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Burning
From the author of psychological horror Shadows, taut murder mystery Requiem in E Sharp and the post-apocalyptic Oasis, Burning is a fiery tale of magic and dark desire.
Marcie Grove is a lonely witch. After a full moon ritual she decides to do something about the abysmal state of her love life. Making use of a powerful spell to cure her sad state of affairs, she puts her own life, as well as her coven, in danger when her apparent success brings forth a dark power with explosive and deadly results.
Marcie Grove is a lonely witch. After a full moon ritual she decides to do something about the abysmal state of her love life. Making use of a powerful spell to cure her sad state of affairs, she puts her own life, as well as her coven, in danger when her apparent success brings forth a dark power with explosive and deadly results.
52 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2014
5 people want to read
About the author
Joan De La Haye
55 books133 followersI write dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you’re in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2019
It turned for darker far quicker than I expected. Good story and well developed.
October 30, 2014
Made me grin from ear to ear - especially the ending. Joan knows how to make the wrongness right.
March 10, 2016
I was drawn to this novella by the cover art; I really loved the use of the Tarot card. My only regret, I do not have this book in print. I’ve always been a fan of novellas and am fast realising they are easy reads when we lead fast paced lives, they are also now my preference…. when I am not on holiday of course!
I have not read anything by Joan before, so this is a first for me, however, I have read work from Fox Spirit Books and have had a great time reading their products. I’m a fan of anything witchy - when done right! So Joan had a lot to live up to already. I must confess I had no idea this novella was billed as erotic horror, I’m pleased I didn’t, as I wouldn’t have bothered with it, despite the excellent cover art.
I was not keen on the first page; it felt really clinical and did little to draw me in, stating a series of what seemed like facts as opposed to a story. That first hook is vital in a novella.
The story surrounds Marcie the practicing witch, a string of failed relationships behind her and starved of affection she is drawn to a spell book and in particular a summoning spell. The first part of the story felt YA and I wasn’t completely sure where this tale was taking me, but by the middle it was storming ahead into adult land.
As will be obvious by now, this is a rather silly novella. Characters and relationships are stereotyped. The historical background questionable and yet, the ideas have just enough suction, somehow, to present an undemanding reader with some nice frissons.
With wonderful narrative and great characterisations, I was thoroughly entertained for just under an hour and dare I admit quite overcome with emotion at Marcie’s predicament.
Worth every minute and great for a commute, lunch break or time for yourself.
Now, where did I put that summoning book....
I have not read anything by Joan before, so this is a first for me, however, I have read work from Fox Spirit Books and have had a great time reading their products. I’m a fan of anything witchy - when done right! So Joan had a lot to live up to already. I must confess I had no idea this novella was billed as erotic horror, I’m pleased I didn’t, as I wouldn’t have bothered with it, despite the excellent cover art.
I was not keen on the first page; it felt really clinical and did little to draw me in, stating a series of what seemed like facts as opposed to a story. That first hook is vital in a novella.
The story surrounds Marcie the practicing witch, a string of failed relationships behind her and starved of affection she is drawn to a spell book and in particular a summoning spell. The first part of the story felt YA and I wasn’t completely sure where this tale was taking me, but by the middle it was storming ahead into adult land.
As will be obvious by now, this is a rather silly novella. Characters and relationships are stereotyped. The historical background questionable and yet, the ideas have just enough suction, somehow, to present an undemanding reader with some nice frissons.
With wonderful narrative and great characterisations, I was thoroughly entertained for just under an hour and dare I admit quite overcome with emotion at Marcie’s predicament.
Worth every minute and great for a commute, lunch break or time for yourself.
Now, where did I put that summoning book....
January 30, 2019
I really enjoyed the way the events in Burning escalate so quickly, as is necessary in novellas like this where length is limited and where every word and image created is crucial.
I've read quite a few witchy novels lately, and out this has been one of my top two. It took me hardly any time to read, but I wish I'd been able to blaze through it in one sitting. That's the way this novella should be read.
Visceral, hard-edged, quick paced, familiar and frightening. Another great book by Joan De La Haye.
I've read quite a few witchy novels lately, and out this has been one of my top two. It took me hardly any time to read, but I wish I'd been able to blaze through it in one sitting. That's the way this novella should be read.
Visceral, hard-edged, quick paced, familiar and frightening. Another great book by Joan De La Haye.
August 27, 2016
Burning is a novella that proves the old axiom was ever true – be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. Marcie dreams of the perfect partner. She makes the mistake of using magic to try and conjure him up. Unfortunately for her, what she ends up with is powerful entity with an agenda of his own.
This cautionary tale confirms my opinion. There are certain things that humanity just shouldn’t interfere with. Trying to control forces that we don’t fully understand is right up near the top of the list (just after tinkering with genetics for fun and profit).
At only just over fifty pages long, Burning is ideal if you’re looking for a story to rattle through in a single sitting. I really like the cover as well. You can’t beat a bit of old school Tarot.
This cautionary tale confirms my opinion. There are certain things that humanity just shouldn’t interfere with. Trying to control forces that we don’t fully understand is right up near the top of the list (just after tinkering with genetics for fun and profit).
At only just over fifty pages long, Burning is ideal if you’re looking for a story to rattle through in a single sitting. I really like the cover as well. You can’t beat a bit of old school Tarot.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews