Tilda Fordwells didn't expect to live alone in the
cottage in Wales. She and her husband, Matt, had planned
to spend their lives their together, as Tilda worked in
her ceramics studio. Unfortunately, an accident changed
everything and instead Tilda finds herself alone but
plagued by visions. Electricity and other modern
conveniences seem to stop working when she's in the
vicinity. Could Tilda be remembering a past, a past in
which a shaman named Seren lived? And will the events of
Seren's time come back to haunt the present day?
THE SILVER WITCH alternates between two time periods and
viewpoints. Chapters alternate between Seren and Tilda,
with each character having a definitive voice. I love
Tilda's strength and courage as she continues to live
even as she grieves. I could easily relate to her sense
of loss and her subsequent fear of vehicles, while also
cheering for her willingness to defend the stray dog she
sees being tormented. Tilda's artistic talents shine
through even in how she views the world and I love how
she settles into her home despite the electrical
problems. Seren, on the other hand, wasn't as readily
likable to me. I appreciate her loyalty to her prince but
her actions left me a bit frustrated with her.
Paula Brackston has a gift for creating lush, vivid
worlds and populating them with unique characters. While
I have loved Paula Brackston's historical depictions in
the past, I found myself particularly enthralled with
Tilda's modern day world and I wanted to spend more time
there than in Seren's world. THE SILVER WITCH is the sort
of book you sink into and savor each and every word. I
look forward to reading more books by Paula Brackston in
the future.
A year after her husband’s sudden death, ceramic artist
Tilda Fordwells finally moves into the secluded Welsh
cottage that was to be their new home. She hopes that the
tranquil surroundings will help ease her grief, and lessen
her disturbing visions of Mat’s death. Instead, the lake in
the valley below her cottage seems to spark something
dormant in her – a sensitivity, and a power of some sort.
Animals are drawn to her, electricity shorts out when she’s
near, and strangest of all, she sees a new vision; a boatful
of ancient people approaching her across the water.
On this same lake in Celtic times lived Seren, a witch and
shaman. She was respected but feared, kept separate from the
community for her strange looks. When a vision came to her
of the Prince amid a nest of vipers she warned of betrayal
from one of his own. Prince Brynach both loved and revered
her, but could not believe someone close to him wished him
harm, even as the danger grew.
In her own time, Tilda’s grief begins to fade beside her
newfound powers and a fresh love. When she explores the
lake’s ancient magic and her own she discovers Seren, the
woman in her vision of the boat. Their two lives strangely
mirror each other’s, suggesting a strong connection between
the women. As Tilda comes under threat from a dark power,
one reminiscent of Seren’s prophecy, she must rely on Seren
and ancient magic if death and disaster is not to shatter
her life once more.