Review: The Devil's Glove by Lucretia Grindle
I'm delighted to share my review of The Devil's Glove, a wonderfully-written, riveting historical novel by author, Lucretia Grindle. Have a look!
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The Devil's Glove
Lucretia Grindle
In The Devil's Glove, we meet Susannah – or Resolve as she calls herself in the village she and her mother, Deliverance (previously Rachel) moved to. Resolve is a girl plagued by strange dreams and haunting premonitions. Her father is absent, apparently away trading, and his abandonment of mother and daughter is a subtle backdrop to the story. Here are two women having to fend for themselves, in the North American east of 1688.
Their home lies on the outskirts of the village, which is full of puritanical settlers with their superstitions fuelled by petty jealousies, and, not surprisingly, they have very few friends. Judah White, a fellow young woman from Jersey, is Resolve's best friend. Against her mother's advice, she tells Judah everything. They are as sisters, sworn to love each other.
When Deliverance is called to a heavily pregnant woman in the village, as a last resort, she is unable to save the mother, or the baby. But she discovers a secret the busybody midwives have overlooked: the woman didn't die of a mere fever. As their suspicions are confirmed, Deliverance and Resolve decide to keep them to themselves, if only to save their own lives. But rumours circle the village.
News of attacks by Natives reaches them from further north, and several local men are immediately up in arms, puffed up by their own self importance. And ignorance of how to deal with the friendly natives in their area. All are deemed the same, and must be killed.
Deliverance and Resolve manage to warn their native friends, secretly, but the militia is already moving in to attack. When things come to a head, both women must decide their fate. But it's not what Resolve would have wished for...
The Devil's Glove is a wonderfully evocative story of a woman secretly accused of witchcraft, and her similarly gifted daughter. If a patient dies, Deliverance must have witched them. If the patient survives, ditto. Deliverance was feared by the locals for her knowledge of healing, which she'd gained living amongst the tribes a decade earlier.
In The Devil's Glove, we see the petty jealousies and mistrust of anyone who was different vividly come to life. The characters are beautifully drawn from their time, showing the ignorance and religious fervour that destroyed the peaceful cohabitation with local tribes. Greed comes into it too, with the settlers not paying their dues promised to the Natives, and then complaining if those same Natives aren't happy.
Resolve is a clever girl, loyal to her mother and her few friends, even when she is betrayed by someone she trusts. She has a sense of the other side of the ethereal curtain, recognised by local Natives. At first, her dreams disturb her, but in time, the things she sees start making sense.
The Devil's Glove is not an easy novel to get into to start with, due to the sometimes distracting description and style, but as you continue to read, you are swept away into a world full of dangers, opportunities, misunderstandings, and survival. Within a short amount of time, I didn't want to leave Resolve, keen to find out what happens next. Her unique character draws you into the utterly gripping plot, with its twists and turns, and I found myself unable to put the book down. Her adventure brought to life the limitations of the times, life in a new world where dangers lurk not just in the dark forests, in shape of the cheated Natives, but also in the heart of the settlements.
I thought several of the secondary characters were also wonderfully drawn. Deliverance is a wonderful woman, a healer full of empathy, even helping those who diss her. John Alden is a character after my own heart, and even the antagonists, with their false sense of superiority and ignorance on full display, leave you in no doubt about the era and setting.
The Devil's Glove is an exquisitely-crafted historical adventure well worth reading. I enjoyed my time with Resolve, and I do hope to read more about her one day...
A highly recommended read.
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Blurb:
Northern New England, summer, 1688.
Salem started here.
A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.
Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They’re known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.
Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.
As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.
Based on meticulous research and inspired by the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, THE DEVIL’ S GLOVE is a tale of betrayal, loyalty, and the power of secrets. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village’s dark and mysterious past?
**** Early Reviewers are Enchanted with The Devil's Glove! ****
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "From its opening lines this historical novel from Grindle (Villa Triste) grips with its rare blend of a powerfully evoked past, resonant characters, smart suspense, and prose touched with shivery poetry: 'Nothing will lead you to guess what sweet familiars we were, thirty years ago in Massachusetts, where they called me Witch,... Powered by telling historical detail, vivid visions, and an urgent sense of empathy for its characters, The Devil’s Glove will dazzle readers who appreciate immersive, lyric historical fiction open to possibilities."
– BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a read I could not put down. Now I want more on Resolve’s life. I want to read more! I hope there is more books to come!"
– NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Lucretia Grindle's writing is a wonder. After reading only a few paragraphs, I knew The Devil's Glove would be a novel I loved. Grindle's descriptive narration is entrancing - stirring yet delicate, never heavy-handed. Her dialogue and characterization are skillful and immersive. Lucretia Grindle is truly a master storyteller."
– NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Readers will be mesmerized by 1688 scenarios of Native American and village life, as well as the increasing belief in witches which, ultimately, led to the witch trials in Salem."
– NetGalley Reviewer
The Devil’s Glove is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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About the Author:
Lucretia Grindle
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