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A Long Day in Lychford is the third book in Paul Cornell's increasingly popular Witches of Lychford series.It's a period of turmoil in Britain, with the country's politicians electing to remove the UK from the European Union, despite ever-increasing evidence that the public no longer supports it. And the small town of Lychford is suffering.
But what can three rural witches do to guard against the unknown? And why are unwary hikers being led over the magical borders by their smartphones' show more mapping software? And is the immigration question really important enough to kill for?
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https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/a-long-day-in-lychford-by-paul-cornell/
Third in the series of Lychford books by Paul Cornell, this is a rare case of a fantasy novel addressing Brexit. The magical women of Lychford are dealing with the internal consequences of the referendum, prejudice against foreigners and people of colour, and at the same time an eruption of danger from the much older inhabitants of their space. I see a lot of Lychford fans were not wowed by it, but I found it a thoughtful reflection on difficult political circumstances.
Third in the series of Lychford books by Paul Cornell, this is a rare case of a fantasy novel addressing Brexit. The magical women of Lychford are dealing with the internal consequences of the referendum, prejudice against foreigners and people of colour, and at the same time an eruption of danger from the much older inhabitants of their space. I see a lot of Lychford fans were not wowed by it, but I found it a thoughtful reflection on difficult political circumstances.
his novella is interesting because it explicitly raises the question: is Brexit the same thing as the tropes of keeping monsters out with magic? The answer, by the way, is “no,” but it’s useful to have the question raised, as one of the witches deals with the fact that being born in a place isn’t enough to be considered part of it if you have the wrong skin color.
Frankly, this very small book was tough slogging for the first half; and I nearly gave up on it. That's why I subtracted half a star. But I'm glad I persevered, because the rewards in the second half are worth the wait.
Cornell sometimes has a superb way of phrasing, particularly in conveying disconcerting weirdness. And the story's resolution was quite satisfying. Yay!
Cornell sometimes has a superb way of phrasing, particularly in conveying disconcerting weirdness. And the story's resolution was quite satisfying. Yay!
A Long Day in Lychford is the third in Paul Cornell’s Witches of Lychford series, a group of novellas that center on three women in a small town in rural England’s Cotswalds. Although each novella has its own plot line, I suggest reading them in order due to the character developments.
In A Long Day in Lychford, the series touches on current events. There’s always been conflict between Judith and Amber, and it comes to a head in this installment. Amber’s basically the only person of color in Lychford, and she’s always felt like a bit of an outsider because of it. When Brexit happens, she sees it as another sign that she’s not welcome in her own home. In her intense emotions, Amber commits an act of magic she soon show more regrets.
I’m not sure how I feel about this series bringing in current events. On one hand, I tend to read fiction to try and escape from the daily hellscape that is current events (this used to be less true, but then 2016 happened). On the other, I can see why the series needs to address Brexit, xenophobia, and rising norms of intolerance. After all, as Amber points out, their entire function as witches is to maintain the spiritual borders of the town and keep things out. On a related note, I liked that Amber brought up the subtle racism of “dark = evil,” which I’m not sure is something I’ve seen another fantasy story discuss. It’s terminology I’m sure I’ve used in reviews of other fantasy stories, and I appreciate the reminder to be more careful in how I use words.
I also appreciated the extent to which A Long Day in Lychford was about being an outsider and the difficulties of that in a small, rural community. It’s always been an underlying theme with our three leads, all of whom are outsiders in some way: Lizzie as the local priest, Judith as an isolated old woman, and Amber as a local eccentric. However, the series hadn’t previously addressed Amber’s feelings about being one of only two people of color in the area, so I’m glad this facet of her identity was explored.
It was perhaps inevitable that Amber and Judith would seriously butt heads. Judith can be self centered and brash, not always seeing other people’s point of view or being sensitive to their feelings. While I’ve enjoyed reading about her in fiction, I think I would have difficulty getting along with her in real life.
Finally, A Long Day in Lychford contains some character developments and events that I’m sure will ripple through the next novellas. I have the feeling that there is change coming, and I intend to keep reading to meet it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review. show less
In A Long Day in Lychford, the series touches on current events. There’s always been conflict between Judith and Amber, and it comes to a head in this installment. Amber’s basically the only person of color in Lychford, and she’s always felt like a bit of an outsider because of it. When Brexit happens, she sees it as another sign that she’s not welcome in her own home. In her intense emotions, Amber commits an act of magic she soon show more regrets.
I’m not sure how I feel about this series bringing in current events. On one hand, I tend to read fiction to try and escape from the daily hellscape that is current events (this used to be less true, but then 2016 happened). On the other, I can see why the series needs to address Brexit, xenophobia, and rising norms of intolerance. After all, as Amber points out, their entire function as witches is to maintain the spiritual borders of the town and keep things out. On a related note, I liked that Amber brought up the subtle racism of “dark = evil,” which I’m not sure is something I’ve seen another fantasy story discuss. It’s terminology I’m sure I’ve used in reviews of other fantasy stories, and I appreciate the reminder to be more careful in how I use words.
I also appreciated the extent to which A Long Day in Lychford was about being an outsider and the difficulties of that in a small, rural community. It’s always been an underlying theme with our three leads, all of whom are outsiders in some way: Lizzie as the local priest, Judith as an isolated old woman, and Amber as a local eccentric. However, the series hadn’t previously addressed Amber’s feelings about being one of only two people of color in the area, so I’m glad this facet of her identity was explored.
It was perhaps inevitable that Amber and Judith would seriously butt heads. Judith can be self centered and brash, not always seeing other people’s point of view or being sensitive to their feelings. While I’ve enjoyed reading about her in fiction, I think I would have difficulty getting along with her in real life.
Finally, A Long Day in Lychford contains some character developments and events that I’m sure will ripple through the next novellas. I have the feeling that there is change coming, and I intend to keep reading to meet it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review. show less
Paul Cornell tackles the issue of the day in his roundabout manner, and if I didn't think he'd quite hit the mark as I read, I still finished the novella in tears. Just for a change.
Having made lots of comments about how Autumn's magic is informed by logic and science and how much I loved that, Long Day explores what happens when the apprentice witch lets her feelings get the better of her. And in the wake of Brexit, there are lots of feelings running high - and more than enough room for damage to be done that was never intended.
Sound familiar?
Humph.
Another excellent instalment in the Lychford series.
Full review
Having made lots of comments about how Autumn's magic is informed by logic and science and how much I loved that, Long Day explores what happens when the apprentice witch lets her feelings get the better of her. And in the wake of Brexit, there are lots of feelings running high - and more than enough room for damage to be done that was never intended.
Sound familiar?
Humph.
Another excellent instalment in the Lychford series.
Full review
Series Info/Source: This is the third book in The Witches of Lychford series. I borrowed this as an audiobook from the library.
Audiobook Quality (4/5): In general the narration here was well done and is pleasant to listen to. I did have some issues with being able to tell when we were switching character POV. There wasn’t a pause or anything and it would take me a couple sentences to realize I was listening to someone else.
Thoughts: This was by far the weakest book of the series so far and made me decide I won’t be reading more books in the series. The whole premise is that Amber gets really pissed off about Brexit (I know..it’s all a bit random). She gets so angry she shoves through reality weakening the magical borders of show more Lychford. Now people are falling willy nilly into fairy and it’s up to our three witches to get everyone out.
I am going to admit I was a bit distracted while I listened to this. However, a lot of this didn’t make sense. Judith seems to be fighting dementia but this is never made very clear and is, at points, shrugged off as residual damage from her curse. Amber went off the rails but we don’t really understand why she was able to do so much damage. Lizzie didn’t have much of a role at all.
The story bounces back and forth frequently between the three characters without any notice. I was often confused whose POV I was listening to. In the end I found the plot silly and over-simplified and didn’t enjoy our characters much either. This was the final nail in the coffin for me. I am done with this series.
My Summary (3/5): Overall I did not enjoy this and thought the whole premise and plot were very silly. This didn’t have any of the magical charm of the first couple books. To be honest I didn’t love the first couple books in the series either and this pretty much sealed the deal for me; I will no longer be reading this series. show less
Audiobook Quality (4/5): In general the narration here was well done and is pleasant to listen to. I did have some issues with being able to tell when we were switching character POV. There wasn’t a pause or anything and it would take me a couple sentences to realize I was listening to someone else.
Thoughts: This was by far the weakest book of the series so far and made me decide I won’t be reading more books in the series. The whole premise is that Amber gets really pissed off about Brexit (I know..it’s all a bit random). She gets so angry she shoves through reality weakening the magical borders of show more Lychford. Now people are falling willy nilly into fairy and it’s up to our three witches to get everyone out.
I am going to admit I was a bit distracted while I listened to this. However, a lot of this didn’t make sense. Judith seems to be fighting dementia but this is never made very clear and is, at points, shrugged off as residual damage from her curse. Amber went off the rails but we don’t really understand why she was able to do so much damage. Lizzie didn’t have much of a role at all.
The story bounces back and forth frequently between the three characters without any notice. I was often confused whose POV I was listening to. In the end I found the plot silly and over-simplified and didn’t enjoy our characters much either. This was the final nail in the coffin for me. I am done with this series.
My Summary (3/5): Overall I did not enjoy this and thought the whole premise and plot were very silly. This didn’t have any of the magical charm of the first couple books. To be honest I didn’t love the first couple books in the series either and this pretty much sealed the deal for me; I will no longer be reading this series. show less
What happened? This novella has nothing of the charm that the previous novella had. I was looking forward to reading the next installment in this series and it took me several times to finish it because I just couldn't find the storyline remotely interesting. Brexit, people that are disappearing, and three witches that find themselves the only ones that can find and bring everything back to normal. The only plus was that at the end did we get some more answers to what is going on, and that there is someone out there with some devious plan.
As you probably can tell was this novella not to my liking, and I hope the next one is better!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
As you probably can tell was this novella not to my liking, and I hope the next one is better!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
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- Canonical title
- A Long Day in Lychford
- Original publication date
- 2017
- People/Characters
- Judith Mawson; Lizzie Blackmore; Autumn Blunstone
- Important places
- Lychford, England, UK (fictional)
- Dedication
- For Lizzie at 7a and Maxine at The Coffee Post (the coffee shops of Fairford where parts of this book were written)
- First words
- Marcin Przybylski was lost, and the voice in the cab of his lorry wasn't being much help. "At the roundabout, take the third exit, and continue..."
- Quotations
- There as nothing about this place that was like a place. It was like ... a bunch of echoes, of sound and of light, rebounding endlessly, arching all round her. She could breathe, but she felt it when she breathed in, it was s... (show all)omething that was only trying to be air at the moment it hit her nose and mouth.
There were worlds which had informed ... and she'd had conversations with a couple of Lizzie's predecessors about this ... the human idea of hell. It wasn't that they were all pitchforks and fire. It was that they were abo... (show all)ut the person who'd stumbled into them These worlds responded to people's fears, or even to their desires.
"I'm not religious," he'd assured her, loudly and immediately, "but I love that you are, like these woods are, like those birds are. Those starlings. They're religious."
Lizzie had never previously encountered someone wh... (show all)o, prior to asking her name, had ventured theories concerning ornithological theology.
She could just about perceive that they were wearing armour, an armour of green and gold, and had in their hands swords that were making the air around them sing with their sharpness, that were somehow breaking the very air t... (show all)hat drifted across them.
There was ahead a jumble of infinite threads, all colours, which she couldn't make sense of. The point where all the boundaries met, where all the borders were pulled tight. This was what someone had made, centuries ago, ar... (show all)ound Lychford. It connected the worlds as well as holding them apart. It wasn't a great work of art, it was an organic mess of compromises and solutions and traps. - Original language
- English
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- Members
- 151
- Popularity
- 216,176
- Reviews
- 9
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 3
