A second prize winner in the RWA '19 Sheila contest.When Evalina is imprisoned for witchcraft, will her supernatural bond with animals be her curse or salvation? In 1854, Evalina Stowe witnesses the murder of her brother by Dr. Dowdrick, an enraged client at the tailor's where they work. Desperate to stop him, she rouses a swarm of wasps that sting the doctor while she stabs him with scissors, and then flees. At a subsequent job when birds race to her defense, Evalina is declared a witch and sent to Philadelphia's Eastern ...
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A second prize winner in the RWA '19 Sheila contest.When Evalina is imprisoned for witchcraft, will her supernatural bond with animals be her curse or salvation? In 1854, Evalina Stowe witnesses the murder of her brother by Dr. Dowdrick, an enraged client at the tailor's where they work. Desperate to stop him, she rouses a swarm of wasps that sting the doctor while she stabs him with scissors, and then flees. At a subsequent job when birds race to her defense, Evalina is declared a witch and sent to Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary.While imprisoned, Evalina is horrified not only to learn that Dr. Dowdrick is still alive, but he's experimenting on inmates. Determined to get inside his Eclectic Medical School, to expose his nefarious activities, she's passionate about protecting fellow prisoners, especially Lewin, a child thief who knew her brother, and Birdy, a kind, resilient Welsh man serving time for a worker's death while blasting granite for the railroad. Evalina, her friends and her "wild beasts" work against time to unmask Dowdrick's crimes when she participates with him in a symposium, showcasing Philadelphia's premium doctors. If they fail, not only will the doctor's evil deeds continue unchecked but Evalina and her crew will surely be hung. Actual historical figures such as Dr. Thomas Mutter and Charles Dickens spice up this fantastical thriller brimming with historical gems set in Philadelphia's renowned penitentiary.
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I'm excited to be a part of the WITCH OF THE WILD BEASTS blog tour with The Fantastic Flying Book Club from April 6th - April 22nd, 2020!
I received a copy of this book from the author, Catherine Stine, and HFVBT in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
description
"We both belonged to the street now. That's how fast fortunes changed."
Content Warning: Death of a loved one, Injury/Gore, Non-consent to medical procedures, Human experimentation, Incarceration, Death of animals, Torture
Witch of the Wild Beasts is a very well-written, and engaging story about a young woman named Evelina Stowe. Perhaps an unsuspecting girl on the surface, Evelina is cohorts with animals, insects, and critters. Not only that, but she also has the ability to will them to act on her emotions. After trying to stop a terrible man from murdering her brother one day at work, her life drastically changed in an instant. Evelina stabbed the man in order to save her brother, but both succumbed to their injuries. It was in this moment that she discovered her true influence over creatures of the wild, as swarms of wasps also came to her aid, attacking the assailant and sacrificing themselves for the sake of her purpose.
Forced to live on the streets in hiding, Evelina fears that her special kinship with animals will get her in trouble. Eventually, it does. Able to secure another second job as a bird girl at a farm, Evelina quickly befriends the pests and invites the birds into her home, making roosts for them and stealing corn for feeding. When the farm owner discovers her masquerade, her favorite bird lodges itself in the man's throat and kills him, thus condemning Evelina as a witch.
Two men now murdered by the extension of her hands, Evelina finds herself in the notorious Eastern State Penitentiary, charged for witchcraft. In 1854, such a charge would not be taken lightly. During her stay, she discovers a devious secret: the terrible doctor she "murdered" in an attempt to save her brother was alive and well, and doing something to the penitentiary's inmates. Working alongside fellow prisoners, Evelina devises a plan to uncover the doctor's true mission. Her aim to protect her fellow inmates, along with uncovering the truth sets Evelina on a path of certain uncertainty, as she finds herself aligned with the very person who began her descent into her current state of arrest.
Set in historical New England, this story offers something for every reader--a thrilling setting, historical figures, romance, and a touch of fantasy. This book has spurred my desire to seek out other works by this author!
Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: Minimal.
Violence: Moderate.