Day: October 14, 2019

Book of Shadows (Diary of a Haunting #3)

Author: M. Verano
Published: September 19, 2017
288 Pages

Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars

Book Description:

All Melanie wants is a blank book to keep a journal of her private thoughts. One day while browsing in a used bookshop, she finds the perfect blank book—smooth black leather with strange symbols in gold embossing. But once she gets home, Melanie finds herself too intimidated by the heavy vellum pages to write her trivial thoughts on them. Her Wiccan friend Lara tells her it’s better suited to be a magical spell book, called The Book of Shadows.

Melanie doesn’t know much about that stuff, but Lara, her boyfriend Caleb, and his friend Lucas, get her started by writing their own made up spells inside the book’s tempting pages. What they didn’t expect was a new spell showing up inside the book—and in handwriting none of them recognize.

Soon they discover that the spells suggested by The Book of Shadows itself do work—but not without wreaking havoc on the lives of the four teenagers.

Kim’s Review:

Why do authors always insist on putting politics in their stories?? I would have totally given this book 4 stars and put it as a good, slow burn scary book, but then he ruined it with all his condescension and virtue signaling! What’s so sad is that the story was overshadowed by it all. Everyone goes on and on about tolerance but of course that applies to everyone EXCEPT Christians. I get that people don’t want their religions criticized and judged so people have been all about inclusivity and diversity and fine. But again, all that applies to all groups, all religions, except Christianity. It just annoyed me. Plus, why politics have to be thrown in, I’m not entirely sure, but ok.

The story itself was actually pretty good. As I said before, it was a slow burn and Verano has a great way of building up tension to a breaking point. And the breaking point is intense! I also like the formatting of this Diary of a Haunting series; a paranormal expert laying out stories sent to him by others. I look forward to seeing where this series goes! The characters are pretty good, if a little flat. There are too many stereotyped people and this seems to limit development. I was very happy with the ending. It was chilling and totally appropriate for the story! Overall, this is an ok scary book, that will scratch the itch without being too crazy.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK