Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is a beautifully written story about the first Irish witch hunts which transports us vivdly to the 14th century, illuminating the remarkable story of a woman whose life has since been subsumed into folklore.

It is 1324 and a woman seeks refuge for herself and her daughter in the household of a childhood friend.

The friend, Alice Kytler, gives her former companion a new name, Petronelle, a job as a servant, and warns her to hide their old connection.

Before long Petronelle comes to understand that in the city pride, greed and envy are as dangerous as the wolves that prowl the savage countryside. And she realizes that Alice's household is no place of safety.

Once again, Petronelle decides to flee. But this time she confronts forces greater than she could ever have imagined and she finds herself fighting for more than her freedom

Tense and moving, Boyce has taken a dark period in Irish history and shone an illuminating light through atmospheric prose. This book is important and timely.

Petronelle arrives at the door of Alice Kytlers house with her daughter looking for refuge. Kytler agrees she can be her maid and the story begins. In a time when women had no power and the clergy dictated the rules Alice Kytler goes against the trend. A moneylender with strong support from influential friends and on her fourth husband she is the bane of the local bishops life. He resorts to claims of witchcraft and the story goes on.
I really enjoyed this story. The description of the times, the environment and the women involved are fantastic. I knew some of Alice Kytlers story and even though this is fiction it perfectly describes what was happening around the time.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Do you like time travel to another era? Then Niamh Boyce’s novel HER KIND is just the right book for you. Based on the real life character of Petronella de Meath, the first woman executed for witchcraft in Ireland, the book vividly evokes life in 14th century Kilkenny. I particularly enjoyed the author’s interpretation of a woman’s role in the medieval age, which for noblewoman and moneylender Alice is vastly different than for her Gaelic born maidservant Petronelle. Seeing that the woman’s role in early history is rarely found in the archives, it’s always a special treat to find a historical novel with strong female characters, and MY KIND certainly fits that description. Both immersive and interesting, MY KIND would make a treat for any historical fiction lover.

This was really my kind of book! It captured me from the first chapter.

This book has everything you could want in a Historical Fiction. It has a plot that has you chewing your nails and losing sleep, it has bleakness, sadness and was so descriptive that I felt I was actually there!

I will be looking out for more books from this author. Highly recommended.

Her Kind is a very unique book and I really enjoyed reading this novel. I love historical fiction and I think other fans of this genre will enjoy this book aswell.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

Her Kind is inspired by the Kilkenny witch trials of 1324. Bishop Richard de Ledrede is a man plagued by women; by glimpses of the church's anchoress contained in her small cell, by the wealthy money lender Dame Alice Kytler who does not need or require his blessing, but mostly by his sexual desire of women that cannot or should not be fulfilled. A "bitter old man," Ledrede seeks to control the populace of Hightown, wresting control from Alice who owns the allegiance of the town and most of its wealth. When her fourth husband accuses her of poisoning him and her step-daughters turn against her, Alice is accused of witchcraft. However, it is not Alice who is burnt at the stake, but her maid Petronella. The author skilfully builds the story of Alice and Petronella and examines how a powerful and independently wealthy woman is torn so spectacularly from grace. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical setting of this novel, knowing little about 14th century Ireland and also the roundness and complexity of the characters, particularly Alice herself. A must read for lovers of historical fiction.

This book wasn't for me at the moment, however, I will give it a go again as I am seeing so many positive reviews for it.

'Her Kind' is set in Kilkenny in the 14th Century, based on witch trials that really took place there. The novel is loosely based on the case of Alice Kyter, an infamous moneylender who was accused of witchcraft by her enemies in the Catholic Church, and is narrated by Alice, her lady's maid and childhood companion Petronelle, and Petronelle's mute daughter Basilia. The narrative weaves dreams and memories with the present, which though enjoyable to read could be confusing, especially since two of the characters went by alternative names.

This is more than just a novel or simple retelling, and is a conscious and fierce act of retrieval, of women who were silenced and tortured and burned when the Catholic Church couldn't control them. The religious figures in the book are derranged in their descriptions of taboo sexual practices and fleshing out of rumours of women who take demon lovers, and the way these lies are spread to further their power is frightening. I didn't realise women were burnt at the stake in Ireland, let alone so near where I grew up, so it actually took me a while to figure out that this was based on real history. In her afterward to the book, Niamh Boyce explains that she took a liberal approach to the story, as the official records would have been heavily biased in favour of the Catholic Church, and she wanted to give a voice to women like Petronelle.

While I sometimes lost track of the story and would have preferred more backstory at the beginning, I think what Boyce does here is really important, and that I will remember this book for a long time.

Synopsis
'Tense, moving and atmospheric, Her Kind is a vivid re-imagining of the events leading up to the Kilkenny Witch Trial'.

This is my first read by this author and the subject matter gripped me. This novel is based on historical facts.
Firstly the writing was superb and I felt carried into the time through it. I could imagine where the story would go but I was transfixed with the characters and interested in them and their lives. Petronella was a stand out character for me and I enjoyed my time with her.
Magic is a big player in the story but it is also a tale of the lives of women in Medieval Ireland influenced by societal norms of the time. I thought this was a great read and I would personally recommend it.

The first thing I have to mention about this novel is that the writing is stunning. It caught my attention from the first page and I instantly knew, no matter what, I was going to enjoy this story. The way the words flowed on the page drew me in and the description and imagery were beautifully done. This is a historical fiction novel with stories and characters that not only weave their way through the story but into your heart as well. I enjoyed the alternating points of view and felt they were executed wonderfully. The story is based around the true events of the Kilkenny witch trials of the 1300s.

We begin the story with a mother and daughter seeking refuge and thus begins a story that will pull you into its pages only letting you go once you reach the end. My favourite character was Petronelle and I enjoyed her narration the most. All in all, this is a well-rounded novel from a very talented writer.

For the most part, I enjoyed Her Kind but I didn't find any of the characters particularly engaging. The book is written from the POV of several characters but I don't think that brought anything to the story. The most sympathetic character is Líadan/Petronelle but she is inconsistent in her thoughts and actions and at times, I found her frustrating. I would have liked to learn more about Líadan and Alice's past which I think would have given the story the depth it is lacking.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really happy I had to chance to read "Her Kind". I'm a big historical fiction fan (and nerd), and I am also fascinated by everything regarding witches in history, such as witch trials and folklore. So I was really curious to dive into this novel.
"Her Kind" is inspired by a true story, the witch trial in Kilkenny (Ireland) in 1324. I love the Medieval age, and I was happy to see that the author had really developed the darkness and the uncertainty of that particular time. I do not know much about Irish history in the Medieval period, and I have to admit that this book lacks of a bit of context. I had to search on the Internet a lot of the basic facts that I had to know before reading this book. I think that, without the aforementioned facts I wouldn't have been able to understand completely the main story, and I think this is not good in a historical novel.
The character, though, were really well developed, even though I had some trouble in empathizing with some of them. My favourite was definitely Basilia. She was just so determined and kind, and well-driven. Petronelle on the other hand had a little bit of a sketchy side in my opinion.
I loved the part where the author described Petronelle and Alice's youth and I would have really liked to know more about Otto, because he seemed like a really interesting character.
The atmosphere of the entire book was gloomy, and dark, and I think it really well represents the typical Irish weather and general landscape.
In conclusion I would really recommend this book, even though maybe sometimes lacked of a bit of something. Nevertheless, it was really entertaining and I surely learned a lot.

There seems to have been an increase of late in the amount of books written during a time where accusations of witchcraft were rife. I really enjoy books set during such periods, and am particularly enjoying the feminist perspective on the topic.

Her Kind was a gripping read, drawing me into the character's lives and allowing an insight into the time period. A brilliant writer and absorbing storyline.

Her Kind is a novel which can be compared to the tapestry so often referred to in the novel itself. Various threads of stories and characters come together, interweave and eventually paint an inevitable picture. Woven around historical fact, the story however is one which could take place (which elemental alterations) even now.
The inevitably of the story is that you suspect how it will end, ever before you reach the climax, not because the story isn't complex enough, but the gist of the story is an age-old, familiar one. It doesn't ruin the story, the journey to get to the end is what makes this novel so enjoyable. A Gentle tale for the most part, the undercurrent of distrust, worry, suspicion and hysteria which runs through and comes to a climax late on keeps the reader interested.
The alternating viewpoints are a useful narrative tool, however I do feel Petronelle would have sufficed fine as the individual narrator and it wouldn't have changed the story too much.
To say this novel is based around the theme of magic is too simple ; it is a novel of medieval Ireland, of everyday life, of women and how society treats them.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC to review.

I'm torn as it was very readable but I'm not sure the writing is reflective of the speech at the time but the setting seems so real. It's either brilliant or terrible and I really can't decide. I was sucked into this story of the way jealousy can lead to women being killed to.

I jumped at the chance to review this title because I've just always loved reading about witches. This novel begins with the ending then it's gradually revealed what leads to the inevitable conclusion. I really enjoy this as a narrative tool, especially with historical fiction, but it jumps between different perspectives to tell the story and some POV's I preferred to others. For example, I found Petronelle's really engaging, but struggled to get through her daughter's - hence why I've given a middle of the road rating.
This is most likely due to the fact that I'm older than the daughter and I'm a mother myself, therefore Petronelle was simply the more relatable character for me.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~