Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Lucy
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About The Book
In a post-apocalyptic world where tyranny and medieval torture reign supreme and witch burnings are an everyday occurrence, a top Witchfinder must confront the very Church he serves when he learns of its dark past and twisted plans for the future.
The Church of the Deiparous rules with an iron fist and its rising star, Witchfinder Imperator Malachi Thorne, is committed to leading its cause. Thorne is a man on the fast track to greater things so when a convicted traitor and heretic escapes his grip, he won’t tolerate it marring his perfect record.
As he pursues his quarry, he must confront demons, sorcery, and a cult of witches out for his blood. But when Thorne comes face to face with the Church’s dark past and its twisted present, his faith is tested to its limits. Now Thorne must decide who and what he believes in—and what he will do about it.
The Review
A thousand years after the apocalypse on Earth caused by environment and man-made disasters, a new society rules – one run under the vice-like grip of the Church, which dictates almost every aspect of the peoples’ lives. One of those enforcing the Church’s brutal rule is the main character, Malachi Thorne.
But when one of Malachi’s high-profile prisoners escapes, Malachi goes on a journey to recapture the heretic who dares to defy the Church’s way of living, and in doing so he commences a journey of questioning things for perhaps the first time in his life.
Malachi is a fantastic lead. He starts off as a clear-cut villain type – a fanatic of the Church and one of their most promising Witchfinders of the capital of Deiparia. Kingrea establishes that Malachi isn’t evil or bloodthirsty – he is devout, determined, and dedicated, all admirable qualities, except that he uses his talents to reinforce the oppression of the people on behalf of the militant church. His beliefs and fanaticism was fascinating to read, because it made his turn into questioning that which he had believed in so deeply so much more compelling.
I have nothing but praise for the writing. Kingrea’s prose is beautiful and flowing, managing to capture a scene to make the world accessible without feeling flowery or over the top.
It was a little confusing that the characters weren’t referred to by one consistent name throughout the book. For example, Malachi Thorne would be Malachi in one paragraph and Throne in another, which would have been fine if it was one character, but it was most of them. I also felt that some of the supporting characters could have been developed a little more, and that the enemies-to-lovers romance between Malachi and Teska Vaun could have been built up better. These are minor issues, however.
Kingrea’s The Witchfinder is a highly enjoyable novel that tackles politics, doctrine, doubt and romance, all against the backdrop of an intriguing post-apocalyptic world. This is the first of a trilogy or saga, which is fantastic, as there is so much more of this world to explore.
The Reviewer
I’m an avid reader who loves pretty much all genres except math textbooks. As a kid, my parents exposed me to everything from fairies, hobbits, and dragons to the biographies of interesting people around the world, interspersed with poetry, plays, and music. Into adulthood, I spent a lot of years with my nose buried in various textbooks. Now, I read whatever grabs my fancy.
