The witch pyre was a form of punishment that was used during the historical period of witch trials and witch hunts. It involved burning accused witches at the stake as a way to rid society of their supposed demonic influence. The practice of witch trials and subsequent pyres reached its peak in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in countries like England, Scotland, and Germany. The belief in witchcraft and the fear of witches was deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of society at the time. Many people genuinely believed that witches had made pacts with the devil and possessed supernatural powers to harm others. As a result, numerous innocent individuals, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft and subjected to horrific tortures and executions, including the witch pyre.
I just-I don’t particularly like love triangles and for most of the book I thought Tristan may be alive, because his death just didn’t get to me. I get people die in battles, but something about it felt off. In the end it didn’t matter because I don’t think Lily needed a love interest. Something I said since day one.
It bothered me we went through the whole book seeing Rowan as a not-so-nice person for what he did to Lily and in the end it s all because of selfish-Tristan wanting Lily for himself. To add even more stress Lily is grieving the loss of her Tristan in the last battle, and with Rowan back she s harboring feelings that are bound to burst out.
As a result, numerous innocent individuals, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft and subjected to horrific tortures and executions, including the witch pyre. The witch pyre was a solemn event that attracted large crowds of spectators. It usually took place in a public space, such as a town square, where a stake was planted.
Book Review: Witch’s Pyre by Josephine Angelini
Lily Proctor has come a long way from the weak, sickly girl she used to be. She has gained power as a witch and a leader, found her way home, chosen to face battle again, and (after losing her first love and being betrayed by her new love) she has learned more about loss and grief than she ever wanted to know.
Thrust once again into a society different from anything they have ever seen, Lily and her coven are determined to find answers―to find a new path to victory, a way to defeat the monstrous Woven without resorting to nuclear weapons or becoming a tyrannical mass murderer like her alternate self, Lillian. But sometimes winning requires sacrifices . . . and when the only clear path to victory lies at Lillian’s side, what price will Lily be willing to pay?
Witch’s Pyre:
This will have spoilers from the two previous books.
I received a copy of Witch’s Pyre by Josephine Angelini for review from Pan Macmillan in exchange for honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
So far I have really enjoyed this series, Trial by Fire was immersing, Firewalker was intriguing and then Witch’s Pyre took me on a whole new journey. It was intense, jam-packed and kept me on the edge of my toes.
Witch’s Pyre throws us straight back into the world of the book. We are right back into the action and I enjoyed this idea. The reader doesn’t miss anything and that we don’t need to be brought up with what happen.
For most of the book, we are in what feels like a whole new world. And for the most of Witch’s Pyre, our little group is somewhat captured and cannot leave.
The protagonist Lily has come a long way from the begging of the first book, and she grows even more in Witch’s Pyre. I felt that at times she did regress, but by the end, I really enjoy who she became.
The connection between Lily and Lillian is again strained in Witch’s Pyre. However, Lily has gained a greater understand of who Lillian is. They share more than just a name, they share a passion – to do what they think, is right. And although I am not a massive fan of Lillian, she has been written beautifully and like Lily I really enjoyed her character arc. Lillian is strong, ambitious and does not let her illness pull her down.
After the heartbreak between Lily and Rowan in the second book, you probably guess that their relationship is very tense when he comes back. Lily is closed off about what happens and does not want to let him in. Even when she finds out the truth. At times I felt that Lily could be too stubborn and that would take away from the book and the romance. I also was not satisfied at how the relationship was at the ending, it was a little unclear.
The friendship was quite strained through Witch’s Pyre. There is a lot of tension between the group and how things panned out in the previous book. This is one of the things that I enjoyed about this series. Josephine Angelini is able to show that no relationship is smooth sailing and there are ups and downs.
Witch’s Pyre also deals a lot with grief, with Tristan in the previous book and others in this one. It was heartbreaking at times seeing Lily, the group struggle with what has happened. Nevertheless, it felt real.
One of my favourite things about this series is the world that Angelini created. It’s one of those books where we see the world slowly exposed to us, piece by piece. Lily’s world which is most likes ours, and then Lillian’s where magic is the norm. Both are well developed, yet there was room for more.
At times there was a lot going on. There was one thing after another, it was like we were running a marathon. I would have liked at times to have a break and slow down, especially with the introduction of the ‘new world’ and characters. It was a lot to take in times.
The Worldwalker trilogy by Josephine Angelini was an enthralling and intriguing journey for both the reader and the characters. With wonderful character development and a riveting world of fantasy and science. This series to easy to fly through and you will be satisfied when you finish.
Have you read the Worldwalker Trilogy? Did you like it? Have you read some of the books in the series? Are you planning reading on starting these books? Let’s Chat.
I feel like I was supposed to question Lily during this book but I was with her 100% throughout the whole novel. Her gang begun to question her sanity and her methods but for me, SHE HAD TO. She only possessed them like a couple of time and those were DIRE MOMENTS. It’s not like she’s a psychopach who does it for fun. I love Lily’s determination, loyalty and strength in this book. She is definitely not the same person from the beginning. Nope, she’s bigger and better.
The accused witch would be tied to the stake and surrounded by wood and other flammable materials. Before the execution, a religious official would offer the accused a chance to confess and renounce their alleged affiliation with the devil. Many confessions were made under extreme duress or torture methods preceding the execution. Once the accused witch was tied to the stake and the pyre was prepared, the executioners would light the fire. The witch was left to burn alive, as it was believed that this method of execution would prevent their soul from lingering and causing further harm. The executioners and spectators would watch as the flames consumed the witch, often with expressions of satisfaction or relief. The witch pyre was a brutal and inhumane punishment. Innocent individuals, often marginalized women, were accused based on hearsay, superstitions, and prejudice. The fear and hysteria surrounding witchcraft created a climate of paranoia and persecution. Today, we understand that the witch trials and witch pyres were a grave miscarriage of justice, fueled by ignorance and misogyny. The witch pyres eventually fell out of favor as skepticism and rationality gained ground. The Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason and evidence-based thinking contributed to the decline of witch trials and the eventual abandonment of the witch pyre as a means of punishment. Although this dark chapter in history serves as a reminder of the dangers of intolerance and mass hysteria, it also stands as a testament to the resilience of those who fought against injustice and oppression..
Reviews for "Witnessing the Witch Pyre: Historical Accounts and Testimonies"
1. John - 2 stars - I just couldn't get into "The Witch Pyre". I found the plot to be confusing and disjointed, with too many characters and subplots that didn't seem to connect. The writing style was also difficult to follow, with heavy descriptions that slowed down the pacing. Overall, I didn't feel engaged or invested in the story, and it was a struggle to finish.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "The Witch Pyre" was a major disappointment for me. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, lacking depth or development. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with any of them. Additionally, the world-building was weak, with vague descriptions that left me feeling confused about the setting and the rules of magic within it. Overall, I found the book to be dull and unengaging, and I wouldn't recommend it.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Witch Pyre", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of inaction and little plot progression. The characters were also forgettable, and I struggled to feel any connection or sympathy towards them. The book lacked the excitement and tension I usually look for in fantasy novels, and I found myself bored and uninterested throughout. It's a shame, as the premise had potential, but it just didn't deliver for me.