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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
2.5/5
Overall I though Curse of the Blacknoc Witch is okay. The premise is there but I wanted more out of the characters and plot. Blacknoc seems like it's attempting to be a few things but felt less focused as a result. If it wants to be a fairytale, give me concise prose, simple characters and a moral parable. It it wants to be modern young adult, flesh out the romance and characters and add more deeper logic behind some of the plot points. The book sits somewhere in between those two but doesn’t quite hit either for me.
The curse itself was the main draw and it is pretty neat. I liked the monsters and the way they were described as being covered in a myriad of tiny dangerous spines was nice and creepy. The mystery and solution to the curse worked was one of the more interesting components. The book handled its themes of regret and redemption well, and the plot was tied nicely to the themes. I almost wish the book went a bit deeper into the morals, but it doesn’t do a bad job.
The plot itself is very similar to a fairytale, but the writing style is more akin to contemporary young adult. The choice of writing style diminishes the fairytale feel, so some of the plot mechanisms that would be excusable in a fairy tale don’t make much sense in a more grounded novella. The ending in particular was based around fairytale logic that didn’t quite fit. The curse, on the other hand, worked really well in this story as a fairytale style element. I also liked that the story went further than anticipated, and truly saw the curse to its conclusion.
Plot construction-wise, there’s this off-screen character named Josh that is set up for a subplot or background that just never materializes. Would have liked to see that either go somewhere or get cut.
One thing to note that isn’t obvious coming in is that this book is somewhat Christian. If the thematic approach to sin and redemption wasn’t enough to tip you off, there are a few direct references to faith and the characters believe in a presumably Christian deity. Obviously this could be a pro or con depending on who you are; know that it’s not too heavy handed but is present none the less.
Overall not a bad book but didn’t quite hit the mark for me. If you're looking for a more Christian young adult horror, it may be a reasonable option though.
I received a copy of this novel for review curtesy of Wild Rose Press. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Overall I though Curse of the Blacknoc Witch is okay. The premise is there but I wanted more out of the characters and plot. Blacknoc seems like it's attempting to be a few things but felt less focused as a result. If it wants to be a fairytale, give me concise prose, simple characters and a moral parable. It it wants to be modern young adult, flesh out the romance and characters and add more deeper logic behind some of the plot points. The book sits somewhere in between those two but doesn’t quite hit either for me.
The curse itself was the main draw and it is pretty neat. I liked the monsters and the way they were described as being covered in a myriad of tiny dangerous spines was nice and creepy. The mystery and solution to the curse worked was one of the more interesting components. The book handled its themes of regret and redemption well, and the plot was tied nicely to the themes. I almost wish the book went a bit deeper into the morals, but it doesn’t do a bad job.
The plot itself is very similar to a fairytale, but the writing style is more akin to contemporary young adult. The choice of writing style diminishes the fairytale feel, so some of the plot mechanisms that would be excusable in a fairy tale don’t make much sense in a more grounded novella. The ending in particular was based around fairytale logic that didn’t quite fit. The curse, on the other hand, worked really well in this story as a fairytale style element. I also liked that the story went further than anticipated, and truly saw the curse to its conclusion.
Plot construction-wise, there’s this off-screen character named Josh that is set up for a subplot or background that just never materializes. Would have liked to see that either go somewhere or get cut.
One thing to note that isn’t obvious coming in is that this book is somewhat Christian. If the thematic approach to sin and redemption wasn’t enough to tip you off, there are a few direct references to faith and the characters believe in a presumably Christian deity. Obviously this could be a pro or con depending on who you are; know that it’s not too heavy handed but is present none the less.
Overall not a bad book but didn’t quite hit the mark for me. If you're looking for a more Christian young adult horror, it may be a reasonable option though.
I received a copy of this novel for review curtesy of Wild Rose Press. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Lovable characters. Writing polished to a shine that mirrors would envy.
It's hard to make readers care about characters in a book this short, but the author pulled it off and made it look easy. More impressive is how the romance never veered into cliche or blew drama out of proportion. It even focused on real love instead of physical attraction. That alone is rare. And the writing is clean and clear. At many points, it's beautiful enough to stop and admire.
Some lines I found memorable
-the whole poem about the curse
-"Her long hair competes with the night sky."
-"the shrieks of a girl rattle the night air."
Some books could use a good trimming. Not this one. It's hard to find wordiness here. The writing is emotional without using physiological responses as a crutch, vivid without boring details, pretty without purple prose. And this author isn't afraid of short sentences, making this book WAY easier to read than most. I never found myself rereading sections--the writing had to be crafted with clarity and readability in mind. Writing this smooth doesn't happen by accident.
It's hard to find modern fairy tales this original (most are retellings of the same old stuff).
Strong beginning. Satisfying and surprising finish that makes me want to read more of Rainn's work.
It's hard to make readers care about characters in a book this short, but the author pulled it off and made it look easy. More impressive is how the romance never veered into cliche or blew drama out of proportion. It even focused on real love instead of physical attraction. That alone is rare. And the writing is clean and clear. At many points, it's beautiful enough to stop and admire.
Some lines I found memorable
-the whole poem about the curse
-"Her long hair competes with the night sky."
-"the shrieks of a girl rattle the night air."
Some books could use a good trimming. Not this one. It's hard to find wordiness here. The writing is emotional without using physiological responses as a crutch, vivid without boring details, pretty without purple prose. And this author isn't afraid of short sentences, making this book WAY easier to read than most. I never found myself rereading sections--the writing had to be crafted with clarity and readability in mind. Writing this smooth doesn't happen by accident.
It's hard to find modern fairy tales this original (most are retellings of the same old stuff).
Strong beginning. Satisfying and surprising finish that makes me want to read more of Rainn's work.
Thoughts: The premise of the book was intriguing. Kids who commit a sin cursed to turn into monsters who then attack the new (sinful) children who arrive in the forest at night. One monster, Samuel, tries to save them. There is a lot of action—some of it gory. Everything was set for a good fantasy read. Unfortunately, it just didn’t pan out for me. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters (except maybe the librarian). Plus there were editorial issues that had me cringing. Multiple points of view, sometimes skipping from one to the other so I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be with. Also questions that left me baffled. For instance, it’s said at one point that it takes Layla three hours to ride to the city and the library. Yet later, she not only goes there and back home, then back to the library in less than a day. The timing just didn’t work.
What I liked: The premise of the story, and the ending. That was really good. And Layla’s character was a really strong one. I loved the librarian and how he helps Layla.
What I didn’t like: The sometimes cringe-worthy gore. And the editorial issues noted above.
Recommendation: It’s an interesting story with a good premise and a satisfying ending. If you don’t mind POV shifts and things like that, then pick it up.
Disclaimer: I received this book in hopes for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything.
What I liked: The premise of the story, and the ending. That was really good. And Layla’s character was a really strong one. I loved the librarian and how he helps Layla.
What I didn’t like: The sometimes cringe-worthy gore. And the editorial issues noted above.
Recommendation: It’s an interesting story with a good premise and a satisfying ending. If you don’t mind POV shifts and things like that, then pick it up.
Disclaimer: I received this book in hopes for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything.
This book had an interesting idea, a curse that takes sinful children to make them pay for their crimes. It was unique and I enjoyed not knowing what to expect. I also liked the descriptions of the cursed world, the monsters, and the unfolding of how to break the curse. The characters were decent, but I didn’t love any of them. The writing itself skipped around too much for me. I understand it was a shorter story, but skipping large chunks of time, several times, just made me feel disconnected from the story. Overall it was an average read.
I received a free copy of this book. This is an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book. This is an honest review.
This book was a great read - the protagonists were well-written and engaging and the suspense made the story fly by. Highly recommend for young adults and adults alike!
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.