I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
The blurb mentioned this being about the first woman accused of witchcraft.
Her sin was to want the power and wealth of a businessman like her father. She may also have left a few husbands in her wake, but she learned that from her father as well. The book has a good storyline that moves along with good timing. Sometimes it seems more like an epic poem because of the beauty of the words.

I read the blurb of this book and couldn’t wait to start and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was intrigued right from the beginning- the plot was quickly paced and Alice is a character to be reckoned with. The story felt well researched and cared for. I’ll be interest to see what Molly Aitken writes next.

Very interesting plot. Quick pacing that was mostly enjoyable but sometimes felt like I would have enjoyed certain plot points fleshed out a bit more.

"Bright I Burn" masterfully reimagines the life of Alice, the first woman condemned as a witch in Ireland. Set in the thirteenth century, the novel captures Alice's transformation from the daughter of a wealthy innkeeper to a formidable businesswoman. Her determination to defy societal constraints is both inspiring and empowering.

The clever use of town gossip cut scenes adds layers of intrigue and tension. Despite some occasional pacing issues, the story comes together well, mirroring Alice’s unpredictable life.

"Bright I Burn" is a breathtaking act of imagination, breathing life into a historical figure lost to time. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction with strong, complex female character.

I wish this book had been longer. A very interesting tale of one woman's life. I didn't want it to end. So many women went through similar situations back then, and scarily it still happens today to a point. A very good book that I highly recommend.

Now, I am my own creation, and it’s far too late to change me.

Told in a lyrical and bard style, Bright I Burn breathes historical fiction life into the first recorded person condemned for witchcraft in Ireland, Alice Kyteler. The story brings readers in when Alice is nine years old in 1279 Kilkenny, Ireland. At this age, Alice learns an important truth of how woman are valued, their ability to give their husbands heirs and to always remember to stay at least one step ahead of the men in her life. Her desirability is a hindrance, first avoiding her father, and a help as it leads to her being able to marry who she wants. I liked how the story did touch on Alice's privilege, class and race, and how that protected her at times. From this important formative year, the story jumps year to year as Alice grows, plotting, planning, and maneuvering to gain riches for herself and her son, knowing this leads to protection and choices.

Successful women don't always fair well in history, though, and knowing an important part of the historical outcome, each year that goes by, with Alice marrying and playing a part in her widowhood, jealousy, envy, and anger grow among the townspeople and certain men in power, there is a feeling of dread. There are moments, where you want to start to agree with her son, have her be less for safety, but then you rally and know she shouldn't have to. However, Alice isn't portrayed a perfect character, she has pride, desire, and selfishness, making her all the more accessible. She feels stifled by her first husband, has her sexual liberation with her second, grows more centered with her third, and lets some of her rage out on her fourth.

The story was throughout good with dripping with disdain pointing out the hypocrisy of the church and it's clergymen. When Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede arrives in Kilkenny, you could feel the rising tension and building fervor of him using economic strife and men's fear and want to control women, from the pulpit to slowly poison. Alice in her late fifties/early sixties alluring and intimidating men, them not knowing how to deal with these feelings causing anger, felt like a tale as old as time. While the true historical texts don't know what ultimately happened to Alice, I liked the ending the author imagined. An historical fiction story that took a real life and imagined filled in places, it will make you want to rage and, maybe, wish for a time that poisoning wasn't so detectable.

Thank you Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC!
I had heard the name Alice Kyteler before in school, but never learned much about her. I think this is a strong, well-researched, beautifully written introduction to her story. I really did enjoy the style of prose and Alice’s unforgiving, straightforward voice. The only setback for me was that I didn’t feel particularly connected to her, like there was a certain level of depth missing. But overall, this novel is well worth a read, and very hard to put down.

Not what I thought the book would be about. The synopsis was very interesting, but once I got to reading, it was like a whole another story. It's more about Alice's life and so very little about witchery. The writing style was very hard for me to grasp and it was so hard to follow along. At times, I found it hard to understand what was happening.


Thank you Netgalley, Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage catalog for the ARC.

I found this novel based on history to be a fascinating read ,I knew nothing Alice was a really interesting character her story made for a compelling read.Molly Aiken has an excellent style of writing.#netgalley #knopf doubleday

"Bright I Burn" by Molly Aitken is an extraordinary novel that weaves a rich tapestry of myth, magic, and raw human emotion. Aitken's storytelling prowess is on full display as she crafts a narrative that is as enchanting as it is profound.

The novel follows the journey of Rós, a young woman who finds herself entangled in the ancient, mystical traditions of her homeland. Aitken's ability to blend folklore with contemporary issues is seamless, creating a world that feels both timeless and utterly relevant. The prose is lush and evocative, painting vivid images that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.

What truly sets "Bright I Burn" apart is its depth of character development. Rós is a compelling protagonist whose growth is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each bringing their own unique perspectives and adding layers of complexity to the story.

Aitken's exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling is handled with great sensitivity and insight. The novel resonates on a deeply emotional level, making it a powerful read that stays with you.

In summary, "Bright I Burn" is a masterfully crafted novel that captivates from beginning to end. Molly Aitken has delivered a stunning work of fiction that is sure to appeal to fans of literary fiction and fantasy alike. Highly recommended!

I just returned from an adventure, feeling like I might not be entirely the same person. Witnessing this character's journey and growth has left me deeply moved. Getting to know all the characters has been both heartbreaking and enriching. Despite the emotional rollercoaster, I wouldn't hesitate to experience it all over again. The author skillfully weaved history into the narrative, making the story not only captivating but also educational. It felt effortless to immerse myself in their world, as if I were growing and learning alongside the characters. This book has undoubtedly earned a permanent spot on my recommendation list. However, now that I've finished it, I find myself in a reading slump, searching for a new adventure that can transport me like this one did. I'm afraid I won't find anything quite as captivating. Moreover, I'm anxious about the next book; how can the author surpass or even maintain the momentum of this one? I'm on edge, holding my breath in anticipation. I'm determined to acquire every version of this story as a token of gratitude for the journey it took me on. Thank you for sharing this remarkable story with me.

Feminist retelling of Alice Kyteler's life shows lots of research, but I couldn't quite find Alice to be appealing.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book early!
When i saw this book was about a woman accused of witchcraft, I was all for it! Thankfully my request to read it from NetGalley was granted. When i got comfy to read this, i did read it in big chunks at a time. So i loved it right? Well, not exactly. Alice was a difficult character to like and to sympathize with. At points, the dialogue and storytelling became almost dream like and hard to follow her train of thought. The story is more of her life and only at the end is accusations of witchcraft brought up. The book isn't what i was expecting.

This was absolutely fascinating. At first, the writing style threw me and I wasn't sure I wanted to keep going. But then I kept reading. And reading. And I couldn't stop. I had to take a break for a Zoom call with my family, and then I immediately began reading until I had finished. I can't remember the last time a book had me so hooked.

Bright I Burn is the story of Alice Kyteler. I had never heard of her until now, but I ended up doing a dive into her life and I was truly impressed at the depth of Molly Aitken's research. Yes, she had to take a few liberties (I mean, it's 13th century Ireland, after all), but she told Alice's story in a way that the real woman was never able. I think what I loved most is that Alice is not a character meant to be loved. She is a hard woman and through no fault of her own. She was born into a time that saw women as property, valued only for their appearance and ability to bear children and never for their keen minds or courage.

Whatever fictitious tidbits Aitken had to implement, they added to the story. They gave Alice depth and meaning, and even as she was cold and cruel and calculating, I understood why. In order to survive, she had to be that way. But she was also human, and like all humans, susceptible to the pull of money. Why settle when you can scheme your way to more? How could it be evil when everything she did was to ensure her son would never want?

Were her methods morally questionable? Perhaps. But she's the kind of character you love to hate, while rooting for at the same time. I'm truly blown away by Bright I Burn, and I think this story will appeal to readers of both fiction and nonfiction. I can see the writing style being a turn off for some (it's an interesting deviation from the usual 'show don't tell' that somehow works) but the story and characters themselves are fascinating to the point where I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy!

Beautiful cover art, well written story, and eye opening! Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken is based on the story of the first recorded woman in Ireland to be condemned as a witch. Alice Kyteler is bright and brave and refuses to submit to a patriarchal society. She carves her own path and pays the price. Thank you Netgalley for my copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Molly Aitken for an ARC of this title!

After reading the synopsis for this book I walked in expecting a "good-for-her" kind of tale. What I actually encountered was something much more nuanced - something that left me feeling a lot more yearning, bitterness, and sorrow for the real-life Alice, and the characters (particularly the women) who weaved in and out of this tale. I think that reading this title in Spring 2024 - when hard-fought basic human rights will soon be on the chopping block, and in a time when the son of a gifted scientist still feels it's necessary to reduce women to essentially "broodmares" (as Alice put it so many times throughout this book) has made reading this book much more poignant. It feels almost wrong to say I enjoyed watching Alice come into her own through this book - which, if you did not see, is set in 1200s Ireland - in the ways that she felt were available to her. But I did enjoy it, even if I can recognize that a lot of her actions would have been "wrong" in 2024.

This was a fascinating read and Alice is an alluring and compelling character. I imagine it wasn’t easy being a woman with ambitions in the 1200s and it was thrilling to read about Alice’s perseverance and commitment to fortune and power.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

While only 4 people have reviewed this book, I’m still willing to accept I am the outlier. I am all for feminism and powerful women characters. The issue for me is that this book is poorly paced and choppy. Situations and narratives jump around, which is distracting to the overall story. I couldn’t go on reading around the halfway point, so this is a DNF for me.

I loved this quick read. I had never heard of Alice’s story, but have since gone down a further rabbit hole to read more about her after finishing this. Alice was written with such emotion and power in her voice and actions. Aitken’s research and care for her story are shown clearly in every detail of this book. Will be recommending this to others! Thank you for the ARC. :)

I'm not sure "fun" is the right word to use to describe the time I had while reading this, but it's the closest I can get.

Learning about real life Alice Kyteler felt like looking into my past, present, future self; felt like learning about my ancestors, and the ancestors of others. It was sad, terrifying, joyful, and insistent.

Molly's writing took a little getting used to, but it felt reminiscent to how I felt reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and Weyward by Emilia Hart.

I'll probably think about this book for the rest of my life!

*I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.