From the talented writer, S. A. Hunt, comes one of the most “colorful” horror novels this year. All it takes is one page to get swept up in a world where bad witches need to constantly watch over their shoulder, because a young girl is hell-bent on bringing them down. With a brilliant and unpredictable plot, interesting characters and great control of literary adrenalin, Hunt proves why he is an award-winning author.
Robin Martine is the central figure of the story and also the young girl who is on a mission to hunt witches. Since her release from a medical facility after turning 18, she’s been living in a van and collecting video footage of her dangerous journey. Her determination to rid the world of witches is fueled by what happened to her mother, Annie. After 3 years of trekking through America and fulfilling her destiny, she finally returns to the place where it all started. Thanks to her videos, which are fictional according to her YouTube followers, she is able to fund her onslaught.
An array of characters get caught up in the crossfire. They include Leon and Wayne, who moved into Robin’s old house, Joel – one of the kids her mother used to babysit – and several others. Together they have to face dangers that extend beyond the threat of mere witches. All kinds of magical creatures threaten to drag them into darkness.
The first word that comes to mind after reading this book is “memorable”. There is no better way to say how brilliantly Hunt creates a cast of characters and connects their lives with a story that screams excitement. Despite the length and the sometimes relaxed tempo, every page has something that will keep the reader captivated. It is dark, eventful, nerve-wrecking, occasionally funny and packs more than just a few mental punches.
Hunt’s talent is deeply rooted in making his characters believable. From the children and adults to the monsters that come out of nowhere, he never fails to point out the subtle details that make them relatable and likable. Joel is definitely a personal favorite, simply because of the way he expresses himself and the heroic road he finds himself following. Even the slightly overweight Pete, who just happens to stumble into the nightmare from his trailer, quickly works his way into the heart of the reader.
Then there is Hunt’s remarkable way of painting the scene. Instead of simply describing everything with a forced and routine tone, he “chooses his battles” so-to-speak. If it’s not relevant in some way then it’s not part of the story. His discipline to stick with what is valuable to the reader is without question a factor that makes this book so great.
Last but not least, Hunt has a natural gift for storytelling. This can be seen in the progress of the plot and the wide character development. His imagination is in perfect sync with his verbal ability, which leads to a treat for any horror book fan.
This is the first book I’ve had the privilege of reviewing or reading for that matter by S. A. Hunt, but it definitely won’t be the last. In fact, it’s hard to think that anybody, regardless of how critical they might be, won’t appreciate his style.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
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