The Curse of Willow Cove

The Witches of Willow Cove #2

by Josh Roberts

In this spellbinding sequel to The Witches of Willow Cove, Abby Shepherd and her coven of teenage witches must confront an undead terror that threatens the safety of their friends, families, and maybe even the entire world.

Now fourteen years old and with a year of witchcraft under her belt, Abby finally feels like things are going her way. That is, until her mother announces they’re moving to a new town, her boyfriend stops speaking to her, and her eighth-grade classmates start vanishing in the middle of the night—only to return as something terrifyingly different than before.

When the mysterious Council of Witches summons Abby and her friends to their secret domain, then forbids the young coven from investigating the sinister events unfolding in Willow Cove, Abby begins to suspect the Council knows more about the disappearances than they’re letting on.

With the clock ticking and the danger getting closer and closer to Abby’s doorstep, she and her best friend Robby O’Reilly must both decide what they’re willing to risk to save everyone they love... before an ancient curse from Willow Cove's past sinks its teeth into them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, Mystery

356 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2024

About the author

Josh Roberts is the author of THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE series and forthcoming VICTORIA DARE series. His debut novel received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and was also a Massachusetts Book Awards Must-Read and a Kirkus Book of the Month.

Reviews

[Floor tussendeboeken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Josh Roberts for sending me a ARC.

The Curse of Willow Cove takes place a year after the events of the first book The Witches of Willow Cove. On Abby's birthday, Halloween night, Abby and her friends discover that their classmate who got missing about a month ago, has turned into vampire and one by one other classmates start to turn into vampires. Abby and the rest of her coven want to take care of this situation by using their powers. They want to find out what is going on and how to stop this vampire curse. But they get summoned by the Council of Witches and to make things even worse: Abby's mom wants them to move house and leave the town!

This spooky middle grade is an exciting time from start to finish, you won't be able to put this book down! The pace is quick, but not rushed. The characters are not only facing the supernatural things, but also the problems every young teenager will face during the early years of puberty. You see the characters grow in this book, especially Abby and Olivia. I'm curious to know what will happen next, because the epilogue suggests that there'll be a third book.

[Rebecca M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby and her friends are back for another Willow Cove adventure! Kids in town are disappearing. When Robby stumbles across one of the missing girls in a corn maze and notices something decidedly wrong with her, he and the gang decide it’s up to them to help. Of course they get more than they bargained for and that’s when problems begin to seriously multiply. Meanwhile, Abby and the coven have attracted notice from the witchy Powers That Be, and are summoned to account for themselves and their doings in the Cove. Dangers abound and collide while Abby and Robby try to save their town, not to mention their friends and those who know the truth about Willow Cove.
This book is a perfect blend of funny and spooky, and introduces a few new characters to the gang. I loved the first book, and this one is perhaps a shade darker and more intense in the way it tugs on your heartstrings. Definitely recommend for a spooky-fun fall or Halloween read!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby, her friends and a couple of new characters are back! It has been a few years since the last book but picking this one up and from the first page it was like no time has passed! This is the perfect blend of humor and creepy! This one is a little more intense than the first book! But I loved every minute of it! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

SERIES REVIEW
The Page Ladies Book Club shared these books with all of our classrooms, reading groups and more and everyone loved it! These books have reminded us why we truly enjoy reading with children and I can’t thank Josh Roberts enough for sharing these absolutely wonderful stories with us!

[Elizabeth Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A supernatural suspense story for middle grade readers, Josh Roberts has written so many twists into this story that I cannot wait for the next. Abby and Amethyst are working with their coven to save their town from a vampire outbreak when the ominous Council of witches summons them. Who is on their side this time? Was Miss Winters right about the Council or will they help Abby’s coven save the day?…

[M.L. Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read/reviewed the first book in this series with Kid Lit Exchange five years ago. Kid Lit Exchange doesn’t exist anymore (SAD), but the author reached out to me with a copy of the sequel! I loved being back in Willow Cove; it is near Salem, MA and makes me think of Hocus Pocus, one of my favorite movie settings. It’s also written in a way where you can jump back in even if you don’t remember the details of the first book. This installment is all about vampires with some time-travel, too and despite modern technology, in a lot of ways it felt like the early 2000s young teen genre. There are a LOT of characters which can get confusing but you do get a grip on who is who. Robby got a big part and I enjoyed being in his head, and my favorite parts were The Midnight Castle and the sleepover in the crypt. It definitely ends in a way that leads to book three and I can’t wait to see where Josh takes the next installment.

[Liliana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can find my post @lilareads_

🔮
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀♤ 𝖂𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖇𝖔𝖗𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝖋𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖊. ♤
》 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕤, 𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨. 《
⠀
🧹✨️
Coucou Witchlings wassup? My color would be purple or forest green & I would love to be an earth Witch with Seer abilities!
୨୧
In 2020 I read 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞 & I loved it, it still is one of my favs ever.
Recently I got the sequel, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞 & in Abbys voice *omigosh* I freaking loved it 😍
This 2nd book has darker shade to it which I love so much! Thanks @joshwhowrites for the ebook!

Had to binge read both books in less than 24h because I just missed the Willow Cove girlies so much (& the boys as well tbh)
𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐭 still is my favorite character, I love her even more, my Gothic Purple haired girly 💜 Also our Psychic Witchy & Miss Winters🫶🏼
I want to talk about each witch individually but I don't want to spoiler anyone! Each witch has a color for me. Abby Red, Amethyst Purple, the 3rd Witch communicates with animals- Yellow, 4th Witch is whimsical- fuchsia, the 5th is a Psychic -white, the 6th Witch is blue. ✨️

● BLURBS-
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞 is a magical middle-grade adventure, about six teenage girls who discover their powers of witchcraft on their thirteenth birthday. Miss Winters has a plan. Who's the villain after all?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞- Abby & her friends are back for another adventure! Kids in town are disappearing. When one of the missing girls is found in a corn maze, something's definitely wrong with her, so the gang decides it's up to them to fix the situation with the help of a vampire slayer!
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 , 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 , 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥,
𝑴𝑨 𝑮 𝑰 𝑪 !

𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 -
🔮 Witchy Coven
🧹 Found family
✨️ Enemies to friends
🔮 Magic girlies
🧹 Vampires
✨️ Magical castles
🧹 non- magical heroes
🔮 Gothic elements

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so nice to spend time with the crew of Willow Cove again! Even though their lives can be terrifying!

There's an impressive amount of lore and history worked into the plot, and its Salem-like setting feels real, like I could go visit it myself. I don't know if I'd want to though! LOL I'd be scared wondering what's going to pop out of the woods next! But that type of suspense keeps the story moving quickly, without any slow or muddy parts. Readers who love spooky stories, friendships, and found family will appreciate how they all tie together in The Curse of Willow Cove.

Abby, Robby, Amethyst and the whole group of middle schoolers are a clever and brave crew who don't back down from a truly harrowing fight! This story had a satisfying end with a hint that more may be in store!! I hope so. Even though that means more suffering for the kids. Ha! But I know they will come out on top.

I was given an e-copy for an honest review, however I also bought a copy soon after because I truly wanted to read it and knew I'd enjoy this sequel.

[Hilary Margitich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the first book in this series, THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE, so I had high expectations for this follow-up sequel. Roberts far surpassed my expectations by keeping the spooky atmospheric elements and fascinating New England lore of the original, but giving it a whole new vampiric spin. Yes, that's right--I said "vampiric" :) I find this book two even *more* thrilling and suspenseful, and the characters cleverly developed to reflect the year's timeframe that has passed. Some exciting new characters are introduced, as well, setting things up in an exciting way for a third book (please let there be a third!). There are even elements of romance that I found very sweet and age-appropriate for tweens and young teens reading :)

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom to a 13-year-old and a children's bookseller, I am so happy to see more books for this age group on bookshelves!

Abby, her coven, and her friends must once again find ways to work to each other's strengths to protect their families, their town, and each other. The stakes (hehe) are a little more intense this round, but it feels right. There's age-appropriate romance and relationship angst. While reading the first book would help the reader understand the relationships faster, there are enough clues sprinkled in that I think anyone could follow along. I mean, it's been a few years since the first one came out and I feel like I forgot so much that this book reminded me of. The revival of Miss Winter's thread was especially cool to me.

Highly recommend this upper middle grade/teen novel for fans of witchy, spooky reads, and smart female protagonists.

Ages 10+

[Daphne Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly satisfying sequel that's even better than the first book!

It's been four years since The Witches of Willow Cove came out, but from the moment I started reading this incredible sequel it felt like no time has passed at all. The Witches of Willow Cove was my favorite middle grade book of 2020. It became one of my pandemic-era comfort reads and I have been looking forward to this sequel ever since it was announced. So let me say right from the start . . . IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT! This book does not disappoint. Incredibly, I think it's even better than the first one.

After an opening prologue that takes us back to the final moments of the previous book, The Curse of Willow Cove jumps ahead nine months to main character Abby Shepherd's 14th birthday. This book is clearly aimed at older tweens and younger teens, say 10- to 15-year-olds, but there are so many twists and turns and thrilling moments that it will definitely appeal to younger kids as well.

Whereas the first book in the series was spooky, The Curse of Willow Cove is often scary in a just-the-right-amount-of-creepy way. There were moments near the end when I legitimately wondered how the main characters were going to come out of this in one piece. I won't give away any spoilers but I will say that the novel very cleverly leans into "all hope is lost" and then somehow pulls back in ways that surprised and delighted me by the end.

The characters will be familiar to anyone who has read book one, but here they're taken to bold new places, figuratively and literally, that also delighted me. All of my favorites return and have interesting storylines, and new characters are introduced that fitted quite nicely into the mix too. I'm really quite amazed at how well so many characters are juggled without any of them feeling like they've been short changed. I was particularly thrilled to see some secondary characters experiencing real growth over the course of the book. And one new character in particular feels ripe for her own series someday.

Sequels are hard and often we want the same thing as in the first book. Roberts gives us enough of this so that it feels comfortable and familiar, but then moves the story and characters in some surprising new directions while also wrapping up some dangling threads from the first book. The Curse of Willow Cove features not one but two "villains" - one group that is morally grey and another that is more straightforwardly evil. In the end, the book finds a way to work them both into the story effectively.

Overall, The Curse of Willow Cove is a completely satisfying sequel and once again leaves me wanting and waiting for more. I'll definitely read it again while waiting for book three in the series.

Thank you to Owl Hollow Press for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really like this series, it is perfect for a middle grade read who wants to read about witches, vampires and also have some pretty creepy/scary situations. I really wanted to give this book four stars, but the middle of this book was a little too slow and it started to lose my interest. However, the beginning and end were definitely entertaining and very enjoyable! I hope there is a book three in this series!

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Josh Robert’s for providing to me an ARC!
I loved this 2nd book in the Witches Cove series- Abby & her witch coven/friends return. Girls are going missing in Willow Cove, Abby wants to help but she & her friends do not always agree how best to get results. As they investigate & research, they are summoned to the Witches Council- the ancient ruling authority for all witches. Abby and her friends are shocked to find an old council stuck in the past. Those in charge only caring about witches as well as being adversarial & threatening Abby & her witches with punishments (take away their powers) and do not want to hear anything about what is happening to others in Witches Cove. Still stung with their treatment, Abby is horrified to see what is happening back in Willow Cove friends & family turning against one another & fleeing their homes. Sneakily they return to the Witches Council to demand answers. Will Abby and her witches coven triumph upon their return to Willow Cove? And where has everyone gone and why? Josh Robert’s has crafted another spooky witch story with new characters, a tense plot (had me biting my nails). I can’t wait for the 3rd book in this upper middle grade horror story with witches, vampires, and great animal characters, too! A must read, highly recommended!

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was so worth the wait!!! The story was just so captivating, I didn't want to put the book down. Josh has done it again with great writing and an awesome storyline. Now I need a book 3 asap. I need to know what happens next for these characters and what happens to the council. Please, please, please give me a book 3 soon!!!!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Curse of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts is the second book in the Witches of Willow Cove series and having been a big fan of the first book I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of this one. Thankfully it did not disappoint, it is full of mystery and adventure and has all the heart that endeared these characters to me so much when I read the first book. As the beautifully illustrated cover may suggest this is a spooky read and our coven of intrepid young witches along with their friends are forced to take on the undead in the form of a vampire that seems to be hunting and turning the young people of the Cove. How long before one of their own is in danger? There is also an encounter with the mysterious and frankly rather sinister Council of Witches that threatens the survival of the coven and all of this is before you factor in the more mundane problems of rocky teenage relationships and the occasionally volatile friendships between the coven members.
There is a lot going on in this book, it really moves along at a rattling pace with lots of page turning moments to keep the reader engaged. All of my favourite characters are back and we are introduced to several more, at least one of whom I am looking forward to seeing more of in future tales from the Cove. It is a testament to the skill of the author and the development of his characters that the various characters and storylines are juggled effectively and balanced well, not to mention how adroitly he threads elements from the first book into the narrative to refresh reader memory and explain things to those unfortunate enough not to have already had the pleasure of reading The Witches of Willow Cove. This definitely felt a little darker than the first book and there is a little more teenage angst and romance, but I think that will work for readers who enjoyed the first book and have had to wait a little for this one, the characters have grown up just as many of the intended readers will have. I can think of many readers young and old who would enjoy this book and I hope that many of them pick it up.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author, all opinions are my own.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Hocus Pocus, meets Walking Dead meets Harry Potter - a creepy world with strange creatures and magic. Definitely has an overall creepy vibe that makes the entire town of Willow Cove downright eerie and strange. It definitely was a creative combination of different mythical beings/time/space travel and beastly legends. Well it was a mostly complete story within itself, it probably would help to read the previous book, as I think there are few things that would make more sense if you knew some of that for this one. Understandably the introductions of teens learning about magical creatures and coming into powers, made the characters were pretty realistic, although at times they did tend to jump into not the best ideas, which was a little frustrating - that scary movie flub, where they always go into the dark basement and that you are like, seriously, don't do it, but they do it anyway- that ends in that frustrated told you so. The characters, definitely had, well characterm with Abby and her coven sisters, and her friends Robby and Zeus, having all kinds of personality and the added teenage drama, along with trying to figure out their powers, it made for an interesting group. Flapper, Spooks and Einstein were great kooky edition too as animal companions. It was quite the adventure, and rather a long journey to get to, with a rather quick ending, which did seem a little lackluster for all the build up. And like I said, while it was an almost complete story, the ending seemed a little abrupt and did leave a lot of things up in the air (I know, the lead in for the next book, but personally I like a little more wrap-up and ending on a good dynamic and this one felt a little messy). Also, they are supposed to be a tight knit group of friends, but all the dynamics between them always felt a little strained and off to me - like they were all on the verge of not really being friends, if that makes any sense. Overall though it was creative, and had quite a bit of mystery, intrigue and thrills and creeps, but I felt like something was still missing.

[Sarian Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Gripping, Emotional, and Wonderfully Crafted Sequel

The Curse of Willow Cove is the kind of sequel that reminds you why you fell in love with a series in the first place. Josh Roberts takes everything that worked in the first book and raises the emotional and supernatural stakes in a way that feels both organic and genuinely powerful.

What struck me most is how real Abby feels in this installment. She’s growing up, trying to find her place, and suddenly everything in her world starts shifting her home life, her relationships, even her sense of safety. Her classmates disappearing and returning as something unrecognizable is unsettling in the best possible way, and it adds a layer of urgency that keeps the pages turning.

The tension with the Council of Witches is especially well done. Their silence, their secrets, and the sense that Abby is being kept in the dark all build a quiet frustration that any reader can connect with. It’s that mix of teenage emotion and supernatural danger that gives the book its heart.

Robby continues to be the grounding force that makes the story shine. Their loyalty to one another feels authentic messy, brave, and deeply human. When the stakes rise, you don’t just read their fear and determination; you feel it.

This book is suspenseful, heartfelt, atmospheric, and beautifully written.
A rich, haunting, and emotionally satisfying sequel that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Josh Roberts delivers something special here, and it’s clear the magic of Willow Cove is only getting stronger.

[Michelle Kenneth - PerfectionistWannabe.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Josh Roberts, for gifting me a copy of "The Curse of Willow Cove."

Simply put, I love this series. Book 2 had an insane twist to this witchy series. Vampires. A vampire apocalypse, to be exact. It was totally unexpected. I actually did a. "WHOA! That's intense."

In book two, we start to explore the witch world and this young coven's threat to the witch world. As the girls struggle with real-world problems (boys, home life, and school), they start to come together to strengthen their bonds with each other as they try to heal from their mentor's betrayal (book 1).

But the vampires. The shadow lady. Vampire hunters. Just wow.

I'm looking forward to book 3. I can't wait to see what Josh throws in there because vampires and witches... was just an excellent thrill-seeking scare.

Maybe Night of the Living Dead for book 3??? Guess we'll see.

[Bayley Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the first book in this series so it was fun to jump back into this world. It’s fun and spooky, and I love the magic system—which we get to dip a bit more into the inner workings of in this book. Abby and her friends dive in a new adventure … this time with vampires!!! It builds well on the previous book while still providing a fun and fresh story. It’s also such a great book for readers looking for a book that falls between middle grade and young adult! If you loved the first book, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to Josh Roberts for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun to catch up with this lively coven of young witches and their friends. Although it would be perfect to read this book after the first one, it’s equally enjoyable as a stand-alone novel, too. I loved the suspense and how everything connects; each well-formed character has a unique purpose. Deliciously spooky throughout with just the right amount of creepiness. I dare you to read The Curse of Willow Cove—once you start you’ll be hooked!

[Marti Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of fun, a little spooky, a lot of spunk in these endearing characters. It isn't often the 2nd book is as good as the first, but book #2 was worth the wait. I don't want to give anything away but when the Witches of Willow Cove face off against an ancient curse you have to imagine the chaos. It's a darn good thing they have friends in magical places. I was provided with an ARC of this novel.

[Ginette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to Willow Cove was worth the wait! Josh Roberts does it again with his masterful storytelling. Abby and her coven are back and their new dilemmas will leave you on the edge of your seat. As Willow Cove faces a vampire invasion, the coven will have to work together to save their friends and their beloved town from the Shadow Lady. Readers get ready for an action-packed adventure that will leave you wanting more. 

[D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling sequel full of love, suspense, magic, drama and some spookiness. Recommended for fans of YA paranormal fantasy stories - and those who read book one already.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

rtc

Thank you to the author for my earc.

[Angela Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. A nearly perfect younger YA supernatural suspense. The first book was delightful and I regularly recommend it to our 6th-8th middle school readers. Even after the several year wait, I felt right back at home with Abby and her coven as they faced their next challenge. Loved this fantasy world, the relatable characters, the fast-paced adventure, vampires (squeal of delight)! Can't wait to introduce this sequel to our students!