I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
"Water Witch"
by
D.B. Jackson, Faith Hunter
It is part of the Jane Yellowrock #0.001, Thieftaker Chronicles series and is a paranormal fantasy in a Kindle edition that was published by Bella Rosa Books on June 7, 2015 and has 48 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Raven Cursed, An Apple for the Creature, Death's Rival, Blood Trade, Kicking It, Blood in Her Veins, Mercy Blade, Shadow Rites, Bloodring, Seraphs, Dark Queen, Shattered Bonds, Black Arts, Broken Soul, Dark Heir, Cold Reign, Blood of the Earth, Curse on the Land, "Explosion On King's Street", Skinwalker, Dirty Deeds, "Shiloh and the Brick", "Black Friday Shopping with Nell and Occam", Circle of the Moon, Blood Cross, Spells for the Dead, "Easy Pickings", True Dead, Dirty Deeds 2, Trials, Junkyard Cats, Rift in the Soul, Junkyard Bargain, Junkyard War , Junkyard Roadhouse, Flame in the Dark, Host
A blended novelette, 0.001 in the Jane Yellowrock series and somewhere in the Thieftaker Chronicles paranormal fantasy series and revolving around the young Hannah Everhart and Ethan Raille set in the historical Boston of 1770.
If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Jane Yellowrock books on my website.
My Take
As fascinating as it was to read about an Everhart ancestor, Hunter/Jackson leave too many questions.
What’s the deal with the aunt? Why does Hannah keep running? What’s with the knife? How does the aunt afford that house and the servants if she’s a writing teacher? Why does Hannah believe the captain is intent on doing wrong?
Hunter/Jackson use a third person protagonist point-of-view from Hannah’s perspective, which is how we know her belief that she’s a monster.
There’s a bigotry that haunts both Hannah and Ethan. Enough of one that Ethan continually protests that he’s not a witch. A conjurer isn’t a witch… Ethan does get a bit hysterical on this issue, but I do like him. A hunter with intelligence who knows when to bend the rules.
It is a nice introduction to this subseries within both series. We meet a number of characters, whom I’m assuming, will be appearing in later installments.
“Water Witch” is an easy enough read…just frustrating with so much left out.
The Story
It’s a feeling Hannah has, and she’s determined to crack open that shell.
The Characters
Hannah Amelia Everhart, an orphaned water witch, lives with her Aunt Emma Everhart Smythe, who has her own ability and is a teacher. Clara is the oldest of Aunt Emma’s servants. Sarah Everhart, an earth witch, had been Hannah’s mother. Grandmother Edith had also been a water witch.
Ethan Raille is a thieftaker (think bounty hunter) and a conjurer. Conjuring is a craft, dagnabbit! Uncle Reg is his tiny spectral guide. Tarijanna “Janna” Windcatcher, a negress, is also a conjurer, and she owns the Fat Spider tavern.
Sephira Pryce is also a thieftaker with skills. Nap is one of her men.
Thomas and Mary Grew had a brooch that was stolen. Mister Lathrop is the Everharts’ pastor. Sheriff Greenleaf knows Ethan. Samuel Adams belongs to the Sons of Liberty as does Joseph Foulke, who works for a peddler. Betsy Adams is Samuel’s wife. Thomas Hutchinson. The Green Dragon tavern is where the Sons meet. Captain Cleary claims to be a sea captain from Ireland. Captain Preston and his men are on trial.
Tairdelbach Ó hÉanna is fae with a troop of mercenaries.
The Cover and Title
The cover is the dark of night, light cast by a full moon, on a narrow cobbled street, houses looming on either side. Hannah is on the right in front, her long red hair cascading down over her shoulders, wearing a black dress with a red cloak. In the center background is Ethan in a knee-length coat and a blue tricorn, striding forward. The title is at the top on the left, all in white. At the bottom is an info blurb in a grayish white with the authors’ names below that in the same gray.
The title refers to Hannah, a “Water Witch”.
