book cover of Cunning Women
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Cunning Women

(2021)
A novel by

 
 
ONE OF GRAZIA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2021

'I loved it. Atmospheric and so good' MARIAN KEYES
'A dark, bewitching and captivating read that had my heart in my mouth by the ending' JENNIFER SAINT, author of ARIADNE

Lancashire, 1620. Young Sarah Haworth and her family live as outcasts. They are 'cunning folk', feared by the local villagers by day, but called upon under cover of darkness for healing balms and spells.

Against the odds, love blossoms when Sarah meets Daniel, the local farmer's son.

But when a new magistrate arrives to investigate a spate of strange deaths, his gaze inevitably turns to Sarah and her family. In a world where cunning women are forced into darkness by powerful men, can Sarah reckon with her fate to protect all she holds dear?

'Fans of intensely atmospheric historical fiction will love this'STYLIST
'Elizabeth Lee's debut novel is timely in its depiction of hysteria and persecution, and beautifully evokes a historical period poised between dark ignorance and long-overdue enlightenment' OBSERVER
'Wonderfully original . . . devastating . . . and fabulously atmospheric' ELODIE HARPER, author of THE WOLF DEN




Genre: Historical

Praise for this book

"The pleasure of the novel lies in the tension between the familiar story of patriarchal injustice and a more complex investigation of supernatural belief and disbelief. It's a thrilling read. But, beyond the thrill, is the beauty of the language. Lancashire dialect and vocabulary are used to immense poetic affect, disarmingly evocative of time and place. The characters too, are well drawn and multi-faceted and its closure is both deeply satisfying and truly sad. A pleasure to read - with an undercurrent of genuine fear." - Annie Garthwaite

"Wonderfully original . . . devastating . . . and fabulously atmospheric too." - Elodie Harper

"An impressive debut . . . anyone who roots for the underdog will fall for Sarah . . . beautifully relevant." - Kate Mascarenhas

"A dark, bewitching and captivating read that had my heart in my mouth by the ending. A Romeo & Juliet love story framed by witchcraft, magic, fear and intolerance. I loved it." - Jennifer Saint

"Beautiful, tense (at points breathless!) historical fiction with meticulously researched description. I loved it." - Kate Sawyer


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