A masked serial killer feeds off the terror of women, devouring their souls... and he's set his sights on Tabitha.
Tabitha Moonshadow Kilmore is now a young wife and a new mother, as well as a starving university student. And only her husband, her beloved Josh, knows that she's a witch. And only Tabitha knows that Josh is a warlock--her warlock. They can do nothing apart, but together, they are magnificent. It's 1982, and a masked serial killer stalks the streets of tranquil Provo, Utah, abducting and terrorizing women, consuming their fear, and devouring their souls. And the killer has targeted the ultimate prize--the witch, Tabitha. Reluctantly, Tabitha uses her abilities to aid Provo Police Detective Daniel Folau, a man scarred without and within, to identify and stop the murderer. But can Tabitha and Josh trust Folau? Can they trust any man? After all, any male could be the Devourer of Souls.
The Witch of White Lady Hollow series is meant to be read in order, however, the novels can be read as a standalone.
C. David Belt was born in the wilds of Evanston, WY. As a child, he lived and traveled extensively around the Far East. In Thailand, he once fed so many bananas to a monkey, the poor monkey swore off bananas for life. He served as an Latter-day Saint missionary in South Korea and southern California (Korean-speaking), and yes, he loves kimchi. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in Aerospace Studies, but he managed to bypass all English or writing classes. He served as a B-52 pilot in the US Air Force and as an Air Weapons Controller in the Washington Air National Guard and was deployed to locations so secret, his family still does not know where he risked life and limb (other than in an 192' wingspan aircraft flying 200' off the ground in mountainous terrain). When he is not writing, he sings in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and works as a software engineer. He collects swords, spears, and axes (oh, my!), and other medieval weapons and armor. He and his wife have six children and live in Utah with an eclectus parrot named Mork (who likes to jump on the keyboard when David is writing). There is also a cat, but she can't be bothered to take notice of the parrot, and so that is all the mention we shall make of her.
This is book 2 in a series, and while there's a lot of references to events of book 1, you'd definitely be able to read this as a standalone also. The cover is quite creepy, and when you start learning about The Devourer, you can see why. The idea of the masks definitely gave me the creeps. I really liked all the new characters we met and seeing Tabitha having grown into herself a bit in the few years since we last met her. There's loads of action in this, I could barely put it down. Being set in Utah this time, there wasn't quite so many y'all's to confuse me, and I liked the different setting as I felt it showed how Tabithas life had changed from book 1. I'm interested to see where the series goes next.
This book has so many of the things that make a story fantastic. A serial killer with a 'whodunnit' mystery, witches, a smidge of religious mysticism, but also the mundane looking after a child, working, cooking and so on that it's so often overlooked in favour of action and adventure. And as a once-upon-a-time theatre kid, I loved the strong theatre setting and Shakespeare references. Despite these varied themes and genres, Belt does it so well. The varied threads and grenres are seamlessly woven together to create a story that is full of wonderful characters, action and mystery. The chapters from the devourer's POV feel like a serial killer thriller, and the scenes where Tabitha is using and harnessing her magic feel like a classic witchcraft story.
I love the idea that women hold all the power. My inner feminist is screamimg "but we don't need men" but actually the power of the divine feminine is more than that. Yes, the women in the book need men to channel the power, but the men have no power at all without the women. I think that's a true reflection of how society should work, men and women working together in a symbiotic relationship.
C. David Belt has perfectly captured the terror Tabitha must have felt at living the victims last memories, of dying over and over again, but the strength of her character, knowing that doing so may save lives shines through.
As with the previous book in this series i had so many thoughts about who the devourer was. And of course I was completely wrong. These books have a really clever way of making you think you can trust someone, but not really trusting them at the same time.
Belt has perfectly blended some of my favourite genres. I also felt humbled by the strength of religion that some of the characters have. Their absolute and unshakeable belief that God will help them is rather beautiful to read.
I can't wait for book 3 to find out what happens next for Tabitha and Josh. I'm hoping Mikey and Danny make an appearance too.
I just finished reading "The Witch and The Devourer of Souls," and I just had to share my thoughts!
But first, a heads up - this is a sequel that requires you to read "The Witch of White Lady Hollow" first. No shortcuts here!
I have to say, C. David Belt has really outdone himself with this follow-up. The story picks up with Tabitha Moonshadow Kilmore navigating her new roles as a wife, mother, and struggling university student. What makes things interesting is that only her husband Josh knows she's a witch - and in turn, only Tabitha knows that Josh is a warlock. Talk about keeping secrets!
Things take a dark turn when a masked serial killer starts terrorising the streets of Provo. Despite her initial reluctance, Tabitha finds herself working with the Provo Police to track down this killer before the body count rises.
While the story certainly has its terrifying moments, what really grabbed me was the deeper symbolism woven throughout. The theme of masks - both literal and metaphorical - is particularly clever. It really makes you think about how even the purest intentions can end up hidden behind masks when faced with uncertainty.
The plot is a rollercoaster of unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Belt has this way of drawing you in with the supernatural elements while grounding everything in very real human emotions and struggles.
For fans of horror who appreciate a story with both scares and substance, this book is a must-read. The way it balances supernatural thrills with thoughtful themes makes it stand out in the genre. If you enjoyed the first book, this sequel definitely won't disappoint!
Overall, the blend of mystery, horror, and family dynamics creates such a compelling narrative that I found hard to put down.
I recently read and reviewed book one in this series The Witch of White Lady Hollow and loved it, so I was excited to get to read and review book two. No surprises here, I loved this one too.
The book is well written with yet another compelling story line and well developed characters some which I had come to know and love like Tabitha and Josh, as well as some new characters which at first had me wondering where they fit in and if i could trust them until I got to know them. I love the darkness in this series, i love a dark read especially at this time of year and I think that this cover definitely shows that there is darkness within the pages more than the first one did. I am not gonna lie I am a sucker for a mask, I mean dark romance is my jam, masked men are my eye candy 🤭I wouldn't be running away from a mask I can tell you that much.
This is a series that I won't stop recommending. I think it was perfectly paced and had me on the edge of my seat at times and if you love darker reads then this will definitely appeal to you. I will say that although this is part of a series and book one is alluded to at times in terms of the characterisation etc, they could also be read as standalones. However to get the mpst out of the characters I would suggest reading it as a series for sure
This is the 2nd installment of The Witch of White Lady Hollow series and it kept the momentum of the twists from the 1st book. This is set 3 years after The Witch of White Lady Hollow and young Tabitha is now married to Josh, who she met at her parent's wedding, and they have a little baby boy Joseph. Josh is the "warlock" to Tabitha's witch like powers and can help channel her powers. They live in Provo, Utah finishing up their education at BYU. Tabitha's love for the theater has not diminish and she is becoming the "it" girl for stage productions for this area. Josh is moving forward in the Air Force and finishing up some schooling to help with his career. Their little life becomes in broiled with the multiple disappearances of women in the Provo area. The detective on the case, Daniel Folau is directed to them by Tabitha's adopted dad Mike to help due to her special power of seeing visions by touching iron owned by a woman. She is able to help with the bits and pieces, not realizing the more she helps, the more the "Devourer" of these women is setting his sights on her. There are several options and guesses of who the Devourer is. I wasn't too surprised, even with some of the red herrings put in there, but I did like how the big reveal came about. This is very heavy of the LDS belief, but also a bit dark on the tone on how the Devourer sees women.
PLEASE note that this is the sequel to 'The Witch of White Lady Hollow'. This review might contain some spoilers if you haven’t read the first book.
We meet Tabitha again a couple of years later, and quite a few things have changed. However, there are still a few constants. She is still a powerful witch, and she still LOVES… the theatre. I am just kidding. She does. However, those are not the changes I was thinking of.
Our Tabitha is now married and has the most adorable son! How about that for surprises?😁
Women are disappearing, and Tabitha reluctantly helps, I am not telling you how. This is best you get to read for yourselves. And it takes a lot out of her. Then, you will get the story behind the title as well. *shudder*
Tabitha is still the lovely one as we know her from the first book, down to earth, except when flying. It's still kind. Still caring. I still like her very much. I adore her relationship with her mum and dad. If it wasn't for the Devourer, I would say that this is a cosy book. Somehow, it actually is to me.😊
After devouring the first book in this series a few weeks back I was over the moon to read the next part of Tabitha's story, I felt like I connected to her in book one but this newest read took me on a journey alongside this character as she went on an adventure to uncover the masked serial killer! I defiantly felt like I was seeing a different side to this fmc in this read as we get to see her as a mother and wife.
Once again Belt killed this novel, there was the perfect amount of spooky vibes that keeps you hooked. I loved how the tension built through out the read and by the end you're holding your breath every time a new twist or turn occurs. Its safe to say this is an action packed read, I never felt like there was a dull moment and if your a spooky book lover then this is right upon your alley because David knows how to set the scene and really get you feeling like you're right there alongside these characters.
The Witch and the Devourer of Souls is the second book in the series and rather than starting up where the first book finished we jump first reward to find Tabitha and Josh happily married a new baby to juggle around their studies.
At first I was a bit confused as to why the author made this decision but the author note at the start of the book does an excellent job of explaining the author’s choice and as I started the story I was very on board with the decisions made as I felt immersed into this new story straight away.
Tabitha has grown in confidence but has new challenges to overcome as a young mother and wife. I also enjoyed seeing Josh and Tabitha explore their religious and spiritual connections and how this helped to strengthen their relationship.
There are fairly dark sections of this book as we follow the path of the Devourer but I felt these gave the right level of unease without being outright terrifying. Another great instalment in this supernatural series.
⭐️ Book Review ⭐️ The Witch and the Devourer of Souls - David C Belt This is Book 2 in the series and after enjoying the first I hoped I would enjoy this one and I did! Book 2 follows Tabitha and her new found powers as she begins her journey into motherhood and marriage. Tropes = Supernatural, Serial Killer, Romantic Elements Once again the art work is fantastic. The front cover is so eye catching! The emergence of new characters is exciting and leaves you wondering who can be trusted! I felt like this book had a deeper hold on me than book one with lots of plot twists! Overall a captivating blend of suspense and romance with dark undertones that combined appeal to a number of readers! I’m really excited for Book 3! Thank you so much for sending me this book as part of your @lovebookstours tour @unwillingchild2019 @inksmithpublishing
This is the second book in the series but could be read as a stand-alone. I found this book to be better than the first and was sucked in from the very start. This book has all the things I like in a good book witches, warlocks, murder, mystery, and a serial killer. This book follows Tabitha, she is now a wife, mother, and struggling university student. Her husband is the only one who knows she is a witch, and she is the only one that knows he is a warlock. When a serial killer starts terrorizing the streets of Provo and targets Tabitha can Tabitha help the police to figure out who the killer is before it is too late? This book is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Can’t wait for book 3. Highly recommend!
This is the second in The Witch of White Lady Hollow series, and having read the first In the series, I had an idea of what to expect, and it certainly did not disappoint.
We again follow Tabitha, some years after the first book in which she discovered she was a Witch. She's now grown up, married and a Mother, but in serious danger. A serial killer is on the loose, devouring women’s souls and he's out to get Tabitha.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
There are some references to the first book, but for me, this can be read as a standalone. Although I would recommend reading the first book before this.
It's quite a dark and somewhat shocking read at times, it's emotional, it's scary.
Tabitha is now married to Josh, they have a five month old son Joseph.
Living in Utah Tabitha is attending college whilst still acting in local plays, Josh is working until Tabitha finishes college before enlisting with the Airforce.
The relationship between them is so sweet I love how they connect with each other. When women start disappearing Tabby is drawn into the investigation by a police detective.
I loved the first book, I think I loved this one even more, the characters were so well thought out and the devourer character was really chilling. You could feel the emotion flowing through the book.
I cannot wait to read the next one to see what’s in store
This is book two of the series, following Tabitha Moonshine, who, in the first book discovered she was a witch. I think reading the first book before this would be good as you get to learn about her powers and how they can be used, plus a few more of the characters in this book are also from the first book.
In this book she's more grown up and no longer at high school discovering her powers. I did like the more ‘grown up’ aspect and the switch from high school drama to detective work!
The book gets straight into the fairly graphic horror of the serial killer which needs Tabitha's powers to help capture.
Definitely a great follow up book and I look forward to reading the third in the series soon!
This is turning into a wonderful series!This book starts a few years after the first book and it was nice to see the changes and where the characters from the first book were and to meet some new characters! Tabitha and Josh's relationship is one I really enjoy! They complement and support each other but you can feel the love and bond between them! It's definitely a story that grabs you and with some interesting twists and turns to keep you guessing! I can't wait to see where everyone will be and what will happen in the next book! Thank you Love Book Tours, C. David Belt and Ink Smith Publishing for sharing this book with me!
Thank you @unwillingchild2019 and @lovebookstours for havingvme on this tour and for my gifted copy of the book.
I'm fully invested in this series seeing tabitha progress as an actress and as a witch with her own pwer channeler the events of her past still haunt her which has made her cautious around men which is very understandable. This feel like a witchy murder mystery. The villian is a devour of fear women's fear. To have such a connection makes them more powerful together for tabitha and josh. What twist towards end brilliant ending This is becoming one of my favourite witch book series can't wait for next book.
After the first book being surprisingly dark, I went into the second installment a little more prepared! The plot begins a few years after the first book finishes, so I definitely recommend reading the series in order so you know the background of the characters, and plus the first book is great so I wouldn't want you to miss out! There is just as much drama in the second book, and I would say just as dark, although I wasn't as shocked because I expected it! I enjoyed this one a lot, and I look forward to book 3. I'm on the tour for that one too, so look out for my review!
The Witch and the Devourer of Souls by C. David Belt. The Witch of White Lady Hollow Book 2. This is the second book in the series. I have read book one. But it can be read as a standalone. I loved the cover of this book. Anything with witch and I will read it. I loved the start of the book. I did love Tabitha and Josh. I loved the writing style. The story and plot. I thought I knew who the Devourer was. But I was wrong. I never saw the twist coming. I did like the ending. I hope there is more to come. I would recommend this book.
This is book 2 in the series easy to catch up with reading book 1. We continue to follow Tabitha a few years later and bow she is helping find a killer. Tabitha is now a mom, her husband is a warlock and only he knows she is a witch for her safety. Tabitha is helping the local cops hunt for a serial unaliver. They are mask used to cover not only who they are but the lies and secrets we all hide behind. The story is full of action and twist its a rollercoaster of a ride. It a great action, fantasy between human life and witch life and navigating them both.
"The Witch and the Devourer of the Souls " is a second book of the "The Witch of White Lady Hollow "series, though you can definitely read this as stand-alone. As I found this book quite different from the first one. Great story. Now, Tabitha is a bit older; she is a mother, a wife, and a very talented performer. As women start mysteriously disappearing in the town, Tabitha helps to unravel the mystery of Soul Devourer. With the help of her superpower and her husband defeats the monster behind the mask. I loved the atmosphere of this book. It felt dark and heavy. The action was high intensity, and there were many twists and turns. The book was creepy and captivating at the same time. Definitely recommend giving this book a go. Meanwhile, I can't wait to read the third book .
This is the second book in The Witch Of White Lady Hollow series and as you may have seen, I read book one just at the end of October this year. Having both books, I literally went straight into this book from the first without a break.
I did notice quite a few references to book 1, but these were woven into this new mystery nicely and I feel that therefore, you could read this as a standalone if needed. But as ever, I love to read a series in order just so the character devopment can be fully appreciated.
Here we see Tabitha and Josh working together to help investigate, find and stop the masked man who is murdering young women. Tabitha being the ultimate prize.
We've moved on a few years since the previous book and it was nice to see a change of scenery for the pair and the development of both Tabatha and her skills and powers, but also the relationship between her and Josh - and how they compliment each other and work together to make the most of their abilities.
I liked the introduction of the new characters, some of whom I was a little wary of. With a serial killer on the loose, it's no surprise that I wasn't trusting any of the men here.
This again was a pretty dark and scary read - the cover is slightly more on point with that and the whole mask situation is played on in the image on the cover and within the storyline.
This was well written and had me on edge right from the start. The writing style really grabs you and races along at a fair pace and with all the twists and turns, I had to find out how this would end...keeping me guessing until the reveal!
Another great read and I'm so pleased to say that I also now have book 3 to dive into soon too!....