Salt & Broom | Sharon Lynn Fisher
"something in my chest melted and pooled like candle wax. they were the loveliest words anyone had ever spoken to me. i will not abandon you."
Salt & Broom is an imaginative and magical
retelling of the 1847 classic Jane Eyre, with a fresh spin involving
witches, fairies, and herbal healing. It is a delightful must-read for any fan.
Jane Aire is a practicing witch and a teacher who imparts her knowledge of
herbal lore and remedies to the young students at Lowood. Despite the harsh
conditions of the school, Jane is mostly happy, although she dreads
interactions with Mr. Brocklehurst, the superintendent of the school. She has
been hired by Edward Rochester to rid Thornfield Hall of the shadow that looms
over the estate causing unsettling feelings and unusual incidences for
Rochester and his staff. Independent and headstrong, Jane initially clashes
with the master of Thornfield; however, they become allies when it becomes
clear the threat puts them in mortal danger.
Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall and is swept up in several
intriguing mysteries. First, she has to figure out how to fix whatever is
happening at the estate, but in order to do that, she needs to get closer to
the household staff and learn more about Antoinette’s death. There are also
secrets buried behind the stern facade of Mr. Rochester, and Jane knows she
must learn the truth if she’s to save Thornfield Hall. And perhaps the biggest
mystery of all is Jane herself. Where did she come from? Who were her parents?
And how is she tied to Thornfield Hall and the surrounding woods? Fisher has
some surprising reveals in store for readers, and I guarantee you will have a
fun time getting there.
When Jane meets Mr. Edward Rochester, it’s not under the
best circumstances. He becomes injured about a second after laying eyes on her,
and Jane manages to immediately put her foot in her mouth. Still, she is
determined to help him get rid of the curse that he appears to be dealing with.
No sooner than Jane arrives, strange and frightening things begin happening. Jane
and Edward must figure out how to work together in order to save themselves. No
small feat for a young witch and a grumpy cynic. Along with a small and
captivating cast of characters, a magical cat, and an old and darkly beautiful
estate, we learn the secrets of the curse.
The writer’s style is clever and snappy, and she stays true
to the original characterization of the protagonists, just with a paranormal
twist. There were continual winks to the original story while taking liberties
to spin the tale into a paranormal story. I could tell the author put enormous
research into the period and herbal plants. Another wonderful aspect was the
banter shared between Jane and Mr. Rochester. Fisher has perfectly captured the
essence of Jane Eyre with her gorgeous writing style and language, and I felt
as if I had been dropped directly into the story.
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