The Firefly Witch (Bold Women of the 17th Century #1) by Amanda Hughes

The Firefly Witch (Bold Women of the 17th Century #1) Reviews

• 
  Andrea Zuvich

  I've had The Firefly Witch on my bookshelf since it was published a few years ago and I finally had a chance to read it - and I'm glad I did. Set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1662, we meet Circe: a red-haired girl with an amazing skill for weaving. Despite her talents, she doesn't fit in well with her Puritan family and community (for reasons that are quickly made clear). Overall, I had mixed feelings about this book, though they were largely positive. I was pulled in immediately by the strong opening, became fully immersed in this imagined world that the author created (and, yes, I did put my 17th-century historian's hat away and just went along for the ride). Although I appreciated that the book was set in the 17th century, it was more fantasy than realistic—which is totally fine because it made for a much-needed 'fun' read for me after so many nonfiction books to read for work—there were some elements that jarred with me. I thought she did a great job of making a menacing Matthew Hopkins-type witchfinder and incorporating some of the mindset from the time. The male lead/love interest, however, came in around the halfway point and I never really warmed to him — which I lamented because up until around that area I was absolutely in love with the story. I'm a native Spanish speaker, so I was jolted out of the story every time the male lead called Circe 'pequeño'- which is only used for males - and it should have been 'pequeña' as she is female (maybe this is why I found his character a little irritating). Other than that, I really enjoyed everyone else but I was particularly interested in the character of Bullfrog - what a thoroughly unique individual. I almost wished (many, many times) that he was the romantic lead - but maybe that's just me! And Ruith was another character who quickly endeared herself to me. Although this can be a standalone book, it paves the way for further works and it is indeed the first in The Bold Women of the 17th Century series. I'd probably enjoy going back into the world Hughes created for some escapism.
• 
  Coco.V

  🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/30/2020)! 🎁
• 
  Connie

  Circe is watching the light over the Great Marsh thinking it must be fire from the fairies. The light turns out to be the image of a beautiful woman with red eyes. She demands that Circe give her the exquisite robe that she is carrying. She then roars and turns Circe into a spider. But she awakes and is once again a girl. This nightmare plagues Circe. Ah, but she is not Circe. She is Azubah Craft, daughter of Josiah and Abigail Craft, Puritan millers of Ipswich and members of the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  
  Azubah is 12-years-old with red hair and freckles and people say her name does not fit her happy personality. Instead, she should be dutiful and virtuous. But her grandfather calls her his firefly because of her red hair and her elusive firefly personality. Azubah works all day creating perfect and beautiful fabrics and her embroidery is exquisite. Her talent surpasses all others in the area. She wants so much to create fabrics with lovely, bright colors, but the Puritan Community frowns upon that type of frivolity. Near her is the family’s waterwheel used for grinding corn for the farmers. The sound of the waterfall is comforting to Azubah. She also possesses a talent for finding water sources for wells using a divining stick.
  
  Azubah has a friend named Bullfrog who lives in the Marsh. He has features that resemble a bullfrog, thus his name. His family was killed by the Indians but he survived. He lives alone in the trees. While many would refute it, some believe that help in the form of food and other sustenance comes from those called The Hooded Ones.
  
  One day, after a village was attacked by Indians, Azubah tries to flee using a skiff in the marsh water. Hit with an arrow, she wakes up in the home of one of The Hooded Ones. It is her real father and she then becomes Circe Swinbaine. Her father is part of the Derwydds of the Celtic people. They, like the Puritan sect, had fled the British Isles to avoid religious persecution. They are happy people where Circe learns much is very content.
  
  The story follows Circe’s involvement in trying to help others being persecuted find safety and a happy life. Although it puts her own life in danger, she is a brave young woman willing to do all she can to help others.
  
  This is a rather different genre of book from the usual ones I read, but I found it fascinating. The descriptions of places and events that the author has created are so clear that the reader can truly see them. There is what could be called fantasy in the book but it is so well-written and exactly what the people of that time period believed. I enjoyed reading this adventure and know other readers will as well.
  
  Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
• 
  Stanley McShane

  Azubah Craft, 12-year-old daughter of millers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, has very strange dreams and disembodied messages delivered to her ears as well as apparitions, but she is careful not to share. She is part of a strict Puritan family that fled the UK to avoid religious persecution. In 1662 as a Puritan, she should be serious, pious, and obedient. She has an extraordinary well-known gift--she can weave gorgeous fabrics and her eye for embroidery is unmatched.
  
  Life in the colony is a day to day struggle against weather, disease, and Indians. During an attack by Indians, Azubah flees into the marshes but is hit by an arrow. She wakes in the home of her biological father, part of The Hooded Ones, who has been watching her for some time. Azubah becomes Circe Swinbaine, part of the Derwydds--Celtic people who also fled persecution. The author is careful to include background and fascinating information, much of whose worship is dominated by a goddess and a totally different (and joyous) lifestyle.
  
  Circe works with the village weaver as apprentice and time passes. Conflict and turmoil begin to increase, however, with the news of a witch hunter who has steadily been working his way through the colonies causing panic and forcing a plan of action. She will be sent to Boston to help conduct Celtic arrivals safely into seclusion. In the turbulence that follows, Circe will get to know the man who'll steal her heart.
  
  I love that the author creates such an authentic and unique storyline, putting you in the century with period names, costumes, language, food, and customs. Dialogue seems so faithful to the time and the well-plotted storyline lends an atmosphere of insecure tension.
  
  I was given a copy of this ebook download by the author in exchange for a read and review. These are my unbiased opinions. Recommended to any who enjoy historical fiction, fantasy, stories of the Celts, the flight from religious persecution, and magical manifestations. 4.5/5
  
  See my full review at
  https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/...
• 
  Tess Ailshire

  This was an excellent book - not quite fantasy, not quite historical fiction, not quite romance, but some of all of those things. The first 20% or so slogged a bit, in my mind, but the transition from Puritan to Celt to undercover operative, so to speak, was well done. The reader isn't hit over the head with explanation, yet has no trouble following the story.
  
  The protagonist is a strong woman with a sense of when to speak and when not to speak, and the characters are sufficiently developed to fulfill their roles in the story. I hope future books in the series are as good.
• 
  Melissa Harrison

  This book has a lot of missed potential. If you take it as parts, I enjoyed quite a few of them. I liked the small stories that were told of the main characters early life, youth and then adulthood. But when combined into a novel, it was too disjointed. There were connections between the stories but they felt forced. The ending was very rushed and unsatisfactory in how many things were just tied off with no real closure. I loved the setting, the characters, and the idea; just not the execution.
• 
  Carolyn Russett

  this was not a bad read for me -- entertaining...but defnielty not a five. I thought a lot of time was spent on Circe's time with her father: more than necessary.. the ending seemed a bit rushed for me. But i did like the premise of the story and while it wasn't necessarily historical fiction , it did smack of the goings on of that time period . A decent beach read
• 
  Gareth Ellzey

  Great story
  
  It COULD have happened! This story is more like a true recounting if history than a work of fiction. Azubah/Circe is real and her personality so vibrant and vivid, I could not stop reading. The whole tale and all the well drawn characters is worth reading about.
• 
  Holly Mavigliano

  Interesting
  
  This is a strange book, I almost stopped reading towards the middle, but am glad I finished it. A little bit historical fiction, a little romance, and a little coming of age it centers on the life and hardships that face a girl in the new world not yet America..
• 
  Donna

  Historical Fiction and More
  
  Author Amanda Hughes weaves a fantastical tale with wonderful and horrible characters. A well written story about faith and family. Packed with love, hate, happiness and even sadness this story is hard to put down.
• 
  Hanna Novotny

  A bit of magic and a bit of history. A little romance as well.
  Story is located in the New World. Believers of the old faith are hunted by the church. I didn't checked the facts, but overall I liked the book.
• 
  Gail

  Another fun read from one of my favorite authors. As usual it is an interesting story, full of 3 dimensional characters, with some very fascinating history thrown in. A great summer read.
• 
  Rebecca

  Free on Kindle
• 
  Lori Kern

  The Firefly Witch
  
  I enjoyed reading this book even though there were parts that moved a little slow. The book, characters and the plot were great!
• 
  Melanie

  This book was just OK for me. I found it to be somewhat predictable, and it read more like young adult fiction as well.
• 
  Jessica Ross

  Very Good!
  
  I loved this book! Looking for the sequel! The weaving kept my interest because I sew. Circle was very believable!
• 
  Marjorie Welsh

  Historical fantasy
  
  A pleasant, easy read. I like historical fiction, or as the author calls it, historical fantasy. But not too fantastical.
• 
  Carolyn Sackett

  Historical Fantasy
  
  This novel has everything Needed to make it great. History, Celts, weaving and herbal medicine. Great characters carrying a wonderful story. Enjoy , as I did.
• 
  Deborah

  Enjoyed the read!