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Edward Lee's bio and intro for this book distinctly reads that he is after creating a M.
Hence this book is not Lee's usual fare and, while I certainly appreciate his literary aspirations, personally I enjoy reading Lee writing as himself not emulating classics. Lee's got a unique style which works well for him, from inbred rapists and murderers of his earlier works to the very imaginative infernal series. Lately seems like he's been trying to write these pastiche style books or Edward Lee's bio and intro for this book distinctly reads that he is after creating a M.
Lately seems like he's been trying to write these pastiche style books or classically inspired ones, trying all these different things, which don't necessarily work. To thy own self For all that Witch Water was entertaining, but it's like it couldn't decide quite what it was, the writing style I've recently read Black Train by Lee, book in a similar vein plot wise, but pastiche free, and it worked much better.
But, for all that, Witch Water was a pretty fun read with all the typical Lee's idiosyncrasies. It was also my first inter library loan Gotta love the libraries. May 31, Ms. Nikki rated it it was ok Shelves: Nothing horrific happened, just background and build-up info of the main character that was really uninteresting. We learned about the Wraxall's and what they did to gain power and how they were killed, how witchcraft was dealt with in Havers which was true Lee gross-ness.
View all 6 comments. Aug 29, Juxian rated it it was amazing Shelves: It's so good I can't even. Of all books by my favorite horror author Edward Lee this one is probably going to be my most favorite. I can't believe some people called it boring. It is amazing, totally unpredictable, a wildest ride from the beginning to the last word. Fascinating mix of modern and historical. A very likable main character you can't help rooting for. Clever, ironic and intellectually stimulating. I like Edward Lee best when he's not trying to write like Edward Lee. I liked the first two-thirds of this novel a lot.
The book has a very atmospheric quality, and Lee somehow made me understand, relate to, and care about a protagonist who just so happens to be a compulsive peeping Tom. Lee is also able to present the old-fashioned concept of witches in a way that is truly frightening--a feat very few horror writers have pulled off lately. Ultimately, though, I felt that Lee sabotaged his own story by taking very likeable characters and making you come to despise them.
Which wouldn't be so bad By the end, I stopped thinking of the characters as actual people, but rather as pawns to be exploited for the sake of a few surprise plot twists. There are other things to quibble about. I would say that some of the sex and gore is over-the-top, but, when it comes to an Edward Lee novel, that's like complaining that cheese is too dairy.
In Lee's version of American history, people were either Satanic witches or religious zealots who spent their time raping women in the stockades or devising methods of torture to rival the Inquisition. Another thing that's over-the-top is Lee's attempt to recreate the old-timey language of three-hundred years ago, resulting in some pretty awkward dialog with people from the past.
Oh, did I mention that the time travel stuff makes virtually no sense? Unfortunately, Lee's tendency to rely on shock value wins out in the end and brings the novel down a couple pegs. Aug 21, A.
If you're a fan of supernatural horror that involves small towns, myths and legends, Satanism, witchcraft, covens, and bloody rituals, pick up a copy of "Witch Water" by Edward Lee, one of my favourite horror writers. This is the kind of book you relish with glee after discovering a tattered and worn paperback at a book or garage sale, a hidden gem. But a word of caution would be horror fans shouldn't go into this expecting "The Infernal Angel" or "Flesh Gothic" or even "Brides of the Impaler"--L If you're a fan of supernatural horror that involves small towns, myths and legends, Satanism, witchcraft, covens, and bloody rituals, pick up a copy of "Witch Water" by Edward Lee, one of my favourite horror writers.
But a word of caution would be horror fans shouldn't go into this expecting "The Infernal Angel" or "Flesh Gothic" or even "Brides of the Impaler"--Lee is, of course, well known for his more Extreme Horror offerings, but it's important for horror authors to vary their repertoire so they don't become "typecast" or known only for one type of book.
Although some reviewers have expressed disappointment at "Witch Water," I thought it was refreshing to see a different kind of book by Lee, as I tend to like a wide spectrum of works across the horror and dark fantasy landscapes. Still, "Witch Water" is definitely Rated R and contains many disturbing visuals, and it goes into a fascinating history about witchcraft in America in a town where witch trials and executions were de rigeur before the famous Salem ones.
It's a great read with fascinating characters, interesting history, and some very cool elements. If you can't get enough of witches and warlocks, dark legends, and the disturbing history that towns try to cover up or deny, "Witch Water" is for you.
Jun 08, Kat rated it it was ok Shelves: This was my first Edward Lee book. And while I can't compare to his other books, I wasn't blown away by it. In fact, the whole ending was messy and the rest of it was just boring. I did like his style and I will attempt to read some of his other books. But this one was not for me. For a more in depth official review please visit Shivers of Horror. Jun 26, Steven rated it really liked it Shelves: A troubled man seeks solace in a quiet New England town, but is confronted by the lure of a warlock's secrets.
This is one of Edward Lee's best horror novels. The story's pace is perfect, slowly building to its evil denouement. Jul 02, Brittney rated it it was amazing. I love anything Edward Lee. This book did not fail my expectations! Sep 27, Martin Milhomme rated it it was amazing. Now that is a witch story. This is first class gross out and terror. So refreshing to have witches and warlocks be scary again. With Witch Water, Lee tries to do something similar with another weird fiction icon: What killed him, and why was he here, what was he looking for?
These questions dog our protagonist just like the unseen hound whose growls seems to follow him at every step. The answers eventually come in the form of an antique spyglass through which glimpses of another time can be seen, a time when a devil-worshiping warlock and his lusty daughter terrorized the village from under cover of shadow.
Indeed, Witch Water is decidedly light on gore, with only one such scene popping up, if my memory is correct.
Nor is it any failing in the story itself. Although some reviewers have expressed disappointment at "Witch Water," I thought it was refreshing to see a different kind of book by Lee, as I tend to like a wide spectrum of works across the horror and dark fantasy landscapes. That is where his history as a peeping tom finds new opportunities for depravity as he meets Jacob Wraxall, is nearly strangled to death by Rood and is raped by Evanore. I higly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!! Also, I found the conclusion of the novel less than satisfying. These questions dog our protagonist just like the unseen hound whose growls seems to follow him at every step.
Likewise, while there are more than a few mentions of nudity sprinkled throughout and definitely an overall atmosphere of erotic charge, Witch Water in general has only a handful of moments of graphic sexuality. That said, as much as I laud Lee for doing something different from what is expected of him, I have to admit this is not his best work.
His Infernal and Lovecraftian books, which I mentioned earlier, are both much better. This is not because of the stylistic experimentation that Witch Water represents, though. Nor is it any failing in the story itself. The main problem with Witch Water is that it simply feels rough. Lee does a great job of capturing the mood and themes of M. James, but not so much the language, as he was able to with Lovecraft.
The writing itself is a bit too straightforward at times, even bland, and the dialogue is sometimes distractingly clunky. The biggest problem for me, however, was the finale. It almost feels like Lee got impatient in the final moments and rushed through to the end.
To create Witch Water, right-click a Water-filled Barrel with Mushroom Stew or Ancient Spores. A Water-filled Barrel will also turn into Witch. Witch Water is made by putting a barrel on top of or adjacent to a block of Mycelium and filling it with water. If you already have water in a barrel and you put.
I know I did. If nothing else, it makes me pine for Lee to take another stab at the M. With a bit more elbow grease, I think his another one could be something truly special. Mar 25, Stephen Coatsworth rated it did not like it.
I managed about two thirds of this book before I had to give up. The premise was interesting and Edward Lee usually serves up decent horror novels. However, I just could not engage with any of the characters. They all seemed one dimensional and whenever there was an encounter with the towns tour guide I wanted to throw the damned book across the room.
Supposedly English, she seemed to be a mix of every British stereotype ever with a regional accent which spanned the entire , Km2 of the UK. I think she may have been dragged from the authors memory of English peasants depicted in the Hammer house of horror movies, a clearly distant memory in this case.
I'm sure other people may enjoy it. That's if they like Scouse Cornish Jocks and Billionaires with voyeur issues battling with witches and warlocks from the 's. Oct 25, chucklesthescot rated it did not like it Shelves: The MC was a whinging, self pitying pervert who seems to think that he is hard done by. He likes to spy on woman in their homes and is a creepy twisted idiot yet he is our hero.
He is constantly being tempted to spy on every woman he meets which doesn't make me like the guy. It is a slow book, more about him and his twisted fun and fighting his urges, than an actual story. We get hints about the town history and a few of its famous sons and daughters but it is so slow! There was very little of in The MC was a whinging, self pitying pervert who seems to think that he is hard done by.
There was very little of interest in the first quarter of the book and I gave up on it soon after. Ed Lee does it again. This time, with Witch Water, Lee takes the unlikely protagonist, who happens to be a billionaire peeping tom, and thrusts him into the quaint, Salem-esque locale of Haver-Towne, where Stew Fanshawe uncovers the secrets of a legendary warlock who sires children with his very own diabolical daughter. Fans of Lee won't want to miss Witch Water. Horror fans who have yet to partake of Lee are in for a treat.
Sep 22, Chris rated it liked it. Like a character-flipped version of "Gast" whose protagonists are surprisingly moral and on the right side by Ed Lee's standards; in "Witch Water" they are anything but meets "The Crucible," with a strong debt to MR James' story "A View from a Hill. Also I may have burnt out my Ed Lee centres for a while and need to read someone else. Showing of 34 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews.
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. James with fun but uneven results. With Witch Water, Lee tries to do something similar with another weird fiction icon: What killed him, and why was he here, what was he looking for? These questions dog our protagonist just like the unseen hound whose growls seems to follow him at every step.
The answers eventually come in the form of an antique spyglass through which glimpses of another time can be seen, a time when a devil-worshiping warlock and his lusty daughter terrorized the village from under cover of shadow. Indeed, Witch Water is decidedly light on gore, with only one such scene popping up, if my memory is correct. Likewise, while there are more than a few mentions of nudity sprinkled throughout and definitely an overall atmosphere of erotic charge, Witch Water in general has only a handful of moments of graphic sexuality.
That said, as much as I laud Lee for doing something different from what is expected of him, I have to admit this is not his best work. His Infernal and Lovecraftian books, which I mentioned earlier, are both much better.
This is not because of the stylistic experimentation that Witch Water represents, though. Nor is it any failing in the story itself. The main problem with Witch Water is that it simply feels rough. Lee does a great job of capturing the mood and themes of M.
James, but not so much the language, as he was able to with Lovecraft. The writing itself is a bit too straightforward at times, even bland, and the dialogue is sometimes distractingly clunky. The biggest problem for me, however, was the finale. It almost feels like Lee got impatient in the final moments and rushed through to the end.
I know I did. If nothing else, it makes me pine for Lee to take another stab at the M. With a bit more elbow grease, I think another one could be something truly special. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Stewart Fanshawe is a peeping tom. He is addicted to it. He heads to Haver-Towne, New Hampshire where he discovers a new addiction, the occult. Fanshawe is dealt with in an almost sympathetic way throughout most of this book. He is trying so hard not to be a pervert. He wants to be normal. He is excited about dating Abbie Baxter, a normal woman for a normal man. Fanshawe now has a new obsession.
When he finds the Witch-Water in his pocket and discovers that it allows him to see the world in the past, he gains a new addiction, the occult. I was actually rooting for Fanshawe to overcome his addiction. Up until the end, you are hoping that he will do the right thing, and somehow, you feel betrayed when he doesn't. The writing is on the wall, but he seemed like someone who was earnest in his attempt to be a better person. The true horror did not come from the obvious atrocities that occurred with Evanore and Jacob Wraxall, but the less obvious metamorphosis of the character of Fanshawe, who went from being a flawed human being to an evil, demonic being.
It was the secret hidden in the book, and it was why so much time was spent on Fanshawe. Nothing horrific happened, just background and build-up info of the main character that was really uninteresting. We learned about the Wraxall's and what they did to gain power and how they were killed, how witchcraft was dealt with in Havers which was true Lee gross-ness. Really, I'd give it three-and-a-half stars. Lee is very, very good with setting and character. His passion for exposition and back story gets a little carried away and bogs down the pacing of the narrative.
Also, I found the conclusion of the novel less than satisfying. Still, if you've read Lee and liked his other books, then you'll probably dig this one. One person found this helpful. I've read some of this author's other horror works. He certainly can certainly develop characters and set a scene. In this case, the protagonist is a rich man who has a mental illness: And it has cost him his marriage and his reputation but he still has cash. So you really feel this guy's shame and determination to reform himself even as he arrives in a creepy old town to vacation. The current town and its history are effectively described by the author.
But now it all goes down hill. Our 'hero' hardly tries at all to fight his illness and suddenly the town is filled with nubile young women who like to undress by open windows. And just as we lose respect for the 'hero', the rest of the story gets just as ridiculous. I wish someone else had written the second half of the book.
Then I would give it another 2 stars. The story took me on an imaginative ride into multiple realities of time and culture. The characters are tainted and very likeable, flaws aside. The story centers on the infamous period of the purging of witches in New America. The witches may have been twisted but their persecutors were sadistic when serving violent justice.