Ninetoes vs The Witching House

Ninetoes knows what it is like to be the new kid in town, but not like this! John Everson’s ARC of The Witching House gave him something different to think about!

TITLE: The Witching House

AUTHOR: John Everson

GENRE: Horror

PAGES: 366

FORMAT: Ebook

PRICE: $.99

Hey there, book lovers! It’s your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I am looking at John Everson’s newest book, The Witching House. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

I am a John Everson fan. I have been since I read his book Covenant (The Curburide Chronicles Book 1). The thing about reading anything by John Everson is that he is consistently good, sometimes even great. (Who am I kidding? For my money, he falls more towards great than merely good) Then I got my hands on his newest, The Witching House. Can he maintain greatness? Let’s see!

Gianna is the new kid at school, moving from Chicago to the rural town of Parkville. From her bedroom window, she can see the burnt-out remains of a house in a cornfield. At school, she makes a friend who tells her about the, I guess you would call it, rural legend of The Witching House and the witch Madelyn. If you go to the house, prick your finger and write her name on the mirror in blood, she will appear. Gianna puts it to the test, and nothing really happens…at first. After the local boys pull a prank on her that goes several levels beyond “Carrie at the Prom”, she goes back to the Witching House, and this time, she makes contact. Madelyn wants to be her friend. Madelyn can help her get back at the kids at school. Madelyn wants something out of this arrangement, and it may cost Gianna EVERYTHING.

This book hit me on a personal level because, at one point in my life, I was the new kid at school, going from Long Island, NY, to a small-town high school in the mountains of North Carolina. I knew exactly what Gianna was going through. That being said, I did not have the same

experiences she did (thank God!). But then again, being built like the front end of the Buffalo Bills has its advantages.

The writing in this book is as sharp as a mirror shard (you’ll see), and the flow is consistent. I will say that as you get towards the last third of the book, the pages will fly, so do yourself a favor and set an hour or so aside for the final 100 pages. You will not want to put it down. So if you have prior things to do, get them out of the way, then dig in!

Mr. Everson gives us some thought-provoking questions (and answers) in this book. Would I make friends with a vengeful spirit? Would I do that spirit’s bidding? How would I tell said spirit “no more”? How much is too much? Is too much enough? Will I ever be accepted? There were parts of the book where I wondered just how certain things would be handled, and then when I saw the answer…oof! He delivers his answers with horrific gut punches and with cringe-worthy effect. How was it said? Things that make you say “DAMN!” The blood flows in buckets, and the horrific images unfurled on the movie screen in my head with devastating effect!

If you were ever the new kid in town, this book is for you. If you love a good revenge tale, ghosts in the mirror, witches, cornfields, and absolute terror, this book is for you. If you love great writing, great characters, and a fast-paced book, this book is for you. By all means, get this book!

I give this one 5 bookmarks out of 5!

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, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.