The thirteenth witch is a popular topic in folklore and literature. This character is often portrayed as a mysterious and powerful figure who brings misfortune and chaos. The concept of the thirteenth witch has its origins in superstition and the fear of the unknown. In many cultures, the number thirteen is considered unlucky or even evil. It is believed that having thirteen people at a dinner table or being the thirteenth person to walk under a ladder can bring bad luck. This belief extends to witches as well, with the thirteenth witch being seen as particularly dangerous and malevolent.
Mayfair family are a line of powerful witches whose story is told in the Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy, although they also appear in some crossover with The Vampire Chronicles.
It was the loyalty cultivated by her great-grandmother, Charlotte, that prompted the slaves to warn her and her family of the uprisings before they could be attacked, giving them a chance to flee. It was only after actually picking the book up I realised that the author lives locally and lists one of his jobs as town clerk in the very town I live in.
This belief extends to witches as well, with the thirteenth witch being seen as particularly dangerous and malevolent. In literature and media, the thirteenth witch is often depicted as the leader or strongest member of a coven or group of witches. She is usually the one with the most knowledge and power, using her abilities to cause havoc and harm.
The 13th Witch
I find it amazing how easy it is to miss things that are right on your doorstep. I grabbed this book online (not by choice, this was before the shops had re-opened) because I was after some easy reading. I often find good urban fantasy easy and immersive. It was only after actually picking the book up I realised that the author lives locally and lists one of his jobs as town clerk in the very town I live in. Out of the millions of books I had to choose from, the one I chose was written by someone who had worked within a few yards of my house and lived in the area. Maybe with chances like that I should play the lottery more often. It's been out a few years now and is the start of a series known as "The King's Watch" which has eight published books so far. It looks like there are plans for the main series to have 13 books in total as the titles count down (The 13th Witch, The Twelve Dragons of Albion, The Eleventh Hour). There is also an adjacent series of five books called "A King's Watch Story" which are novella length and feature one of the series other characters (Vicky) take one the role of principle protagonist. Told in first person from the viewpoint of ex Royal Air Force helicopter pilot Conrad, The 13th Witch begins just as he appears to be leaving Morecambe Bay with some serious trouble behind, including some deaths and a girlfriend in prison. As a reader, you are thrown on at the deep end and fed tantalising glimpses of Conrad's past, including a mysterious voice telling him to hide the AK47 he happens to have on him after the previously alluded escapades. I like how you don't just get fed a huge back story of the character as that can slow the story, but here you are presented with so little that it feels you are jumping in at mid-point and I had to double check it was really the first in the series. It's worth sticking with it though, because this is promising start to a series. After doing a bit of digging I also discovered that these previously hinted at exploits are actually part of a previously written thriller / crime trilogy called Operation Jigsaw. Switching genres like that is not only damned clever and pretty gutsy, it's also something that I've rarely seen before. To make things even more interesting, Conrad doesn't appear to be exactly a good guy in these books, in fact he seems to be on the wrong end of a police chase. Partly because of the top secret, shadowy, and possibly not entirely heroic work he has previously been involved in, and partly because of the fact that he has some serious survival skills (he's got a titanium bolstered leg from his time in touring the middle east and more recent concussion and broken bones), shortly after arriving at his family home in Gloucestershire, he is visited by non other than Odin, the all-father, being the origin of previously mentioned mysterious voice. Odin gives him the opportunity to work again in a top secret, shadowy department on behalf of the Crown (known as the King's Watch) - but the entrance exam has a high probability of getting him killed. It also appears that magick (yes with a "k", for reasons) is entirely real and than Conrad himself might have a tiny vestigial spark of such magick buried within, just perhaps not enough to prevent himself from getting killed. So begins the process of Conrad slowly learning about this hidden world of dwarves, witches, mages, magick with a k and giant people-eating moles (a nice touch). The actual main plot of the book doesn't really take off until half way through, when Conrad begins to try and find the titular 13th Witch who is lost / missing / kidnapped. I like the author's voice, it's friendly, disarming and engaging. It reminds me a little of Ben Aaronovitch. The quality of the writing is also good and edited well for the most part. It's great to see some real life (and some fictitious) Lancashire locations feature - along with some time spent in one of my favourite cities - London, I also like the attention to detail the author goes to with these varied places. The book is light-hearted for the most part and doesn't take things too seriously, making reference to other fantasy works such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and how "real magic is nothing like those stories". It's perhaps inevitable that comparison is drawn to the big British Urban Fantasy by the previously mentioned Aaronovitch and his Rivers of London series, but I don't think they are similar beyond a surface level, if anything the character of Conrad is closer to Dresden than Grant with his style of self-depreciating humour. The character of Conrad is intriguing - it's good that the author has given him a disability, a reminder that all these dangers have real repercussions while also making him a bit more human. He is a fairly like-able if over-confident character, although his views on women seem a little "laddish". He's not the bad guy that the previous series suggests he may be either, but I guess making him so might have been a step too far. The 13th Witch is a promising start with an interesting cast, when the story does get going it's engaging and has a modern quality about it. The world the author is building has a nice tone and I like how he handles the crossover between modern technology and old magick. Worthy of a read as a stand-alone and good enough to pick up the next in the series, The Twelve Dragons of Albion.
Written on 6th May 2021 by Ant .
Sometimes, the thirteenth witch is portrayed as a solitary figure, feared and respected by other witches. The thirteenth witch is often associated with dark magic and black magic spells. She is said to have knowledge of forbidden and dangerous magic, using it for her own purposes. It is believed that she can control the elements, summon spirits, and even curse or hex those who cross her. Despite the negative connotations, there are also alternative interpretations of the thirteenth witch. Some stories portray her as a misunderstood or tragic figure, cursed with her powers and struggling to find redemption. These portrayals emphasize the complexity and depth of the character, challenging the traditional view of the thirteenth witch as purely evil. Overall, the thirteenth witch is a fascinating and enigmatic character that has captured the imaginations of people for centuries. Whether seen as a bringer of chaos or a misunderstood sorceress, the thirteenth witch continues to be a prominent and intriguing figure in folklore and literature..
Reviews for "The Thirteenth Wotch: A Reflection of Society's Attitudes towards Magic"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I found 'The thirteenth wotch' to be incredibly boring and uneventful. The plot was slow-paced and lacked excitement, and I had a hard time staying engaged with the characters. Additionally, I felt like the writing style was very simplistic and lacked depth. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others."
2. John - 1/5 stars - "I couldn't get through 'The thirteenth wotch' without rolling my eyes. The story felt incredibly cliché and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. I also found the dialogue to be forced and unrealistic. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat for me."
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "While 'The thirteenth wotch' had an interesting premise, I was let down by its execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and unresolved plot points. The characters were also quite forgettable, and I didn't feel invested in their journeys. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for a more engaging read."
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - "I found 'The thirteenth wotch' to be overall underwhelming. The plot felt disjointed and poorly developed, making it difficult for me to get emotionally invested in the story. I also found the writing to be overly descriptive at times, bogging down the narrative. While the concept had potential, it ultimately fell short of my expectations."
5. Amanda - 1/5 stars - "I couldn't stand 'The thirteenth wotch'. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the plot lacked originality. The dialogue was wooden and lacked authenticity, making it difficult for me to connect with the story. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of time."