From Goodreads
New from Master of Suspense, J.D. BARKER
Bram Stoker Award Nominee - Superior Achievement in a First Novel
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga
From the witch trials of centuries past, an evil awakens.
Inspired by Actual Events
Excerpt from the Journal of Clayton Stone – 1692
She was examined today without torture at Shadow Cove township on the charge of witchcraft. She said she was wholly innocent of the crime and has never in life renounced God. I watched as they brought her out. A poor, sickly thing, worn by her time behind the walls of her prison. Her bared feet and hands bound in leather, her clothing tattered to that of ruin. Despite such condition, her head was held high, her eyes meeting those of her accusers. She still refuses to provide her name so we remain unable to search baptismal records, nor has her family stepped forward to claim her as their own. We have no reason to believe she is anything but an orphaned child. I find myself unable to look at her directly in the moments preceding her trial. She is watching me though; with eyes of the deepest blue, she is watching me.
Thad McAlister, Rise of the Witch
When horror author Thad McAlister began his latest novel, a tale rooted in the witch trials of centuries past, the words flowed effortlessly. The story poured forth, filling page after page with the most frightening character ever to crawl from his imagination. It was his greatest work, one that would guarantee him a position among the legends of the craft.
But was it really fiction?
He inadvertently opened a door, one that would soon jeopardize the lives of his family.
She wants to come back.
At home, his wife struggles to keep their family alive. Secretly wondering if she caused it all…a deal she made long ago. A deal with the Forsaken.
My thoughts
A very strong 4.5 stars from me. My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
With such a great synopsis from Goodreads, there is no need to go into the storyline and I'd rather not give anything away by doing so.
WOW if there is one horror book that you need to read this year, then it's this one. I haven't read any horror stories for some time and in some ways had forgotten how good they can be. When I was younger I read a lot of James Herbert and Stephen King. I would liken this writing to one of their works.
This is the first in a series and personally I can't wait for the second one to be published fast enough. He has a way with his words and weaves a great story. I have never read any of his other work before and I will make a point of putting that right soon.
Without giving too much away it'll keep you on the edge of your seat and it was almost like watching it on the silver screen as I read it. Very well written and atmospheric, this is definitely going to stay with me for some time. The storyline and the characters are well thought out. Thankfully, we are not left with a cliffhanger at the end but it sets the scene very nicely for #2 to follow on from.
Please, please grab a copy of this for yourself and do it soon.
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