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Witches of Woodville #1
The Crow Folk
As Spitfires roar overhead and a dark figure stalks the village of Woodville, a young woman will discover her destiny…
Faye Bright always felt a little bit different. And today she’s found out why. She’s just stumbled across her late mother’s diary which includes not only a spiffing recipe for jam roly-poly, but spells, incantations, runes and recitations… a witch's notebook.
And Faye has inherited her mother’s abilities.
Just in time, too. The Crow Folk are coming. Led by the charismatic Pumpkinhead, their strange magic threatens Faye and the villagers. Armed with little more than her mum's words, her trusty bicycle, the grudging help of two bickering old ladies, and some aggressive church bellringing, Faye will find herself on the front lines of a war nobody expected.
Fall in love with the extraordinary world of Faye Bright - it's Maisie Dobbs meets The Magicians.
Faye Bright always felt a little bit different. And today she’s found out why. She’s just stumbled across her late mother’s diary which includes not only a spiffing recipe for jam roly-poly, but spells, incantations, runes and recitations… a witch's notebook.
And Faye has inherited her mother’s abilities.
Just in time, too. The Crow Folk are coming. Led by the charismatic Pumpkinhead, their strange magic threatens Faye and the villagers. Armed with little more than her mum's words, her trusty bicycle, the grudging help of two bickering old ladies, and some aggressive church bellringing, Faye will find herself on the front lines of a war nobody expected.
Fall in love with the extraordinary world of Faye Bright - it's Maisie Dobbs meets The Magicians.
343 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2021
287 people are currently reading
2557 people want to read
About the author
Mark Stay
9 books145 followersMark Stay got a part-time Christmas job at Waterstone’s in the nineties (back when it still had an apostrophe) and somehow ended up working in publishing for over 25 years. He would write in his spare time and (he can admit this now) on company time, and sometimes those writings would get turned into books and films.
Mark is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, which has inspired writers all over the world to finish and publish their books. Born in London, he lives in Kent with Youtube gardener Claire Burgess and a declining assortment of retired chickens.
Come and say hello at https://markstaywrites.com or visit the Woodville Village Library for free short stories and more at https://witchesofwoodville.com
Mark is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, which has inspired writers all over the world to finish and publish their books. Born in London, he lives in Kent with Youtube gardener Claire Burgess and a declining assortment of retired chickens.
Come and say hello at https://markstaywrites.com or visit the Woodville Village Library for free short stories and more at https://witchesofwoodville.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
February 27, 2021
THE CROW FOLK by Mark Stay was such an amazingly fun book to read, so much so that if I could read it again immediately I would. My TBR will not allow it at this time but I most certainly plan to in the near future. Perhaps Halloween season would be perfect for a reread since this story definitely contains some creepy elements as well as shadowy woodland magic and sentient scarecrows. Yes, I said sentient scarecrows.
One thing that made this a unique read is the time period where all of these magical happenings are taking place - right in the midst of the German bombings of Britain during WWII. And as if the small village of Woodville had enough to worry about with the nightly cries of "Put that light out!" a common refrain to help defend against the bomber pilots, something darkly terrifying is also on the loose within the tiny village. There have been sightings of a pumpkin-headed scarecrow and its minions stalking around the area, but most of the town folk believe it only to be a ridiculous rumor at best.
17 year-old Faye Bright however, believes in this "Pumpkinhead" and she may be the only one who can stand against what is possibly coming. Her inherited witchcraft is still raw at best, but it just might be that the only way to fight the dark magic looming over Woodville is the magic that is still blossoming within her. Oh, and there is still that whole war thing going on which complicates matters considerably.
THE CROW FOLK gave me so many cool feels of books that I loved as a teenager and younger adult. It has all of the best instances of humor of say Terry Pratchett, the creepy small village horror moments of a Phil Rickman, and an infusion of wondrous folklore a la Susan Cooper. And yet this is entirely a Mark Stay story, which made it an incredibly refreshing read that didn't seem derivative for even one minute.
What was so terrific about this book is that there is an uneasy type of humor to it throughout where I wanted to just let my guard down and laugh, yet there was an undercurrent of something being a bit off, as if at any moment something entirely horrible was about to take place. That's what kept me on edge the entire time and also what makes THE CROW FOLK such a rewarding read. You want to get comfortable but aren't entirely sure if you can.
I really can't say enough about how drawn to this book I became as I progressed through each chapter. At a little over 300 pages I tore through it in just under a week. If you are looking for a story that grips you right from the start and is a fantasy that takes place in a real historical setting, then THE CROW FOLK should be at the top of your TBR. The characters are so relatable and vibrant, the writing is supremely witty, and the setting is one that will enchant and mesmerize you. Come for the sinister scarecrows, stay for one truly fantastic story. I loved every second of it.
One thing that made this a unique read is the time period where all of these magical happenings are taking place - right in the midst of the German bombings of Britain during WWII. And as if the small village of Woodville had enough to worry about with the nightly cries of "Put that light out!" a common refrain to help defend against the bomber pilots, something darkly terrifying is also on the loose within the tiny village. There have been sightings of a pumpkin-headed scarecrow and its minions stalking around the area, but most of the town folk believe it only to be a ridiculous rumor at best.
17 year-old Faye Bright however, believes in this "Pumpkinhead" and she may be the only one who can stand against what is possibly coming. Her inherited witchcraft is still raw at best, but it just might be that the only way to fight the dark magic looming over Woodville is the magic that is still blossoming within her. Oh, and there is still that whole war thing going on which complicates matters considerably.
THE CROW FOLK gave me so many cool feels of books that I loved as a teenager and younger adult. It has all of the best instances of humor of say Terry Pratchett, the creepy small village horror moments of a Phil Rickman, and an infusion of wondrous folklore a la Susan Cooper. And yet this is entirely a Mark Stay story, which made it an incredibly refreshing read that didn't seem derivative for even one minute.
What was so terrific about this book is that there is an uneasy type of humor to it throughout where I wanted to just let my guard down and laugh, yet there was an undercurrent of something being a bit off, as if at any moment something entirely horrible was about to take place. That's what kept me on edge the entire time and also what makes THE CROW FOLK such a rewarding read. You want to get comfortable but aren't entirely sure if you can.
I really can't say enough about how drawn to this book I became as I progressed through each chapter. At a little over 300 pages I tore through it in just under a week. If you are looking for a story that grips you right from the start and is a fantasy that takes place in a real historical setting, then THE CROW FOLK should be at the top of your TBR. The characters are so relatable and vibrant, the writing is supremely witty, and the setting is one that will enchant and mesmerize you. Come for the sinister scarecrows, stay for one truly fantastic story. I loved every second of it.
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July 11, 2021Moderately pleasant rural fantasy involving witches in a small English village. Nothing particularly new here but readable. I wasn't sure of the age range it was aimed at.
February 27, 2023
Faye Bright is a bubbly 17-year-old who helps her dad in his pub in the sleepy village of Woodville deep in the Kent countryside. It is a time of many changes, as Britain is now at war with Germany, planes cross the sky and the whole community is on edge with war preparations. Her mother passed away when she was tiny and she only has fragments of memories of her. She is delighted when she finds a book that her mother left for her.
The book is a revelation to Faye. Not only is there a recipe for jam roly-poly but is it packed full of spells and runes and other magical incantations. She has always felt a little different to the other children in the village and finding this means that some of the questions might have been answered. But is also means that she has many other questions for her dad now.
She may never get to ask them though, something has woken a dark force in the village and the scarecrows that were dotted around the fields are now stalking the countryside. Faye is going to have to learn to use the abilities that she has inherited from her mother much sooner than she anticipated.
I really liked this it is kind of a Rivers of London meets A Month in the Country… Not only are we finding out about Faye and her friends in this village, but Stay has made it eerie and disquieting. I love the folk horror elements of this. They have a genuinely sinister edge and are not in your face but bubbling away in the ditches of the landscape, I am looking forward to the next two in the series and I am pleased to see there is a fourth coming soon.
The book is a revelation to Faye. Not only is there a recipe for jam roly-poly but is it packed full of spells and runes and other magical incantations. She has always felt a little different to the other children in the village and finding this means that some of the questions might have been answered. But is also means that she has many other questions for her dad now.
She may never get to ask them though, something has woken a dark force in the village and the scarecrows that were dotted around the fields are now stalking the countryside. Faye is going to have to learn to use the abilities that she has inherited from her mother much sooner than she anticipated.
I really liked this it is kind of a Rivers of London meets A Month in the Country… Not only are we finding out about Faye and her friends in this village, but Stay has made it eerie and disquieting. I love the folk horror elements of this. They have a genuinely sinister edge and are not in your face but bubbling away in the ditches of the landscape, I am looking forward to the next two in the series and I am pleased to see there is a fourth coming soon.
June 4, 2022
Bit late to the party but just finished The Crow Folk by the mighty Mark Stay
and I have to say I absolutely loved it. Beautifully written, nail-biting, haunting and yet quite often funny too.
I also had a great deal of second-hand nostalgia reading this too. I grew up in a quaint English village with nothing more than a pub, a butchers, a green grocers and a news agent and neighbours that knew all your business. Reading The Crow Folk took me back to those happy days (albeit 30 years after the setting of The Crow Folk). It also made think a great deal of my grandparents who experienced the war first hand and my dad who spent the first five years of his life with bombs falling. I wished I'd talked to my grandmother about what it was like during those dark days but now I can at least imagine (no haunted scarecrows though). The book also made me miss my Gran's Rolly-Polly.
On to book 2 next ...
and I have to say I absolutely loved it. Beautifully written, nail-biting, haunting and yet quite often funny too.
I also had a great deal of second-hand nostalgia reading this too. I grew up in a quaint English village with nothing more than a pub, a butchers, a green grocers and a news agent and neighbours that knew all your business. Reading The Crow Folk took me back to those happy days (albeit 30 years after the setting of The Crow Folk). It also made think a great deal of my grandparents who experienced the war first hand and my dad who spent the first five years of his life with bombs falling. I wished I'd talked to my grandmother about what it was like during those dark days but now I can at least imagine (no haunted scarecrows though). The book also made me miss my Gran's Rolly-Polly.
On to book 2 next ...
September 24, 2021
A good fun magical read, and one I certainly wouldn't hesitate in recommending on that level. But I still feel it's a little confused as to who its audience is meant to be - the 17 year old protagonist felt more like 13, and there was nothing inappropriate for a younger audience, but the old-fashioned vibe to it doesn't seem like it would necessarily appeal to a younger reader. It felt a little clichéd at time, and I wanted a bit more oomph from the characters. But still a good solid fun read, and I liked the wartime countryside, Worzel Gummidge vibe!
June 5, 2022
Magisch, witzig und ein totaler Pageturner!
Mir hat die skurrile Geschichte rund um das Dorf Woodville super gefallen. Fantasy Fans kommen hier absolut auf ihre Kosten!
Die Vogelscheuchen bedrohen den Frieden und mittendrin Faye, die noch nichts über Magie weiß …
Mir hat die skurrile Geschichte rund um das Dorf Woodville super gefallen. Fantasy Fans kommen hier absolut auf ihre Kosten!
Die Vogelscheuchen bedrohen den Frieden und mittendrin Faye, die noch nichts über Magie weiß …
March 25, 2021
Not a bad book by any means, but it was simply not the book for me. I found the main character who is supposed to be 17, more like a 12 year old. I don't mind middlegrade, but it was not meant to be one and the magical system made no sense. Nothing much is happening and I did not feel like the story was for me. I love the atmosphere and the background of the story, but... not enough to keep me going.
May 31, 2023
"Ich erinnere mich kaum, wer ich gewesen bin, aber ich weiß, dass ich gelebt habe und geliebt wurde."
Faye Bright beobachtet seltsame Dinge in ihrem Heimatstädtchen Woodville. Sind die Vogelscheuchen wirklich lebendig geworden? Und gibt es wirklich Hexen? Ihre Suche nach Antworten führt sie auch in die Vergangenheit ihrer verstorbenen Mutter.
Das Buch hat mich mit seinem Setting ziemlich überrascht. Mitten im 2. Weltkrieg in einem ländlichen Dorf in England und wir erfahren auch viel über das Leben in dieser Zeit. Ich mochte auch sehr, dass es u.a. auch ums Glockenläuten geht, auch sehr ungewöhnlich. Und nicht zuletzt der mystische Teil, der magische Teil. Gut eingeführt, durchdacht und rund. Mit einer guten Portion Humor und einiger Spannung erzählt Mark Stay seine Geschichte und auch wenn es noch 2 weitere Bände gibt, so ist diese Geschichte wunderbar ins ich abgeschlossen. Der Schreibstil ist rutschig und lässt mich durch die Seiten fliegen. Davon lese ich gerne mehr.
Faye Bright beobachtet seltsame Dinge in ihrem Heimatstädtchen Woodville. Sind die Vogelscheuchen wirklich lebendig geworden? Und gibt es wirklich Hexen? Ihre Suche nach Antworten führt sie auch in die Vergangenheit ihrer verstorbenen Mutter.
Das Buch hat mich mit seinem Setting ziemlich überrascht. Mitten im 2. Weltkrieg in einem ländlichen Dorf in England und wir erfahren auch viel über das Leben in dieser Zeit. Ich mochte auch sehr, dass es u.a. auch ums Glockenläuten geht, auch sehr ungewöhnlich. Und nicht zuletzt der mystische Teil, der magische Teil. Gut eingeführt, durchdacht und rund. Mit einer guten Portion Humor und einiger Spannung erzählt Mark Stay seine Geschichte und auch wenn es noch 2 weitere Bände gibt, so ist diese Geschichte wunderbar ins ich abgeschlossen. Der Schreibstil ist rutschig und lässt mich durch die Seiten fliegen. Davon lese ich gerne mehr.
February 16, 2021
It's fitting that a novel which so wonderfully recalls the vibrant magic of childhood stories should open with a young woman finding a book - Wynter's Book of Rituals and Magic - in a trunk of old knickknacks. Kathryn Wynter was Faye Bright's mother's maiden name and she left her daughter an inscription, To my darling Faye, for when the time is right.'
The time is definitely right because something strange is happening in the village of Woodville and it's not just that the bell ringers have been told to silence their bells for the duration of the war. With the exception of Worzel Gummidge and the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, I've always thought scarecrows are rather sinister and the Crow Folk who have left their posts and come to life here do little to dispel that opinion.
Comparisons with Worzel are inevitable but there are also little hints of Dad's Army and the wartime witchery of Bedknobs and Broomsticks as Faye begins to suspect her mother was indeed a witch and that she may have powers herself. She isn't the only witch in the village but Charlotte Southill and Philomena Teach seem reluctant to divulge their secrets, much to her exasperation. Faye is a redoubtable young woman and is an immensely likeable character whose constant sense of frustration is almost palpable. Her attempt to join the Last Defence Volunteers was thwarted, her father changes the subject whenever she tries to find out more about her mum and now Charlotte and Mrs Teach keep trying to avoid answering her questions while squabbling with one another.
Woodville is almost the epitome of a wartime English village with its church, pubs and residents who are learning to live with blackouts, rationing and Spitfires flying overhead, scaring the horses. It's populated with an eccentric bunch of characters and one of the highlights of The Crow Folk is undoubtedly getting to know them better. Faye's father, Terrence is a delight - I wish I could reveal more about a particular scene he is involved in which is one of my favourites in the book but you'll have to read it to find out. As with all the characters, he really is brought to life; for all their eccentric quirks, these are real people and even the scarecrows (especially Suky) are thoughtfully developed to become more than just animated straw. Magic is woven throughout The Crow Folk but this fantasy is grounded in reality and it's also a bittersweet tale of grief, loss and hope.
This is magical realism at its most captivating with the evocative wartime setting accentuating the nostalgic spirit of the book. Although Mark Stay's coming-of-age tale is so irresistibly redolent of childhood stories, there is enough innuendo here to give The Crow Folk a mischievous edge that prevents it from becoming childish. It is humorous throughout but there is also a sense of danger - the scarecrow leader, Pumpkinhead is particularly menacing - and mystery as Faye desperately tries to figure out a way to save the village.
The Crow Folk is an ebullient celebration of storytelling which never forgets that to truly care about what happens in a novel, you need to be invested in its characters. Faye, Terrence, Charlotte, Philomena, the wonderful Bertie Butterworth and the rest of the villagers are the joyous, curious beating heart of the book; I can't wait to find out what magical adventures await them - and whether they will receive another visit from the fabulous Vera Fivetrees in Babes in the Wood: The Witches of Woodville 2.
The time is definitely right because something strange is happening in the village of Woodville and it's not just that the bell ringers have been told to silence their bells for the duration of the war. With the exception of Worzel Gummidge and the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, I've always thought scarecrows are rather sinister and the Crow Folk who have left their posts and come to life here do little to dispel that opinion.
Comparisons with Worzel are inevitable but there are also little hints of Dad's Army and the wartime witchery of Bedknobs and Broomsticks as Faye begins to suspect her mother was indeed a witch and that she may have powers herself. She isn't the only witch in the village but Charlotte Southill and Philomena Teach seem reluctant to divulge their secrets, much to her exasperation. Faye is a redoubtable young woman and is an immensely likeable character whose constant sense of frustration is almost palpable. Her attempt to join the Last Defence Volunteers was thwarted, her father changes the subject whenever she tries to find out more about her mum and now Charlotte and Mrs Teach keep trying to avoid answering her questions while squabbling with one another.
Woodville is almost the epitome of a wartime English village with its church, pubs and residents who are learning to live with blackouts, rationing and Spitfires flying overhead, scaring the horses. It's populated with an eccentric bunch of characters and one of the highlights of The Crow Folk is undoubtedly getting to know them better. Faye's father, Terrence is a delight - I wish I could reveal more about a particular scene he is involved in which is one of my favourites in the book but you'll have to read it to find out. As with all the characters, he really is brought to life; for all their eccentric quirks, these are real people and even the scarecrows (especially Suky) are thoughtfully developed to become more than just animated straw. Magic is woven throughout The Crow Folk but this fantasy is grounded in reality and it's also a bittersweet tale of grief, loss and hope.
This is magical realism at its most captivating with the evocative wartime setting accentuating the nostalgic spirit of the book. Although Mark Stay's coming-of-age tale is so irresistibly redolent of childhood stories, there is enough innuendo here to give The Crow Folk a mischievous edge that prevents it from becoming childish. It is humorous throughout but there is also a sense of danger - the scarecrow leader, Pumpkinhead is particularly menacing - and mystery as Faye desperately tries to figure out a way to save the village.
The Crow Folk is an ebullient celebration of storytelling which never forgets that to truly care about what happens in a novel, you need to be invested in its characters. Faye, Terrence, Charlotte, Philomena, the wonderful Bertie Butterworth and the rest of the villagers are the joyous, curious beating heart of the book; I can't wait to find out what magical adventures await them - and whether they will receive another visit from the fabulous Vera Fivetrees in Babes in the Wood: The Witches of Woodville 2.
August 7, 2022
→ my rating: 5.0 ★
Thank you Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a lot of things going into The Crow Folk. I can’t say that a place on my favourites shelf was one of them. But here we are.
“ Had the wood known what was to follow, it might have put a stop to her there and then, but it was getting complacent in its old age. „
The story follows Faye Bright, a young girl living in a rural part of Kent in the midst of WWII. When she happens across her late mother's diary, she barely has any time to understand the strange writings and incantations before a group of unwelcome visitors begin to terrorise the village she calls home. Witches, scarecrows, and a bunch of birds — Mark Stay's The Crow Folk will have you laughing one minute and teary-eyed the next. I'm warning you now, you will definitely fall in love with each and every one of these characters.
“ Merely days after the decree that all ringing be stopped, I find you lot having a right old ding-dong in the middle of the night. „
This was such a fun and light-hearted read! I kept finding myself laughing at the sheer absurdity of some of the situations our witches found themselves in, and the great friendships that they developed along the way. I will say that I was kind of skeptical at the beginning; I wasn't sure how to feel about all the ~scarecrow shenanigans~, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Mark Stay's ability to create such beautiful writing, witty characters, and a super enjoyable plot is what earns The Crow Folk its five stars. My only complaint is that I read this way too quickly. I need more of Terrence Bright in my life. Need.
Finishing this left me in such a peaceful state of happiness. If you want something whimsical and full of feeling, or just something that will make you laugh, I definitely recommend picking this up!
------
→ reread no. 1
Rereading this has only cemented it as one of my absolute favourite books of all time; it is criminally underrated. It's full to the brim of loveable characters, the cosiest atmosphere, and the best kind of dry British humour. I love love love it :)
Thank you Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a lot of things going into The Crow Folk. I can’t say that a place on my favourites shelf was one of them. But here we are.
“ Had the wood known what was to follow, it might have put a stop to her there and then, but it was getting complacent in its old age. „
The story follows Faye Bright, a young girl living in a rural part of Kent in the midst of WWII. When she happens across her late mother's diary, she barely has any time to understand the strange writings and incantations before a group of unwelcome visitors begin to terrorise the village she calls home. Witches, scarecrows, and a bunch of birds — Mark Stay's The Crow Folk will have you laughing one minute and teary-eyed the next. I'm warning you now, you will definitely fall in love with each and every one of these characters.
“ Merely days after the decree that all ringing be stopped, I find you lot having a right old ding-dong in the middle of the night. „
This was such a fun and light-hearted read! I kept finding myself laughing at the sheer absurdity of some of the situations our witches found themselves in, and the great friendships that they developed along the way. I will say that I was kind of skeptical at the beginning; I wasn't sure how to feel about all the ~scarecrow shenanigans~, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Mark Stay's ability to create such beautiful writing, witty characters, and a super enjoyable plot is what earns The Crow Folk its five stars. My only complaint is that I read this way too quickly. I need more of Terrence Bright in my life. Need.
Finishing this left me in such a peaceful state of happiness. If you want something whimsical and full of feeling, or just something that will make you laugh, I definitely recommend picking this up!
------
→ reread no. 1
Rereading this has only cemented it as one of my absolute favourite books of all time; it is criminally underrated. It's full to the brim of loveable characters, the cosiest atmosphere, and the best kind of dry British humour. I love love love it :)
July 24, 2022
Ich liebe Hexen seit ich mit 10 Charmed gesehen habe. Deswegen musste ich gleich zuschlagen als ich den Titel des Buches gelesen habe!
.
Was erwartet uns? Eine klassische Hexen-Geschichte, kein moderner Firlefanz. Magie, Zaubersprüche, Rituale, schrullige Damen und ein verschlafenes Dorf in dem ein junges Mädchen in die Hexenwelt hineinrutscht. Denn da tauchen plötzlich lebendige Vogelscheuchen auf.
.
Das Setting ist also sehr hexenhaft, die Handlung spielt in Mitten des 2. Weltkriegs und es wirkt auf mich alles sehr stimmig. Es gibt ein paar spannende Momente, gruselige Situationen, grausiges Zeugs und Geheimnisse zu entdecken, und und und.. also eigentlicht alles da, was es für ein gutes Buch braucht.
.
Warum bin ich dennoch nicht voll zufrieden und habe mir mehr erwartet?
.
Bis auf die Protagonistin Faye sind mir alle Charaktere weder sympathisch noch unsympathisch sondern einfach etwas gleichgültig. Das Dorf, Hayes Vater und die anderen Hexen sind blass und gehen irgendwie unter. Faye hingegen hat Esprit und Charme und trägt damit Geschichte.
.
Irgendwo ist mir die Spannung verloren gegangen und Mark Stay hat es mit seinem Schreibstil nicht geschafft, mich in seinen Bann zu ziehen. Trotz Trickstern aus der Dämonenwelt und wiederauferstandenen Toten ist das Buch trocken. Das Tüpfelchen auf dem I hat irgendwie gefehlt. Allerdings traue ich dem Autor zu, in Band 2 das Potenzial der Geschichte besser auszuschöpfen - denn da steckt noch so Einiges drinnen!
.
Fazit: Nette Hexengeschichte, die viel unausgeschöpftes Potenzial hat.
.
Was erwartet uns? Eine klassische Hexen-Geschichte, kein moderner Firlefanz. Magie, Zaubersprüche, Rituale, schrullige Damen und ein verschlafenes Dorf in dem ein junges Mädchen in die Hexenwelt hineinrutscht. Denn da tauchen plötzlich lebendige Vogelscheuchen auf.
.
Das Setting ist also sehr hexenhaft, die Handlung spielt in Mitten des 2. Weltkriegs und es wirkt auf mich alles sehr stimmig. Es gibt ein paar spannende Momente, gruselige Situationen, grausiges Zeugs und Geheimnisse zu entdecken, und und und.. also eigentlicht alles da, was es für ein gutes Buch braucht.
.
Warum bin ich dennoch nicht voll zufrieden und habe mir mehr erwartet?
.
Bis auf die Protagonistin Faye sind mir alle Charaktere weder sympathisch noch unsympathisch sondern einfach etwas gleichgültig. Das Dorf, Hayes Vater und die anderen Hexen sind blass und gehen irgendwie unter. Faye hingegen hat Esprit und Charme und trägt damit Geschichte.
.
Irgendwo ist mir die Spannung verloren gegangen und Mark Stay hat es mit seinem Schreibstil nicht geschafft, mich in seinen Bann zu ziehen. Trotz Trickstern aus der Dämonenwelt und wiederauferstandenen Toten ist das Buch trocken. Das Tüpfelchen auf dem I hat irgendwie gefehlt. Allerdings traue ich dem Autor zu, in Band 2 das Potenzial der Geschichte besser auszuschöpfen - denn da steckt noch so Einiges drinnen!
.
Fazit: Nette Hexengeschichte, die viel unausgeschöpftes Potenzial hat.
March 5, 2024
Какое-то время Фэй подумывала о карьере археолога, но пару лет назад один из скаутов, Генри Могг, заявил, что девчонки недостаточно выносливы для работы на свежем воздухе, и, дабы доказать, что он ошибается, она пнула его по голени, чем заслужила исключение из гайдовского движения за неподобающее поведение.
Для первой части серии это неплохая книга, очень в хэллоуинском стиле, но у нас она вышла гораздо позже почему-то, и атмосфера при чтении зимой уже кажется несколько потухшей. Если бы не некоторые взрослые штуки, она бы вполне была детской — по крайней мере, для среднего школьного возраста.
Главная героиня Фэй живет в маленькой английской деревушке во времена Второй мировой войны и среди ее повседневных дел, которые состоят из покупок, помощи отцу в пабе, занятий в церкви, где она обучается на звонаря, а также волонтерству для безопасности жителей ночью, она пытается узнать хоть что-нибудь про свою мать. У Фэй осталась от нее только книга, где записаны странные вещицы, вроде колдовства, поэтому Фэй очень хочет убедиться, что ее мать была ведьмой.
Эта книга не была похожа ни на одну из тех, что Фэй доводилось читать ранее. Ей нравились детективные романы, где несколько смышленых малых раскрывали убийство. Но здесь не было ничего подобного. Только ритуалы, магия, монстры, демоны и, по какой-то причине, рецепт пудинга с вареньем.
Не могу сказать, что читается супер увлекательно, и тут проблема скорее в стиле автора, маленьких главах и русском переводе. Сюжет же, хоть он и простой, выглядит хорошим. К сожалению, из-за сжатого формата книги не успеваешь познакомиться нормально с другими персонажами, а их тут приличное количество.
Описанный городок с его эксцентричными жителями я бы разобрала по камешку и прочитала бы дополнительные главы про каждого соседа, но увы, в этой части такого ждать не стоит.
Эпилог показался мне интереснее чуть ли не всей книги, странно, что он находится в самом конце. Вообще, думаю, Фэй нужно было делать либо сильно младше, либо для главной героини стоило выбрать старших ведьм.
Сеансы были запрещены по той простой причине, что, проводя их, вы открываете дверь в потусторонний мир, а ее лучше всего оставить закрытой, запертой на засов, закопанной на дне самого глубокого колодца, который только можно найти, и, наконец, залитой несколькими слоями цемента.
В любом случае, тут достаточно юмора — пусть и в кривоватом русском переводе — и было бы здорово, если бы у нас выпустили продолжение, хотя я слабо надеюсь на это. А может стоит почитать это дело в оригинале, но только ближе к октябрю.
October 1, 2024
Did not enjoy this as much as I wanted to, sometimes did not enjoy it at all sadly. :( I love reading about witches in autumn but this was Not It. I think maybe it would have worked as a graphic novel more because the visual would have done the heavy lifting? I found the dialogue too long, like, it didn't know what was important enough to say and should have cut out some things. I also don't remember if this was supposed to be for Young Adult or Middle Grade but it did read like Middle Grade but felt in tone/themes more like Young Adult? A bit of a disconnect. I felt like such a grumpy cat in this reading experience and thought at times I was being too harsh on the book because I'm not physically top-notch healthy right now but then there would be one or two pages that would make me go 'Not Bad!!' before I'd go back to 'Hm' and I'd change my mind about that. There was also this one moment that left a bad taste in my mouth where someone would say something like 'what happened? did the Nazi spies come for us?' and another character would answer 'much worse, Vera Fivetrees is coming' (an important witch character) and I found that so distasteful and not funny. I get the hyperbolic joke, I do, haha, but there were a lot of story specific elements they could have exchanged with 'Nazi spies' to still make that joke and go 'much worse' without basically downplaying it in a jokey manner. :((
tw/cw: mentioned death, alcohol, discrimination, mentioned war, Nazis, death of a parent, manipulation, gaslighting, murder, revenge, mentioned blackouts, fire/arson
tw/cw: mentioned death, alcohol, discrimination, mentioned war, Nazis, death of a parent, manipulation, gaslighting, murder, revenge, mentioned blackouts, fire/arson
October 8, 2024
This was surprisingly good. The interweaving of historical with fantasy moments, was not something that I was expecting to work out as it did. If you want something spooky for the season this could be it.
Quirky English village in the the middle of WWII suffers a case of pesky... elements.
Lets leave it at that.
Even my Kobo dropped dead while I was reading it. -_-
May 31, 2022
Vom Kürbiskopf und dem geheimen Zauberbuch
Faye Bright, eine etwas andere junge Dame, aus dem ruhigen Örtchen Woodville findet beim entrümpeln des Kellers ein altes Buch, dass ihre Mutter vor ihrem Tod für sie geschrieben hat. Der Inhalt beantwortet Faye so einige Fragen, wirft jedoch zugleich noch mehr neue Fragen in ihrem Leben auf. War ihre Mutter eine Hexe? Völliger Quatsch, so etwas wie Magie gibt es gar nicht. Doch ob sie will oder nicht, spätestens als eigenartige Vogelscheuchen im Dorf auftauchen und Unruhe stiften, muss sie einsehen, dass es an der Zeit ist, die Wahrheit zu erkennen und mit zwei schrulligen, alten Damen das ahnungslose Dorf zu retten.
Rabenzauber ist der Auftakt von Mark Stays Trilogie über die Hexen von Woodville. Faye merkt zwar schon lange, dass sie anders ist als die anderen jungen Damen im Dorf, doch der Grund ist erstmal völlig unglaublich. Im 1. Band lernen wir das Dorf, die Bewohner und die aktuelle Situation kennen. Denn es ist 1940 und England wappnet sich gerade für den 2. Weltkrieg. Alle wehrtüchtigen Männer sind an der Front und Woodville ist schutzlos dem ausgeliefert was da in alten, mit Stroh ausgestopften Kleidern auf sie zu wankt. Ich hatte durchweg beim lesen dieses „Zauberer von Oz“ Feeling, was eigentlich verrückt ist, da es bis auf eine Vogelscheuche keinerlei parallelen in der Handlung gab. Doch Faye ist eine ziemlich kluge und freche 17-jährige, ihr Charakter war sehr schön ausgearbeitet, so dass man bereitwillig mit ihr in dieses Abenteuer zieht. Die Story war nicht zu kitschig und der Fantasy Anteil, für mein Empfinden nicht zu hoch. Es war in dem Maß „Realität streift magisches“ genau austariert und bot, dank einiger Wendungen Spannung und sogar etwas Humor. Ein idyllisches Dorf mit dem ein oder anderen herrlich schrulligen Bewohner. Man sollte sich aber zumindest auf etwas Kräutermagie, Beschwörungszauber und nicht zuletzt auch lebendige Vogelscheuchen einlassen können um das Buch zu genießen. Ich bin kein allzu großer Fantasy Fan, doch Mark Stay konnte mich dennoch mit seinem wundervollen Schreibstil, der tollen Geschichte und einem Hauch von Kräuter, Kerzen und Kröten verzaubern.
Fazit: von Anfang bis Ende eine tolle Geschichte mit sehr ausgewogenem – Realität meets Fantasy- Verhältnis. Die Zauberei hatte ein angenehmes „Kräuter Hexen“ Feeling.
Faye Bright, eine etwas andere junge Dame, aus dem ruhigen Örtchen Woodville findet beim entrümpeln des Kellers ein altes Buch, dass ihre Mutter vor ihrem Tod für sie geschrieben hat. Der Inhalt beantwortet Faye so einige Fragen, wirft jedoch zugleich noch mehr neue Fragen in ihrem Leben auf. War ihre Mutter eine Hexe? Völliger Quatsch, so etwas wie Magie gibt es gar nicht. Doch ob sie will oder nicht, spätestens als eigenartige Vogelscheuchen im Dorf auftauchen und Unruhe stiften, muss sie einsehen, dass es an der Zeit ist, die Wahrheit zu erkennen und mit zwei schrulligen, alten Damen das ahnungslose Dorf zu retten.
Rabenzauber ist der Auftakt von Mark Stays Trilogie über die Hexen von Woodville. Faye merkt zwar schon lange, dass sie anders ist als die anderen jungen Damen im Dorf, doch der Grund ist erstmal völlig unglaublich. Im 1. Band lernen wir das Dorf, die Bewohner und die aktuelle Situation kennen. Denn es ist 1940 und England wappnet sich gerade für den 2. Weltkrieg. Alle wehrtüchtigen Männer sind an der Front und Woodville ist schutzlos dem ausgeliefert was da in alten, mit Stroh ausgestopften Kleidern auf sie zu wankt. Ich hatte durchweg beim lesen dieses „Zauberer von Oz“ Feeling, was eigentlich verrückt ist, da es bis auf eine Vogelscheuche keinerlei parallelen in der Handlung gab. Doch Faye ist eine ziemlich kluge und freche 17-jährige, ihr Charakter war sehr schön ausgearbeitet, so dass man bereitwillig mit ihr in dieses Abenteuer zieht. Die Story war nicht zu kitschig und der Fantasy Anteil, für mein Empfinden nicht zu hoch. Es war in dem Maß „Realität streift magisches“ genau austariert und bot, dank einiger Wendungen Spannung und sogar etwas Humor. Ein idyllisches Dorf mit dem ein oder anderen herrlich schrulligen Bewohner. Man sollte sich aber zumindest auf etwas Kräutermagie, Beschwörungszauber und nicht zuletzt auch lebendige Vogelscheuchen einlassen können um das Buch zu genießen. Ich bin kein allzu großer Fantasy Fan, doch Mark Stay konnte mich dennoch mit seinem wundervollen Schreibstil, der tollen Geschichte und einem Hauch von Kräuter, Kerzen und Kröten verzaubern.
Fazit: von Anfang bis Ende eine tolle Geschichte mit sehr ausgewogenem – Realität meets Fantasy- Verhältnis. Die Zauberei hatte ein angenehmes „Kräuter Hexen“ Feeling.
April 22, 2023
This book reminds me a lot of old style fairy tales.
It has, at times, a sort of rambling way of storytelling that is allowed to take its time, rather than being streamlined to fit any sort of fast paced, action-packed, modern notion of storytelling.
Some might with out a doubt love it, but I didn't.
Squabbling between characters might have revealed character traits along the way, but it also irked me to no end. I wanted forward-motion, not instances of juvenile "Did not!/Did too!" bickering scenes, that went on far longer than it had to.
The main character, Faye, was both refreshingly feisty - and annoyingly childish.
I kept wondering about her age until someone eventually mentioned that she's 17 - and calls her childish.
Because she is very childish. I thought she was 12 or something at times.
There are plenty of adult jokes thought out the book, but they sort of clash with the rest of the content, because in general, I felt like I was listening to a book for children, rather than anything else. But then some sort of insinuating joke was inserted and I would have to blink and think: "Oh, okay, this might be for adults in spite of everything?" before the more youthful tone returned.
While I liked the somewhat creepy mystery involving the Crow Folk and really, really adored the setting in UK during World War II, the book as a whole didn't fit me very well. I'm unsure if I'll return for the following books.
It has, at times, a sort of rambling way of storytelling that is allowed to take its time, rather than being streamlined to fit any sort of fast paced, action-packed, modern notion of storytelling.
Some might with out a doubt love it, but I didn't.
Squabbling between characters might have revealed character traits along the way, but it also irked me to no end. I wanted forward-motion, not instances of juvenile "Did not!/Did too!" bickering scenes, that went on far longer than it had to.
The main character, Faye, was both refreshingly feisty - and annoyingly childish.
I kept wondering about her age until someone eventually mentioned that she's 17 - and calls her childish.
Because she is very childish. I thought she was 12 or something at times.
There are plenty of adult jokes thought out the book, but they sort of clash with the rest of the content, because in general, I felt like I was listening to a book for children, rather than anything else. But then some sort of insinuating joke was inserted and I would have to blink and think: "Oh, okay, this might be for adults in spite of everything?" before the more youthful tone returned.
While I liked the somewhat creepy mystery involving the Crow Folk and really, really adored the setting in UK during World War II, the book as a whole didn't fit me very well. I'm unsure if I'll return for the following books.
February 18, 2025
Reading the description of this book, I was very excited to start reading it. I was rather wary of the comparison with the great Terry Pratchett, and I worried that I would be disappointed. This book is not discworld, it's set in 1940 in a rural corner of Kent. War forms a backdrop to the story, with spitfires flying overhead, creating an atmosphere of distrust and anxiety. Faye Bright is the seventeen year old protagonist, the daughter of the village pub landlord, and she is still angry about the death of her mother when she was four years old. Whilst sorting through junk in the cellar she comes across a book full of rituals and spells written by her mother. At the same time, strange things are happening with the scarecrows and it's a all getting out of hand.
This is a story about witches demons and magic. It is also a story about loss, love and acceptance. Infused with a witty humour (that draws the comparison with Terry Pratchett), it is a quick and light read. The characters in their rural idyll are strongly drawn. This is the first book in a series featuring the witches, and I can't wait to read the next book.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
This is a story about witches demons and magic. It is also a story about loss, love and acceptance. Infused with a witty humour (that draws the comparison with Terry Pratchett), it is a quick and light read. The characters in their rural idyll are strongly drawn. This is the first book in a series featuring the witches, and I can't wait to read the next book.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
October 30, 2022
Loved this!
The setting was perfect, I enjoyed the time period and the characters were so vivid!
Creepy and atmospheric but also with humour!
The setting was perfect, I enjoyed the time period and the characters were so vivid!
Creepy and atmospheric but also with humour!
September 29, 2022
Really fun. The kind of book that needed to be written. The only scary bit was near the end. Also I loved the dialogue- very bucolic and of the time.
June 14, 2022
Das Cover ist einfach wunderschön und verspricht magische, mystische Stimmung, Spannung und eine Welt zum Abtauchen…
Leider trifft davon aus meiner Sicht nicht viel drauf zu.
Der Schreibstil ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber nach einer Weile kam ich damit klar. Ich konnte das Buch relativ schnell lesen, was allerdings nicht am Lesefluss sondern an den extrem kurzen Kapiteln lag (ich lese aber immer lieber kurze als lange Kapitel ;D).
Zu den Protas… Naja. Also Faye war mir direkt etwas unsympathisch mit ihrer forschen Art und sie ist super naiv. Ich musste mehrmals mit den Augen rollen. Klar, man kann einige Handlungen von ihr nachvollziehen und sie ist kein schlechter Mensch, aber ich konnte mich einfach nicht mit ihr identifizieren und wenn ich ehrlich bin war mir im Laufe des Buches irgendwann fast egal, was mit ihr passiert.
Spannung gab es mal hier und da etwas sporadisch, aber nicht so, dass mich das Buch wirklich fesseln konnte.
Schön fand ich die Zeit in der das Buch spielt, das war einfach mal was anderes und hat neugierig gemacht :)
Alles in allem bin ich mir sicher, dass es einfach nichts für mich war. Ich bin auch nicht wirklich daran interessiert, die Folgebände zu lesen, die Bonusgeschichte über Mrs. Teach habe ich auch eher überflogen.
Sehr schade, aber vielleicht findet jemand anders Freude darin :)
Leider trifft davon aus meiner Sicht nicht viel drauf zu.
Der Schreibstil ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber nach einer Weile kam ich damit klar. Ich konnte das Buch relativ schnell lesen, was allerdings nicht am Lesefluss sondern an den extrem kurzen Kapiteln lag (ich lese aber immer lieber kurze als lange Kapitel ;D).
Zu den Protas… Naja. Also Faye war mir direkt etwas unsympathisch mit ihrer forschen Art und sie ist super naiv. Ich musste mehrmals mit den Augen rollen. Klar, man kann einige Handlungen von ihr nachvollziehen und sie ist kein schlechter Mensch, aber ich konnte mich einfach nicht mit ihr identifizieren und wenn ich ehrlich bin war mir im Laufe des Buches irgendwann fast egal, was mit ihr passiert.
Spannung gab es mal hier und da etwas sporadisch, aber nicht so, dass mich das Buch wirklich fesseln konnte.
Schön fand ich die Zeit in der das Buch spielt, das war einfach mal was anderes und hat neugierig gemacht :)
Alles in allem bin ich mir sicher, dass es einfach nichts für mich war. Ich bin auch nicht wirklich daran interessiert, die Folgebände zu lesen, die Bonusgeschichte über Mrs. Teach habe ich auch eher überflogen.
Sehr schade, aber vielleicht findet jemand anders Freude darin :)
November 17, 2020
I loved this book - it's funny and pacey, I raced through it. The wartime setting felt well-researched without hammering the research home, and the tone is assured and delightful. And what I also felt throughout is that Stay is clearly a man who loves his women-folk. So a big thumbs up all round.
Stay has brewed a cracking blend of charm and creepiness in The Crow Folk. A rip-roaring tale of bravery and witchcraft on the wartime home front, expertly told with lashings of wit and warmth.
Stay has brewed a cracking blend of charm and creepiness in The Crow Folk. A rip-roaring tale of bravery and witchcraft on the wartime home front, expertly told with lashings of wit and warmth.
August 17, 2021
On the back it says this book is a cross between "Doctor Who and Wurzel Gummidge" which not only persuaded me to buy it (amazing how enticing those two references are) but also it's pretty accurate. A quintessentially English blend of witchcraft, folk horror and Dad's Army, with lots of cozy elements like country pubs and bellringing and jam roly poly, it's a perfect book to curl up with. Look forward to the sequel and recommended.
January 10, 2025
Extrem langweilig und kaum eine Handlung vorhanden :(
Man hätte die Handlung der fast 400 Seiten in 20 Seiten verfassen können..😀
Die Kurzgeschichte am Ende war viel spannender als die eigentliche Story.
Man hätte die Handlung der fast 400 Seiten in 20 Seiten verfassen können..😀
Die Kurzgeschichte am Ende war viel spannender als die eigentliche Story.
May 28, 2021
Magical, innocent and charming.
Simply a delight.
I want more!
Simply a delight.
I want more!
March 1, 2021
One of the greatest joys of reading is how it transports you from the real world into one full of imagination and drama. The best fiction treats the reader to hours of captivating diversions. a release from the life we are living. Both a form of comfort and the best entertainment I know.
The Crow Folk by Mark Stay takes the best elements of different genres, historical, fantasy, coming of age and war stories and creates from them a story that feels both magical and adventurous.
Telling the tale of Faye Bright, who thinks she is an ordinary young lady, until she stumbles across her late mum’s diary, full of spells and a recipe for Jam Rolly Polly! From this point on she goes on a journey of self discovery and battles to save her village from the rather scary Crow Folk.
What I loved about this novel was the way the writer injects magic into his story. Something I miss as an adult reader, is a dam good adventure where realism is emboldened with the fantastical and the magical, creating a story that excites my imagination. In The Crow Folk the writer recreated that sense of wonder I had as a child reading books like C S Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Like that classic, it gives us a glimpse into the past, using themes of good an evil, ranged against each other, in a battle for freedom. I found within it’s pages that same sense of wonder I found last year in the very wonderful Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce.
Mark Stay creates and grounds his story in the real world of World War two Britain, taking the battles of the front and reimaging them in a tale of witchcraft in a small country village. The enemy are the Crow Folk and the villagers are the army raged against them. But he never loses sight of what makes a story work, the ability to be so enagaged by all the elements of the story that the world outside the pages of the book simply drift away. Even as adults we need a break from reality, the chance to escape the bounds of this strange world we are caught in and this is what he delivers.
The characters are fantastic, besides Faye we have an eclectic bunch of villagers a few witches and best of all the heroine herself. Indomitable, brave and with just the right levels of self doubt, she’s grows over the course of the story and the writer adds some touching reflections on the loss of her mother and how it shapes the character we meet. It would have been easier to simply make her a one dimensional, all gun-ho adventure girl, but her depth of character generated for me a more nuanced reaction. Your imagination grips the rip roaring tale of adventure, while your heart swells with love because of the warmth of the relationship between father and daughter, Faye and Bertie and the villages resident witches. I was charmed by the warmth of the writing and the writers obvious love for his tale.
I would recommend this book to so many people. Adults who loved Miss Benson’s Beetle and fans of Terry Pratchetts clever use of character and fantasy.
The Crow Folk by Mark Stay takes the best elements of different genres, historical, fantasy, coming of age and war stories and creates from them a story that feels both magical and adventurous.
Telling the tale of Faye Bright, who thinks she is an ordinary young lady, until she stumbles across her late mum’s diary, full of spells and a recipe for Jam Rolly Polly! From this point on she goes on a journey of self discovery and battles to save her village from the rather scary Crow Folk.
What I loved about this novel was the way the writer injects magic into his story. Something I miss as an adult reader, is a dam good adventure where realism is emboldened with the fantastical and the magical, creating a story that excites my imagination. In The Crow Folk the writer recreated that sense of wonder I had as a child reading books like C S Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Like that classic, it gives us a glimpse into the past, using themes of good an evil, ranged against each other, in a battle for freedom. I found within it’s pages that same sense of wonder I found last year in the very wonderful Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce.
Mark Stay creates and grounds his story in the real world of World War two Britain, taking the battles of the front and reimaging them in a tale of witchcraft in a small country village. The enemy are the Crow Folk and the villagers are the army raged against them. But he never loses sight of what makes a story work, the ability to be so enagaged by all the elements of the story that the world outside the pages of the book simply drift away. Even as adults we need a break from reality, the chance to escape the bounds of this strange world we are caught in and this is what he delivers.
The characters are fantastic, besides Faye we have an eclectic bunch of villagers a few witches and best of all the heroine herself. Indomitable, brave and with just the right levels of self doubt, she’s grows over the course of the story and the writer adds some touching reflections on the loss of her mother and how it shapes the character we meet. It would have been easier to simply make her a one dimensional, all gun-ho adventure girl, but her depth of character generated for me a more nuanced reaction. Your imagination grips the rip roaring tale of adventure, while your heart swells with love because of the warmth of the relationship between father and daughter, Faye and Bertie and the villages resident witches. I was charmed by the warmth of the writing and the writers obvious love for his tale.
I would recommend this book to so many people. Adults who loved Miss Benson’s Beetle and fans of Terry Pratchetts clever use of character and fantasy.
October 5, 2022
Wer sich in Halloween-Stimmung bringen möchte, aber viel zu gruselige Geschichten nicht gut verträgt, sollte sich den Hexen von Woodville anschließen!
Die junge Faye lebt in England in einem kleinen Dorf in Kent, wirklich weit weg von allem. Es ist das Jahr 1940, der Krieg ist allgegenwärtig und in diesem beschaulichen Dorf leben Hexen.
Als Faye das Tagebuch ihrer verstorbenen Mutter findet, begreift sie, warum sie immer das Gefühl hatte, anders zu sein. Ihre Mutter war eine Hexe und da stellt sich die Frage, was hat Faye von ihr geerbt?
Doch kaum als sie anfängt, sich mit dem Thema “Hexerei” zu beschäftigen, da passieren ungewöhnliche Dinge im Dorf, wie eine Gruppe Vogelscheuchen die Menschen umbringen will …
Bei “Rabenzauber” von Mark Stay handelt es sich um den Beginn einer Trilogie rund um das junge Mädchen und ihr Dorf. Es ist eine magische Geschichte, die angesiedelt ist in einer schweren historischen Zeit, die der Autor gut einbringt mit einer naiven und “mit-dem-Kopf-durch-die-Wand”-Heldin.
Hexerei und der Zweite Weltkrieg werden hier gut verpackt, wobei letzteres eher ein Hintergrundmotiv für das Geschehen im Dorf ist, zumindest für den ersten Band der Reihe. Neben Faye haben wir zahlreiche weitere spannende Personen, bzw. Nachbarn, von denen wohl jeder eine Geschichte auf Lager hat. Besonders zu Fayes Mutter, über die sie sehr wenig weiß.
Der Autor hat eine magische, mit Gruseleffekt versehene Geschichte gezaubert, indem die Heldin sich gegen alles und jeden stellen muss.
Mit leichten Witz und immer wiederkehrenden Wendungen gleitet man so dahin und übersieht gerne ein paar charakterliche Schwachpunkte.
So ist es, dass das Alter von Faye nicht gerade auf der ersten Seite steht und ich nahm lange an, dass es sich hierbei um ein sehr junges Mädchen um die 12 Jahre handelt. Ihre Art, ihr Verhalten, wie sie redet … das alles schien für mich eindeutig. Aber als dann herauskam, bzw. erwähnt wurde, dass sie bereits 17 Jahre alt ist.
Ja, ich war kurz geschockt. Sie ist wohl eine sehr naive und kindliche junge Frau und ich hoffe, dass wir in den nächsten Teilen ihr Heranwachsen erleben dürfen.
Der erste Band las sich wie ein guter Einstieg in die Welt von Faye und der Hexerei. Es gibt einige Hinweise für interessante Geschichten, die noch kommen können und auch die Klappentexte der nächsten zwei Teile versprechen einen unterhaltsamen Abend.
Wer Lust hat auf eine magische Geschichte, in einem alten Dorf mit herzerwärmenden Bewohnern und mysteriösen Begebenheiten, sollte zugreifen.
Für mich ist es eine “Feel-Good” -Reihe mit leichtem Gruseleffekt, passend für den Herbst und für die zartbesaiteten Halloween-Fans!
Die junge Faye lebt in England in einem kleinen Dorf in Kent, wirklich weit weg von allem. Es ist das Jahr 1940, der Krieg ist allgegenwärtig und in diesem beschaulichen Dorf leben Hexen.
Als Faye das Tagebuch ihrer verstorbenen Mutter findet, begreift sie, warum sie immer das Gefühl hatte, anders zu sein. Ihre Mutter war eine Hexe und da stellt sich die Frage, was hat Faye von ihr geerbt?
Doch kaum als sie anfängt, sich mit dem Thema “Hexerei” zu beschäftigen, da passieren ungewöhnliche Dinge im Dorf, wie eine Gruppe Vogelscheuchen die Menschen umbringen will …
Bei “Rabenzauber” von Mark Stay handelt es sich um den Beginn einer Trilogie rund um das junge Mädchen und ihr Dorf. Es ist eine magische Geschichte, die angesiedelt ist in einer schweren historischen Zeit, die der Autor gut einbringt mit einer naiven und “mit-dem-Kopf-durch-die-Wand”-Heldin.
Hexerei und der Zweite Weltkrieg werden hier gut verpackt, wobei letzteres eher ein Hintergrundmotiv für das Geschehen im Dorf ist, zumindest für den ersten Band der Reihe. Neben Faye haben wir zahlreiche weitere spannende Personen, bzw. Nachbarn, von denen wohl jeder eine Geschichte auf Lager hat. Besonders zu Fayes Mutter, über die sie sehr wenig weiß.
Der Autor hat eine magische, mit Gruseleffekt versehene Geschichte gezaubert, indem die Heldin sich gegen alles und jeden stellen muss.
Mit leichten Witz und immer wiederkehrenden Wendungen gleitet man so dahin und übersieht gerne ein paar charakterliche Schwachpunkte.
So ist es, dass das Alter von Faye nicht gerade auf der ersten Seite steht und ich nahm lange an, dass es sich hierbei um ein sehr junges Mädchen um die 12 Jahre handelt. Ihre Art, ihr Verhalten, wie sie redet … das alles schien für mich eindeutig. Aber als dann herauskam, bzw. erwähnt wurde, dass sie bereits 17 Jahre alt ist.
Ja, ich war kurz geschockt. Sie ist wohl eine sehr naive und kindliche junge Frau und ich hoffe, dass wir in den nächsten Teilen ihr Heranwachsen erleben dürfen.
Der erste Band las sich wie ein guter Einstieg in die Welt von Faye und der Hexerei. Es gibt einige Hinweise für interessante Geschichten, die noch kommen können und auch die Klappentexte der nächsten zwei Teile versprechen einen unterhaltsamen Abend.
Wer Lust hat auf eine magische Geschichte, in einem alten Dorf mit herzerwärmenden Bewohnern und mysteriösen Begebenheiten, sollte zugreifen.
Für mich ist es eine “Feel-Good” -Reihe mit leichtem Gruseleffekt, passend für den Herbst und für die zartbesaiteten Halloween-Fans!
February 4, 2021
Inanimate objects coming to life. A lineage of magic. An unforgiving demon. A world war.
'The Crow Folk' is the story of Faye, a teenager, who stands out as the 'peculiar' one in her village, while a war shuts down an activity she lives the most, ring-bearing. Meanwhile, the underworld and the real world have come into a confluence and weird things start happening.
The book doesn't give much importance to the war, which I felt was a major contributing factor to it being such a good read; it just borders on historical fiction while the main theme is fantasy. Such strong characters and a well-scripted plotline!
There were so many incidents that made me crack up; especially little kinks of Faye's relationship with her dad. He deserves extra appreciation and I really do hope the next book involves more of him and his lame dad jokes.
If you're looking for a good fantasy read, do pick this up. I cannot wait for the next book!
'The Crow Folk' is the story of Faye, a teenager, who stands out as the 'peculiar' one in her village, while a war shuts down an activity she lives the most, ring-bearing. Meanwhile, the underworld and the real world have come into a confluence and weird things start happening.
The book doesn't give much importance to the war, which I felt was a major contributing factor to it being such a good read; it just borders on historical fiction while the main theme is fantasy. Such strong characters and a well-scripted plotline!
There were so many incidents that made me crack up; especially little kinks of Faye's relationship with her dad. He deserves extra appreciation and I really do hope the next book involves more of him and his lame dad jokes.
If you're looking for a good fantasy read, do pick this up. I cannot wait for the next book!
January 14, 2021
The Crow Folk is a truly heartwarming, whimsical, humorous folklore fantasy adventure set in 1940s Kent. It's brimming with a cast of colourful characters, a wonderfully vibrant setting and a huge amount of heart. Oh, and plenty of dad jokes. Think somewhere between Terry Pratchett and a Studio Ghibli film, and you've found The Crow Folk.
The story follows our main character, Faye, as she wrestles with the loss of her mother who died when she was a young child. Though her mother left her life far before she was really old enough to remember a huge amount about her, Faye finds herself at odds with desperately wanting to know more about her, whilst at the same time wanting to live her life without any knowledge of who her mother really was. Enter a book that holds many more secrets than Faye was prepared to uncover: her mother's journal, full to bursting with spells and...bell ringing patterns?
From this point on there are strange goings on, multiple scarecrows, magic, pumpkins and a fair amount of threat, but still so much heart. How Mark successfully balances a genuine level of threat and suspense with so much joy and humour, I'll never know.
On starting this novel, I didn't realise it would be the first in a series. I'm so glad that it is and will rush to buy novel number 2 when it comes out. I would highly recommend The Crow Folk to anyone that loves fantastical stories with magic and joy, and most definitely to anyone that loves Terry Pratchett.
The story follows our main character, Faye, as she wrestles with the loss of her mother who died when she was a young child. Though her mother left her life far before she was really old enough to remember a huge amount about her, Faye finds herself at odds with desperately wanting to know more about her, whilst at the same time wanting to live her life without any knowledge of who her mother really was. Enter a book that holds many more secrets than Faye was prepared to uncover: her mother's journal, full to bursting with spells and...bell ringing patterns?
From this point on there are strange goings on, multiple scarecrows, magic, pumpkins and a fair amount of threat, but still so much heart. How Mark successfully balances a genuine level of threat and suspense with so much joy and humour, I'll never know.
On starting this novel, I didn't realise it would be the first in a series. I'm so glad that it is and will rush to buy novel number 2 when it comes out. I would highly recommend The Crow Folk to anyone that loves fantastical stories with magic and joy, and most definitely to anyone that loves Terry Pratchett.
February 11, 2021
Strange things are afoot in the small village of Woodville. The 1940s wartime was a superb historical backdrop for the story of 17-year-old Faye Bright, who only wants to do her part. She finds an old book of her long deceased mother’s in a trunk, and her life becomes a whirlwind of the strange. The mysterious Pumpkinhead threatens everything and everyone she loves, and she is desperate to defeat him, even though the townsfolk think she is crazy and refuse to believe what’s right before their eyes. It’s spooky, humorous and heartwarming. I can’t say more without spoiling too many things, so I’ll just say that the magic seeps in dribs and drabs until it becomes a flood.
This is one of those stories you forget you’re reading and feel you’re living right along with the characters. Every character was full of heart and life. I felt like I was there in the Green Man Pub, in the hop fields, and ringing bells in Saint Irene’s with them. The author used such lovely prose to personify the woods of Woodville and even the birds. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting it down.
It’s a story about war, family, loss, growing up, fitting in, and how life doesn’t always turn out how we expect. I’m so excited this is the first of a trilogy and can’t wait for the next installment!
If you love witches, magic, and a good spook, then this is a book for you.
This is one of those stories you forget you’re reading and feel you’re living right along with the characters. Every character was full of heart and life. I felt like I was there in the Green Man Pub, in the hop fields, and ringing bells in Saint Irene’s with them. The author used such lovely prose to personify the woods of Woodville and even the birds. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting it down.
It’s a story about war, family, loss, growing up, fitting in, and how life doesn’t always turn out how we expect. I’m so excited this is the first of a trilogy and can’t wait for the next installment!
If you love witches, magic, and a good spook, then this is a book for you.
July 13, 2022
As soon as I started listening to this story, I was enthralled. The narrator, Candida Gubbins, is absolutely brilliant! I loved her narration so much I am now listening to Babes in the Woods - the second book in the series - which is just as good.
Faye Bright is such an interesting character right from the start. Upon finding a book about witchcraft in her dead mother’s trunk of personal items, Faye realises there is more to her mother than her father lets on. Sadly, Faye’s father, the local pub owner Terrance, is not up to sharing stories or answering the multitude of questions that Faye has. Even when the scarecrow people come to town scaring people and demanding the very book Faye discovered he avoids speaking of Faye’s mother - it hurts too much.
The plot is fast, the story is engaging and very exciting, the many characters are delightful, what else can I say? Ah, the humour… I burst out laughing many times and I am sure my neighbours think I have completely lost it; especially since I was in the garden alone when I had the sudden fits of laughter. Mark, you are so very witty; unexpectedly so.
If Nancy Drew were a witch she’d be named Faye Bright. As a fan of Drew’s mysteries as a child, Faye fills the void as an adult. I may even enjoy Faye Bright better - sorry Nancy.
I am enjoying the second book immensely. The Witches of Woodville series is exactly the kind of books I love to read to soothe my inner child and I plan to read them all! Why not?
Faye Bright is such an interesting character right from the start. Upon finding a book about witchcraft in her dead mother’s trunk of personal items, Faye realises there is more to her mother than her father lets on. Sadly, Faye’s father, the local pub owner Terrance, is not up to sharing stories or answering the multitude of questions that Faye has. Even when the scarecrow people come to town scaring people and demanding the very book Faye discovered he avoids speaking of Faye’s mother - it hurts too much.
The plot is fast, the story is engaging and very exciting, the many characters are delightful, what else can I say? Ah, the humour… I burst out laughing many times and I am sure my neighbours think I have completely lost it; especially since I was in the garden alone when I had the sudden fits of laughter. Mark, you are so very witty; unexpectedly so.
If Nancy Drew were a witch she’d be named Faye Bright. As a fan of Drew’s mysteries as a child, Faye fills the void as an adult. I may even enjoy Faye Bright better - sorry Nancy.
I am enjoying the second book immensely. The Witches of Woodville series is exactly the kind of books I love to read to soothe my inner child and I plan to read them all! Why not?
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