When her grandmother is hung for witchcraft, Mary throws in her lot with a Puritan congregation and sets sail for the New World.

I wish I had insightful things to say about this book, I really do, but it just didn't work for me. It faded from my mind with the speed of thought.

I'm a bit miffed about that, really, because I was looking forward to this one. I've heard scads of good things about Celia Rees. I love fictional journals. (They're similar to epistolary novels in that they give us lots and lots of layers that build off of one another in the most beguiling ways). The first entry was promising. I thought I'd love the book, or at least rather like it. As it stands, though, I'm pretty durned glad I never have to think about it again.

I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Mary was flat as a rail-pressed penny. That first entry drummed up a ton of empathy for her, but I didn't feel like Rees managed to sustain the tension. She made so little impression me that I can't think of a single thing to say about her. The secondary characters followed suit.

I don't have much to say about their world, either. I'm sure I'd have found Rees's depiction of Puritan life in seventeenth century Massachusetts quite convincing, if I'd been able to concentrate on it. There's a ton of detail, and Rees seems to have dealt with both the First Nations issues and the religious stuff in a fairly sensitive manner. (I say "seems" because I was, um, not really paying much attention by the time it all rolled around).

I think that part of the problem was that I already knew the story. Witchy girl gets tangled up with Puritans. Gee, I wonder how that's gonna play out? Sigh. I can see how it'd have been wonderful if Rees managed to draw me in and trick me into forgetting that I knew exactly what was going to happen, but she didn't so it wasn't.

And that's it. It did nothing for me. I can't recommend it.

(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

First off, I was not tremendously moved by this book. Celia Rees effectively created a realistic world for the 1600's, but the pace of this book was very slow leaving my mind to wander. Mary being an orphan and a witch was a couple of the very few things that we know about this main character leaving this book lacking in character build up. Over half of this book is dedicated to the killing of Mary Grandmother and her travel to America; which is not the main plot so in most cases I would have given up trying to finish this book. That being said I did complete this book, but it is nothing that I would recommend or want to continue the series. ( )

Mary Newbury is forced to leave her home in England after her grandmother, a healer, is tried and hanged for practicing witchcraft.

With the help of a woman who turns out to be her mother, Mary boards a ship to America with a group of Puritans also bound for the New World. Mary soon realizes that she is in just as much danger in her new home.

She keeps a secret diary that begins, "I am Mary. I am a witch." Mary's fascinating story unfolds in her own words.

Excellent. I just ordered the sequel! ( )

This book was an excellent read.

I loved this book and read it in only one day. I couldn't put it down. This story would not only captivate young adult readers (14 and up), but could also cross over to adults because of the historical element. In fact I was enthralled more with the time period, mid 17th century, rather than the whole "witch" element. I felt like I was traveling along with Mary as she leaves Europe for the New World, across the Atlantic. Even though the main character is female, I think the story would interest males and females alike. I can not wait to read the sequel. ( )