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Mara of the League #1
The Witches of Crannock Dale
When an enemy army threatens eleven-year old Mara’s home, she makes up her mind to save her family, one way or another. But when the knights protecting her village arrest her favorite aunt for witchcraft, she discovers that the difference between friend and foe may not be as obvious as she once thought.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
5 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Thomas M. Kane
16 books190 followersI grew up in Maine, amidst hills and forests much like those of my favorite fantasy novels. After a few years publishing supplements for role-playing games (Shadowrun, AD&D, Cyberpunk and Ars Magica to name a few), I moved to the UK where I taught strategy and international relations at the University of Hull. Twenty years later, I have taken the opportunity to return to Maine and to fiction writing.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 17, 2022
For a middle-grade, this one checks pretty much all the boxes for me. I can’t speak for the rest of the series yet but Mara is 11 here, and the content stays 100% age audience appropriate. Although she is 17 in book two I believe it remains a middle grade age level throughout.
Mara is a very smart and brave little girl who eventually becomes a spy for her country in later books. Here in Witches we are introduced to Mara and her family and learn about the plots and political conflicts happening in the world. Told in the first person point of view of an 11 year old, I think it’s a marvel that Kane had me interested in the imposter bandit king and how the war will eventually unfurl.
Mara is an easy character to root for as she becomes involved in local issues. I liked her brother too and the rest of the family.
As I’m obviously not 12 anymore (hahah) when reviewing for middle grade, I tend to look more at whether the book is fast paced (yes), interesting (yes), repetitive (no), and age appropriate (yes). I think it will hold their attention well. It’s also extremely well edited for a self published book so that’s helpful!
Are the themes something I would want my little niece reading? Yes, absolutely. Mara has to navigate complicated adult politics while still doing what she thinks is right. She also learns that sometimes rules do have a time and place in society, and that actions can have severe and unintended consequences. I like the sense of responsibility she has towards family and even town & country.
The issue I had is that the audio itself did not hold my interest, likely due to the Authors Direct app and a few challenges that it presented. That was an experience related issue though and I think Stevie Marie was a pretty solid, clearly spoken narrator. I did end up reading on Kindle Unlimited though and was then lucky enough to see the map and drawings.
Overall: I’m excited to keep reading to see how Mara and the war develop. It’s a solid middle grade read that I think YA can enjoy too since Mara ages fairly quickly in the books
Mara is a very smart and brave little girl who eventually becomes a spy for her country in later books. Here in Witches we are introduced to Mara and her family and learn about the plots and political conflicts happening in the world. Told in the first person point of view of an 11 year old, I think it’s a marvel that Kane had me interested in the imposter bandit king and how the war will eventually unfurl.
Mara is an easy character to root for as she becomes involved in local issues. I liked her brother too and the rest of the family.
As I’m obviously not 12 anymore (hahah) when reviewing for middle grade, I tend to look more at whether the book is fast paced (yes), interesting (yes), repetitive (no), and age appropriate (yes). I think it will hold their attention well. It’s also extremely well edited for a self published book so that’s helpful!
Are the themes something I would want my little niece reading? Yes, absolutely. Mara has to navigate complicated adult politics while still doing what she thinks is right. She also learns that sometimes rules do have a time and place in society, and that actions can have severe and unintended consequences. I like the sense of responsibility she has towards family and even town & country.
The issue I had is that the audio itself did not hold my interest, likely due to the Authors Direct app and a few challenges that it presented. That was an experience related issue though and I think Stevie Marie was a pretty solid, clearly spoken narrator. I did end up reading on Kindle Unlimited though and was then lucky enough to see the map and drawings.
Overall: I’m excited to keep reading to see how Mara and the war develop. It’s a solid middle grade read that I think YA can enjoy too since Mara ages fairly quickly in the books
April 20, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Witches of Crannock Dale.
This fantasy novel deals with two very challenging issues. The first is the issue of being a child in a country threatened by war. The book is told from the first person by 11-year-old Mara, and so we are party to her rollercoaster of emotions and experiences as she finds herself getting way too deep into a world of deception, treason, and the framing of scapegoats.
The second main point that the book discusses is the subject of cold wars and proxy wars, although you’ll have to read the book to fully see what I mean by that!
I would highly recommend The Witches of Crannock Dale, and have recently started reading the second book, The Rebels of Caer City.
This fantasy novel deals with two very challenging issues. The first is the issue of being a child in a country threatened by war. The book is told from the first person by 11-year-old Mara, and so we are party to her rollercoaster of emotions and experiences as she finds herself getting way too deep into a world of deception, treason, and the framing of scapegoats.
The second main point that the book discusses is the subject of cold wars and proxy wars, although you’ll have to read the book to fully see what I mean by that!
I would highly recommend The Witches of Crannock Dale, and have recently started reading the second book, The Rebels of Caer City.
October 20, 2020
The Witches of Crannock Dale served as my entry point to the writing of Thomas Kane, and for those of the "too long; didn't read" review-seekers, I'll say this upfront and get it out of the way: I was highly impressed with this book and loved every second of it.
In The Witches of Crannock Dale, we follow Mara, a young girl just shy of her teenage years. When the book quickly introduced itself as a low-fantasy setting with a very serious, very realistic tone to it, I'll admit I became skeptical of the choice of protagonist. While it's not unheard of, writing grim themes from the eye of a child and making it convincing to the reader is a difficult task at best; it requires a balance of "getting to the point" and remembering that this is a child witnessing the events, and the portrayal must be how a child would interpret what they see. It's hard to strike that sweet spot of writing a child and successfully reaching the maturity of the topics. In that regard, Kane wrote this aspect perfectly and as the story went on, I found myself enthralled with his choice of viewpoint.
In this Early Modern, 16-17th century-ish tale, Mara's story begins when her aunt is accused of and apprehended for suspected witchcraft. This places Mara on the path of seeking to prove her aunt's innocence, which as she never could have guessed, was only a piece of a greater puzzle, one involving high intrigue, from the movement of large sums of money, to conspiracy, statecraft, and military action. By the end, Mara begins to understand the nature of humanity, family bonds, and the glue which holds society together.
The Witches of Crannock Dale has earned a place among the best novels I have read for this year and I cannot recommend it enough. It goes without saying that I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment of the Mara series.
Excellent!
In The Witches of Crannock Dale, we follow Mara, a young girl just shy of her teenage years. When the book quickly introduced itself as a low-fantasy setting with a very serious, very realistic tone to it, I'll admit I became skeptical of the choice of protagonist. While it's not unheard of, writing grim themes from the eye of a child and making it convincing to the reader is a difficult task at best; it requires a balance of "getting to the point" and remembering that this is a child witnessing the events, and the portrayal must be how a child would interpret what they see. It's hard to strike that sweet spot of writing a child and successfully reaching the maturity of the topics. In that regard, Kane wrote this aspect perfectly and as the story went on, I found myself enthralled with his choice of viewpoint.
In this Early Modern, 16-17th century-ish tale, Mara's story begins when her aunt is accused of and apprehended for suspected witchcraft. This places Mara on the path of seeking to prove her aunt's innocence, which as she never could have guessed, was only a piece of a greater puzzle, one involving high intrigue, from the movement of large sums of money, to conspiracy, statecraft, and military action. By the end, Mara begins to understand the nature of humanity, family bonds, and the glue which holds society together.
The Witches of Crannock Dale has earned a place among the best novels I have read for this year and I cannot recommend it enough. It goes without saying that I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment of the Mara series.
Excellent!
January 29, 2021
Wow! It has been a long time since I read a book with such a young protagonist, but I really enjoyed this! Mara is wise beyond her years, courageous, and so fun to read about. I love how sometimes she acts so young, but other time she's able to recognize things even the adults in her life can't see. I highly recommend The Witches of Crannock Dale and look forward to reading the next book in the series!
September 24, 2023
This fantastic story about a very intuitive, keen-witted young adolescent called Mara and her sense of problem-solving, putting together facts like pieces of puzzle that come together to form a terrible whole, and her devotion to her family makes for a compelling story that prompts you to want to learn more about her world, her interesting religion, and whether or not the threatening war between the League and its opposing world power Waan will come to pass and result in the end of the world.
You really see the world from this unique perspective--a 12-year-old girl devoted to her Aunt Lila and her earnest desire to free her from the Holy Knights holding her captive on suspicion of witchcraft. The charge is bogus, but the threat is very real. She puts together the clues in what becomes a dangerous game that puts several lives in jeopardy, including her own. I highly recommend this series. I couldn't put it down!
You really see the world from this unique perspective--a 12-year-old girl devoted to her Aunt Lila and her earnest desire to free her from the Holy Knights holding her captive on suspicion of witchcraft. The charge is bogus, but the threat is very real. She puts together the clues in what becomes a dangerous game that puts several lives in jeopardy, including her own. I highly recommend this series. I couldn't put it down!
February 18, 2020
Thomas Kane gives us a tale of espionage and the powerful bonds of family in The Witches of Crannock Dale! When Mara’s village is threatened by an enemy army, she believes the knights of her village will defend it. But when those very same knights arrest her aunt, accusing her of being a witch, she discovers that an invading army isn’t the only threat to her family. I love the way Kane couches a more intimate, touching story of a family’s struggle to stay together within a greater world of politics and spycraft. There are a lot of moving pieces in The Witches, but Kane maneuvers them masterfully in a way that drew me in to Mara’s story! I’m looking forward to the next one!
November 13, 2019
I loved this book! In the vein of J. K. Rowling, Thomas Kane writes a fascinating young heroine with a storyline complex and intriguing enough for an adult audience as well. Excited for the next installment!
January 11, 2020
Excellent read!
January 8, 2025
Book I of Mara of The League is titled 'The Witches of Crannock Dale' and I think given the title of the book you would like to know that early on eleven year old Mara concludes that a witch is called a witch because she is someone who scares people. You can become a witch without meaning to. You can become a witch by being right. Ever heard such a definition of a witch? These lines define the straightforward tenor of Mara's thoughts conveyed succinctly and incandescently by author Thomas Kane and set the tone for the rest of the novel.
Mara is only eleven but the astuteness she shows in understanding people and strategy left me awestruck. She sees things that grown ups miss. She puts together disparate clues and facts to weave a compelling and believable story. A story that is able to stop a number of people who are up to no good in their tracks.
Using her observation skills and her persuasion tactics Mara ends up saving Crannock Dale from an armed rebellion. But she ends up being accused of being a witch or at least a witch's assistant. Will Mara be able to save herself and her Aunt Lila from a fate worse than death?
Here are a few beautiful "Maraisms" from the book as I like to call them which I can share without revealing the plot.
"Sometimes you just have to start a thing, even though you haven't yet worked out how to finish it."
"Another word for strength is love ❤️ "
"What I was beginning to see was that even a simple little word like 'questions' means different things between different people. "
"Maybe being rich or poor was about how you think and how people think about you . "
"I was becoming more and more aware that they were in the middle of a story of their own. It wasn't me coming into their perfect world~ It was all of us making our way through a bigger world and finding ourselves together at cross roads."
"Titles were magic words that made you a grown up."
"Forgiving means being able to say things ."
Thomas Kane has just blown me away. His writing is strong, evocative, rousing and intense. He sees things, observes things that others would only miss. Seeing the world through his eyes is a heady experience.
The world building in Mara of The League is remarkable and noteworthy ~ the detailing exacting, the emotions right on the dot, whether it is the little brother who annoys his sister but is forlorn when she is taken away, the mother who is strict and forbidding but protects her daughter with all she has got, the father who is more a friend and one who Mara hates to disappoint. Each character is well etched and their interactions with Mara define the story, whether it's the sisters that many suspect of witchcraft or the spymaster who shrewdly extracts information from her with veiled threats as well as gentle coaxing. Thomas Kane excels in this book. His writing captivates you and draws you in.
A must read ~ this wonderful book. My only regret is why didn't I read this book sooner?
Mara is only eleven but the astuteness she shows in understanding people and strategy left me awestruck. She sees things that grown ups miss. She puts together disparate clues and facts to weave a compelling and believable story. A story that is able to stop a number of people who are up to no good in their tracks.
Using her observation skills and her persuasion tactics Mara ends up saving Crannock Dale from an armed rebellion. But she ends up being accused of being a witch or at least a witch's assistant. Will Mara be able to save herself and her Aunt Lila from a fate worse than death?
Here are a few beautiful "Maraisms" from the book as I like to call them which I can share without revealing the plot.
"Sometimes you just have to start a thing, even though you haven't yet worked out how to finish it."
"Another word for strength is love ❤️ "
"What I was beginning to see was that even a simple little word like 'questions' means different things between different people. "
"Maybe being rich or poor was about how you think and how people think about you . "
"I was becoming more and more aware that they were in the middle of a story of their own. It wasn't me coming into their perfect world~ It was all of us making our way through a bigger world and finding ourselves together at cross roads."
"Titles were magic words that made you a grown up."
"Forgiving means being able to say things ."
Thomas Kane has just blown me away. His writing is strong, evocative, rousing and intense. He sees things, observes things that others would only miss. Seeing the world through his eyes is a heady experience.
The world building in Mara of The League is remarkable and noteworthy ~ the detailing exacting, the emotions right on the dot, whether it is the little brother who annoys his sister but is forlorn when she is taken away, the mother who is strict and forbidding but protects her daughter with all she has got, the father who is more a friend and one who Mara hates to disappoint. Each character is well etched and their interactions with Mara define the story, whether it's the sisters that many suspect of witchcraft or the spymaster who shrewdly extracts information from her with veiled threats as well as gentle coaxing. Thomas Kane excels in this book. His writing captivates you and draws you in.
A must read ~ this wonderful book. My only regret is why didn't I read this book sooner?
November 14, 2020
4 stars
This book was much better than I expected. It was intelligent, detailed, with a good chunk of intrigue woven through, and had a strong thread of tension that kept me reading from start to finish.
While the tone of the character is young, you can almost feel her willing herself to leave behind childish urges/desires as she forces herself to understand the world around her.
The main protagonist, Mara, is young and ignorant in some ways, but very smart to a degree that was a little uncanny. How she saw the people around her, and made decisions on the fly, were believably impulsive. Seeing things through her eyes helped, as her mind grew to understand the complex lives and interactions around her. I think the author did really well to show a fast building intelligence.
I do like to read a good lot of detail on daily life and general protagonist thoughts, in a complex situation, so this book worked for me, but it might not be for everyone.
After finishing this one I was glad there was another in the series, so I could see how Mara will grow and how she will fit into the world around her.
This book was much better than I expected. It was intelligent, detailed, with a good chunk of intrigue woven through, and had a strong thread of tension that kept me reading from start to finish.
While the tone of the character is young, you can almost feel her willing herself to leave behind childish urges/desires as she forces herself to understand the world around her.
The main protagonist, Mara, is young and ignorant in some ways, but very smart to a degree that was a little uncanny. How she saw the people around her, and made decisions on the fly, were believably impulsive. Seeing things through her eyes helped, as her mind grew to understand the complex lives and interactions around her. I think the author did really well to show a fast building intelligence.
I do like to read a good lot of detail on daily life and general protagonist thoughts, in a complex situation, so this book worked for me, but it might not be for everyone.
After finishing this one I was glad there was another in the series, so I could see how Mara will grow and how she will fit into the world around her.
September 16, 2021
This fast-paced adventure has a clever, intrepid girl as its unlikely heroine. Young Mara lives with her father, mother, and brother in a simple village that is constantly preparing for war. Mara’s world begins to fall apart as soldiers gather to fight; her brilliant deductions are not appreciated. The one person who understands her is a mysterious spy . . . but can she survive his devious plans?
There are beautiful descriptions: “I was aching with fear – fear ringing in my ears, fear glaring like the sun.” Later, “My thoughts clung to me like my clothes in the sticky air.” I also enjoyed the musings on all-out war, with layers of destruction as systems fall apart. It’s an excellent, well-written story. Five stars!
There are beautiful descriptions: “I was aching with fear – fear ringing in my ears, fear glaring like the sun.” Later, “My thoughts clung to me like my clothes in the sticky air.” I also enjoyed the musings on all-out war, with layers of destruction as systems fall apart. It’s an excellent, well-written story. Five stars!
August 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this one! There's a distinct voice which might not be for everyone but once I got into it, I could see why it was written as it was and it worked perfectly for the protagonist, Mara. Mara is a gutsy kid and is the perfect balance of a naive pre-teen and very worldly wise. She has a bit of a rebel in her and get a bit carried away but it makes for a fun story and by the end I adored her enough I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series.
The plot is intricate and it's fun trying to figure out how everything fits together alongside Mara, sometimes her understanding of the world she lives in means the reader will be trotting after her and other times her youth means she doesn't pick up on things adult readers will puzzle out from the clues.
Highly recommend it!
The plot is intricate and it's fun trying to figure out how everything fits together alongside Mara, sometimes her understanding of the world she lives in means the reader will be trotting after her and other times her youth means she doesn't pick up on things adult readers will puzzle out from the clues.
Highly recommend it!
June 9, 2025
Kane has built a fantasy world which touches on some of the ancient fears of human history. The Witches of Crannock Dale has a rich complex of religious, societal and legal mores. Probably of most interest to me were the family relationships and Mara's own insights. Mara is exceptionally mature, resourceful, and intelligent for her age, determined to help her aunt and community, and ends up in trouble because of it. I particularly enjoyed recognizing aspects of my own childhood through Mara's eyes, which many adults forget. For example, when it's so important to her when adults really take notice and listen, and the difficult beginnings of transition from relating to her mother as child, to a more adult perspective. Highly recommended.
May 2, 2020
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
The whimsical nature of eleven year old Mara trying to avoid math problems and with a too curious nature by half is reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables. Mara’s ingenuity and boldness isn’t met with half so many disasters, but the problems Mara faces are no less dire, if not more so. An intriguing journey into adult problems, Mara navigates the threat of foreign invaders and a witch hunt that includes people in her own family. An enjoyable read, a well built world, and a raw picture of human nature that’s evocatively revealed in this tale.
The whimsical nature of eleven year old Mara trying to avoid math problems and with a too curious nature by half is reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables. Mara’s ingenuity and boldness isn’t met with half so many disasters, but the problems Mara faces are no less dire, if not more so. An intriguing journey into adult problems, Mara navigates the threat of foreign invaders and a witch hunt that includes people in her own family. An enjoyable read, a well built world, and a raw picture of human nature that’s evocatively revealed in this tale.
January 12, 2021
A powerful story about war and family. Life is rarely black and white, and Mara quickly learns this when war comes to her hometown. There are some uncomfortable things confronted in this book, first and foremost how life changes and how people adapt in times of war. Although set in a fantasy world, there isn’t magic (at least not the kind you would expect in a fantasy book). Mara is a smart, strong heroine, and I look forward to the second installment in the series.
May 28, 2021
Mara wrestles with complex questions of morality, politics, sociology, and statecraft, all at the ripe age of eleven. Kane's tale is highly substantive and engaging throughout.
March 5, 2023
An intriguing story that tackles some thorny subjects
November 12, 2020
In Witches of Crannock Dale, we meet Mara, a bright eleven year old girl whose life changes when her favorite aunt is accused of witchcraft. Determined to prove her innocence and save her, Mara stumbles onto a larger puzzle that could have implications for her town, her family, and even her life.
The character of Mara is a pleasure to get to know. She's very smart, and a strategic thinker, but just as we're a little too impressed with her cunning, something will happen to remind the reader (and Mara herself) that she's still a child. Mara's family also had great dynamics. So many books about bright, resourceful children have parents who are absent in some way. But Mara's parents are an active part of her life and her story. Through her adventures, Mara comes to recognize that they're people, flawed in some ways and admirable in others.
The author has a difficult task in this book: he has to tell his story through a child's perspective while still maintaining the reader's interest. It's admirable how he manages to do it.
The character of Mara is a pleasure to get to know. She's very smart, and a strategic thinker, but just as we're a little too impressed with her cunning, something will happen to remind the reader (and Mara herself) that she's still a child. Mara's family also had great dynamics. So many books about bright, resourceful children have parents who are absent in some way. But Mara's parents are an active part of her life and her story. Through her adventures, Mara comes to recognize that they're people, flawed in some ways and admirable in others.
The author has a difficult task in this book: he has to tell his story through a child's perspective while still maintaining the reader's interest. It's admirable how he manages to do it.
November 12, 2022
Mara is a young girl armed only with an eye for detail and a questioning nature. When her aunt is accused of witchcraft, Mara sets out to clear her name. Whilst Mara is a smart girl, through her naivety and inexperience readers never lose sight of the fact, she is a child. Whilst her efforts cause ripples, they also result in terrible mistakes that can't be fixed. No spoilers! Shaken, and with the threat of imminent war, coupled with her parent's grown up problems, Mara seeks to understand the workings of her world, restore her courage and find her voice. All without disappointing her family.
Such a multi-layered story, set in a close knit, fictional, rural town in a fascinating world rich in lore, political jostling and other conflict. Not everything is as orderly as appears. Full of unexpected developments from the perspective of an uncommon little girl, The Witches of Crannock Dale is well paced, intensely earnest when needed, and brilliantly written.
Such a multi-layered story, set in a close knit, fictional, rural town in a fascinating world rich in lore, political jostling and other conflict. Not everything is as orderly as appears. Full of unexpected developments from the perspective of an uncommon little girl, The Witches of Crannock Dale is well paced, intensely earnest when needed, and brilliantly written.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews