Editorial Book Review: Sunwise (The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Book 2) by Helen Steadman

 

Sunwise
(The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Book 2)
By Helen Steadman

Publication Date: 11th April 2022

Publisher: Bell Jar Books

Page Length: 252

Genre: Historical Fiction / Horror

Sunwise tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world.

England, 1650. When Jane’s lover, Tom, returns from the navy to find her unhappily married to his betrayer, Jane is caught in an impossible situation.

Still reeling from the loss of her mother at the hands of the Scottish witchfinder, Jane has no choice but to continue her dangerous work as a healer while keeping her young daughter safe.

But as Tom searches for a way for him and Jane to be together, the witchfinder is still at large. Filled with vengeance, John Sharpe will stop at nothing in his quest to rid Scotland and England of the scourge of witchcraft.

The Newcastle Witch Trials trilogy was inspired by a little-known English witch hunt, where fifteen women and one man were hanged for witchcraft on a single day in August 1650.

Jane Driver narrowly escaped execution for witchcraft after the truth about her accuser was revealed, but her mother was not so fortunate. Grieving and pregnant, with a young child to care for, Jane simply wants a peaceful life, but then she learns that Tom, her childhood sweetheart and the father of her first child, is alive and coming home.

Humiliated and barely escaping so-called ‘justice’, John Sharpe begins to put himself back together. His methods of uncovering witches may not have been entirely truthful, but he clings to his belief that witches walked among them. His mission must continue, and he will not let Jane Driver, whom he is convinced is a witch, escape to raise her devil’s spawn children.

“Sunwise (The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Book 2)” by Helen Steadman continues the story of Jane Driver, devoted mother and healer, and John Sharpe, her relentless pursuer. In this tense cat-and-mouse novel, the stakes remain high as the haunting story unfolds.

Trying to recover from the trauma in Newcastle—her mother’s execution and the accusations she faced as well—Jane finds a letter from Tom, revealing he did not die at sea as first thought, he is very much alive, and that he is coming home. But she is married to Andrew Driver, and he is legally Rose's father. With Tom's return, everything changes, but Jane is now carrying Andrew’s child, which complicates matters further. Jane’s suffering and longing are clear, and Andrew’s cruel treatment towards her contrasts with Tom’s kindness. The reader wishes for Jane’s happiness, but escaping Andrew is difficult. Jane’s plan to flee with Tom raises tension throughout the novel. Andrew’s violence and control endanger Jane and Rose, keeping readers anxious for their safety.

John Sharpe continues to have a twisted view of the world, and at times, it is truly terrifying to read the chapters from his point of view. To see into the mind of evil is chilling, and his thoughts and actions make for some horrifying scenes. There is a sense of bitter irony in John’s perspective, for throughout this series, his goal has always been to rid the world of evil, and he thinks himself a truly pious man, deeply religious and determined to dispel the devil from the world, while appeasing God in any way he can see possible. While doing this, though, his mind slowly becomes more and more addled, his thoughts twisted, and pure evil seems to seep into the pages as his thoughts become clearer. 

There are scenes in this novel, brought about by John’s actions, that are utterly horrifying, painting pictures in the mind of the reader that promise to stay there for a very long time. This novel’s readability allows the darkness to envelop the narrative so smoothly that you barely notice until the climax, and by then, you are totally invested in this story. Some of the scenes are, however, so spine-chilling and brutal that some care should be taken, as they have the possibility of causing severe emotional distress.

Jane’s work in the village, as the local healer after the death of her mother, provides a slightly more relaxed atmosphere to the novel. But even in these calmer moments, without the danger of the witch finder, tensions are high as people come to Jane with their young children whose lives hang in the balance, or the difficult circumstances of womanly problems. There are very few moments in this novel wherein peace is truly achieved, but in the careful descriptions of herbs and natural remedies, and Jane’s easy and instinctive way of handling them, there are a few moments that come close. But it is worth remembering throughout that some remedies can double as poison, and many poisons can lend themselves to healing. It is only a matter of dosage, circumstance, and point of view.

In a harrowing addition to the series, “Sunwise (The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Book 2)” by Helen Steadman is a chilling but unforgettable novel. Drenched in the implications of evil and the horrifying power that men had over women during this period, this is a novel that will stay in your mind for a long time after reading, and not only because of the dark and unsettling scenes. The societal undertones of this novel lend a lot to consideration for how power can so easily be abused, and the use of religion in John’s crusade is almost sardonic in its connotations of the fight between good and evil.

Review by Ellie Yarde

Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

Pick up your copy of

Sunwise
(The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, Book 2)

HERE

Read with #KindleUnlimited

Helen Steadman

Helen Steadman mostly writes biographical historical fiction (think herbs, healing, witch trials, swords, shipwrecks and lighthouses) set in the north east of England. So far, she’s written the Newcastle Witch Trials trilogy (Widdershins, Sunwise and Solstice), The Running Wolf (about the Shotley Bridge swordmakers) and Grace (about Grace Darling, the heroic lighthouse keeper’s daughter).

And then — because why not — there’s God of Fire set on Mount Olympus, which is absolutely nowhere near the north east of England. A sequel featuring Aphrodite is planned. Probably. At some point. (Helen is a slow writer. Deadlines tend to pass her by.)

Connect with Helen Steadman:

Website

Instagram