Sorrowsmile Meadows is the perfect read for fans of novels so tense and thrilling they will pull you in from the first page, or anyone who enjoys great writing and vivid characterisation. Naughton blends historical fiction, mystery, folklore, and fantasy into a truly gripping and dark story. As a reader who does not often reach for fantasy or historical fiction, this book has made me wonder: why on earth not?
Whilst seemingly simple at first glance, the plot is utterly original and thoroughly enjoyable. Maggie, Jeremy, and their daughter, decide to take a holiday to the English village of Begin Again in hopes of a fresh start and reparations to their failing marriage. However, in the village of Begin Again, nothing is as it seems. And little do the family know, their ties to this village run deeper than just a family holiday.
Despite the village’s façade of peace and tranquillity, unbeknownst to Maggie, Jeremy and Esther, there are forces of evil at every turn and a mysterious past. Eccentric townspeople, mysterious sayings, old technology, and ancient rituals; the town seems suspended in time and ruled by the power of the nefarious Marcher Satan, whose hold over the town dates all the way back to 1357.
The characterisation in this novel is by far one of its biggest strengths. Each character, even minor ones, are well-fleshed out and given space to really shine amidst the chaos of the novel. Maggie’s character is without a doubt my favourite. She is strong, resilient and her bond with her daughter, Esther, is unshakable. I am often rather critical of the way female characters are written, but Naughton writes with real consideration and care. Jeremy’s character is a fascinating one; he becomes utterly consumed by the power of Marcher Satan, with the fate of Maggie, Esther and Sorrowsmile Meadows left to be resolved – but by who?
The world Naughton builds is vast in its imagination and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. With several timelines, past and present parallels, and sincerely believable environments, you will feel genuinely immersed in the novel’s atmosphere and captivated from the very first page. The historical depth of the story, particularly the origins of Marcher Satan, were so compelling I wish there was even more – and that is my only critique of this novel. Naughton’s use of pace is masterful. The narrative slowly unfolds, accelerating and building tension until it unravels into a flurry of hellish chaos. The balance of tone is equally effective. Naughton manages to expertly shift from the humorous and light to something truly dark and unsettling in a way that catches you off guard; when reading the first chapter or so I definitely had no clue what I was in for.
Overall, this novel is absolutely worth reading, and I urge you to do so!
I award 5 stars.
