The Witch of Delft

by C. De Melo

Renowned healer, Lisbeth Vos, concocts a cunning revenge against her childhood friend, Hannah Brouwer, for a wrong committed decades ago. The audacious scheme requires a marriage between Lisbeth's granddaughter and Hannah's widowed son. Desperate for her grandmother's attention and approval, Mila agrees to wed a man she doesn't know. She begins entertaining doubts when Hannah proves to be a loving mother-in-law instead of the monster her grandmother had described. Mila is thinking and acting independently for the first time, going as far as initiating an illicit affair. Her refusal to commit a heinous act at Lisbeth's insistence results in shocking consequences. With danger looming on the horizon, Mila discovers powers that have lain dormant beneath her grandmother's oppressive shadow. Now, she must learn to use her gift and salvage her only chance at happiness. Holland's Golden Age comes to life in this suspenseful historical novel with a touch of magical realism.

Genres: Historical Fiction

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2020

About the author

I perform CPR on history & breathe life into the past...

Hello and welcome! After obtaining my Art History degree from UMASS Dartmouth in 2000, I was hired by an American university to coordinate educational programs throughout Italy. In 2007, I settled in Florence to work as a museum guide. I've been a full-time author since my first book (SABINA) hit #1 in 2014.

My specialty is historical fiction set in Italy, although I do write different genres. I'm a globetrotter and do my utmost to visit every city and historical site mentioned in my novels in order to provide readers with vibrant descriptions.

NOTE: Unfortunately, goodreads does not update book covers, so some of these here are outdated. Please visit my Amazon page by clicking this link: https://www.amazon.com/C.-De-Melo/e/B...

Reviews

[Laurean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable Ending

This is a soap opera or fairy tale plot, entertaining, yes, but lacking literary elements that make a book rich and memorable. This story could have been set almost anywhere, at any time period, as the details of 17th century Delft, Holland: streets, landmarks, clothing, customs, food preparation, language are mostly excluded. Even the food mentioned as beef stew, boiled cabbage, spice cake are generic. These details, and the obvious research required by the author, authenticate a historical novel. Re: Girl with the Pearl Earring, Tulip Fever, The Last Painting of Sara de Vos. I also missed the interesting details and explanations of herb healing or flower lore. These women were suppose to be healers but no healing, herb identification, growing, intricate preparation, and believable craft occurred, as in Ami McKay' s The Birth House. The scene of Lotte's abortion was as close as the author came to this element. The contemporary slang and expressions did not fit the time period or setting and were sprinkled throughout. This British one made me laugh: "Don't be daft, Mila." The melodramatic plot held my attention, I must say, on a hot, holiday, pandemic weekend, but to have been presented as a feminist novel of powerful female witches, it ended, not with Mila using her substantial skills and powers to create a life of her own but with Mila falling into the arms of the guy she'd been having sex with in the barn! Saved by her handsome knight on a black horse named Raven!!
I did love the picture on the cover.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

This story is set in 1692 Holland. The plot consists of a young woman raised under the heavy influence of her grandmother, a healer. She is betrothed to an older man as arranged by her grandmother and the man's own mother. The two elder women has grown up together as neighbors during their youth.

The characters are all described well enough, but the jargon seemed a bit modern. This is always a sticking point with me, though. So I was out off by it throughout the read.

The plot is interesting and creative. Nothing outstanding, but kept me reading.

[Judy King · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to get me started in a book -- tell me it has a healer that the townsfolk have labeled witch, and some supposed spells that are still troubling the family into the third generation and I'm there. If you place your witch/healer in Holland, I'll drop what I'm reading and where I'm going, and what I'm eating and what I'm watching on Netflix and do nothing else until I reach ....THE END.

Need Proof? Look at the dates -- I read this book in less than 24 hours. And That's a good review for a 5 star book!!

[Susan Chapek]

A quick, light page-turner which I opened because historical romances set in the 17th century are uncommon. I did wonder why she abruptly changed her mind and accepted the stranger's offer of a ride early on , but I was curious enough about the heroine's dilemma to read on and watch her solve it. Trigger warning for those who really can't stomach anachronistic language.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heart of this plot is a love story and romance is not my thing. Yet C. De Melo made this book so engaging that I didn’t want to put it down. I love all the little details woven into the story; they really transported me to 17th century Delft. Mila is immediately approachable as a character. She is a little innocent and yet she also has this little kernel of forbidden knowledge: witchcraft! Yet she is embarking on the next phase of her life – marriage. So all sorts of new possibilities are opening up for her.

So while the romance plot was immediately predictable, I wasn’t expecting where the whole witchcraft thing would take us. Mila quickly settles into her new home, having recently treated Hannah’s latest illness. Hannah’s son (Eddo? Eelke? I’ll just call him E) is immediately smitten with Mila, but he has a bit of a roaming eye, which causes some drama.

I really like that Mila isn’t just some housebound baby-making machine. She’s got her healing herbs training (which runs in the family) and now she’s learning how to brew beer! Ah, to be a witchy alewife in 1692 Holland! But not all is tulips and warm goat milk; Mila’s grandmother (Lisbeth Vos) is interfering in her life. The plot slowly reveals Lisbeth’s true motives (which are described in the book blurb).

Ultimately, Lisbeth is the true villain of this tale but it’s not readily apparent from the beginning. I liked that it slowly became clear. She’s willing to use anyone as a game piece to attain her vengeance on Hannah, who she believes stole her one true love (Henrik) all those years ago. I did feel sorry for Mila’s mother, who was very meek. I wish the story had filled her out more, giving her more to do with the plot or at least more of a character. She’s just kind of a cowed woman, constantly belittled by her own mother (Lisbeth). Any woman could have stood in for this part.

Towards the end, things were looking pretty bleak for Mila. She’s in deep trouble and family, friends, and lover all turn their faces away from her. I was sure this was going to end on a low point. But there’s an unexpected twist at the end and I loved how it brought everything about. The story left me feeling satisfied and that some bit of justice was meted out. 4/5 stars.

The Narration: Tanya Eby is the reason I gave this book a shot because I like her narrations. She doesn’t disappoint with this narration. She has the perfect voice for Mila, that of a young lady venturing into the next part of her life. I also really liked her crabby old lady voice for Lisbeth Vos. Her male voices were believable and she had enough variety in voices to keep all the characters separate. The pacing was good and there were no tech issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are 100% my own.

[Heather Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting book I stumbled upon through the Kindle books. I love reading about witches and the supernatural all the time, but I did not expect this to take place in a different country. I enjoy learning about the Salem Witch Trials, but at least this book presented a more riveting account from early European villages. I always wondered if the hunt for blaming women was different as the accounts in Salem, but it was interesting to see how this story panned out. The Witch of Delft was a very interesting story about the social prejudices and manipulation of power hungry women. I do think though that the story line for the grandmother could have been better because we did not get much of an account about her life in Delft besides what her cousin talked about. I think it would have been interesting to have a flashback scene from her time an Delft and then maybe more about her overall life. It was a short read, but nevertheless, it kept my attention throughout the book.

[Augustina Biosic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and easy to read. I read it in a couple of days. Likeable characters, even the evil Grandmother; she has a goal and is being persistent until the end. I liked the fact that Mila, unbeknown to her, is a true witch. From the beginning you know that Stefan and Mila will end up together but you want to keep reading until you reach the end of their love story. I like the reference to Johannes Vermeer (one of my favorite painters), his wife Catharina and her mother; a true to life real family that lived in Delft at that time. Also the fact that it was set at the time of Holland's Golden Era. It is a fictional novel with traces of historical descriptions of the lives of people and description of the City of Delft and Amsterdam.

[robert johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here characters may water down the beer, but she waters down the term "historical" criminally.

Two stars because at least it was over quickly.
This was just a quick jaunt in a tale of tawdry adultery that just happened to take place several centuries ago. The characters were one dimensional and boring. The main character had little, it anything, to do with being a witch and her interactions with other characters were predictable.
I wouldn't bother, if I were you.

[T.A. Bound]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is one I began as part of my #IndieApril reading, but ended up reading several books simultaneously, so did not finish during April.

When I started it, I didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be more romance than I anticipated, not a bad thing. An entertaining journey to 17th Century Delft with a few cameo appearances, which were fun. All in all, a great, light read that will keep the pages turning.

[Michelle Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch out for grandma

Really a very entertaining book. An old women's vengeance against her childhood rival becomes a poison for everyone close to her. Love this author,but am finding her endings are a little too flowery for my taste. Still isn't going to stop me from reading her books though.

[Cathy Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abruptly over

So much care was taken to develop the characters at the beginning or the book that when the end came, and it came so quickly and without real warning, I was left wanting more character building in the middle of the book. There was so much room for expansion of the characters, and that wasn’t done,, what would have been important mo longer is.

[Kevin Donaghy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Enjoyed the book so much I read it in one day! I wasn't sure how I felt about the main character at first but after I got to know her better I ended up liking her very much. I can't get enough of your books , looking forward to the next!

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy Read

I chose this rating because the book was entertaining and an easy read. My only complaint is that the ending is typical and ends rather abruptly.

[H. L. Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow developing

Characters and plot are slow in development. When she wins the handsome man, it's over. Set in puritanical town of Delft.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better books I've read in awhile. Kept me interested and up late into the night.