Lucy Worsley examines the history of witch trials and provides a fascinating insight into this dark chapter of human history. Through her research and exploration, Worsley uncovers the complexities surrounding witchcraft and the reasons behind the horrific trials that took place across Europe and America. She delves into the social, political, and religious factors that contributed to the widespread belief in witches and the subsequent persecution of these individuals. Worsley brings to light the dynamics of power and fear that drove these trials, showcasing how they were often used as a means to exert control over marginalized groups or to eliminate those deemed as threats by the community. Alongside the historical analysis, Worsley also considers the psychology behind witch trials, examining the role of mass hysteria, scapegoating, and group dynamics in fueling these events. Overall, her exploration of the history of witch trials provides a thought-provoking and chilling examination of one of humanity's darkest periods, reminding us of the dangers of prejudice, fear, and the abuse of power.
Anyone who knows me very well knows Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales. So anytime I hear about a retelling of that tale, it piques my interest and I find myself wanting to read it to see what it’s like. A Curse of Shadows and Ice was an enjoyable and simple retelling of this classic where instead of Felix being cursed by an enchantress, his own mother curses him and his people.
While I definitely felt for them, it was nice to see how much Felix cared about those who are a part of his kingdom and see him doing what he can to minimize the curse s effects on them. I especially enjoyed the way magic is incorporated in this book as the main elements and how we learn alongside Arabella whenever she comes into her abilities and realizes her powers aren t something she should fear.
Overall, her exploration of the history of witch trials provides a thought-provoking and chilling examination of one of humanity's darkest periods, reminding us of the dangers of prejudice, fear, and the abuse of power..
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As Felix teaches Arabella how to control her forbidden and volatile magic, her feelings for him turn from hatred to passion… and she realizes that she must break the curse, or she’ll lose him forever.
Anyone who knows me very well knows Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales. So anytime I hear about a retelling of that tale, it piques my interest and I find myself wanting to read it to see what it’s like. A Curse of Shadows and Ice was an enjoyable and simple retelling of this classic where instead of Felix being cursed by an enchantress, his own mother curses him and his people.
What I enjoyed about this retelling is the storyline in this book. I feel like it follows the overall story of the fairytale but is also different enough to be a story of its own. What makes it unique from the fairytale is both of the main character’s ability to use magic. I especially enjoyed the way magic is incorporated in this book as the main elements and how we learn alongside Arabella whenever she comes into her abilities and realizes her powers aren’t something she should fear. I also enjoyed seeing her character go through a lot of development through her powers and her realizing that what she was raised to think made her cursed actually was more a gift when given the chance to actually master her powers.
I also enjoyed with A Curse of Shadows and Ice how similar it is to Beauty and the Beast as well. But at the same time, there are still some differences within the similarities too. The similarities I read that I enjoyed seeing had to do with the curse itself. In particular, Felix’s home was enchanted to get those who inhabited it anything they needed even when they didn’t have that particular need at the time. Also how the curse impacted the inhabitants of those who lived in his kingdom and Felix himself. While I definitely felt for them, it was nice to see how much Felix cared about those who are a part of his kingdom and see him doing what he can to minimize the curse’s effects on them. What I enjoyed about seeing how the curse impacted Felix was how he wasn’t physically turned into a beast accept whenever he was away from his kingdom for too long. It was also interesting to see how using magic to protect themselves from the curses’ effects worked.
Another aspect to this retelling I enjoyed was the chapters being from the perspectives of both Felix and Arabella and seeing their relationship with each other develop. What I enjoyed about having these two points of view was getting the chance to understand both of these characters and seeing their perspectives on what was going on. I especially enjoyed the chapters from Felix’s point of view because I could see how much this curse weighed heavily on him and how badly he wanted to break it. What I also loved about these two perspectives is seeing how much both these characters started to slowly develop feelings for each other. I especially enjoyed that they both mutually agreed to give each other a chance instead of it being where they right away developed feelings for each other. Then once they decided to work with each other, I felt like things fell into place with them both realizing how much they really cared about the other person. I feel like a big part of it was Arabella realizing that everything she heard about Felix prior to their marriage wasn’t true and that there was more to him than she expected. And just seeing how their relationship throughout the book developed was wonderful.
If I had any criticisms for A Curse of Shadows and Ice it would be the pacing of the book and the ending. While I did enjoy reading this retelling, there were definitely times where the pacing of the book felt off. It started off intriguing me but there were also a lot of slow moments with the plot when there wasn’t a whole lot happening with the characters. Then it picked up again close to the end of the book when things with the curse started going wrong and Arabella had no choice but to leave. While I enjoyed what I was reading and didn’t mind it too much, it definitely made me at times feel like there needed to be more with the story that wasn’t there. I feel like this also goes hand in hand with the ending because it kind’ve felt predictable to me. I felt like I had a pretty good idea how the curse was going to be broken, but it felt almost too neat to me how it happened. And like there were some loose ends that weren’t tied up as well. I don’t know if its because I wanted more in the story with the ending than I received, such as finding out once the curse was broken how Arabella’s people in Althea reacted when told the truth about Felix the Shadow Emperor.
Despite these criticisms, however, I enjoyed reading A Curse of Shadows and Ice. It was an enjoyable retelling of Beauty and the Beast to me. I highly recommend it to anyone else who also enjoys retellings of that fairytale along with anyone who enjoys stories with elements of fantasy and romance.
What I enjoyed about this retelling is the storyline in this book. I feel like it follows the overall story of the fairytale but is also different enough to be a story of its own. What makes it unique from the fairytale is both of the main character’s ability to use magic. I especially enjoyed the way magic is incorporated in this book as the main elements and how we learn alongside Arabella whenever she comes into her abilities and realizes her powers aren’t something she should fear. I also enjoyed seeing her character go through a lot of development through her powers and her realizing that what she was raised to think made her cursed actually was more a gift when given the chance to actually master her powers.
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Reviews for "The Aftermath of Witch Trials: Lucy Worsley Discusses the Repercussions on Communities"
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Lucy Worsley examines the history of witch trials". I found it to be extremely repetitive and lacking in depth. The whole documentary seemed to be more focused on Lucy Worsley herself, rather than providing a comprehensive analysis of the witch trials. I was hoping for a more intellectual and balanced approach, but instead, it felt like a superficial overview.
- John - 1/5 stars - I can't believe I wasted my time watching "Lucy Worsley examines the history of witch trials". It was nothing more than a melodramatic and sensationalized take on a serious historical subject. Worsley's over-the-top acting and constant attempts to create suspense just came across as insincere and cheesy. Additionally, the lack of substantial evidence and reliance on conjecture made the whole documentary feel like a missed opportunity to educate and inform.
- Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Lucy Worsley examines the history of witch trials", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While Worsley is a knowledgeable and engaging presenter, the documentary lacked a coherent structure and clear focus. It jumped from one aspect of witch trials to another without fully delving into any of them. The lack of depth and analysis left me feeling unsatisfied and wanting more from the program. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to truly explore and understand the complexities of this dark period in history.
- James - 2/5 stars - I found "Lucy Worsley examines the history of witch trials" to be a bit too simplistic for my taste. Worsley's approach felt overly theatrical and aimed at capturing the attention of a less-informed audience. The documentary lacked the depth and critical analysis that I was hoping for. While it may serve as an introduction to the topic for some, it didn't provide enough valuable insights or shed new light on the subject for those more familiar with the history of witch trials.