies, as well as her own line when they won't do as they're told. A dark story, the characters are incredibly well fleshed out, the atmosphere is spooky, and the witchiness is truly entertaining. Definitely worth a read!
September 1, 2017
A delicious creepy read which made me look over my shoulder more than once.
The whole atmosphere was superbly drawn from the small cottages, the cold, the dank atmosphere and the wildness of the woods through to the characters.
If you want to be taken on a ride that will leave you wanting more take it with Sarah England.
The whole atmosphere was superbly drawn from the small cottages, the cold, the dank atmosphere and the wildness of the woods through to the characters.
If you want to be taken on a ride that will leave you wanting more take it with Sarah England.
September 27, 2017
A great read!
I thoroughly enjoy reading book by Sarah England. The storyline was great with a lot of depth to each of the characters. A page turner which makes you want to find out what happens next and what is the final then out. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for my by this author!
I thoroughly enjoy reading book by Sarah England. The storyline was great with a lot of depth to each of the characters. A page turner which makes you want to find out what happens next and what is the final then out. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for my by this author!
August 31, 2017
A thrilling haunting story that sends a chill up the spine and plays havoc with the nervous system. A must read for Supernatural thriller fans.
September 28, 2017
An excellent book
Sarah England has did it again. Draws you in with atmosphere and great characters. Well researched. If you like ghosts, hauntings,and especially witches you will enjoy this book.
Sarah England has did it again. Draws you in with atmosphere and great characters. Well researched. If you like ghosts, hauntings,and especially witches you will enjoy this book.
September 19, 2017
The Soprano is quite a spooky book and the writing was really atmospheric. Some parts made me a bit scared as I was reading on my own upstairs.
The only issue I had was the fact that all of the chapters were about different people and different times which got a little confusing. All in all though I enjoyed it.
Thanks to TBC for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The only issue I had was the fact that all of the chapters were about different people and different times which got a little confusing. All in all though I enjoyed it.
Thanks to TBC for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
September 14, 2017
Excellent
Another unputdownable book. The characters came to life you could almost visualize Louise and the accents made the characters come to life. I will be looking for more from this author
Another unputdownable book. The characters came to life you could almost visualize Louise and the accents made the characters come to life. I will be looking for more from this author
September 10, 2017
Tense in places
This is a tense yet easy read, with the author's mastery of language and good build of plotline. However, I found the plot was muddled and sometimes hard to follow in places, with the back and forth in time line. Also, there are quite a few typos in this edition and some repetition. All in all, though, a good read; a 'could not put it down' addition to Sarah England's growing successes.
This is a tense yet easy read, with the author's mastery of language and good build of plotline. However, I found the plot was muddled and sometimes hard to follow in places, with the back and forth in time line. Also, there are quite a few typos in this edition and some repetition. All in all, though, a good read; a 'could not put it down' addition to Sarah England's growing successes.
September 10, 2017
I was totally immersed within this book from beginning to end. I Love this authors style of writing. With excellent description, you soon bond with each character. It's spooky and scary, and had me on tender hooks throughout. I look forward to reading more of her work
August 2, 2019
Another great book! The atmosphere is scary and the suspense reaches it's climax when the most unlikely person is found to be the murderer.
February 14, 2018
Now, when I first heard towards the end of 2017, that Sarah England had a new, Standalone, dark, occult thriller coming out, I could not wait! One of the most eagerly anticipated releases of last year I did what any self-respecting reader would do...I hunkered down under a blanket, in the middle of the night, turned off the lights and started reading. (If you're of a more nervous disposition by all means leave the lights on. It wont affect your enjoyment.
The Soprano is the first standalone novel of one of the most, skilful, talented master of the written word, Sarah England.
Sarah has such a way of crafting an innovative, complex plot that is both full of intrigue and deep seated intensity at the same time.
In this novel, the story plays out over 100 years and 3 generations. A story waiting to come to it's conclusion. Two families at war. Annie Bailey, matriarch and orchestrator of all that is to come is beside herself. When local businessman and staunch methodist minister, Aaron Danby, threatens to fell the sacred Odins tree, a tree that has been central, to a certain group of women for longer than they can remember, Annie hatches a plot and is in for the long term.
Odins tree is felled and two months later, on top of the old roots, a chapel is built. A show of what is to come, stamping out the past and offering a new beginning.
With the help of dark arts, witchcraft and the four that went before, is a tale of deep sadness and manipulation. And a secret that will tear a family apart for decades.
The chapters alternate and are told by different points of view, from different families and over many decades.
It's a story i really had to follow as the author uses, to great effect, the local dialect of the time. Which i loved as i felt it added to the already tense and eerie atmosphere and gave it more validity and authenticity.
This is not a fast paced tale, more of a slow burner that gives you enough to thoroughly immerse yourself in the novel. Giving you a chance to really get to know and have a feel for the individual characters. I personally felt this is actually a good way to go with what is, at times, a complex tale.
Really enjoyable and another fabulous book from ( in my opinion) the fast becoming Mistress of the dark & occult, Sarah England.
Did it make me stop in the middle of the night and listen to the trees? Yes. Did it make me double check myself when i heard animals in the woods next to me? Yes. Was that a baby crying or just a fox.....who knows.
My only problem upon finishing it is having to wait for the next.
But then, what a problem to have!
I can actually now tell you that there is a new novel by Sarah England out this year. The Owlmen will be making it's presence felt very soon.
The Soprano is the first standalone novel of one of the most, skilful, talented master of the written word, Sarah England.
Sarah has such a way of crafting an innovative, complex plot that is both full of intrigue and deep seated intensity at the same time.
In this novel, the story plays out over 100 years and 3 generations. A story waiting to come to it's conclusion. Two families at war. Annie Bailey, matriarch and orchestrator of all that is to come is beside herself. When local businessman and staunch methodist minister, Aaron Danby, threatens to fell the sacred Odins tree, a tree that has been central, to a certain group of women for longer than they can remember, Annie hatches a plot and is in for the long term.
Odins tree is felled and two months later, on top of the old roots, a chapel is built. A show of what is to come, stamping out the past and offering a new beginning.
With the help of dark arts, witchcraft and the four that went before, is a tale of deep sadness and manipulation. And a secret that will tear a family apart for decades.
The chapters alternate and are told by different points of view, from different families and over many decades.
It's a story i really had to follow as the author uses, to great effect, the local dialect of the time. Which i loved as i felt it added to the already tense and eerie atmosphere and gave it more validity and authenticity.
This is not a fast paced tale, more of a slow burner that gives you enough to thoroughly immerse yourself in the novel. Giving you a chance to really get to know and have a feel for the individual characters. I personally felt this is actually a good way to go with what is, at times, a complex tale.
Really enjoyable and another fabulous book from ( in my opinion) the fast becoming Mistress of the dark & occult, Sarah England.
Did it make me stop in the middle of the night and listen to the trees? Yes. Did it make me double check myself when i heard animals in the woods next to me? Yes. Was that a baby crying or just a fox.....who knows.
My only problem upon finishing it is having to wait for the next.
But then, what a problem to have!
I can actually now tell you that there is a new novel by Sarah England out this year. The Owlmen will be making it's presence felt very soon.
March 23, 2018
This is a well written, very well researched story which is believable. A thoughtful story of witchcraft that doesn't necessarily show it in a positive light but is realistic and not over-sensationalised. As a practitioner of the crafts, I was not in the least offended by the descriptions within it, after all it's a well known saying that 'he who cannot hex, cannot heal', it is designed to be a supernatural thriller and it does what it intends.
I loved the gritty feel of the era's described and the imaginative way Sarah was able to weave together the dynasty of the families involved and the clever way in which revenge was served very cold indeed and that I was able to sympathise with the witch in the end.
I would definitely recommend this book!
My favourite quote from the book, "But with that knowledge came danger because when the Dark side knew you were looking, it looked right back."
I loved the gritty feel of the era's described and the imaginative way Sarah was able to weave together the dynasty of the families involved and the clever way in which revenge was served very cold indeed and that I was able to sympathise with the witch in the end.
I would definitely recommend this book!
My favourite quote from the book, "But with that knowledge came danger because when the Dark side knew you were looking, it looked right back."
March 28, 2018
Reading this book was like staring out into a dark night, knowing that something is happening out there but it's creeping up on you so slowly that your hair begins to stand on end. A dark tale to be savoured, this author had me captured from the first few pages, such were her descriptive powers and story-telling technique. 'The Soprano' pulls you in, as if being grabbed by an old witch's gnarled fingers, occasionally letting you slip back to reality but always finding you on the edge of your seat with a cold sweat running down your back. An easy five stars.
May 14, 2018
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this book - very dark and foreboding - and I liked the premise of tracing revenge through the generations. But the format of this book meant it never really captured me. A lot of the action took place off-stage and was revealed through conversations overheard by Louise, which slowed things down a little too much for me. I also felt as if the paranormal element was never quite used to its fullest. A very interesting book, though, with a lot of themes and ideas that I'm still thinking about.
May 20, 2020
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
I've enjoyed all of Sarah Englands books so far, this one included, but somehow it felt unfinished? The origin/history of the female protagonists(Annie) 'gift' and the 4 original unmarked graves in the labyrinth aren't really explained enough. I would've liked a bit more 'Bailey' family history. Was Annie always a practitioner of black witchcraft or did the sexual assault change her as a young woman, presumably the 4 graves were her female ancestors, but were they hung as witches or buried there after a natural death? None of this is explained.
I've enjoyed all of Sarah Englands books so far, this one included, but somehow it felt unfinished? The origin/history of the female protagonists(Annie) 'gift' and the 4 original unmarked graves in the labyrinth aren't really explained enough. I would've liked a bit more 'Bailey' family history. Was Annie always a practitioner of black witchcraft or did the sexual assault change her as a young woman, presumably the 4 graves were her female ancestors, but were they hung as witches or buried there after a natural death? None of this is explained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2018
Hard to follow but intriguing
I almost gave up reading this due to all the time and character hopping. It made for a confusing time when coming back to the book, trying to remember which set of people and in what time I last read about. The essence of the story doesn't become clear until the end-literally. It would have been more exciting to introduce the hatred element sooner than the end. Otherwise, it makes for a slightly spooky read. It's more a heavy foreboding though.
I almost gave up reading this due to all the time and character hopping. It made for a confusing time when coming back to the book, trying to remember which set of people and in what time I last read about. The essence of the story doesn't become clear until the end-literally. It would have been more exciting to introduce the hatred element sooner than the end. Otherwise, it makes for a slightly spooky read. It's more a heavy foreboding though.
October 18, 2017
A very atmospheric read with great characters, the use of their local accents really brought them to life. However, I was really expecting more from Ms England especially after her Father Of Lies series which is exceptional. I would still highly recommend this book and I expect any forthcoming books by Ms England because she is an exceptional author.
January 8, 2018
I didn’t really enjoy this book due to the fact that there was no natural flow to it. Not only did it skip to and from various time frames, it skipped between groups of characters too - to the extent that I didn’t know whether it was Monday or Lewisham! It did have good atmospheric content that I enjoyed, but as others have said it is certainly a slow burn.
January 25, 2019
Another great book
Again another great book by a great author who I admire. I have to admit, it did take my a chapter or two to get into it, but after that, I really enjoyed it. As always, a great storyline with great characters that you really get to know. A thriller with things that keep you hooked to find out what's gonna happen next.
Again another great book by a great author who I admire. I have to admit, it did take my a chapter or two to get into it, but after that, I really enjoyed it. As always, a great storyline with great characters that you really get to know. A thriller with things that keep you hooked to find out what's gonna happen next.
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