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Mana Leak
Penny Crescent. One street. Three houses. Three families. Countless disputes. Physics teacher Frank Harper educates with his fists behind closed doors. Jenny Dean can barely control her wayward teenage sons and Eleanor McQuire, the old mystic, is happy with her books and visiting grandson. For one night, the residents of Penny Crescent must put their differences aside. Death is coming. Some call him the man in black. Others call him the devil. He is The Collector, and the three families have something he wants... And he'll go to any length to get it.
- GenresHorror
344 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2011
41 people want to read
About the author
Daniel I. Russell
53 books151 followersAustralian Shadows Award finalist D.l I. Russell has been featured publications such as The Zombie Feed from Apex, Pseudopod and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #43. Author of Samhane, Come Into Darkness, Critique, Mother's Boys, The Collector and Tricks, Mischief and Mayhem, D. I. Russell is also the former vice-president of the Australian Horror Writers' Association and was a special guest editor of Midnight Echo.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2012
I am not good at reviews at all, but when I saw this book had none and I'd read it, I thought I would at least say that I absolutely loved it!! I read it in one sitting. Once I started I just had to know exactly what The Collector and Montgomery had planned for the family in Penny Cresent.
There was one part that made me scream when I was reading it, when Montgomery attacked the little boy. I'm not use to reading horror, but this wasn't straight horror, it's more sci-fi/fantasy with the slight touch of horror. I think Daniel I Russell has converted me over to the dark side with my reading, because all I have read since this has been horror. This was my very first taste of horror and I have to say, thank you Daniel I Russell, and to my mate for encouraging me to check it out.
Fab book and definitely a new fan.
There was one part that made me scream when I was reading it, when Montgomery attacked the little boy. I'm not use to reading horror, but this wasn't straight horror, it's more sci-fi/fantasy with the slight touch of horror. I think Daniel I Russell has converted me over to the dark side with my reading, because all I have read since this has been horror. This was my very first taste of horror and I have to say, thank you Daniel I Russell, and to my mate for encouraging me to check it out.
Fab book and definitely a new fan.
April 25, 2011
This was a great supernatural thriller. There were some grammatical errors but didn't do anything to the story.
It was a creepy read. Very descriptive and pulled me into the story.
If you like creepy and supernatural books, this book is for you.
It was a creepy read. Very descriptive and pulled me into the story.
If you like creepy and supernatural books, this book is for you.
November 3, 2025
Note: e-Version passed on free for review.
Print Length: 344 pages
Publisher: Dark Continents Publishing, Inc. (April 24, 2012)
First off, I didn’t realize this was a series until now (LOL) as I don’t make a habit of reading a series until book two or three is out, especially if the series is interlocked like Game of Thrones. But in saying that this was a good first book. It set up the characters in a fun and interesting way, we learn about the three houses in this Cul-de-sac (is that a British or Kiwi word? Nope, it’s a French stolen word. It means small dead end street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cul-de-sac) and the people that reside there. We have the usual two hoods, teenagers who think they are the coolest and badest mothers in the world, and they love to score decent weed, rob old ladies and do a spot of breaking and entering. We also have the abused wife, husband has a bad day at work as a high school teacher, comes home and pounds the living daylights out of his wife’s body, trying not to go for the face (keyword: trying). Then he takes off somewhere and returns the following evening, feeling much better and apologizing. And finally we have the old lady who lives at the end of the street, who has a thousand books, many on magic and hocus pocus. Her grandson worries about her living out here all by herself, and being very rich, he decides to bring granny home to live with him.
One night an Earthquake happens, but only in the road and a tiny crack appears. It widens and pulling himself out, the Collector shows with his pet, Montgomery. From this point forward the book becomes kick-ass good.
The start of the book is a tad slow as the characters are introduced and their stories told but even then the writing is crisp and the reader doesn’t get bored with the drama slowly unfolding. But when the Collector makes a showing, looking for the Mana, the book kicks into high gear and you won’t be able to shut off your eReader.
This is the first of Daniel’s books I’ve read and I’ll be looking for book 2.
Print Length: 344 pages
Publisher: Dark Continents Publishing, Inc. (April 24, 2012)
First off, I didn’t realize this was a series until now (LOL) as I don’t make a habit of reading a series until book two or three is out, especially if the series is interlocked like Game of Thrones. But in saying that this was a good first book. It set up the characters in a fun and interesting way, we learn about the three houses in this Cul-de-sac (is that a British or Kiwi word? Nope, it’s a French stolen word. It means small dead end street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cul-de-sac) and the people that reside there. We have the usual two hoods, teenagers who think they are the coolest and badest mothers in the world, and they love to score decent weed, rob old ladies and do a spot of breaking and entering. We also have the abused wife, husband has a bad day at work as a high school teacher, comes home and pounds the living daylights out of his wife’s body, trying not to go for the face (keyword: trying). Then he takes off somewhere and returns the following evening, feeling much better and apologizing. And finally we have the old lady who lives at the end of the street, who has a thousand books, many on magic and hocus pocus. Her grandson worries about her living out here all by herself, and being very rich, he decides to bring granny home to live with him.
One night an Earthquake happens, but only in the road and a tiny crack appears. It widens and pulling himself out, the Collector shows with his pet, Montgomery. From this point forward the book becomes kick-ass good.
The start of the book is a tad slow as the characters are introduced and their stories told but even then the writing is crisp and the reader doesn’t get bored with the drama slowly unfolding. But when the Collector makes a showing, looking for the Mana, the book kicks into high gear and you won’t be able to shut off your eReader.
This is the first of Daniel’s books I’ve read and I’ll be looking for book 2.
April 7, 2016
As always, Daniel I Russell didn't fail to impress with this wonderful book. The descriptions were so vivid I still can't stop thinking about them and I never wanted my reading experience to be over.
I loved all of the characters, they were all so different and I had perfect images of them all in my head.
Like all of his other novels, this really needs to be made into a movie, it would be incredible!
I only have one more of Russell's books to read before I've completed them all. I'm going to get withdrawal symptoms!
I loved all of the characters, they were all so different and I had perfect images of them all in my head.
Like all of his other novels, this really needs to be made into a movie, it would be incredible!
I only have one more of Russell's books to read before I've completed them all. I'm going to get withdrawal symptoms!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews