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Sorceress (Witch Child #2)

by Celia Rees (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 2,688 ratings · 146 reviews

The spellbinding sequel to Witch Child! "Startlingly convincing. . . . Once Agnes’s quest begins, readers will be hooked." — Booklist

It came to Agnes unbidden: a vision of Mary Newbury, a young woman driven from her Puritan settlement, accused of being a witch. It is an image of a life about to change radically, as Mary defies all accepted norms — embracing independence, l

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 20th 2003 by Candlewick (first published March 4th 2002)

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Mar 30, 2008 Shiralea Woodhouse rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the continuation of "Whitch Child" as seen though one of Mary's descendants. I didn't find this book as gripping as the first, but I'm not sure why. It's quite a different story, as she makes her home with a Native American clan. It shows the huge diffence between how the Natives treated her "gifts" as opposed to the English. The story takes us into some of the wars between the Indians and settlers, and shows us the perspective of these people who were struggling to hold on to thier home...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Beth Bonini rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-book-club

This book takes up where Witch Child has left off: Mary Newbury has fled from the Puritan community of Beulah, after being accused of witchcraft and scapegoated as the cause of the "madness" affecting many of its young girls. As the book begins, Mary is lost and alone in the frozen wilderness. On the verge of death, she is discovered -- and rescued -- by Jaybird and White Eagle, two Native Americans whose stories (and fates) will be woven together with hers.

In Witch Child, author Celia Rees use...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

really? This book was so disappointing. We leave Mary on the run from her village, the last few pages of her diary finished by her friend and stored in the quilt. Then for this book we meet modern day Agnes, who I never feel any connection for, Allison, the one who is trying to find all the information on Mary she can, and the mysterious Aunt M, obsessing over artifacts and being a general powwow shaman. I mean no disrespect to any part of Native American culture, but to finish the story by usin...more

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May 09, 2012 Nimue Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

The sequel to Witchchild would work as a standalone novel, but makes an interesting second half to the life of Mary whose diary was the essence of the first book. Witchchild finished with the voice of a modern researcher calling for any additional information to add to the diary. Sorceress picks up the tale of both researcher and the enigmatic Mary, along with the tale of her descendent.

While the first book was aimed squarely at the teen market, Sorceress is not a teenage story, it’s about grow...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Shaya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, school-year-2010-2011

Sorceress didn't live up to Witch Child for me. It picks up where Witch Child leaves off except the book starts with a modern day girl who has visions from Mary (Witch Child diarist). I didn't think it was very effective because I didn't care about the modern story and the modern characters were nowhere near as interesting for me as the characters during Mary's time.

I also wish the story wasn't presented as real. I like historical fiction and have no need for it to be called "true", that just f...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Yolande rated it 1 of 5 stars

I really loved Witch Child, but the climax of that story was supposed to be wrapped up here, in its sequel. It wasn't. At least not in the normal way of a sequel. First, it took nearly 100 pages to even get back to Mary's story, which was an incredibly frustrating wait. The story of the historian who discovers Mary's journal and the descendent that pieces the rest of the story together is interesting in theory but not so much in execution: these parts ramble on way too long while the reader is c...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Melanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

More 2.5*, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Witch Child which I gave 3*, so it's got to be two. Which is kinda a shame, because it's not like it was a bad book or anything. It was an interesting look into the Native American way of life and all the associated ceremony and code of life. But for me, there was too much about not-Mary. Indeed, it wasn't until reading this book where it isn't all about her that I realised how much I liked her voice. The bits about her were my favourite, but all the r...more

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Jul 16, 2010 Carissa Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, historic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 11, 2013 Jayd Reads rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wanted to enjoy this book.
I loved the first book, because of the diary style, because even I was guessing, is Mary a witch, is she not? The ending left many questions unanswered, and I was hoping for a satisfactory sequel.

This was not that book. Suddenly there are chapters with the researcher/writer of 'The Mary Papers', who I was happy to have just known as a name on the first page. There was also a new girl who had an ancestral connection to Mary. I didn't want to read about these p...more

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Jul 10, 2012 May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Sorceress is the sequel to Witch Child. It starts in modern-day Boston, with Agnes, a college student. Also part of the Mohawk Indian tribe. (I think, I don't have the book right here with me.) Agnes meets Alison, who is collecting research on what happened to Mary after she fled from the accusation of witchcraft. Agnes thinks that Mary might be one of her ancestors, someone she is connected to in a way that stretches beyond the constraints of time.

So, it was a little confusing at first, because...more

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Oct 24, 2010 Maninee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who has read witch child

definitley just as good as witch child. the story of mary takes of from where it was left behind, from the snow continued through her descendant, agnes. agnes is mary's great-great-great-great-something granddaughter, and she has the power to communicate with mary in the spirit world, with the help of her aunt agnes sstarts to finish mary's story, which quite simply, wants to be told. the spirit communication felt a bit unconvincing, but other than that the book's really really good.

the sory goe...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. I'd read Witch Child for a book report years ago in the 7th grade and loved it so much that I bought Sorceress when I stumbled across it. At the time I was maybe 12 or 13 and as I started to read, it didn't grab me and I put it down after a few short chapters and didn't puck it up until last week. I would have and could have read it straight through this time if I didn't have other obligations to attend.

I could better relate to Agnes'...more

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Jun 05, 2008 Ryan rated it 3 of 5 stars

The sequel to the brilliant "Witch Child" by the same author. This second book picks up the story nicely, but I found it less fulfilling. I wanted it to simply follow the main character of the first book, but instead it wove in new characters (necessitated by the change in time period, etc.). I mean, you HAVE to read it if you've read the first book...but I certainly wouldn't recommend reading it out of order.

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Nov 08, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Whilst planning for my witch themed book, I knew instantly that Sorceress should be on my list of books to read, as the first book in the series 'Witch Child' had been one of the first fictional witch books I had ever read. In fact, it has now astounded me how many are now available, considering how few paranormal books could be purchased ten to fifteen years ago in the UK.

I have to say from reading both the books in this series, I loved Sorceress the most. I couldn't put it down and I was so gl...more Whilst planning for my witch themed book, I knew instantly that Sorceress should be on my list of books to read, as the first book in the series 'Witch Child' had been one of the first fictional witch books I had ever read. In fact, it has now astounded me how many are now available, considering how few paranormal books could be purchased ten to fifteen years ago in the UK.

I have to say from reading both the books in this series, I loved Sorceress the most. I couldn't put it down and I was so glad to be back in the company of Mary, alongside her new spiritual companion Agnes.

In this sequel, we find Mary ousted from the New England community and saved from death by Jaybird, whom had featured in the first book. The budding relationship between Mary and Jaybird, begins so beautifully as she becomes accepted within the Native American community. Unfortunately life is not easy for Mary and her family and she experiences situations that no one should ever have to deal with. This is definitely a case of 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.' A couple of the scenes I found were rather gut wrenching and left me contemplating my own family.

Within the first book, the story was told through the hidden journals of Mary that were discovered in an ancient quilt. I was pleased that Sorceress took a different approach and the story was told through the eyes of Agnes, who has a family and spiritual connection to Mary. I loved the fact that the ways of the Native Americans were described in such detail within this book, as I have always found them so fascinating. I have always been compelled to find out more about their beliefs as they are just so different to the society in which I was brought up in. I love that their belief in spirit is so strong. Celia Rees has managed to bring their traditions and beliefs alive in this book, encouraging further investigation by the reader.

I loved the way the book almost felt real. The way it is written has you questioning whether it actually happened or not. You wonder if Alison Ellman is actually real, and really has been investigating Mary's life. I found it gave an interesting slant to historical fiction. Some of the information provided in the book details the real history of the Native American race which only added to my speculations.

This book really had a completely different feel to it from Witch Child. Witch Child was caught up with the traditions of the English settlers, which seemed rigid and claustrophobic, where as the Native American traditions allowed for more openness and freedom.

My favourite scene in the book is the tender steps taken into the blossoming relationship between Mary and Jaybird. The way it is described brings the tenderness and first feelings of love alive. It made my skin tingle as I read how Mary how finally found some happiness, even though it was to be short lived.

It is plainly obvious that the author carried out extensive research before embarking on this story. I would even believe that she wrote out the back stories for the majority of the characters as a few are included in the transcripts. This book feels like a labour of love. The author has taken time to bring all her characters, including the secondary ones to life. She has made the book feel real and I came away quite inspired.

Mary is a strong character, who fights adversity to find her own pathway through life. As to whether she is actually a witch, that is questionable still. Personally I view her as a healer. She learns how to save people using the methods she had been taught by her grandmother and White Eagle. She was probably at the forefront of modern medicine that we experience today.

Celia Rees has long been a favourite author of mine and I would definitely recommend that you read one of her books. (less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Lynne weir rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic-witchs, historical-fiction, historical-romance

This book was good and I did enjoy reading it, I rarely read books based on America at this time period despite having an interest in Native Indians (the last one I read was really sad, [The last of the Mohicans] so it was really interesting reading this story on it. It was sad at parts and also really exciting and heart warming at others. The change between the two times slightly annoyed me as it was like as soon as I got into one story it would suddenly change and I'd have to try and remember...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Violet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay this book was good. Not the best but good. I liked it but didn't love it.

This book was more about Mary then it was about Agnes, in fact I didn't hear much of Agnes in the book. I guess I would have liked to but......I don't know, I just wanted more Agnes. Anyway, I learned a lot from this book about history and the hardships of Native Americans. The last book centered around the English and their troubles, but this one was more around the Native Americans and their troubles. At times it re...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Rebecca Radnor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-ya, historical-fiction-alternative, colonial-period

The sequel to Witch Child, its places itself mostly during King Phillips War, also known as Metacom's war (essentially when the Native American tribes first realize that European settlers are an existential threat, and banded together to try to expel them from the New England Colonies in the late 1600's). The protagonist is a modern day Native American college student, studying anthropology, who has read the book about Mary (witch child) and recognizes that she might be the same white medicine w...more The sequel to Witch Child, its places itself mostly during King Phillips War, also known as Metacom's war (essentially when the Native American tribes first realize that European settlers are an existential threat, and banded together to try to expel them from the New England Colonies in the late 1600's). The protagonist is a modern day Native American college student, studying anthropology, who has read the book about Mary (witch child) and recognizes that she might be the same white medicine woman who is said to have joined her tribe, and spawned generations of powerful medicine women. Reading the book seems to awaken her own powers and she starts having visions that take her back in time to the Mary of the 1600's, extending the story told in Witch Child.

The book is deceptively thick, which might intimidate some students, but that's because the print is large and the paper stock is heavy; it's actually a fairly quick read.

The story starts out strong when it is in the modern day, but then in my opinion gets lost and confused when it shifts into Mary's story in the 1600's. While the average reader might rush past these early modern parts in search of the story line left off in Witch Child, as an anthropologist who has studied native Americans, I really appreciated the details given about the controversies inherent in the study of modern day Native Americans. The protagonist's aunt seems to represent the personification of Native American power, and how the tribes are currently taking back that power by insisting that their ancestors remains, and their religious articles be treated with respect and honor. (Try to imagine if you might some other nation, for example the Chinese, taking over the US and then disinterring the corpse of former US president and putting it on display in one of their museums, how might you feel about it?) As many tribes are matriarchal rather than patriarchal (although I'm not sure about the case of the specific tribe discussed), it is also appropriate that this power be manifested in woman.

I also appreciated the authors overview, albeit a shallow one, of the economics of tax free status and casinos and how they are used, in the best case scenarios, on the reservations to increase the socioeconomic status the tribe. Again, while many readers might rush past these bits, there is actually a great deal of information in here for teachers who are introducing their students to aspects of native American culture.

However, then the story switches from the present to the past and gets really murky. It seems a mixed amalgam of a lot of different works of historical fiction and fact: In some ways its disturbingly similar to the story of Mary Jemison (who was an historic captive who stayed with and became an important person in her tribe and is still revered by them today), its descriptions of native American religions is almost identical to that in the clan of cave bear books (by Jean Auel), and in the sections when Mary comes into contact with the French it feels horribly reminiscent of Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker which are an alternative history of the Mississippi Valley also based on the assumption that Magic is real.

While it's highly entertaining and talks about a war that is all but forgotten these days, its more a 'suggested read' than something I could use in a classroom as part of a history lesson(less)

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Jan 20, 2011 Terry rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was excellent, powerfully rich historical fiction so believable that I was thrust into a time warp back to colonial America in late 1600's, early 1700's. In her struggle against Puritanical views, and later, the Jesuits further north in Montreal, Mont Royale, Mary's experiences of life and love dominate all themes during these times of 'removal', war, and peace, with each turn of events more of a surprise than the one before. I was more than half way through the book, still wondering why Re...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Lynne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Serial to Witch Child which tells the tale of Mary Newbury, who was accused of being a witch in the 17th century during the infamous Salem witch trials. This book is told in a series of dreams by her ancestor Agnes in the present, and although that sounds like it could be strange it's actually not. The first book - which was told in diary form - was so good, I wondered if the second would live up to it but it certainly did. Gives insight into the lives of Native Americans and their spirituality...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Vicky Hobbs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

Agnes makes links with her American-Indian past in this young adult novel that explores America's fascinating lost history. By chance Agnes embarks on an unlikely friendship with a young museum curator whose interest in the mysterious tale of Mary, a young girl who is cast out of her puritan society as a witch and who then disappears out of the record books, causing Agnes to feel a pull towards her own intriguing background and make discoveries of her own. You want to tie up the loose ends yours...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100in2011

This book was a lot better than I thought it would be. It weaves the sequel from Witch Child in with the present descendents of our main character. This is really only a book you should read if you read the first one.

I liked the Native American themes and characters that had a big part in the story. The Native American parts were well-researched and not overbearing or condescending. There are some small inaccuracies, but as an Iroquois myself, I was happy to see the tribe portrayed in some acce...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Ashley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, magical-realism, young-adult, personal-library

You guys, I have so many feelings about this book I don't even know where to begin. I'm super conflicted. Sorceress is the sequel to Witch Child and it takes a totally different approach to continuing Mary Newbury's story. Be forewarned, there might be spoilers for the first book in this review. But seriously, the book's like a decade old. Okay, so I loved the story, but some of the characterizations fell flat for me and I just. I don't even know!

For Full Review
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Nov 23, 2012 ringoallavaniglia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

E' il seguito di "Il viaggio della strega bambina", e di pari livello.
Secondo me la Rees ha delle belle idee, ma non le sa sviluppare. La stregoneria, il puritanesimo, i nativi d'America.. mette tutto in campo ma in maniera scarna; il risultato è quindi un libro piacevole e scorrevole, ma nulla di più purtroppo.
Qui per esempio introduce il personaggio di Agnes, che alla fine però non ha vita propria ma è semplicemente il tramite per continuare a raccontare di Mary; anche l'idea di ricostruire la...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Lisa Buie-Collard rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the Indian parts of this book (hence 4 stars). Celia has a way of bringing their lifestyles, their beliefs to life and putting you right in their midst. I enjoyed that very much. Almost like watching a movie in some parts. I would recommend this book, but the first in the series "Witch Child" should be read first.Witch Child Sorceress

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Oct 16, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

It's so long since I read Witch Child that I don't really remember all the past characters, but it doesn't matter since you quickly grasp what's happened to Mary and are filled in on the main parts of her back-story.
I really enjoyed the depictions of Indian life, with all the domestic detail. I was astounded to see that the author lives in Leamington Spa of all places! I really thought she was American.
The ending seems a bit abrupt for Agnes, you have some sense of her as a character and then it...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 24, 2011 Zana rated it 2 of 5 stars

"It came to Agnes unbidden: a vision of Mary Newbury, a young woman driven from her Puritan settlement, accused of being a witch. It is an image of a life about to change radically, as Mary defies all accepted norms — embracing independence, love, and loyalty to a Native American community that accepts her as one of their own. The two women’s lives are separated by almost four hundred years, but they are linked by more than blood. For, like Mary, Agnes has special powers — powers that Mary seeks...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Nicole R rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, children-young-adult, american-history, 2011

Sorceress is the sequel to Witch Child, and picks up where Witch Child left of…kind of. Agnes, who is also known as Karonhisake (or Searching Sky), is a college student who reads Witch Child. She thinks there might be a connection between herself and Mary Newbury; she thinks Mary might be one of her ancestors, a medicine woman whose personal belongings are treasured by her family. Agnes contacts Alison, the person who edited Mary’s journal and published it. It goes back and forth between the pas...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Ms. LaPorte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-2011, historical_fiction-or-connection, family, colonial_history

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Booklist blub said, "Readers will be hooked." I was and I my doubts.

Mary has run away from Beulah - she is caught in a snow storm. A wolf helps guide her and Jaybird find her. They wed. White Eagle trained Mary in the way of a healer.

This presents an interesting view of the Native American perspective of the Colonists. This book could be an interesting comparison to "Worlds Apart."

Historical events to compare: Mystic Fort - battle with the Pequot (pg 141) Mary shares the story of being a ch...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Tori added it

2005- This is the follow-up to ""Witch Child"", exploring what happened to Mary after we left her. I almost think it would have been better if the author had left the story of Mary open-ended then tried to connect it to Agnes, a modern-day Native American girl who has visions of Mary's life. The book jumps around a lot, often leaving whole chunks of time unexplained. It also was a bit annoying switching back and forth between Mary and Agnes. I did find parts of the book focusing on traditional N...more

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About Celia Rees

Celia Rees (born 1949) is an English author of children's literature, including some horror and fantasy books.

She was born in 1949 in Solihull, West Midlands but now lives in Leamington Spa with her husband and teenage daughter. Rees attended University of Warwick and earned a degree in History of Politics. After university, she taught English in Coventry secondary schools for seventeen years, dur...more

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Sorceress (Witch Child #2)

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