Penguin Random House Canada, October 27, 2016.
Three Stars
In her new novel, McKay returns to late 19th
century New York City, and revisits the character of “Moth” from her last
novel, The Virgin Cure. Now known as
Adelaide, she has opened a tea shop with another woman named Eleanor St. Clair.
Eleanor is a medical student and a “keeper of spells” – in other words, she
identifies herself as a witch. Two hundred years after the Salem Witch Trials,
she is able to practice small acts of “witchcraft” such as palmistry and
discussing women’s health issues, but the world is still a dangerous place for
strong women such as Eleanor and Adelaide.
The two women use their shop, named Tea and Sympathy,
to help the women of Gilded Age New York with many problems, including reproductive
issues that are largely ignored by the male doctors of the time. They work in
secrecy, making their potions and cures seem trivial to outsiders – but in fact,
their work is fundamental to the rights of women.
Adelaide and Eleanor are soon joined by a third
woman, Beatrice – desperate for employment, she shows up unexpectedly at the
tea shop and becomes Eleanor’s apprentice. As she works in the shop, she begins
to see things and hear voices, and she can’t be certain whether she is touched
by magic or if she is going mad. Eleanor has a healthy respect for Beatrice’s
new powers, but Adelaide sees a profit to be made from them – she introduces
Beatrice to Dr. Quinn Brody and has him test her for the ability to communicate
with spirits. However, Adelaide’s exploitation of Beatrice’s condition will put
all three women in danger.
When Beatrice unexpectedly disappears from the tea
shop, there is no way of knowing whether she is running from her friends or
whether she has been taken against her will. As Eleanor and Adelaide work to
find her, they are forced to confront their own pasts as well. Their journey
exposes the dangers of being strong, powerful women at a time when this
labelled them as witches.
This novel is well-researched and well-written – it is
a history of women’s rights at a time when there weren’t many. It shows the
strength that can be found when women work together, to gain control over their
own reproductive health. These three women are forced to navigate the glamour
and the dangers of the city using any means possible, even witchcraft. The
novel is atmospheric and even sometimes magical, but the plot is unfocused and
loses momentum at times. While it is not as strong as McKay’s first novel, The Birth House, it is still a
compelling story that will likely be followed with a sequel or even a series.
If it does, I will certainly keep reading about these strong, impressive women.
I received this book from Penguin Random House Canada
and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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