The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

Jun 02, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: costume-fiction, read-2011, young-adult, 2011-publication

Firstly: although Maggie Blair is accused of being a witch, readers should know that this is a work of historical fiction and it has no supernatural elements whatsoever. The book's description and cover art could probably use a bit of adjusting to make the focus of the book a little more apparent.

Even taken as a work of historical fiction, however, this story is interesting but it's not particularly riveting. It's well written enough, but it lacks a certain urgency and passion that you'd expect...more

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May 26, 2013 Blake rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved Maggie's character. She wasn't perfect, but still managed to stay strong in the face of danger. She would put those she cared about before anything else, and was constantly struggling to figure out what was right and wrong. Her imperfections made her more relatable.

The settings and places in the story are amazing! Laird describes the surroundings with such vivid detail, and succeeded in moving Scotland up on my list of places to visit. I was reading a little of the background history fo...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Mimi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenagers

This book was so many things wrapped up in one novel!

1. The author based some of this novel on her own family history, which made it all the more compelling to read, knowing that events just like this really occurred. This book was a really well done piece historical fiction.

2. The book was very interesting, because I know pretty much nothing about Scotland during that time period, so it was fascinating (and at times horrifying) to learn about it.

3. I loved the main character! This is such a bea...more

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Mar 27, 2012 LH Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical

Elizabeth Laird is an author capable of very great things. The Garbage King is, quite frankly, superb and I picked up The Witching Hour on the strength of my experience of this book.

The Witching Hour (also published in the US as The Betrayal of Maggie Blair) is a fine, exciting and moving tale of seventeenth century Scotland. Maggie and her Grandmother are accused of witchcraft on their remote island of Bute and Maggie's world begins to break apart from that point.

Laird is a capable, strong wr...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 3 of 5 stars

full review at Cracking the Cover
Elizabeth Laird has a gift for creating a mood. From her very first lines to the last sentence on the last page, I felt the rolling nature of her prose. It was as if a narrator with a Scottish brogue was inside my head. Consider this excerpt from her first page:

It was a cold day in December, the sun barely risen, and I’d pulled my shawl tightly round my head and shoulders, but it wasn’t only the chill of the wet sand beneath my bare feet that made me shiver. Ther...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Maggie’s granny has never been easy to live with, but when she is condemned of witchcraft on the false evidence of a serving girl named, Annie, Maggie loses the only family she’s ever known. Maggie, who was also condemned by Annie’s false witness, escapes to her Uncle Blair’s home in another county and begins to find peace when his family accepts her as one of their own. But then Annie shows up, worming her way into the Blairs’ hearts and Maggie knows that trouble will follow for all of them. Wh...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Ashlee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This isn't a typical book for me. It's not exactly angst-ridden (as I categorized it) but it is pretty... tense, I guess. Regardless, I liked the novel.
***Minor Spoiler Below***

***Also Some Cursing***

***So Beware***

Maggie Blair is only 16 when the book begins. She's pretty useless and kind of a coward I think. Her granny's cruel to her, they're poor, and have little to eat. Because of her granny's temper and cruelty, the shit hits the fan, Granny (and Maggie) is condemned as a witch, and the pe...more This isn't a typical book for me. It's not exactly angst-ridden (as I categorized it) but it is pretty... tense, I guess. Regardless, I liked the novel.
***Minor Spoiler Below***

***Also Some Cursing***

***So Beware***

Maggie Blair is only 16 when the book begins. She's pretty useless and kind of a coward I think. Her granny's cruel to her, they're poor, and have little to eat. Because of her granny's temper and cruelty, the shit hits the fan, Granny (and Maggie) is condemned as a witch, and the people who inhabit the Isle of Bute turn into scared and witless accusers. John McBean is the ass who leads it, and that bitch Annie is the one who finishes it.

Let's just discuss Annie for a second here. I didn't like her from the beginning. I think it's a pretty good author who could elicit such strong emotions from her readers, and she sure as hell got some emotion from me. Annie is a hateful, conniving, slutty bitch-thief and she deserved what she got. There were a few times where I wanted to reach through the pages and bitch-slap her so hard her eyes would roll to the back of her head. (view spoiler) Hate. Immensely.

Back to Maggie. Her adventures - if you could call them that - made Maggie grow into a woman who could finally think for herself, instead of the useless girl she was in the beginning. The underlying plot of the Presbyterians' struggles motivated Maggie into becoming a woman who could take care of herself. It's not a groundbreaking novel or one to draw forth such astounding conversation, but I do think it's one to draw out emotions and the need to understand that everyone, as Tam says, "is a mother's son" (or daughter). (less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a strong, powerful book. It has a bit of a rocky start at first, but once you get around page 150 (which is about one third of the 450 page long book), the pace picks up immensly. The writing style isn’t all that decorative – it’s pretty straight forward – but it fits the setting of 17th century Scotland. The greatest downside though is that the book is very long, especially for a book aimed primarily at young adults. I had to read it in several sittings, unable t...more The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a strong, powerful book. It has a bit of a rocky start at first, but once you get around page 150 (which is about one third of the 450 page long book), the pace picks up immensly. The writing style isn’t all that decorative – it’s pretty straight forward – but it fits the setting of 17th century Scotland. The greatest downside though is that the book is very long, especially for a book aimed primarily at young adults. I had to read it in several sittings, unable to keep my attention to it long enough to complete it in one try.

The novel tells the story of Margaret aka Maggie Blair. Her parents died several years ago, and now Maggie lives with her grandmother in a small house, with barely enough food to get by. Life is hard, and her grandmother isn’t exactly the most pleasant woman in the entire world. She tries to scare the neighbouring farms so they will not mess with her and her granddaughter – but the effect is aversive, and Granny gets taken into custody for witchcraft, Maggie being dragged along to the prison. An old friend of her grandmother’s, Tam, helps Maggie to escape, but for her grandmother all help is too late: she is prosecuted and eventually hanged. Maggie flees her old home town Brute, and joins some drovers, old friends of her father, who help bring her to Ladymuir, where her Uncle Blair – her only other living relative – and his family live. Although they welcome Maggie into their home, her aunt never warms up to her, and it’s hard for Maggie to fit into the family of devote Presbyterians. When Uncle Blair goes to great lengths to sneak Mr. Redwick – a renounced preacher – to the town, her aunt fears for the worse, and correct, so it seems. The “Black Cuffs”, soldiers of the king appear and take Uncle Blair into custody. Desperate to do something to help, Maggie proposes that she go and save her uncle, whatever the cost.

After trying to summarize what happens in the book, I realize that a lot of stuff actually happens. On the one side, there’s Scotland in the grasp of witchcraft trials, and on the other side, there’s the Presbyterians refusing to swear the oath that says the King is supreme. It is a time of terror, and Maggie Blair is an excellent example of what all these terrors can do to a person. When we first meet Maggie she’s a timid young girl who fears her grandmother’s occasional loss of temper and fits. She wants people to like her grandmother, although it is quite clear that they don’t, and it doesn’t help that she’s behaving rather peculiarly as well. We see Margaret as a girl who tries to blend in, who desperately wants to be loved, and who would do anything if people would just like her. Rather than that, people’s hatred for the little girl expand as she is brought to trial alongside her grandmother and a wicked servant girl named Annie testifies, not only against Granny, but against Maggie as well.

As we follow Maggie on her way to her Uncle Blair’s house, we see her grow in courage. She sheds the timidity and fear, and learns to depend no longer on her grandmother, but solely on herself. While at first I was not that fond of her as a character, I grew fonder of her as time progressed. By the time Maggie reaches her Uncle Blair’s farm she is still a quiet girl who keeps a lot to herself, but she is also capable of standing up for herself and the people she loves, and she has more courage in her heart than a lot of people much older than she is. She blends in well with the family, fully accepted by her cousin Richie and her little neice Martha. However, her aunt does not warm up to her. Unfortunately, the reason for that is never explained in the novel, because it did make me curious as to why. Yet again, Maggie is unable to find what she craves for: a person who truly loves her.

Later on in the book, we see Maggie meet that person, in the form of an enemy soldier. Although his caring for her is genuine, Maggie is unable to return it, because she has realized by this time that she no longer needs to be loved. I’m pretty certain that the Maggie we see early on in the book would not have said no, but would have embraced the affections whole-heartedly. The Maggie we see by now, is independent enough not to rely on other people’s love anymore. She no longer needs their approval. It’s a total transformation, but it happens gradually and slowly, and thus it’s all the more clear to the reader. I loved Elizabeth Laird’s characterization, and how she turned Maggie from a timid and fragile little girl into an independent, strong young woman.

I enjoyed the other characters as well. Maggie’s grandmother might be a scary woman, and she certainly tries to scare everyone, but her motives are honest and understandable, which made me all the more sympathetic towards her. Uncle Blair is a devote man, passionate about his love for God and the Bible and god-knows-what-else. He’s a bit over the top really, willing to give his life as a martyr for the cause, without taking a pause to think long and hard about what the consequences would be for his family. In that perspective, he is really not the loyal, trustworthy man we at first deem him to be: he is blind in his belief, ignorant towards the people who truly need him. Maggie seems to be the only one who truly grasps these two aspects of his personality, and yet she loves him nevertheless. Tam, the vagabond extraordinarie who shows up whenever someone needs him, is an interesting and intriguing character as well. He believes in the goodness of people, he has no religion but tries to be fair to everyone, and he hates war. He actually learns Maggie some values in life that she ought well to learn. In a way, he knows more about spirituality and goodness than even devote Uncle Blair does.

The storyline isn’t very original. There have been tons of books about Witchcraft, and probably just as many about people rebelling against oppression from a foreign Lord or King. However, what I did find refreshing and innovative, was the mixture of these two themes – who don’t seem to go together at first – in one novel. For one of the first times in historical fiction, we see a total view of the 17th century Scotland. We see ignorant farmer’s people prosecuting witches at trials and we see Presbyterians trying to rebel against King Charles II. It’s an interesting era to write about really.

When I read the Epilogue and realized that the entire story is actually based on Elizabeth Laird’s own heritage, and names she came across when searching for her ancestor’s history, one of them being accused of Witchcraft, and the other held hostage in a prison for Presbyterians, I found the story all the more interesting. I love it when authors focus on their own history, their own heritage, and then write historical fiction about that. It reminded me vaguely of The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent, a story about witchcraft based on Kathleen Kent’s own heritage as well.

On the downside, I’m still convinced that the book is a bit too lengthy. It could have had a faster pace from the start had several pages been cut and left out. The biblical references, especially the continuous mention of prayers, made the book drag along a bit here and there. I can understand why adding a prayer to make it feel real, but does that have to be every other page?

All in all, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a nice book for those who love historical fiction and witchtrials. It is a bit lengthy and has a rocky start, so beware of that. It wasn’t at all what I expected – I had expected more paranormal, and a larger focus on the witchtrials – but it’s a nice read and gets really interesting after a while. The character of Maggie is amazing and her personal growth is very impressive. Although the storyline isn’t the most original one in the world, Elizabeth Laird gives a nice spin to it with intriguing characters with their own views of the world around them. Definetely worth a try.(less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-to-buy, historical-fiction

A beautifully written and intriguing story that anyone would enjoy. I certainly did. Maggie is a strong, practical-minded young woman who conquers her fears as best she can and really tries to do her all at whatever task is set before her. She is independent without developing The Attitude that so many female characters have in today's literature. The villains are easy to dislike, and the nice characters easy to like. The most frustrating element to this story is how readily Maggie's relatives d...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Hylary Locsin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Life in seventeenth-century Scotland is not easy for sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair. An orphan, Maggie was raised from an early age by her Granny, a hot-tempered and cantankerous old woman, in a cottage on the Isle of Bute. Granny has managed to make enemies of most of the residents of Bute, many of whom believe she is a witch. In the midst of a society full of religious turmoil, Maggie suddenly fi...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Life in seventeenth-century Scotland is not easy for sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair. An orphan, Maggie was raised from an early age by her Granny, a hot-tempered and cantankerous old woman, in a cottage on the Isle of Bute. Granny has managed to make enemies of most of the residents of Bute, many of whom believe she is a witch. In the midst of a society full of religious turmoil, Maggie suddenly finds herself and Granny on trial for witchcraft. In order to escape execution, Maggie flees Bute to live with her uncle, Hugh Blair, and his wife and children on their farm on the mainland in a town called Ladymuir. Maggie is unaccustomed to life off the island, but is happy to be free of the danger that awaited her on Bute. Her peaceful new life in Ladymuir doesn’t last long, however, when Annie, a girl her age who testified against her in her trial on Bute, arrives at the farm. Uncle Blair and his family are charmed by Annie, who claims that she has come to repent for her false accusations on Bute, but Maggie is not convinced. Can she maintain her new existence in Ladymuir, or has the danger of her past followed her across the waters of the Scottish coast?

Part fiction and part memoir, Laird’s historical novel The Betrayal of Maggie Blair offers a slow but ultimately interesting story about a period of time not often featured in stories for young adults. Most readers, both teen and adult, will find themselves learning a great deal about seventeenth-century Scotland and the religious fervor that was sweeping Great Britain at that time. Although the novel does include elements that will resonate with those familiar with the Salem Witch Trials, the majority of the story focuses on the Covenanters: a group of Presbyterians who’s refusal to acknowledge the English king as head of the church earned many an untimely death. Maggie’s story serves primarily as a way for the author to present an in-depth history lesson into what is likely an unfamiliar era for American readers. In the epilogue, Laird mentions that Hugh Blair, Maggie’s uncle, was actually a real person who actually lived in Ladymuir in the late 1600s. Other characters in the story are also historical figures, making the novel a blend of fact and fiction. Although the story is slow, especially in the beginning, it ultimately provides an interesting look into the past that patient readers will enjoy.

My expectations of this novel were so different from my experience reading it that, at first, I wasn’t sure what to think. The story is very well written and full of Scottish dialogue that makes for a really authentic read. I also found Maggie to be an interesting character. My primary issue with the novel is that it is somewhat slow and, therefore, not likely to be appreciated by a young adult audience. As a historical fiction novel for adults, I think it is wonderful. I would have a hard time recommending it to most teens, however, as I think this time period and setting would not really resonate with them. (less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Phoebe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-17th-cent, ya

Maggie Blair and her outspoken, bad-tempered grandmother are condemned as witches in a rousing start to a lengthy and absorbing historical tale set in 17th-century Scotland. Maggie escapes, thanks to family friend/vagabond Tam, and manages to flee to her uncle Blair's farm. For the first time in her life Maggie finds enough to eat, a clean, cozy existence, and something like a real family--but then it appears that she is still in danger, since her aunt and uncle are Covenanters: loyal only to th...more

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Jul 17, 2011 LitAddictedBrit rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, read-2011

There was something about Maggie Blair, the character, that I couldn't help but love. She was one of those people who is full of tenacity, loyalty and just the right amount of innocence. Maggie has grown up with her grandmother after both of her parents die. Her grandmother is bitter and full of anger at the world in general, some of which she takes out on the poor young Maggie. In a fit of fury, Maggie's grandmother yells a curse at the parents of a new-born baby. When the baby unfortunately di...more There was something about Maggie Blair, the character, that I couldn't help but love. She was one of those people who is full of tenacity, loyalty and just the right amount of innocence. Maggie has grown up with her grandmother after both of her parents die. Her grandmother is bitter and full of anger at the world in general, some of which she takes out on the poor young Maggie. In a fit of fury, Maggie's grandmother yells a curse at the parents of a new-born baby. When the baby unfortunately dies, the already 'on edge' community on the Isle of Bute are encouraged into cries of withcraft.

The turning of the community to superstition and anger was well handled and the emotions were genuinely portrayed. The harmless workers of Bute are roused by venomous accusations and descend into an angry mob. Driven by her own selfishness, the servant of the bereaved spins a tall tale of devil worship and the occult. I'd love to say that was the end of Annie's malevolence but where would the story be then...?

Shortly after the "trial", Maggie is forced to flee in search of the only family she has left. Her strength in the face of heartbreak was the point that I realised I was really caught up in the novel. When Maggie finds the family she has been searching for, she has to learn more about herself and about how to find somewhere to fit in.

Combined with this 'coming of age' tale is the story of the Covenantors - a 17th century group of Presbytarians that fought the efforts of the English king, Charles I, to govern how they lived and worshipped. The history of such a noble group of people who went through a great deal for the right of their families to express their religion freely is obviously one of sacrifice and it was portrayed through the Blair family wonderfully sensitively. It was a period of history I only knew a little about and this book manages to weave enough detail into the narrative without intruding on the characters or the story.

If I have a tiny criticism, it's that Maggie seemed to me to be a lot younger than 16 but, hey, that could well be because I'm older than I care to admit and have forgotten what the world felt like at 16!

Overall: A nice story of friendship, solidarity and what one young girl will do to feel as though she has a home and some peace. I would recommend this book as a quick read that tugs at the old heart strings and educates in equal measure. A snapshot of a turbulent and atmospheric Scotland that is perfect for a rainy afternoon!
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Jul 09, 2011 Krista Stevens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-ya-adult, young-adult

So much of history is unknown to most of us - for example, although I was certainly aware of women being accused of witchcraft (because they knew healing herbs, or were unmarried/widowed and somebody else wanted their land) in the 17th century, I had never heard about The Killing Times in Scotland. English king, Charles II, felt threatened when the Presbyterian church came into being after rejecting the state's Catholicsm, and he saw their spirit of independence as rebellion. He tried to control...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Violet Crush rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, library

I picked this book because I love reading anything and everything about witches and witch trials. Also it’s set in 17th century Scotland which is just icing on the cake. The Witching Hour is not about witches or witch trials entirely though. It’s about a girl called Maggie who lives on the Isle of Bute with her grandmother who is bitter and angry with life and all that fate has done to her. She can’t help but turn all the hate on the neighbors and the people around her. When one of the new-born...more I picked this book because I love reading anything and everything about witches and witch trials. Also it’s set in 17th century Scotland which is just icing on the cake. The Witching Hour is not about witches or witch trials entirely though. It’s about a girl called Maggie who lives on the Isle of Bute with her grandmother who is bitter and angry with life and all that fate has done to her. She can’t help but turn all the hate on the neighbors and the people around her. When one of the new-born dies, his father accuses Maggie’s grandmother of witchcraft and since most of the people don’t have very high opinion of her, she is branded as a witch and burned. Maggie would have been burned too if not for Tam, a family friend.

Maggie manages to run away to her dead father’s brother who lives with his family in Ladymuir. Although he welcomes Maggie in his house and family he has his own problems to deal with. It’s the time when the King wants to replace God in the churches of Scotland and establish himself as the supreme leader. But many people, including her uncle’s family, is opposed to it. They have their secret meetings and sermons. When the King’s men arrest people from the town who have not been co-operating with the King, all hell breaks loose. Maggie has to leave her safe heaven and embark on a journey and put everything she has on risk.

There are a lot of things I loved about this book. First and foremost is the setting. The author Elizabeth Laird describes the time and the place so beautifully that you can’t help feel like you’re actually there experiencing it all with Maggie. I loved the Island of Bute and loved traveling with Maggie across Scotland. It’s as good as it gets where traveling via fiction is considered. I also loved Maggie and how she learned from the mistakes her grandmother made, and how even though she necessarily wasn’t always righteous, she had a good and brave heart.

I learned a lot of things about Scotland that I didn’t know before and although I don’t really understand all the religious details and intricacies, I had a good time getting immersed in the story of Maggie. It’s a Young Adult book but it’s also a book which adults can enjoy thoroughly. The Witching Hour goes way beyond a teenage girl’s story.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the length. There were a few dry spots in it and I guess it would have worked best if the book was cut short by a few pages. But other than that I heartily recommend this book(less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Lydia Presley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fiction, historic-fiction, scotland

It took all of 10 minutes for me to be caught up in Maggie Blair's story in The Betrayal of Maggie Blair. Right away, I knew this would be a tale I'd have difficulty setting down, and I devoured it in a single, long afternoon of reading (and what a joy that was).

I'm a big fan of girls with a spine, those able to take care of themselves and not needing to do the predictable (marry, sell themselves out in someway, etc). Maggie Blair faces trials like crazy - from being tried along with her grandmo...more

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May 21, 2011 Natalie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had very high hopes for this book. It has a beautiful cover and is set in one of my favorite time periods to read about, not to mention it takes place in Scotland, but frankly it was a little disappointing. It took me a long time to actually get into the story and care about any of the characters but, when I did, it was enjoyable enough. I liked it, but I had hoped for more.

I liked Maggie. She is an interesting and human character who grows up so gradually you almost don't notice it, transform...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Penelope rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever.

Before I gush about why I loved this book, I just need to say that I love the cover. From a photography standpoint, the photo is spectacular; the silhouette of the girl, against the expansive background and cloudy sky, with her reflection in the foreground...it's gorgeous! I also love the title, which fits the book perfectly.

Now, about the book: I think the strongest point of The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, is that it features a se...more This review was originally published on my blog: The Reading Fever.

Before I gush about why I loved this book, I just need to say that I love the cover. From a photography standpoint, the photo is spectacular; the silhouette of the girl, against the expansive background and cloudy sky, with her reflection in the foreground...it's gorgeous! I also love the title, which fits the book perfectly.

Now, about the book: I think the strongest point of The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, is that it features a set of strong characters. Maggie is a great character, who doesn't always know what to do, or how to stand up for herself. She does know what is right and wrong, though, and this knowledge helps her to do what needs to be done in the story. She constantly pushes herself to do what she knows is right, even if doing so puts her in a bad position.

Maggie's grandmother is quite the character, at times giving meaning to the phrase "old hag." But even she has a depth to her that shows you why she seems a little rough. Other characters like Tam, Annie, and Hugh Blair, are all given extreme personalities, but are developed well enough that you believe them.

The Blair family was especially interesting to read about. They are what seemed like an accurate depiction of a presbyterian "rebel" family (also known as Covenanters) during the time period when King Charles II (and then King James the VII) began ruling the church, and hunting down those who refused to conform, or to recognize him as the head of the church. The Blair family has strong (if a bit extreme) morals, and refuses to conform, which brings some interesting and real conflicts into the book. In fact, everything in this book seemed horribly real. The witch trials were frightening, and the way the soldiers treated the Covenanters was utterly terrible. Laird really brought the time period alive, reminding the reader that not all of history is pretty.

Side note: I actually didn't know about "Covenanters," or the "Killing times" until I read this book, and was so intrigued, that I went and researched it after reading. It was a very interesting time in history.

Now, the book does have a bit of a slow pace to it. Things happen over the course of about a year (maybe even a little longer; I admit that I didn't pay that much attention to the timeline), so the action isn't immediate, and doesn't all happen at once with one huge climax. Instead, things happen over time, there are many obstacles to overcome (danger is always lurking), and the character growth is subtle. But it is exactly how I like my historicals: rich in detail, true to the time period, and not paced according to today's standards.

I highly recommend it!
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Apr 18, 2011 Cathy/The Crazy Bookworm rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair was a heart-wrenching but beautifully told story. The book takes place in 17th century Scotland. The religious beliefs the characters live by in this book are very strong. You are fined or imprisoned for being in debt, missing church or being suspected of witch craft. And if proven guilty of witch craft your are hanged and burned at the stake. I devoured this book, it immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let me go. Elizabeth Laird penned such a gripping story....more

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Apr 12, 2011 Norma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

First let me say that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this cover. It is so beautiful.

This book had actually been previously released in the UK under another name. It is going to be making its US debut in just a short while.

Elizabeth Laird allows the reader to step back in time to 17th century Scotland. It was a time of struggle and strife. Young Maggie Blair was falsely accused of witchcraft as many others were. It was common back then to quickly call someone a witch because you didn’t like them. Th...more

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Apr 10, 2011 A Beautiful Madness rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own

I’m a little over the fence with this book. I was expecting a lot from it, as I usually really enjoy historic books, yet there was something with this one that stopped me from getting into the story.

The story was interesting, but was really slow. One main aspect of the book is religion, which I didn’t really enjoy. I don’t really like books that use religion that much, because I think it should really is a personal thing. It’s not preaching you one religion. It goes well with the setting, but it...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Maggie is a young girl who lives with her old, haggard grandmother who is quite outspoken and set in her ways. When Maggie's grandmother upsets some of the villagers she gets accused of being a witch and unwillingly drags Maggie into the horror of it all. Maggie escapes with the help of an old friend that gets her safely to her uncles house. Once again tragedy upsets Maggie's life and she feels the need to set things right.

When I first heard about this novel I assumed it would concentrate on Mag...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Rachel Vance rated it 4 of 5 stars

17th century Scotland was not a safe time, nobody knew this better than teenager Maggie Blair. Maggie's parents are both dead and she lives with her grandmother who most people think is strange and walks around talking about the devil and cursing people. The only thing they have that is worth anything is their land and when a wealthy land owner sets his sights on it he sees an easy way to get it. Maggie and her grandmother are soon accused of being witches and made to stand trial in the church....more

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Mar 20, 2011 cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blue-covers

What a remarkable historical piece! The Betrayal Of Maggie Blair weaves an incredible story, rich in history and characters, sure to enchant you to turn the pages faster to find the hard truths of witchcraft and heresy.

At first, I could not make head or tails of Maggie Blair. Did I like her? Did I find her too naive and easily swayed by charismatic preachers? Will she be hanged or burnt on the false accusations of witchcraft? As these questions churned in my head, I followed Maggie's plight and...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Tessa Quin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, by Elizabeth Laird

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: Historical, Adventure, (YA)
Publishing Date: April 18th, 2011

NetGalley Summary:

In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.

Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie m...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, net-galley

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a Christian historical fiction novel that was inspired by family research. Certain extra characters in the story derive from actual people connected with the author's family and include historical details discovered at the location. The most fascinating is knowing Hugh Blair was an actual historical person. The journey begins and ends with Maggie. Given my own experience with tracing my family tree, I can appreciate the journey a person goes on and the self discov...more The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a Christian historical fiction novel that was inspired by family research. Certain extra characters in the story derive from actual people connected with the author's family and include historical details discovered at the location. The most fascinating is knowing Hugh Blair was an actual historical person. The journey begins and ends with Maggie. Given my own experience with tracing my family tree, I can appreciate the journey a person goes on and the self discovery and connections ancestral research provides. A sense of self, ownership and independence is often gained through finding out who and what came before us. I liked the different prospectives of faith presented: strength, doubt and ignorance. Whether it is 1680 or 2011, people all around the world can relate to this timeless struggle.

Towards the end of the story Maggie contemplates, "Which was the worse fate? Banishment and slavery, or shame?" For me this was the most important over all question and the moral of the story. For Hugh Blair it is likely shame, for Maggie and those accused of witchcraft one might argue death and banishment and for Tam, perhaps, being enslaved since he was a wandered. Then, again at some stage of the journey Maggie must face all three and overcome it.

The blurb claims the book has a, 'powerful blend of heart-stopping action..." I would say this is a reach on the publishers part and is not necessarily an accurate portrayal of what a reader will experience between the pages. When broken down, what the character goes through is extraordinary, but it is told in a kind of Scottish gray that clings with despair even to the most thrilling parts, dampening the possible suspense that might be generated. However, I believe the tone and voice is thematically well-depicted, I just do not think it is agreeable with the blurb statement presented in the synopsis. I'm afraid it might mislead some readers who are seeking a more excitable tale or thrill and evoke negative feedback. This is more a long historical meandering than a coaster of adventure.(less)

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May 30, 2011 Siobian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, historical-fiction, kindle, read-in-2011, young-adult

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair lives with her grandmother in seventeenth centry Scotland and is just trying to get by. They don't have much money and Maggie is actually pretty afraid of her Granny, Elspeth, but she isn't the only one. The townspeople already fear Elspeth and whisper that she is a witch because she and Maggie never attend church (an act that was considered a crime and punishable by law) and because Elspeth has been known to use herbs and chants to heal. When the Macbean family shu...more Sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair lives with her grandmother in seventeenth centry Scotland and is just trying to get by. They don't have much money and Maggie is actually pretty afraid of her Granny, Elspeth, but she isn't the only one. The townspeople already fear Elspeth and whisper that she is a witch because she and Maggie never attend church (an act that was considered a crime and punishable by law) and because Elspeth has been known to use herbs and chants to heal. When the Macbean family shuns Maggie and Elspeth, Elspeth's temper is unleashed and she announces that the newest Macbean baby will soon die. When the baby dies a few weeks later, Elspeth and Maggie are arrested for witchcraft and after a quick trial where numerous townspeople bring false evidence against them, they are sentenced to death by hanging. With the help of a family friend, Maggie escapes and locates her Uncle Blair and his family who are Covenanters who believe that the King of Scotland is trying to take over the church and they must defy his rule. Although she doesn't share their beliefs, Maggie takes her place within the family and begins to think that she can settle down and live a happy life. However, just as she is getting comfortable, one of her accusers appears and brings trouble with her.

First, I want to say how beautiful I think the cover of this book is! I am often swayed by a gorgeous cover and then disappointed if the book doesn't quite stand up to the expectations set by the cover art. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed with this story. Maggie is a very likable character and though she is a bit of a pushover at the start, she soon comes into her own and shows a lot of courage to face the obstacles thrown in her way. The villain, Annie, was despicable enough that I shuddered when she made her way to the Blair farm and I hoped she met a terrible fate at the end of the book. I was unfamiliar with the history with the Covenanters but this book provides a lot of history and detail surrounding them so I didn't feel lost because of my lack of knowledge. The story moved very smoothly and there were many times I refused to stop reading (although I really needed to) because I wanted to see what would happen to Maggie next. I thought this was a great, quick read.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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May 30, 2011 Vicki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, historical-fiction, young-adult-books

Goodreads, are you seriously not offering half stars yet?

This was a solid one. Another reviewer said that the cover could probably use some revision to let people know what the book is actually about, and they're right. Maggie is accused of being a witch, along with her mean-assed Granny. At first, you actually sort of believe that Maggie might be a witch. But that sort of goes away -- no mentions of second sights and witchcraft after the first eighth of the book is over. Instead what you're lef...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Danna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading this book made me realize something, if I had lived in the 1600’s, I’d probably be accused of witchcraft. People were really harsh back then, man. I really liked how the author showed that in the book.
The characters made this story for me. Maggie was a strong main character and if I were put in her shoes, I couldn’t do half the things she did. Her grandmother was hilarious and I didn’t think she deserved the ending she got. I really think that this is one of the few books I’ve read where...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Rosalia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, historical-fiction, young-adult, ebook

Maggie lives on a small island off the coast of Scotland with her grandmother. Her grandmother is the local midwife and a very harsh, angry and difficult woman, making her a prime target to be seen as a witch. Maggie is tried and found guilty along with her however she manages to escape to her Uncle Blair's home, only to find herself in more danger then ever because of her Uncle's religious beliefs.

This book was definitely not what I expected and that was all because of Maggie. At the books ope...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Addie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, average-books

Grade: B

Brief Synopsis: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a young adult historical fiction novel, probably best categorized as an adventure story. Our protag, the “Maggie Blair” of the title, and her grandmother are wrongfully accused of witchcraft by the peasant community on their small, Scottish island, and Maggie is forced to flee to the mainland in order to escape hanging.

Writing Style & Plot: The novel is written in first-person (an extremely popular trend in YA lit at the moment, I’ve n...more Grade: B

Brief Synopsis: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is a young adult historical fiction novel, probably best categorized as an adventure story. Our protag, the “Maggie Blair” of the title, and her grandmother are wrongfully accused of witchcraft by the peasant community on their small, Scottish island, and Maggie is forced to flee to the mainland in order to escape hanging.

Writing Style & Plot: The novel is written in first-person (an extremely popular trend in YA lit at the moment, I’ve noticed) past-tense from the perspective of Maggie Blair, the protagonist. It’s written in a fairly simple, straightforward and easily accessible style - not artistic in any sense and lacking the use of literary devices and imagery, but easy to understand. I personally like descriptive prose, and the use of language in narrative, but considering the period setting and the low level of education Maggie would have achieved, it’s understandable that her narrative voice would be plain in that kind of way.

The plot itself is a fast-moving adventure story, engaging but not gripping or enthralling, that has an episodic feel - Maggie goes here. Then here. Then here. Then back here. As opposed to having one primary goal a la win the Hunger Games in The Hunger Games, she partakes in a series of “sub-quests” (excuse my nerdiness) and just some pointless rambling. On a readability level I found it interesting but not particularly unique. It seemed to lack cohesion as well, in some areas. I admit I enjoyed the fact that it’s a period piece and that it’s not a romance, by any stretch of the imagination, which I found very, very refreshing considering that that’s pretty much all we’ve been seeing in YA for the past while. The plot, then, I found to be consistent with the grade I gave - average, not a unique expository style, but functional and entertaining.

Characters: As far as characters go, Maggie was strongly characterized, which I liked. By strongly characterized I mean that she was a consistent character, and that she showed some development throughout the course of the story. I did find, however, that she wasn’t particularly self-sufficient or clever, and had to rely on other people to get her out of difficult spots. She was very motivated, though, which was nice to see.

Tam, Granny, and the musketeer, some of the secondary characters, were fairly well-rounded - you got to see both the tough and tender sides to their personalities, particularly that of Tam. As for the other secondary characters, I found many of them to be lacking depth. Annie, (you might be able to call her the antagonist of the story, though this is a loose designation), is seemingly pointlessly evil. Her motivations are vague, quasi-developed and you never get a real sense that there’s more to her than… being the antagonist. I felt similarly about many of the characters Maggie interacts with. This may have been due to the brief periods spent with each and the lack of description of each, but the sense that some of the characters were stock added to the choppy feel of the narrative.

Historical Content: The historical content was one of the strengths of this novel. Laird manages to evoke the 17th century Scotland of the setting without bogging the narrative down with excessive details. She gives us only as much as we really need to know, and the uneducated first-person narrator, Maggie, likely wouldn’t know much more than that in any case, so it was good to keep her in character! The book had the right “feel” if you know what I mean - it wasn’t as if there were blatant anachronisms or weird-sounding dialogue or other mess ups. Laird did her research. I’m glad she didn’t shove it down our throats though - the plot of Maggie Blair was kind of bogged down with incidents and episodic little chapters and random history lessons would only have exacerbated the narrative’s continuity problems. I found the historical details she did provide interesting and helpful though!

Brief Sum-Up: I’m a historical fiction lover - there, I said it. A lot of the YA books coming out are totally centered around “love triangles” and people being “soulmates” and deal with mythical creatures (I don’t have to say the V word, do I?) and Maggie Blair was refreshingly NOT any of those things. It had it’s flaws - a choppy narrative, a low level of development for secondary characters - but was I thoroughly enjoyed reading it anyway. It’s just a tale of a girl on a journey - sometimes with a goal, sometimes not, trying to figure out what she wants in life. Not bogged down with teen angst of the romantic variety - a fact which I really appreciate. Laird has crafted an engaging, well-researched historical fiction story different from a lot of young adult lit out there at the moment - even with its flaws, I found it to be like a breath of fresh air.(less)

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