Fiction Based on a True Story

Bitter Magic by Nancy Hayes Kilgore is historical fiction based on true story of a confessed witch, Isobel Gowdie. Within the backdrop to this time period is Oliver Cromwell, one of the most controversial figures in English history. He was a political and military leader of England who served as Lord Protector (head of state) of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland for five years until his death in 1658. Cromwell was a hero to many Englishmen. And to the Covenanter Scots whom he’d promised to restore the Covenanter faith. Until, that is, he turned traitor and joined with the English Royalist Presbyterians to demolish the Covenanters at the bloody battle of Auldearn, Scotland.

We meet our young, bright protagonist on page one, seventeen year old Maggie of Inshoch Castle on one of the highest points overlooking the sea in what is now known as County Moray. The Castle is located on the northern peninsula shore above Inverness, Scotland. County Moray is also the location of the earlier terrible Battle of Auldearn where a close relative was murdered.

Maggie and her family–father John, mother Elizabeth, sister Lucy and her wee brother, John–are all of the ancient clan of Hay. This evening, after dinner with her family, she goes for an outdoor walk. Across the grasses blowing on the dunes leading down to the windy shore, she sees a woman calling to the sea and raising her arms as if beckoning something. Soon two dolphins appear. Maggie has often seen them frolicking in the sea and named them Titania and Oberon. Then, magic seemingly in the air, a few more dolphins arrive.

The woman turns to see Maggie and the two sense they have common interests. Maggie mentions she’d read about fairies in Mr. Shakespeare’s play. The woman tells her he’d been to Elfane, the fairy kingdom, then turns back to the dolphins. After chanting several lines of a verse, they leap happily and soon disappear beneath the surface.

Maggie understands that the dolphins clearly understand the woman in the water, named Isobel. How on earth did she communicate with them? Maggie aches to know.

Another question pulls at Maggie, who has strong interest in learning about theology. She’s curious to learn more about life beyond the visible world than she’s learned from her Covenanter church. She and Isobel talk a little more. Isobel reveals she possessed two sights: the visible and the invisible world and Maggie yearns to learn more. But Isabel needs to leave, so Maggie return home–her Eden–as she calls it. Maggie’s parents greet her with deep concern that she’d been alone near dark at the edge of the sea. By doing this, she’d placed herself in danger of the English Royalists. Since the war, they still lurk in the area and often appear out of nowhere. They steal cattle, horses, murder people, or kidnap people who may never be seen again. 

The times are turbulent, indeed, as the Covenanters seek to restore their religion to Scotland. Things are on hold with their present church until Maggie’s Uncle William escorts the banished Charles II back to Scotland. That’s when the Covenanters look forward to worshipping their true God once again.

Rumors of witches, women with supposed supernatural powers, have been in the air for months. Isobel is one of several suspected of witchcraft because of her seemingly magical powers, Maggie soon learns. Her pastor condemns these witches; two women have already lost their lives and two more are in the early stages of trial.

Bitter Magic came into my hands in an unusual way and I sensed this was no coincidence. I researched and found myself deeply drawn to both the story and the author’s beautifully detailed writing. 

I highly recommend Bitter Magic for anyone interested in learning about 17th century Scotland culture, both well to do and the farm communities. Also, the church roles, lives of women both poor and rich, and, of course, witchcraft, this one based on true story of a confessed witch.

I gained deep insight into how the religious conflicts Scotland experienced in the 1600s have the same basic roots that every conflict holds. Both sides passionately believe they are absolutely right and willing to become ugly, aggressive, and even murderous at times. So much in this story threads into our present day conflicts. With no wish to be a spoiler, I’ll share that Kilgore uses the one sure solution to these horrific conflicts to end her story. And, thus, this story becomes both a compelling and exceptional book of hope.

NOTE: Story Circle’s Award Winning Book Review Site previously published this review on 8/9/2021.