So as I mentioned earlier this year, Stormi and I have decided that once every two months, we will pick an older horror title that we've wanted to read and then share our thoughts with you. We are aiming to read books published before 2000. So read on to see what I chose for this month (which just happened to be a rare reread for me) and then hop over to Stormi's @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! to see what title she picked.
TITLE: Wither (Wendy Ward #1)
AUTHOR: J.G. Passarella
PUBLISHER: Pocket Books
PUBLISHING DATE: February 1, 1999
FROM GOODREADS:
The college town of Windale, Massachusetts is proud of its colonial heritage -- including the legend of a dark witches' coven dating back three hundred years. No one in Windale actually believes in witches, or imagines that the blood-chilling history of the Salem era could repeat itself. But three people, unknown to one another, are experiencing vivid nightmares of palpable horror. They alone can sense that a dreadful presence is working its way into their waking lives -- and is coming for them.
On a crisp autumn night deep in the New England woods, a young woman's harmless channeling ritual unwittingly opens the floodgates to terrifying forces that have, until then, lived only in dreams: a breed of demonic creatures with the power to shatter an unsuspecting town.
The college town of Windale, Massachusetts is proud of its colonial heritage -- including the legend of a dark witches' coven dating back three hundred years. No one in Windale actually believes in witches, or imagines that the blood-chilling history of the Salem era could repeat itself. But three people, unknown to one another, are experiencing vivid nightmares of palpable horror. They alone can sense that a dreadful presence is working its way into their waking lives -- and is coming for them.
On a crisp autumn night deep in the New England woods, a young woman's harmless channeling ritual unwittingly opens the floodgates to terrifying forces that have, until then, lived only in dreams: a breed of demonic creatures with the power to shatter an unsuspecting town.
MY THOUGHTS: As I've mentioned, this was a reread for me but since I read it over 20 years ago, I only had a slight recollection of it. I remembered really liking the MC, Wendy, and loving the fact that it was about witches - scary, terrifying witches! I was curious to see if this book would stand up to my expectations and recollection of loving it so well and I'm glad to say it did. I also recalled that Wendy used to ride an exercise bike all the time and would map out destinations on a map on her wall and keep track until she got there. I thought that was such a cool concept back in 1999 and will even admit to copying it for a while.
So on to the story. Wendy is the daughter of Windale College's presidence in Windale, Massachusetts. The town is very old and colonial and has seemed to build its survival on a basis of three witches who were once hanged there during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Wendy herself has always went against the grain and is a practicing Wiccan. Once night she holds a ceremony in the woods but following that, weird things start to happen. Did Wendy unknowingly releases the wrath of these three witches, or is something even more complex at play?
There are several things I really enjoy about this book. The setting is a small college town seeped in history. It makes for a great setting for this ominous tale. I also really like the characters. The book centers on three main individuals. There's Wendy, her pregnant college professor Karen, and then a neglect little 8 year old, Abby. During the tale we get to see what's happening from all three perspectives. The reader is also given flashbacks along the way of the prosecution of the three witches - Wither and the other two in her coven. The whole book flows rather well and it's a near-perfect mix of atmosphere and action. And finally, there are some truly gruesome and terrifying scenes in this novel. Like people falling from the sky, stadium bleachers collapsing and mysterious injuries while sleeping.
I am so glad that I chose this as the first book for our feature. Once again I feel in love with Wendy and the town of Windale. I'm pleased to say there are two more books which were released following Wendy and her town and while reading this, I learned from the author that he is currently working on book 4. You have no idea how thrilled I am. Look for future reviews of the next two in the series because once again, I've become addicted to this witchy world.
RATING: 4 PAWS
My author website is Passarella.com but I am also owner & web designer at AuthorPromo.com
Ooh I love the bloody glitterball! It just screams 70's or 80's horror! Nice! I have a few retro horror reads of my own that I need to get to-books set in that period or written in that period. This sounds interesting so I might check it out if I can grab it cheap.
ReplyDeleteStormi made the glitter ball for us. I think she did a fantastic job!
DeleteI remember this book when it came out, but haven't read it. It sounds good, and I'm even more interested because the story revolves around witches!
ReplyDeleteYes, dark creepy witches!
DeleteI haven't read that one.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good - even the second time around.
DeleteI am going to pick this up soon as I am really curious now especially since it still holds up after all these years and scary witches just sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding it to the pile to send your way!
DeleteI always love that college town setting. And the story sounds awesomely suspenseful and creepy. Might have to check this one out. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's just something scary about college towns anyway :)
DeleteOoooh! This sounds AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd love it!
DeleteI love small college town settings, but I don't come across them all that often. I'll have to check this one out. Thanks for sharing your review. 👍✨
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. It's a town I'd like to visit - creepy and quirky.
DeleteOoh, this sounds perfect for me! Thanks for steering me to it.
ReplyDeleteYou're quite welcome!
DeleteI love that this book held up for you on your re-read. This does sound like a great book. I look forward to your reviews of the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteI need to figure out where to work them in.
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