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Hag Storm
The witches are gathering...
In 1771, Robert Burns, future national poet and folk hero of Scotland, has big problems.
12-year-old Rab spends all of his time doing backbreaking work on his family’s farm instead of attending school, but when he finds a hag stone in one of the fields, everything changes.
Looking through its circular hole, he sees witches gathering in a coming storm, and they’ve set their sights on his family. Can Rab save his sisters from the clutches of the witches’ coven before their Halloween ceremony in the old kirk?
Filled with mystery and magic, Hag Storm is a spooky, historical adventure with a supernatural twist, based on the life of Robert Burns and one of his most famous and best-loved poems, Tam O’Shanter.
In 1771, Robert Burns, future national poet and folk hero of Scotland, has big problems.
12-year-old Rab spends all of his time doing backbreaking work on his family’s farm instead of attending school, but when he finds a hag stone in one of the fields, everything changes.
Looking through its circular hole, he sees witches gathering in a coming storm, and they’ve set their sights on his family. Can Rab save his sisters from the clutches of the witches’ coven before their Halloween ceremony in the old kirk?
Filled with mystery and magic, Hag Storm is a spooky, historical adventure with a supernatural twist, based on the life of Robert Burns and one of his most famous and best-loved poems, Tam O’Shanter.
222 pages, paperback
Published October 28, 2021
8 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Williamson
30 books80 followersA lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 25, 2022
a quick and easy spooky middle-grade novel inspired by the life of Robert Burns and one of his poems, perfect for the colder autumnal days!
July 8, 2025
no notes. this was great.
April 21, 2025
Historical, spooky fiction based on Rabbie Burns and his poem, Tam O'Shanter (which I hadn't actually read before.) I can imagine lots of my kids loving this and it would give them ideas for their own stories.
October 26, 2021
This is by far one of my favourite books this year.
February 25, 2024
This was a Burns Night read for me, and I read the whole thing in one night because I couldn't put it down!
I'm really glad that I reread Tam O'Shanter before diving into this one because I caught so many more references that I would've missed otherwise! This Middle Grade novel is a fabulous mash of Robert Burns' life and his (arguably) most well known poem, Tam O'Shanter.
Whilst our main character Rab was really dumb, especially towards the end of the book, I actually thought it worked well with the character. Even if I was actually yelling out loud at him! I feel like readers who are *just* in the right age bracket for this will miss the hints and get the twist of their life, and older readers (and adults!) will enjoy the tension of whether or not Rab will realise the error of his ways in time!
This is a fantastic book that I will be pushing even harder once we reach spooky season. Set around Hallowe'en, full of witches and magic, it's a fantastic novel and I think it's the best Middle Grade books I've read since I was a kid myself!! I am thiiiiiis close to buying 30 copies for my mum's primary school. I am, in fact, too broke for that. One day 😂
I'm really glad that I reread Tam O'Shanter before diving into this one because I caught so many more references that I would've missed otherwise! This Middle Grade novel is a fabulous mash of Robert Burns' life and his (arguably) most well known poem, Tam O'Shanter.
Whilst our main character Rab was really dumb, especially towards the end of the book, I actually thought it worked well with the character. Even if I was actually yelling out loud at him! I feel like readers who are *just* in the right age bracket for this will miss the hints and get the twist of their life, and older readers (and adults!) will enjoy the tension of whether or not Rab will realise the error of his ways in time!
This is a fantastic book that I will be pushing even harder once we reach spooky season. Set around Hallowe'en, full of witches and magic, it's a fantastic novel and I think it's the best Middle Grade books I've read since I was a kid myself!! I am thiiiiiis close to buying 30 copies for my mum's primary school. I am, in fact, too broke for that. One day 😂
January 22, 2024
Witches, demons, curses and old wives tales all feature in this atmospheric and exciting adventure set in 18th century Scotland. When his family move to a new tenant farm, Rab, eldest of seven children, labours on the land to help his father eke out a living to support the family. While clearing stones from a field, Rab finds a smooth round stone with a hole in the centre. Impelled to look through it, Rab is terrified when he sees a witch-like figure amid darkening skies. Despite his efforts to rid himself of the stone, it keeps returning to him. Evil is afoot as Halloween approaches, and it’s up to Rab to save himself and his family.
As you would expect from Victoria Williamson, the story is really well written, with tight atmospheric prose, beautiful descriptions and great characterisation. The depiction of the difficulties of trying to live off barren land in bleak conditions is so well-conveyed, I felt I was there. Along with the toil are the joys of a large family, the companionship and support, the laughter as well as some bickering between siblings. Rab takes more than his share of the workload to ease the burden on Gil, the brother a year younger than him, and he allows the little ones steal food off his plate. However Agnes, three years younger and eldest of the girls, unfortunately rubs him up the wrong way. It’s only when Agnes is in danger that he realises how much he would do to save her.
The story is inspired by the early life of Robert Burns and one of his most famous poems, Tam O’Shanter. It is an exciting and tense read, while the ending, although not unexpected, is very satisfying. Overall a super read, especially for fans of Robert Burns, Victoria Williamson, and anyone who likes a touch of dark fantasy.
As you would expect from Victoria Williamson, the story is really well written, with tight atmospheric prose, beautiful descriptions and great characterisation. The depiction of the difficulties of trying to live off barren land in bleak conditions is so well-conveyed, I felt I was there. Along with the toil are the joys of a large family, the companionship and support, the laughter as well as some bickering between siblings. Rab takes more than his share of the workload to ease the burden on Gil, the brother a year younger than him, and he allows the little ones steal food off his plate. However Agnes, three years younger and eldest of the girls, unfortunately rubs him up the wrong way. It’s only when Agnes is in danger that he realises how much he would do to save her.
The story is inspired by the early life of Robert Burns and one of his most famous poems, Tam O’Shanter. It is an exciting and tense read, while the ending, although not unexpected, is very satisfying. Overall a super read, especially for fans of Robert Burns, Victoria Williamson, and anyone who likes a touch of dark fantasy.
November 10, 2021
So how did Robert Burns come up with the idea for Tam O'Shanter? If you're to believe Victoria Williamson, there's a lot more truth in his famous poem about cavorting witches than you'd imagine...
Young Rab Burns has a hard life, working on his family farm and dreaming of books and a more interesting existence than clearing rocks from their land's barren soil. A brief ray on sunshine comes into his life with the arrival of the maid Morven, and the adult poet's known fondness for the lassies is already young Rab's greatest weakness. But maybe it's for the best - there are dark forces at work, with witches and shadows gathering in the run-up to Halloween, and Morven seems to be his best ally, having had dealings with witches in her tragic past.
But could his old cousin Betty really be a witch? And what does that mean for the fate of his family?
A mixture of supernatural thriller that reworks the events of Tam O'Shanter and historical authenticity covering the early life of Robert Burns, this is a cracking read that never fails to entertain.
Young Rab Burns has a hard life, working on his family farm and dreaming of books and a more interesting existence than clearing rocks from their land's barren soil. A brief ray on sunshine comes into his life with the arrival of the maid Morven, and the adult poet's known fondness for the lassies is already young Rab's greatest weakness. But maybe it's for the best - there are dark forces at work, with witches and shadows gathering in the run-up to Halloween, and Morven seems to be his best ally, having had dealings with witches in her tragic past.
But could his old cousin Betty really be a witch? And what does that mean for the fate of his family?
A mixture of supernatural thriller that reworks the events of Tam O'Shanter and historical authenticity covering the early life of Robert Burns, this is a cracking read that never fails to entertain.
November 25, 2022
A Brilliant story that breathes new life into Tam O' Shanter for children and young teens. An atmospheric blend of fantasy and historical fiction, it's an exciting way of introducing a new audience to Robert Burns. It has the perfect balance of tone; at turns touching, gripping, and humorous. I really loved the character voices, very immediate and relatable, and with a smattering of old Scottish words to give it authentic flavour. The setting is so evocative and it certainly feels historically accurate in detail. I especially loved the relationships within Rab's family and Rab's character arc of taking responsible role (especially when it comes to rescuing his young siblings from witches!) Excellent stuff. Highly recommended for children 10 - 14, and certainly would make great topic for classrooms at top end of primary.
October 30, 2021
This is really well written, engaging and pacey historical fiction with just the right amount of spooky intrigue for young readers. I love Victoria Williamson's other books, but I was curious to see how she would handle historical fiction, my favourite genre.
Well, readers, you are in safe hands: a master storyteller with wit and heart. Some of the atmospheric descriptions will stay with me for some time to come, and I really think this book will become a classic used by schools and loved by readers for decades to come.
Well, readers, you are in safe hands: a master storyteller with wit and heart. Some of the atmospheric descriptions will stay with me for some time to come, and I really think this book will become a classic used by schools and loved by readers for decades to come.
August 24, 2023
A fabulous foray into the imagined life of 12-year-old Robert Burns, torn between love for his family, farm-life responsibilities and the recurring spooky events that force their way into his tough, daily routine however hard he tries to ignore them. Wonderful writing, authentic relationships, loyalties and sibling rivalry. A great adventure-mystery too. Another excellent book by this author.
March 8, 2024
4.5 stars. What an unexpected gem! A great blend of historical fiction depicting harrowing life of poverty of a real life poet Robert Burns and genuingly spooky witchy story. It’s been a long time since I was on the edge of the seat reading a book.
June 25, 2023
Scottish legends of witches and hags presented as a children’s chapter book. Not the best writing, but I still enjoyed the story and all thing Highlands.
February 10, 2024
AN AMAZING BOOK
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2021
Historical, spooky fiction and Robert Burns... Honestly none of my favourite things. Being Scottish I always felt I should love Rabbie Burns but I could never understand his poetry. I loved Victoria's previous books so had to preorder to find out if I would love this one too.
I opened the book with hesitation ... And then got swallowed up - transported back in time, turns out I couldn't put the book down and I desperately wanted to know what dark magic was surrounding Rab and his family. I read it during Hallowe'en weekend, quite a few spooky scenes that felt very real and gave me slight chills.
I sense it'll be a hit with many children, and I've already lent it out and hope they enjoy.
I opened the book with hesitation ... And then got swallowed up - transported back in time, turns out I couldn't put the book down and I desperately wanted to know what dark magic was surrounding Rab and his family. I read it during Hallowe'en weekend, quite a few spooky scenes that felt very real and gave me slight chills.
I sense it'll be a hit with many children, and I've already lent it out and hope they enjoy.
October 31, 2025
This perfect witchy adventure is filled with intrigue, mystery, and magic, and contains just enough danger to keep child readers turning the pages without causing any sleepless nights.
Rab, the main character, is beautifully rounded and perfectly complex for the audience. Rab is kind and brave and responsible. He watches out for his siblings and tries to do right by his struggling parents. But - like all of us - he is flawed, and Victoria Williamson weaves his vulnerabilities and gullibility into the story with devastating effect. When, at the end of the book, Rab sees the error of his ways, the reader is really gunning for him and cheering him on. A fabulous, very human character.
The witches - and there are lots of them - are brilliantly drawn with just enough information to give you the chills, but leaving space for readers to colour in the scenes as they wish. I loved their clothes 'fluttering like loose rags in the wind.' Perfect, restrained imagery.
Hag Storm is based on the life of Robert Burns, and one of his most famous and best-loved poems Tom O'Shanter. But if, like me, you are not familiar with the poem, don't let that put you off. The story stands up very well on its own and left me wanting to know more about its inspiration.
The narrative voice - and the dialogue - is sprinkled with wonderful Scottish dialect that feeds the story and adds to the atmosphere of the tale. The publisher (Cranachan Publishing) has thoughtfully added a glossary that child readers will enjoy in its own right.
Rab, the main character, is beautifully rounded and perfectly complex for the audience. Rab is kind and brave and responsible. He watches out for his siblings and tries to do right by his struggling parents. But - like all of us - he is flawed, and Victoria Williamson weaves his vulnerabilities and gullibility into the story with devastating effect. When, at the end of the book, Rab sees the error of his ways, the reader is really gunning for him and cheering him on. A fabulous, very human character.
The witches - and there are lots of them - are brilliantly drawn with just enough information to give you the chills, but leaving space for readers to colour in the scenes as they wish. I loved their clothes 'fluttering like loose rags in the wind.' Perfect, restrained imagery.
Hag Storm is based on the life of Robert Burns, and one of his most famous and best-loved poems Tom O'Shanter. But if, like me, you are not familiar with the poem, don't let that put you off. The story stands up very well on its own and left me wanting to know more about its inspiration.
The narrative voice - and the dialogue - is sprinkled with wonderful Scottish dialect that feeds the story and adds to the atmosphere of the tale. The publisher (Cranachan Publishing) has thoughtfully added a glossary that child readers will enjoy in its own right.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews