The Silver Well

by Kate Forsyth, Kim Wilkins, Kathleen Jennings (Illustrator)

The Silver Well marks a milestone achievement for two best-selling legends of Australian fantasy, having both published their first novels in 1997. Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins have teamed up in this collection of 7 incredible stories, all original and never-before published.

One English village. Two thousand years of stories.
People have always come to make wishes at the Silver Well: in Pagan times and Christian, during revolution and war. When Rosie arrives in the tiny village of Cerne Abbas with a broken heart, she becomes connected across the centuries with others who have yearned for something. Seven stories, set in seven time periods, reveal the deepest longings of the human heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Magical Realism, Historical, Fiction, Adult

263 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Kate Forsyth wrote her first novel at the age of seven, and is now the internationally bestselling author of 40 books for both adults and children.

Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'

Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.

Reviews

[Amy Norris]

I don’t normally read many short story collections so the fact that I read and enjoyed this really says something. Kim Wilkins and Kate Forsyth are two immensely talented Australian writers so naturally I had high expectations for this book and I am glad to say it really delivered.

The Silver Well centres around a small English village. The first story is set in 2017 and each following story is set prior to the last going all the way back to 44 AD. I loved this concept and having finished the book I almost want to go back and read it in reverse order. The stories revolve around themes of love, loss and magic. While at times the stories can be quite dark, overall the book had a very fairytale-esque feeling to it.

Upon closing the book, I had a strong desire to book the next flight to England and visit the real life Silver Well, which is where Kim and Kate came up for the idea for this book. Alas, there are no overseas holidays in sight for me, but I can always revisit the beautiful writing in this book which is a wonderful close second.

[Kate Forsyth]

This was just such a lovely project to work on with my dear friend Kim - we enjoyed it so much! I hope you all enjoy reading it too :)

[Romeo]

This anthology drew me in the more I kept on reading.The people in these tales are just trying to live there lives in a unfeeling mundane world but magical comes in to give them help and hope.

[Lyn Haines]

From two of Australia's most talented authors, Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins, comes The Silver Well a magical volume of seven tales, set in seven time periods.

Each story takes place in the English village of Cerne Abbas and one of the many delights of The Silver Well for me was following the journey of the landscape from the pre-Roman village in AD 44 to the modern town in 2017. The characters and themes change from story to story and I found myself captivated by each one.

The gorgeous illustrations by Kathleen Jennings add to the magic and makes this the kind of book that you want on display at home. It would certainly make a lovely gift.

[Annie]

This was an interesting collection of stories - a total of 7 stories set in 7 different time periods but in the same location: the English village of Cerne Abbas. Each story was quite unique and truly set to the time period, it's one of those books you know a lot of research was done for each story written. It's difficult to pin point a favourite. Well written and flowed nicely. Each story was written so well, it was difficult to determine which author wrote what as they're equally good as each other.

[Alexandra]

If I tell you that reading this was like reading Angela Slatter, I think you'll get a feel for the fact that I adored it, and for I the style of these stories.

Forsyth and Wilkins have written a set of stories that, until the last one wraps back to the first, go progressively further back in time - but always set in and around the same village in England, Cerne Abbas. In a way, it's similar to those books of James A. Michener that I've read (Space, The Source) and Edward Rutherford (London, Sarum): they follow a place and a family. But these stories are generally on the more positive end, where those aren't always; and they're also tending towards the fantastical, which those men veer away from. Plus, neither of them ever had illustrations by Kathleen Jennings at the start of their chapters.

The book opens with Australian Rosie returning to the English childhood home of her grandparents after heartbreak, in 2017. The stories then progress back to World War 2, the 1850s, the time of the English Civil War, that of Henry VIII, the first millennial crisis of 999AD, and that of the Celts as the Romans arrive. In each case there's some specific issue of the time that ties into the very personal experiences of the people living in Cerne Abbas, and the individual at the focus of the story. And they never stray very far from the village and its titular well.

These stories are a delight. They're sympathetic without being cloying, sensible without being heartless; they are stories that know what it means to be human and that sometimes what's required is hard advice, but sometimes it should be a shoulder to cry on. There's love and loss, evil and saintly behaviour... it's not clear exactly what each story will give you when you start reading, except that it will be sad ad mildly traumatic and possibly heart wrenching. Also, beautiful.

I really loved this collection.

[Kali Napier]

In the English village of Cerne Abbas is an ancient well -- the Saint's Well, where villagers for centuries have tied ribbons to the linden tree and made a wish. This collection of stories by Kim Wilkins and Kate Forsyth was a beautiful, immersive read, and I found it difficult to decide which stories were my favourites, for each echoes the wishes of generations past, through threatened belief systems, the authority of the church, broken hearts, maternal love, and war. Throughout all these layers of history and lore, stands the well. This book (beautifully illustrated by Kathleen Jennings) stirred up pagan yearnings to believe in piskies and magic, and to do one thing every day that makes me happy and one thing that scares me. Each of the protagonists in these stories cannot know what the future brings, but all they can do is live each present moment to its fullest. This is the truest blessing.

[Leigh Briar]

3.5☆

I really enjoyed this sweet collection of stories centred in the English country town of Cerne Abbas, linked together through a bloodline spanning thousands of years. While not every story is purely a fantasy, each one of them has its own thread of whimsy sewn through its beautiful words.

Each progressive story moves further back in time, taking the reader on a journey through a single fictional family's long history, and their relationship with both the titular Silver Well and the forces of magic they were born into. The bookending stories brings the book full circle - having slowly introduced legends and their beginnings - a modern member of the family embracing her roots and her belonging in the world.

[Katharine Ott]

"The Silver Well" - written by Kate Forsyth and Kim Wilkins and published in 2017 by Ticonderoga Publications. I'm not a regular short story reader, but was attracted to this collection since reading and really enjoying Forsyth's "Bitter Greens," her Rapunzel retelling. The stories here are all set in the same village of Cerne Abbas, full of mystical memories. "...that sacred well, that magic place where the light falls differently and words become powerful spells." They range in time period from 44 AD to 2017 and the characters are all experiencing profound emotions - love, loss, hope, et al. I really appreciated that the common setting drew all the stories together and thought the variety of plots very entertaining. Both authors are Australian and have long lists of published works to explore.

[Meg Vann]

I was swept away by this beautiful book, into an ancient world of pagan wisdom brought to life through fascinating characters. The short stories all centre on the well, reaching back further and further in time, all linked by the fears and desires of the people visiting the well. Rich with history yet utterly contemporary, I read it in two sittings - such an absolute pleasure.

[Claire]

This was a lovey set of short stories. Historical fantasy is definitely my jam. I have to say I preferred the internal stories to the frame narrative though, which I found a little too good to be true. I'm not really a fan of the idea that the way to solve disappointment in love is to find someone new to love. In real life that often doesn't happen, and there are so few stories about finding happiness as a single person that I find it disappointing when an author chooses to go that route. I loved all the other stories though.

[K]

A series of short stories all set near a well. I liked some tales more than others. The ones further back in time had more overt magic, I liked those ones best.

I kept finding the stories ended when I wanted them to continue. I guess that means I was invested in the characters and wanted more, but at times I felt like the stories needed more denouement. I haven't really read short stories before (or even novellas), so it is possible that this is more reflective of my own preference and not the stories themselves

[Margaret]

This is a collection of stories centered around a well, set in different time periods and encompassing a wide range of themes. They made up an enjoyable (although, once, horrifying) read. I did think that the well would be more of a "player" in the stories or that there would be more of a common thread through the stories than just this particular element of the setting - the well - but there was not. It feels like an opportunity lost.

[Barb Hunt]

Set in the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England, this novel gripped me right from the start with its opening hook of 'I wish he was dead. Or hurt. Or humiliated. Or, worst of all, pitied.' The novel starts in March 2017 and each chapter takes the reader on a journey through time back to 44 AD. The epilogue, set in March - June 2017, ties the whole series of tales together very convincingly. I enjoyed reading this book.

[Winkle W. Nemeth]

Charming and delightful

This heart warming book has enough faith in love and belief in magic to soften anyone's heart. The stories are full of emotion. The magic is real and important without denying that there are serious consequences to any action. All endings aren't happy, but they are all deeply satisfying.

[Tony Peck]

I thoroughly enjoyed these stories. Essentially a series of short stories, with fantasy elements, going back a long way into the past with a pool as a common thread. Each story was a delight in very different, sometimes dark and sometimes mysterious ways. Very nice writing by the two authors.
Recommended

[Melissa Riley]

I adore Kim Wilkins so I was always going to read this, but I found some of the stories hit and miss. I really enjoyed the first 2 but didnt feel that connected to the others. I enjoyed how they were all linked and the final epilogue continued from the first story.

[Corrinne]

Breathtaking. I just read and read and read, so lost in the imagining of these stories as the words tumbled around in my mind, forming into the most amazing stories. Now back to reality and I'm late for work...sigh.

[Teg]

Incredible. So many feels!

[Tonya Nardi]

This was a fun series of short stories loosely wrapped in a final short story set in present day about the Chalkman.

[Jessica Lewenda]

This was so good. A collection of stories that build the foundation of a town inits history. They all intertwine to create one large whole. I think the epilogue ran on for far too long, though.

[Nick Winters]

A great collection of stories, very much enjoyed it.

[Booknerder42]

So good I loved this book. The writing was amazing, the character of all the short stories were well thought out and complete. Over all a great read.

[Claudi Feldhaus]

Magical time travel :)

[Tori Tripp]

4.5 stars - multiple stories over a long timeline. Great connections between a single place throughout history. Sometimes too much history for me but overall a great read that kept me interested.

[Leanne Lip]

beautiful

One of the loveliest books I’ve read. If you want to smile and feel good about life read it please

[Liz]

Gorgeous collection. At first the fantasy elements seem distant, but each story adds a layer of meaning and depth. These stories run the gamut of emotions - I cried, I laughed, and I finished with a happy sigh.

[Taylor]

10/10

[Thea]

Incredible story telling