Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book has a really interesting premise. I was definitely intrigued by the idea of Sycorax, the witch from 'The Tempest' getting her own time in the spotlight, and this book had a fantastic premise. First off, the descriptions in this book are beautiful. They follow a glorious, lilting sort of pattern, and manage to shine throughout. There is definitely a heavy Shakespearean influence in this novel, and that makes for an excellent narrative. There is a whole and comprehensive view of the titular character, which gives us a description and a life far beyond anything that Shakespeare wrote for her. I found the whole premise to be marvelous, and the way that this was written was wonderful.

I do think, however, that the book could have gone further from where it ended up. The story of Sycorax ends up being an almost-familiar story of a 'witch' in a small town, discriminated against to the extent that she is cast out of society and is left isolated. I thought that there would be a bit more of a focus on the abilities and isolation of Sycorax, but the focus on the interpersonal relationships and why she ended up in exile consumes the entirety of the book to a point that it became a little tired. I wanted to see something a bit different from this book, particularly given we have no frame of reference for the character, but this aspect of the book fell a little flat.

With that said, this book is absolutely worth the read, and the time and care that has been put into the characters was wonderful. While it has some minor flaws, it is well worth the time, and proves to be as good as the cover suggests.

4.5 stars

This has been on my wishlist ever since I first read about it and I am thrilled to have been given an early digital copy.

I loved the cover of this book. I know we don't judge books by their covers (we totally do) but this one stood out.

I also loved the dedication to those who suffer from chronic illness. I knew there was this chronic illness representation from a tweed I'd seen, so when it came, it was really touching. It's very hard for someone who is in pain to explain in words what that pain is like, and it was really refreshing to see it written down so clearly.

It has been a very long time since I last read The Tempest, and so I admit the name Sycorax didn't mean much to me.

It wasn't a genre I was particularly interested in before, but in the last few years I have read some epic adaptations - from Greek and Roman myths to Shakespeare - and it's a genre I am here for, every day of the week.

It is very prose heavy, very narrative heavy, which I like. I tend to write in more narrative than dialogue. It helps set up the environment, and we get to know our characters. It's narrated by Sycorax herself which was an immediate plus for me. Nydia has given this invisible character her voice back. There is some dialogue in it but it's worked within the prose itself which I quite liked.

I loved Nydia's use of the natural world - the ocean, fire, animals. It helps us chart Sycorax's journey, but reminds us of the importance of the balance between human and nature.

I did enjoy it, it has a lot going for it, great narration and scene building and interesting characters. But I must admit, I felt it was a little slow to get going. It's a very well written character exploration, which I loved. It was written well, interesting, entertaining, and I'd highly recommend it. But yeah, I was waiting for the BIG things to happen just a smidgen earlier, but that's my one criticism because what IS there is fabulous.

I don't think it's a spoiler to say that at times in this, Sycorax has her eyes covered. I don't know how much of that is true to the original play, but I liked it in this. It's like Nydia appreciates and acknowledges that Sycorax is not visible in the play, and though she has made her very visible in this, the covering of the eyes is almost a subtle nod to this invisibility.

I thought it was an interesting idea to adapt the story of an 'unknown' woman. I've read a lot of retellings recently and they're usually about the big names - Persephone, Medusa, Lady Macbeth etc. and so to pick someone who 1) doesn't even appear in her own play, and 2) who I imagine is unknown to those who don't study Shakespeare, is a brave but interesting choice.

I'm not sure if we're meant to be feel empathy towards Sycorax or not. At times I didn't, but overall I really did feel for her. She didn't start life in the most 'normal' or easiest of ways, and it only got worse and more complicated as it went on. And I really did feel she deserved so much better than her lot.

It is a heavy story. Whether you know about Sycorax going into it or not, it's not always an easy thing to read. There is death and illness, injuries, deformities, rumours, hatred, anger, loneliness, witchcraft, and lots of other things I think you need to read for yourself. So yes, whilst I think you will enjoy it very much, just be aware it is not a light read. It really gets your mind and your emotions running.

Sycorax, the witch known only by her evil reputation, unseen and unheard yet a menacing presence in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, is tantalisingly brought to life in Nadya Hetherington’s novel by the same title.

She comes from a long line of powerful desert wisewomen. Her mother is of the Moon, her father of the Sun – Sycorax’s birth is something bordering on a cosmic event and yet, paradoxically, her origins are humble. She is born into poverty and isolation from the wider community of a wonderfully imagined island governed by a pirate known as Barbarossa!

Hetherington fleshes out her heroine with sensitivity and imagination. She charters her growth (and the growth of her powers) from her happy childhood, through her tentative introduction to the wary and superstitious townsfolk, and into her coming of age and into her magic. Tragic events sculpt her character and chronic pain, described with a visceral insight, realises her as a vulnerable and fragile human being. Peripheral characters beautifully complement Sycorax as either her (few) allies or nemeses.

I was particularly taken with the evocation of the natural world: the mountain lion, the faithful crow, the violent ocean and, especially, the rock of the island which literally comes to life through Sycorax’s magic.

A highly original tale of prejudice and resilience.

As an English teacher by trade, I was so engrossed by this captivating re-imagining of one of Shakespeare's most famous witches. An enchanting read from start to finish.

This was such a beautiful read with lush prose, gorgeous descriptions and a story that flowed so well
The author took this character and made her interesting and bold with an engrossing backstory and a vividly imagined life
I loved reading this and enjoyed every minute

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

A prequel to Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’? One that brings every sense to life with the spirit, beauty, and sadness of Sycorax, mother to Caliban, who gets only the briefest of mentions in the stage show?

Yes please.

@nydiamadeofwords beautiful novel (coming in Feb 2025), imagines the life of this most fascinating of offstage witches as an outsider in a town governed by a former private, and administered by the beautiful councillor, Afalkay. The natural world plays as great a role in Sycorax’s life as the human, and the two are woven together in lush prose that brilliantly evokes bird song, salt sea air, sandy toes, market scents, sweat, sweet happiness, plus a spectrum of sympathy and pain.

Sycorax endures a lot for being Other and often has little or no opportunity to escape, but I never felt she was defined or defeated by the chronic pain and persecution she faces. There’s a glorious resilience about her and the way she draws strength from the natural world and the glimmers of human goodness. I loved her. And her mother.

It might not be your cup of tea if you’re in a plot-driven phase, but if you like the idea of a beautifully written novel that explores what makes a ‘witch’ in a refreshing, thought provoking way, with a fabulous little epilogue, look no further.

‘The Tempest’ was the first (and for a long time the only) Shakespeare play that really caught my imagination, but I always felt it was a shame we weren’t told more about Caliban and Sycorax. I was delighted when I saw this was due to be published. Heartfelt thanks to @quercusbooks and @netgalley for the review copy.

I really enjoyed Nydia Hetherington's previous novel A Girl Made of Air and was interested to see what she did with this story. It's a reimagining of events prior to Shakespeare's The Tempest.
She's written a beautiful and lyrical fable about the 'crone' Sycorax who's alluded to in the play but is never seen.
I loved the use of language and imagery and liked the twisting of the perspective to show her as someone sympathetic and misunderstood.
Hetherington uses the lens of illness and disability to portray her and this was cleverly and sensitively done. This felt like an ancient fable and worked as a piece of storytelling.