The Lost Child of Lychford

I’m sitting here rewriting sentences about how well Cornell does dark fantasy, and how he’s able to infuse modern British culture, especially aspects that are usually treated as comforting and familiar, with terror and critique, when really I should be talking about this book, this story, and not his general way with world-building. So. Let’s just accept the setting and vibe are great and also My Thing, and move on.

Which is hard, since this is a novella, and I can’t say a whole lot or I’ll spoil it. I still like the witches and the way Cornell’s written them as the traditional coven triad but also not. I think the vicar’s my favourite, though. She’s so much the heart of the group, and definitely the main character here. show more I also loved seeing the magic system elaborated on, and the way the interdimensional weirdness manifested this time, and by “loved” in that last case, I mean “hated and could not look away because what?” Again, I have to say, Cornell does fantastic horror.

I’m not sure how I feel about the pacing, though I often have that sort of complaint with novellas. It’s exactly as long as it should be, but the “levelling up” moments didn’t hit the beats I expected, the antagonists are essentially creating side plots for funsies and it took me a while to pin down their goal, and the moments of recognition and taking charge felt a bit muted. I honestly feel like was a) reading too fast b) missing some deeper knowledge of, say, the Christmas ghost story genre c) both. So likely at least partly a me-problem, but keep in mind that plot is a bit unusual.

And I was more aware reading this than I usually am that this story was an installment in something greater. It’s perfectly satisfying and complete on its own, but the characters start out partway through their development and their growth isn’t finished at the end either, and neither fact can be ignored or written off. There are elements within the world too that are clearly building to something greater. I liked reading this, I really liked what Cornell did from a writer’s standpoint, but I think this series is really going to shine when taken as a complete whole. You’ll be able to see the shape of it better then, I suspect, and I think there’ll be less sense of things left hanging.

This is definitely a series (and an author) I rec, especially if you like to be unsettled by mundane things or want a modern take on witches, but prepare yourself to start at the beginning and binge, or reread the previous book, neither of which I did. Unfortunately. I’ll have to remember that advice for when I pick up the rest of the series.
6.5/10 show less

This is the second (third?) time I’ve read this novella in the run up to Christmas; and it’s a painfully perfect Christmas tale of romance, isolation, and sacrifice.

It’s the ending that makes it for me (which I won’t discuss, because spoilers), but I also appreciate the journey - a car crash in which the reader can see what’s going on long before the witches, who are being so carefully manipulated. This is all about whether they can possibly stop it, and what price they will have to pay. It makes me cry every time, just as its sly humour and knowing asides make me laugh.

Full review

Just - no, at least as charming as the first novella in the series, The Lost Child of Lychford re-introduces readers to the unlikely trio of witches. Not really much to say here except that Paul Cornell has packed an insane amount of fun into these comparatively few pages. Where the first volume was mostly focused on Judith, this time the spotlight is mostly on Lizzie, which makes me hope that there will be a third, Autumn-centric novella. If not, I guess I'll have to re-read this next Christmas...

The Lost Child of Lychford is a delightful sequel to the fantasy novella, The Witches of Lychford. While you do not necessarily have to read them in order, I would recommend it.

Lizzie, Judith, and Autumn have overcome the forces of evil that threatened Lychford and have each settled upon their own routine. With Christmas arriving, Lizzie, the parish priest, is increasingly busy when she begins to be haunted. The ghost of the little boy who follows her around may be more complicated than a simple ghost. Yet again, the witches of Lychford will have to protect the town and its residents.

Reading The Lost Child of Lychford is like sitting down with a warm cup of tea on a cold winter’s day. While it’s not particularly groundbreaking, it show more is a comforting read. Like it’s predecessor, it’s a novella, so it’s a fairly fast read. I enjoy the three central characters, and I find the dialog sparkling.

“Every day,” said Autumn, “you remind me more of the Emperor from Star Wars.”

Judith considered that for a moment. “Nice to finally get a bit of respect,” she decided.

I still really love Judith (how can you not?), but I liked Lizzie and Autumn a lot too. Lizzie was more in the spotlight for this story, and I thought she came off very well. Judith took more of a backseat, although the force of her personality still shines through.

There’s even a few unexpected moments of humor that managed to get me chuckling while I was on a fourteen hour plane flight. This is truly an accomplishment.

These novellas have been terrific, and The Lost Child of Lychford may be one of the best (if the most unusual) Christmas themed books I’ve read. I really hope that Cornell decides to continue the series.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. show less

I'm impressed, and I definitely must find myself a copy of Witches of Lychford to read. I found the cover and blurb tempting and, despite having not read Witches of Lychford (how I have missed it is the question) did I find myself quickly engrossed in this book. It's a short story, but it manages to contain a lot of action, humor and some paranormal things like an unhappy little boy apparition. Personally, I just love the love portion part of the story. It gave the story a hilarious aspect.

This may be the first Paul Cornell book I have read, but it will certainly not be the last. I've been interested in reading his Shadow Police series, but now I seriously want to get the first book! The Lost Child of Lychford was a fantastic book, and show more I hope to read more books about Lizzie and the rest of the gals!

I want to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! show less

I love these novellas. You can read these little books in one day. It's a complete story and ties up nicely and actually is full of suspense and fast action. Love the three witches especially since one is a vicar.

Lost Child takes a small but definite step back in quality from the first book, with our three witches facing off against a new supernatural threat, but mostly their own indecision and confusion. Autumn has brought Judith on as an employee, and Autumn is Judith's proper apprentice, but the relationships are much the same. A small child is haunting Lizzie, not a ghost but a premonition of a future horror. And everybody is too wrapped up in Christmas business to notice that Eldritch Horrors from Beyond Space and Time are planning a horrible ritual to destroy the town and take its supernatural nexus.

While villainous, compared to the first book the foes are little generic, and we already know the parameters.