NINETOES VS. SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD

Ninetoes digs up Robert McCammon’s classic novel of 18th century Witchcraft, but has it aged well?

TITLE: Speaks the Nightbird

AUTHOR: Robert McCammon

GENRE: Horror/Historical Fiction/Mystery

PAGES: 697

FORMAT: E-book

PRICE: $18.99 paperback $13.49 e-book

Hey there, book lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes. Coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I have for you my review of Robert McCammon’s Speaks the Nightbird. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

I have been a fan of Robert Mccammon’s work for a very long time. I believe the first one of his I read was Boy’s Life, and just like that, I was hooked (seriously, just look at the dedication page on that book.) I was in the mood for something different, so I scrolled through the books on my reader and came across Speaks the Nightbird. Different is exactly what I got in this book.

The year is 1699, and the town of Fount Royal, North Carolina, has a problem. The citizens believe they are cursed by a witch. Magistrate Woodward and his clerk Matthew Corbett must pass judgment on the person believed to be a witch, the widow Rachel Howarth. She is accused of murder, deviltry, and blasphemous sexual congress. The town has already made up its mind and condemned her to death. It is up to Woodward and Corbett to find the truth about the matter. Woodward wants to hang Rachel; Corbett does not. He is developing feelings for the beautiful widow, and he is willing to put his future and his very life on the line to save her.

The first point that really stood out to me in this book is the setting. A tale of witchcraft NOT in New England, but in the southern colonies. It was a refreshing change and worked so well. The characters were engaging, believable, and fleshed out really well. I can tell Mr. McCammon did his homework on this one; the time period is well-represented, the religious beliefs and customs are well-represented, and the town and surrounding land were believable.

Now, this book is a slow-burn type of book. If you are looking for fast action, blood, guts, gore, and goo, this is not the book for you. It is an intellectual exercise in mystery, religion, and history. And in my honest opinion, it is very much worth the read. Not only is it a horror novel, it also serves as a magnificent piece of historical fiction.

This book is perfect for those who love historical fiction, mystery, horror, witches and witchcraft, and Robert McCammon.

Speaks the Nightbird is available in paperback and ebook. It is $23.99 for the paperback, and $11.99 for the ebook.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.