There’s something about The Revels that made me keep reading even though the writing style didn’t work for me. It’s such a fascinating take on the witch trials, and Thomas writes so well about the abuse suffered by witches and non-witches alike. But I had to reread so many sentences and go back full pages so many times to try to figure out what was going on in the plot - it took so much time and concentration just to keep the thread alive. There's a nugget of something in the narrative that I kept waiting to be developed, but I was left wanting and needing more than what I got.

"The details change, yet the girl never does; she is either wanton or a mercenary whore, but never the victim."

I wanted to love this book. We had magic, witch trials and all the historic references that I love, but I found I could not gel with the hero of the book.

We are throne into 1600’s England where the civil war is raging and the unrest is leading to rumours and accusations of witchcraft flying about. Nicholas (who dreams of being a play write) is instead summoned by his father to become the apprentice of a witch hunter, turned judged, who now is being pressured to take up his old role as citizens begin to panic and point fingers at so called magic welders.
But Nicholas has secrets of his own that being this close to the fire, may lead to him being burnt.

I wanted to love this book but Nicholas drove me batty. Firstly it felt like every chapter ended with him reminding the reader that he was worried about revealing his “magic” and getting burnt. Yep Nick, we get it, your scared.

I also found the pace of the book slow, there were lulls and almost too much detail in parts that I felt were not needed to move the book along.

A shame as it had a great premise but just kept me feeling meh.

The Revels is set during 1645, a time where the fear of witchcraft and thus witch-hunting were at its peak. Nicholas is forced to apprentice a former witch hunter, although he has a dangerous secret he is trying to keep this from everyone but also trying to find the courage to speak up regarding the accused are witches. Therein lies the real battle of Nicholas trying to hide his identity and wishing to help those around him.

If this period of time - tyranny of the witch-hunters, witch trials and the powerlessness of those accused is a topic and period of time that interests you then be sure to check out this book. A most promising debut by Stacey Thomas.

A story set on England in 1645, where witches were evil and religions are always fighting each other life can be tough. This is one of those books/stories that is full of tension, history, witches and it is magical and moody and will captivate and even haunt you from page one.

A great length and well paced. I loved following along with the main character Nicholas and his secrets and what his life throws at him. This is interesting, intriguing and enticing. It can be dark yet it does have its tender moments too.

A great read and I think I m=need to read it yet again to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Moody, atmospheric, gothic historical fiction is my favourite. Add in witches, or more specifically, historical witch trials, and I’m hooked from the outset. The Revels was sublime from the start. Such a smooth and lyrical writing style, a wholly unique narrator, and a storyline with roots deep in historical fact.


‘Witch-hunts are no more than a revel. The price of admission your complacent disregard for the innocents you push into their paths.’


Our narrator, Nicholas, is a young man who believes himself to be a witch, or at least, in possession of a supernatural instinct that others would label as witchcraft. He can hear the dead sing, specifically, the songs of their deaths. He carries the burden of being alive when his half-brother, the true heir of the family, is recently dead, killed in the war that is raging in the background. Clothed in his brother’s finery, his father, apprentices him to a judge, William Percival, who is also a former witch-hunter, and who turns out to be an entirely different man to what Nicholas expects.


“What made you leave the profession?”

“I had the foresight to realise it was becoming a relic of the past. King Charles saw us as no more than a reminder of his father, a bored monarch whose obsession with the supernatural soon turned to deer hunting. I saw the writing on the wall then, just as I see myself clearly today. Kin James set me to hunt witches and his son put me on the Star Chamber to root out dissenters. I am not a witch-hunter. I am a persecutor of men, and I am well-bred for the work.”


As well as a tale of witch-hunting, this is a story of how easily desperate people can be swayed to turn on each other. The story is filled with doubt at every turn, who can be trusted, who should be avoided, and who has been bewitched. The Revels is also a coming-of-age story for Nicholas, who must learn to stop fearing who he is, embrace his mother’s legacy and step out of the shadow of his brother and the guilt that binds them, release himself from his father’s manipulations, and judge for himself who is evil and who is not.


‘I would have drowned had my mother not crowned me in her songs. Her melody kept the dead muffled until I was strong enough to silence them in turn. She threaded her history in my blood and waited all these years for me to unravel it. A part of her will wait still.’


The above-mentioned reference to Stacey Halls, Laura Purcell and Bridget Collins is bang on. I have read each of those authors and they are queens within this genre. The comparison is a worthy one. Highly recommended.


Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

The Revels is a captivating novel that takes readers on an enchanting journey filled with warmth and magic. With its engaging storytelling, endearing characters, and enchanting world-building, this book delivers a perfect blend of history and dark atmosphere. It takes on a new view to the witch trials, even being likened to theatre shows - everyone gaining enjoyment from watching human dignity be stripped. I found myself empathising with the MMC, which was completely unexpected - especially in a novel set in a time that is so heavily focused on the mistreatment of women, being those who are just there for child bearing and family life. I experienced such a wide array for emotions, I was so angry and I was sad, all because of the beautiful writing from Thomas.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy, this one is available now.

This was a much heavier read than I usually enjoy but I found the topic interesting. The author is a beautiful writer and has clearly done a lot of research into the time period and witch trials.

The Revels is a captivating story that shows the unsettling effects of fear, superstitions, jealousy and control. It also highlights the magnitude of love, self-preservation, truth and secrets. This is not an easy read due to its complexity of details, characters and events. But this impressive delivery is rewarding once you buckle up for the intense ride.

The novel is set in London, 1645, and opens with playwright Nicholas Pearce returning home from Oxford. His brother Francis has died. Death and disappointment hang heavy in the space between Nicholas and his family. But we learn from the first line: (a great one it is!) ‘Death is a song.’ Followed by, ‘I’ve known its rhythm since birth, but I still flinch from it.’ Nicholas has a special ability. The dead sing to him and these songs are marked throughout the storyline. It will take many events over the course of the plot before he feels at ease with a gift that must be hidden. There is a real irony in this, considering the part he plays in the witch hunts.

This lyrical introduction offers plenty of food for thought. The Revels, in fact, has a fresh writing style that continues throughout the story. It is filled with beautiful prose, original comparisons, rich historical references, unique and sometime treacherous characters. There are eloquent numerous lines and moving passages such as seen in the letter from Francis (when he is dying) to Nicholas. It is obvious Francis loves his brother and does not want to see him under the control of their father. Francis also regrets not knowing his brother better. Especially, Nicholas the witch— who the dead sing to. As he states: ‘Fear of the consequences made us shy of each other.’ This was a time of great accusations and hiding such truth was necessary for survival.

Stacey provides a clear picture of how superstition was rampant in the 1600s. And how it was utilised and abused by those in power. In England and other countries at that time, witch trials and witch hunters were at their height. The number of innocent women (and men to a lesser extent) accused of being witches was massive. Hangings were prevalent. These horrible trials all started under James VI of Scotland. Later when he took the English throne as James I, he made changes to the English Witchcraft Act that sent the country into a frenzy. Talk about mass marketing! And witch trials were maxed by the time this novel begins in 1645.

Stacey has done an amazing job with such an incredibly difficult time period and topic. I definitely was transported to the events of the day and found myself constantly distressed, squirming or shouting at the cruelty and death inflicted on many women under this terrible regime. Witch hunting became a real sport and a means to cover the dirty politics of the day. For as Stacey shows, the real villains and footmen of the devil were often those who executed the innocent. They fanned fear into a level of hysteria as seen in crowds and juries. Poor older women with cats did not stand a chance as these pets were considered ‘familiars’. This thirst for extermination of ‘so-called’ witches raised new work positions. Someone needed to bring these witches to justice. Thus Witch hunters became prevalent and even a Witchfinder General as noted in The Revels. A great deal of money was gained by these men who received large payments from towns for bringing witches to trial. These generals looked for a Devil’s Mark on the individual and often a mole or flea bite was taken as a sign. All quite ridiculous but accepted nonetheless. The torture these women experienced was horrific and often ended in hangings. Mob attacks became common when someone was labelled a witch.

Beyond the darker side of this story is the special relationship between Nicholas and Althamia. I enjoyed watching their connection grow. She is a key figure and one who brings acceptance and love into his life. One who does not care that he is more comfortable with the dead than the living.

I encourage lovers of historical fiction to read this debut by a talented author who has a great knowledge of 16th and 17th century history and a wonderful command of language. As mentioned, it is not an easy read due to its topic and time period. Yes, the true villains are beyond redemption but our hero and heroine grow, learn and ascend in spite of their flaws. And the song of the dead carries on with the novel ending on a high note! I recommend The Revels. It is a powerful story of over-comers who find the courage to fight and expose the real evil in this crazy war. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to HQ & Netgalley for my review copy.

The Revels is well written and it's clear the author has done extensive research on the subject and time period. I loved the idea and was intrigued by it's uniqueness and can see why people will love this book.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. At 50% in, I personally didn't feel that connected to the characters. I had to DNF, but I do believe this book will be enjoyed by many.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

The Revels was a book with an interesting premise set in a little-used time period for historical fantasy fiction. The author clearly researched well and the era was nicely presented throughout with no glaring anachronisms. I enjoyed the story, but I also felt a bit more removed from it than I would have liked. I found it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level and never felt particularly caught up in or concerned about their plights. In particular, I would have liked to have delved deeper into Nicholas' gift, other than just having the lyrics of the songs he hears. But there was already a lot going on in this book as it was, so perhaps that would have weighed it down too much. Overall, this is a book I enjoyed and am happy to have read, but it's not one I would rave about. As such, I am giving it 3.5 stars. It's certainly worth picking up if you like historical fantasy that offers a fresh twist and subtle, atmospheric tales of witchcraft.

BLURB:
England, 1645.
After his half-brother dies, aspiring playwright Nicholas Pearce is apprenticed to Judge William Percival, an infamous former witch-hunter who is under pressure to resume his old profession.

In a country torn apart by civil war, with escalating tensions between Catholics and Protestants, Royalists and Roundheads, and rumours of witchcraft, Nicholas hides a secret: the dead sing. He hears their secrets, but will he find the courage to speak up to save innocent lives, even if it means putting himself in great danger?

MY THOUGHTS:
This book throws the reader into 1645 England in the shadow of King James I reign and his destruction of women all over the country being accused of witchcraft.

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.

To be in the midst of witch hunters and trials, with his unique gift, was such a dangerous time.

This was not a light read, but if it’s a genre and time period that you are interested in then it would definitely be a book to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.