Tag: local legends

The Woodcutter by Stephanie Ellis Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A small village becomes the battleground between a family, townspeople with a deadly secret, and a ruthless landowner as a local legend comes to bloody life in author Stephanie Ellis’s “The Woodcutter”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

A tragic accident, shrouded in mystery, leads to a family reunion in the hidden village of Little Hatchet, located in the smothering shadow of GodBeGone Wood, the home of the mythical Woodcutter and Grandma. Alec Eades rediscovers his bond with GodBeGone Wood and the future his father agreed to years ago as nefarious landowner Oliver Hayward schemes to raise money for the village by re-enacting part of the Woodcutter legend. Old wounds are re-opened and ties of blood and friendship are tested to the extreme when the Woodcutter is summoned and Grandma returns.

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

The Review

I loved this story. The author did an incredible job of capturing the small town/village horror trope that showcases a local legend, a dark town secret, and the outsider caught in the middle. The tension and atmosphere the author was able to capture really honed in on the chilling nature of the townspeople and their secrets, as well as the mystery and haunting heart of the woods and the local legends that impact their surroundings.

To me, the heart of this narrative was in the pacing of the mystery and the twisted character development that starts early on. I felt a twinge of nostalgia at the beginning of the story, as a mystery caller in the middle of a stormy night for protagonist Alec made the story feel like an old 1920s Hollywood Horror film from Universal Studios. The twisted family dynamics that are at play thanks to these legends and the path that the mystery brings Alec on as each page is lifted and the shocking truth behind the Woodcutter is revealed kept me invested in this story. 

ABN Banner

The Verdict

Memorable, terrifying, and entertaining, author Stephanie Ellis’s “The Woodcutter” is a must-read horror novel to read this summer. The upcoming supernatural thriller will not only chill readers with the twists and turns the story takes but will have them shocked as the final fate of these characters is revealed in all its bloody glory. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab your copy on August 1st, 2023. 

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Stephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry and has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. Her longer work includes the novels, The Five Turns of the Wheel and Reborn, and the novellas, Paused and Bottled. Her new folk horror novel, The Woodcutter is due out soon!

She is an active member of the HWA and can be found at https://stephanieellis.org and on twitter at @el_stevie.

Blog

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Two people haunted by the past on a small island town find dark secrets emerging as strange happenings unearth the magic and folklore that their town has been steeped into for years in author Adrienne Young’s “Spells for Forgetting”.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

A deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings.

But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery.

The town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

The Review

This was such a powerful and captivating mystery thriller. The rich character-driven narrative really did an excellent job of elevating the atmosphere and emotional tone of the narrative. The air of suspicion and secrets run deep in this small island town, and the seemingly small-knit community where everyone knows everyone suddenly becomes a bed of deceit in which everyone is a suspect, even those closest to the protagonists. The heated passion and unresolved feelings between both August and Emery add even more tension to this atmospheric thriller and keep readers invested in their divergent stories until they come together in unexpected ways.

For me, the rich and dynamic setting with the subtle yet the natural feeling way the author incorporated magic and fantasy into this narrative felt so alive on the page. The author did an incredible job of showcasing the concept of town secrets, local legends, and the power that secrets and lies can hold over us in life, and blended these themes into a years-long whodunnit that captivated the audience instantly. The atmosphere of this small town played well into the mystery both in the novel and the genre as a whole, as the story elevated the reader’s curiosity factor while also keeping them emotionally invested in these protagonists. 

The Verdict

Haunting, mesmerizing, and entertaining, author Adrienne Young’s “Spells for Forgetting” is a must-read fantasy and murder mystery read. The passionate character development and ideas of destiny and the power of local legends played well with the diverse cast of characters and the sheer volume of twists and turns that will keep readers shocked for days after reading the final pages of this incredible story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Adrienne Young is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the Sky and Sea duology, the Fable series, and Spells for Forgetting. When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

For information on release, appearances, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, sign up for the newsletter at https://adrienneyoungbooks.com/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KXHWTFR/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F59559145-spells-for-forgetting%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3DHaIR5IjRig%26rank%3D1&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20