The Crystal of Ankhryn

Coven Cove #8

by David Clark

After centuries of strife, the world of witches has entered a period of tenuous peace. Not all are happy with the peace, and factions both old and new reemerge, threatening to push it over the edge. But for now, gone is the oppressive rule of the council, and gone are their controls over what magic can be taught, but maybe some magic should stay buried.

A fresh group of orphans have arrived at the coven, and while the last group of students settle into their new rules as instructors and leaders on the Council of Mages, they face the same struggles their predecessors did. They must teach this new generation how to be witches, while helping them heal from the loss of their families. But as each of them knows personally, grief is the strongest of all emotions.

One such student, Megan, is so grief stricken that she turns to a formerly forbidden source of magic to bring her parents back to life. This source was lost centuries ago, but anything lost can be found if you look hard enough. Her search draws attention, reminding many of the long forgotten object's existence, creating thoughts of possibilities, and schemes to resurrect witches of the past, to rule the future.

Welcome back to Coven Cove and strap in for a new quest with a new generation.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2025

About the author

David Clark is an author of multiple self-published horror novels and anthologies (amazon genre top 100) and can be found in 3 published horror anthologies. His writing focuses on the suspense, horror and sci-fi genres with a writing style takes a story based on reality, develops characters the reader can connect with and pull for, and then sending the reader on a roller-coaster journey the best fortune teller cannot predict. He feels his job is done if the reader either gasps, makes a verbal reaction out loud, throws the book across the room, or hopefully all three.

Member of the Horror Writers Association


https://www.facebook.com/DavidClarkHo...

Reviews

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Coven Cove series is one I will think on for quite some time and I was sad to see the first part of the series to end after 7 books because I didn't want to let go of the characters or the world David spun within this series. I was extremely happy to see how he thought of a way to bring us back to Coven Cove and pick up where the last book left off. Once again he did not disappoint with the story line, the atmosphere and the angst between characters. You are pulled right back in from page one to the end with awe on how the first round of characters have come so far and the beginning of the next generation. I can not wait for the next book (which hopefully is not a long wait) and will let my imagination take me forward to see if I can figure out where it might take us....
I was given an ARC of this wonderful tale from the author and am leaving my review freely.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I enjoyed all the Coven Cove books with their mix of supernatural beings and a great overarching story of good versus evil with romance thrown in. This spin-off includes many of the characters from the first series in their new roles of leaders and educators of the latest bunch of orphans. There are new characters and relationships to entertain readers, and new threats to the uneasy peace reached at the end of the first series. The author's penmanship seems to have grown as the story grabbed me from the start, and once again I'm looking forward to what the next book brings as the cliffhanger ending promises more thrilling surprises.

[Cat B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how excited I was to head back to the Coven Cove universe and the return of some favorite characters and exciting newbies to the coven. Such a thrilling read, I was not, not for one nanosecond, disappointed. As with the very first book in the Coven Cove series, I was drawn in right away. David Clark is a wonderful story teller, using simple language to take the reader on his ride. I enjoyed this thoroughly and now must wait in acute anticipation for the next.
I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of the tale.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan is orphaned. Her parents died in the war against witches and vampires. When she is offered a place in Coven Cove she is happy to learn more about her strengths as a witch but her goal is to talk to her dead parents. She discovers that there is a way. Will she finally meet her deceased parents and what will be the aftermath of her discovery? An enthralling page turner with amazing world building. Coven Cove is captivating with its witches, vampires and werewolves living a life one can only dream of.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Crystal of Ankhryn, the first in the Coven Cove The New Class books, is a wonderful paranormal read. Supernatural beings, a bit of romance, dark elements, good versus evil, …. what is not to love. The storyline is solid, and the characters get better with every book. From start to finish, this suspenseful and thrilling tale will keep you riveted. Looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! We're back in Larissa's world with a whole new class of kids. The kids that went to Coven Cove with Larissa are now the teachers.
These characters are great and once again, Clark's world building sucks you right into the action. I couldn't put this down! It's a great read for even pre-teens as there is no sex or cursing. (No cursing that I remember, so even if there is, it's maybe one time.)

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful book in the Coven Cove world that was fantastic with great characters and ever engaging storyline. These books are so entertaining and I just love a good book involving tales about witches and other supernatural elements.

[Lady Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book.

I enjoyed the story, and loved how it had some of the characters from the first cove series in it. Now I just have to wait till the next one comes out, which sucks LOL.

[Liz Otter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read and really enjoyed the series I found this hard to get into, only got interesting at 75% in. Also the spelling mistakes and incorrect grammar were annoying.