The first in a new series from the queen of historical fiction, Tidelands is set in a seventeenth-century England caught in the maelstrom of civil war and obsessed with the prevalence of witches. Against this turbulent backdrop, Alinor, a midwife with knowledge of herbs, arouses the suspicion and envy of her neighbours, and must fight for her own survival.
Extensive atmospherics slow the action but convey a strong sense of place ... There are chilling descriptions of what Puritans in power are prepared to do to women who deviate from social norms—or merely incite envy. Once the jeopardy accelerates, this is Gregory par excellence. A promising start to a family saga about ordinary people.
Extensive atmospherics slow the action but convey a strong sense of place ... There are chilling descriptions of what Puritans in power are prepared to do to women who deviate from social norms—or merely incite envy. Once the jeopardy accelerates, this is Gregory par excellence. A promising start to a family saga about ordinary people.
Against the backdrop of political turmoil, Gregory’s narrative displays the harrowing mores of the time, showcasing the vulnerability of women who speak their mind and introducing a family struggling out of poverty who will provide plenty of grist for the mill of a continuing saga. History buffs and Gregory’s fans alike will be anticipating the next installment
