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Witches of Woodville #2
Babes in the Wood
'A young witch to rival Tiffany Aching. Magic!'—FMA Dixon
'ACE. Smart and funny and written so warmly. It's an absolutely smashing read'—Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World
The Witches of Woodville Part 2
July, 1940
In a quiet village in rural Kent, a magical mystery leads to murder . . .
Woodville has returned to 'normal' after the departure of the Crow Folk. The villagers put out fires from aircraft shot down in the Battle of Britain, and Faye Bright discovers that magic can be just as dangerous as any weapon.
The arrival of a trio of Jewish children fleeing the Nazis brings the fight for Europe to the village. When their guardian is found dead, Faye must play nanny to the terrified children while gathering clues to uncover a dark magic that threatens to change the course of the war. And she must do it quickly – the children have seen too much and someone wants them silenced for good.
For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes the second novel in this delightful trilogy of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . .
Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series!
#1 The Crow Folk
#2 Babes in the Wood
#3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn
Praise for The Witches of Woodville series
'Beautiful and engaging and clever and what more could you ask for in a book?'—Manda Scott, bestselling author of A Treachery of Spies
'A young witch to rival Tiffany Aching. Magic!'—FMA Dixon
'ACE. Smart and funny and written so warmly. It's an absolutely smashing read'—Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World
'Swept me straight back to days of losing myself in Diana Wynne Jones novels, and getting lost in truly absorbing, sometimes scary, sometimes emotive adventure with its roots in folklore and history. A story that is full of magic and delight that will thrill readers of any age' — Rowan Coleman, author of The Girl at the Window
'A delightful mash-up of Dad’s Army and Charmed. An absolute treat'—CK McDonnell, author of Stranger Times
‘Warm, witty, witchy wartime fun. With Mark Stay as writer you're always guaranteed a magical read’ — Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries
‘You'll love it: Doctor Who meets Worzel Gummidge’ — Lorna Cook, author of The Forgotten Village
‘A jolly romp with witches, demons, and bellringing. Pratchett fans will enjoy this, and Faye is a feisty and fun hero. Dad's Army meets Witches of Eastwick’—Ian W Sainsbury
'ACE. Smart and funny and written so warmly. It's an absolutely smashing read'—Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World
The Witches of Woodville Part 2
July, 1940
In a quiet village in rural Kent, a magical mystery leads to murder . . .
Woodville has returned to 'normal' after the departure of the Crow Folk. The villagers put out fires from aircraft shot down in the Battle of Britain, and Faye Bright discovers that magic can be just as dangerous as any weapon.
The arrival of a trio of Jewish children fleeing the Nazis brings the fight for Europe to the village. When their guardian is found dead, Faye must play nanny to the terrified children while gathering clues to uncover a dark magic that threatens to change the course of the war. And she must do it quickly – the children have seen too much and someone wants them silenced for good.
For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes the second novel in this delightful trilogy of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . .
Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series!
#1 The Crow Folk
#2 Babes in the Wood
#3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn
Praise for The Witches of Woodville series
'Beautiful and engaging and clever and what more could you ask for in a book?'—Manda Scott, bestselling author of A Treachery of Spies
'A young witch to rival Tiffany Aching. Magic!'—FMA Dixon
'ACE. Smart and funny and written so warmly. It's an absolutely smashing read'—Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World
'Swept me straight back to days of losing myself in Diana Wynne Jones novels, and getting lost in truly absorbing, sometimes scary, sometimes emotive adventure with its roots in folklore and history. A story that is full of magic and delight that will thrill readers of any age' — Rowan Coleman, author of The Girl at the Window
'A delightful mash-up of Dad’s Army and Charmed. An absolute treat'—CK McDonnell, author of Stranger Times
‘Warm, witty, witchy wartime fun. With Mark Stay as writer you're always guaranteed a magical read’ — Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries
‘You'll love it: Doctor Who meets Worzel Gummidge’ — Lorna Cook, author of The Forgotten Village
‘A jolly romp with witches, demons, and bellringing. Pratchett fans will enjoy this, and Faye is a feisty and fun hero. Dad's Army meets Witches of Eastwick’—Ian W Sainsbury
401 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2021
57 people are currently reading
434 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 90 reviews
January 20, 2023
Highly entertaining! Funnier than the first one, flows beautifully making it a quick read. Perfect escapism for a bleak and cold January. I love Faye and the witches!
December 2, 2021
Babes in the Wood is set a month after the strange events that occurred during the previous book in the Witches of Woodville series, The Crow Folk and village life has almost returned to whatever passes for normal in wartime Woodville - but not for long. The Saint Irene's Bell-Ringers' Tower summer outing may have eventually gone ahead despite the ban on bell-ringing but as they return to the village, the war suddenly makes its presence felt in Woodville.
Faye Bright is the plucky heroine of this series and right from the start of Babes in the Wood, we see her courage as she dramatically rescues three Jewish children and their guardian who have arrived as part of the Kindertransport rescue effort. Some of the villagers react badly to finding four Germans in their midst and she is the one to stand up to them but when Klaus shakes her hand to thank her, it seems as though her burgeoning magical abilities might be trying to warn her of an upcoming tragedy.
In many ways. Faye epitomises life for young women at this time; she is on the brink of womanhood, not quite sure of who she is yet but wanting to make a difference. It just so happens that she is also a witch. She is now receiving magic lessons from Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach but her frustration at what she feels is her lack of progress is almost palpable. However, despite being a book that's brimming with warm humour, there is real drama and tension here too and it's fascinating to see her belief in herself grow alongside her magical prowess.
A humorous novel which touches on the Holocaust has to tread carefully and Mark Stay gets the balance exactly right here. There is no doubt as to what they have fled and though it's clear that their parents have protected them from the worst of the violence, the very fact that they have been separated and forced to escape across the Channel bears witness to their terrifying experiences. Their fear and uncertainty is conveyed with real empathy but there are many heartwarming and funny scenes featuring the youngsters too, particularly the youngest, Rudolf whose enthusiastic, "GUBBA DEE, GUVNOR?" made me laugh out loud.
Babes in the Wood isn't a children's book but it captures that same wonderful sense of adventure and magic. This is the sort of storytelling that casts the reader into a world of excitement with a frisson of fear. As the book progresses, there are some seriously dark forces at play resulting in some nightmarish scenes where although I wanted to assume everything would turn out okay, earlier events suggested that more tragedy may follow. It's made clear throughout that although the witches of Woodville have powers which may be able to prevent some atrocities from taking place, they cannot alter the course of every act of evil.
Faye, Mrs Teach and Miss Charlotte come face to face with a chilling new villain here and with Nazism on the march across Europe, he has sinister ambitions to support Hitler's plans for the Thousand Year Reich. He's not the only antagonist, however, and despite their identity being clearly signposted from the start, it's still intriguing to discover what their motivations are and whether they can be stopped. The war impinges on daily life still further in Woodville in Babes in the Wood, from the poignant reality of the pilots who drink at the pub one day but then fail to return from their latest mission to more alarming developments which lead to some of the villagers fearing the invasion is imminent.
The superb evocation of the period is augmented still further by the recognition of class differences cleverly woven into the plot. After Faye agrees to temporarily nanny for the Jewish children, she works at Hayward Lodge, home of Lord and Lady Aston. They are exactly as you'd imagine a lord and lady of the time should be; graciously hosting village fetes and supporting the war effort. As was common then, their house has become a hospital for injured soldiers but while the Astons appear to be altruistic, it soon becomes evident that they have secrets of their own and as Terrence cautions Faye not to fall for all their airs and graces.
I adored the cast of characters in The Crow Folk and Babes in the Wood sees the welcome return of many of them, with Faye's best friend, the loveable Bertie Butterworth being a real highlight. He may not have magic but he does have an innate, principled sense of kindness and faith in others, and I had my fingers crossed for his happiness throughout. A few new characters are introduced too and I loved Mr Gilbert and Mr Brewer whose relationship is widely known and accepted in this special little village, despite being against the law at that time. As the series advances. I'm really enjoying discovering more about the various inhabitants of Woodville and to become further invested in what happens to them, especially when dark forces seek to cause harm and misery.
Babes in the Wood is as wonderfully engaging a read as The Crow Folk and although it can be read as a standalone, I really would recommend reading the books in order to truly appreciate this strange, magical world that Mark Stay has created. A joy to read from start to finish, Babes in the Wood is exciting, moving and utterly captivating. I never want this series to end!
Faye Bright is the plucky heroine of this series and right from the start of Babes in the Wood, we see her courage as she dramatically rescues three Jewish children and their guardian who have arrived as part of the Kindertransport rescue effort. Some of the villagers react badly to finding four Germans in their midst and she is the one to stand up to them but when Klaus shakes her hand to thank her, it seems as though her burgeoning magical abilities might be trying to warn her of an upcoming tragedy.
In many ways. Faye epitomises life for young women at this time; she is on the brink of womanhood, not quite sure of who she is yet but wanting to make a difference. It just so happens that she is also a witch. She is now receiving magic lessons from Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach but her frustration at what she feels is her lack of progress is almost palpable. However, despite being a book that's brimming with warm humour, there is real drama and tension here too and it's fascinating to see her belief in herself grow alongside her magical prowess.
A humorous novel which touches on the Holocaust has to tread carefully and Mark Stay gets the balance exactly right here. There is no doubt as to what they have fled and though it's clear that their parents have protected them from the worst of the violence, the very fact that they have been separated and forced to escape across the Channel bears witness to their terrifying experiences. Their fear and uncertainty is conveyed with real empathy but there are many heartwarming and funny scenes featuring the youngsters too, particularly the youngest, Rudolf whose enthusiastic, "GUBBA DEE, GUVNOR?" made me laugh out loud.
Babes in the Wood isn't a children's book but it captures that same wonderful sense of adventure and magic. This is the sort of storytelling that casts the reader into a world of excitement with a frisson of fear. As the book progresses, there are some seriously dark forces at play resulting in some nightmarish scenes where although I wanted to assume everything would turn out okay, earlier events suggested that more tragedy may follow. It's made clear throughout that although the witches of Woodville have powers which may be able to prevent some atrocities from taking place, they cannot alter the course of every act of evil.
Faye, Mrs Teach and Miss Charlotte come face to face with a chilling new villain here and with Nazism on the march across Europe, he has sinister ambitions to support Hitler's plans for the Thousand Year Reich. He's not the only antagonist, however, and despite their identity being clearly signposted from the start, it's still intriguing to discover what their motivations are and whether they can be stopped. The war impinges on daily life still further in Woodville in Babes in the Wood, from the poignant reality of the pilots who drink at the pub one day but then fail to return from their latest mission to more alarming developments which lead to some of the villagers fearing the invasion is imminent.
The superb evocation of the period is augmented still further by the recognition of class differences cleverly woven into the plot. After Faye agrees to temporarily nanny for the Jewish children, she works at Hayward Lodge, home of Lord and Lady Aston. They are exactly as you'd imagine a lord and lady of the time should be; graciously hosting village fetes and supporting the war effort. As was common then, their house has become a hospital for injured soldiers but while the Astons appear to be altruistic, it soon becomes evident that they have secrets of their own and as Terrence cautions Faye not to fall for all their airs and graces.
I adored the cast of characters in The Crow Folk and Babes in the Wood sees the welcome return of many of them, with Faye's best friend, the loveable Bertie Butterworth being a real highlight. He may not have magic but he does have an innate, principled sense of kindness and faith in others, and I had my fingers crossed for his happiness throughout. A few new characters are introduced too and I loved Mr Gilbert and Mr Brewer whose relationship is widely known and accepted in this special little village, despite being against the law at that time. As the series advances. I'm really enjoying discovering more about the various inhabitants of Woodville and to become further invested in what happens to them, especially when dark forces seek to cause harm and misery.
Babes in the Wood is as wonderfully engaging a read as The Crow Folk and although it can be read as a standalone, I really would recommend reading the books in order to truly appreciate this strange, magical world that Mark Stay has created. A joy to read from start to finish, Babes in the Wood is exciting, moving and utterly captivating. I never want this series to end!
November 7, 2021
3.75🌟
Really enjoyed my return to Woodville and another bonkers adventure with Faye Bright. This was a much anticipated read and although some characters and events were so 'arch' they nearly tipped over into parody, the book lived up to expectations. There were serious themes amongst the life-prolonging apple tree, nazi spies, deadly visions, mind control and shape-shifting demons which gave the story depth. I am now eagerly looking forward to the next Witches of Woodville book
Really enjoyed my return to Woodville and another bonkers adventure with Faye Bright. This was a much anticipated read and although some characters and events were so 'arch' they nearly tipped over into parody, the book lived up to expectations. There were serious themes amongst the life-prolonging apple tree, nazi spies, deadly visions, mind control and shape-shifting demons which gave the story depth. I am now eagerly looking forward to the next Witches of Woodville book
October 2, 2021
Funny, atmospheric and a tiny bit scary. Perfect Halloween reading.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, so when this one popped up on Netgalley, I requested it immediately.
It's the 1940s, there's a war on. It's about a year since the events of The Crow Folk and most people seem to have forgotten about it. Faye is now a proper witch-in-training. When a plane crashes into the petrol garage, Faye rescues a group of German Jewish children on the Kindertransport. When she touches one of them, she sees his death. She decides she was going to try to stop it, whatever it takes.
There's German magicians, spies, a murder and a scary painting that glows. This book is a great adventure that barrels along at a pace. It's funny and realistic. There's definitely something of Tiffany Aching about the very sensible Faye.
I read this book in a day. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, so when this one popped up on Netgalley, I requested it immediately.
It's the 1940s, there's a war on. It's about a year since the events of The Crow Folk and most people seem to have forgotten about it. Faye is now a proper witch-in-training. When a plane crashes into the petrol garage, Faye rescues a group of German Jewish children on the Kindertransport. When she touches one of them, she sees his death. She decides she was going to try to stop it, whatever it takes.
There's German magicians, spies, a murder and a scary painting that glows. This book is a great adventure that barrels along at a pace. It's funny and realistic. There's definitely something of Tiffany Aching about the very sensible Faye.
I read this book in a day. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 13, 2022
Ein Leuchten durchströmt die Dunkelheit
So langsam kehrt, nach den Vorkommnissen mit dem Krähenvolk, im beschaulichen Woodville wieder etwas Ruhe und Normalität ein. Doch England befindet sich immer noch mitten in der Abwehr deutscher Streitkräfte. Als Faye eines Tages vier Waisenkinder rettet, überkommt sie eine fürchterliche Vision, sie muss die Fremden schützen, doch wie soll sie das anstellen? Selbst ihre zwei magischen Patinnen raten ihr, es zu ignorieren „was geschehen soll wird geschehen!“ damit kann und will sich Faye aber nicht zufriedengeben. Als ein furchtbares Unglück passiert, halten dies alle für einen Unfall, dabei ist es viel schlimmer als sie es vermuten könnten, denn es liegt schwarze Magie in der Luft.
Auch im 2. Band finden wir uns in Woodville, England im Jahre 1940 wieder, der Krieg ist allgegenwärtig, doch die Bewohner versuchen ihr Leben so normal wie möglich zu bewältigen. Außer Faye, die mit ihren Zauber Patinnen gerade verzweifelt versucht etwas mehr über Magie zu lernen. Nur ist lernen fast schon zu viel gesagt. Ständig hört sie, was sie nicht darf, kann oder auf gar keinen Fall tun soll. Dabei muss sie schon bald stärkere Magie wirken als sie sich selber zugetraut hätte. Auch dieses Mal war es ein herrliches Abenteuer mit Faye in Woodville. Es fand sich etwas mehr Bezug zur historischen Situation, die damals herrschte. Zusammen mit ein paar magischen Elementen ergab das im Roman eine sehr ausgewogene Mischung, dem auch das gewisse etwas an Humor und zarter Liebe nicht fehlte. Die Charaktere waren schön ausgearbeitet, jeder hatte seinen Platz und seine Aufgaben, sowie Eigenheiten. Besonders Faye ist Mark Stay sehr gut gelungen. Eine 17. Jährige, die anpackt wo sie gebraucht wird, ein gutes, gütiges Herz hat, wütend wird, wenn man sie unterschätzt, keine Ahnung hat was sie von diesem ganzen Romantik Ding halten soll und wahrscheinlich neben ihrem Vater das beste Pint weit und braun zapfen kann. Das Buch kann sicherlich auch alleinstehend gelesen werden, da es eine in sich abgeschlossene Geschichte ist. Um jedoch alle Personen und die Zusammenhänge bestens verstehen zu können, würde ich empfehlen es der Reihe nach zu lesen.
Fazit: ein herzerwärmend, spannendes kleines Abenteuer, mit einer taffen 17. Jährigen und einer Prise Kerzen- und Spiegelzauber.
So langsam kehrt, nach den Vorkommnissen mit dem Krähenvolk, im beschaulichen Woodville wieder etwas Ruhe und Normalität ein. Doch England befindet sich immer noch mitten in der Abwehr deutscher Streitkräfte. Als Faye eines Tages vier Waisenkinder rettet, überkommt sie eine fürchterliche Vision, sie muss die Fremden schützen, doch wie soll sie das anstellen? Selbst ihre zwei magischen Patinnen raten ihr, es zu ignorieren „was geschehen soll wird geschehen!“ damit kann und will sich Faye aber nicht zufriedengeben. Als ein furchtbares Unglück passiert, halten dies alle für einen Unfall, dabei ist es viel schlimmer als sie es vermuten könnten, denn es liegt schwarze Magie in der Luft.
Auch im 2. Band finden wir uns in Woodville, England im Jahre 1940 wieder, der Krieg ist allgegenwärtig, doch die Bewohner versuchen ihr Leben so normal wie möglich zu bewältigen. Außer Faye, die mit ihren Zauber Patinnen gerade verzweifelt versucht etwas mehr über Magie zu lernen. Nur ist lernen fast schon zu viel gesagt. Ständig hört sie, was sie nicht darf, kann oder auf gar keinen Fall tun soll. Dabei muss sie schon bald stärkere Magie wirken als sie sich selber zugetraut hätte. Auch dieses Mal war es ein herrliches Abenteuer mit Faye in Woodville. Es fand sich etwas mehr Bezug zur historischen Situation, die damals herrschte. Zusammen mit ein paar magischen Elementen ergab das im Roman eine sehr ausgewogene Mischung, dem auch das gewisse etwas an Humor und zarter Liebe nicht fehlte. Die Charaktere waren schön ausgearbeitet, jeder hatte seinen Platz und seine Aufgaben, sowie Eigenheiten. Besonders Faye ist Mark Stay sehr gut gelungen. Eine 17. Jährige, die anpackt wo sie gebraucht wird, ein gutes, gütiges Herz hat, wütend wird, wenn man sie unterschätzt, keine Ahnung hat was sie von diesem ganzen Romantik Ding halten soll und wahrscheinlich neben ihrem Vater das beste Pint weit und braun zapfen kann. Das Buch kann sicherlich auch alleinstehend gelesen werden, da es eine in sich abgeschlossene Geschichte ist. Um jedoch alle Personen und die Zusammenhänge bestens verstehen zu können, würde ich empfehlen es der Reihe nach zu lesen.
Fazit: ein herzerwärmend, spannendes kleines Abenteuer, mit einer taffen 17. Jährigen und einer Prise Kerzen- und Spiegelzauber.
October 8, 2022
Spannend, magisch und absolut mitreißend.
Ein Fantasy Abenteuer, welches in England während des 2. Weltkriegs spielt. Ich konnte es kaum aus der Hand legen und kann dieses fesselnde und teilweise auch humorvolle Buch sehr empfehlen!
Ich bin total gespannt, wie es weitergeht.
Ein Fantasy Abenteuer, welches in England während des 2. Weltkriegs spielt. Ich konnte es kaum aus der Hand legen und kann dieses fesselnde und teilweise auch humorvolle Buch sehr empfehlen!
Ich bin total gespannt, wie es weitergeht.
October 31, 2024
Der zweite Teil der Woodville Reihe rund um die jugendliche Faye, die im zweiten Weltkrieg in England ihre Hexenkräfte entdeckt.
Mich konnte der 1.Teil letztes Jahr begeistern, ein schöner Jugend-Schauerroman. Leider ist von dieser Begeisterung nicht viel übrig geblieben. Ich fand die Charaktere teilweise blass, teilweise anstrengend und die Story nicht so überzeugend.
Ich finde die Idee, eine Fantasy Geschichte in den 2. Weltkrieg einzubetten immer noch gut und dieses Mal wurde da auch einiges mehr drüber berichtet aber irgendwie ist der Funke nicht übergesprungen. Es war ganz Ok, es liest sich gut und das letzte Drittel ist auch recht spannend, aber das war es dann auch.
Ich weiß nicht ob ich Band 3 noch lesen möchte, zumal die Handlung der Bücher in sich abgeschlossen ist.
Mich konnte der 1.Teil letztes Jahr begeistern, ein schöner Jugend-Schauerroman. Leider ist von dieser Begeisterung nicht viel übrig geblieben. Ich fand die Charaktere teilweise blass, teilweise anstrengend und die Story nicht so überzeugend.
Ich finde die Idee, eine Fantasy Geschichte in den 2. Weltkrieg einzubetten immer noch gut und dieses Mal wurde da auch einiges mehr drüber berichtet aber irgendwie ist der Funke nicht übergesprungen. Es war ganz Ok, es liest sich gut und das letzte Drittel ist auch recht spannend, aber das war es dann auch.
Ich weiß nicht ob ich Band 3 noch lesen möchte, zumal die Handlung der Bücher in sich abgeschlossen ist.
September 29, 2022
my my my my my does this book have a strong grip on my heart. loved the first one but this one was even better.
fr loved the plot twists and characters.
anyway....
Otto smells
fr loved the plot twists and characters.
anyway....
Otto smells
July 1, 2022
Even better than book 1. This series is a welcome relief to the modern world. Exciting, magical, and just a little bit scary. Highly, highly recommended.
June 10, 2022
Heerlijk vervolg op The Crow Folk met weer een hoofdrol for Faye Bright, een jonge wat onhandige heks. Ze in de leer bij twee oudere heksen, Miss Charlotte en Mrs. Teach, maar mag voorlopig alleen maar toekijken.
Het is 1940 en The Battle of Britain is in volle gang. Woodville is maar een klein plaatsje in Kent en ze merken er niet veel van de oorlog. Tot er een vliegtuig neerstort op de dorpsgarage van Mr. Allen. Faye is als een van de eerste bij de plaats van het ongeluk en als ze hulpgeroep hoort aarzelt ze geen moment. inde garage staat de auto van Klaus Schneider, die benzine kwam tanken. Faye weet Klaus te bevrijden en ook zijn nicht en twee neefjes die van joodse afkomst zijn en die hij in veiligheid probeerde te brengen op het dichtbijgelegen landgoed van Lord en Lady Aston en hun zoon Harry.
Zo begint het boek. Er is sprake van een taalbarrière, verraad en vertrouwen, een vleugje liefde en heel wat toverkunst. En van Otto Kopp, een zwarte tovenaar die voor Hitler werkt en handlangers heeft gevonden in het dorp. Want eigenlijk draait het allemaal om wie de Ur-boom vind en kan houden, want die heeft ook de eeuwige jeugd.
Het is 1940 en The Battle of Britain is in volle gang. Woodville is maar een klein plaatsje in Kent en ze merken er niet veel van de oorlog. Tot er een vliegtuig neerstort op de dorpsgarage van Mr. Allen. Faye is als een van de eerste bij de plaats van het ongeluk en als ze hulpgeroep hoort aarzelt ze geen moment. inde garage staat de auto van Klaus Schneider, die benzine kwam tanken. Faye weet Klaus te bevrijden en ook zijn nicht en twee neefjes die van joodse afkomst zijn en die hij in veiligheid probeerde te brengen op het dichtbijgelegen landgoed van Lord en Lady Aston en hun zoon Harry.
Zo begint het boek. Er is sprake van een taalbarrière, verraad en vertrouwen, een vleugje liefde en heel wat toverkunst. En van Otto Kopp, een zwarte tovenaar die voor Hitler werkt en handlangers heeft gevonden in het dorp. Want eigenlijk draait het allemaal om wie de Ur-boom vind en kan houden, want die heeft ook de eeuwige jeugd.
October 12, 2022
Plot, subplots and strains of magic. A sudden Ur-tree. The moon magic was really cool and Stay described what was going on really well.
I thought Bertie Butterworth was cool and the bucolic names and dialogue refreshing. I like countrified books.
Faye seemed revolted by the opposite sex but maybe that's not what relationships are about.
I think, bar what the Butler says later in the book, that this is a child friendly book. Faye's dad seems to be similar to the Butler, as a pub landlord in the country.
I wish Mrs Teach and Charlotte had more to do teaching Faye. I imagine a lot of fanfiction for this book.
I thought Bertie Butterworth was cool and the bucolic names and dialogue refreshing. I like countrified books.
Faye seemed revolted by the opposite sex but maybe that's not what relationships are about.
I think, bar what the Butler says later in the book, that this is a child friendly book. Faye's dad seems to be similar to the Butler, as a pub landlord in the country.
I wish Mrs Teach and Charlotte had more to do teaching Faye. I imagine a lot of fanfiction for this book.
October 31, 2024
The only thing that bothered me was the way the main character and her father talked to each other. Could be because English is my second language. And this is a small thing that I think with reading more books I will get more comfortable with.
I really like how the plot builds and the mysterious people and clues that are sprinkled throughout the book. The build-up toward the ending made it very difficult to stop reading.
I really like how the plot builds and the mysterious people and clues that are sprinkled throughout the book. The build-up toward the ending made it very difficult to stop reading.
October 16, 2021
It is great to meet up with Faye again, as I loved her in The Crow Folk.. I love this girl; she's feisty, but soft-hearted, very determined and an outstanding role model for young women everywhere. She comes out younger in my head than the 17 she is in the book, so more like Tiffany Aching's 15 in my head. And she reminds me greatly of Tiffany, in a good way. The whole book pays homage to Sir Terry, I think,
Excellent read for young people as well as adults.
Recommended.
Excellent read for young people as well as adults.
Recommended.
Read
November 18, 2023Am enjoying this series - Faye is an excellent lead, and I like the WW2 setting. I can see why it’s often compared to Terry Pratchett - yes for the obvious dynamic of the bickering older witches and the young protégée, but also for the fond and gently mocking portrayal of village personalities..
September 1, 2025
it gets into the action a lot faster than the first book, and it's nice to see how life continues in woodville with some great returning characters and some good news ones. the genres are also better connected
June 10, 2024
Strong sequel to the first book. Tension till the end.
October 14, 2024
Sehr schönes Hexen- Abenteuer!
October 29, 2021
This is the second book in the Witches of Woodville series, I did download the first book 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗸, but didn't get chance to read it before reviewing this one. The first book I've read by this author, but definitely not my last.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Faye who was the main protagonist of the book, headstrong & engaging.
I read the book in one sitting, it was enchanting, compelling & its supernatural elements perfect for this time of year.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot & the publishers for my gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Faye who was the main protagonist of the book, headstrong & engaging.
I read the book in one sitting, it was enchanting, compelling & its supernatural elements perfect for this time of year.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot & the publishers for my gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
September 28, 2021
Babes in the Wood is another smashing read from Mark Stay. The Witches of Woodville series goes from strength to strength with this rollicking, action-packed sequel to The Crow Folk. Stay seems to take genuine delight at throwing trouble at Faye, her fellow witches and Woodville neighbours, but he does it with wonderful humour and the warmest, cosiest writing. Loved it.
November 10, 2021
The Witches of Woodville are fast becoming a firm favourite, there's a light humorous touch to the writing and some sharply observed social commentary, mixed with some great characters who have plenty of heart. Set during WWII there's some clever trope play and some evil baddies that are almost parodies of evil baddies. I can't wait to see how things develop for Faye, both magically and romantically, she's such a wonderful character.
December 19, 2025
Oh mah Gwash, after like 3 yrs I finally READ THE SEQUEL
And leme tell you right now it did not disappoint! XD
I feel like the first half of this book leans more into the mystery/ horror side of things cuz you kind of get the answers but you have to piece the rest together. Or just keep reading loll.
Also it kind of retells a bit of the first book which is okay IG if ur new, but like... just read the first book
Which is exactly what I did. I smashed this book out in like 4 days, the first 3 I read half and then I read the other half in a day.
Like Damn, I'm on fire rn!
Anyway the story follows Faye again trying to save some Jewish children from dying and it was lowkey pretty interesting. It centers around her having visions of the future when she touches ppl, so when she did it to the Jewish children she saw them dying, especially Klaus. My fav out of the 4 was Klaus but... he ded. So apparently the vision came true and I audibly gasped. I was actually baffled at his death because death had been a rarity in the series and only happened to the demon and stuff, especially after Faye and him kissed... Like WAT! Ya'll can't do him dirty like that D:
Rudolf was also one of my fav's during this book, "GUBBA DEE GOV'NOR" is absolutely adorable and the language barrier made some quite funny moments like that fork scene.
Okay, to the bad guys.
Harry was kind of ur typical posh, stuck up villain and honestly his whole family is a piece of work let me tell you that, I mean his parent's don't age and gave their son a book about children dying... no wonder he turned out weird. I mean, bro literally killed his dad for a tree... . Anyways towards the end of the book mystery went out of the window and turned into full horror mode. (My favourite :D) Complete with deception, mutation and mind controlled zombies.
Also that bad guy Otto Kopp seems like a typical villain too, although his description is what I found to be most interesting.
Bald. Barely 5 feet tall. And somehow more powerful than Vera Fivetrees (Girl got a downgrade real fast).
Also, I love how there are bit's and pieces in the book that seem unnecessary at first but turn out to be super duper important at the end, like Faye doing that moon thing. It literally came in so clutch when fighting that Otto Kopp creep. Also with Faye's dad telling her that ppl smile on the outside but could hate you on the inside, rlly came in clutch with Lady whatever her name was.
Back to characters I actually give a crap about. Bertie and Terrence kind of took a backseat in this book, although I found Bertie's crush on Faye to be quite sweet, I was thinking of a potential love triangle before they killed my guy Klaus off D: (LIKE WHY). Anyway It's ambiguous to weather they end up together in the end which is what I like especially since Faye is not the type to usually be into that lovey dovey stuff.
The only small tidbit in this book is I guess the power scaling, I mean last book the Vera Fivetrees gurl literally made a town forget stuff and now she got turned into a zombie... like wut.
Also I know it's for the plot but can we talk abt how strong Faye is without any training whatsoever? Like she powerful af.
Oh also that small mention of her mum was interesting... wonder what's gonna happen to her in the third book...
Charlotte's lore literally got expanded cuz what do you mean she's like 100 years old, girl what's your skin care routine?
Anywayyy, overall this was an absolutely wonderful read, I'm happy to report that it does not suffer from sequel syndrome, a great way to end the year. Honestly, this writer is so underrated and I'm so excited to read the third book!! The only problem is that I can never find Mark Stay's books in bookshops... like bruh.
Okay this review was rlly long so I gotta wrap it up, READ IT.
And leme tell you right now it did not disappoint! XD
I feel like the first half of this book leans more into the mystery/ horror side of things cuz you kind of get the answers but you have to piece the rest together. Or just keep reading loll.
Also it kind of retells a bit of the first book which is okay IG if ur new, but like... just read the first book
Which is exactly what I did. I smashed this book out in like 4 days, the first 3 I read half and then I read the other half in a day.
Like Damn, I'm on fire rn!
Anyway the story follows Faye again trying to save some Jewish children from dying and it was lowkey pretty interesting. It centers around her having visions of the future when she touches ppl, so when she did it to the Jewish children she saw them dying, especially Klaus. My fav out of the 4 was Klaus but... he ded. So apparently the vision came true and I audibly gasped. I was actually baffled at his death because death had been a rarity in the series and only happened to the demon and stuff, especially after Faye and him kissed... Like WAT! Ya'll can't do him dirty like that D:
Rudolf was also one of my fav's during this book, "GUBBA DEE GOV'NOR" is absolutely adorable and the language barrier made some quite funny moments like that fork scene.
Okay, to the bad guys.
Harry was kind of ur typical posh, stuck up villain and honestly his whole family is a piece of work let me tell you that, I mean his parent's don't age and gave their son a book about children dying... no wonder he turned out weird. I mean, bro literally killed his dad for a tree... . Anyways towards the end of the book mystery went out of the window and turned into full horror mode. (My favourite :D) Complete with deception, mutation and mind controlled zombies.
Also that bad guy Otto Kopp seems like a typical villain too, although his description is what I found to be most interesting.
Bald. Barely 5 feet tall. And somehow more powerful than Vera Fivetrees (Girl got a downgrade real fast).
Also, I love how there are bit's and pieces in the book that seem unnecessary at first but turn out to be super duper important at the end, like Faye doing that moon thing. It literally came in so clutch when fighting that Otto Kopp creep. Also with Faye's dad telling her that ppl smile on the outside but could hate you on the inside, rlly came in clutch with Lady whatever her name was.
Back to characters I actually give a crap about. Bertie and Terrence kind of took a backseat in this book, although I found Bertie's crush on Faye to be quite sweet, I was thinking of a potential love triangle before they killed my guy Klaus off D: (LIKE WHY). Anyway It's ambiguous to weather they end up together in the end which is what I like especially since Faye is not the type to usually be into that lovey dovey stuff.
The only small tidbit in this book is I guess the power scaling, I mean last book the Vera Fivetrees gurl literally made a town forget stuff and now she got turned into a zombie... like wut.
Also I know it's for the plot but can we talk abt how strong Faye is without any training whatsoever? Like she powerful af.
Oh also that small mention of her mum was interesting... wonder what's gonna happen to her in the third book...
Charlotte's lore literally got expanded cuz what do you mean she's like 100 years old, girl what's your skin care routine?
Anywayyy, overall this was an absolutely wonderful read, I'm happy to report that it does not suffer from sequel syndrome, a great way to end the year. Honestly, this writer is so underrated and I'm so excited to read the third book!! The only problem is that I can never find Mark Stay's books in bookshops... like bruh.
Okay this review was rlly long so I gotta wrap it up, READ IT.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2021
Babes in the Wood picks up a month after the events in The Crow Folk and it starts with a bang when Faye witnesses a plane crash into a garage. When Faye rushes to the garage to see if anyone is hurt she comes across Klaus and his cousins Magda, Max and Rudolph (Rudy) who have arrived in the village after feeling from the Nazis. After saving the group Faye starts to see visions of Klaus being found dead. When this vision comes true and she starts having further visions involving Magda, Max and Rudy Faye decides she must do everything that she can to stop the visions coming true. What do the visions means? Will Faye succeed in her plan? Can Faye work out what is after the children and why?
I read the first book in The Witches of Woodville series, The Crow Folk in February and I absolutely adored that book. I have since been eagerly awaiting the second book in the series and I can honestly say I loved this book as much as the first.
It was great to catch up with Faye and the other characters in the book including Terence, Faye’s father, Bertie, Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach. As a character Faye has developed significantly since The Crow Folk. She is under the tutelage of Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach and her powers are growing and developing. It is clear that she is becoming a very powerful witch and may in the future surpass her teachers.
The storyline in this book like the first had me hooked from the first page especially when it starts with a plane crashing into a garage. There’s something truly magical about the way the series is written and it captures your imagination from the outset. Every time I picked up the book I was transported back to the 1940s. The scenes towards the end involving the whole village were both action packed and terrifying. The story is the perfect mix of mystery and magic based in a war time setting. I wouldn’t change anything about the writing style, the series or the characters. The author has done an absolutely fantastic job in bringing magic to the 1940s which is one of my favourite things.
The Witches of Woodville has quickly become one of my new favourite series and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes books about magic and history.
I read the first book in The Witches of Woodville series, The Crow Folk in February and I absolutely adored that book. I have since been eagerly awaiting the second book in the series and I can honestly say I loved this book as much as the first.
It was great to catch up with Faye and the other characters in the book including Terence, Faye’s father, Bertie, Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach. As a character Faye has developed significantly since The Crow Folk. She is under the tutelage of Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach and her powers are growing and developing. It is clear that she is becoming a very powerful witch and may in the future surpass her teachers.
The storyline in this book like the first had me hooked from the first page especially when it starts with a plane crashing into a garage. There’s something truly magical about the way the series is written and it captures your imagination from the outset. Every time I picked up the book I was transported back to the 1940s. The scenes towards the end involving the whole village were both action packed and terrifying. The story is the perfect mix of mystery and magic based in a war time setting. I wouldn’t change anything about the writing style, the series or the characters. The author has done an absolutely fantastic job in bringing magic to the 1940s which is one of my favourite things.
The Witches of Woodville has quickly become one of my new favourite series and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes books about magic and history.
October 25, 2021
I realised, at the beginning of this year, that Mark Stay and myself were both publishing new funny supernatural series centred around small communities, with stone circles and improbably old mysterious women at their centre. But I needn’t have worried as that’s where the parallels end. Woodville has more heart than Dourstone Nymet (not as many hearts though). It must be a Devon/Kent thing.
That said, I loved The Crow Folk, and Mark Stay’s second adventure into the quiet wartime Kent village is, if I’m honest, even more fun than the first, and I was very grateful to get an advance reading copy.
This instalment sees the war start to encroach on the lives of the three witches a little more as a plot unfurls around three kindertransport refugees staying up at the big house.
Faye develops some new, and not entirely welcome, talents, Miss Charlotte refuses to reveal any more about herself than is absolutely necessary (luckily Mr Stay has answered a lot of those questions in a quartet of short stories you can get for free when you sign up for his newsletter). And Mrs Teach remains resolutely Mrs Teach.
With a bit of art history, secret passages and a love triangle thrown into the mix, it makes for a roller-coaster ride of a book full of intrigue and gentle humour.
I tend to groan when authors are compared to Terry Pratchett, but in this case, the parallels between Faye, Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach and their literary forebears, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are there for all to see. They’re not carbon copies, merely inspiration, Mark Stay has taken the dysfunctional trio baton and run with it. I like where he’s gone and can’t wait for book three.
That said, I loved The Crow Folk, and Mark Stay’s second adventure into the quiet wartime Kent village is, if I’m honest, even more fun than the first, and I was very grateful to get an advance reading copy.
This instalment sees the war start to encroach on the lives of the three witches a little more as a plot unfurls around three kindertransport refugees staying up at the big house.
Faye develops some new, and not entirely welcome, talents, Miss Charlotte refuses to reveal any more about herself than is absolutely necessary (luckily Mr Stay has answered a lot of those questions in a quartet of short stories you can get for free when you sign up for his newsletter). And Mrs Teach remains resolutely Mrs Teach.
With a bit of art history, secret passages and a love triangle thrown into the mix, it makes for a roller-coaster ride of a book full of intrigue and gentle humour.
I tend to groan when authors are compared to Terry Pratchett, but in this case, the parallels between Faye, Miss Charlotte and Mrs Teach and their literary forebears, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are there for all to see. They’re not carbon copies, merely inspiration, Mark Stay has taken the dysfunctional trio baton and run with it. I like where he’s gone and can’t wait for book three.
July 12, 2022
Nach Band eins, den ich ganz gerne mochte, war ich auf den zwei Band sehr gespannt. Was Faye erlebt und vielleicht erleben würde. So war ich auch wieder direkt in der Geschichte drin. Dieses mal fiel mir der Einstieg auch etwas leichter, da ich die Welt schon kannte. Faye wirkte für mich hier noch ein Stück erwachsener als im ersten Band, aber genauso entschlossen und mutig. Die beiden Hexen die Faye unterrichten mochte ich wieder wirklich gerne. Genauso toll fand ich es, dass Faye hier etwas mehr von beiden unterrichtet wurde und man mehr von ihrer Magie erfährt, wie ich es mir schon im ersten Band gewünscht hätte. Die Handlung und die Idee der Geschichte war interessant. Es gab immer wieder spannende Momente, aber nicht durchgehend. Es war eher ein bisschen wie eine Wohlfühlgeschichte. So konnte sie mich nicht komplett packen. Die Geschichte spielt in der Zeit des zweiten Weltkrieges. Das war auch im ersten Band so, aber hier wurde es viel mehr mit eingebunden. Das ist definitiv Geschmackssache, aber meins war es leider nicht. Neben etwas mehr Spannung fehlte mir noch etwas anderes. Ich kann nicht genau sagen was, aber irgendwie hätte ich mir allgemein noch etwas mehr gewünscht. Zum Ende hin nahm es wieder an Fahrt auf und wurde für mich relativ gut gelöst. Insgesamt war der zwei Band interessant und ich mochte die Handlung. Es war toll, dass es noch etwas mehr Magie gab, aber es hatte dennoch Schwächen. Der Schreibstil war auch hier wieder sehr angenehm und flüssig zu lesen.
Eine Empfehlung von mir!
Eine Empfehlung von mir!
July 6, 2022
Was für ein toller zweiter Band! Normalerweise sind für mich die Folgebände von Büchern meistens etwas schwächer, was hier jedoch nicht der Fall war! Kommen wir jedoch erstmal zu den allgemeineren Aspekten des Buches.
Das Cover ist - wie schon bei Band eins - richtig cool und passt auch hier perfekt zum Inhalt (davon müsst ihr euch jedoch schon selbst überzeugen :D).
Auch der Schreibstil konnte mich durchweg abholen. Er war wieder leicht und flüssig zu lesen und ich konnte mir alles wirklich super gut vorstellen.
Zur Handlung werde ich euch nicht viel erzählen, da dies der zweite Band ist. Wir begleiten hier wieder Faye und die - größtenteils - liebenswürdige Bewohner von Woodville auf einem neuen Abenteuer. Dieses stellte sich hier als sehr viel düsterer heraus, als im ersten Band. Der Aspekt des Zweiten Weltkrieges rückt hier viel mehr in den Vordergrund. Auch das, was den Menschen aus Woodville widerfährt, hat direkt damit zu tun (was vielleicht auch der Grund dafür war, dass ich fast zwei Wochen brauchte, um das Buch - ich war aber auch die letzten drei Wochen sehr gestresst und bin kaum zum Lesen gekommen, also lag es möglicherweise auch daran). Es war jedoch super spannend und hat nochmal einen Einblick aus einer anderen Sicht gegeben (bisher hatte ich nur Bücher gelesen, die während des Zweiten Weltkrieges in Deutschland spielten).
Die Charaktere sind mir noch mehr ans Herz gewachsen und ich weiß echt nicht, wie ich so lange bis zum Erscheinungstermin von Band drei warten soll. Ich kann die Reihe auf jeden Fall allen empfehlen, die eine gute Atmosphäre und etwas für zwischendurch suchen!
Insgesamt ein wirklich gelungener zweiter Band, der mich von der ersten Seite an überzeugen konnte! Jedoch hat mir, wie bereits erwähnt, ein bisschen die Überraschung gefehlt, weswegen ich 4/5 Sternen gebe.
Das Cover ist - wie schon bei Band eins - richtig cool und passt auch hier perfekt zum Inhalt (davon müsst ihr euch jedoch schon selbst überzeugen :D).
Auch der Schreibstil konnte mich durchweg abholen. Er war wieder leicht und flüssig zu lesen und ich konnte mir alles wirklich super gut vorstellen.
Zur Handlung werde ich euch nicht viel erzählen, da dies der zweite Band ist. Wir begleiten hier wieder Faye und die - größtenteils - liebenswürdige Bewohner von Woodville auf einem neuen Abenteuer. Dieses stellte sich hier als sehr viel düsterer heraus, als im ersten Band. Der Aspekt des Zweiten Weltkrieges rückt hier viel mehr in den Vordergrund. Auch das, was den Menschen aus Woodville widerfährt, hat direkt damit zu tun (was vielleicht auch der Grund dafür war, dass ich fast zwei Wochen brauchte, um das Buch - ich war aber auch die letzten drei Wochen sehr gestresst und bin kaum zum Lesen gekommen, also lag es möglicherweise auch daran). Es war jedoch super spannend und hat nochmal einen Einblick aus einer anderen Sicht gegeben (bisher hatte ich nur Bücher gelesen, die während des Zweiten Weltkrieges in Deutschland spielten).
Die Charaktere sind mir noch mehr ans Herz gewachsen und ich weiß echt nicht, wie ich so lange bis zum Erscheinungstermin von Band drei warten soll. Ich kann die Reihe auf jeden Fall allen empfehlen, die eine gute Atmosphäre und etwas für zwischendurch suchen!
Insgesamt ein wirklich gelungener zweiter Band, der mich von der ersten Seite an überzeugen konnte! Jedoch hat mir, wie bereits erwähnt, ein bisschen die Überraschung gefehlt, weswegen ich 4/5 Sternen gebe.
September 22, 2021
The Crow Folk was a surprise favourite of last year - I loved the quirky village setting & its collection of slightly peculiar inhabitants and Faye was a great main character.
Babes in the Wood takes place shortly after The Crow Folk and most of the villagers seem to have forgotten the invasion of pumpkin-headed creatures. Faye is now, essentially, a witch-in-training and coven member.
War still rages across Europe and there is also a secret magical element at play. Four kindertransport children arrive in Woodville in dramatic fashion and take up residence in the local big house. But there's something suspicious about the lord & lady of the manor and Faye keeps having disturbing visions whenever she touches one of the refugee children.
Once again, the atmosphere and setting is brilliant- like a cosy crime but stranger, folksier and magical. Faye continues to be a very engaging character, always determined to do the right thing and getting into scrapes as a result, but without it feeling like she's making stupid decisions for the sake of the plot. My main "dislike"? With most of the book following the characters at the big house, I did miss seeing more of the village antics.
Overall, an entertaining, engaging & funny read - I look forward to returning to Woodville in the future.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for providing a netgalley review copy.
Babes in the Wood takes place shortly after The Crow Folk and most of the villagers seem to have forgotten the invasion of pumpkin-headed creatures. Faye is now, essentially, a witch-in-training and coven member.
War still rages across Europe and there is also a secret magical element at play. Four kindertransport children arrive in Woodville in dramatic fashion and take up residence in the local big house. But there's something suspicious about the lord & lady of the manor and Faye keeps having disturbing visions whenever she touches one of the refugee children.
Once again, the atmosphere and setting is brilliant- like a cosy crime but stranger, folksier and magical. Faye continues to be a very engaging character, always determined to do the right thing and getting into scrapes as a result, but without it feeling like she's making stupid decisions for the sake of the plot. My main "dislike"? With most of the book following the characters at the big house, I did miss seeing more of the village antics.
Overall, an entertaining, engaging & funny read - I look forward to returning to Woodville in the future.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for providing a netgalley review copy.
June 25, 2022
Am 14.06 ist endlich der zweite Teil der 𝑫𝒊𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆-𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒉𝒆 erschienen und ich habe ihn direkt zusammen mit @just_like_a_library verschlungen.
Im zweiten Teil lernt Faye drei jüdische Waisenkinder kennen, die wegen dem 2. Weltkrieg aus Deutschland geflohen sind und nun in Woodville Schutz suchen. Zusätzlich hat Faye mit beängstigen Zukunftsvisionen sowie mit ihrer Hexenausbildung zu kämpfen.
Schon ab der ersten Seite war ich wieder völlig im Bann der Geschichte. Durch den gewohnt flüssigen Schreibstil hatte ich überhaupt keine Schwierigkeiten, an Band 1 anzuknüpfen und habe direkt mit den Charakteren mitgefiebert. Diese sind nach wie vor sehr ausdrucksstark, weshalb ich das ganze Dorf ins Herz geschlossen habe. Auch die Handlung war so fesselnd gestaltet, sodass man bis zur Hälfte des Buches gar keine Ahnung hatte, wie es enden könnte.
Der 2. Weltkrieg rückt mit diesem Teil immer mehr in den Vordergrund, was besonders durch die Schilderungen der drei Kinder einen beim Lesen wirklich mitnimmt. Ohne Mark Stays brillanten Humor wären manche Passagen deshalb nur schwer auszuhalten gewesen. Wir mussten sogar noch beim Sprechen über dieses Buch so herzlich lachen, was zeigt, welch eine gute Balance zwischen Ernsthaftigkeit und Witz geschaffen wurde.
Das Buch war demnach wieder ein absolutes Highlight, welches sogar Band 1 noch toppen konnte, obwohl ich ihm bereits 5/5 Sternen gegeben habe.
Im zweiten Teil lernt Faye drei jüdische Waisenkinder kennen, die wegen dem 2. Weltkrieg aus Deutschland geflohen sind und nun in Woodville Schutz suchen. Zusätzlich hat Faye mit beängstigen Zukunftsvisionen sowie mit ihrer Hexenausbildung zu kämpfen.
Schon ab der ersten Seite war ich wieder völlig im Bann der Geschichte. Durch den gewohnt flüssigen Schreibstil hatte ich überhaupt keine Schwierigkeiten, an Band 1 anzuknüpfen und habe direkt mit den Charakteren mitgefiebert. Diese sind nach wie vor sehr ausdrucksstark, weshalb ich das ganze Dorf ins Herz geschlossen habe. Auch die Handlung war so fesselnd gestaltet, sodass man bis zur Hälfte des Buches gar keine Ahnung hatte, wie es enden könnte.
Der 2. Weltkrieg rückt mit diesem Teil immer mehr in den Vordergrund, was besonders durch die Schilderungen der drei Kinder einen beim Lesen wirklich mitnimmt. Ohne Mark Stays brillanten Humor wären manche Passagen deshalb nur schwer auszuhalten gewesen. Wir mussten sogar noch beim Sprechen über dieses Buch so herzlich lachen, was zeigt, welch eine gute Balance zwischen Ernsthaftigkeit und Witz geschaffen wurde.
Das Buch war demnach wieder ein absolutes Highlight, welches sogar Band 1 noch toppen konnte, obwohl ich ihm bereits 5/5 Sternen gegeben habe.
October 22, 2022
Puh, so richtig überzeugen konnte mich auch Band 2 dieser Trilogie nicht. Wir begleiten wieder unsere Protagonistin Faye, die nach den durchaus schrägen Ereignissen im ersten Band in noch schrägere Situationen in diesem Teil gerät. Das Buch spielt zu Zeiten des zweiten Weltkriegs und das gefällt mir gar nicht. Es wurde sehr stark in diesen Band mit eingebaut und ich glaube, das ist einfach Geschmackssache. Meins ist es auf jeden Fall nicht.
Faye ist ein sehr blasser Charakter, sie hat sich zwar ein bisschen weiterentwickelt aber dennoch fehlt mir da die Tiefe, Bindung und Sympathie. Was mir gefallen hat war, dass wir ein bisschen mehr von der Magie erfahren haben, dennoch ist das alles irgendwie nichts halbes und nichts ganzes. Die Handlung plätschert irgendwie nur so vor sich hin und erst zum Schluss nimmt das ganze an Fahrt auf. Ich mag den Schreibstil des Autors sehr und finde er hat durchaus Humor, so dass ich an einigen Stellen auch grinsen musste. Die Kapitel sind relativ kurz sodass man super durch die knapp 400 Seiten kommt. Die anderen Charaktere, die wir auch schon im ersten Teil kennengelernt haben sind hier auch wieder aufgetaucht, die beiden Hexenfreundinnen von Faye sind die einzigen, denen ich etwas abgewinnen kann und ich mag die Dynamik dieses Trios. Es ist keine schlechte Reihe, aber es fehlt einfach irgendwas. Es gibt hier von mir auch wieder 3/5 ⭐️
Faye ist ein sehr blasser Charakter, sie hat sich zwar ein bisschen weiterentwickelt aber dennoch fehlt mir da die Tiefe, Bindung und Sympathie. Was mir gefallen hat war, dass wir ein bisschen mehr von der Magie erfahren haben, dennoch ist das alles irgendwie nichts halbes und nichts ganzes. Die Handlung plätschert irgendwie nur so vor sich hin und erst zum Schluss nimmt das ganze an Fahrt auf. Ich mag den Schreibstil des Autors sehr und finde er hat durchaus Humor, so dass ich an einigen Stellen auch grinsen musste. Die Kapitel sind relativ kurz sodass man super durch die knapp 400 Seiten kommt. Die anderen Charaktere, die wir auch schon im ersten Teil kennengelernt haben sind hier auch wieder aufgetaucht, die beiden Hexenfreundinnen von Faye sind die einzigen, denen ich etwas abgewinnen kann und ich mag die Dynamik dieses Trios. Es ist keine schlechte Reihe, aber es fehlt einfach irgendwas. Es gibt hier von mir auch wieder 3/5 ⭐️
December 31, 2021
This is the second book in the Witches of Woodville trilogy. Set in World War 2, the story follows Faye Bright, as she walks through life on a tightrope of magic and brutal reality.
Faye and Bertie are still getting used to being a prisoner to the restrictions of a world at war, including bus windows with special netting to keep people from being pierced by shards of glass in the eventuality of a bomb being dropped in their vicinity.
They more or less stumble upon the enemy in the middle of their village, well at least the majority of the villagers feel that way. Faye knows they are just scared, traumatised refugees who have been torn from their families in an attempt to save at least one member of a targeted family.
Whilst protecting them Faye must once again fight against a deep dark magic that has one goal - to change the course of the war to the detriment of many innocent people. It's paramount that the darkness be stopped in its tracks.
This is a series I would recommend to both YA readers and also middle grade readers. The darkness tries to envelope the light It deals with traumatic and sensitive topics by melding history, fiction and magical realism to create a fierce main character and a compelling read.
Faye and Bertie are still getting used to being a prisoner to the restrictions of a world at war, including bus windows with special netting to keep people from being pierced by shards of glass in the eventuality of a bomb being dropped in their vicinity.
They more or less stumble upon the enemy in the middle of their village, well at least the majority of the villagers feel that way. Faye knows they are just scared, traumatised refugees who have been torn from their families in an attempt to save at least one member of a targeted family.
Whilst protecting them Faye must once again fight against a deep dark magic that has one goal - to change the course of the war to the detriment of many innocent people. It's paramount that the darkness be stopped in its tracks.
This is a series I would recommend to both YA readers and also middle grade readers. The darkness tries to envelope the light It deals with traumatic and sensitive topics by melding history, fiction and magical realism to create a fierce main character and a compelling read.
July 7, 2022
Mark Stay hat im zweiten Band von "Die Hexen von Woodville - Nachtzauber" gezeigt, wie stark sich eine Geschichte entwickeln kann. Sein Schreibstil ist härter, ein wenig brutaler geworden. Dennoch hat es mich begeistert auch mal aus anderen Perspektiven zu lesen und somit in der Geschichte etwas switchen zu können, was die Szenarien angeht. Protagonistin Faye legt dabei eine sehr interessante und rasante Charakterentwicklung hin. Leider hatte ich den Eindruck das es bei dem Rest ihrer Freunde und Nachbarn leider gar keine Veränderung gab und sie auch Faye weiterhin eher als Kind behandelten. Obwohl sie klar unter Beweis stellt, das dies nicht mehr zutrifft.
Die Thematik ist sehr viel düsterer geworden, als sie es noch im ersten Band war. Dadurch kam meiner Meinung nach auch die Magie, Allgemein vielleicht sogar ein wenig die Magischen Kleinigkeiten etwas zu kurz. Natürlich sind sie noch vertreten, hatte mich diesbezüglich aber im ersten Teil besser aufgehoben gefühlt. Dennoch, freue ich mich sehr auf den dritten Band und bin sehr interessiert daran zu erfahren wie es mit Faye weiter geht!
Über den Link könnt ihr meine komplette Rezension lesen :)
https://calipa.de/2022/07/07/die-hexe...
Die Thematik ist sehr viel düsterer geworden, als sie es noch im ersten Band war. Dadurch kam meiner Meinung nach auch die Magie, Allgemein vielleicht sogar ein wenig die Magischen Kleinigkeiten etwas zu kurz. Natürlich sind sie noch vertreten, hatte mich diesbezüglich aber im ersten Teil besser aufgehoben gefühlt. Dennoch, freue ich mich sehr auf den dritten Band und bin sehr interessiert daran zu erfahren wie es mit Faye weiter geht!
Über den Link könnt ihr meine komplette Rezension lesen :)
https://calipa.de/2022/07/07/die-hexe...
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