DAUGHTERS OF THE OAK, by Beck Wright
I hadn’t read the Manningtree Account by Becky Wright before reading her Daughters of the Oak. In fact, I did not know that Ms. Wright had written an historical novella about the mid-17th century witch hunter, Matthew Hopkins, known as the Witchfinder GENERAL, who between 1644-1646 was responsible for the deaths of possibly as many as 230 women. But it didn’t matter for the enjoyment of this novel one bit. The Daughters of the Oak is pure fiction, based on an historical period.
What a piece of terrifying fiction this is. The story begins in 1645 with the incarceration and torture of a young maiden for witchcraft. Wright captures the dark essence of this time period with antiquated language and dialogue and descriptions of the time period, all well researched. You soon learn that there is a very personal connection between Matthew the Witchhunter and this young woman. It makes his abuse and torture of her disturbing on so many levels. It sets the stage for the complex relationship between him and the women he destroys in the story and also between the women themselves, a mother, two daughters and a girl child. There is darkness of the soul brewing everywhere and evil is definitely in the making.
In a surprising but successful transition, the novel then transfers to the present and we are reading a modern, frightening, paranormal tale. All the weight of the past, the darkness and evil, seems to have seeped into the present and is raising hell. The new characters are thrown into a bizarre drama with tragic consequences. The modern day tale is as harrowing as the 17th century one as we witness the past destroying the lives of the present in a truly unnerving and unsettling way. But I loved every minute of it and read furiously to the end, an insanely creative and disturbing ending, but one that was very satisfying. If you love dark tales, gothic-like styles, horror, paranormal adventures, sensuous moments and truly frightening scenes, you will find all you need in Daughters of the Oak.
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Wright brought to the forefront exactly what I feared…
The Daughters of the Oak begins in Manningtree, England in 1645 with the horrific witch trials at the hand of Matthew Hopkins, self named Witchfinder General. There is transitioning between 1645 Manningtree and present day so pay attention to names and chapter titles. I knew this story was going to take me way beyond the horrendous witch trials and that the real horror was about to begin. I had a bad feeling. I was right. The story is written in such a way that it niggles into your brain and into your imagination. The atrocities of the “witch trials” were horrific and Wright easily wove them into the fabric of the story, setting the stage for another kind of horror paranormal tale. I have read a few of Wright’s books so I thought I was prepared….NOPE! I wasn’t. I had no clue… no idea till the very end. The battle between good and evil was over almost before it began. I had to finish the story even though it shook my very essence. The ending was stunning… Brilliant even. Wright brought to the forefront exactly what I feared…a sense that something else had been at play, a web of sorts designed to catch one unaware. That one would be me.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021
- Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
- Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
- Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
The Daughters of the Oak begins in Manningtree, England in 1645 with the horrific witch trials at the hand of Matthew Hopkins, self named Witchfinder General. There is transitioning between 1645 Manningtree and present day so pay attention to names and chapter titles. I knew this story was going to take me way beyond the horrendous witch trials and that the real horror was about to begin. I had a bad feeling. I was right.
Wright brought to the forefront exactly what I feared…
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021
The story is written in such a way that it niggles into your brain and into your imagination. The atrocities of the “witch trials” were horrific and Wright easily wove them into the fabric of the story, setting the stage for another kind of horror paranormal tale. I have read a few of Wright’s books so I thought I was prepared….NOPE! I wasn’t. I had no clue… no idea till the very end. The battle between good and evil was over almost before it began. I had to finish the story even though it shook my very essence. The ending was stunning… Brilliant even.
Wright brought to the forefront exactly what I feared…a sense that something else had been at play, a web of sorts designed to catch one unaware. That one would be me.
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
- Julia BlakeReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2017
A darkly delicious, spine tingling tale, that will leave you wanting more from this fabulous author
- Steve GriffinReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2022
A multi-layered, time shifting story of ghosts and witches by one of my favourite gothic writers
- Elle SieReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2022
A creepy witchcraft tale blending past and present day
