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The Winter Sisters
Dr. Waycross knows bleeding and blistering, the best scientific medicine of 1822. He arrives in the Georgia mountains to bring his modern methods to the superstitious masses.
But the local healers, the Winter sisters, claim to treat yellow fever, consumption, and the hell-roarin' trots just as well as he can. Some folks call the sisters herb women; some call them witches. Waycross calls them quacks. But when the threat of rabies--incurable and fatal--comes to town,
Dr. Waycross and the Winter sisters must combine their science and superstition in a desperate search for a remedy. Can they find a miracle cure, or has the age of miracles passed?
But the local healers, the Winter sisters, claim to treat yellow fever, consumption, and the hell-roarin' trots just as well as he can. Some folks call the sisters herb women; some call them witches. Waycross calls them quacks. But when the threat of rabies--incurable and fatal--comes to town,
Dr. Waycross and the Winter sisters must combine their science and superstition in a desperate search for a remedy. Can they find a miracle cure, or has the age of miracles passed?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2019
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June 30, 2020Fortunately, books are good food for thought because the time has come for me to eat my words. Back in January, Publishers Weekly and its indie authors website BookLife launched a contest to honor the best self-published novel in America. Having seen the industry prey on the naivete of many terrible self-published authors for years, I was deeply skeptical. But BookLife president Carl Pritzkat promised me that indie writers had grown savvier and more talented. “There have always been great self-published books,” he said, “and the percentage of great self-published books is going up every year.” Well, I said somewhat ungraciously, we’ll see.
Wednesday night, at a virtual ceremony during the American Library Association’s annual conference, the inaugural U.S. Selfies Book Prize was awarded to “The Winter Sisters,” by Tim Westover. I regret to inform you that it’s pretty damn good. The story takes place in 1822 in Lawrenceville, Ga. A young medical doctor named Aubrey Waycross has been lured to this backwater town on false pretenses to care for victims of rabies. He finds instead a village deeply split between a pompous minister and three sisters — possibly witches — who work as herbal healers. Dr. Waycross, who’s very handy with ether, plans to demonstrate the superiority of science; the villagers assume that amputation is his go-to treatment. Westover draws this historical setting with rich period detail. His characters are engaging and dynamic. The tensions between early 19th-century medicine, feminine wisdom and spiritual healing are fascinating. “The Winter Sisters” may not sport the stylistic elegance and thematic daring that I’d want from the very best novel of the year, but it’s certainly convincing proof that indie books can be as fine and enjoyable as most of what’s commercially published.
The Selfie prize comes with $1,000 cash and $7,500 worth of marketing and advertising. But Westover is already doing well on that front. He's donating his revenue from “The Winter Sisters” to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which so far has come to about $50,000! He’s just as generous as he is talented.
Wednesday night, at a virtual ceremony during the American Library Association’s annual conference, the inaugural U.S. Selfies Book Prize was awarded to “The Winter Sisters,” by Tim Westover. I regret to inform you that it’s pretty damn good. The story takes place in 1822 in Lawrenceville, Ga. A young medical doctor named Aubrey Waycross has been lured to this backwater town on false pretenses to care for victims of rabies. He finds instead a village deeply split between a pompous minister and three sisters — possibly witches — who work as herbal healers. Dr. Waycross, who’s very handy with ether, plans to demonstrate the superiority of science; the villagers assume that amputation is his go-to treatment. Westover draws this historical setting with rich period detail. His characters are engaging and dynamic. The tensions between early 19th-century medicine, feminine wisdom and spiritual healing are fascinating. “The Winter Sisters” may not sport the stylistic elegance and thematic daring that I’d want from the very best novel of the year, but it’s certainly convincing proof that indie books can be as fine and enjoyable as most of what’s commercially published.
The Selfie prize comes with $1,000 cash and $7,500 worth of marketing and advertising. But Westover is already doing well on that front. He's donating his revenue from “The Winter Sisters” to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which so far has come to about $50,000! He’s just as generous as he is talented.
January 23, 2020
3.5 stars!
What a quirky, fun historical! Dr. Waycross is a doctor in Georgia in 1822. He’s arrived in the mountains to bring his medicine there, knowing that these are among the most superstitious people around.
The Winter Sisters are the local healers, and they already can cure the ailments of the day, including consumption and yellow fever. Some people think the sisters are witches.
When rabies comes to the mountains, Dr. Waycross and the sisters have to bring medicine and superstition together to save lives.
My favorite aspect of the novel was all the clever, funny bits. It was also an interesting time and place, and I especially loved the sisters and how they took care of the people in the community. The early practices of medicine by Dr. Waycross were also fascinating.
Overall, The Winter Sisters is an engaging, informative, and entertaining story. I’d love to hear more from the sisters in the future!
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
What a quirky, fun historical! Dr. Waycross is a doctor in Georgia in 1822. He’s arrived in the mountains to bring his medicine there, knowing that these are among the most superstitious people around.
The Winter Sisters are the local healers, and they already can cure the ailments of the day, including consumption and yellow fever. Some people think the sisters are witches.
When rabies comes to the mountains, Dr. Waycross and the sisters have to bring medicine and superstition together to save lives.
My favorite aspect of the novel was all the clever, funny bits. It was also an interesting time and place, and I especially loved the sisters and how they took care of the people in the community. The early practices of medicine by Dr. Waycross were also fascinating.
Overall, The Winter Sisters is an engaging, informative, and entertaining story. I’d love to hear more from the sisters in the future!
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
January 24, 2020
I never knew I would enjoy a Historical Fiction read with fantasy and magical realism as much! Westover is such a creative writer that was able to transport the reader into this world - the lush Georgia landscape with its intricate and vivid details of the southern frontier and fantastical world of magic and spells.
The year is 1822 and Dr Aubrey Waycross and the Winter Sisters of Hope Hollow are pit against each other as modern medicine and local herbal remedies were tested against each other.
Westover’s characters were a joy to read about. His brilliant writing and creativity in writing this haunting tale, kept my interest and had me turning those pages into the wee hours of the night. What a fantastic story!
I highly recommend this engrossing and engaging read!
The year is 1822 and Dr Aubrey Waycross and the Winter Sisters of Hope Hollow are pit against each other as modern medicine and local herbal remedies were tested against each other.
Westover’s characters were a joy to read about. His brilliant writing and creativity in writing this haunting tale, kept my interest and had me turning those pages into the wee hours of the night. What a fantastic story!
I highly recommend this engrossing and engaging read!
January 9, 2020
Review to follow for blog tour.
December 8, 2020
(Special thanks to NetGalley and Qw Publishers for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
This novel is the exact embodiment of what I want in a book: the story is intriguing, concrete and well-balanced, a work of fiction based on historical facts, the characters are unique and lovable. We have love, we have action, we have fun and all in an ideal dosage that does not tire the reader out. I want to congratulate the author for balancing a great novel on a thin rope.
The Winter Sisters tells the story of a doctor, who is lured to a town thinking he would entreat patients with rabies but instead he finds himself among people, who are as healthy as an ox but just as ignorant.
They believe in charms, ointments, magical waters offered by the Winter Sisters and hecklers who provide them a medicine show every once in a while to sell potions wth weird names. Having spent all his money travelling to this forgotten part of the world without an imminent escape, the doctor starts discovering the town and undertake the mission of directing the attention of the townsfolk towards hippocratic medicine and positive science (by positive science, don’t expect something complicated though, it’s mid 1800s for God’s sake, the most advanced method is bleeding the patient by opening up some woulds to let the infected/dirty/excessive blood and getting high on ether for fun.)
A civilized, educated western man amongst common people, trying to persuade them that witches and magic do not exist. Will he accomplish his goal or lower his guard to let the magic leak into his spirit, changing his core beliefs? This is a great read for the lovers of the genre.
This novel is the exact embodiment of what I want in a book: the story is intriguing, concrete and well-balanced, a work of fiction based on historical facts, the characters are unique and lovable. We have love, we have action, we have fun and all in an ideal dosage that does not tire the reader out. I want to congratulate the author for balancing a great novel on a thin rope.
The Winter Sisters tells the story of a doctor, who is lured to a town thinking he would entreat patients with rabies but instead he finds himself among people, who are as healthy as an ox but just as ignorant.
They believe in charms, ointments, magical waters offered by the Winter Sisters and hecklers who provide them a medicine show every once in a while to sell potions wth weird names. Having spent all his money travelling to this forgotten part of the world without an imminent escape, the doctor starts discovering the town and undertake the mission of directing the attention of the townsfolk towards hippocratic medicine and positive science (by positive science, don’t expect something complicated though, it’s mid 1800s for God’s sake, the most advanced method is bleeding the patient by opening up some woulds to let the infected/dirty/excessive blood and getting high on ether for fun.)
A civilized, educated western man amongst common people, trying to persuade them that witches and magic do not exist. Will he accomplish his goal or lower his guard to let the magic leak into his spirit, changing his core beliefs? This is a great read for the lovers of the genre.
September 3, 2019
Although the premise was what brought me to this book, I felt that it could have been executed better. I really liked the Winter sisters as characters, and found them fascinating. If the book was told only from their point of view, I feel like I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
The Winter Sisters follows three sisters living on the outskirts of a frontier town in Georgia, America in 1822. They're successful healers, but all three have some varying degree of supernatural abilities when it comes to healing. Rebecca, the eldest, uses the science of the day to back up her techniques, Sarah, the middle sister, uses psychology to heal - using peoples superstition and folk beliefs in a way that her patients will believe and go with her prescriptions. Effie is the youngest sister, and her healing is pure magic, she just needs to stand in a room with you to heal you of anything (including death).
Due to previous goings on, the sisters are exiled from the town to a cabin in the woods. Part of what I enjoyed with this book is the total hypocrisy of those in town. They were happy to go to the sisters for help when they were sick or injured, but when circumstances change against the sisters through no fault of their own, the townspeople change and begin what can only be described as a witch hunting riot.
The only element I didn't like was following the town's new doctor. Dr Aubrey Waycross was a little too pompous in my opinion, and he just came across a little wrong to me. There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn't get on with his character. Sadly, following his point of view took up most of the book.
The layout of the e-book was a little strange to me as there wasn't any page break or sign that the point of view was changing from the sisters in third person, to the doctor in first. This was a little jarring for a while before I got into the swing of things, about 30% of the way in.
Although it saddened me that I didn't love this book, I did find it incredibly interesting, and would recommend it, if slow, character driven historical fiction is your cup of tea.
Trigger warnings; body gore - injuries and antiquated healing techniques such as blood letting, addictive drug use, and death of an animal on page.
The Winter Sisters follows three sisters living on the outskirts of a frontier town in Georgia, America in 1822. They're successful healers, but all three have some varying degree of supernatural abilities when it comes to healing. Rebecca, the eldest, uses the science of the day to back up her techniques, Sarah, the middle sister, uses psychology to heal - using peoples superstition and folk beliefs in a way that her patients will believe and go with her prescriptions. Effie is the youngest sister, and her healing is pure magic, she just needs to stand in a room with you to heal you of anything (including death).
Due to previous goings on, the sisters are exiled from the town to a cabin in the woods. Part of what I enjoyed with this book is the total hypocrisy of those in town. They were happy to go to the sisters for help when they were sick or injured, but when circumstances change against the sisters through no fault of their own, the townspeople change and begin what can only be described as a witch hunting riot.
The only element I didn't like was following the town's new doctor. Dr Aubrey Waycross was a little too pompous in my opinion, and he just came across a little wrong to me. There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn't get on with his character. Sadly, following his point of view took up most of the book.
The layout of the e-book was a little strange to me as there wasn't any page break or sign that the point of view was changing from the sisters in third person, to the doctor in first. This was a little jarring for a while before I got into the swing of things, about 30% of the way in.
Although it saddened me that I didn't love this book, I did find it incredibly interesting, and would recommend it, if slow, character driven historical fiction is your cup of tea.
Trigger warnings; body gore - injuries and antiquated healing techniques such as blood letting, addictive drug use, and death of an animal on page.
January 11, 2020
This was a humorous read. It was a little bit slow for me, I had a pretty hard time focusing. But it might be just me and my opinion. You should give it a try and see what your thoughts are on it. I gave this book 3 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
November 11, 2019
I received a free electronic copy on August 26, 2019, of this ARC from Netgalley, Tim Westover, and QW Publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this historical novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my personal, honest opinion of this work. The Winter Sisters is an especially compelling tale. There is a little history, a little SiFi, a little medical lore, a lot of herbal, native American, and even Creole approaches to healing, one persistent medicine man, a bit of drug abuse, a little romance, and a really good mystery between the pages of this very BIG novel.
Three orphaned sisters nearing or touching adulthood - Rebecca, Sarah, and Effie Winters -find themselves ostracized in their hometown in 1822. Their mother was a renowned herbalist and more, who taught her daughters all she knew. The daughters do the best they can, trying to help others with their skills, maintaining their gardens and herbal beds and replenishing their supplies of needed wild herbs from the woods as they reach maturity despite the rumors of a giant black leopard and the presence of rabies. Each of the girls seems to have a different, special calling. Together they are very good at what they do. Due to hydrophobia spreading from an unknown source into the local community dogs, everyone else is afraid to travel through the woods even to closely outlying farms, so the girls gathered up supplies and moved temporarily to the only empty cabin in Lawrenceville so the community didn't have to brave the woods to attain medical help. Unfortunately, their continued persistence, seen as fearlessness, in gathering the roots, seeds, mosses, etc from those dangerous woods is yet another mark against them in the eyes of the community.
The local preacher burned them out and ran the sisters back to the Hope Hollow family farm following a fire in the community. Lead and fed by Pastor Boatwright, rumors of witchcraft and spirits and monsters convinced the citizens of Lawrenceville that the fire at the local mill may have been the doings of the Winter girls, and despite the community dependence on the sisters for medical help and Rebecca's engagement to the mill owners' son - and the only casualty of the mill fire - they want the girls gone. Of course, leopards are never going to be found in Georgia - but witches and shades could call it home and witches have familiars. Everybody knows somebody who has seen the rabid leopard. It must be real.
Lawrenceville Mayor Richardson hires sight unseen a young new Hippocratic doctor certified by the Georgia Medical Society to come to fill the gap left by the expelled sisters. In 1822 most prescribed medical cures were handled by bleeding, blistering, amputation, and/or enemas, and despite his youth and level of diagnostic inexperience, Dr. Aubrey Waycross felt adequate to handle the job, and because as a boy he lost his beloved older sister to rabies, he was compelled to take this job in an isolated community suffering from this always-fatal disease. Perhaps with his new skills, he can discover a cure. He surely does understand the symptoms of rabies.
Having now no vacant housing in the town of Lawrenceville, the office and housing provided by the community for young, penniless Dr. Westover are in the barn of the local boarding house. He spends most days with just the company of the community pigs, as the locals are afraid of him and totally sold on the Winter girls' cures for all that ails them. They would rather do without than trust this purveyor of modern medicine. Aubrey eventually persuades the Winter sisters to move back to town and help him with his practice, combining his Hippocratic teachings with their herbal lore. The boarding house has a room they will grudgingly let the ladies have, and Aubrey is willing to share his office with the girls though it is already overfull with his bits and pieces, books, and resident pigs. Maybe, between them all, they can find a way to survive rabies. Unfortunately, they have patients to try to cure. But with even that goal attained will the community learn to accept the Winter Sisters? Or Dr. Westover? And what is going to burn down next?
pub date August 6, 2019
received August 25, 2019
QW Publishers
Reviewed on October 13, 2019, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, and BookBub. Not available at Kobo or GooglePlay.
Three orphaned sisters nearing or touching adulthood - Rebecca, Sarah, and Effie Winters -find themselves ostracized in their hometown in 1822. Their mother was a renowned herbalist and more, who taught her daughters all she knew. The daughters do the best they can, trying to help others with their skills, maintaining their gardens and herbal beds and replenishing their supplies of needed wild herbs from the woods as they reach maturity despite the rumors of a giant black leopard and the presence of rabies. Each of the girls seems to have a different, special calling. Together they are very good at what they do. Due to hydrophobia spreading from an unknown source into the local community dogs, everyone else is afraid to travel through the woods even to closely outlying farms, so the girls gathered up supplies and moved temporarily to the only empty cabin in Lawrenceville so the community didn't have to brave the woods to attain medical help. Unfortunately, their continued persistence, seen as fearlessness, in gathering the roots, seeds, mosses, etc from those dangerous woods is yet another mark against them in the eyes of the community.
The local preacher burned them out and ran the sisters back to the Hope Hollow family farm following a fire in the community. Lead and fed by Pastor Boatwright, rumors of witchcraft and spirits and monsters convinced the citizens of Lawrenceville that the fire at the local mill may have been the doings of the Winter girls, and despite the community dependence on the sisters for medical help and Rebecca's engagement to the mill owners' son - and the only casualty of the mill fire - they want the girls gone. Of course, leopards are never going to be found in Georgia - but witches and shades could call it home and witches have familiars. Everybody knows somebody who has seen the rabid leopard. It must be real.
Lawrenceville Mayor Richardson hires sight unseen a young new Hippocratic doctor certified by the Georgia Medical Society to come to fill the gap left by the expelled sisters. In 1822 most prescribed medical cures were handled by bleeding, blistering, amputation, and/or enemas, and despite his youth and level of diagnostic inexperience, Dr. Aubrey Waycross felt adequate to handle the job, and because as a boy he lost his beloved older sister to rabies, he was compelled to take this job in an isolated community suffering from this always-fatal disease. Perhaps with his new skills, he can discover a cure. He surely does understand the symptoms of rabies.
Having now no vacant housing in the town of Lawrenceville, the office and housing provided by the community for young, penniless Dr. Westover are in the barn of the local boarding house. He spends most days with just the company of the community pigs, as the locals are afraid of him and totally sold on the Winter girls' cures for all that ails them. They would rather do without than trust this purveyor of modern medicine. Aubrey eventually persuades the Winter sisters to move back to town and help him with his practice, combining his Hippocratic teachings with their herbal lore. The boarding house has a room they will grudgingly let the ladies have, and Aubrey is willing to share his office with the girls though it is already overfull with his bits and pieces, books, and resident pigs. Maybe, between them all, they can find a way to survive rabies. Unfortunately, they have patients to try to cure. But with even that goal attained will the community learn to accept the Winter Sisters? Or Dr. Westover? And what is going to burn down next?
pub date August 6, 2019
received August 25, 2019
QW Publishers
Reviewed on October 13, 2019, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, and BookBub. Not available at Kobo or GooglePlay.
September 15, 2019
Three sister, exiled to the woods of a small Georgia town, are the 'healers' of a community. With some supernatural elements - as well as science of the time/day, the sisters are well known in the community. As time and circumstance changes - as well as the attitude of the community, the sisters find themselves the target of a glorified witch hunt.
The Winter Sister would be a great book....if it was only about the sisters. The addition of a new town doctor as another plot but honestly was it was more annoying than helpful.
Still, it was a nice way to start the fall season.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
The Winter Sister would be a great book....if it was only about the sisters. The addition of a new town doctor as another plot but honestly was it was more annoying than helpful.
Still, it was a nice way to start the fall season.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
January 29, 2020
Synopsis: Folklore, medicine, witches, and superstition in the Georgia mountains. Dr. Waycross knows bleeding and blistering, the best scientific medicine of 1822. He arrives in the Georgia mountains to bring his modern methods to the superstitious masses. But the local healers, the Winter sisters, claim to treat yellow fever, consumption, and the hell-roarin' trots just as well as he can. Some folks call the sisters herb women; some call them witches. Waycross calls them quacks. But when the threat of rabies—incurable and fatal—comes to town, Dr. Waycross and the Winter sisters must combine their science and superstition in a desperate search for a remedy. Can they find a miracle cure, or has the age of miracles passed?
Review: The medicinal practices of the 1800s were absolutely fascinating to read about, and they were completely cringeworthy at times as well. The Winter Sisters added a layer of mystery to the story. There is even a little 1800s romance in this book. Add in some fantasy and a sprinkle of magical realism, and you have a very interesting book. I was intrigued by the premise of the story, and as we were introduced to each of the characters, the intrigue grew. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but it surprised me in the best kind of way. The mentality of the townspeople was also very interesting, and at times, humorous and quirky. If you are looking for a unique read, I would recommend this one! Thank you @suzyapprovedbookreviews @suzyapprovedbooktours @timwestover for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this book!
Review: The medicinal practices of the 1800s were absolutely fascinating to read about, and they were completely cringeworthy at times as well. The Winter Sisters added a layer of mystery to the story. There is even a little 1800s romance in this book. Add in some fantasy and a sprinkle of magical realism, and you have a very interesting book. I was intrigued by the premise of the story, and as we were introduced to each of the characters, the intrigue grew. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but it surprised me in the best kind of way. The mentality of the townspeople was also very interesting, and at times, humorous and quirky. If you are looking for a unique read, I would recommend this one! Thank you @suzyapprovedbookreviews @suzyapprovedbooktours @timwestover for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this book!
May 25, 2020
Before anything else I just want to say this book has lovely writing. The Winter Sisters is a quaint historical fiction with an undercurrent of magical realism. The style and prose is literary, heavy, and very devoted to evoking a historic era (a small, remote village in the wild west of early 1900s America) with vivid atmosphere. From the title I imagined a frigid winter, but this is actually a very spring/summer-y book with descriptions of picturesque and natural environments.
The vocabulary is quite wide, at times a bit much. I read some of this book as a physical version and some digitally via Kindle Unlimited and for people who have a Kindle and like using word wise and vocabulary builder, I added around 90+ words to my builder while reading this book and still had a smooth overall experience. Fans of literary fiction and especially classics would be more drawn to this tale, I think. Readers who already have a vested interest in medical topics, medicine, and folklore/folk medicine might also find a lot to like here.
The protagonist and guiding voice of this tale is Dr. Waycross, a (young?) doctor who has just moved to a backwoods village. The inhabitants are at risk of contracting disease (a pandemic, even) from a rabies-addled panther who roams the nearby woods. Waycross's sister passed away with rabies-like symptoms and he's determined to save the people of this quaint town from destruction. Dwelling on the outskirts are three women who had been driven out of town and are assumed to be witches. They quietly serve passersby with tonics and mystical remedies. Waycross initially views these women as his adversaries but he soon changes his mind. Or rather, opens his mind and becomes maybe even a bit enchanted by the unexplainable miracles they perform. Along the way, medical science collides with mysticism in this largely wholesome and pleasant storyline.
The sisters are distinct from one another and worthwhile characters. Rebecca is the oldest and shares a similarly sad back story with Dr. Waycross. She is also the most mature of the lot. Sarah is witty and has a demeanor that is equal parts sarcastic and playful. Effie, the youngest, is curiously the most wise and poetic of the sisters. She contributes much of the mystery and magical realism present in this title.
Some other things I found appealing- Dr. Waycross is studious and places all of his faith in science, but reading this book in 2020 one can see how some of the methods he uses have been debunked or considered outdated. This creates a sort of irony as he looks down on more mystic types of medicine that are equally questionable. There is also an appealing contrast between Waycross's seriousness and the magical, sometimes humorous and unexplainable moments. Now for downsides, his rigidity can make the book read as rigid. I was more interested in the sisters. While the writing flows well enough for me, the repetitions of the plot can get tiresome. People have ailments, Waycross and/or the sisters attend to them, rinse and repeat. Few of the townspeople stand out. But the overarching story is solidly interesting. Unique qualities plus impressive writing also made for more good than bad.
Disclosure : I received a copy of this book for review.
The vocabulary is quite wide, at times a bit much. I read some of this book as a physical version and some digitally via Kindle Unlimited and for people who have a Kindle and like using word wise and vocabulary builder, I added around 90+ words to my builder while reading this book and still had a smooth overall experience. Fans of literary fiction and especially classics would be more drawn to this tale, I think. Readers who already have a vested interest in medical topics, medicine, and folklore/folk medicine might also find a lot to like here.
The protagonist and guiding voice of this tale is Dr. Waycross, a (young?) doctor who has just moved to a backwoods village. The inhabitants are at risk of contracting disease (a pandemic, even) from a rabies-addled panther who roams the nearby woods. Waycross's sister passed away with rabies-like symptoms and he's determined to save the people of this quaint town from destruction. Dwelling on the outskirts are three women who had been driven out of town and are assumed to be witches. They quietly serve passersby with tonics and mystical remedies. Waycross initially views these women as his adversaries but he soon changes his mind. Or rather, opens his mind and becomes maybe even a bit enchanted by the unexplainable miracles they perform. Along the way, medical science collides with mysticism in this largely wholesome and pleasant storyline.
The sisters are distinct from one another and worthwhile characters. Rebecca is the oldest and shares a similarly sad back story with Dr. Waycross. She is also the most mature of the lot. Sarah is witty and has a demeanor that is equal parts sarcastic and playful. Effie, the youngest, is curiously the most wise and poetic of the sisters. She contributes much of the mystery and magical realism present in this title.
Some other things I found appealing- Dr. Waycross is studious and places all of his faith in science, but reading this book in 2020 one can see how some of the methods he uses have been debunked or considered outdated. This creates a sort of irony as he looks down on more mystic types of medicine that are equally questionable. There is also an appealing contrast between Waycross's seriousness and the magical, sometimes humorous and unexplainable moments. Now for downsides, his rigidity can make the book read as rigid. I was more interested in the sisters. While the writing flows well enough for me, the repetitions of the plot can get tiresome. People have ailments, Waycross and/or the sisters attend to them, rinse and repeat. Few of the townspeople stand out. But the overarching story is solidly interesting. Unique qualities plus impressive writing also made for more good than bad.
Disclosure : I received a copy of this book for review.
February 6, 2020
Panthers, and Witches, and Rabies – Oh My!
There might not be a wizard in this one but there’s definitely a bit of magic and a host of quirky characters.
The Winter Sisters is a FUN read. The prose is clever, the conversation is snarky, and the story takes you into a world of medicine, healing, and folklore, while introducing you to a host of peculiar personalities.
It’s 1822 in Lawrenceville, GA and there’s a rabies epidemic in the small mountain town. The pastor has summoned Dr. Waycross to come take care of the community in the traditional, medicinal way, after he has driven the only “healers” they’ve ever known out of town. The Winter sisters, who he believes to be witches, practice some unconventional methods including crushed herb concoctions, nails in skulls, and moldy bread pressed on wounds. But the town loves the sisters – and wants nothing to do with Waycross and his “scientific” bloodletting and amputating saw.
As he gets to know the “witches” and learns of their techniques and traditions, they decide to combine forces to try to heal the town and those with this incurable fatal affliction – but it’s looking like they might need a miracle.
The story is quite imaginative with just a touch of whimsy, a dash of magic and a handful of humor, and is guaranteed to lift an ailing spirit.
There might not be a wizard in this one but there’s definitely a bit of magic and a host of quirky characters.
The Winter Sisters is a FUN read. The prose is clever, the conversation is snarky, and the story takes you into a world of medicine, healing, and folklore, while introducing you to a host of peculiar personalities.
It’s 1822 in Lawrenceville, GA and there’s a rabies epidemic in the small mountain town. The pastor has summoned Dr. Waycross to come take care of the community in the traditional, medicinal way, after he has driven the only “healers” they’ve ever known out of town. The Winter sisters, who he believes to be witches, practice some unconventional methods including crushed herb concoctions, nails in skulls, and moldy bread pressed on wounds. But the town loves the sisters – and wants nothing to do with Waycross and his “scientific” bloodletting and amputating saw.
As he gets to know the “witches” and learns of their techniques and traditions, they decide to combine forces to try to heal the town and those with this incurable fatal affliction – but it’s looking like they might need a miracle.
The story is quite imaginative with just a touch of whimsy, a dash of magic and a handful of humor, and is guaranteed to lift an ailing spirit.
September 23, 2019
3.5 Stars
An enjoyable and humorous read about Dr. Waycross who is lured to a small town in the Georgia Mountains in 19th century under false pretences that a rabies outbreak is plaguing the town. When he arrives rumours run rampant that there is a panther on the loose and 3 local healers known as the Winter Sisters are witches who cast spells and wreck havoc amongst the town folk. When Dr. Waycross begins to understand that the sisters heal by means of herbs and natural methods he imparts the sisters to join forces against the narrow minded pastor and people of the town.
An enjoyable and humorous read about Dr. Waycross who is lured to a small town in the Georgia Mountains in 19th century under false pretences that a rabies outbreak is plaguing the town. When he arrives rumours run rampant that there is a panther on the loose and 3 local healers known as the Winter Sisters are witches who cast spells and wreck havoc amongst the town folk. When Dr. Waycross begins to understand that the sisters heal by means of herbs and natural methods he imparts the sisters to join forces against the narrow minded pastor and people of the town.
January 30, 2020
As a scientist, I am always fascinated by the fine line that blurs science and magic in stories; especially historical fiction. For that reason, I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of The Winter Sisters.
The book takes place in the small town of Lawrenceville in 1822. The Winter sisters have a reputation for being witches. Their family has inhabited Lawrenceville long before the first settlers. They tend to keep to themselves in their home in the forest outside of town, however, the townsfolk are known to pop by when they need a poultice or tonic to rid them of some current ailment.
Dr. Avery Waycross arrives on the scene because the mayor realizes that a doctor is needed in order for the town to qualify for the county seat. Quickly, it becomes clear to Avery that the townsfolk aren’t so keen on seeking his services since everyone assumes that doctors with fancy diplomas just want to cut people open and cut off limbs. No thanks. Unfortunately for Avery, he soon realizes that he has to band together with the sisters if they are to get to the bottom of the mysterious rabies cases that are plaguing the town.
This was a slow-burn mystery that had a dash of magical elements and some humor as well. I found the Winter sisters very intriguing, and I definitely wish we got more of their story line. Avery was the quintessential educated male that thought he couldn’t learn a thing or two, so I appreciated his character’s mindset being challenged as the story progressed.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
The book takes place in the small town of Lawrenceville in 1822. The Winter sisters have a reputation for being witches. Their family has inhabited Lawrenceville long before the first settlers. They tend to keep to themselves in their home in the forest outside of town, however, the townsfolk are known to pop by when they need a poultice or tonic to rid them of some current ailment.
Dr. Avery Waycross arrives on the scene because the mayor realizes that a doctor is needed in order for the town to qualify for the county seat. Quickly, it becomes clear to Avery that the townsfolk aren’t so keen on seeking his services since everyone assumes that doctors with fancy diplomas just want to cut people open and cut off limbs. No thanks. Unfortunately for Avery, he soon realizes that he has to band together with the sisters if they are to get to the bottom of the mysterious rabies cases that are plaguing the town.
This was a slow-burn mystery that had a dash of magical elements and some humor as well. I found the Winter sisters very intriguing, and I definitely wish we got more of their story line. Avery was the quintessential educated male that thought he couldn’t learn a thing or two, so I appreciated his character’s mindset being challenged as the story progressed.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
October 14, 2019
1811 in the mountains of northern Georgia, three sisters stand upon a bare mountain plateau. These women are the Winter sisters. They are using wax to try to determine their futures.
Ten years later, the Winter sisters are no longer living in the village. The new Preacher has succeeded in turning some of the townspeople against them, successfully running them out of town.
The Winter sisters are sometimes called healers and sometimes called witches, it depends on the person who is speaking, and also who might be listening.
The sisters might be young, but they know herbal remedies for most ailments and have ministered to the residents of their small frontier town for years.
When the town recruits a doctor from the city, he arrives ready to educate these backwater hicks as to how science and the latest techniques of medicine will cure all their ills.
However, when he arrives and keeps hearing about the Winter sisters and their supposed cures, he sets out to discredit them.
What happens next surprises the doctor, the Winter sisters and everyone reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that you are unable to predict what will happen at any given moment in this story. It kept me guessing, which is rare.
THE WINTER SISTERS is a fabulous book with terrific characters and a story that will stay with you long after the final page.
The descriptions both of people's lives and of the sceney and setting are so vivid that readers can picture tem so clearly it is almost as if you create a movie in your head as to how everything looks.
I rate this book as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram at:
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
Ten years later, the Winter sisters are no longer living in the village. The new Preacher has succeeded in turning some of the townspeople against them, successfully running them out of town.
The Winter sisters are sometimes called healers and sometimes called witches, it depends on the person who is speaking, and also who might be listening.
The sisters might be young, but they know herbal remedies for most ailments and have ministered to the residents of their small frontier town for years.
When the town recruits a doctor from the city, he arrives ready to educate these backwater hicks as to how science and the latest techniques of medicine will cure all their ills.
However, when he arrives and keeps hearing about the Winter sisters and their supposed cures, he sets out to discredit them.
What happens next surprises the doctor, the Winter sisters and everyone reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that you are unable to predict what will happen at any given moment in this story. It kept me guessing, which is rare.
THE WINTER SISTERS is a fabulous book with terrific characters and a story that will stay with you long after the final page.
The descriptions both of people's lives and of the sceney and setting are so vivid that readers can picture tem so clearly it is almost as if you create a movie in your head as to how everything looks.
I rate this book as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram at:
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
January 12, 2020
The Winter Sisters is an inviting read with a unique storyline. The Georgia Appalachian setting is the perfect location to find holistic healers, medicine shows with a banjo strumming salesman, and simple country folk willing to believe in magic cures. Lawrenceville, a small mountain town, is in need of a licensed doctor. Enter Aubrey Waycross. The townsfolk aren't a welcoming bunch. They're accustomed to tonics sold at rousing medicine shows. Most rely on homeopathic remedies provided by the Winter Sisters. However, the town's pastor is placing his faith in Dr. Waycross and hopes everyone else will follow suit. Pastor Boatwright is convinced that the Winter Sisters are blasphemous witches. He and his righteous followers have banished the sisters deep into the forrest, where the women reside peacefully at Hope Hollow. Bound together in a magical charcoal circle, the Winter sisters are a curious trio. Dr. Waycross makes it his mission to discover their cures. He's instantly fascinated by Rebecca, Sarah, and the ethereal Effie. Can herbal healers and modern medicine blend?
I can't say enough about Westover's writing skills. I loved his use of words. He has a wonderful sense of humor that spills onto the page. Tim Westover subscribes to the "show don't tell" means of storytelling. Imaginative and entertaining. I hope Westover offers a second dose of The Winter Sisters. I'm as curious about Effie as Dr. Waycross.
“It was, of course, a grand and impressive thing to do, to mistrust the obvious, and to pin one’s faith in things which could not be seen.”—Galen, On the Natural Faculties
*I was granted an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. Many thanks to QW Publishers and the talented Tim Westover.
I can't say enough about Westover's writing skills. I loved his use of words. He has a wonderful sense of humor that spills onto the page. Tim Westover subscribes to the "show don't tell" means of storytelling. Imaginative and entertaining. I hope Westover offers a second dose of The Winter Sisters. I'm as curious about Effie as Dr. Waycross.
“It was, of course, a grand and impressive thing to do, to mistrust the obvious, and to pin one’s faith in things which could not be seen.”—Galen, On the Natural Faculties
*I was granted an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. Many thanks to QW Publishers and the talented Tim Westover.
November 5, 2019
Free copy provided in exchange for honest review by Net Galley
I... don't know where I stand with this one. I don't think the book really knows what it is doing here either.
So lets start with the characters. We have a city doctor who gets manipulated into coming to this small frontier town. He's such an annoying prick I stopped reading pretty much anytime he started getting wound up about his humours. We have an over zealous priest. We have the rabid panther. And we have the Winter sisters... who are witches but not witches but maybe one of them is really a witch???
The book has no breaks to tell you where a different character's perspective comes in and seems to switch perspective at unnatural times.
The characters are either inconsistent or consistently odd.
The plot is... annoying.
We never really get answers about who or what Effie is and what is going on there
The romances are all convoluted, contrived and unsatisfying.
There were enough elements I enjoyed (the feminist angle of the women being the competent healers branded as witches and the doctor spewing pseudo science is not trusted by most townfolk) but it honestly felt like a waste of my time.
And don't even get me started on the whole rabies plot. It was very clumsily handled and mostly just an annoyance when it was mentioned. Basically character driven plot would be happen and then the book practically shouts BUT WAIT THERES RABIES! RABIES I TELL YOU! oh ok book, are we going to do anything with that information? no? the doctor is just going to get high again? cool.
Do not recommend.
I... don't know where I stand with this one. I don't think the book really knows what it is doing here either.
So lets start with the characters. We have a city doctor who gets manipulated into coming to this small frontier town. He's such an annoying prick I stopped reading pretty much anytime he started getting wound up about his humours. We have an over zealous priest. We have the rabid panther. And we have the Winter sisters... who are witches but not witches but maybe one of them is really a witch???
The book has no breaks to tell you where a different character's perspective comes in and seems to switch perspective at unnatural times.
The characters are either inconsistent or consistently odd.
The plot is... annoying.
We never really get answers about who or what Effie is and what is going on there
The romances are all convoluted, contrived and unsatisfying.
There were enough elements I enjoyed (the feminist angle of the women being the competent healers branded as witches and the doctor spewing pseudo science is not trusted by most townfolk) but it honestly felt like a waste of my time.
And don't even get me started on the whole rabies plot. It was very clumsily handled and mostly just an annoyance when it was mentioned. Basically character driven plot would be happen and then the book practically shouts BUT WAIT THERES RABIES! RABIES I TELL YOU! oh ok book, are we going to do anything with that information? no? the doctor is just going to get high again? cool.
Do not recommend.
October 9, 2019
I always enjoy book about Georgia. This book takes place in Lawrenceville in 1822. A young doctor, Avery Waycross, is employed by the town because they need one to qualify to be the county seat. When Waycross arrives he finds the town is in turmoil over the "witches" who practice medicine. Waycross, who was ready to leave the backwards town found himself embroiled in the conflict. Thinking the "witches" were old crones who practiced magic. What he found was 3 young "wise" women. They sisters used the local flora to heal their neighbors.
Having no patients, because the towns people didn't trust him. and seeing the young women's proven results, decided to join forces. Each had their own useful skills, they opened shop together and taught each other their skills.
This is a wonderful story about early medicine, the wise women who kept them healthy and the how different people's attitude about what they did. The local minister keeps the locals stirred up with sermons about witches and their conjuring of the devil.
Having no patients, because the towns people didn't trust him. and seeing the young women's proven results, decided to join forces. Each had their own useful skills, they opened shop together and taught each other their skills.
This is a wonderful story about early medicine, the wise women who kept them healthy and the how different people's attitude about what they did. The local minister keeps the locals stirred up with sermons about witches and their conjuring of the devil.
August 23, 2019
The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover is an interesting novel that is part fiction/part fantasy. It intertwines both genres to create a quick, engrossing read.
I enjoyed the characters and felt they had multiple layers which led to a nice complexity.
I enjoyed the location/setting 1800s Georgia and I also enjoyed the cast of characters.
I enjoyed the ending, and also the aftwerward that the author wrote to add some historical significance from a medical aspect. As someone in the medical field, that part, as well as how alternative treatments were dispersed between what “traditional medical treatments” were widely accepted at that time, added a layer of interest for me.
A great read. 4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and QW Publishers for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I enjoyed the characters and felt they had multiple layers which led to a nice complexity.
I enjoyed the location/setting 1800s Georgia and I also enjoyed the cast of characters.
I enjoyed the ending, and also the aftwerward that the author wrote to add some historical significance from a medical aspect. As someone in the medical field, that part, as well as how alternative treatments were dispersed between what “traditional medical treatments” were widely accepted at that time, added a layer of interest for me.
A great read. 4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and QW Publishers for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
January 29, 2020
While The Winter Sisters isn’t the type of book I read often, I’m glad I decided to step outside my comfort zone with this unique mix of historical fiction, fantasy and magical realism. The story of Dr. Waycross and The Winter Sisters and the medicine being practiced in the Georgian mountains in 1822 is filled with imagination and humor.
Westover’s writing is creative and intriguing. His characters are quirky and entertaining. I loved getting to know the townspeople and was fascinated by their beliefs and practices. This book definitely latched onto the idea that “magic’s just science that we don’t understand yet”.
I enjoyed this quick, fascinating book and would recommend it if you’re looking to read something a little different.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Westover’s writing is creative and intriguing. His characters are quirky and entertaining. I loved getting to know the townspeople and was fascinated by their beliefs and practices. This book definitely latched onto the idea that “magic’s just science that we don’t understand yet”.
I enjoyed this quick, fascinating book and would recommend it if you’re looking to read something a little different.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2019
Interesting read
I have just finished The Winter Sisters. I was drawn to it having been raised in north Georgia and also having had a career in the medical field. I was actually hoping for a bit more of the narrative to focus on the old Appalachian mountain customs and remedies. Instead the book seemed to spend more time with Dr. Waycross’ general musings about the Winter Sisters.
I did enjoy the descriptions of the early practices of medicine as Dr Waycross attempts to establish the “accepted “ medical practices of the day.
All in all a good read.
I have just finished The Winter Sisters. I was drawn to it having been raised in north Georgia and also having had a career in the medical field. I was actually hoping for a bit more of the narrative to focus on the old Appalachian mountain customs and remedies. Instead the book seemed to spend more time with Dr. Waycross’ general musings about the Winter Sisters.
I did enjoy the descriptions of the early practices of medicine as Dr Waycross attempts to establish the “accepted “ medical practices of the day.
All in all a good read.
October 10, 2019
Great book!
Just like Tim Westover’s first book I began to write down town names, river names, and plant names. I live in LaGrange, Georgia and this story brings early Georgia history to the public in a wonderful way. The Sisters descriptions are fantastic and the characters are true to the time in Georgia. A wonderful book for everyone to read.
Just like Tim Westover’s first book I began to write down town names, river names, and plant names. I live in LaGrange, Georgia and this story brings early Georgia history to the public in a wonderful way. The Sisters descriptions are fantastic and the characters are true to the time in Georgia. A wonderful book for everyone to read.
January 21, 2020
I wanted so bad to like this book. The idea behind "modern" medicine melding/conflicting with the ways of the frontier intrigued me. Amputation vs. moldy bread (ah ha - penicillin!) But it just got weird.
April 13, 2020
This book was a trip! First of all, I don’t know if you’re squeamish about medical things, but this book is essentially about medicine and medical practices in the mid 1800’s. And, ya’ll, it’s intense. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the podcast “Sawbones” (and I actually haven’t listened to it for awhile, although I enjoyed it when I did), this book is like that in that it talks a lot about old-timey medical treatments—bloodletting, balancing the humors, amputation, etc. Eesh. Sometimes this was hard to read just because I know that, unfortunately, these things are not made up. Medical practice back then was…scary. If the ailment didn’t kill you, the treatment might.
Despite the horror of medical treatments in the past, there was actually quite a bit of humor in this book, and I loved that Westover didn’t take himself too seriously. There were serious things happening, but there were also a lot of tongue in cheek things that happened, and some things that were just really funny. I mean, you can’t have an isolated town back in the 1800’s without some funny characters and some funny happenings. There were definitely some good characters in this town and they were a nice reprieve from the sometimes disturbing medical treatments.
The heart of this book is of course, the Winter sisters. Although the preacher thought they were witches (and maybe a few of his strictest followers agreed with him), most everybody else agreed that they were just women who were well-versed in medicinal treatments of the more natural variety. The three sisters were all different and had different strengths (some more mysterious and witchy-feeling than others), and that made for some interesting reading about how they all addressed medical issues and who would see which sister depending on what ailed them. The collaboration of the new doctor and the Winter sisters, especially Rebecca, was a great addition to the story and brought up a lot of interesting questions regarding “modern” medicine versus the practices with herbs and tinctures from the “witches.” There is definitely some magical realism going on, and I would have liked to hear more about that and I wished the book had taken a deeper turn down that road.
As it was the heart of the book, one of the things that I wish this book would have addressed more is the Winter sisters themselves. We see almost everything through the eyes of Dr. Waycross, and he obviously has his own beliefs about medicine and how people with various ailments should be treated. The Winter sisters were a deep well of stories, and I think that there could have been a prequel to this book discussing them and their ways and back story. In fact, I think they were more interesting than the doctor. I would have liked to hear more about them. That is my main complaint about the book, actually. At the crux of it the story is about who we trust—do we judge people based on rumors, or the fact that they are maybe on the outskirts of society or do we trust what they do? In this case it was couched as what is better—“modern” medicine, or folk medicine? However, some of Rebecca’s treatments were, ahem, ahead of their time (trying not to give anything away), and so I’m not sure that this was a discussion that was actually successful. I think it would have been a better focus of the book on why the town didn’t trust the Winter sisters, because it wasn’t really discussed much. Sure, there’s always the old trope of weird unmarried women living off by themselves in the woods together doing who knows what (said with judgey eyes), but I’m not sure that led to all of the hate. And, in fact, it turns out that the hate was mostly projected by the preacher. Everybody else seemed to be fine with the Winter Sisters. In the end, I think the author tried to create a situation where there were people who weren’t trusted because of their station, but it didn’t really pan out as planned. The doctor was not a super interesting character and was rather one-dimensional. Hearing more and directly from the Winter sisters (I would have loved a rotating point of view from each of them) would have been much more compelling, IMHO.
Although it is not deeply discussed, there is the issue of addiction addressed in this book. I think it’s pretty obvious what that is once you start reading that book, but for now I don’t want to give it away. Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end of the book in regards to this, because it was interesting.
If you enjoy reading about female characters who are on the fringes, or even historical fiction about medical practices (whether “modern” or folk) I think you would enjoy this book.
Read my full review here: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2020...
Despite the horror of medical treatments in the past, there was actually quite a bit of humor in this book, and I loved that Westover didn’t take himself too seriously. There were serious things happening, but there were also a lot of tongue in cheek things that happened, and some things that were just really funny. I mean, you can’t have an isolated town back in the 1800’s without some funny characters and some funny happenings. There were definitely some good characters in this town and they were a nice reprieve from the sometimes disturbing medical treatments.
The heart of this book is of course, the Winter sisters. Although the preacher thought they were witches (and maybe a few of his strictest followers agreed with him), most everybody else agreed that they were just women who were well-versed in medicinal treatments of the more natural variety. The three sisters were all different and had different strengths (some more mysterious and witchy-feeling than others), and that made for some interesting reading about how they all addressed medical issues and who would see which sister depending on what ailed them. The collaboration of the new doctor and the Winter sisters, especially Rebecca, was a great addition to the story and brought up a lot of interesting questions regarding “modern” medicine versus the practices with herbs and tinctures from the “witches.” There is definitely some magical realism going on, and I would have liked to hear more about that and I wished the book had taken a deeper turn down that road.
As it was the heart of the book, one of the things that I wish this book would have addressed more is the Winter sisters themselves. We see almost everything through the eyes of Dr. Waycross, and he obviously has his own beliefs about medicine and how people with various ailments should be treated. The Winter sisters were a deep well of stories, and I think that there could have been a prequel to this book discussing them and their ways and back story. In fact, I think they were more interesting than the doctor. I would have liked to hear more about them. That is my main complaint about the book, actually. At the crux of it the story is about who we trust—do we judge people based on rumors, or the fact that they are maybe on the outskirts of society or do we trust what they do? In this case it was couched as what is better—“modern” medicine, or folk medicine? However, some of Rebecca’s treatments were, ahem, ahead of their time (trying not to give anything away), and so I’m not sure that this was a discussion that was actually successful. I think it would have been a better focus of the book on why the town didn’t trust the Winter sisters, because it wasn’t really discussed much. Sure, there’s always the old trope of weird unmarried women living off by themselves in the woods together doing who knows what (said with judgey eyes), but I’m not sure that led to all of the hate. And, in fact, it turns out that the hate was mostly projected by the preacher. Everybody else seemed to be fine with the Winter Sisters. In the end, I think the author tried to create a situation where there were people who weren’t trusted because of their station, but it didn’t really pan out as planned. The doctor was not a super interesting character and was rather one-dimensional. Hearing more and directly from the Winter sisters (I would have loved a rotating point of view from each of them) would have been much more compelling, IMHO.
Although it is not deeply discussed, there is the issue of addiction addressed in this book. I think it’s pretty obvious what that is once you start reading that book, but for now I don’t want to give it away. Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end of the book in regards to this, because it was interesting.
If you enjoy reading about female characters who are on the fringes, or even historical fiction about medical practices (whether “modern” or folk) I think you would enjoy this book.
Read my full review here: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2020...
July 31, 2020
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I borrowed this eBook through Kindle Unlimited to read.
Story (4/5): This story alternates perspectives between Dr. Waycross and the Winter sisters. Dr. Waycross came to this small mountain town to start his career and learn more about rabies (there is a rabid panther in the area). Meanwhile the Winter sisters have practiced midwifery in this town for a long while until a conflict with the town pastor drove them out.
I enjoyed learning about all the crazy scientific cures Dr. Waycross brings to this town and also about all the traditional medicines the Winter sisters use. There is a bit of magic here because the youngest sister can cure people of deadly illness (and even death) with just her touch. This was an intriguing little story that was on the slower side but still enjoyable.
Characters (5/5): Dr. Waycross was an interesting look at doctors of the era, I enjoyed that he was open minded enough to realize that some of the Winter sisters’ herbal remedies were much more effective and less painful than his bloodletting and blistering. The oldest sister, Rebecca, is also a fairly amazing character. She is patient and caring and willing to blend her remedies with Aubrey’s in order to benefit the town and help its people despite the issues the townsfolk caused her and her family. All of the characters are fascinating and really well done.
Setting (4/5): This was an intriguing look back into the 1820’s frontier life. I loved learning about the medicine of the time and the struggles of the town to become a significant place on the map were interesting as well. I really enjoyed this historical setting and thought it was well portrayed.
Writing Style (4/5): For the most part I enjoyed the writing style here. The story is a bit slow and does have a tendency to flit willy nilly between different characters. However, it made for a cohesive story and I loved the blend of historical elements and strange fantasy that presented itself with the youngest sister’s healing powers. In general this was easy to read and engaging but could have used more consistent pacing.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and am glad I read it. I enjoyed a lot of historical aspects here and engaged with the characters really well. There are some good small mysteries that keep you intrigued and you can’t help but wonder what will become of the town, the sisters, and the doctor. It is a more deliberately paced novel but in the end I enjoyed it and plan to take a look at Westover’s other novels. I would recommend it to those who are intrigued by frontier life and the medicine of that time and don’t mind a bit of magical realism in their stories.
Story (4/5): This story alternates perspectives between Dr. Waycross and the Winter sisters. Dr. Waycross came to this small mountain town to start his career and learn more about rabies (there is a rabid panther in the area). Meanwhile the Winter sisters have practiced midwifery in this town for a long while until a conflict with the town pastor drove them out.
I enjoyed learning about all the crazy scientific cures Dr. Waycross brings to this town and also about all the traditional medicines the Winter sisters use. There is a bit of magic here because the youngest sister can cure people of deadly illness (and even death) with just her touch. This was an intriguing little story that was on the slower side but still enjoyable.
Characters (5/5): Dr. Waycross was an interesting look at doctors of the era, I enjoyed that he was open minded enough to realize that some of the Winter sisters’ herbal remedies were much more effective and less painful than his bloodletting and blistering. The oldest sister, Rebecca, is also a fairly amazing character. She is patient and caring and willing to blend her remedies with Aubrey’s in order to benefit the town and help its people despite the issues the townsfolk caused her and her family. All of the characters are fascinating and really well done.
Setting (4/5): This was an intriguing look back into the 1820’s frontier life. I loved learning about the medicine of the time and the struggles of the town to become a significant place on the map were interesting as well. I really enjoyed this historical setting and thought it was well portrayed.
Writing Style (4/5): For the most part I enjoyed the writing style here. The story is a bit slow and does have a tendency to flit willy nilly between different characters. However, it made for a cohesive story and I loved the blend of historical elements and strange fantasy that presented itself with the youngest sister’s healing powers. In general this was easy to read and engaging but could have used more consistent pacing.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and am glad I read it. I enjoyed a lot of historical aspects here and engaged with the characters really well. There are some good small mysteries that keep you intrigued and you can’t help but wonder what will become of the town, the sisters, and the doctor. It is a more deliberately paced novel but in the end I enjoyed it and plan to take a look at Westover’s other novels. I would recommend it to those who are intrigued by frontier life and the medicine of that time and don’t mind a bit of magical realism in their stories.
February 8, 2020
"The Winter Sisters" is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy. It's based in a real place (Lawrenceville, Georgia) and incorporates actual medical practices and misperceptions in the early 1800s. Dr. Aubrey Waycross comes across, to our "modern" sensibilities, as a quack at first, with his firm belief in blood-letting and frequent amputations as the best courses of treatment for most diseases. But when he begins to be won over by the Winter sisters' herbal and natural remedies (with plentiful use of the power of suggestion) as he sees their effectiveness, he becomes more open-minded to the idea that what he's always believed may not be the best approach. However, this novel goes beyond historical fiction by blending in fantasy elements, such as a mysterious black panther roaming the area (where panthers are not known to roam) and the rumor that the Winter sisters' healing powers, especially those of youngest sister Effie, go beyond the natural and into the supernatural. "The Winter Sisters" is a delightful adventure that will make you question conventional wisdom and perhaps even believe in a little magic.
January 28, 2020
The Winter Sisters is a unique blend of a western novel with a strong dose of fantasy.
The story, by Tim Westover, is ultimately about humanity, and the trials and errors that come with opening your mind- something characters in the early 19th century, in this plot, are not to keen on doing. It's a path that if not taken correctly, could spell disaster as we see in this original tale with 3 witchy sisters, naive and scared towns people, and a stuck up city doctor who ends up learning just about as much as he's teaching.
The hustle and bustle town of Lawrenceville, Georgia is brought to life by Westover's fantastic and beautiful use of imagery and terrific prose.
The characterization is well done, although I'm not sure if I was suppose to dislike the main character- the doctor- as much as I did. He was arrogant and whiney throughout most of the book. The 3 witchy sisters definitely steal the show in my opinion!
Aside from not liking the main character, my only problem with the book is the appearance of the black panther is never explained. I thought maybe it was some sort of symbolism that would play out, but never did. Especially since black Panthers are not indigenous to the US- one just chilling in Georgia is a bit odd.
In summary, The Winter Sisters delivers a great original plot, fusing fantasy and historical fiction, proving we need to see more of this genre mixture in the Fantasy world.
The story, by Tim Westover, is ultimately about humanity, and the trials and errors that come with opening your mind- something characters in the early 19th century, in this plot, are not to keen on doing. It's a path that if not taken correctly, could spell disaster as we see in this original tale with 3 witchy sisters, naive and scared towns people, and a stuck up city doctor who ends up learning just about as much as he's teaching.
The hustle and bustle town of Lawrenceville, Georgia is brought to life by Westover's fantastic and beautiful use of imagery and terrific prose.
The characterization is well done, although I'm not sure if I was suppose to dislike the main character- the doctor- as much as I did. He was arrogant and whiney throughout most of the book. The 3 witchy sisters definitely steal the show in my opinion!
Aside from not liking the main character, my only problem with the book is the appearance of the black panther is never explained. I thought maybe it was some sort of symbolism that would play out, but never did. Especially since black Panthers are not indigenous to the US- one just chilling in Georgia is a bit odd.
In summary, The Winter Sisters delivers a great original plot, fusing fantasy and historical fiction, proving we need to see more of this genre mixture in the Fantasy world.
June 23, 2021
I would not have picked up this book on my own. This was our monthly bookclub pick. The topic of medicine and the use of alternative healing was at the center of the story. That was interesting. There were some quirky characters but not enough to really keep me invested in the story. I'm sure other reader's really enjoyed the book but not for me.
April 11, 2022
Loved the magical realism in this book and the history involved. Medicinal practices in the 1800s were barbaric. I was definitely a bigger fan of the miracles and magic.
September 17, 2020
For ANYONE living in Atlanta/ North Georgia.. this is a must read!
For anyone with a love of healing, folklore, hope and 1800’s medicine.. you will LOVE this!
Great humor.. a great message!
Too bad there was no map!
For anyone with a love of healing, folklore, hope and 1800’s medicine.. you will LOVE this!
Great humor.. a great message!
Too bad there was no map!
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