The year is 1775. On the surface, Proctor Brown appears to be an ordinary young man working the family farm in New England. He is a minuteman, a me...
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Dec 23, 2009
"http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1213072.html[return][return]This is hot off the presses, having been published only last week. Our hero, Proctor Ward, is a young Bostonian caught up in the start of the War of Independence. He discovers that he has magical powers, inherited from his Salem ancestors, and gets mixed up in faction and counterfaction of the secret network of witches, supported by Quakers and other free thinkers. (The British have magic too, led by the historical John Pitcairn, wh
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Dec 04, 2011
Jmassa
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We readers all have peculiar tastes.
One of the peculiarities of my taste is that I tend to dislike "alternate histories." Having to imagine that the Sourth won the Civil War and then Hitler migrated there in 1918 so the Germans were really the good guys in WWII...just seems too high a toll to pay before I even get in to the story.
And I have an equal prejudice against "epic historical fantasies" (of the type typified by Guy Gavriel Kay) where the setting More...
One of the peculiarities of my taste is that I tend to dislike "alternate histories." Having to imagine that the Sourth won the Civil War and then Hitler migrated there in 1918 so the Germans were really the good guys in WWII...just seems too high a toll to pay before I even get in to the story.
And I have an equal prejudice against "epic historical fantasies" (of the type typified by Guy Gavriel Kay) where the setting More...
Apr 27, 2009
Jim
rated it:
Surprisingly Spectacular
After reading the synopsis on the back cover I was expecting the Patriot Witch to be a cheesy and laborious read. To my delight it was the complete opposite. I was instantly drawn into Proctor Brown’s character and the imagery created by Finlay’s writing. Finlay has done a fantastic job of combining the history of the American Revolution, the lore or Salem Witchcraft and the Puritan society into a fast moving, well development and twisting thriller.
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After reading the synopsis on the back cover I was expecting the Patriot Witch to be a cheesy and laborious read. To my delight it was the complete opposite. I was instantly drawn into Proctor Brown’s character and the imagery created by Finlay’s writing. Finlay has done a fantastic job of combining the history of the American Revolution, the lore or Salem Witchcraft and the Puritan society into a fast moving, well development and twisting thriller.
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Apr 26, 2009
E. Catherine
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It's April, 1775, the time of year when a young man's mind turns to romance, cattle, and his poor fashion options. Young Proctor Brown has many things on his mind, not the least of which is his attempted courtship of loyalist Emily Rucke. Her father is none too pleased by the pairing and Proctor means to change his mind. Matters are complicated by the fact that Proctor is a farmer, a militiaman, and a witch.
It's no easy thing being a witch in 1775 New England. It's a thing Proctor's More...
It's no easy thing being a witch in 1775 New England. It's a thing Proctor's More...
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Apr 01, 2011
Jo
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I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the idea behind the book: combining witchcraft with historical events, in this case, the American Revolution. I really like the author's solid grounding in history that doesn't overpower the story. I understand that the world has to be built and the characters introduced (I understand this is the start of a series) and he did a pretty good job with that although the story was a little draggy in the beginning third to half & I wasn't too sure I liked
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Jun 18, 2009
Reed
rated it:
Having heard nothing about this book, I picked it up on a whim when searching for light reading for a recent vacation. I had just spent a year in another teacher's American History class, helping my ESL students, and I was curious how Finlay would portray the American Revolution with magic.
I was pleasantly surprised. Reminiscent of Naomi Novik's novels, the reader follows the main character Proctor Brown through some famous moments in history. The magic system created by Finlay is More...
I was pleasantly surprised. Reminiscent of Naomi Novik's novels, the reader follows the main character Proctor Brown through some famous moments in history. The magic system created by Finlay is More...
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Jun 29, 2009
Angela
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The Patriot Witch, first installment of C.C. Finlay's Traitor to the Crown series, sets up the story of young Proctor Brown, who's inherited the ability to scry from his mother. His only wish is to marry his sweetheart and prove himself to her father by making a fortune on his farm... except that the stirrings of rebellion are beginning in the countryside, and Proctor's sympathies are with the local militia with whom he's enlisted. When he encounters a British officer carrying a powerful protect
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May 05, 2009
Sherwood
rated it: 
Though I got thrown off track during the opening because Finlay had an unmarried girl entering a coffee house, and in the company of her father (which at least in England was just about always a pimp bringing in a "coffee girl" for a customer), and this girl was wearing a cap (which no eighteen year old girl would be caught dead in unless she were already married) outside (no bonnet?)--making me think that he had created an alternate world, the way Madeleine Robins did with her Sarah T
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May 27, 2009
Alisa
rated it:
Suitable for reading in a household where the TV is going all-day and all-night, like where I was last week. I checked it out especially for traveling, and it was the right pick.
If it hadn't been competing with audio distractions (you can not look, but you can't not listen) I think I would have been disappointed at the not-exactly-zippy pace, and lack of surprise in plot and/or description of magic.
Revolutionary America isn't an era that really grips me (should I blame Jo More...
If it hadn't been competing with audio distractions (you can not look, but you can't not listen) I think I would have been disappointed at the not-exactly-zippy pace, and lack of surprise in plot and/or description of magic.
Revolutionary America isn't an era that really grips me (should I blame Jo More...
Jul 31, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
This book was really good a lot better then I expected. It was a fast paced, fun quick read that wasn't complicated at all.
A lot of historical fic can be flat or really cheesy and this was really believeable. I liked that I could actually imagine the characters in real life Revolutionary War period.
The magic that the people had fit, and it didn't seem out of place. The characters are a little flat except for the main character, readers really get to know the main charac More...
A lot of historical fic can be flat or really cheesy and this was really believeable. I liked that I could actually imagine the characters in real life Revolutionary War period.
The magic that the people had fit, and it didn't seem out of place. The characters are a little flat except for the main character, readers really get to know the main charac More...
Dec 19, 2009
Jacob
rated it:
A very readable book, and provides some nice insight into what it might have been like to live in the time of the American Revolution. However, the writing is a little clunky and the protagonist spends too much of his time being clueless to make this book enjoyable. The author seems not to be able to decide whether he's supposed to play the role of the observer or the hero, so he switches off at inopportune moments.
I am sure this book would be more fun if I were intimately familiar More...
I am sure this book would be more fun if I were intimately familiar More...
Oct 14, 2009
Preston
rated it:
I got this book several months ago as a publisher promotional e-book. It didn't grab me in the first two pages, so I set it aside and focused on other things. Finally, I gave it another try and was pleasantly surprised. Within a few pages of where I'd left off, the plot picked up and the book kept me turning (virtual) pages right up to the end. Was it predictable? In a lot of ways, yes. More than once I read a passage and thought to myself, "This is clearly foreshadowing," but it was f
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Aug 27, 2009
Joseph
rated it:
An interesting Fantasy series, set around the American Revolution, with a 'Magical History' ongoing with historical events. This book is the first, and starts just before the battle of Lexington & Concord and goes through to the Battle of Breeds Hill/Beacon Hill.
The protagonist is a farmer, and a minuteman, who discovers there is more to the world than the eye alone can see and that there are conspiracies and secrets ongoing that lead into the revolution.
A reasonably fast r More...
The protagonist is a farmer, and a minuteman, who discovers there is more to the world than the eye alone can see and that there are conspiracies and secrets ongoing that lead into the revolution.
A reasonably fast r More...
May 12, 2009
Dana
rated it:
I found this book in a roundabout way through a blog linking to the author's website, and I enjoyed it a lot. It's the story of witches living in the colonies at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This one combines my enjoyment of historical fiction with my enjoyment of fantasy in a very smooth way. It doesn't even really have to edge very far into alternative history, since Finlay works his witches into the fabric of our own history very subtly. Also nice, the other two books in what looks
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Jul 07, 2009
Jacqie
rated it:
I'd rate this one three and a half stars if I could. It's a good first book. The characterization is a bit thin, and the first pages dragged a bit. But I did get sucked into the story after the main character started trying to learn more about his gifts. There was a maddening lack of information transmitted between characters who did not trust each other. But the author clearly loves his history, and the two main characters did develop a poignant relationship. I hold out hopes for the secon
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Sep 19, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
I can't remember how this ended up on my "to read" list, but it was an enjoyable diversion. It tasted of YA, but I can't find any indication it was marketed as such. The history seems strong and accurate, but the writing is a bit uneven. At times I felt like I was watching an old Hanna Barbara cartoon, noticing the outline around the painting on the wall which would later be moved to reveal a secret door.
The author lives in Columbus, and name checks his OSU graduate advi More...
The author lives in Columbus, and name checks his OSU graduate advi More...
Sep 03, 2009
Mikel
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 12, 2009
Tamora
rated it:
Proctor Brown is a Minuteman, summoned to battle in Lexington. He's been courting the beautiful daughter of a Tory neighbor who is not happy that he's thrown his lot in with the rebel cause. And he has magic, as the son of a line of witches that goes back to the infamous Salem trials. It's his magic that makes him realize Major Pitcairn, in command of the British regulars, has a charm that makes him invulnerable to injury. His interference in trying to take Pitcairn's charm makes a British w
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Apr 28, 2009
Ina
rated it:
Review Patriot Witch
On the brinks of Revolution, American militia men—troupes of armed farmers and other non-military men—stand to guard the “Patriot Cause” against the British redcoats. Unknown to the vast majority of fighting men on both sides is the presence of magical intervention—or that those among them are charmed or gifted with supernatural abilities.
Twenty-year old Proctor Brown, a farmer and militiaman, spots a charm worn by Major Pitcairn, a British “lobster”. More...
On the brinks of Revolution, American militia men—troupes of armed farmers and other non-military men—stand to guard the “Patriot Cause” against the British redcoats. Unknown to the vast majority of fighting men on both sides is the presence of magical intervention—or that those among them are charmed or gifted with supernatural abilities.
Twenty-year old Proctor Brown, a farmer and militiaman, spots a charm worn by Major Pitcairn, a British “lobster”. More...
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Aug 07, 2011
Karen
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The first half of this book was a bit slow to plow through, but after the funeral scene I really started to like Proctor a lot more and became excited to find out what would happen next. I really love American Revolutionary history as well as anything to do with witchcraft, so I liked the book a lot. I especially enjoyed witchcraft from the male perspective. Now that this unique world has been established, I think I'll enjoy the next two books in the series even more than this first one.
Aug 08, 2010
Lynn
rated it:
Finally got around to reading this- bought it quite a while ago on someone's recommendation. It sounded interesting and it sort of was, but somehow it didn't engage me. I had no strong sense of the characters and they seemed to be walking through their plot and their lines. For me, the main character's relationship with his mother was erratic and unclear.
The setting was interesting - the revolutionary war, but I was also somewhat thrown by the author's failure to correctly render Q More...
The setting was interesting - the revolutionary war, but I was also somewhat thrown by the author's failure to correctly render Q More...
Jun 19, 2009
Craig
rated it:
A very well-done tale of witchcraft set against the back drop of the Revolutionary War. I believe that it would be an excellent choice for history buffs as well as fantasy fans of all ages. I'm anxious to read the next books in the series.
Jun 30, 2009
Julie
rated it:
This was a great book, I downloaded it onto my Kindle when I was sitting in LAX and read most of it on my home - it was very cool mix of historical(ish) fiction and fantasy. Haven't really read anything quite like it!
Jun 13, 2009
Linda
rated it:
Interesting concept for a book...witches and their affect on the revolution in 1776 (book actually takes place in 1775 and the events that lead up to the revolution). Eager to read the next one in the series.
Aug 05, 2010
Jack
rated it:
A young man looking forward to a prosperous life in colonial America is thrown off track by the opening hostilities of the Revolutionary War. Uh, and he's a witch.
Jul 08, 2009
Minsma
rated it:
When I was a tween, Johnny Tremaine was one of my favoritest favoritest books. I think Johnny was my first literary crush. So I'm predisposed to like Revolutionary War stories, but this is a particularly good one. "The Secret History of the Revolutionary War," complete with good witches fighting evil ones and exciting battle scenes. Also, the kind of deep, layered, meaty characterizations Mr. Finlay handles so deftly. His people aren't perfect superheroes. They're flawed, sometimes fum
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Apr 12, 2011
Flora
rated it:
A young adult novel in a grown-up book's clothing. Entertaining, quick read. No complaints; it's good enough for me to continue the series.
Jun 07, 2009
I am stopping on page 95 of this book. Stuff is happening, but it is just not holding my interest. Life is too short, and I have a large stack of books waiting for me. No rating star-wise, as I didn't finish it.
Oct 18, 2009
Chad
rated it:
Great book. Wonderful blend of history and sci-fi. Read it in two days. Just wanted to keep going. It has that kind of magic.
May 22, 2010
Kendall
rated it:
I couldn't get into this series. It was well written but I just couldn't make myself care about the characters.
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