American Coven

by Amy Cross

He kidnapped three women and held them in his basement.

He thought they couldn't fight back.

He was wrong...

Snatched from the street near her home, Holly Carter is taken to a rural house and thrown down into a stone basement. She meets two other women who have also been kidnapped, and soon Holly learns about the horrific rituals that take place in the house. Eventually, she's called upstairs to take her place in the ice bath.

Over time, however, Holly learns about a mysterious power that exists in the basement, and which the three women can use as they struggle to escape. When they finally manage to get through the metal door, however, the women have no idea that their fight for freedom is going to stretch out for more than a decade, or that it will culminate in a final, devastating demonstration of their new-found powers.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fiction, Witches, Amazon

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2013

About the author

Amy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.

Reviews

[John Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror at its best

This was a first class horror story from the mistress of the genre, Amy Cross. It was a tale of unknowable evil, witchcraft and murder wrapped up in an adventure thriller. The story had me engrossed, from the first to the last page.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is a collection of eight books, I'm glad I read it as a single collection as I think it would have been frustrating to have read it in smaller sections and that's the mark of a good story. The story follows two main threads, the first fifteen years in the past. This thread follows three young women who have been kidnapped and kept in a locked basement.

The second is set in the present and events are unfolding which mirror those of the previous thread. Both parts are well written and intertwine with each other. It can be tricky to pull off combining different timelines, especially in a way that builds like this one does.

Even more impressive is that the modern thread is told in the present tense. I often find it off putting reading in the present tense, but here it is an effective technique. To complete the hat trick we have constantly shifting perspectives between the chapters. Here it betrays the serial nature of its original format as on occasion the shift is jarring. For the most part it adds to the story though.

My one major complaint about the book is that it doesn't really delve into the mystery at the heart of the tale. There is a truth in there to be sure, as the story wrapped around it is superbly crafted. As well as this the book suffers from one of my pet peeves and that is padding. I really don't enjoy reaching the end of a story with another 15% remaining on the Kindle. If I want to read more then I'll buy another book!

Those points aside this is a good read, the writing is solid, the pacing is good and if you enjoy a horror story with a supernatural bent then this is well worth checking out.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am usually not picky about editing, but this book has so many errors, that it made me wonder if they changed the characters names along the way. I seriously do not understand how someone could not have done a heads up to the author & fixed all the errors. There are current day & flashbacks & it gets a bit confusing, but even more so when the wrong character's name is used.

Aside from editing errors, this is a good book. I'm only giving it 3 stars as a few of the tools the author uses in flashbacks seemed like she was just doing a copy/paste of a previous character's thoughts. I'm not wanting to spoil it, so I am not going to say exactly what I mean, but if you read it, you will notice it. It is a scarey good read. I'd give it more stars if there had been more background on the characters & a bit more time to get things going. I realize it's a long book already, but I am always willing to read more to be more immersed in the story. The time frame just seemed too short for what happened in the most intense parts.

All of that aside, I would still recommend this as a great book. I liked the idea. I liked the different characters. I am wondering if there is more to this story in another book by the same author, as there could have been so much more. I got this book in a set of 5 eBooks for $5 & it was a great deal. I will be reading & rating/reviewing as I go.

[Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stuck with me for weeks after I finished it. Absolutely loved it.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the darkness of the story, but the evil being seemed too vague. The evil presence should have had more communication in the women's heads. The Thin Faced man in the shadow was a better character for being a creepy entity that haunts the women at different times during the story. But I really liked that the 3 women banned together in a coven to find a way to beat the evil being and save themselves.

[Angharad Truelove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from the first page to the last. Spooky without unnecessary gore, this well written thriller has reignited my interest in the genre (having over indulged in Stephen King/James Herbert/Shaun Hudson in my adolescence). The plot is simple but well executed, giving you just enough information at every page turn. A well deserved 5 stars from me

[Val. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating is 2.5 stars.

Spoilers ahead.

This kind of felt like a cheesy horror flick, which happens to be my favorite. This just didn't work for me. The ending felt too rushed and didn't explain much. It would have been nice if it went into more detail about the bone scrapping. I'm assuming that's what the "evil" ate, but it was never actually confirmed. I was hoping for more of a creepy, scary, horror factor and this didn't give me that. I will say that the very last image we have of Elizabeth has stuck with me all night.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and I enjoyed it for the most part but there where sections that bored me, I will probably give the author another shot though because it was pretty good overall.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Cross has got to be one of the most prolific internet authors out there, with seemingly scores of horror stories, serials, and full length novels. Many of her stories are released periodically in segments, which can get confusing for this particular fan. So, reading American Coven as a completely published work in one shot was great, because if I had to wait for the next installment to be released, I would probably have gotten myself fit to be tied.

Cross does an excellent job with this tale, about three kidnapped women held in the basement of a house while the upstairs occupant performs bone surgeries on them while dunking them in ice baths. The story moved swiftly back and forth from events 15 years ago when the women were held captive, to the present day when they need to reunite to defeat the evil again. Cross does a really nice job in carrying the reader along with this story.

One of the reviewers on this site complained about poor editing, but I only found one instance of an incorrectly named character. Of course, I wasn't looking too hard, as I was caught up in the story. I did raise an eyebrow at the logic of the women disabling the security system to the house so they wouldn't trip an alarm. Usually, I believe, if the security system goes offline, an alarm is triggered and management is notified. I know I've had enough of these with a back kitchen door alarm. Also, I found it strange that after the women caused a group of cops to fall asleep on the teacher's front lawn, there was no mention of what they did with the sleeping group afterwards. Did they make sure to turn off the sprinkler system, at least? Despite these strange inconsistencies, I found the book to be up to snuff, and I look forward to reading more by this author. Kudos.

[jennifer garcia]

Interesting Concept

Wow. This novel has an unique concept. Three women are kept in a basement but discover a power that links them. Using that power, they manage to escape but 15 years later are drawn back to the evil that dwells there. Unfortunately, there are many instances of the author switching names and I grew tired of the question "you talk like the house is alive?" That answer is a given!

[Amy Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!! Couldnt put it down!

[Kittykorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!

[Keira Rawden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. Loved if. Great idea which was pretty spooky.

[Heather Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Amy Cross, since I was introduced to The Last Vampire. I have yet to find anything negative to say about her books and know I will never be disappointed when I'm reading one!

[Doris Marcantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Absolutely wonderful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more awesome books written by this author!

[Debra Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me nightmare and I haven't even finished it yet

In fact I still have 3/4 to go. Recommend highly for a good scare. I'll definitely read more by this author.

[Sean McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

American coven

Good story. Well developed characters. Wasn't the first story i read from this author but is the best so far.

[Julie Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed

This book was read fast, well written and I am enjoying this author. There are minor editing errors, but does not ruin the story.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have hoarded a big amount of Amy Cross books the previous month. They were just sooo cheap on Amazon and they just seemed to be right up my alley. Then again I had never read any of her books...ow well they were cheap and I didn't want to risk them being 10 times more expensive when I was going to go back a week later. Well, I've just finished my first Amy Cross book and it was amazing. This was actually the book that I was least looking forward to, but I immediately fell in love with it!

I just flew through it. I couldn't go to sleep and read until midnight (at which time I was getting uncomfortable because of my awkward reading position because I was afraid to move and wake my boyfriend in the process.) This book is quite graphic at several moments. Everytime I read the word "scraping" I shivered a little (I won't expand on the context in which this word is used). I have gone into this book blind and that's how I like it. This book was full of twists and surprises an I was a big fanof the shift between the present and the past. I don't think this book would have had the same impact if it had been written chronologically. It also uses a lot of different perspectives. This makes it sometimes difficult to know whose perspective you're reading. This is especially the case in the different prologues and epilogues (yes, there are multiple prologues: sounds weird but makes sense when you actually read since the book is divided in 8 seperate parts). However for the other chapters it is always clearly indicated whose perspective is being used.

I really really like this book and I'm really glad I bought all these other books by Amy Cross.

[Majanka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of books by Amy Cross. If you’re a fan of horror, then I definitely recommend reading her books. She has a lot of imagination, and the books are usually fast-paced and most of them also have an original twist. Having read so many books by this author, though, I definitely have a few favourites, a few I didn’t enjoy that much, and a few I thought were okay but not the best. American Coven falls in the latter category. It’s a fun read, the plot keeps you guessing, but it’s not as mind-shattering or jaw-dropping as some of Amy Cross’s other work.

The book flips between one timeline and another. In one timeline (the past), Holly Carter ends up in the basement of a madman, trapped with two other women who tell her about a sickening ritual she’ll be forced to endure at the hands of her captor: an ice bath. The second timeline (set in the present day), follows Holly fifteen years later as she is confronted with the events of the past again.

The main reason why I didn’t rate this book higher, is that I found the evil to be too vaguely described. There was a mystery-behind-the-mystery, and that wasn’t fully explored, in my opinion, leaving me with some remaining questions, hwich was a little frustrating.

Still, it’s a decent horror read, and certainly has some unexpected twists, so I definitely recommend this to horror fans.

[Clarice · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first venture into the literary world of Amy Cross. It was a bizarre ride.

Cross appears to be an author with a prolific digital output and a minimal, almost non-existent personal presence on the web. A large number of her many titles are currently available as free downloads on Amazon. That's exactly where I came across American Coven, which was suggested to me as a recommendation - most likely as a result of having purchased quite a few dark horror novels with supernatural elements in my time. American Coven fits that description rather well.

The story, which is told from the perspective of multiple narrators, revolves around three women, all tortured and held hostage in the basement of a solitary farm house. The house itself is possessed by an evil spirit directing the actions of their captor. The three hostages manage to escape thanks to their ability to jointly harness their supernatural powers. Initially, they go their separate ways after the escape, but are reunited when having to face evil again in an attempt to eradicate it once and for all. This is American Coven in a nutshell.

Readers of horror written by Richard Laymon or James Herbert may particularly enjoy Cross. If American Coven is anything to go by, characterisation, motivation or psychological exploration play a secondary role in Cross's writing. Instead, dark imagery, atmosphere and the description of gory scenes take centre stage. If this type of horror literature appeals to you, this could be a candidate for the 'to read' pile. For me, the story fell short of the necessary depth.

My entire review is available here: https://readaroundtheclock.blogspot.c...

[Sherry D'ambrosio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Interesting enough to keep me reading. But I seriously wish e-book writers (ie self-published) would invest more time in proofreading, revising and editing. At a point where tension was building and something major about to happen, I encountered a chapter (sorry I didn't make note of number) in which one character, Holly, is talking to Natalie but continually calls her Holly. Sure, it doesn't take a genius to figure out who is who but it is certainly distracting. I don't like reading rough drafts, which is what that chapter felt like, and it doesn't speak to the level of professionalism I am certain Ms. Cross would like to project. I do think the characters of the three women were nicely drawn such that I could easily visualize them. I'm simply suggesting that a little more time and effort to revise and edit would make for a more polished and better received product.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Cross suits herself up as a literary giant in this horror triumph. This book grips and holds with a pair of hairy, sharp claws. I loved how this story unfolded. The different point of views were well organized and constructed and they helped increase suspense and thrill. Each section offers a tease of what is to come in the very last part when each character and story all come together. The danger, the well written characters pull the reader in to the basement, into the bath and into big trouble with each. Every time a bone was scraped, I felt it, I cringed, my stomach flipped. Then there's the ending and Cross did not disappoint.... in fact she left me an eerie feeling and an image that will stick with me and continue to send goosebumps up and down my skin.

[Ridley · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending though

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this book, but it came highly recommended from my boyfriend. I really loved it. The atmosphere of pain and fear that that the girls went through, the mystery of everything, the twists and turns. I really didn't know what was going to happen round the corner. Kinda hoping for some sequel or maybe a prequel. Anyone who loves mysteries, horrors and witches. It was a refreshing take on the usual twitchy horror type books.

[Jennifer Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book on my Kindle for some time and decided that since it was the season of Halloween, I would give it a try. The story switches between points of view and time periods. At times, the storyline was a bit confusing, but overall, the constant manipulation of these two elements kept me in suspense. I was initially caught off-guard as the novel came to a close, but I found myself immersed in finding out the ending.

There were some implausible moments and a few loose ends that I wish had been better settled. Overall, though, it was a good read!

[Lesley Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally wasn't too interested in reading this Cross title because it wasn't about ghosts (at least not in the traditional sense) or zombies. However I am glad I decided to give it a try as it turned out to be a truly intriguing tale of the powers born out of sheer desperation and fear, and how the kidnapped women weild this power that they share to free themselves. Truly an original concept.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy

Amy Cross has out done herself in American Coven.
A house that is nothing but evil. Three women are kidnapped and forced to live in the basement. Once in a while one of the houses evil recipients will take one of the women to harvest something the house needs in order to feed.
Halloween is coming soon. This is a perfect book to get you in the mood for a good scary haunted house. I highly recommend this book and all its goulish evil to any one who dares to read it!

[Tracy Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

It was most difficult to actually put this book down. It sets off at an electrifying pace and never slowed down at all. A truly gripping read from from the beginning to the end. The author leaves an unbelievable presence of the captured girls in your own minds eye even when you have put the book down

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's full of suspense and kept me so gripped that I read it within 2 days. I like the way you are reading past and present alongside each other. I couldn't put it down.

Just as an fyi. I read this on kindle so I'm unsure if this relates to the physical copy but there were many mistakes, names were mixed up, words missing,typos. Just be prepared for that on kindle!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally like paranormal witchy stuff but this was a new take on it for me. An interesting combination of crime thriller and paranormal. Have downloaded more by this author!

Edit; I forgot to mention, I don’t think anyone proofread this book as there were SO MANY typos and errors. It didn’t spoil the story but it was jarring at times.