There is a curse that hangs over the town of Blumwald. Every fifty years, the Witch comes down from her castle in the forest and takes a young man as her companion, never to return. No one knows why or for what purpose the young men are taken, but it has been fifty years since the Witch’s last visit…
Mina’s mother died when she was twelve, her father quickly remarried and she’s been lonely since then. As her father prepares for an important visitor, Mina finds herself overlooked and unwanted once again. In desperation she offers herself to the Witch and is accepted as her new companion. Mina’s new life, however, is just as lonely and frustrating as her old life so she sets out to befriend the Witch and unravel the mystery of the Witch’s curse.
‘Bitterthorn’ is an intoxicating blend of historical fiction, queer gothic romance and fairytale. The backdrop of Chancellor Bismarck’s visit and the Unification of Germany places the story in a very specific historical moment in the late 1860s and yet it incorporates plenty of Grimm’s fairy tale elements including witches, wicked stepmothers, hedges of thorns, spindles and curses.
It is also an exquisitely written book, replete with lush botanical imagery and steeped in atmosphere. A thoroughly beguiling read, perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace and Holly Black.
Many thanks to Andersen for this gorgeous limited edition proof.
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