The Revels: The must-read spellbinding historical debut, for 2024

This year has exploded with witchlit and this is definitely one that will stand out for me.It’s 1645 and the English Civil War is in full fury. The horrors of the Pendle witch trials are within living memory yet there is a creeping resurgence of witch accusations and a taste for blood as civil unrest sets neighbours off against one another. Told from the perspective of a reluctant witch hunter, The Revels offers a unique insight into the struggles that sympathisers faced in the midst of this new wave of witch hysteria.I didn’t expect to sympathise with a male perspective in a witchlit yet I was immediately struck by the main character’s compassionate and sensitive nature. Coerced into playing the role of a witch hunter’s apprentice, his conscience is warped and he later makes questionable decisions in an attempt to seek justice for the accused witches. I could never fully trust his intentions but his character served as an example of the confusion, menace and treachery in every corner of society at this turbulent time.   The evocative writing stirs a sense disgust and rage against the self imposed witch finder generals and a mournful regret for the accused. It is an emotional read but there are moments of hope in the relationships between the main characters which relieves the tension heavily present throughout.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins/HQStories]Set in the aftermath of the Pendle Witch Trials, Nicholas Pearce has his own secret to hide; the dead sing to him.After the unexpected death of his brother, Nicholas is sent by his disgruntled father to apprentice under Judge William Percival and heads north to investigate bubbling witchcraft accusations. All the while though, Nicholas is plagued by guilt surrounding the death of his brother and the fear of Percival discovering his secret.The backdrop of the English Civil War, Pendle Witch Trials and the complex relationship between catholics and protestants, witch-hunters and the accused, Stacey Thomas takes us on a twisting and turning journey through accusations that could tear a community apart. Nicholas’ skills could help save the accused, but is it worth risking his own life?Stacy Thomas has written a wonderfully tense tale of family, love, betrayal and the fight between right and wrong. The female characters were particularly well rounded and Thomas doesn’t shy away from showing the complexities of relationships and the human condition.

The Revels is the debut novel from Stacey Thomas, which I was drawn to by the beautiful cover.Set in England in 1645, the plot tells of the lives of witch hunters and the innocent women they accused of witchcraft. The twist is that the latest apprentice witch finder can hear the dead sing, something the accused women would definitely be sentenced to death for, and as a result, he tries to speak up for the women, thereby placing his own life in danger.Atmospheric, well researched and beautifully written, I enjoyed the book but found it hard to get into initially and the ending was rather abrupt, but it was still an enjoyable read. 4*

"The Revels" by Stacey Thomas is a book about witches and witch-hunting. Refreshing for the book to be told from the perspective of an apprenticed witch-hunter, who, compared to the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General, seemed fairly humane in his investigations. However this is down to a secret that he keeps about himself! Will definitely be on the look out for books by this new author.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting The Revels since I first heard about it and I was right to be excited.This wonderfully written, atmospheric debut perfectly captures the hysteria around witches and the witch hunts which have scarred history. What I really enjoyed though was that we were seeing it through the eyes of a male witch hunter which was a fresh take for me.When Nicholas Pearce is apprenticed to the great witch finder Sir William Percival, he has to keep his true self hidden. For Nicholas possesses a special power of his own - the dead sing to him. Can he avoid being persectued himself and help those women accused of witchcraft?Stacey really illustrates the atmosphere of a small town and how gossip, bitter rivalries and petty jealousies were perfect fodder when it came to accusations of witchcraft. There's an obvious echo to modern day where social media & press witchunts are sadly all too common and though it's hundreds of years later, it’s still mostly women who pay the price.I enjoyed the development of Nicholas’ & William’s characters and their changing relationship throughout this book. A touch of romance never hurts either and Althamia - Nicholas’ love interest- is a very interesting woman.The novel is evidently very well researched and I learned a lot. Interesting to note that male witches were not so harshly punished and this book really demonstrates that, at its heart, the witch hunt was an exertion of mens power over women.Some scenes made me so mad - in particular when the group of witchunters are casting lots for which of the accused women they would question- making a game out of what really was a life or death situation for these women. I had to unclench my jaw at the end of that one!The Revels really is such a wonderful, richly atmospheric read. I loved it.