The Burnings set in Berwick- Naomi Kelsey

Submitted: 8th November 2024

The Burnings – Naomi Kelsey

“The North Berwick witch trials represented one of the most brutal periods in Scottish history. More than 100 individuals, mostly women, from the East Lothian area were accused of witchcraft. Many were imprisoned and tortured: it’s likely some died of their wounds. The exact number of those executed remains unknown.”

Now, Naomi Kelsey has taken these witch trials, characters like the women caught up in them and woven a tale of drama, intrigue and tension.

PERFECT for this time of year….

Map of literary locations in The Burnings

The Burnings set in Berwick- Naomi Kelsey

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : North Berwick

Author guide: Naomi Kelsey

Genre: historical, witch trials

Food and drink to accompany: nothing. Best not.

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#Bookreview

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A novel to transport you to the North Berwick Witch trials

Map of literary locations in The Burnings

I have read lots of ‘witchy’ books as it’s a topic that fascinates me. The fact that real women really were thought to be witches for doing normal things like cooking broth or using herbs as medicine. Even women just existing was enough – if a man wanted you out of the way, you could be deemed to be a witch. And all that followed.

Naomi is a brilliant writer who has researched this period and cleverly woven it into this novel, It’s a big book and I think it could have been longer. I wanted to stay in this awful, dark world to help protect the women and be there for them. Honestly, it was so vivid, I felt I was there most of the time. This was brilliant in many ways but in those darker moments…wow, I knew it was going to be gory but some scenes made me feel faint. Now that is powerful writing! When you remember that this book is inspired by real fact and it makes you feel a chill go down your back.

The history, politics and background of the witch trials is fascinating. There are so many angles Naomi could have written from, but she has taken characters based on real ones, a range of perspectives and a backdrop of political scheming and really woven a master tapestry.

The women in this story have been given their voices. They are loud and clear. They will never be forgotten. Read this book and remember that much of this actually happened in some way and that there are so many women apart from the ones in the book that have never been heard. From the title, to the novel, to the threads of women shouting across history, this is one heck of a powerful read.