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JB Richards
Apr 20, 20183 min read

5 Star IHIBRP Book Review: “Sister Witch: The Life of Moll Dyer (Legends of the Family Dyer Book 1)”


A Bewitching Piece Based on American Folklore!

David W. Thompson’s “Sister Witch: The Life of Moll Dyer” intimately recounts an American colonial legend that originated in the early days of Maryland. Three-hundred years later, Thompson explains that Moll Dyer’s story is still told around campfires as a warning to misbehaving children and it’s no wonder why—Her spirit is said to walk the swampy woodlands near her homestead with her half-wolf companion by her side.

This is a taut and chilling read that touches on many subjects that were considered taboo in colonial times. Moll Dyer is a young Irish girl who is brutally raped and impregnated. She is banished by her parents, who fear the damage that will be done to their good name, and sent away from her homeland to the New World. Heightened by rumor and speculation, and the fear of anything foreign, Moll is ostracized by the colonists. Always in the back of her mind is the difficult-to-accept fact that she is unable to claim her child as her own.

Thompson’s writing shines as Moll is continuously placed in increasingly dire situations, particularly with the colonists who instigate dark rumors as she turns to the only friends she can count on for help—a young African American woman and the Native American tribe that lives nearby. Her association with society’s outcasts, as well as her practice of herbal medicine, causes Moll to be treated as a social pariah, and she is later branded as a witch, constantly under threat of attack from the colonists. One can’t help but see that Thompson’s expose on the prejudices and misbeliefs of colonial times are still reflected in our own societal biases, and through the telling of Moll’s legend, he demonstrates that many of the same old fears and fallacies that our ancestors held continue to persist today.

With much foreshadowing and insight into Irish folklore, as well as African American and Native culture, Thompson weaves a spell-binding tale using a strong female lead and well-formed, non-stereotypical characters. He draws the reader in with a compelling, dramatic, and provocative plotline that is, quite simply, bewitching. With its sexually violent content and mature subject matter, I would recommend this book as an adult read for ages 17 and up. However, Thompson has done an admirable job in researching the history of this era and this book can play a significant role in educating those who are either interested in, or fascinated by, American history, culture, and folklore.

Congratulations to the author on this award-winning story! This novel will be permanently featured on my website under IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Reads!

Find “Sister Witch: The Life of Moll Dyer (Legends of the Family Dyer Book 1)” by David W. Thompson on Amazon & Kindle here.

https://www.amazon.com/Sister-Witch-Life-Legends-Family-ebook/dp/B076KR626G

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Have You Heard About My Award-Winning IHI Book Review Project?!

Are you an Indie Author with less than 15 Amazon reviews? If so, you may be eligible for my IHI Book Review Project! You’ll receive an IHIBRP Book Review that will be featured on my blogs at The Writers Block & Goodreads, an Amazon “verified purchase” review, and a promotion of your IHIBRP review on Facebook and Twitter. But wait… there’s more—Should your book qualify as an IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Read, you’ll earn an Award Badge which can then be affixed to the cover of your work to tell the world this is an exceptional read! The best part is, there’s absolutely no catch and no hoops to jump through—All I ask is that you pay-it-forward to our Indie community! Interested? Check out my award-winning IHI Book Review Project here!

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