Tituba

The Intentional Witch of Salem

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 20 May 2020 | Archive Date 21 Jul 2020

Talking about this book? Use #TitubaTheIntentionalWitchofSalem #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Think you know the Salem story?


Revisit Salem’s Terror in a Provocative New Retelling

Tituba explores the emotions and reasons driving unstable times in 1692.

With its magical point of view, let Tituba cast its spell with a unique and tantalizing tale that will have you wondering “what if.”

A Promise and a Hope

Enslaved Tituba has been faithful to a promise to her dying mama in Africa. She has appeased the masters from Barbados to Boston to Salem and waited for her magic.

A Mother’s Agony

When Tituba’s only son dies trying to escape slavery, her life changes forever. After enduring the crush only a mother can feel, she rages and turns to vengeance.

Witches Tear into Salem

The villagers see witches and demons everywhere. Their ministers say the Devil has sent them to steal souls. But they are wrong. It is Tituba—disobeying an ancient rule—conjuring terrifying images with magic that sparks the infamous witch hunts of 1692.

A Woman’s Dilemma

As neighbors accuse neighbors of witchcraft, hysterical trials follow. And Tituba gloats in her power. But when hangings begin, her conscience arises. Can she confront her secret crime? And when a chance for redemption presents itself, will she take it?



Think you know the Salem story?


Revisit Salem’s Terror in a Provocative New Retelling

Tituba explores the emotions and reasons driving unstable times in 1692.

With its magical point of view, let Tituba...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781734830811
PRICE US$2.99 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 25 members


Featured Reviews

A good story that mixes historical facts and fiction. It's engrossing and entertaining, the characters are well thought and the plot flows.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

Thankyou to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and the author, Dave Tamanini, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Tituba in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

The storyline was well written. The characters are well drawn and intriguing. Fact and fiction have been blended really well and made for such a good read. The author certainly keeps the reader's attention.

Well worth a read.

Was this review helpful?

Granted to me by netgalley.com I’ve been given a sneak peek (well, really the whole book) at this unique perspective of Tituba, enslaved girl in Puritan-ville Salem in the 1690’s. Sure we know the speculation that the hysteria was possibly caused by fungal induced hallucinations ingested via wheat, and other theories include encephalitis, cold weather, etc. etc.

But what if… What if the enslaved and mistreated Tituba, (wronged by her master, a holy minister of God) took advantage of the hysteria and gullibility of the Puritans and exacted her vengeance on them. With nothing left to lose, she conspires to take the whole town down with her. After all, they’re going to hang her and she knows it. The enslaved make for perfect scapegoats.

But as the judicial proceedings and continued accusations of witchcraft spin out of her control, Tituba steps back a moment and reevaluates her cause.

I highly enjoyed this book, its writing and story were easy to follow, especially for a fan of The Crucible (book and movie), as well as the three seasons of Salem on TV or Streaming networks. I appreciate the tale of Tituba and seeing things from her perspective, although I wonder why she does not exact more vengeance towards her cruel master the Reverend Parrish.

Was this review helpful?

First of all, I am a Salem enthusiast, and I mean in a major way. I go there often, I have collected many books about Salem and have studied the history. But I admit I also love to read some fiction books on Salem, including Tituba. This book was so good! I love the premise of a retelling! Great story & great characters. So much fun!

Was this review helpful?

I am always intrigued by books about the Salem Witch Trials. This was an interesting take on them, and I could tell that this novel was very well researched. I enjoyed learning more and going into the minds and consciences of some of the main players of this time in history. I receive a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

This is great reimagining of the Salem Witch trials from the perspective of Tituba. Tituba is a slave in the reverends house and after a searing loss, she vows to use her powers to get even with those in Salem who have hurt her. Things rapidly spiral out of her control though.

Was this review helpful?

*Received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
Tituba is an interesting figure in American History. A slave accused of witchcraft. But not a lot is known about her in general. I appreciated this take on her life and the trials she went through.

Was this review helpful?

Dave Tamanini blends fiction and facts as well as a little dash of fantasy in this telling of the Salom Witch Trials. all through the eyes of the slave woman Tituba.

The story unfolds at a slow and steady pace, allowing for tension to build and motives to develope between characters.

Tamanini does an incredible job of mixing his story with historical fact. and does well with the constraints this places upon him.

The only flaw I can see is the fantasy element, which when added to the gritty, realistic world, feels kind of jarring at first but works within book as a whole.

Overall this is a good book and was enjoyable to read from start to finish. Tamanini does well working within the parameters of the facts, but really shines when he has the freedom to write outside them.

Was this review helpful?

*arc provided by net galley in exchange for an honest review.

In this tale of justified revenge spun horribly out of control history, and fantasy are masterfully interwoven . The Author sets the stage beautifuly with a paranoid populace and wronged women bound to clash as a mother’s grief manifests chaos in the world around her. This tale plays havoc with the Conscience of both it’s characters and readers leaving the line between retribution and unintended evils razor thin.
Dispite odd dialogue choices here and there this is a book I will certainly re read and recommend to other readers I meet.Tituba is an enjoyable historical fantasy that may be a good fit for people who enjoyed reading the crucible stage play and Similar titles.

Was this review helpful?

Tituba is a slave, kidnapped from Africa in her youth and belonging to Salem’s new preacher, Parris. She has always obeyed her master & his family as she was bidden by her dying mother, and has found a measure of happiness in her husband and son who also are owned by Parris. Her family want her to run from slavery but Tituba is afraid. When events spiral out of her control & she has a deep loss, her magical powers start to present themselves and she chooses to use them for revenge.

A new view of the Salem witch trials, which I recommend.

Thank you #NetGalley for my free advance copy of
#TitubaTheIntentionalWitchOfSalem in return for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

This book contains the 3 fs. Fact, fiction and fantasy. An excellent combination for a telling of the Salem witch trials in America. It's a very readable and entertaining novel about an horrendous period of history but Tituba makes the fantasy element truly believable. The story races along at a great pace and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this period of American history.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely enjoyed Tituba by Dave Tamanini. This book moves into other considerations and depths surrounding the character (we think we know) in a way that adds to an understanding of the source material, and yet operates uniquely. I would gladly pair this book with Ahab’s Wife as a wonderful literary work.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting take on the Salem witch trials and the life of the slave Tituba. This story is from Tituba's point of view and Rev. Parris. There are many lessons to learn concerning guilt, revenge and forgiveness.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the fullest! I finished it in one afternoon because I couldn't put it down!
You see, I love reading about anything on the Salem Witch Trials which was a horrible event in our American history. For some reason, this part of history has always fascinated me. How could people be so cruel and mistrustful?
All the Puritans wanted was to worship in peace. But, then supposedly evil found them.
It just goes to show you that evil is everywhere and what people ( especially 4 girls ) will do with information when given to them. Fear is another big thing in this story. Fear is in the eye of the beholder. It is what spreads the evil.
I loved seeing Tituba in a new light. About who she really was. A woman with feelings like any other human being.
I never did like the way she was treated by Samuel Paris. I couldn't stand him! He was mean, shifty, greedy and the big one a manipulator. among other things. I could use another way to describe him but I won't.
It took me awhile to figure out what Goody and Goodman meant which I'm assuming Mr. and Mrs? I hope I;m right.
I highly recommend this book! I think you'll love it just as much as I did!
My thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review for this book. All opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

I was a bit torn with this book. Don't get me wrong, it was tremendously entertaining, but this book makes the kids into victims It makes Tituba an actual witch (or at least what they would have considered witches back then.). Tituba is a slave who has always been an 'appeaser' of her masters. She follows orders, doesn't talk back, doesn't intervene in the punishment of her husband or son. She's a good slave. Her master, Samuel Parris is the new minister of Salem Village. He's moved from job to job in hopes of finding something that he's good at, that he can stick with and in the process he's dragged his family and his slaves (Tituba, her husband John Indian, and their son Akanni) from place to place until Parris is given the job in Salem Village and they move into the parsonage. One night Parris's daughter and her friend Ann are late coming home and Tituba sends Akanni out to find them. This is the night everything changes.

What I was torn about is making the children the victims, because I grew up with the stories of the Salem witch trials. My grandmother is from Massachusetts and my ancestors were accused in the witch trials. The kids were always the guilty ones. They used the power of accusation on anyone they didn't like for any number of reasons, so making them the victim in this book was a bit difficult to swallow. I tried to put that bias on my part aside and look at the story as a whole. It was definitely entertaining and I could sympathize with Tituba and why she did what she did and I was happy with her ending. It was a satisfying read and a fascinating, though horrifying, period in our history. It was well written and the dialogue was believable. The descriptions were as accurate for the time period as I've read about from other research I've pursued. All in all, this was a good book. I enjoyed it and if you want to read a historical novel this is a good book to pick up.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: