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Bright I Burn
In thirteenth-century Ireland, a woman with power is a woman to be feared. When a young Alice Kyteler sees her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities, she vows that she will not suffer the same fate. When she discovers she has a flair for making money, she soon builds a flourishing trade. But as her wealth and stature grow, so too do the rumours about her private life. By the time she has moved on to her fourth husband, a blaze of local gossip and resentment culminates in an accusation that could prove fatal. Inspired by the first recorded person in Ireland to have been condemned as a witch, Bright I Burn gives voice to a woman lost to history, who dared to carve her own space in a man's world.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2024
336 people are currently reading
12612 people want to read
About the author
Molly Aitken
6 books152 followersMolly Aitken is the author of Bright I Burn and The Island Child which was longlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. Molly's short fiction has appeared in Ploughshares winning her the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction and has been dramatised for BBC Radio 4.
Follow Molly on twitter at MollyAitken1 and Instagram molly.aitken
Follow Molly on twitter at MollyAitken1 and Instagram molly.aitken
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
October 17, 2024
In a Nutshell: A literary fiction about a woman in thirteenth century Ireland who was the first to be condemned as a witch. Inspired by true events. Excellent themes. Had tremendous potential, but certain writing choices make this less impactful than it could have been.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
PSA: The Goodreads blurb reveals too much!
Bookish Yays:
🔥 The strong feminist theme, especially considering the era. While I didn’t agree with the writing choices, it was an unusual experience to see a historical protagonist being in total awareness of her sexual needs.
🔥 Alice’s first-person narration has strong YA vibes at the start, but as she grows, so does her voice. I like how the writing changes her tone in accordance with her age.
🔥 Of the secondary characters, I liked Alice’s servant Petronilla the most. I felt so sorry for her but also admired how she did what she needed to do, just as Alice, even though their situations were so different. Petronilla is also based on an actual historical woman.
🔥 The portrayal of the medieval era, with its patriarchal dominance, the ingrained misogyny, the restricted role of women in society, the blind adherence to the church’s dictates, and the fear of anything that can’t be explained.
🔥 The author's note, which clarifies how this is a fictional work but inspired by a true story of the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft. Very helpful and insightful!
🔥 Love that powerful cover art and the punny title!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🕯️ Unlike typical medieval woman characters, Alice is savvy in business and worldly matters. She knows what she wants, and is ready to do whatever it takes to survive in a man's world. As the first-person protagonist, she is not likeable, so it is tough to root for her. The writing perspective, Alice’s first-person, makes her sound arrogant and self-righteous, which further distances us away from her. But her complex personality makes the plot more nuanced.
🕯️ Somehow, the writing doesn't feel historical in sound, even though the setting is so old. Alice’s thoughts seem too outspoken and independent for that era. This might be on purpose, but somehow, it didn’t come across as convincing. Rather, it felt like a 13th century woman was spouting 21st century thoughts.
🕯️ The structuring of the plot takes some time to get used to. It is quite patchwork in style, covering a period of 52 years from 1279 to 1331, so we get only a quick glimpse of some key moments from across this vast period. On the positive side, the time indicators are excellent, and there is never any confusion of what year is going on. However, the frequent time jumps, though linear, can be annoying, especially when every new section is a scene in a completely different timeframe and no immediate continuity.
🕯️ The story is character-driven, but as we see the events only from Alice’s first-person perspective, the general character detailing is quite vague. Most characters, including Alice’s immediate family, are developed only as much as barely needed; we don’t get to see beyond one or two of their personality traits.
🕯️ Unlike most books of this ilk, not all the men are depicted as prigs. (Well, most of them are shown as prigs, but there are a couple of worthy exceptions.) However, none of the male characters, whether good or bad, have any depth. Alice’s spouses are the most monotonous. (If you want a spoiler on how many life partners she ends up having, read the Goodreads blurb.)
🕯️ There are some interludes in between the time jumps. These contain either village gossip about Alice or some folk tales that suit the scene or some poems. Some of these interludes add to the narrative, some are just a bit too experimental.
Bookish Nays:
💥 If you read the blurb and pick this up expecting a witchy story, it’s not gonna happen! The main genre is strictly historical fiction, with zero witch-hunt scenes.
💥 In a period of 52 years, we ought to see the growth of a strong woman from youth to maturity, from dependence to independence. We ought to see her single-handedly managing her lending business, tackling the challenges from fellow businessmen, interacting with the villagers. But what do we actually get through most of the book? Her longing for men, her inner wish for being a wildcat in bed, the ways in which she wants/has "ferocious sex", the way she manipulates men into sleeping with her and/or marrying her, of ogling at and baiting even married men with her physical guiles, of babying her son and ignoring her daughter... Is this the best way of honouring this woman, by letting us know that wanting sex is the only important and most vital trait of a historical rebel? It’s an innovative writing choice and will work well for some readers. But it was too limited for my taste. I wanted to know Alice holistically, not just for her physical desires.
💥 Despite so much happening in the story, the narrative often feels like an endless first-person rambling. There is more focus on Alice’s inner monologues than on actual events.
💥 F words and blasphemous profanity – nope for such a setting and era.
💥 The ending was very disappointing. I can’t go into spoilers so I’ll just say: it was almost anticlimactic and too rushed.
All in all, I loved the intent of the book, but the execution was slightly disappointing. I expected to feel more concern and fear for Alice, but her attitude left me unsure. I wanted her story to burn brighter, but it had more of sporadic sparks than feisty flames. Though I like literary fiction, this was perhaps too literary and radical for its own good.
Recommended to lit fic fans looking for a story about a woman who knew what she and her body wanted. (That’s the best way I can frame it.) Not for readers looking for a witch-hunt story, or for a plot-driven narrative, or some redeemable characters. I liked it, but it didn’t impress me as much as I had expected.
3 stars.
My thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing the DRC of “Bright I Burn” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
If you are interested in reading up on what happened to Alice Kyteler, check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_K...
Do be aware that the link contains spoilers for this novel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1279. Kilkenny, Ireland. When little Alice Kyteler sees her mother wilt under the family responsibilities, she decides that she will not make the same mistakes and will keep control over her life. But can this be easy in a time and place where whatever men say or want is considered final? As Alice grows and matures over the course of the story, she is served well by her strengths: her propensity for business, and her calculating mind that is always focussed on survival. But with every increase in her social stature, the rumours about her private life grow worse.
The story, spanning several decades, comes to us in Alice’s first-person perspective.
PSA: The Goodreads blurb reveals too much!
Bookish Yays:
🔥 The strong feminist theme, especially considering the era. While I didn’t agree with the writing choices, it was an unusual experience to see a historical protagonist being in total awareness of her sexual needs.
🔥 Alice’s first-person narration has strong YA vibes at the start, but as she grows, so does her voice. I like how the writing changes her tone in accordance with her age.
🔥 Of the secondary characters, I liked Alice’s servant Petronilla the most. I felt so sorry for her but also admired how she did what she needed to do, just as Alice, even though their situations were so different. Petronilla is also based on an actual historical woman.
🔥 The portrayal of the medieval era, with its patriarchal dominance, the ingrained misogyny, the restricted role of women in society, the blind adherence to the church’s dictates, and the fear of anything that can’t be explained.
🔥 The author's note, which clarifies how this is a fictional work but inspired by a true story of the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft. Very helpful and insightful!
🔥 Love that powerful cover art and the punny title!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🕯️ Unlike typical medieval woman characters, Alice is savvy in business and worldly matters. She knows what she wants, and is ready to do whatever it takes to survive in a man's world. As the first-person protagonist, she is not likeable, so it is tough to root for her. The writing perspective, Alice’s first-person, makes her sound arrogant and self-righteous, which further distances us away from her. But her complex personality makes the plot more nuanced.
🕯️ Somehow, the writing doesn't feel historical in sound, even though the setting is so old. Alice’s thoughts seem too outspoken and independent for that era. This might be on purpose, but somehow, it didn’t come across as convincing. Rather, it felt like a 13th century woman was spouting 21st century thoughts.
🕯️ The structuring of the plot takes some time to get used to. It is quite patchwork in style, covering a period of 52 years from 1279 to 1331, so we get only a quick glimpse of some key moments from across this vast period. On the positive side, the time indicators are excellent, and there is never any confusion of what year is going on. However, the frequent time jumps, though linear, can be annoying, especially when every new section is a scene in a completely different timeframe and no immediate continuity.
🕯️ The story is character-driven, but as we see the events only from Alice’s first-person perspective, the general character detailing is quite vague. Most characters, including Alice’s immediate family, are developed only as much as barely needed; we don’t get to see beyond one or two of their personality traits.
🕯️ Unlike most books of this ilk, not all the men are depicted as prigs. (Well, most of them are shown as prigs, but there are a couple of worthy exceptions.) However, none of the male characters, whether good or bad, have any depth. Alice’s spouses are the most monotonous. (If you want a spoiler on how many life partners she ends up having, read the Goodreads blurb.)
🕯️ There are some interludes in between the time jumps. These contain either village gossip about Alice or some folk tales that suit the scene or some poems. Some of these interludes add to the narrative, some are just a bit too experimental.
Bookish Nays:
💥 If you read the blurb and pick this up expecting a witchy story, it’s not gonna happen! The main genre is strictly historical fiction, with zero witch-hunt scenes.
💥 In a period of 52 years, we ought to see the growth of a strong woman from youth to maturity, from dependence to independence. We ought to see her single-handedly managing her lending business, tackling the challenges from fellow businessmen, interacting with the villagers. But what do we actually get through most of the book? Her longing for men, her inner wish for being a wildcat in bed, the ways in which she wants/has "ferocious sex", the way she manipulates men into sleeping with her and/or marrying her, of ogling at and baiting even married men with her physical guiles, of babying her son and ignoring her daughter... Is this the best way of honouring this woman, by letting us know that wanting sex is the only important and most vital trait of a historical rebel? It’s an innovative writing choice and will work well for some readers. But it was too limited for my taste. I wanted to know Alice holistically, not just for her physical desires.
💥 Despite so much happening in the story, the narrative often feels like an endless first-person rambling. There is more focus on Alice’s inner monologues than on actual events.
💥 F words and blasphemous profanity – nope for such a setting and era.
💥 The ending was very disappointing. I can’t go into spoilers so I’ll just say: it was almost anticlimactic and too rushed.
All in all, I loved the intent of the book, but the execution was slightly disappointing. I expected to feel more concern and fear for Alice, but her attitude left me unsure. I wanted her story to burn brighter, but it had more of sporadic sparks than feisty flames. Though I like literary fiction, this was perhaps too literary and radical for its own good.
Recommended to lit fic fans looking for a story about a woman who knew what she and her body wanted. (That’s the best way I can frame it.) Not for readers looking for a witch-hunt story, or for a plot-driven narrative, or some redeemable characters. I liked it, but it didn’t impress me as much as I had expected.
3 stars.
My thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing the DRC of “Bright I Burn” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
If you are interested in reading up on what happened to Alice Kyteler, check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_K...
Do be aware that the link contains spoilers for this novel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 4, 2024
I flew through this book because I was deeply fascinated with Alice’s sharp, poignant voice and strong will. It lingered whenever I put the book down. This book was nothing like I expected - if you are picking this up hoping for a classic historical novel with a sprinkle of witchcraft, you are wrong. It’s experimental, it’s literary, it has a modern voice in a medieval setting which sometimes makes for a strange disconnect. It has little to do with witchcraft and everything with being unapologetic in ones desires, ones greed and ones ambition. Something that, we all know, can get women burned.
June 6, 2024
Molly Aitken was born in Scotland and raised in Ireland, her ongoing fascination with Celtic myth and history informs this vivid reimagining of the life of Alice Kyteler, the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft. Set in Ireland during the 13th century, it’s mainly presented from Alice’s perspective, interspersed by a chorus of townspeople’s voices. Alice lives in the monastic town of Kilkenny where her father’s position as innkeeper and moneylender has set her family apart, both envied and despised. When her father dies Alice’s forced to marry in order to take over his business, but the marriage ends in disaster, like the others that follow.
Aitken’s beautifully-observed narrative’s lyrical but never sentimental. Aitken uses Alice’s experiences to explore the plight of powerful, ambitious women in an era of misogyny, where a woman could be lawfully killed if suspected of adultery. It’s a medieval society caught between the old ways – in which witches and cunning folk were an acceptable feature - and rising forces within the Catholic church, resulting in clashes between the secular and the religious. Aitken brings in hints of Salem with her references to local bakeries’ mould-ridden bread known to provoke mania and delusions. But, unlike conventional stories of witchcraft and persecution, Alice isn’t portrayed as a blameless victim of patriarchy. Instead, she’s a far more complex figure, often far from likeable: her scheming and morally dubious actions stemming from her desperation to find some way of navigating the spaces between personal, bodily desires and what’s expected of a woman and a wife, it’s a refreshing perspective. Although there were moments when my attention wandered, I found this a surprisingly compulsive, haunting piece.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Canongate for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Aitken’s beautifully-observed narrative’s lyrical but never sentimental. Aitken uses Alice’s experiences to explore the plight of powerful, ambitious women in an era of misogyny, where a woman could be lawfully killed if suspected of adultery. It’s a medieval society caught between the old ways – in which witches and cunning folk were an acceptable feature - and rising forces within the Catholic church, resulting in clashes between the secular and the religious. Aitken brings in hints of Salem with her references to local bakeries’ mould-ridden bread known to provoke mania and delusions. But, unlike conventional stories of witchcraft and persecution, Alice isn’t portrayed as a blameless victim of patriarchy. Instead, she’s a far more complex figure, often far from likeable: her scheming and morally dubious actions stemming from her desperation to find some way of navigating the spaces between personal, bodily desires and what’s expected of a woman and a wife, it’s a refreshing perspective. Although there were moments when my attention wandered, I found this a surprisingly compulsive, haunting piece.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Canongate for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
October 30, 2024
I will crush him as I have countless other men.
If you're looking for a book about witches, this is not it.
Alice Kyteler is a strong-willed, free-thinking, passionate woman who does as she pleases at a time when women are expected to be meek and subservient. Her self-confidence occasionally borders on arrogance, and she uses some underhanded tactics to get exactly what she wants. You may not actually like her much.
On the air, I hear two voices. A cat yowling in pain, a tom growling with pleasure. The prey and the predator. I have been both in my life.
There is no witchcraft here, and indeed, the accusation is not raised until quite near the end of the book. But, how else could men of that time keep a bold woman under control except to cry, “Witch!”?
Aitken’s writing is sublime, and I must seek out her first book.
It is simply a bed, but when I was twelve, my father told me beds are where we make children, but I knew beds are also where children can be unmade, where a man's force can dislodge them, before they have rooted strongly enough. In the safety of our beds we are meant to mould our dreams. Yet beds can be places where a child is forced to no longer be a child.
This was a mesmerizing read about an unusual woman.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the read.
If you're looking for a book about witches, this is not it.
Alice Kyteler is a strong-willed, free-thinking, passionate woman who does as she pleases at a time when women are expected to be meek and subservient. Her self-confidence occasionally borders on arrogance, and she uses some underhanded tactics to get exactly what she wants. You may not actually like her much.
On the air, I hear two voices. A cat yowling in pain, a tom growling with pleasure. The prey and the predator. I have been both in my life.
There is no witchcraft here, and indeed, the accusation is not raised until quite near the end of the book. But, how else could men of that time keep a bold woman under control except to cry, “Witch!”?
Aitken’s writing is sublime, and I must seek out her first book.
It is simply a bed, but when I was twelve, my father told me beds are where we make children, but I knew beds are also where children can be unmade, where a man's force can dislodge them, before they have rooted strongly enough. In the safety of our beds we are meant to mould our dreams. Yet beds can be places where a child is forced to no longer be a child.
This was a mesmerizing read about an unusual woman.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the read.
September 6, 2024
Why the author thought we needed the fastest timeline ever with zero character development is a wonder!! The writing was quite literary, but hard to follow. Disappointed bc you know I love witch stories!!
May 25, 2024
When i saw this book was about a woman accused of witchcraft, I was all for it! Thankfully my request to read it from NetGalley was granted. When i got comfy to read this, i did read it in big chunks at a time. So i loved it right? Well, not exactly. Alice was a difficult character to like and to sympathize with. At points, the dialogue and storytelling became almost dream like and hard to follow her train of thought. The story is more of her life and only at the end is accusations of witchcraft brought up. The book isn't what i was expecting.
October 3, 2024
This is a very “I am woman; hear me roar” sort of book with shallow character development resulting in a most annoying main character. The prose is forced and inelegant. This book really underperformed, which is so sad because the concept is amazing.
A massive flaw of this book is writing modern concepts/ideas/assumptions and forcing them into historical constructs. E.g. there was one line about using an essential oil (not even a tea or straight plant) to cure someone that made me laugh.
A massive flaw of this book is writing modern concepts/ideas/assumptions and forcing them into historical constructs. E.g. there was one line about using an essential oil (not even a tea or straight plant) to cure someone that made me laugh.
May 3, 2024
Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken is based on the story of the first recorded woman in Ireland to be condemned as a witch. Alice Kyteler is bright and brave and refuses to submit to a patriarchal society. She carves her own path and pays the price.
Bright I Burn is emotional and eye-opening. Alice is just the first in many similar stories throughout history. I found her to be an unapologetically strong character, determined to make her own happiness no matter what others thought.
Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for early access to read Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken in exchange for an honest review.
Bright I Burn is emotional and eye-opening. Alice is just the first in many similar stories throughout history. I found her to be an unapologetically strong character, determined to make her own happiness no matter what others thought.
Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for early access to read Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2025
The first time I finished this book is not the result of the first time that I picked it up. Let me explain.
The premise of Bright I Burn is a reimagining of the first woman accused of being a witch. Which might explain why, when I first attempted to read it, I wasn't sure what I was *actually* reading, and set it down.
I picked it up again recently and went in with no expectations- I adored it. This is one of the most gorgeous reflections on grief I've ever read. It *is* about a woman named Alice, who is accused of being a witch, but there's much more to her story than that. Married too young, and then several times over, she is more so a woman trying to make the most of her life, during a time in which women were allowed very little. It's told in vignettes of her life at the moment, and broken up by "whispers" from everyone around her.
I also tandem read this while packing for a move and the audiobook is one of the most heart-stoppingly beautiful narrations I've ever listened to. Highly recommend either!
The premise of Bright I Burn is a reimagining of the first woman accused of being a witch. Which might explain why, when I first attempted to read it, I wasn't sure what I was *actually* reading, and set it down.
I picked it up again recently and went in with no expectations- I adored it. This is one of the most gorgeous reflections on grief I've ever read. It *is* about a woman named Alice, who is accused of being a witch, but there's much more to her story than that. Married too young, and then several times over, she is more so a woman trying to make the most of her life, during a time in which women were allowed very little. It's told in vignettes of her life at the moment, and broken up by "whispers" from everyone around her.
I also tandem read this while packing for a move and the audiobook is one of the most heart-stoppingly beautiful narrations I've ever listened to. Highly recommend either!
October 30, 2024
4.0 ⭐️
“I watch the devil weeping and I laugh.”
Molly Aiken’s character, Alice Kyteler, is the G.O.A.T. black widow. What a fun character! I really enjoyed this novel, quick read, fast-paced and fun. Unflinchingly feminist and unhinged in the best kind of way. I borrowed this book but think I need to buy a copy for my little home library.
“I watch the devil weeping and I laugh.”
Molly Aiken’s character, Alice Kyteler, is the G.O.A.T. black widow. What a fun character! I really enjoyed this novel, quick read, fast-paced and fun. Unflinchingly feminist and unhinged in the best kind of way. I borrowed this book but think I need to buy a copy for my little home library.
August 29, 2024
This was a historical fiction retelling and reimagining the life of Alice Kyteler, the first woman to be persecuted as a witch in Ireland. I was incredibly excited to get an eARC of this because I had done some research into wise women in medieval Ireland and Britain for a course during my MA studies, but this just fell incredibly flat for me. 😔
Alice as a character was flat, rather one dimensional, and didn’t really go through any character development. I was almost bored by her at times and I feel horrible for saying this because I really wanted to like her and her desire to rule her life by her standards. Her apathy towards other villagers, while described as a need for self-preservation, just felt cold in general. I was also not particularly happy that Aitken teased a sapphic love between Alice and her servant that took her place on the pyre, Petronilla de Meath, and then never did anything with it. 😡
The time jumps in this short book felt stunted and rushed. The reader never gets a sense of Alice as a character and narrator because of this, and you end up as apathetic towards her as she is towards others. In all honesty, I would rather have stuck with Petronilla as a MC instead because she stood out more on the page than Alice did. 😬
The last thing thing that I didn’t particularly like was that Aitken makes all these links to wise women and their ways, especially the connection to the lynxes of Ireland (which, also why would she claim the Romans hunted them while they were there, which is also weird because Rome never conquered Ireland!), but then never once goes into detail about how Alice learned how to make homeopathic remedies. 🫨
All in all, I’m just left rather stumped. I felt like nothing happened in the plot and there were so many missed opportunities to really make this book shine. Big thank you goes out Canongate Books, Knopf, and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like this. 🥲
Publication date: September 10
Overall: 1.5/5 ⭐️
Alice as a character was flat, rather one dimensional, and didn’t really go through any character development. I was almost bored by her at times and I feel horrible for saying this because I really wanted to like her and her desire to rule her life by her standards. Her apathy towards other villagers, while described as a need for self-preservation, just felt cold in general. I was also not particularly happy that Aitken teased a sapphic love between Alice and her servant that took her place on the pyre, Petronilla de Meath, and then never did anything with it. 😡
The time jumps in this short book felt stunted and rushed. The reader never gets a sense of Alice as a character and narrator because of this, and you end up as apathetic towards her as she is towards others. In all honesty, I would rather have stuck with Petronilla as a MC instead because she stood out more on the page than Alice did. 😬
The last thing thing that I didn’t particularly like was that Aitken makes all these links to wise women and their ways, especially the connection to the lynxes of Ireland (which, also why would she claim the Romans hunted them while they were there, which is also weird because Rome never conquered Ireland!), but then never once goes into detail about how Alice learned how to make homeopathic remedies. 🫨
All in all, I’m just left rather stumped. I felt like nothing happened in the plot and there were so many missed opportunities to really make this book shine. Big thank you goes out Canongate Books, Knopf, and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like this. 🥲
Publication date: September 10
Overall: 1.5/5 ⭐️
May 10, 2024
I'm not sure "fun" is the right word to use to describe the time I had while reading this, but it's the closest I can get.
Learning about real life Alice Kyteler felt like looking into my past, present, future self; felt like learning about my ancestors, and the ancestors of others. It was sad, terrifying, joyful, and insistent.
Molly's writing took a little getting used to, but it felt reminiscent to how I felt reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and Weyward by Emilia Hart.
I'll probably think about this book for the rest of my life!
*I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Learning about real life Alice Kyteler felt like looking into my past, present, future self; felt like learning about my ancestors, and the ancestors of others. It was sad, terrifying, joyful, and insistent.
Molly's writing took a little getting used to, but it felt reminiscent to how I felt reading Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and Weyward by Emilia Hart.
I'll probably think about this book for the rest of my life!
*I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2024
Thoroughly delicious writing for this book. Loved it. The only reason it’s 4 stars and not 5 is that the end seemed a little rushed. Interesting insight in to the attitudes of others towards an intelligent and wealthy woman and the 13th century church.
May 6, 2024
Now this is the type of feminism I can read all day. After finishing the book, I did look up more information about Alice. The things she and her servants were accused of were insane. Molly Aitken's thorough research shines through and she did a great job giving a voice to a woman who was lost to history.
Thank you to Netgalley as well as Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this arc
Thank you to Netgalley as well as Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this arc
August 27, 2024
3.5
This was fiction but based on Alice Kyteler-
In 13th century Ireland, Alice was the first woman to be condemned as a witch.
She was a strong and successful businesswoman which was unusual. The story seemed to focus on how she acquired each of her four husbands and how they all conveniently died.
And she really was not a likeable character.
I enjoyed the book but was hoping for a bit more..
This was fiction but based on Alice Kyteler-
In 13th century Ireland, Alice was the first woman to be condemned as a witch.
She was a strong and successful businesswoman which was unusual. The story seemed to focus on how she acquired each of her four husbands and how they all conveniently died.
And she really was not a likeable character.
I enjoyed the book but was hoping for a bit more..
September 28, 2024
5⭐️
Engrossing, beguiling, lyrical.
It's a bit different to a lot of current WitchLit, which is refreshing.
Engrossing, beguiling, lyrical.
It's a bit different to a lot of current WitchLit, which is refreshing.
September 2, 2024
This was such an unusual book. The writing was haunting, sparse and foreboding. I felt it was an excellent reflection of what we have lost to history and the bits and pieces of what we know have been recorded.
In 13th century Ireland, Alice Kyteler is ready to marry and gather what little independence a woman of her time can possess. When her father dies, she sheds no tears and wastes little time in marrying and taking over his inn in Kilkenny.
What draws attention to Alice is her knack for moneymaking and her several marriages. She also has knowledge of herbs and cures that many of the time see as a sign of witchcraft. Alice will go on to become the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft.
Alice is not a likable character, but her story illustrates how many of her time were frightened of a powerful woman with her own resources and what struggles women have had to work to overcome.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend to other readers.
In 13th century Ireland, Alice Kyteler is ready to marry and gather what little independence a woman of her time can possess. When her father dies, she sheds no tears and wastes little time in marrying and taking over his inn in Kilkenny.
What draws attention to Alice is her knack for moneymaking and her several marriages. She also has knowledge of herbs and cures that many of the time see as a sign of witchcraft. Alice will go on to become the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft.
Alice is not a likable character, but her story illustrates how many of her time were frightened of a powerful woman with her own resources and what struggles women have had to work to overcome.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend to other readers.
September 9, 2024
Bright I Burn is an engrossing story about one badass woman, Alice Kyteler, who ruled in a man’s world. 1200s Ireland was rife with danger for such a woman, whether in be from disease, marriage, childbirth, or machinations of others. I loved the pacing of this story and interspersed town gossip. It’s dark. It’s feminist. It’s surprisingly funny at times. It’s not as witchy as one might infer, though all badass women are usually accused as witches (or bitches).
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
July 22, 2024
A strong 3.75.
Not sure I liked Alice the main character but found I was always hoping things would work out for her, she is certainly brave and bold! I enjoyed the writing, the short chapters and mini dialogues.
Not sure I liked Alice the main character but found I was always hoping things would work out for her, she is certainly brave and bold! I enjoyed the writing, the short chapters and mini dialogues.
February 27, 2025
Truly strange pacing and uneven character development. An interesting story in many ways, but yeah.
September 12, 2024
Lord forbid a woman have power.
Alice Kyteler had a problem: Her mother died when she was young, and her father raised her at his side as a moneylender. When he passed, his fortune and business passed to the experienced, well-taught, and cunning Alice (along with her new husband). Now Alice had all of the power and prestige of her own house and had joined it to that of her husband’s.
Alice also had another problem: She didn’t trust anyone, she especially didn’t trust men, and she wasn’t too thrilled with the trappings of her gender. Life was hard enough without being a female on top of it. Money became the only armor she could reliably wrap around herself and those few she chose to protect, so extracting herself from relationships in which she had wrought most of the benefits from became her number one priority.
Times change though, and you don’t live that kind of life without making enemies. In Alice’s case, a lot of enemies. Mix the rise of the Catholic Church in Ireland with a lot of people looking for revenge on a female moneylender, and you can see the writing on the wall.
The writing in this book was absolutely lovely, interspersed with ballads, poetry, folk recipes, small stories, and pages of gossip being exchanged back and forth between townspeople that grow more and more vociferous the longer the book goes on. The prose is lyrical, with an elegant flow and evocative imagery. Some passages grow more heated or more violent, but even those are elegant in word choice and structure.
It’s a great autumnal read, but know Alice Kyteler isn’t a good person. There are no heroes or villains in this book: there are just people who are driven in certain directions by circumstance. That’s one of the things I liked the most about this book.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publishers and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction
Alice Kyteler had a problem: Her mother died when she was young, and her father raised her at his side as a moneylender. When he passed, his fortune and business passed to the experienced, well-taught, and cunning Alice (along with her new husband). Now Alice had all of the power and prestige of her own house and had joined it to that of her husband’s.
Alice also had another problem: She didn’t trust anyone, she especially didn’t trust men, and she wasn’t too thrilled with the trappings of her gender. Life was hard enough without being a female on top of it. Money became the only armor she could reliably wrap around herself and those few she chose to protect, so extracting herself from relationships in which she had wrought most of the benefits from became her number one priority.
Times change though, and you don’t live that kind of life without making enemies. In Alice’s case, a lot of enemies. Mix the rise of the Catholic Church in Ireland with a lot of people looking for revenge on a female moneylender, and you can see the writing on the wall.
The writing in this book was absolutely lovely, interspersed with ballads, poetry, folk recipes, small stories, and pages of gossip being exchanged back and forth between townspeople that grow more and more vociferous the longer the book goes on. The prose is lyrical, with an elegant flow and evocative imagery. Some passages grow more heated or more violent, but even those are elegant in word choice and structure.
It’s a great autumnal read, but know Alice Kyteler isn’t a good person. There are no heroes or villains in this book: there are just people who are driven in certain directions by circumstance. That’s one of the things I liked the most about this book.
I was provided a copy of this title by the publishers and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction
May 28, 2024
Bright I Burn is the second novel by Molly Aitken. It tells the story of Alice Kyteler, the first recorded person in Ireland to have been formally charged with witchcraft. Given both the subject matter and the fact that I loved Aitken's debut novel, The Island Child, I had a feeling that I was going to really enjoy this book and, happily, that turned out to be the case.
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In a market that is saturated with witchtrial stories, Bright I Burn manages to be both compelling and genuinely distinctive. Unlike a lot of similarly themed books, the witchtrial aspect of Bright I Burn comes quite late in the story, meaning that it's Alice and her life rather than the accusations that are leveled against her that take centre stage. That coupled with Aitken's lyrical writing and her depiction of Alice as morally complicated (to say the least) make Bright I Burn a definite standout in the genre.
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At the heart of Alice's story is the relationship between womanhood and power. In Alice, Aitken creates a capable and conniving protagonist, often reduced to her gender by the limitations of the time. It's a story as old as time but one that has undeniable relevance in today's world where reproductive rights are under fire and graduating women are told that their life will only truly start when they get married and have children.
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Bright I Burn is beautifully written, well-researched and nuanced, exploring the exercise of personal morality in the context of the broader societal injustices that arguably necessitate immorality. Alice is not always a likeable or sympathetic character, and Aitken doesn't give any easy answers, but her story is one that will get you thinking. I'd highly recommend ordering yourself a copy, particularly if you're as interested in the witchtrials as I am - this isn't one you'll want to miss out on!
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Bright I Burn will be published on the 6th June 2024. Thank you to @molly.aitken and @canongatebooks for the advance review copy.
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In a market that is saturated with witchtrial stories, Bright I Burn manages to be both compelling and genuinely distinctive. Unlike a lot of similarly themed books, the witchtrial aspect of Bright I Burn comes quite late in the story, meaning that it's Alice and her life rather than the accusations that are leveled against her that take centre stage. That coupled with Aitken's lyrical writing and her depiction of Alice as morally complicated (to say the least) make Bright I Burn a definite standout in the genre.
📚
At the heart of Alice's story is the relationship between womanhood and power. In Alice, Aitken creates a capable and conniving protagonist, often reduced to her gender by the limitations of the time. It's a story as old as time but one that has undeniable relevance in today's world where reproductive rights are under fire and graduating women are told that their life will only truly start when they get married and have children.
📚
Bright I Burn is beautifully written, well-researched and nuanced, exploring the exercise of personal morality in the context of the broader societal injustices that arguably necessitate immorality. Alice is not always a likeable or sympathetic character, and Aitken doesn't give any easy answers, but her story is one that will get you thinking. I'd highly recommend ordering yourself a copy, particularly if you're as interested in the witchtrials as I am - this isn't one you'll want to miss out on!
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Bright I Burn will be published on the 6th June 2024. Thank you to @molly.aitken and @canongatebooks for the advance review copy.
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May 31, 2024
Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken is an extraordinary novel that weaves a rich tapestry of myth, magic, and raw human emotion. Aitken's storytelling prowess is on full display as she crafts a narrative that is as enchanting as it is profound.
The novel follows the journey of Rós, a young woman who finds herself entangled in the ancient, mystical traditions of her homeland. Aitken's ability to blend folklore with contemporary issues is seamless, creating a world that feels both timeless and utterly relevant. The prose is lush and evocative, painting vivid images that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.
What truly sets Bright I Burn apart is its depth of character development. Rós is a compelling protagonist whose growth is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each bringing their own unique perspectives and adding layers of complexity to the story.
Aitken's exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling is handled with great sensitivity and insight. The novel resonates on a deeply emotional level, making it a powerful read that stays with you.
In summary, Bright I Burn is a masterfully crafted novel that captivates from beginning to end. Molly Aitken has delivered a stunning work of fiction that is sure to appeal to fans of literary fiction and fantasy alike. Highly recommended!
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advanced readers copy!
The novel follows the journey of Rós, a young woman who finds herself entangled in the ancient, mystical traditions of her homeland. Aitken's ability to blend folklore with contemporary issues is seamless, creating a world that feels both timeless and utterly relevant. The prose is lush and evocative, painting vivid images that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.
What truly sets Bright I Burn apart is its depth of character development. Rós is a compelling protagonist whose growth is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each bringing their own unique perspectives and adding layers of complexity to the story.
Aitken's exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling is handled with great sensitivity and insight. The novel resonates on a deeply emotional level, making it a powerful read that stays with you.
In summary, Bright I Burn is a masterfully crafted novel that captivates from beginning to end. Molly Aitken has delivered a stunning work of fiction that is sure to appeal to fans of literary fiction and fantasy alike. Highly recommended!
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advanced readers copy!
June 9, 2024
I read this entire thing in one day. It's safe to say I am obsessed with how Molly brought Alice Kyteler to life. Historical fiction books rooted in real people or events are becoming a favourite subgenre of mine, and this ticked all the boxes.
Yes, Alice Kyteler was condemned as a witch, but I want to make it very clear that this book has nothing to do with witches. We follow her through the years as she makes a name for herself, becoming a successful business owner and having many an admirer. Morally grey characters are my absolute favourite. I loved Alice, but my gosh, did she do some very questionable things👀
I just wanted to touch on the fact that the writing style took me by surprise at first, but I soon settled into the narrative, and then I couldn't read it quick enough. There are town gossip chapters scattered throughout the book, and I love how these added another layer to the story. It felt very reminiscent of books I've loved previously in narrative style, like The Wall and I Who Have Never Known Men, and one for lovers of historical literary fiction like The Dance Tree and Cursed Bread.
Thank you so much to Canongate and Molly for my gifted early copy. Bright I Burn is out now!
Yes, Alice Kyteler was condemned as a witch, but I want to make it very clear that this book has nothing to do with witches. We follow her through the years as she makes a name for herself, becoming a successful business owner and having many an admirer. Morally grey characters are my absolute favourite. I loved Alice, but my gosh, did she do some very questionable things👀
I just wanted to touch on the fact that the writing style took me by surprise at first, but I soon settled into the narrative, and then I couldn't read it quick enough. There are town gossip chapters scattered throughout the book, and I love how these added another layer to the story. It felt very reminiscent of books I've loved previously in narrative style, like The Wall and I Who Have Never Known Men, and one for lovers of historical literary fiction like The Dance Tree and Cursed Bread.
Thank you so much to Canongate and Molly for my gifted early copy. Bright I Burn is out now!
October 31, 2024
Thank you to Knopf for the free copy of "Bright I Burn"!
Wowsies, this has been the most disappointing book I've read all year. "Bright I Burn" is the story of Alice Kyteler, the first woman accused of witchcraft in Ireland (however, this is a fully fictional story - or at least, mostly fictional). Through the loss of her multiple husbands, climbing the ladder of wealth and power, her journey of motherhood, and a sexually charged revelation of her own, Alice becomes notorious in her town. Rumors swirl about her nefarious going-ons, as well as the wealth she has so quickly accumulated.
So, that sounds like it would be a wicked interesting and really captivating book, right? Unfortunately, I don't know how the premise could be SO good, but SO little happens. Seriously - I read it in one shot, and as I closed the book I remember saying, "What was even the point of that book?" What I thought would be about scandal and witchcraft was just a boring tale of a woman in early times Ireland.
I thought there would be more since it was the story of THE first woman accused of witchcraft, but alas. Not really anything happened. For like 250 pages! Wild. However, now I'm trying to find other books about her that can do Alice some justice.
Wowsies, this has been the most disappointing book I've read all year. "Bright I Burn" is the story of Alice Kyteler, the first woman accused of witchcraft in Ireland (however, this is a fully fictional story - or at least, mostly fictional). Through the loss of her multiple husbands, climbing the ladder of wealth and power, her journey of motherhood, and a sexually charged revelation of her own, Alice becomes notorious in her town. Rumors swirl about her nefarious going-ons, as well as the wealth she has so quickly accumulated.
So, that sounds like it would be a wicked interesting and really captivating book, right? Unfortunately, I don't know how the premise could be SO good, but SO little happens. Seriously - I read it in one shot, and as I closed the book I remember saying, "What was even the point of that book?" What I thought would be about scandal and witchcraft was just a boring tale of a woman in early times Ireland.
I thought there would be more since it was the story of THE first woman accused of witchcraft, but alas. Not really anything happened. For like 250 pages! Wild. However, now I'm trying to find other books about her that can do Alice some justice.
September 8, 2024
A fascinating and engrossing story of Alice Kyteler, supposedly the first woman to be condemned as a witch in Ireland. The story is set in Thirteenth century Ireland and reimagines the life of Alice through her childhood, her several marriages and her ultimate tryst with fate. I loved Alice, she was a strong-willed independent-minded woman fighting to hold her own in a society dominated by men and biased against women. She probably was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The book is short and the prose is simple. Overall the atmospheric descriptions reminded me about the writings of Lauren Groff and the non-Tudor novels by Phillipa Gregory. I loved the book and I am definitely looking to read more from the author.
Thank you Netgalley, Knopf Publishing and Molly Aitken for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley, Knopf Publishing and Molly Aitken for the ARC.
August 18, 2024
This is an odd book, but one I still thoroughly enjoyed. It is a fast read and an emotional one. I would recommend it to people looking for a quick, unique story.
The book follows a beautiful young woman in thirteenth century Ireland whose father refuses to accept a marriage proposal for her. When he dies, she takes over her father's lending business and finds a man to marry because she knows she won't be taken seriously as a business woman without a husband. We follow her through several unsatisfying relationships over decades and see how life hardens her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
The book follows a beautiful young woman in thirteenth century Ireland whose father refuses to accept a marriage proposal for her. When he dies, she takes over her father's lending business and finds a man to marry because she knows she won't be taken seriously as a business woman without a husband. We follow her through several unsatisfying relationships over decades and see how life hardens her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
September 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this story of Alice told through little glimpses of the stages of her life. She was fiercely independent & anything but ordinary as she navigated the loss of her mother, took over her father’s business when he passed, lost a child and was married 4 times. A wealthy, smart, cunning woman was definitely not the norm in the 13th century and rumors and accusations swirled. I loved how this book was written. It completely drew me in and now has me looking up more about this woman and time. All the stars!
September 4, 2025
This historical retelling was inspired by Alice Kyteler, the first woman recorded to have been accused of witchcraft. We follow Alice on her journey as she vows to not suffer the same fate as her mother, instead a bold woman with a knack for making money as she runs her inn. Throughout Alice’s life she has four husbands, but as time passes the people of Kilkenny begin to talk and gossip soon spins into whispers of witchcraft and devilry.
After spending the last couple of days with this book, I became so enraptured in Alice’s life. Molly Aitken took the history of Alice and really made it her own by offering this woman lost to the past, a real monument to stand on and have her story be told in a less accusatory way. As with many women in history, their stories are often lost and buried in half-truths. Women with fine understandings of herbalism and healing, women who know too much, women who remain single, women who marry too often - all wrapped up in dealings with the devil, because god forbid a woman can strive for more than just being a wife? Bright I Burn really showcases Alice as the woman she was, and not just her condemnation. It’s an exploration into what might’ve been her life, her emotions, her reasonings behind it all and I really enjoyed this fresh perspective on a 13th century woman. Alice was starkly independent, clever, cunning, and bold and I’d like to believe that without her dealings, her husbands certainly wouldn’t have been able to maintain their fortunes.
The way in which this book is set out only adds to the scene as we have pages between chapters that contain whisperings from the townsfolk as her life goes on and we can really see how this becomes the catalyst for Alice’s demise. There is no direct depiction of a witch hunt or any explicit imagery of what the accused suffered, which as much as I find this area fascinating it was interesting to see this story told without that input, as this book is much more of a way to champion Alice and her story rather than to just showcase the violence perpetuated against women. I don’t think Alice is particularly likeable throughout her whole life, but this only adds to her complexity as a character as women were often made to be quiet and palatable so this contrast made me root for her despite her choices at times.
This book is angry, intriguing, and filled with admiration for a woman who suffered as so many continued to do for generations to follow. Molly Aitken has offered us a place to pay our respects to women who followed a similar fate to Alice, and I am very glad that I had the pleasure of reading it.
After spending the last couple of days with this book, I became so enraptured in Alice’s life. Molly Aitken took the history of Alice and really made it her own by offering this woman lost to the past, a real monument to stand on and have her story be told in a less accusatory way. As with many women in history, their stories are often lost and buried in half-truths. Women with fine understandings of herbalism and healing, women who know too much, women who remain single, women who marry too often - all wrapped up in dealings with the devil, because god forbid a woman can strive for more than just being a wife? Bright I Burn really showcases Alice as the woman she was, and not just her condemnation. It’s an exploration into what might’ve been her life, her emotions, her reasonings behind it all and I really enjoyed this fresh perspective on a 13th century woman. Alice was starkly independent, clever, cunning, and bold and I’d like to believe that without her dealings, her husbands certainly wouldn’t have been able to maintain their fortunes.
The way in which this book is set out only adds to the scene as we have pages between chapters that contain whisperings from the townsfolk as her life goes on and we can really see how this becomes the catalyst for Alice’s demise. There is no direct depiction of a witch hunt or any explicit imagery of what the accused suffered, which as much as I find this area fascinating it was interesting to see this story told without that input, as this book is much more of a way to champion Alice and her story rather than to just showcase the violence perpetuated against women. I don’t think Alice is particularly likeable throughout her whole life, but this only adds to her complexity as a character as women were often made to be quiet and palatable so this contrast made me root for her despite her choices at times.
This book is angry, intriguing, and filled with admiration for a woman who suffered as so many continued to do for generations to follow. Molly Aitken has offered us a place to pay our respects to women who followed a similar fate to Alice, and I am very glad that I had the pleasure of reading it.
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