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Invisible World
Suzanne Weyn brings her trademark mix of history, romance, and the supernatural to the Salem Witch Trials.
Elsabeth James has powers she doesn't fully understand. She is descended from midwives, mind readers, and a fortune-teller who was put to death because she foresaw the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. She can hear people's thoughts and sometimes see what they see. She has supernatural gifts, but not evil ones.
When Elsabeth sails with her sister, father, and governess to America, however, she does not foresee that their ship will be wrecked in a storm. Alone for the first time in her life, she washes up on a South Carolina plantation, where she falls in love with a boy she meets there and learns magic and healing from an unexpected source.
As her powers grow, her stay is cut short, and she is sent as a servant to Salem, Massachusetts. There she accidentally allows an evil spirit to enter the village. When a group of girls start to say they're bewitched and accuse villagers of witchcraft, Elsabeth must find some way to save herself and the boy she loves.
Elsabeth James has powers she doesn't fully understand. She is descended from midwives, mind readers, and a fortune-teller who was put to death because she foresaw the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. She can hear people's thoughts and sometimes see what they see. She has supernatural gifts, but not evil ones.
When Elsabeth sails with her sister, father, and governess to America, however, she does not foresee that their ship will be wrecked in a storm. Alone for the first time in her life, she washes up on a South Carolina plantation, where she falls in love with a boy she meets there and learns magic and healing from an unexpected source.
As her powers grow, her stay is cut short, and she is sent as a servant to Salem, Massachusetts. There she accidentally allows an evil spirit to enter the village. When a group of girls start to say they're bewitched and accuse villagers of witchcraft, Elsabeth must find some way to save herself and the boy she loves.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Weyn
207 books647 followersSuzanne Weyn grew up in Williston Park, Long Island, New York. She has three sisters and a brother. As a girl, she was very interested in theatre and in reading. Louisa May Alcott was her favorite author, but she also read every Sherlock Holmes story. Suzanne lived pretty close to the ocean and going to Jones Beach was one of her favorite activities. Even today, if she goes too long without seeing the ocean, she starts feeling restless.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 9, 2013
Based on the description I thought this book had promise, but it fell very short of that promise. I won't bore you with a long description of the book as you can read it in the product description above, but here it is briefly. Background: Elsabeth comes from a line of women who have certain gifts and knowledge of magic. She is gifted with clairvoyance and through the encouragement of her father and her tutor Bronwyn her gifts grow and she learns more magic. Plot: Elsabeth travels to America with her family but the ship wrecks and she washes upon a South Carolina plantation where she falls in love. She is separated from her love and sent to America where she finds Bronwyn has survived and is inhabited by an evil spirit and is plaguing Salem. A bunch of people including Elsabeth are accused of being witches.
I only have one positive thing to say about this book--The author writes about an interesting time period and Weyn puts an interesting twist on it by making magic real and not inherently evil.
I struggled with this book a lot. In fact, I think I was able to finish it only because I was drinking wine while reading most of it and I skimmed the last quarter of it. The characters were flat and lacked depth. Elsabeth doesn't even seem to mourn the loss of her father and sister, and she never really explores or develops her magical abilities. The "romance" between Elsabeth and the boy she meets was very unbelievable. They transitioned from acquaintance to romance so quickly that I actually had to go back an reread a couple pages to see if I'd missed how it happened...and I never quite got it. And by the end of the book everything had wrapped up too nicely. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but this one was just too contrived.
All in all, interesting story idea, but Weyn needed to develop her characters, conflict, and plot a lot more.
I only have one positive thing to say about this book--The author writes about an interesting time period and Weyn puts an interesting twist on it by making magic real and not inherently evil.
I struggled with this book a lot. In fact, I think I was able to finish it only because I was drinking wine while reading most of it and I skimmed the last quarter of it. The characters were flat and lacked depth. Elsabeth doesn't even seem to mourn the loss of her father and sister, and she never really explores or develops her magical abilities. The "romance" between Elsabeth and the boy she meets was very unbelievable. They transitioned from acquaintance to romance so quickly that I actually had to go back an reread a couple pages to see if I'd missed how it happened...and I never quite got it. And by the end of the book everything had wrapped up too nicely. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but this one was just too contrived.
All in all, interesting story idea, but Weyn needed to develop her characters, conflict, and plot a lot more.
November 10, 2012
I personally think this is one of the best books I have ever read! The romance is so strong, the people are just so strong willed! I love it all! I was anxious to get to the end! I'm only a few pages away! I'm very very anxious! It's amazing!
READDD ITT!!
March 9, 2013
Straight up, witches are cool. And for real? Who did not sit right up and pay attention during the Salem witch trials in history class? This girl was on that like white on rice. When I saw Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn up for grabs at a book signing, I chose it because I thought it would be a cool read — also I LOVE historical fiction and feel like there isn’t enough of it in YA to sate my appetite. Unfortunately, Invisible World turned out to be a disappointing read where I was left unsatisfied.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
March 1, 2013
If you're going to market a book as "A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials", then shouldn't that be the focus of the book???
Not in this case. To get to the trials, we first visited the ability to mind read and astral travel, then a journey from England to America that was cut short by a ship wreck in the Bermudas. The main character Elsabeth survives for days in the ocean in a barrel only to wash ashore and be introduced to a slaving community where she contracts yellow fever. After recovering, Aunt Honey who also has the abiltiy to enter others minds begins to train her. Of course Elsabeth finds love with one of the slaves....
That is cut short however when the plantation owners return and trade Elsabeth to a relative in exchange for an unpaid debt that takes her to Salem. During that journey we meet Mary Carmen, a nun who sees visions of Saint Teresa. Elsabeth become a house slave in the parsonage....and FINALLY the witches come. A Demonic evil has taken over Salem. And Elsabeth is the one that brought it...
The accusations of witchcraft then begin and the trials start....
I can't even write a proper review for this book. It was just a big mess of ideas, topics and events. I was so disappointed. The book was just plain odd. Not one I would recommend.....especially if you expect it to be focused on the Salem Witch Trials.
As seen on: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LostInMyY...
Not in this case. To get to the trials, we first visited the ability to mind read and astral travel, then a journey from England to America that was cut short by a ship wreck in the Bermudas. The main character Elsabeth survives for days in the ocean in a barrel only to wash ashore and be introduced to a slaving community where she contracts yellow fever. After recovering, Aunt Honey who also has the abiltiy to enter others minds begins to train her. Of course Elsabeth finds love with one of the slaves....
That is cut short however when the plantation owners return and trade Elsabeth to a relative in exchange for an unpaid debt that takes her to Salem. During that journey we meet Mary Carmen, a nun who sees visions of Saint Teresa. Elsabeth become a house slave in the parsonage....and FINALLY the witches come. A Demonic evil has taken over Salem. And Elsabeth is the one that brought it...
The accusations of witchcraft then begin and the trials start....
I can't even write a proper review for this book. It was just a big mess of ideas, topics and events. I was so disappointed. The book was just plain odd. Not one I would recommend.....especially if you expect it to be focused on the Salem Witch Trials.
As seen on: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LostInMyY...
February 11, 2024
If you’re looking for a book about the Salem witch trials, this book probably isn’t for you. Did they talk about how things were during the trials? Yes, but it was more focused on this young woman meeting a man and how she fell in love and about her family. It wasn’t all about love and family, but they drew out the parts that I didn’t care about, and the witch trials didn’t really come out until the very end of the book, when everything seemed rushed. It took me a while to push through it and I didn’t enjoy it.
July 12, 2016
I liked this book well enough. Again I was looking for a short book to read since I was feeling slumpish. It wasn't wonderful but it was an interesting story.
Elisabeth James and her family have supernatural powers. Obviously living in the 1680's her family has to keep this secret or they will be called a witch and be punished. Elisabeth's power is to read people's minds and sometimes see their memories or what they are seeing. Her father is a scientist who is studying her and who is trying to make psychic abilities become part of science. Elisabeth has a sister who lost her power. Her governess Bronwyn is scottish and also believes in magic.
So Elisabeth's father decided to work with another scientist and the family must move to America. They board a boat but during the voyage the boat sinks, with only Elisabeth surviving as far as the reader knows. She washes ashore on an South Virginian Island plantation and then later on is sent to Salem, Massachusetts, when the witch trails start. However no one knows that she is the one who brought, unknowingly, evil to Salem that starts the trials.
I liked the setting and atmosphere of the book. Her description of seas sickness made me feel like I was getting it. I loved how the culture of the african slaves was integrated into the story. There were many strong and powerful women in this story which I really liked. It wasn't only the main character. The women who she befriends are all powerful with special abilities of their own. I loved how all the different cultures, religions and beliefs were integrated into the story in the end. There was Christianity, African tribal magic, Scottish Magic and Native American shamans. It was awesome and I loved it.
I also really did like Elisabeth. She was a very forward thinking woman of her time. She wanted to live independently and make her own money as an adult. She is very responsible especially in knowing that she was the one who brought evil to Salem. She helped people, was kind and was determined to do everything and anything in her power to get rid of the evil, even at the sacrifice of herself. She detested slavery and the slave traders. Her love story and romance was very cute and it was one the back burner for the book. It was there but not the forefront.
The actual trials and thing relating to them were glossed over which was a shame because that could of made for a more interesting story. I think that was done because the trials were not the focus of the book. Getting rid of the evil was. Even so I still enjoyed the book a lot.
This review is also posted on The Book Owl Extraordinaire
Elisabeth James and her family have supernatural powers. Obviously living in the 1680's her family has to keep this secret or they will be called a witch and be punished. Elisabeth's power is to read people's minds and sometimes see their memories or what they are seeing. Her father is a scientist who is studying her and who is trying to make psychic abilities become part of science. Elisabeth has a sister who lost her power. Her governess Bronwyn is scottish and also believes in magic.
So Elisabeth's father decided to work with another scientist and the family must move to America. They board a boat but during the voyage the boat sinks, with only Elisabeth surviving as far as the reader knows. She washes ashore on an South Virginian Island plantation and then later on is sent to Salem, Massachusetts, when the witch trails start. However no one knows that she is the one who brought, unknowingly, evil to Salem that starts the trials.
I liked the setting and atmosphere of the book. Her description of seas sickness made me feel like I was getting it. I loved how the culture of the african slaves was integrated into the story. There were many strong and powerful women in this story which I really liked. It wasn't only the main character. The women who she befriends are all powerful with special abilities of their own. I loved how all the different cultures, religions and beliefs were integrated into the story in the end. There was Christianity, African tribal magic, Scottish Magic and Native American shamans. It was awesome and I loved it.
I also really did like Elisabeth. She was a very forward thinking woman of her time. She wanted to live independently and make her own money as an adult. She is very responsible especially in knowing that she was the one who brought evil to Salem. She helped people, was kind and was determined to do everything and anything in her power to get rid of the evil, even at the sacrifice of herself. She detested slavery and the slave traders. Her love story and romance was very cute and it was one the back burner for the book. It was there but not the forefront.
The actual trials and thing relating to them were glossed over which was a shame because that could of made for a more interesting story. I think that was done because the trials were not the focus of the book. Getting rid of the evil was. Even so I still enjoyed the book a lot.
This review is also posted on The Book Owl Extraordinaire
February 12, 2013
well... Certainly not the best thing I've ever read. The premise is interesting, but there are a lot of anachronisms - I doubt they were using terms like "astral plane" in old Salem Village. Also, her throwing every know religion including the kitchen sink got to be too much. The ending is completely out of the blue and not believable. But the whole thing is not too believable. This is one to pass by; read something else more worthwhile.
February 14, 2013
Got this book from a book fair and added it to the school library collection.
It's a bad sign when you can read the first chapter, skim the rest, read the last few lines, and understand the entire book.
It's an even worse sign when the writer gives her heroine psychic powers....and the book is still boring.
It's the worst sign of all when the writer doesn't seem to know what she wants to write--a tale of a heroine choosing good over evil, an alternate history book, or a sensitive and tragic tale of the Salem Witch Trials. (This book was none of those, by the way.)
Here is the story, condensed for your convenience: Elsabeth is a girl with a historically accurate name. She speaks in modern colloquialisms, with the occasional "I shall" thrown in for extra accuracy. She has psychic powers. She goes to America, is shipwrecked, and lands in South Carolina. She meets a few stock characters who are also witches. They are all very nice people.
Soon, though, the author realizes she hasn't bashed the Puritans yet, so she has Elsabeth and the other witches taken up to Salem to be servants, because Salem has an ample supply of Puritans to bash. The author then proceeds to merrily bash the Puritans.
Then, because the cover says "A novel of the Salem Witch Trials" on it, the author has the Salem Witch Trials happen. Elsabeth is put on trial. She reads the minds of the judges, only the author doesn't say she read their minds. She has Elsabeth say she "aimed my mind reading powers in their direction." Whether this was to fulfill her Awkward Wording Count or her Bizarre Innuendo Count remains unclear. Elsabeth and the other witches are allowed to live because they confessed, but they are banished for reasons that are veiled to everyone but the author. So they ride off in the back of a wagon into the sunset. Elsabeth concludes, in true serial-killer fashion, that "the world is too small for us." She urges her witchy companions to join her in creating a new one.
The author, realizing they are moving away from the Puritans, sadly ends the book because she won't be able to bash them anymore. She sends it off to Scholastic, who read "Salem Witch Trials" and "Novel" and say "BRILLIANT! This will be so educational for little children!" Scholastic then has one of their artists paint a picture of a girl standing in a circle of flame, which sounds like a cool cover. However, their artist has a migraine and doesn't want to be at work, so he makes the girl look like she is farting. Because Scholastic has a deadline to meet, they slap the picture on the cover and add "Salem Witch Trials" to fool teachers into thinking this book is highly educational. The book is then shipped to book fairs nationwide. Scholastic is puzzled when it barely breaks 3 stars.
It's a bad sign when you can read the first chapter, skim the rest, read the last few lines, and understand the entire book.
It's an even worse sign when the writer gives her heroine psychic powers....and the book is still boring.
It's the worst sign of all when the writer doesn't seem to know what she wants to write--a tale of a heroine choosing good over evil, an alternate history book, or a sensitive and tragic tale of the Salem Witch Trials. (This book was none of those, by the way.)
Here is the story, condensed for your convenience: Elsabeth is a girl with a historically accurate name. She speaks in modern colloquialisms, with the occasional "I shall" thrown in for extra accuracy. She has psychic powers. She goes to America, is shipwrecked, and lands in South Carolina. She meets a few stock characters who are also witches. They are all very nice people.
Soon, though, the author realizes she hasn't bashed the Puritans yet, so she has Elsabeth and the other witches taken up to Salem to be servants, because Salem has an ample supply of Puritans to bash. The author then proceeds to merrily bash the Puritans.
Then, because the cover says "A novel of the Salem Witch Trials" on it, the author has the Salem Witch Trials happen. Elsabeth is put on trial. She reads the minds of the judges, only the author doesn't say she read their minds. She has Elsabeth say she "aimed my mind reading powers in their direction." Whether this was to fulfill her Awkward Wording Count or her Bizarre Innuendo Count remains unclear. Elsabeth and the other witches are allowed to live because they confessed, but they are banished for reasons that are veiled to everyone but the author. So they ride off in the back of a wagon into the sunset. Elsabeth concludes, in true serial-killer fashion, that "the world is too small for us." She urges her witchy companions to join her in creating a new one.
The author, realizing they are moving away from the Puritans, sadly ends the book because she won't be able to bash them anymore. She sends it off to Scholastic, who read "Salem Witch Trials" and "Novel" and say "BRILLIANT! This will be so educational for little children!" Scholastic then has one of their artists paint a picture of a girl standing in a circle of flame, which sounds like a cool cover. However, their artist has a migraine and doesn't want to be at work, so he makes the girl look like she is farting. Because Scholastic has a deadline to meet, they slap the picture on the cover and add "Salem Witch Trials" to fool teachers into thinking this book is highly educational. The book is then shipped to book fairs nationwide. Scholastic is puzzled when it barely breaks 3 stars.
June 3, 2013
Suzanne Weyn weaves together magic in history in this tale that travels back in time to the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Magic and supernatural powers can be good or evil, and soon everyone in Salem must decide which side they will stand on. I love that magic is real in Invisible World (Scholastic 2012), but that magic doesn't excuse people from their choices. Yes, there may be an evil spirit running loose in Salem, stirring up trouble, but some people are all too willing to invite it in and let it take charge.
I love the fiery independence of Elsabeth James. She comes from a long line of midwives, mind readers, and fortune tellers. Even though she is aware of the risks (her grandmother was executed for foretelling the the death of Mary Queen of Scots), she longs to use he powers to make an independent life for herself. However, her plans take an unexpected (and unseen) twist when the ship her family's on to travel to America sinks in the Atlantic Ocean. Eslabeth survives the shipwreck to wash up on the shores of a rice plantation. Aakif, one of the plantation slaves, rescues her and takes her to learn from Aunty Honey, who is another powerful healer.
Once the white owners return at the end of the hot season, Elsabeth loses the freedom she cherishes. She is sent to Salem to be the servant of Reverend Parrish. On the journey she meets Mary Carmen and reunites with an unconscious Bronwyn. Attempting to help Bronwyn's spirit reunite with her body, Elsabeth inadvertently brings down an evil spirit that follows them into Salem. It will take all of her will and knowledge and help from others to drive the evil from Salem.
I love the fiery independence of Elsabeth James. She comes from a long line of midwives, mind readers, and fortune tellers. Even though she is aware of the risks (her grandmother was executed for foretelling the the death of Mary Queen of Scots), she longs to use he powers to make an independent life for herself. However, her plans take an unexpected (and unseen) twist when the ship her family's on to travel to America sinks in the Atlantic Ocean. Eslabeth survives the shipwreck to wash up on the shores of a rice plantation. Aakif, one of the plantation slaves, rescues her and takes her to learn from Aunty Honey, who is another powerful healer.
Once the white owners return at the end of the hot season, Elsabeth loses the freedom she cherishes. She is sent to Salem to be the servant of Reverend Parrish. On the journey she meets Mary Carmen and reunites with an unconscious Bronwyn. Attempting to help Bronwyn's spirit reunite with her body, Elsabeth inadvertently brings down an evil spirit that follows them into Salem. It will take all of her will and knowledge and help from others to drive the evil from Salem.
October 17, 2012
Elsabeth James, traveling with her father, governess Bronwyn, and sister Kate to America aboard the Golden Explorer encounters a deadly storm as the boat capsizes. Her father, Kate, and Bronwyn are lost to her, but she makes it safely to the shores of America in a barrel. She meets Aakif, an African slave who is kind and good. He oversees the plantation during the unbearable heat of the summer while his master is away. The two fall in love, as her supernatural powers of healing, reading minds, and astral moving are honed by Aunt Honey, Aafik's relative.
When the white men return, Betty-Fatu as Elsabeth is now known, is ripped away to become an indentured servant to the Reverend Parris. But, Aafik assures her they will find their way to one another. Not fully aware of the strength of her powers, Betty-Fatu unwittingly and accidentally allows an evil spirit to enter the village.
Eventually, she is accused of witchcraft as this is the historical time period of the Salem Witch Trials. Historical figures such as Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Mercy Lewis figure into Betty-Fatu's story. The Invisible World takes us back in time to a frightening world made up of hysteria and fear...the historical backdrop is brought to life in the pages of this book.
When the white men return, Betty-Fatu as Elsabeth is now known, is ripped away to become an indentured servant to the Reverend Parris. But, Aafik assures her they will find their way to one another. Not fully aware of the strength of her powers, Betty-Fatu unwittingly and accidentally allows an evil spirit to enter the village.
Eventually, she is accused of witchcraft as this is the historical time period of the Salem Witch Trials. Historical figures such as Ann Putnam, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Mercy Lewis figure into Betty-Fatu's story. The Invisible World takes us back in time to a frightening world made up of hysteria and fear...the historical backdrop is brought to life in the pages of this book.
September 18, 2014
This young adult novel explores what happened at the Salem Witch trials in a fictional way. We follow Elsabeth as she crosses to North America from England. She was born with a special gift of being able to hear thoughts and receive dream visions. After a shipwreck kills her family she finds herself in a barrel bobbing around the ocean until landing in the southern United States in the early part of the slave trade. She is briefly taken in by a plantation while the plantation owners are away from the heat of the summer. She finds her mentor and love but is quickly cast out upon return of the plantation owners. She receives passage to Salem to be a servant in another house but enroute discovers that her governess who has the ability to float on the astral plain has been separated from her body for a while. Elsabeth trys to help her but sets into motion a demon spirit that begins to possess a few young girls from the village who accuse many of the women from the village as being witches. Only with the help of a talisman book and another gifted healer is Elsabeth able to stop the destruction.
April 25, 2014
I like this book and the setting happens in the olden times. I would recommend this book to people who like to read historical fiction.
March 26, 2022
Elsabeth James is a psychic teenage girl in the mid 1600s. The book begins with Elsabeth and her family, her father, her nanny Bronwyn, and her sister Kate, living in England. Elsabeth's father studies her and her sister Kate's abilities, but Kate lost her powers around thirteen years old while Elsabeths grew stronger. Elsabeth is able to hear people's thoughts and see the images they are imagining in their mind. This is what made Elsabeth fit so well for the scientist, Van Leewenhoek, to experiment on his animalcules so he could see if they were alive or not. So the family boarded a boat and headed to America. On the voyage the ship catches on fire and sinks. Elsabeth is separated from her family and washes up on what she learns to be America. She is taken in by a slave named Aakif. As Elsabeth slowly grew more fond of Aakif they fell in love. She stays in the slave village while she waits for the slave owners to return to their summer homes. Once the owners got back they sent Elsabeth to be an indentured servant. Elsabeth is put into a witch trial after an evil spirit, that was attached to her during the shipwreck, was released into the village. In the end Elsabeth and with the help of her nanny, Bronwyn, defeated the evil spirit and Elsabeth, Aakif, Bronwyn all end up living with one another.
The book, Invisible World, by Suzanne Weyn, was a well written book. Although the story was short I believe it brought to life some topics that are not talked about, such as bi-racial couples in the earlier times. The relationship between Aakif and Elsabeth. They were found on the beach holding hands with one another, “As he spoke, he dropped from his saddle and, with his club flailing, he attacked Aakif”(Weyn 108). Aakif was beaten on the beach while Elsabeth was held to watch. This was not the only time in the book it is shown how slaves were treated. We also get a glimpse of this when Elsabeth first met Aunty Honey and she saw what Aunty Honey went through, “These were horrible pictures I did not want to see… Black African slaves were chained together in the lowest chambers of the ship that there was hardly enough air for all of them”(Weyn 84). This is what a representation of what the slaves had to go through and I believe the book just really put slave life into a perspective of how bad it really was. I do believe that the author could have made a longer, more in depth plot but besides that I believe the author did really well with the book.
The book, Invisible World, by Suzanne Weyn, was a well written book. Although the story was short I believe it brought to life some topics that are not talked about, such as bi-racial couples in the earlier times. The relationship between Aakif and Elsabeth. They were found on the beach holding hands with one another, “As he spoke, he dropped from his saddle and, with his club flailing, he attacked Aakif”(Weyn 108). Aakif was beaten on the beach while Elsabeth was held to watch. This was not the only time in the book it is shown how slaves were treated. We also get a glimpse of this when Elsabeth first met Aunty Honey and she saw what Aunty Honey went through, “These were horrible pictures I did not want to see… Black African slaves were chained together in the lowest chambers of the ship that there was hardly enough air for all of them”(Weyn 84). This is what a representation of what the slaves had to go through and I believe the book just really put slave life into a perspective of how bad it really was. I do believe that the author could have made a longer, more in depth plot but besides that I believe the author did really well with the book.
June 29, 2022
I'm giving this book a rating of 3. For the fact that I like the theme of this book on how it depicts the image of the spiritual realm, I also like that it depicts the imagery of the history (specifically, the enslavement and the witches trial in salem) it gives me an idea how strict and superstitious people are back in the day.
However, the storyline is a bit too quick for me, for example. The girl protagonist fell in love with a teenage boy her age within just (in my calculations) 1 or 2 weeks of being cast in the island. Remember that the "bosses" are gone for only 2 months and she was cast away in the island not so long ago. So for me the romance between Elsabeth and Aaikif is just too quick that I had to reread it and question myself "How the F did that happen?" along with that is their separation, it's like just a summer fling or something that happens too quick. So I really don't like that part. Don't get me wrong, I like to ship them together but I would prefer if they get to know each other more.
Another thing that annoys me is that her "training" was not really depicted in the book. It's just her adventure, like "how the F did she learn to astral project when clearly in the first place she doesn't even know? besides Bronwyn doesn't even mentioned how to do it, except on the last part of the book", it's like the book doesn't have "enough filling" or character development so to speak, the book is like a swirling sense of events that you can't even follow properly, there are some characters in the book that are mentioned in which I didn't even come across in the book like I question myself "how the h*ck did she met this person?" like it's not clear at all, which gives me a headache once in a while, the character is a bit plain and predictable. Along with that it seems that Elsabeth doesn't clearly care or think about her father and sister, all she thinks about is her governess and most of all is her lover, she doesn't even think of anyway to locate her missing family. Quickly, as in super quickly accepting the death of your ONLY family is a WTF for me.
This book may have great potential for it's theme and story, but in my opinion it still needs improvements. I know this is supposed to be a quick read, but not "that" quick, we still need further details on how things happen, because for me, this book leaves me clueless on most of the part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2020
This has elements of an exciting story, but it feels a bit like a report of that exciting story. The dialogue is stilted, but maybe it's an attempt to model speech of the past. This is set about the time of the Salem witch trials. Elizabeth comes from a long line of women with supernatural gifts. She can read what people are thinking. Sometimes a person will talk back to her! The famous Dutch scientist, Van Leeuwenhoek, wants to see if Elizabeth can help his research on the "animalcules" he has discovered under his microscope. She travels by ship to join him in Salem, but ends up on a slave island, where she meets a couple important characters: one a romantic interest and another a medicine woman with powers who nurses Elizabeth back to help. She ends up in Salem finally, just in time for the Salem witch trials. Of course she becomes embroiled in that. As far as developing her powers, or participating in the research, the story lines fall short. In the end, the story settles on the witch trials. Themes relate to witchcraft, clairvoyance, inter-racial romances in slave days. That last one is hard to buy into as it goes in this story.
September 20, 2017
Elsabeth James is a girl with psychic powers who lives in a small town in England. Her father has been experimenting on her sister and herself to see where and how these powers came to be. A scientist was interested in her fathers work and decided to take them to America. On the way there their boat crashed and sank. Elsabeth went on a new adventure and even got a new nickname and romance!
I think Aunty honey changed the most because.... she was mean when the readers were introduced to her. She couldn't stand Elsabeth and was tempted to go as far as kill her! But she became warm hearted and a teacher to Elsabeth. The two shared an incredible bond. Its so amazing how someone can change so quickly.
In my opinion, this book was pretty great! It was very adventurous and had romance. It also made me really feel for the character as if we shared the same heart and emotions this book really grabbed my attention. Although the ending was a little violent I would say this book was pretty great!
I think Aunty honey changed the most because.... she was mean when the readers were introduced to her. She couldn't stand Elsabeth and was tempted to go as far as kill her! But she became warm hearted and a teacher to Elsabeth. The two shared an incredible bond. Its so amazing how someone can change so quickly.
In my opinion, this book was pretty great! It was very adventurous and had romance. It also made me really feel for the character as if we shared the same heart and emotions this book really grabbed my attention. Although the ending was a little violent I would say this book was pretty great!
June 10, 2023
Honestly, its a quick entertaining read but everything is so ultra convenient for the main character. Like the world revolves around her and everything just happens for her. It makes it feel less realistic. You could argue its because destiny or whatnot but I think it could have been done a little better in that aspect.
I must also say that I disliked how the word "witch" was demonized throughout the book. Even though at first the main character resolves to become one and be good everyone around her keeps saying its a bad thing until eventually she too kind of agrees. The word witch is a powerful thing and this book made it no favor, a shame considering it had a great premise to do so. It just felt like a lot of different systems and beliefs were put together in the same story.
But at least it has that cool scene where a catholic saint joins in the fight lol. At least it was entertaining. I would read a sequel.
I must also say that I disliked how the word "witch" was demonized throughout the book. Even though at first the main character resolves to become one and be good everyone around her keeps saying its a bad thing until eventually she too kind of agrees. The word witch is a powerful thing and this book made it no favor, a shame considering it had a great premise to do so. It just felt like a lot of different systems and beliefs were put together in the same story.
But at least it has that cool scene where a catholic saint joins in the fight lol. At least it was entertaining. I would read a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2018
I don’t appreciate this author’s take on the Salem Witch Trials. I understand that this is fiction and is marketed as such, but I feel like it’s in poor taste to write a story in which the girls saw witches. So many people died or had their lives ruined by some teenagers’ dramatic and petty accusations. I’ve been to Salem, seen the tiny jail cells where they kept women who didn’t do anything wrong, women who were known to be kind and innocent. It was a dark time in history, and I don’t appreciate the way that this book takes that on. On top of that, I thought the writing style was not great, and nothing in the book was well developed, particularly not the characters. This one just fell flat for me.
September 1, 2018
I wish it didn’t say “A Novel Of The Salem Witch Trials” on the cover as there was only a small potion of that in the book. Actually the cover art doesn’t work for me either. However, I liked the characters and the story. I am always interested in a book that discusses psychic type powers in a positive light and in a way that includes multiple faiths along with Christianity. I found this book a great mix of all of that. I may have a different perspective on parts but overall... I found it interesting. Fine for any middle age reader as long as they are aloud to read realistic fiction with powers, multiple faith aspects, and discussions of things like astral projection. I wish there were more books like this for young and middle age readers. I will have to read her other novels.
December 6, 2024
Three stars is generous, more like 2 1/2. This book suffered from poor writing and really poor editing. There were time period anachronisms by the gallon. The worst and most jarring for me was that Elsabeth/Betty-Fatu do not think or act as a young woman raised in that time period would have, even considering the liberalism of her upbringing. The story pacing was terrible, there were gaps of continuity and just sudden changes that defied logic. It had potential, but it read like a story that was edited with a machete. Like it was cut too much and too crudely.
The saddest part is that I could see a great storyline that was just mangled.
Can’t recommend
The saddest part is that I could see a great storyline that was just mangled.
Can’t recommend
September 20, 2017
This is the most Mary Sue book I've ever read about the Salem Witch Trials. Rich white girl who is psychic survives a shipwreck, washes up on a plantation where she falls in love with a slave. Then she is taught traditional African magic by another slave. Then she happens to be sent to Salem where she is taken in as a servant into of all households The Parris family! She is right at the center of the witch hysteria, it turns out, the whole thing is indirectly her fault!
The end of the book was also eye rolling.
The end of the book was also eye rolling.
May 4, 2020
The story was not historically accurate, but a dark time in history recurved a happy ending through the means of this book. All the women who were accused, who did swing from the tree, or who were drowned may not have received salvation from a famous scientist or from any other notable person, but the author gave a new perspective to a familiar story that allowed Hope to call the shots. The heroine and her companions triumphed in the end. It is plain to see that terror and finger pointing leads only to more pain whether that be in the visible or invisible world.
May 13, 2017
I actually enjoyed this & solely read it based on the cover. I wasn't expecting it to go into depth on the Salem Witch Trials so I wasn't disappointed. I feel there could have been more to the story, more build up on the characters, & relationships, but all in all it wasn't horrible! It was good for a QUICK read! Took about 2.5 hours spaced out over a few days.
September 5, 2017
Amaaaaaazing book, loved it so much, srsly this book is wonderfull and a must read. I fellin love with thisbook❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍
I'm very surprised by all the hate it got.
Ok there was a big jump in time, but the book was still amazing, and actually that's a very good idea bcz it's left for the reader to imagine.
I'm very surprised by all the hate it got.
Ok there was a big jump in time, but the book was still amazing, and actually that's a very good idea bcz it's left for the reader to imagine.
August 8, 2021
I love reading books about witches and supernatural creatures, and I've read a few and particular about the Salem witch trials. This book falls short quite a bit, the flow wasn't good, the writing mediocre, and storyline was lacking significantly. I do not recommend this book, if you'd like a fantasy book during the Salem witch trials I would instead recommend you read Witch Child by Celia Rees.
June 2, 2017
This is an amazing book! I recommend it to everyone!!!!!!!😁😁😁😁 This book is about a girl that gets shipwrecked in America where she meets a slave. She gets pulled away from him and gets knocked out. You must read the book to find out what happens!😇😂
April 30, 2023
There were a number of anachronisms. Some with geography, bur largely with science. Aspects of microbiology, genetics and psychology that would not have been understood in the 17th century. The emphasis on mysticism gets convoluted and pulls in multiple directions.
May 29, 2018
This was a WONDERFUL book. i could not say it was my favorite, but it defiantly is a great book to read if you like reading books based not to long after Columbus bumped into the Americas.
September 30, 2018
Interesting take on the Salem Witchcraft Trials. They feature only in the last part of the story.
January 29, 2020
Rarely do I give a one star review....just couldn't get into this book:(
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