In his impressive debut, based on a true story, IT specialist trainer Goodwin toggles between witchcraft in the 1600s and present day to breathtaking effect. After their father’s death from lung cancer, Nate and his brother Marc are sent to live in Connecticut with a mysterious, previously unknown aunt. Celia—aka Alice, the daughter of a convicted and executed witch from the 1700s—has inherited the magick of her mother, including a seemingly impossible lifespan. After the brothers enter a forbidden room, they unintentionally unleash long-bottled-up evil that will threaten their lives and the lives of everyone they love. Readers will immediately fall for Goodwin’s entire cast of characters. Nate comes across as an empathetic everyman (in his case, boy) who is racing to save himself and his loved ones from an unimaginable fate with a thoroughly evil actor, Matthew Hopkins aka Malleus Hodge, with dedicated, mysterious Aunt Celia and a-hundreds-of years-old shapeshifting bird as allies. Goodwin’s birds behave convincingly throughout, and his supporting characters ably underpin a tale that blends the spooky pleasures of New England history with a contemporary sensibility that finds words like “doth” amusing. A mysterious serpent bracelet also plays a central role, with the story’s villain determined to steal it and end the lives of everyone good.
Goodwin expertly ratchets up the tension throughout, keeping readers enthralled as they power through the narrative. He makes the unfathomable seem very plausible, with world-building that will easily captivate readers—many who will not know that the witch trials in Connecticut actually preceded the better-known Salem Witch Trials in nearby Massachusetts. His characters also command respect, and the motives of several seemingly innocent players will thoroughly shock readers at the tale’s conclusion. While intended for a YA audience, this lively, well-plotted fantasy thriller will command interest from adult readers as well.
Takeaway: Spellbinding tale of New England witchery with stellar twists.
Comparable Titles: Adriana Mather’s How to Hang a Witch, Sally Green’s Half Bad.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
