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The Tattooed Witch Trilogy #1
The Tattooed Witch
When Miriam Medina and her father are accused by the Inquisition of murdering a high priest, Miriam knows justice is impossible. Their accuser, the Grand Inquisitor, is in fact, the real murderer. Miriam's only hope is to resort to her long dead mother's magical legacy: the resurrection of the dead through a magical tattoo.
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 15, 2021
3.75 stars
Miriam’s father is a doctor. They are in a room with important priests (as a 17-year old woman, she shouldn’t be there) and the young handsome priest is dying. Miriam’s father is trying to help when the Grand Inquisitor comes in, insists the young priest needs his last rites and forces him to drink wine – wine with extra powder in it. The young priest convulses and dies. As Miriam and her father try to leave, the Grand Inquisitor accuses them of murder and locks them up. Miriam has to find a way out and she won’t leave her father behind.
That is pretty much the first chapter. I don’t want to go into too much more, as I don’t want to give anything away, but part-way through we meet another character, Joachin, who lost both parents when he was 9- and 11-years old. Joachin is looking for a priest with a scar – a scar Joachin gave him when that priest murdered Joachin’s mother. Joachin plans to kill the priest with the scar.
When Joachin was introduced, initially I wasn’t as interested in his storyline (nor the storyline of another group of people introduced a bit later), until things (and characters) started to come together. The book really picked up in the last ¼ of the book, and though I didn’t increase my rating up to 4 stars (that’s what I’d rate the last bit of the book), I pulled up my rating just that extra bit above 3.5 stars (good). This is a trilogy, so not everything was tied up at the end, as it will continue, and I will continue with the next book, as well.
Miriam’s father is a doctor. They are in a room with important priests (as a 17-year old woman, she shouldn’t be there) and the young handsome priest is dying. Miriam’s father is trying to help when the Grand Inquisitor comes in, insists the young priest needs his last rites and forces him to drink wine – wine with extra powder in it. The young priest convulses and dies. As Miriam and her father try to leave, the Grand Inquisitor accuses them of murder and locks them up. Miriam has to find a way out and she won’t leave her father behind.
That is pretty much the first chapter. I don’t want to go into too much more, as I don’t want to give anything away, but part-way through we meet another character, Joachin, who lost both parents when he was 9- and 11-years old. Joachin is looking for a priest with a scar – a scar Joachin gave him when that priest murdered Joachin’s mother. Joachin plans to kill the priest with the scar.
When Joachin was introduced, initially I wasn’t as interested in his storyline (nor the storyline of another group of people introduced a bit later), until things (and characters) started to come together. The book really picked up in the last ¼ of the book, and though I didn’t increase my rating up to 4 stars (that’s what I’d rate the last bit of the book), I pulled up my rating just that extra bit above 3.5 stars (good). This is a trilogy, so not everything was tied up at the end, as it will continue, and I will continue with the next book, as well.
August 14, 2013
I picked up the Tattooed Witch because it's a product of my own publisher, Five Rivers Press, and I wanted to give a read over one of my fellow writer's works. Honestly, going into this book, I was a little wary; it came across as a "woman's book" and, well, I'm a guy. Two or three pages in, I realized I was wrong, wrong, wrongity-wrong. This is a fantastic book for anyone to read (okay, perhaps not for some younger readers, as in some places, the book--if not actually explicit--is pretty clearly treading into mature places involving violence and/or sex). The author has drawn some extremely compelling characters, and placed them in a well-constructed, consistent and richly-textured world that resembles our own Medieval Spain). Miriam, the main character, is both strong and vulnerable; she is far more than the dreary old female tropes that plague most speculative fiction i.e. "the guy with boobs" or "the shrinking flower/damsel in distress". If I have any criticism, it's that the villain, the Grand Inquisitor, is a little on the moustache-twirling side and could a redeeming feature or two...but that's pretty minor in the overall scheme of things in the book, and he IS pretty detestable, making him a guy we love to hate.
I have no hesitation recommending this book, and can't wait for the sequels/next books in the series!
I have no hesitation recommending this book, and can't wait for the sequels/next books in the series!
February 1, 2017
Readers wary or unfamiliar with the genre will enjoy this book. It is extremely well and tightly written and moves quickly along. It's nicely organized and divided so that there are frequent logical points to stop reading… only you won't want to stop reading. The characters, even minor characters, are well developed. The lush landscape is easily pictured. This book would make a great movie. While the book can stand alone in the sense that events are sufficiently wrapped up by its ending, you won't want to wait to see what happens in book two, The Tattooed Seer. MacGregor is currently working on the final instalment in the trilogy, The Tattooed Queen. I'm looking forward to reading both.
August 16, 2018
Miriam Medina stands for hours in a hot, crowded bedroom where the high priest of Sul lies dying in his bed. Though Miriam has valuable talents, women are not welcome in the presence of the high priest, so she stays in the corner waiting for her father to beckon her to help him figure out what's killing Alonso de Santangél. He does. They do. And then Alonso is murdered in front of them by the Grand Inquisitor, who accuses them of the crime and locks them in his torture chambers. If they want to survive, Miriam must channel the magical powers of her long dead mother and resurrect Alonso with a magical tattoo. Her courage and perseverance shine through this delightful historical fantasy that grabbed me on the first page and didn't let go until I turned the last one. If you like fantasy or historical fiction, go pick up The Tattooed Witch. You won't be disappointed.
Sensitive readers should be aware that this book includes, in addition to the murder described above, a fair bit of descriptive violence and cutting, and sexual assault.
Sensitive readers should be aware that this book includes, in addition to the murder described above, a fair bit of descriptive violence and cutting, and sexual assault.
November 18, 2019
Terrific enjoyable read! Susan has a knack for lush evocative description and has created an array of interesting characters that all feel very real, in a world that's wonderful to explore. When the characters inevitably make mistakes, it never feels contrived or out of character since we've already seen the complexity - all the strengths and weaknesses - of these people leading up to it. I'll definitely be reading the sequel!
May 22, 2018
The Tattooed With is a very unique story. Having picked it up at a local writing convention, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this.
The main character, Mariam, is obviously powerful. This is made clear throughout the book, but quite often she was crying out for help. In the situations she was in, of course, it wasn't like she could do it all herself, but coming from a background of urban fantasy where the heroines generally manage to make do on their own, it was a little frustrating.
I loved Joachin from the moment he appeared on the page. I'm not sure what about him drew me, but I was instantly on his side. I wanted him to be with Mariam, and I couldn't wait for it to happen. Every page brought me closer to what I thought was going to be the ultimate purpose of the book. I'm not going to tell you what might or might not have happened, but I will say that I am definitely going to read the next book in the trilogy.
On occasion I felt Susan MacGregor got a little flowery with her words. Purple prose is something a lot of writers have a tendency to do, and most of us find it hard to cut those words, because they can be quite powerful. I just found they didn't quite fit with the tone of the book, and it pulled me out of the story.
For the record, I did like Alonso, but not nearly as much as I liked Joachin. It was an interesting dynamic to have, that's for sure, and I'm interested to see how MacGregor keeps that same feel of the book in the sequel.
If you haven't read the book yet, The Tattooed Witch is a fantastic read. Definitely something to pick up and add to that ever growing pile of to be read books.
The main character, Mariam, is obviously powerful. This is made clear throughout the book, but quite often she was crying out for help. In the situations she was in, of course, it wasn't like she could do it all herself, but coming from a background of urban fantasy where the heroines generally manage to make do on their own, it was a little frustrating.
I loved Joachin from the moment he appeared on the page. I'm not sure what about him drew me, but I was instantly on his side. I wanted him to be with Mariam, and I couldn't wait for it to happen. Every page brought me closer to what I thought was going to be the ultimate purpose of the book. I'm not going to tell you what might or might not have happened, but I will say that I am definitely going to read the next book in the trilogy.
On occasion I felt Susan MacGregor got a little flowery with her words. Purple prose is something a lot of writers have a tendency to do, and most of us find it hard to cut those words, because they can be quite powerful. I just found they didn't quite fit with the tone of the book, and it pulled me out of the story.
For the record, I did like Alonso, but not nearly as much as I liked Joachin. It was an interesting dynamic to have, that's for sure, and I'm interested to see how MacGregor keeps that same feel of the book in the sequel.
If you haven't read the book yet, The Tattooed Witch is a fantastic read. Definitely something to pick up and add to that ever growing pile of to be read books.
May 23, 2014
I love history and whenever I find a book that has some tie to a period of history, I am very happy. Even when the historical influence is just that, merely an influence.
When I began reading The Tattooed Witch, I knew right away that the influence for the book came from the Spanish Inquisition period. For those of you who don't know, the Spanish Inquisition was not one of mankind or the Christian Church's most stellar moments. In other words, perfect fodder for a Fantasy novel.
The story is not a retelling of the Spanish Inquisition. Instead, it draws heavily from that time period for colour. The story is one of a young girl who has the gift of healing. She is dragged kicking and screaming in the politics and plotting of the church's Chief Inquisitor.
I won't go deeply into the plot because that would only spoil it for you. What I will say is it is an interesting plot that kept me riveted.
The characters are well-fleshed out, including the antagonist. He is a bad guy, corrupted by power (absolute power corrupts absolutely applies to him). The others, even those with limited appearance in the story, are brought alive which I really like. It makes anything that happens to them more poignant.
The magic system in the story works for me. It is different than anything I have seen in the past, which is an enjoyable thing for me as well.
Overall, the story, setting and characters make for a rich, fulfilling read. I look forward to the next book.
When I began reading The Tattooed Witch, I knew right away that the influence for the book came from the Spanish Inquisition period. For those of you who don't know, the Spanish Inquisition was not one of mankind or the Christian Church's most stellar moments. In other words, perfect fodder for a Fantasy novel.
The story is not a retelling of the Spanish Inquisition. Instead, it draws heavily from that time period for colour. The story is one of a young girl who has the gift of healing. She is dragged kicking and screaming in the politics and plotting of the church's Chief Inquisitor.
I won't go deeply into the plot because that would only spoil it for you. What I will say is it is an interesting plot that kept me riveted.
The characters are well-fleshed out, including the antagonist. He is a bad guy, corrupted by power (absolute power corrupts absolutely applies to him). The others, even those with limited appearance in the story, are brought alive which I really like. It makes anything that happens to them more poignant.
The magic system in the story works for me. It is different than anything I have seen in the past, which is an enjoyable thing for me as well.
Overall, the story, setting and characters make for a rich, fulfilling read. I look forward to the next book.
October 3, 2014
What a great read! A very unique idea, I don't think there is anything out there like this. I really enjoyed the story, and the writing was lovely. I am definitely recommending this book!
This author took risks with the story and I think they paid off! Some tense subject matter was written with a beautiful grace. I was very impressed with Miriam and how she came across, I tend to be picky with female leads and Miriam did not disappoint. She was strong when she should have been, she asked for help when she needed and she had all the delightful flaws of a seventeen year old girl that grew up in the world she did. But the highlight of the book for me was Alsono. I love him. He was the right mix of sincere and vulnerable. I really enjoyed watching his character growth even after his sad demise in chapter one. But I would have liked more from him. There were times that I expected him to chime in and he didn't. I was hoping he could have played a bigger role once she got with the Tribe and towards the mid to 3/4 point of the book. Joachín is a wonderful character to read and has a very compelling arc. Although I am not entirely on board with the him and Miriam romance story line yet, although it is a good tension builder. I think he is a great patriarch and she a great matriarch for the Tribe but I don't think they need a romance. Maybe the author will convince me by book two!
Such a nice, refreshing story. I laughed, I cried, I yelled. You must read this!
This author took risks with the story and I think they paid off! Some tense subject matter was written with a beautiful grace. I was very impressed with Miriam and how she came across, I tend to be picky with female leads and Miriam did not disappoint. She was strong when she should have been, she asked for help when she needed and she had all the delightful flaws of a seventeen year old girl that grew up in the world she did. But the highlight of the book for me was Alsono. I love him. He was the right mix of sincere and vulnerable. I really enjoyed watching his character growth even after his sad demise in chapter one. But I would have liked more from him. There were times that I expected him to chime in and he didn't. I was hoping he could have played a bigger role once she got with the Tribe and towards the mid to 3/4 point of the book. Joachín is a wonderful character to read and has a very compelling arc. Although I am not entirely on board with the him and Miriam romance story line yet, although it is a good tension builder. I think he is a great patriarch and she a great matriarch for the Tribe but I don't think they need a romance. Maybe the author will convince me by book two!
Such a nice, refreshing story. I laughed, I cried, I yelled. You must read this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2014
This debut fantasy novel by accomplished Canadian editor Susan MacGregor delivers heart-rending poignancy during the historical period of the Spanish Inquisition when women lived without basic civil rights and were treated as chattel. The author has a gift for engaging empathy from the reader with a simple narrative style, as the story begins with a young seer falsely accused of murder and destined for torture and death at the hands of corrupt papist minions. After a powerful opening replete with dramatic action, the novel settles into a sustainable pace and begins to conjure a thematic ballet of primitive European spirituality and unrequited love, a dance of life revolving around a gypsy tribe known as the Diaphani who have magical powers of divination in their bloodline, worship the goddess Lys and believe in an afterlife of ghosts and demons. Hounded by the orthodox Church, they make an annual pilgrimage by caravan to a secret sanctuary in the hills for ceremonies of prophetic appointment and cultural restoration. The Tattooed Witch explores and satisfies the innate human longing for arcane knowledge and forbidden revelation with strong elements of romance, revenge and reconciliation.
May 17, 2016
I think I might have enjoyed this book if rape weren't mentioned as much: that seems to be the only thing the villain wants to do to the main female protagonist. This was a good story and I enjoyed the elements of magic, but that one thing keeps me reviewing it higher. It's an over-used trope, and for some, let this serve as a trigger warning. The story itself is strong and paints an interesting fictional world that almost feels like history (save for the magic), especially in how some are persecuted for their beliefs (or lack thereof).
May 3, 2014
Strong opening hook: Miriam Medina and her father are accused of poisoning the High Solar. To save her father Miriam uses a dangerous resurrection spell. The fantasy world was an interesting mix of Spain during the time of the Inquisition and Romany culture. Plus, cool tattoo-based magic, flamenco dance, and a strong romantic subplot. I will definitely be watching for the sequel.
Quibble: The villain kind of disappeared in the middle.
Quibble: The villain kind of disappeared in the middle.
January 13, 2018
Very readable, enjoyed it a lot!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews