As Margaret becomes more entrenched in Isobel’s world of fairies and healing and magic, her father and the minister are gathering evidence for Isobel’s witchcraft trial. Scotland is aflame with wars over religion–English against Scots, Catholics against Protestants–and in the Scottish Highlands, the witch craze is at its height. Margaret apprentices herself to Isobel and in a subplot falls in love with Andrew, an English soldier.īut her meetings with both have to be clandestine, as her Covenanter family believes that magic is of the Devil, and her father hates the English who occupy his country. But she also admires her tutor, Katharine, and feels torn between the two belief systems. Margaret, the 17-year-old daughter of the Laird, becomes fascinated by the charismatic Isobel and secretly seeks her out to learn magic. Katharine, a highly educated and earnest Covenanter, is a tutor to the Laird’s daughters and a Christian mystic who experiences the presence of Christ in visions. She experiences trance-like states in which she communes with the dead and travels with the fairies. Isobel is a psychic, folk healer, visionary and magic practitioner. It tells the story of three strong women: Isobel, the “cunning woman” Katharine, a devout Covenanter and Margaret, a young girl torn between the two. Stay tuned for more coverage here at Bitter and Blue.Bitter Magic is a historical novel inspired by the true story of the witchcraft trial of Isobel Gowdie in 1662 Scotland and reveals a little-known corner of history-the lives of both pagan and Protestant women in the Scottish Reformation. The stakes have risen and it will make for a fun close of season. The story of the night is that City get a win and now are champions and can celebrate accordingly. Salute to Kyle Walker as well who captained the side today. Two of note who did play well and were lively were Ortega and Phil Foden who showed up well.

They played a really great match and this time with Julian Alvarez looking like the special player he is.Ĭity had so many players who played well and this seems to be a match that City held on to and took advantage when needed to win the match comfortably. One where City was in control with possession and chances created. The result means that City will celebrate the title with a win and with class after this win at home in front of the adoring supporters.Ī match that had a similar feel to most City matches, yet resulted in some great play for the team as the intensity was there early. That included a very heavy rotated squad that saw a lot of new faces in from the start. Manchester City will take that big win here as a hugely important match was won with some stellar performances and decisions from Pep Guardiola. Manchester City 1, Julián Álvarez (12’).

Bitter magic