As the nights grow longer and the September air turns crisp with the promise of autumn, I always find myself drawn to witchy reads. This week for Witchy Wednesday, I picked up The Daughters of Pendle by Darcy Boyd Mahoney. The title instantly grabbed me – I’m fascinated by witches in history, particularly those rooted in Lancashire folklore, and the cover promised a dark and occult tale.

But here’s the truth: I really struggled with this one.

My Review of The Daughters of Pendle by Darcy Boyd Mahoney

The book doesn’t read like a typical novel. Instead, it has the feel of a screenplay, with stripped-back dialogue and scene directions rather than descriptive prose. This style made it hard for me to connect with the characters, and I had to almost “re-train” myself to understand how to read it. Once I settled into the rhythm, I began to grasp the story – but it wasn’t easy.

The plot itself follows Brekk, a man searching for deeper meaning and magical purpose. When Halloween arrives, he sets off into the heart of witch country with his shallow but inexplicably popular friend Ariff. What begins as a weekend adventure quickly spirals into something much darker.

There are definite echoes of The Wicker Man woven into the narrative: strange locals, folkloric rituals, and an ominous sense that not everything is as it seems. We encounter a novice witch, a shadowy cult leader, and whispers of a bargain for immortality that requires a moonlit sacrifice. The atmosphere is undeniably spooky – perfect for autumn reading – but you have to stick with it.

By the time I reached the ending, I did enjoy elements of the conclusion, though I’ll admit it took effort to push through. This isn’t a cosy witch novel with warm fires and spell jars – it’s Folk Horror, raw and unsettling. If you’re intrigued by experimental writing styles and dark, rural occult themes, this may be a book for you. But for me, it was a difficult journey.

About the Book

On a misguided search for ancient magic two ‘friends’ discover one chance for immortality.

Brekk wonders how he has arrived in the middle of Witch country with the inexplicably popular, painfully shallow, and easily distracted Ariff. All he really wants to do is research magic and witchcraft.

A dark cult leader, a novice witch, a suspicious bargain to attain immortality and a moonlit sacrificial ceremony is missing someone to sacrifice. This isn’t going to be the weekend Brekk had hoped for.

Withnail and I meets The Wicker Man in this Rural Noir, Folk Horror Thriller.

👻 Have you read The Daughters of Pendle? Do you enjoy Folk Horror and stories inspired by real-life witchcraft legends? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

📚Buy the Book: Amazon

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