a book that once started, grabs you and sucks you in. Very graphic and descriptive. Looking forward to more from this author.

I thought I was brave enough to read this. I was wrong. So so wrong. The cover alone gives me the scary chills. I'm gonna have to pass on this one.

I think this should be labeled under young adult "horror." It's like Hunger Games meets psychotic demon with a grudge. Though I wasn't necessarily scared by any of the scenes it was still creepily graphic in areas and pleasantly weird. Basheba Bell is by far my favorite character and I'm pretty sure most reviews hated her. She's crass, to the point, has an amazing dog named Buck who can kill on order and has a deeper side that I know is waiting to explode. Anyone who can comically include "crotch goblins" to describe children is a winner in my book. She brought a comedic and melodic side to the plot that made the book for me. I'm looking forward to her part in Book 2.

I will say that Cadwyn was the only other character I connected with. His strength and calm during chaos was admirable and he knew how to handle Basheba, honestly all of the characters. I think without his role they would not have been able to work together the way they did. The plot goes fast and some areas are a bit rushed but I appreciate not having drawn out narratives. Overall I enjoyed this read and place it in the genre of Anna Dressed in Blood.

I won the e-arc through LibraryThing and the audiobook through Scare Street. The narrator for this book did a great job with the characters.. probably why I like Basheba so much. ( )

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from LibraryThing in return for an honest review.

For centuries four families, the Bells, Winthrops, Cranes and Sewalls, have been forced to participate in a sadistic "game" by the ghost of Katrina Hamilton. All four families were in some way responsible for accusing Katrina in witchcraft and her subsequent hanging. Every October Katrina selects one member from each family and gives them an antique music box they need to lock before the time is up or it releases a demon that tortures the participant. They are forced to enter the Witch's Woods, where Katrina tortures them, to find their keys This years participants are Bathsheba Bell, Willimina (Mina) Crane, Cadwyn Winthrop, and Osgood (Ozzie) Davis/Sewall. This is Bathsheba's second time being chosen. She may be small but she is capable. She trusts no one but her Rottweiler Bruce. Mina is intelligent but skeptical that Katrina is real. Cadwyn is physical strong but compassionate. While Ozzie just found out he is a Sewall and about Katrina. They need to work together if they want to survive, but who can you trust when your life is on the line.

This book was a quick read and sucked me in right away. I did not find it scary and felt like it's main purpose was to set up the Bell Witch Series. However I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the rest of this series! ( )

Received this as an ebook through Early Reviewers. Was an interesting take on the Bell Witch story but not especially scary. This is the first in a series that I will probably read, just to see where the story goes. ( )