Review: Hex by Jenni Fagan

In 1591, Geillis Duncan was found guilty of witchcraft and hanged as part of the North Berwick Witch Trials in Scotland. In Hex by Jenni Fagan, the author's protagonist Iris contacts Geillis in her jail cell on the eve of her execution. The year is 2021 for Iris, and she establishes the link between the pair via seance and astral travel.

Even with the stunning cover design, some of you might have dismissed this book immediately given the premise, however I enjoy historical fiction and was interested to learn what Iris had to say to Geillis. Geillis also made an appearance in the first three seasons of Outlander and she really made an impression. (I love that show by the way)! I wondered why Iris would choose to visit Geillis when all hope of salvation was gone. Why not visit earlier and help her to avoid her fate? Was she driven by a desire to provide comfort or satisfy her own curiosity? I didn't really find the answers, but what I did discover was anger and pure rage.

"A woman's voice is a hex. She must learn to exalt men always. If she doesn't do that, then she is a threat. A demon whore, a witch - so says everyone and the law. So say the King and his guards. So say the witch-pricker and his sadistic friends. So say the husbands, the haters, the wives, the daughters, the God-fearing - demons are always trying to kill them, so they know. So says the hangman who sleeps with Bible in hand." Page 8

Those familiar with their history will know that Geillis Duncan worked for David Seaton, who was unhappy about an inheritance that had been given to his in-laws. Seaton accused Geillis of witchcraft and together with a bunch of men, tortured her into naming other women as witches, including his sister-in-law Euphame MacCalzean. The author doesn't shy away from the horror of said torture nor Iris's history of abuse, and the lack of punctuation for dialogue made it even more difficult and uncomfortable to read.

"Euphame MacCalzean. That's who he wanted. That's who he went after. This is my true confession. He could not go after her directly, being of nobility as she is and with money, and he could not risk being accused of trying to hurt her. To kill her, in fact. He could not have his motive - to try to get his hands on her inheritance - as something that linked him to her death. So what other way to put a woman to death? Have her accused of witchcraft, that's what." Page 85

Despite the centuries between them, Iris and Geillis share a hatred for men and this rubbed me up the wrong way from the get go. Not all men in 1591 were evil and the same goes for 2021, although Iris pretty much tells Geillis nothing has changed.

Every page is dripping with rage, and the tender moments between Iris and Geillis weren't nearly enough to counterbalance the helplessness and horror of Duncan's situation, sitting in a dark cell awaiting her execution.

The only reason I didn't put Hex aside and stop reading it was the fact it was only 104 pages long, however I can't recommend this historical reimagining. Some readers might find the ending ethereal and magical, but I just found it a complete waste.

Hex by Jenni Fagan is part of the Darkland Tales series where Scottish authors offer dramatic retellings of stories from the nation's history, myth and legend. For those interested, other offerings in the series include: Rizzio by Denise Mina, Nothing Left to Fear From Hell by Alan Warner, Columba's Bones by David Greig and Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★