"Within the pages of this eerily atmospheric novel set in Scotland during 1841 dwells an entirely captivating, and entirely chilling story."
Slicing its way into my thoughts, this novel caught hold of my imagination from the very start and refused to release me from its grip. Joseph Ware finds himself snared by the Witch Tree, where a woman was executed in 1567, when he determines to catch a falling chestnut that legend promises will grant every desire. Author Scott O’Neill has the ability to take whispers of dreams and magnify them into nightmares. HIs descriptive detailing is so vivid, there were times when I wanted to shut my eyes to protect myself, and yet I couldn’t stop reading. The sense of place, particularly around Braid House on the outskirts of Edinburgh was intense. Family and love are planted in the centre of the plot, and then the supernatural twists its way into the tale. While the uncanny haunts the pages, the torture and terror arrive from another direction. There is a decided edge to this gothic horror story, it isn’t a carefree read where you can hang your conscience up before diving in, it made me wince and consider and delve into my own thoughts. And yet, it is oh-so readable, with heart and resilience and hope available to those who seek it. Hauntingly captivating, The Witch, the Seed, and the Scalpel carves its way into being, shaking thoughts and feelings out into freefall.
| Primary Genre | Horror and Supernatural Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Edinburgh 1841. Reaching out like a hungry white worm it twisted and spiralled, tasting the air. Then, evidently attracted by the flow of warm blood, it squirmed its way under the surface of my skin.
Every autumn without fail, a strange seed appears on the chestnut tree that marks the spot where the witch Margaret McKay was murdered.
Legend states that anyone who catches this nut before it hits the ground will be blessed with untold riches, but when it falls into the eager hands of botanist Joseph Ware, the seed unleashes a terrible curse. In his quest to find the cure, Joseph discovers a resistance group battling to save the last of Scotland’s witches from a sinister order of surgeons who believe the key to all magic lies hidden somewhere within a witch’s anatomy.
The conflict quickly tears apart the bonds of family, friendship and even reality itself, as Joseph fights to save his soul and avoid the anatomists’ dissecting table.
Ideal for readers of The Last Witch in Scotland, The Witches of Vardo, Bram Stoker or for those with an interest in witchcraft lore.
The Witch, the Seed and the Scalpel features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Family Drama, Historical Fiction, Horror and Supernatural Fiction, Fiction, Horror and Supernatural Fiction, Historical Fiction, Witchcraft, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899
The Witch, the Seed and the Scalpel is available in Paperback, Ebook (Epub)
The Witch, the Seed and the Scalpel was written by Scott O'Neill and published by McNidder & Grace
£9.99
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