* I am reviewing this book that I received from the author but this in no way affects my review *
Title: The Price Guide To The Occult
Authors: Leslye Walton
Rating: 3/5 stars
Book Summary:
When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Instead, guilt and fear led the island’s original eight settlers to burn “the witch” out of her home. So Rona invoked the privileges of a witch; she cursed them. But such a spell always comes with a terrible price, and in punishing the island's residents, Rona also bound her family ever tighter to them.
Fast-forward to the present day and all Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. And she has reason to hope that she may have escaped the thorny side-effects of the family matriach's curse. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author – Nor’s own mother – seems capable of performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice.
A storm is coming. It's coming for Nor.
Fast-forward to the present day and all Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. And she has reason to hope that she may have escaped the thorny side-effects of the family matriach's curse. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author – Nor’s own mother – seems capable of performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice.
A storm is coming. It's coming for Nor.
Book Review:
I think that one of the reasons why I really wanted to read The Price Guide To The Occult was because everyone was obsessed with The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender when it came out and I was interested in it but I just didn't get a chance to read it. Although there were elements of the book that I did enjoy the things that I didn't click with overwhelmed me and I struggled through the less than 300-page book.
I think I will start with the negatives because there was just one element that I didn't click with at all and that was the magic system. This bugged me as the magic was harnessed by the use of self-harm and as you can imagine is quite hard to read about at times and there are graphic descriptions throughout the book. I personally just felt that there are other ways that this could have been handled and did not need to be included.
The other element that I suffered when reading was the end which I felt like it was YA territory and I have seen that other reviewers have said there may have been interventions to make the book more mainstream YA and I could say that this came through for me a little as the romance took centre and it became quite wild by the end. Although I didn't like some of the turns that the story took, I was kept captivated by the ending was quite surprised by it.
Although there were parts that I didn't like, Walton's writing is really lyrical and was a part of the story that I really did connect with. The descriptions in the beginning were beautiful and made the worldbuilding of the story a highlight. The setting was also really well done and it was one of the best parts of the book.
I do think that the idea itself was really unique and I did really love the first like third or half of the book and had it not taken the turn at the end then I might have rated it higher. I also did like the characters and felt that the family relationships in the book were great and I did really love that part.
The Verdict:
The Price Guide To The Occult is a unique witchcraft book that will cover your obsession when The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is over. Perfect for when you want a scare just after Halloween.
Have you read The Price Guide To The Occult? Do you want to? Leave it in the comments below.
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