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Hexenhaus
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In 1628, Veronica and her brother flee for their lives into the German woods after their father is burned at the stake.
At the dawn of the eighteenth century, Scottish maid Katherine is lured into political dissent after her parents are butchered for their beliefs.
In present-day Australia, Paisley navigates her way through the burning torches of small-town gossip after he ...more
At the dawn of the eighteenth century, Scottish maid Katherine is lured into political dissent after her parents are butchered for their beliefs.
In present-day Australia, Paisley navigates her way through the burning torches of small-town gossip after he ...more
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Paperback, 333 pages
Published
October 31st 2016
by University of Queensland Press
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HEXENHAUS is a beautifully written story that completely surpassed my expectations. I totally fell in love with the characters of Veronica, Katherine and Paisley (I loved that name!).
The book is told from the point of view of three young women spanning four hundred years, all facing persecution and the accusation of witchcraft.
The stories begin in Franconia and take readers through the midlands of Scotland to the Australian town of Bundanoon. The three story threads are a powerful rendering of ...more
The book is told from the point of view of three young women spanning four hundred years, all facing persecution and the accusation of witchcraft.
The stories begin in Franconia and take readers through the midlands of Scotland to the Australian town of Bundanoon. The three story threads are a powerful rendering of ...more

I enjoyed it this so much! I've read a few things on witch hunts/trials this year and loved this set of three stories with different but connected takes on it. And to see how the hysteria can take hold in today's world was so interesting too.
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I sat down the other night to read a few chapters of this whilst on holidays and then magically it was 4am and I had finished it! I just couldn't put it down. I have traversed our pale blue dot to Scotland, Germany and even Bundanoon too and these wonderful witchy words instantly transported me back to all of these fantastic places. The plight of these three young and strong women grabs hold of you tightly and doesn't let go until the very end. The way that the author decided to cycle through th
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Well done Nikki McWatters, you just succeeded in bundling everything I love about YA fiction in 331 pages!
As you can probably gather I am quite excited about this title. A delectable combination of 15th Century European History and Contemporary fiction, I was riveted to the book from the first page. Told in alternating narration Hexenhaus tells the story of Veronica, from 1628 Bamerg, Franconia (in what is modern Germany), Katherine, from 1696 Scotland and Paisley from present day Bunadoon, Aust ...more
As you can probably gather I am quite excited about this title. A delectable combination of 15th Century European History and Contemporary fiction, I was riveted to the book from the first page. Told in alternating narration Hexenhaus tells the story of Veronica, from 1628 Bamerg, Franconia (in what is modern Germany), Katherine, from 1696 Scotland and Paisley from present day Bunadoon, Aust ...more

I loved this so much. I usually struggle with books that jump between different characters each chapter - even if it's just three characters like in Hexenhaus - because I get deeply involved in one character's story over the others and get annoyed by being constantly pulled out of it. With this, each woman at the centre of her story was so interesting and so different from the last, I found myself excited to start a new chapter each time because I loved each character so much. The historical set
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Hexenhaus (UQP 2016) is a fictionalised tale of witchcraft anchored on true events, by author Nikki McWatters, who has woven together three different tales, based on three young women living in very different times. In 1628, after their parents are burnt at the stake for their beliefs, Veronica and her brother Hans flee into the safety and anonymity of the woods in Germany. Tainted by their family’s reputation, Veronica begins to discover her own healing power. In 1696, in Scotland, Katherine is
...more

I have always been fascinated by the witch stories from the Middle Ages and rate The Crucible as one of my favourite reads. THIS BOOK WAS SUBLIME! I was transfixed from the first page and could not put it down. I loved the way the writer wove the three stories together and absolutely loved the three main characters. I could hear their different voices and feel their fear. The writing was beautiful, haunting and evocative and I stopped sometimes to reread passages that were just so charming. The
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I couldn't put it down once I started to read it. This was a brilliant book, and I think any girl or woman of every age will find themselves swept along with Nikki's wonderful prose. She manages to carry you along through the three different ages so the girls Veronica, Katherine and Paisley come alive in your imagination. You will feel their terror and pain and for two of them the sweet release from their anguish.
...more

“’By fear and by terror she has been possessed’ I agreed. ‘And the poor girl looks for the cause in the only things her little eyes can see: us, those around her who are different’”
‘Hexenhaus’ is a work of historical fiction exploring the witch trials across Early Modern Europe and the psychology that perpetuates such horrific acts. The story weaves together the lives of three teenage girls from different periods in history – 17th Century Germany, 18th Century Scotland and modern day country tow ...more
‘Hexenhaus’ is a work of historical fiction exploring the witch trials across Early Modern Europe and the psychology that perpetuates such horrific acts. The story weaves together the lives of three teenage girls from different periods in history – 17th Century Germany, 18th Century Scotland and modern day country tow ...more

An interesting book.
Three stories featuring young 18 year oldish women. Veronica in 1628 in Germany, Scottish Katherine in 1696 and Paisley in modern day Southern Highlands NSW.
All stories revolve around witchcraft, young love, betrayal, abuse of power, prejudice, the impact of small mindedness and the inherent dangers of being powerless.
For YA readers, a book to discuss.
Three stories featuring young 18 year oldish women. Veronica in 1628 in Germany, Scottish Katherine in 1696 and Paisley in modern day Southern Highlands NSW.
All stories revolve around witchcraft, young love, betrayal, abuse of power, prejudice, the impact of small mindedness and the inherent dangers of being powerless.
For YA readers, a book to discuss.

This was excellent. Gut-punching and heart-achingly good. The writing really shone in the most awful of the scenes, the tortures the innocent people endured, and I particularly loved the parts focused on Veronica (in early 17th Century Germany) and Katherine (in late 17th Century Scotland). I appreciated the knowledge gained about the cruelty of the witch-hunts and I even teared up at one specific moment.

This review was originally posted on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Three women, from three different timeframes have only one thing in common - they are condemned for being witches. From 17th Century Germany, to 18th Century Europe, and modern day Australia in a small regional town, we hear from Veronica, Katherine and Paisley. They are each teenage girls with their own hopes and dreams, from worrying about their family, to survival, and the persecution that they experience.
Wh ...more
Three women, from three different timeframes have only one thing in common - they are condemned for being witches. From 17th Century Germany, to 18th Century Europe, and modern day Australia in a small regional town, we hear from Veronica, Katherine and Paisley. They are each teenage girls with their own hopes and dreams, from worrying about their family, to survival, and the persecution that they experience.
Wh ...more

This review first appeared on Readers in Wonderland
INITIAL REACTION

5 THINGS ABOUT HEXENHAUS
Three different stories, three different times
HEXENHAUS features three different witch hunts in three different time periods, told in alternating chapters. These alternating chapters can be a bit worrying as sometimes you like one character more than the others and so some chapters become boring. In HEXENHAUS this was not the case, as I really enjoyed all the stories and the distinct voices. Victoria’s ...more
INITIAL REACTION

5 THINGS ABOUT HEXENHAUS
Three different stories, three different times
HEXENHAUS features three different witch hunts in three different time periods, told in alternating chapters. These alternating chapters can be a bit worrying as sometimes you like one character more than the others and so some chapters become boring. In HEXENHAUS this was not the case, as I really enjoyed all the stories and the distinct voices. Victoria’s ...more

I couldn't put it down and read it one sitting. The writing and characters pulled you in from the first confronting and intriguing line. I felt as if I was there with each of the three girls in the book and found myself wanting to get back to each one at the end of each chapter. The book is such a clever commentary on the effects of mass hysteria and what fear can drive people to do. I especially loved Veronica and all of the characters in her storyline and found myself crying at the airport whe
...more

Nov 01, 2016
Trisha
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
family,
suspense,
ya-literature,
survival,
contemporary,
multiple-narrators,
romance,
grief-loss,
historical,
ozya2016
Three and a half stars rounded up. The three narratives are told in alternating chapters - Veronica, Katherine, then Paisley. These are very short and it was disconcerting to have to jump from story line to story line so abruptly. Half way through, I changed to reading straight through each girl's story, and found that much better.
There is a lot of sadness and injustice, and misery, which is difficult to read, especially when in hindsight, we know how corrupt and ridiculous witch-burning was (i ...more
There is a lot of sadness and injustice, and misery, which is difficult to read, especially when in hindsight, we know how corrupt and ridiculous witch-burning was (i ...more

What an absolutely fascinating book. I was originally going to give this book 4.5 but then a mere 2 pages right at the end of Historical Notes cranked it up to 5. This gave a brief overview about how the stories of Veronica and Katherine were written based on true happenings back in the 1600s.
Truely fascinating. It's basically a historical fiction (with a view from the present day which really balances it out perfectly) but it doesn't feel like that.
I'd highly suggest giving it a read! ...more
Truely fascinating. It's basically a historical fiction (with a view from the present day which really balances it out perfectly) but it doesn't feel like that.
I'd highly suggest giving it a read! ...more

My review of Hexenhaus for the CBCA
http://readingtime.com.au/hexenhaus/ ...more
http://readingtime.com.au/hexenhaus/ ...more

A really gripping story of three women of different eras caught in in historical witch hunts and the modern day equivalent. Wonderful characters. I read it in two days.
Edit: this is reality based, not urban famtasy type magic. It's more about women and persecution. ...more
Edit: this is reality based, not urban famtasy type magic. It's more about women and persecution. ...more

Nikki McWatters' book came at the right time. Days before, I was just musing over how each century seems to have its own witch hunt, sometimes disguised into something else.
Then I started to read Hexenhouse and I could not put it down until I finished it entirely. It is captivating, enthralling, gut-wrenching and it leaves you in awe. You are amazed and disappointed at the same time. Not at the book - the book is beautifully written. It leaves you disappointed and full of rage at the treatment ...more
Then I started to read Hexenhouse and I could not put it down until I finished it entirely. It is captivating, enthralling, gut-wrenching and it leaves you in awe. You are amazed and disappointed at the same time. Not at the book - the book is beautifully written. It leaves you disappointed and full of rage at the treatment ...more

The witch trials of the early modern period is a fascinating era of women's history and this novel is an excellent introduction.
...more

The plot, the title and the cover all said "read me" and I'm so glad that I did.
...more

Nikki McWatters and I share two nephews, though we have never met. So when my sister-in-law told me that her other sister-in-law was writing a novel for young adults inspired by witch-hunts through history, I was intrigued. Tell her to send me a copy, I said. I’m very glad that I did. Hexenhaus is a gripping story of three different young women at different times of history who all find themselves persecuted in some way for witchcraft.
Veronica lives in Bamburg in what is now Germany in 1628. Kat ...more
Veronica lives in Bamburg in what is now Germany in 1628. Kat ...more

Hexenhaus tells the story of three young women and their experiences with ‘witch hunts’ in their respective time periods. Veronica flees into the German woods after her father is burnt at the stake, Katherine becomes embroiled in political dissent while others try to cover it up with the hunt for those accused of witchcraft, and Paisley is left to pick up the pieces after her mother is targeted for a modern-day witch hunt in small-town Australia.
Each story is discreet, with chapters alternating ...more
Each story is discreet, with chapters alternating ...more

Fantastic historical fiction regarding how women have been perceived as witches during 3 time periods - early 1600s, late 1700s and modern day times.
I really loved this book - took me a while to get my head around the fact that each chapter was from another time period, but once I got it sorted, I loved it!
Not all of the 3 women have a happy ending, but this does not disappoint!
I really loved this book - took me a while to get my head around the fact that each chapter was from another time period, but once I got it sorted, I loved it!
Not all of the 3 women have a happy ending, but this does not disappoint!
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Goodreads Librari...: Two records for Hexenhaus | 2 | 15 | Apr 22, 2018 08:14PM |
Nikki is an Australian-based writer who lives with her family north of Sydney, near the beach. She was shortlisted for a Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Emerging Writer
Her memoir, 'One Way or Another, the story of a girl who loved rock stars' was released by Black Inc in 2012.
Nikki's short fiction has appeared in The Big Issue, The Newcastle Literary Award Anthology, The Grieve Anthology ...more
Her memoir, 'One Way or Another, the story of a girl who loved rock stars' was released by Black Inc in 2012.
Nikki's short fiction has appeared in The Big Issue, The Newcastle Literary Award Anthology, The Grieve Anthology ...more
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