Of Sorrow and Such

I've been a big fan of Angela Slatter ever since reading [b:Sourdough and Other Stories|8981691|Sourdough and Other Stories|Angela Slatter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351946334s/8981691.jpg|13858812] for the lyrical and gorgeous writing.

Magic, shapeshifting, and truly magical worldbuilding surrounds these short stories and the others from the other collections.

I cannot stress enough how much I love her writing. Evocative, triple-layered line-item goodies, wry, loving, hateful, despairing, vengeful, and deep.

Every character is real in the way only the very best writers can make them. There's no bashing of sexes. It's all equal mixes of all the best and worst that humanity has to offer in every single character even though the show more main focus is on witches and witch-hunters.

There's no real way to describe how good these are except by experience. They're haunting and on the same level, at least to me, with Cat Valente's writing.

So deeply layered, simple in execution, and vast in implication. :) Total recommendation. show less

Of Sorrow and Such by Angela Slatter is a novella released as part of Tor.com's new novella line. It's set in the same world as The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings and Sourdough and Other Stories, two collections that have either won awards or been shortlisted. However, that doesn't mean you have to have read anything else to enjoy this book. Of Sorrow and Such stands quite nicely alone.

This novella is about an older woman living alone with a teenage adopted daughter, who dispenses herbal medicine to the residents of her village. It's mostly women that come to her or people with urgent problems who can't wait for the "real" (i.e. male) doctor's next visit. There is a lot of social commentary on how women are treated patriarchal show more societies when they don't have any power. And also how they're treated when they do, inconveniently, dare to have power. Because the main character, Patience, is a witch and spends a lot of her time looking out for both disadvantaged women and fellow witches. She's not a nice person, but she is a practical one, which is part of her charm. I quite liked her and her philosophy of doing what was needed. I haven't read Sourdough and Other Stories, yet, so this was my first introduction to her.

Of Sorrow and Such starts off by setting the scene, which can make it feel a bit slow, but Slatter's writing is so lovely that it's a consistently very readable story. It does pick up in the second half, however, and I had difficulty putting it down at that point (despite my desperate need for sleep).

I quite enjoyed this novella and it definitely makes me want to get around to Sourdough sooner rather than later (not sure that will be possible, alas). I highly recommend this story to fans of Slatter's other stories and to fans of fantasy generally. It's a little bit dark, but it's definitely not horror.

4.5 / 5 stars

You can read more reviews on my blog. show less

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this novella by a new to me author, Angela Slatter. What I got was a beautiful if dark tale with a feminist heart. I most certainly need to read more by Angela Slatter.

Mistress Gideon is a witch, and her life in Edda’s Meadow is tenuous at best in a world where witches are regularly killed. When a local and foolish shapeshifter gets herself caught, Gideon finds herself unwittingly involved. And as the authorities are roused to the existence of the supernatural in Edda’s Meadow, Gideon’s life gets more and more dangerous.

Of Sorrow and Such was darker than I had predicted, although the title and summary really should have clued me in to the tone of the story. When have witch hunts ever show more been anything but dark? The situation spirals inward towards calamity and violence that could not have been avoided. This may be novella and thus a quick read, but it packs one heck of a punch. Expect an intense, atmospheric read.

Gideon herself straddles the line between heroine and anti-heroine. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, and she admits that it has led her towards some actions she regrets. I loved her character. She’s an older woman who’s learned some wisdom over the course of her life, and she’s trying to both make amends for her past and create a new future for herself and the women around her.

“Females are seldom remembered once they’ve gone beneath the earth; indeed, many go unremarked while they’re still upon it.”

Mistress Gideon is a rare thing – an independent women living in a patriarchal society. Her very existence could be considered a threat by the authorities, and when you add in witchcraft, what do you get? A woman with power living outside male authority? It’s no wonder her life is precipitous. I loved how Of Sorrow and Such focuses on women, centering their voices and experiences under a patriarchal society that resembles an all to real part of history. These women and the relationships between them are at the core of Of Sorrow and Such, which is more than anything a tale of resistance.

If you pick up Of Sorrow and Such you will find a beautifully written story, one unfortunately relevant to the times we live in.

Originally posted in The Illustrated Page. show less

WHY haven't I known about Angela Slatter till now?

I feel like the presentation of this book is aiming to attract fans of Patricia McKillip; and if so, it worked on me, at least. I wouldn't argue with that decision, but while this story contains the magical mix of fairytale and realism that McKillip's work does, this story is quite a bit darker, in some ways.

Mistress Gideon is a witch, in a rural, medieval-esque world that punishes magic users with death. She's hidden her original identity and (a bit typically), is making her living as a village healer - tolerated by her community for her usefulness. However, Gideon's secret is not the only one in the town, and although she's very much not looking for trouble, trouble is bound to come show more her way.

The characterization here is wonderful: Slatter succeeds brilliantly in making her people jump off the pages and into our hearts - even though they're not at all 'nice.' Indeed, many of them are selfish, petty, short-sighted, and display many of the most unfortunate qualities of humanity. Gideon herself is pragmatic to the point of ruthlessness, and although we sympathize with her, I couldn't help understanding just why some communities might not want her or those like her around.

After finishing this, I immediately went out and made a request for another of Slatter's books through interlibrary loan. This is my very favorite sort of story.

Also, I want to give a nod to the cover artists, Anna & Elena Balbusso. Lovely work! http://www.balbusso.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&...

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own. show less

This is the tale of Patience Gideon, a witch living her life in precarious, yet rather comfortable security in the small town of Edda’s Meadow where no one really knows the true nature of her powers. When Patience’s world starts to crumble because of events outside her control, the story becomes a harrowing and gripping drama, and she has to use all her cunning and craft to try to save herself, her daughter, and something of the life she’s built for them.

‘Of Sorrow And Such’ is a gripping and beautifully told tale of magic, betrayal, faith, and loyalty, set in Angela Slatter’s alternate universe, a place of witches and shape-shifters, potions and spells. This is a world where the women who wield magic know how to heal and show more help, as well as hurt and kill. It’s also a world where women like Patience have to keep their magic hidden, unless they want to be hunted down and burned alive by the authorities.

Slatter’s world is an amazing place to explore, familiar yet strange, permeated by magic, yet anchored by characters who feel utterly real. Patience herself is complex and captivating, the kind of character you’d like to meet again in another story. All the characters, but especially the women, are memorable in this tale, whether they are foolish or cruel, brave or self-serving cowards. They feel like real people, people you might meet anywhere, except that some of them are endowed with powers. Even the evil ones are real enough: creatures we’d recognize in our own world.

Angela Slatter’s prose is a thing of beauty. Earthy and sensual, original and vibrant in its tone and melody: it’s a sheer joy to read. She captures everything easily, snaring a place and a mood and a characters just right with a twist of a sentence and the turn of a word. This is a fantasy tale that feels real enough to make a lasting impression and make you hungry for more of Angela Slatter’s witches and shifters. show less

But I remember all too well that one cannot put an old head on young shoulders.

Have truer words ever been written? Or thought by just about any parent, teacher, mentor, adult? We so want to impart the hard-earned wisdom of our life experience and mistakes, and every time hope our young will, maybe this time, listen.

Of Sorrow and Such, my first experience with Angela Slatter, proved enthralling. The world of Edda's Meadow was immediately believable -- from its natural beauty to its residents' secrets to the undercover witches who healed people they suspected might at any moment betray their trust. I instantly respected Patience and Selke; both intelligent, strong women who didn't have to sell each other out to exist. Gilly, even with her show more youthful arrogance and selfishness, won me over. The villains were equally dynamic, though I would've liked to see at least one man use his power for good. As it was, the only "good guys" were portrayed as dimwitted or timid. That, for me, was too black and white. The ending was a welcome surprise.

I'd recommend this novella to anyone who loves dark fantasy starring witches or the feel of historical fiction with witches and magic.

4.5 stars show less

This was everything I wanted it to be and more. Witches! Female friendship! Women who don't like each other working together! Revenge, both regretted and unregretted! I cannot tell you how happy I am to discover that there are more stories in this universe.