I received a copy of Samantha Grosser’s The Sorceror’s Whore for review purposes through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. As always, all opinions expressed below are my honest thoughts on the book.
The Sorcerer’s Whore
by Samantha Grosser
Publication Date: July 16, 2019
eBook: 330 Pages
Series: Pages of Darkness, #2
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Fantasy
A cursed child, a dangerous path, and a price to pay…
Six-fingered Mary Sparrow dreams of escape from the brothel that is the only world she knows. But when a mysterious old man drives her friend to madness, she begins to fear for her life.
Toby Chyrche also hopes for a better future, away from the confines of the tailor’s shop where it seems his fate is set in stone. So when a chance meeting with an old man at the brothel offers him a different path, he is only too eager to accept. Then the discovery of an ancient book of magic throws a new and shocking light onto the past — his mother had a brother, and that brother was a witch.
As the old man’s shadow over Bankside lengthens, Mary is drawn into the growing web of darkness. Unable to escape its reach, she turns to Toby for help. But Toby has daemons of his own to face. Will possession of the book be enough to protect them from the old man’s power? And what price will they have to pay for victory?
For the Sorcerer’s Whore, nothing is as it seems …
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My Review
The novel follows Toby Chyrche, son of Sarah Stone, and Mary Sparrow, a Bankside prostitute with her own ties to the not-so-distant past. With Mary as a companion and source of comfort, Toby learns more about himself, the secrets that haunt the family, and the mysterious powers all around them.
Because Shakespeare’s Witch already had me invested in Sarah’s story, it didn’t take very long for me to have a strong interest in Toby’s as well. At first, I was a bit disappointed by the lesser presence of the Playhouse and its rowdy community, but the stories quickly intertwined. It was the perfect effect to mirror Sarah’s own distance from the place that once felt home–as well as the impact it would have as figures from the past came into her life once more.
Toby and Mary play off of one another wonderfully, both as characters in their own world and in a more literary sense. Truly, it seems that the fates interfere in their lives time and again, and Hecate’s presence is a comforting reminder that there are much larger powers at play then courtships and brothels.
Of course, the magic weaved in the pages of The Sorcerer’s Whore is a selling point–who doesn’t love a bit of magic? But the real magic is in the words and world that Grosser brings to life. While this would read well as a stand-alone novel, I loved it all the more for the way it expertly intertwines this new timeline with those of the past, both within Shakespeare’s Witch and in the actual historical past.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would whole-heartedly recommend it, particularly if you’ve had the chance to read the first book of the Pages of Darkness series. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this series and from Samantha Grosser!
About the Author
Historical fiction author Samantha Grosser originally hails from England, but now lives on the sunny Northern Beaches of Sydney with her husband, son and a very small dog called Livvy.
Combining a lifelong love of history with a compulsion to write that dates from childhood, Samantha is now bringing her passion for telling compelling stories to the world.
Samantha has an Honours Degree in English Literature and taught English for many years in Asia and Australia. She is the author of wartime dramas Another Time and Place and The Officer’s Affair, and The King James Men, set during the turbulent early years of 17th Century.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, August 12
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Wednesday, August 14
Review at Passages to the Past
Sunday, August 18
Feature at Diana_bibliophile
Monday, August 19
Review at Pencils & Pages
Tuesday, August 20
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Thursday, August 22
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away one eBook and one paperback copy of The Sorcerer’s Whore! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on August 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US & UK only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
Sorcerer’s Whore