A review by cmasterson
Rootwork by Tracy Cross

5.0

I went into this 100% blind. I did the same with "All These Subtle Deceits" from the same publisher, and figured that would leave me open for a good surprise. This is, evidentially, a practice I should keep at, as it has yet to fail me. Dark Hart book publishes "horror with heart," and I think this especially applies to "Rootwork." Tracy Cross tells the touching story of three sisters as they learn hoodoo from their aunt one summer. There is a lot in this book about family, tradition, and love. Each sister has their own perspective and path that adds its own layer to the story.

This story is a great example of the versatility of horror. Many people assume horror is all guts and scares. In reality, horror deals with the most human emotions, along with common issues and societal problems, and presents them in ways that move us (even if it is for a jump, or with an 'ew') in order to help us learn to better relate to the horrors of reality. This is at the root of this story.