Quick Look
Adam, a stable-boy in East Lothian in the 1590s, uncovers a witches' coven's plot to kill Scotland's king, James VI.
Description
On a dark night in the 1590s Adam glimpses the Devil, near his home in East Lothian. Terrified, he is even more alarmed when he discovers that little Gilly, the timid kitchenmaid, is the thirteenth member of a witches coven, and like all the other witches, risks a fiery death at the stake for her devil worship.
With the help of the Alchemist, Master Grahame, Adam is determined to foil the coven's plot to kill Scotland's king, James VI. But what is the Alchemist's dreadful secret, and how can Adam save Gilly when he exposes the witches' treason?
Reviews
'A wonderfully atmospheric and spine-chilling tale of witches, alchemy and treason set in late 16th century Scotland.'
-- Shelf Life
'Brings the blackest side of mingled treason and witchcraft in sixteenth-century Scotland rivetingly alive.'
-- The Times
'What a good plot. I've never seen the devil portrayed like this before. I would recommend it to boys and girls aged 10-14.'
--Megan Whiteman, age 12, Education Otherwise
'This is dense and complex, and not suitable for readers under 12. It is fascinating to set Hunter's version against the contemporary account, to look at issues of language, religious belief, and justice.'
-- Treasure Island: A guide to Scottish fiction for young readers aged 10-14, Summer 2003
Author
Mollie Hunter (1922-2012) wrote more than 25 novels for children since 1953, incorporating a life-long exploration of Scotland's folklore and history into her stories. She received numerous awards and honours for her books, including the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Award and the Carnegie Medal.
Links
Also available by Mollie Hunter:
A Stranger Came Ashore
Escape from Loch Leven
The Lothian Run
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