The Darkest Shore

By: Karen Brooks

Narrated by: Willow Nash

1703. The wild east coast of Scotland.

Returning to her home town of Pittenweem, fishwife and widow Sorcha McIntyre knows she faces both censure and mistrust. After all, this is a country where myth and legend are woven into the fabric of the everyday, a time when those who defy custom like Sorcha are called to account.

It is dangerous to be a clever woman who 'doesn't know her place' in Pittenweem – a town rife with superstition. So, when a young local falls victim to witchcraft, the Reverend Cowper and the townsfolk know who to blame. What follows for Sorcha and her friends is a terrifying battle, not only for their souls, but for their lives, as they are pitted against the villagers' fear, a malevolent man and the might of the church.

©2021 Karen Brooks (P)2021 Bolinda Publishing

Captivating

Totally enjoyed this book. Such an emotional ride. Amazed at how Karen Brooks brought these lovely women to life. Such a talented author. Highly recommend!

Transporting back into familiar times

Misogyny at its worst? No. It’s still going on. They just don’t call us witches anymore.

Far-fetched though well researched

The good: The author did an amazing job researching and relaying with extreme accuracy the hunting, incarceration, and torture of regular citizens believed to be "witches" in Scottish village in the 18th century. She didn't soften any horrors for which I'm glad. These atrocities need to be brought out into the light to not only honor victims, but also learn from and prevent hate from taking hold again. I especially appreciated the author's notes at the end and learning that even centuries later there are still people who want to bury the truth.

The bad: Almost all characters in the book were real people except the protagonist...and she was so, so far from believable. She is one dimensional from start to finish. It's hard to like a character who is painted as highly intelligent yet repeatedly does incredibly stupid things. I had to speed up the narration through parts because it made me so angry how she learned nothing and continually set herself up for unnecessary danger just for the plot line. I have a hard time believing any real 18th century Scotswoman - spirited or not - would have made the same unwise decisions over and over again.

There is a love story - of course - that is also contrived and unrealistic with an utterly predictable and hastily tacked on fairytale ending. The romantic partner is a flat prince-charming brimming with valor and perfection. As a reader/listener, the shiny romance aspect felt like a betrayal after the author just took you on this intense ride through historical horrors only to have it all tied up with a bright happily ever after ending.

The antagonist (real person) is truly evil and I found it fascinating how easy it is to draw comparisons to leaders alive today and their manipulation/control tactics. There are so many parallels to bad people doing bad things for wealth and power. There is one particular scene in where we are privy to his twisted inner thoughts which is a clear window into how any mentally unhealthy, dangerous mind truly works. It is one of the best written scenes in the book and evidence of how much potential this author has. But the bulk of the story is the protagonist and antagonist in an almost juvenile good vs evil tug-o-war that contrasts with the extreme complexities and real experiences of the time.

I'm appreciative of what I learned about this horrible time in history and send honor to the victims and their families who suffered so greatly. But I think the story would have really soared with a more deeply written, realistic protagonist.

Performance wise, there are a couple of blips throughout the book where it sounds as though someone else comes in and reads the book. Different voice. But only for a short bit here and there.

Overall, I'd recommend listening to this story to learn, bear witness, and honor the history. But maybe have a hard copy on hand so you can get through the frustrating parts a bit faster.

Wonderful listen!

There’s so much to say about this book! First it’s a must listen. I learned so much from the story of these extraordinary women. This story is a great way to show what happens when we make a choice to base our own beliefs on what someone else says, does or believes without using our own ability to think and learn. A whole town turns against these women based on one preachers ability to convince them all that these women are witches. It’s truly scary how fast things like this can happen. Always think for yourself. It could be you or someone you love judged unfairly by your peers! Highly recommend this one!

Wow! What a story!

I will be candid, there were parts of this story I had a hard time listening to. It was very graphic but necessary for the story. I am amazed that women have even survived as a species based on how women were treated up until the 20th century. This was well written, and the historical facts included made it extremely compelling.