Nice concept. A witch who can control animals. I liked how the protagonist kept facing all odds with so much courage i those deplorable times were men subdued women, and put them in 'psychiatric' hospitals which were prisons and torture chambers in disguise. Nefarious villain are most often humans than monsters. I liked reading it but I felt that the plot dragged a bit and didn't keep me hooked.

I really enjoyed this book and the careful approach to magic that the author took. In so many books that have magic, it's often making things appear/disappear out of thin air, etc, ignoring the laws of nature.

Here, the author presents a realistic way in which magic can exist in this world (albeit in the 1850's, which the book is set in) The protagonist can't just snap her fingers and animals do whatever she wants. It's more of a working relationship with give and take.

I tried so hard to get through this, as I found the premise interesting. However, I found myself constantly having to put it down and pick it up as it was, in a word, boring. The character is in her head way too much. Too much thinking, and way too little action. Very disappointing as I had high hopes!

Witch of the Wild Beasts by Catherine Stine is fantasy/historical fiction about a girl in Philadelphia who has been sentenced to two years for allegedly calling beast and having them do her dirty work for her. The first instance was when she "called" a swarm of wasps to attack the man who was killing her brother. Believing him dead, she ran and was not arrested until a bird strangled a man who was attempting to beat her, by ramming his head and body down the man's throat. She hadn't really, although she had made pets of the birds. She hadn't realized her power until then. In prison she manages to make friends of mice and insects as well as some people until she discovers a plot wherein a malicious doctor was experimenting on the inmates, to heir detriment.

This was an interesting story, looking at a multitude of things from a different perspective. Evalina was bright and hard-working. Her parents were dead and she had been responsible for her small brother. She had responded too slowly and he was dead. She was not a criminal or a witch but the story enumerates how people made both of those accusations and convinced others, simply for their own gain. It also illustrates the nefarious hold unscrupulous medicine men have over an unsuspecting public. She discovers than she can manipulate animals, but more importantly she can manipulate greed. This is in many ways a morality tale of the unfairness of prison, the greed of public officials, and the power than people have over one another. It was an intriguing and interesting story.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Witch of the Wild Beasts by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #witchofthewildbeasts

I really wanted to like this book, but tragically it fell flat for me. I'm super sad about it and that sucks. But I thank you, Netgally, for being so wonderful and precious to me. YOU da real MVP.

The synopsis caught my attention. The protagonist's not just a witch, but one with a very specific gift and in very limiting circumstances. I was eager to see how this played out, and it didn't disappoint. This was a novel with good pacing, engaging characters, and an addictive plot, not to mention the author's style that is very well polished.
Full review (Oct-15):https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2020/10/resena-review-witch-of-wild-beasts.html

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. It had magic, courtesy of Evaline, but was presented in a fairly realistic way. She can control (kind of) the various bugs and animals with bargaining and her emotions. She is lucky to have that gift so that she can try to find justice for the murder of her brother, even when she is thrown into prison for witchcraft.

The prison part of the book (most of it takes place there) was very interesting to read about. I am very glad that things have changed since then, though it was cool to read about the part with Charles Dickens and how he was trying to improve the situation in the prisons.

This was a good story and had a cute ending.

Witch of the Wild Beasts by Catherine Stine
Publisher: Konjur Road Press
Genre: Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: March 11, 2020

I really enjoyed the book. Evalina is such a force. I always love a story where the heroine saves herself!

I'm so grateful for Catherine Stine, Konjur Road Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A great fantasy book about witches and supernatural creatures in this book. I really enjoyed reading it and Evalina Stowe is a great character that goes through trials and wonders if she can break her curse.

Really didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did but I don't think you can fail to empathise with Evalina after the tragic start to the book. A real winner and very hard to put down

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Evalina, an orphaned 18th century Cinderella suddenly finds she can charm animals. In an attempt to stop a horrible customer from chocking her 6 year old brother, she is surprised to see a swarm of wasps come to her aid. As they sting jim, she stabs the man with a pair of scissors but is unable to save her little brother. Grief stricken and on the run, she lands a job a a “bird beater” -keeping birds out of a farmer’s fields. There she is accused of witchcraft, as she is found to be feeding and caring for the birds instead of beating them. Again in her defense, a bird flies down the farmers throat and chokes the farmer. This quickly lands her in jail, branded as a witch.
As a prisoner, the smallest things can mean so much - a smile or a wave of the fingers- just the smallest amount of human contact. The story explores the complexity of right and wrong, ends justifying the means and what makes a family. [SPOILER] Evalina is a strong character- full of kindness, intelligence and grit. No damsel in distress here - she saves not only herself, but her friends as well.

The magic in the book was really intriguing, I appreciated that Evalina had to work hard to understand and control her powers. This also made the ending particularly satisfying, she showed not only her mastery of her powers but everything she was working towards came together really well.

I did feel the story lagged a little in the middle but the great characters made up for this. The ways Evalina found to communicate and gain support during her imprisonment really showed her own character development and was a great way to learn more about the other characters. The setting was also well done, and overall it is an enjoyable read.

Eve has a power that she doesn't understand, but animals respond to her in a way that can't be explained except as witchcraft. Imprisoned and alone (in the Victorian era) for the crime of her pet bird choking someone, she comes face to face with the doctor that killed her little brother. Can she learn to control her powers and come up with a scheme to get herself and her new friends out of jail while getting revenge on the doctor?

This story was well written and it seemed to be well researched. The plot was very enjoyable and the characters were varied and interesting. In addition to the fictional characters, some of the more famous names in the mid-Victorian medical community of Philadelphia make appearances.

I liked the premise of this novel, but not so much the reality. It was OK, but I don't think a good fit for my classroom.

What I liked: animal magic, a little romance, justice eventually served

What I didn't like: too fast paced, not enough character development until it all fell into place at the end, vague exploration of the animal magic

*advance copy via Netgalley*

Through the mysteries of magic, Witch of the Wild Beasts shows us what it is like to have magic during a time where magic is unknown and unacceptable.

Witch of the Wild Beasts is a historical fantasy based around the times of the Witch Trials in the year 1854 around a prison where our main character, Evaline Stowe, Eva for short is serving time for a murder she did not commit.

Evaline, having witnessed the murder of her younger brother, Todd, a few months before fleeing. When she finds work once more, she ends up being accused of murder that was caused by the birds she helped take care of, not by her actions whatsoever.

I gave Witch of the Wild Beasts three stars, liking the historical aspect and the magical aspect to this book. I liked the way Eva was very in control with herself and exploring her powers throughout the book made her grasp her abilities to summon and control insects and birds and others.

I found it interesting the way Eva used insects and other animals to communicate especially when she was in the prison cell to send notes and not be caught by the guards. She was very strong headed and determined to leave the prison, so when she had made began to make friends with some of the other prisoners. It was then that she realized that the man who had murdered her brother was also one of the doctors that would be working at the prison.

This book was very interesting to read and learn more about Eva’s capabilities to but I felt like there were a few things that were missing throughout the book. While I liked the detail behind Eva’s powers and her ability to control insects and creatures, I felt like the plot was lacking and it didn’t capture my attention as much as I would like to.

I think this makes a great middle grade and young adult historical fantasy book but for me, it didn’t fit well and I wish I liked it a little more.

Thank you again to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another geeky record from fast reader cow: yes, it took only two and half hours to devour this outstandingly exciting and intriguing story!

Evil doctor who works on scientific experiments on prisoners and one of them is a witch who can conjure the killer animals with a quick snap of her fingers!

And this exciting story is taking place the historical Eastern State Penitentiary, once the most famous and expensive prison in the world located in Philadelphia. As the homepage of the prison we’re informed that its vaulted, sky-lift cells once held America’s most notorious lawbreakers including “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone.

Evalina is imprisoned for witchcraft. As I told before she has unique ability to connect with animals and use them as her secret weapon to avenge her death brother. Once upon a time she was making clothes and working with her beloved brother who has killed by impatient customer also a doctor with psychopathic tendencies.

Evalina finds out she may rouse a swarm of wasps which sting the evil doctor and then she stabs him and runs away. She thinks nobody will believe in her story but eventually she gets caught and she gets shocked to see the same evil doctor is very alive and working at the same prison she’s kept.

Evalina should act patient and make a smart plan to defeat her enemy so she acts like she wants to help him for his nefarious experiments as she plans her brutal revenge.

It’s fast, gripping, breathtaking, riveting historical/ paranormal thriller which is highly recommended to the genre fans.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Konjur Press/ Victoria Editing for sharing this moving ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I cracked this book opened not knowing that I'd be so utterly gripped that I'd not be able to put it down. Evalina is the kind of character who you can feel sympathy, empathy, and adoration for. That's such a great feat to create a character that has so much inner strength yet still a vulnerability that readers can feel as well. As if watching her little brother die isn't enough, you fast get the feeling that's only the start and it is, but I never imagined the ride I'd be taken on.

The jail setting was claustrophobic and that gave me the ability to see the light along with Eva on the few outside times, and those times... that's where we meet my love, Birdy. All the secondary characters had that same rich depth that stole my heart as slowly a band of unlikely people formed into something beautiful and your heart hurt and hoped they could find some happy ending.

There were also some villainous characters who were also pitch perfect, drawing out my ire as they should, but not all of them were so black and white. I loved the way they regarded one toward the end, I can't really say much as I don't want to spoil the way things build up. They build up into a tight ball and as things reached the pivotal point my own heartbeat picked up.

Loved it! Love the wrap up as well... so much yes. So satisfying.

The magic system also had a real feeling to it, especially since it wasn't something that came easily or was thrown around as an easy solution.

If you are hungry for a character-driven, historical fiction, with a great twisty plot, and a dash of magic so well written you won't question its existence, then this for you.

I have read this book in 1 sitting, which ended very late, but I could not put the book down. It is a tale of Evalina, who has parents that die of cholera, then finds herself in prison for murder, this follows a doctor's visit and his subsequent strangulation of her brother.
The story is worth all of the 5 stars given, and I recommend it as a page Turner that keeps the reader guessing until the last minute. Stunning and amazing book.