Roll over image to zoom in
Salt & Broom
£2.80
Salt & Broom eBook : Fisher, Sharon Lynn: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Additional information
| Publisher | 47North (1 Dec. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 7804 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 282 pages |
by M. Price
I was looking at the books available for Amazon First Reads this month, when my eye was caught by Salt and Broom and my mind was made up. Jane Eyre has been one of my favourite books for many years and as a lover of all things gothic, I was fascinated with the idea that an author would use Jane’s adult life at Lowood School but instead of going to Thornfield Hall as a governess, she would be going as a witch!
Sharon Lynn Fisher is a brave woman, she has boldly chosen one of the greatest love stories, a true classic and she has made it her own. I think that the whole novel works so well because Ms Fisher writes beautifully and she remains true to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane and Mr Rochester’s character is also unchanged. The fact that Jane is a witch trying to find the cause of a possible curse and spiritual unrest at Thornfield Hall is completely believable. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it unreservedly to all who enjoy the ghostly. I am following the author so that I will get notification of new books and also her back catalogue.
by allbythebook
Thanks to Amazon First Reads for this ARC copy of Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher. This witchy Jane Eyre retelling is 4⭐️ from me.
Jane Aire is a teacher at Lowood School for orphans – after having been an orphan there herself. She’s also a witch, and whilst Lowood doesn’t sell itself as a school for witches, it has a reputation of producing them. So much so that Mr Edward Rochester of Thornwood Hall writes to Lowood to hire a witch to solve the mystery of the strange things happening at his estate.
I really liked Jane in this retelling – in the original, she seemed like such a wet blanket, and I didn’t really like her character. Rochester I also didn’t link in the original – he was so manipulative – and the fact Jane never really made him suffer for acting that way to her also never sat right with me. In contrast, I loved how in Salt & Broom, Jane was still Rochester’s social inferior, but she was confident in her skills and had real purpose, and whilst Rochester was still a bit overbearing, I could see his point of view this time. I loved the way this was done.
Mrs Rochester too was an inspired and sympathetic interpretation. No spoilers, but this is much nicer than a mad wife in the attic and so the same moral issues with Rochester just didn’t appear.
The setting of Thornwood was great – creepy and beautiful in a dark way. And the magical setting just added another dimension to it. It gave me the eerie vibes of Master of Crows by Grace Draven, and whilst not as long or complex a story I’d say this was a good comparison read.
This book was a fairly quick read, and I think even if you aren’t overly familiar with Jane Eyre, you would still enjoy this one if you like a good witchy mystery with a bit of romance. My only critique of this book is that it was fairly short, and I could probably adore this if it was bulked out more and the romance developed further between Jane and Rochester – maybe with some more red herrings.
This book is for you if you liked Master of Crows by Grace Draven or Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.
by PJ
Ohhhhhh what can I say! I loved this book from start to finish!
The author takes the classic tale of Jane Eyre and mixes it with witchcraft….. it may sound corny but it really works!
When I read the description I was dubious about trying it as I love Jane Eyre, as do most bibliophiles. However my curiosity got the better of me and I’m so glad it did!
Loved this twist to a true classic tale of love, loyalty, faith and hope.
The only negative is the American spellings throughout the book which didn’t rub well against the English tale, set in England with English characters. This was the books only flaw though and the author truly carried off this Classical twist off with aplomb! ????????
by Ren Robin
Wow!! What a story.
The old classic novel spinning it into a different story.
A story about witches and spells and rising from the dead.
Genius!!! We all know the characters, Jane Aire and Edward Rochester.
The wife who died too young.
A curse placed on all the daughters who live in the house and the lovely housekeeper Mrs Fairfax.
Loved reading it
by Viselik
I was looking through what my Amazon First reads had, and this showed up, and I am glad to have picked it up.
Salt & Broom offers a fresh and imaginative retelling of the classic Jane Eyre, transporting the Gothic tale into a world where magic and witchcraft are real. Author Sharon Lynn Fisher adeptly weaves the paranormal elements into the fabric of Charlotte Brontë’s original story, keeping the core plot intact while adding her unique twists.
The world-building is excellent, laying out the rules of magic clearly and thoughtfully. The protagonist, Jane, is a compelling character, and her forbidden romance with the brooding Edward Rochester still simmers with passion and intensity. The supporting characters also come to life on the page.
Fans of Jane Eyre will appreciate the parallels to the original story. At the same time, the additions of witchcraft, spellbooks, and magical creatures give it a new aura of mystery and intrigue. The pacing accelerates nicely towards the revelations and dramatic conclusion.
My only criticism is that the plot twist at the end was somewhat predictable, as I had guessed it beforehand based on narrative clues. Nonetheless, the journey to get there was highly entertaining.
by Lou
This book crosses over a few genres and will appeal to many. A slow burn romance between a witch and the man who hires her to solve a mystery. I enjoyed the mystery and am glad there was more to the plot than that.
I thought the characters worked well and enjoyed learning about them.
Overall an easy read, I’m not sure it had me hooked.