The Witch's Daughter Guide
Chapter guide, maps, ebook links, background notes and more. The one place to find everything related to this serialised historical novel.
The Witch’s Daughter is a serialised historical fiction set in 1169 in Ireland. The town of Duncormac is caught between a crusading bishop and Norman invaders. When Hilde Blaine, 13 year old daughter of a woman accused of witchcraft, is witness to the first scouts of the Norman force, she sets events in train that will echo throughout history.
The novel is serialised in 29 chapters, a new one dropping every Sunday, here on AuthenticWriting.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Blaine Cottage - FREE
Blaine Cottage, May 1169. Dawn arises on a normal day of chores for Hilde Blaine. But does she see something in the lane? And what doom approaches on the tide?
Chapter 2 - A Hidden Valley - FREE
The Normans march from the hidden valley. We learn more about kings. People approach the cottage, and Hilde must flee. Hilde runs, and sees a horse and rider.
Chapter 3 - The Copse - FREE
An army marches from Bannow Bay toward Duncormac. A rider returns with news of the nearby village. Hilde meets a goatherd and finds a shoe.
Chapter 4 - The Witchfinder - FREE
A man in black arrives at Blaine Cottage to accuse Hilde's mother. The townsfolk gather for the show.
Bronach is gone from Blaine Cottage, but Hilde is helped by her call to the old ways. When it’s time to leave the cottage, where will she go?
On the Main Road through town Hilde's plan to travel to the Priory meets a hitch, and she makes a discovery.
Near Duncormac Bran looks for the foreign warriors. Hilde struggles to escape her accusers and speak to the Chief.
Tension worsens among the Norman invaders over a surprise disappearance. Hilde starts a new day over breakfast with a friend and realises her town is not safe.
Prendergast’s secret is revealed. Hilde goes to the Priory and lies her way in. While waiting a chilling surprise visitor arrives.
Hilde tries to earn trust, learns of a secret power, and finds out more about her King in her morning at the Priory.
Hilde plays delivery boy for the Priory but runs into trouble at O'Brien's Alehouse after questioning Donegal.
Hilde talks with Gráinne as they ride the cart back to the Priory. Prendergast returns and FitzStephen drowns his sorrows.
Hilde asks more than she ought to, learns more than she bargained for and then has to face the ultimate authority, An Mháthair-Uachtarán.
Hilde's alliances within the Priory shift as she opens up to the Reverend Mother but loses trust with Gráinne.
Hilde loses an ally, finds some evidence. She seeks out the Bishop in his den of iniquity and comes away with more than she bargained for.
Hilde is escorted from the Priory and seeks out Father Stephen. But a burly man and a strange encounter in the Vestry changes her plans.
Tension mounts at the Norman camp and the foibles of the two captains are on display. Hilde leaves the church.
Chapter 18 - The Battle of Slaney Field - COMING SUNDAY.
Battles that shaped men. And perhaps the start of a new direction for Donegal.
Book Cover
Wolf’s head pin design comes directly from the text of my book
It’s based on my research notes of other medieval Irish cloak pins.
As far as I know this design is unique
Want this as an ebook? You can! It’s available for pre-purchase.
Map of Ireland and Western Wales
The events of the story play out over just a weekend — from the landing on Friday the 2nd of May to the evening of Sunday 3rd of May — with the final resolution for our hero, Hilde Blaine occurring on Monday the 4th of May.
But the movements of the players in those events are spread across many locations: so the maps that I spent a lot of time creating are really helpful in following the story, and understanding how time is passing. Also since these are medieval times, although the distances are small, the time to traverse them cannot be compared with what we experience today.
Looking at the top speed of a horse for example, doesn’t give an accurate idea of what it might be like moving across a land where roads were at times just muddy trails, or rights-of-way across land with no paving or earthworks to ease passage.
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