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Shadow Cove Saga #1
Forsaken
"J.D. Barker's Forsaken is a remarkable debut, a gripping tale of suspense in the tradition of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul. Truly the birth of a new master in the genre."
Bram Stoker Award Nominee - Superior Achievement in a First Novel
"A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind!"
Jeffery Deaver
#1 International Bestselling Author
"Incredibly written, supremely creepy. I don't say this lightly: J.D. Barker is a force to be reckoned with."Tosca LeeNY Times Bestselling Author
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga
Inspired by Actual Events
Excerpt from the Journal of Clayton Stone - 1692
She was examined today without torture at Shadow Cove township on the charge of witchcraft. She said she was wholly innocent of the crime and has never in life renounced God. I watched as they brought her out. A poor, sickly thing, worn by her time behind the walls of her prison. Her bared feet and hands bound in leather, her clothing tattered to that of ruin. Despite such condition, her head was held high, her eyes meeting those of her accusers. Upon being stripped and examined, on her right side is found a bluish mark, much like a clover leaf; it was thrice pricked therein but she felt no pain and no blood flowed from the wound. She still refuses to provide her name so we remain unable to search baptismal records, nor has her family stepped forward to claim her as their own. We have no reason to believe she is anything but an orphaned child. I find myself unable to look at her directly in the moments preceding her trial. She is watching me though; with eyes of the deepest blue, she is watching me.
Thad McAlister, Rise of the Witch
When horror author Thad McAlister began his latest novel, a tale rooted in the witch trials of centuries past, the words flowed effortlessly. The story poured forth, filling page after page with the most frightening character ever to crawl from his imagination. It was his greatest work, one that would guarantee him a position among the legends of the craft.
But was it really fiction?
He inadvertently opened a door, one that would soon jeopardize the lives of his family.
She wants to come back.
At home, his wife struggles to keep their family alive. Secretly wondering if she caused it all...a deal she made long ago. A deal with the Forsaken.
Bram Stoker Award Nominee - Superior Achievement in a First Novel
"A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind!"
Jeffery Deaver
#1 International Bestselling Author
"Incredibly written, supremely creepy. I don't say this lightly: J.D. Barker is a force to be reckoned with."Tosca LeeNY Times Bestselling Author
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga
Inspired by Actual Events
Excerpt from the Journal of Clayton Stone - 1692
She was examined today without torture at Shadow Cove township on the charge of witchcraft. She said she was wholly innocent of the crime and has never in life renounced God. I watched as they brought her out. A poor, sickly thing, worn by her time behind the walls of her prison. Her bared feet and hands bound in leather, her clothing tattered to that of ruin. Despite such condition, her head was held high, her eyes meeting those of her accusers. Upon being stripped and examined, on her right side is found a bluish mark, much like a clover leaf; it was thrice pricked therein but she felt no pain and no blood flowed from the wound. She still refuses to provide her name so we remain unable to search baptismal records, nor has her family stepped forward to claim her as their own. We have no reason to believe she is anything but an orphaned child. I find myself unable to look at her directly in the moments preceding her trial. She is watching me though; with eyes of the deepest blue, she is watching me.
Thad McAlister, Rise of the Witch
When horror author Thad McAlister began his latest novel, a tale rooted in the witch trials of centuries past, the words flowed effortlessly. The story poured forth, filling page after page with the most frightening character ever to crawl from his imagination. It was his greatest work, one that would guarantee him a position among the legends of the craft.
But was it really fiction?
He inadvertently opened a door, one that would soon jeopardize the lives of his family.
She wants to come back.
At home, his wife struggles to keep their family alive. Secretly wondering if she caused it all...a deal she made long ago. A deal with the Forsaken.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2014
1517 people are currently reading
15506 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
58 books6,984 followersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 717 reviews
February 13, 2015
This was a fast paced novel that I enjoyed! It's a story about a horror writer, (oh no, not another one you may be thinking), but this one is slightly different. A story comes to the protagonist, Thad, almost completely whole; streaming through him like lightning, it comes out on paper. This story is more than just a fictional, historical account of the witch trials in Salem, MA. It may not be fictional, for one thing, and it may not take place entirely in the past.
I liked how this tale was related, with chapters featuring the present alternating between chapters from The Journal of Clayton Stone. It took a little while to get into the flow of things, but not too long. That's because the pacing in this book was very fast and the chapters were short. Before I knew it I was speeding along and then I just had to finish it, (right? You know how it is.), because I was so close to the end.
All of the characters here were flawed, but for me that made them more real. There were a good bunch of creepy times going on in the house where Thad's daughter and his pregnant wife waited for him to return from the sale of his book. As this story went along those creepy times graduated up to scary as hell. Thad wasn't having the best time with his book agent either.
This is a story of witchcraft, the first in a series. I have sworn to myself that I wouldn't start another series until it was finished, but here I am. A friend of mine on Goodreads mentioned that he liked this book, I took a look, claimed it for review at HAD and here we are. I'm glad that I did choose it, because I found it to be well written, fast paced, scary and imaginative. I will be looking forward to the next in the series because it's been a long time since I read such a damn fine witch story. (As an added bonus, this novel is sandwiched between two nods to Needful Things. There may have been other nods to SK as well...Grady's? But that might be just my active imagination.)
Highly recommended!
A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
This and other reviews like it can be found at www.HorrorAfterDark.com.
I liked how this tale was related, with chapters featuring the present alternating between chapters from The Journal of Clayton Stone. It took a little while to get into the flow of things, but not too long. That's because the pacing in this book was very fast and the chapters were short. Before I knew it I was speeding along and then I just had to finish it, (right? You know how it is.), because I was so close to the end.
All of the characters here were flawed, but for me that made them more real. There were a good bunch of creepy times going on in the house where Thad's daughter and his pregnant wife waited for him to return from the sale of his book. As this story went along those creepy times graduated up to scary as hell. Thad wasn't having the best time with his book agent either.
This is a story of witchcraft, the first in a series. I have sworn to myself that I wouldn't start another series until it was finished, but here I am. A friend of mine on Goodreads mentioned that he liked this book, I took a look, claimed it for review at HAD and here we are. I'm glad that I did choose it, because I found it to be well written, fast paced, scary and imaginative. I will be looking forward to the next in the series because it's been a long time since I read such a damn fine witch story. (As an added bonus, this novel is sandwiched between two nods to Needful Things. There may have been other nods to SK as well...Grady's? But that might be just my active imagination.)
Highly recommended!
A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
This and other reviews like it can be found at www.HorrorAfterDark.com.
August 25, 2025
Un libro sobre brujas, hechizos ancestrales y una familia amenazada.
Me ha gustado esta historia por como mezcla capítulos del presente con un diario escrito en el siglo XVI donde nos relatan la vida de la bruja.
Los personajes aquí casi no tienen protagonismo, podrían ser cualquiera... no son más que invitados en la macabra función de la poderosa bruja.
Bien escrito y con capítulos cortos que incitan a leer sin parar.
El final es lo que más me gustado. Es redondo y no le pongo ni un pero. El epílogo (en 2 partes) es de lo mejor del libro, me ha dejado con ganas de más.
Muy buena lectura!
Me ha gustado esta historia por como mezcla capítulos del presente con un diario escrito en el siglo XVI donde nos relatan la vida de la bruja.
Los personajes aquí casi no tienen protagonismo, podrían ser cualquiera... no son más que invitados en la macabra función de la poderosa bruja.
Bien escrito y con capítulos cortos que incitan a leer sin parar.
El final es lo que más me gustado. Es redondo y no le pongo ni un pero. El epílogo (en 2 partes) es de lo mejor del libro, me ha dejado con ganas de más.
Muy buena lectura!
August 3, 2015
“If you really want to upset a witch, do her a favor which she has no means of repaying. The unfulfilled obligation will nag at her like a hangnail.”
----Terry Pratchett
J.D. Barker, an American author, pens a heart-stopping and extremely hair-rising story, Forsaken that is the first book in the Shadow Cove Saga series, that accounts the story of a writer who writes horror thrillers and want to be one of the best writers this world has ever known, but little did he knew that the story that he is penning with his words could actually happen parallely in his own family home.
BEWARE: Because this book is definitely going to be a bumpy ride through witchy drama, spells, curses, creatures of the nigh, blood, goth and shall I continue?? Everything that is sure to give you the chills and the thrills.
Synopsis:
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga
From the witch trials of centuries past, an evil awakens.
Inspired by Actual Events
Excerpt from the Journal of Clayton Stone – 1692
She was examined today without torture at Shadow Cove township on the charge of witchcraft. She said she was wholly innocent of the crime and has never in life renounced God. I watched as they brought her out. A poor, sickly thing, worn by her time behind the walls of her prison. Her bared feet and hands bound in leather, her clothing tattered to that of ruin. Despite such condition, her head was held high, her eyes meeting those of her accusers. She still refuses to provide her name so we remain unable to search baptismal records, nor has her family stepped forward to claim her as their own. We have no reason to believe she is anything but an orphaned child. I find myself unable to look at her directly in the moments preceding her trial. She is watching me though; with eyes of the deepest blue, she is watching me.
Thad McAlister, Rise of the Witch
When horror author Thad McAlister began his latest novel, a tale rooted in the witch trials of centuries past, the words flowed effortlessly. The story poured forth, filling page after page with the most frightening character ever to crawl from his imagination. It was his greatest work, one that would guarantee him a position among the legends of the craft.
But was it really fiction?
He inadvertently opened a door, one that would soon jeopardize the lives of his family.
She wants to come back.
At home, his wife struggles to keep their family alive. Secretly wondering if she caused it all…a deal she made long ago. A deal with the Forsaken.
Thad McAlister is an author who writes ghost stories and stories from the horror fiction genre. He sets to write his new book which is pure evil and the way he writes his story it feels like he has forever knew this terrific and horrifying story about witches and their curses. Upon finishing the book, he was sure that he has created a masterpiece in the world of horror fiction, but little did he know that his story have put things into motion, like his words became a window to this scary story into his own home. And the power wants Thad as their right hand to take that revenge that they wanted to take for so long, resisting them might have to cost his precious family of a beautiful and very pregnant wife and his lovely daughter. Rachel McAlister knew that she is the one who is responsible for the evil in their home since she made a promise that she shouldn't have made ages ago.
There are two stories that run in parallel or rather say in a perfect tune. The present day revolves around the McAlister household where situation turns bad to worse with every passing minute, then there is the story world, where we could see the excerpts from Thad's book or rather say like a journal, which is even more sinister than the reality. The story takes place in a three day's time span and it is enough to creep the hell out of not only the McAlister family but also out of us. The darkness and that eerie mood is evident right from the very first page, and immediately it hooks us right into the very heart of the story. What I loved most about the book is the timing of the occurrence of each event in this book which is so much in sync with one another.
There were moments when I had to close my eyes to stop myself from visualizing those scenes and the author's attention and keen to every minute details is enough to give me a nightmare in the night. The writing quality is exceptional and one of a kind and honestly I hardly read anything so evil and filled with darkness which is enough to drown us into it's wickedness. The narrative is engaging and has an ability to create a sense of fear into our minds. Since the plot is layered with twists and unexpected turns and events, it keeps us on our edges till the last page thus resulting to a very fast pace.
The characters that are perfectly etched out with layers of flaws thus providing a realistic edge to their characterization and thus somehow we could relate to their mental fears and all the issues closer to home. The grip that the author have on his characters is something really brilliant to watch it unfold once the creepy things start happening in their household. The character's developed like anything and with the progress of the story the depth to their demeanor increased thus letting us wide into the minds of his characters both evil and good ones.
Most striking characteristic of this book is that not for one single moment the book makes us feel like the story is so vague or even fictional, since the author has layered with valid logic to justify the events and surprisingly each creepy events from the witch trials to the events happening inside the house all feel very real, sometimes I even had to look up.
The mystery and the horror are depicted with sheer perfection, especially the fact that we know what is going to happen next still couldn't stop ourselves from reading the story, like thoroughly arresting. The mystery unravels like a movie on a slow motion, thus giving us an adrenaline rushing feel. The climax is brilliant and ends with a slight cliffhanger and whoever readers this book will be forced to wonder what will happen next, which I'm doing eagerly.
Verdict: Horror fans do grab a copy of this book now if you want to have a bone chilling experience!
Courtesy: Thanks Maxine once again for this great book.
----Terry Pratchett
J.D. Barker, an American author, pens a heart-stopping and extremely hair-rising story, Forsaken that is the first book in the Shadow Cove Saga series, that accounts the story of a writer who writes horror thrillers and want to be one of the best writers this world has ever known, but little did he knew that the story that he is penning with his words could actually happen parallely in his own family home.
BEWARE: Because this book is definitely going to be a bumpy ride through witchy drama, spells, curses, creatures of the nigh, blood, goth and shall I continue?? Everything that is sure to give you the chills and the thrills.
Synopsis:
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga
From the witch trials of centuries past, an evil awakens.
Inspired by Actual Events
Excerpt from the Journal of Clayton Stone – 1692
She was examined today without torture at Shadow Cove township on the charge of witchcraft. She said she was wholly innocent of the crime and has never in life renounced God. I watched as they brought her out. A poor, sickly thing, worn by her time behind the walls of her prison. Her bared feet and hands bound in leather, her clothing tattered to that of ruin. Despite such condition, her head was held high, her eyes meeting those of her accusers. She still refuses to provide her name so we remain unable to search baptismal records, nor has her family stepped forward to claim her as their own. We have no reason to believe she is anything but an orphaned child. I find myself unable to look at her directly in the moments preceding her trial. She is watching me though; with eyes of the deepest blue, she is watching me.
Thad McAlister, Rise of the Witch
When horror author Thad McAlister began his latest novel, a tale rooted in the witch trials of centuries past, the words flowed effortlessly. The story poured forth, filling page after page with the most frightening character ever to crawl from his imagination. It was his greatest work, one that would guarantee him a position among the legends of the craft.
But was it really fiction?
He inadvertently opened a door, one that would soon jeopardize the lives of his family.
She wants to come back.
At home, his wife struggles to keep their family alive. Secretly wondering if she caused it all…a deal she made long ago. A deal with the Forsaken.
Thad McAlister is an author who writes ghost stories and stories from the horror fiction genre. He sets to write his new book which is pure evil and the way he writes his story it feels like he has forever knew this terrific and horrifying story about witches and their curses. Upon finishing the book, he was sure that he has created a masterpiece in the world of horror fiction, but little did he know that his story have put things into motion, like his words became a window to this scary story into his own home. And the power wants Thad as their right hand to take that revenge that they wanted to take for so long, resisting them might have to cost his precious family of a beautiful and very pregnant wife and his lovely daughter. Rachel McAlister knew that she is the one who is responsible for the evil in their home since she made a promise that she shouldn't have made ages ago.
There are two stories that run in parallel or rather say in a perfect tune. The present day revolves around the McAlister household where situation turns bad to worse with every passing minute, then there is the story world, where we could see the excerpts from Thad's book or rather say like a journal, which is even more sinister than the reality. The story takes place in a three day's time span and it is enough to creep the hell out of not only the McAlister family but also out of us. The darkness and that eerie mood is evident right from the very first page, and immediately it hooks us right into the very heart of the story. What I loved most about the book is the timing of the occurrence of each event in this book which is so much in sync with one another.
There were moments when I had to close my eyes to stop myself from visualizing those scenes and the author's attention and keen to every minute details is enough to give me a nightmare in the night. The writing quality is exceptional and one of a kind and honestly I hardly read anything so evil and filled with darkness which is enough to drown us into it's wickedness. The narrative is engaging and has an ability to create a sense of fear into our minds. Since the plot is layered with twists and unexpected turns and events, it keeps us on our edges till the last page thus resulting to a very fast pace.
The characters that are perfectly etched out with layers of flaws thus providing a realistic edge to their characterization and thus somehow we could relate to their mental fears and all the issues closer to home. The grip that the author have on his characters is something really brilliant to watch it unfold once the creepy things start happening in their household. The character's developed like anything and with the progress of the story the depth to their demeanor increased thus letting us wide into the minds of his characters both evil and good ones.
Most striking characteristic of this book is that not for one single moment the book makes us feel like the story is so vague or even fictional, since the author has layered with valid logic to justify the events and surprisingly each creepy events from the witch trials to the events happening inside the house all feel very real, sometimes I even had to look up.
The mystery and the horror are depicted with sheer perfection, especially the fact that we know what is going to happen next still couldn't stop ourselves from reading the story, like thoroughly arresting. The mystery unravels like a movie on a slow motion, thus giving us an adrenaline rushing feel. The climax is brilliant and ends with a slight cliffhanger and whoever readers this book will be forced to wonder what will happen next, which I'm doing eagerly.
Verdict: Horror fans do grab a copy of this book now if you want to have a bone chilling experience!
Courtesy: Thanks Maxine once again for this great book.
January 9, 2020
4-1/2 Stars. This was an excellent story which took me back to the good old 80's. Very clever, and I love Mr. Barker's structure - all chapters are very short which serve as a catalyst to propel the story and reader along. Very successful as one can't put the book down; you know that something big is gonna happen in the next few pages. AND it does.
July 11, 2025
3'5 ,⭐⭐⭐✨. Libro que te tiene intrigado todo el rato,de capítulos cortos. Un escritor con su mujer e hija, que a raíz de escribir un último libro,empiezan a tener sueños raros y a partir de ahí ya se lía todo.💪🏼 Lo que me hizo no darle más puntuación quizá ha sido por ese final ,que cuando ves que es su primer libro y lo escribió hace más de doce años,te preguntas...¿ dónde está la segunda parte? 🤔 te deja con alguna que otra pregunta al terminarlo.🤦🏼🤦🏼 Pero la trama está muy chula y se hace muy ameno de leer. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
April 21, 2015
Heart Pounding
Mind Spinning
Anxiety
Couldn't put down
Above are a few definitions of this book.
Book – Forsaken (Shadow Cove Saga #1)
Author – J.D. Barker
Publication Date – November 30, 2014
Genre – Horror/Thriller
Type – Part of Series
Cliffhanger – Yes
Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
When I started to read the Prologue and saw “Needful Things”, I honestly rolled my eyes and thought this was going to be a knock off of a Stephen King book. I was pleasantly surprised when my first evaluation was wrong.
This book was captivating, gripping, mind numbing and left me in a book coma by the time it was completed. I immediately wanted more to find out what was going to happen next. It was the premise of the whole book – as each page ended; I couldn’t wait to find out what new development would arise in the next one.
The characters were phenomenal and the development of them was spot on.
The author did a great job in twisting a tale while also having Thad’s book run parallel to the present. Mr. Barker is a genius in how he played with the time aspect and birthing this story.
Re-Cap
Thad is best selling author who just completed his newest book but something is wrong. It revolves around a special journal and the whispers he heard penning this book.
As he is about to leave for a movie signing, strange things start to happen around the house…the lawn dies, small piles of dirt appear and his daughter’s imaginary friend is warning her of danger coming.
Read as Thad tries to race against time in getting back to save his family, while his wife tries to fight against terrifying spirits.
Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam Rating – N/A
Angst Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Writing Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? DEFINITELY
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Mind Spinning
Anxiety
Couldn't put down
Above are a few definitions of this book.
Book – Forsaken (Shadow Cove Saga #1)
Author – J.D. Barker
Publication Date – November 30, 2014
Genre – Horror/Thriller
Type – Part of Series
Cliffhanger – Yes
Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
When I started to read the Prologue and saw “Needful Things”, I honestly rolled my eyes and thought this was going to be a knock off of a Stephen King book. I was pleasantly surprised when my first evaluation was wrong.
This book was captivating, gripping, mind numbing and left me in a book coma by the time it was completed. I immediately wanted more to find out what was going to happen next. It was the premise of the whole book – as each page ended; I couldn’t wait to find out what new development would arise in the next one.
The characters were phenomenal and the development of them was spot on.
The author did a great job in twisting a tale while also having Thad’s book run parallel to the present. Mr. Barker is a genius in how he played with the time aspect and birthing this story.
Re-Cap
Thad is best selling author who just completed his newest book but something is wrong. It revolves around a special journal and the whispers he heard penning this book.
As he is about to leave for a movie signing, strange things start to happen around the house…the lawn dies, small piles of dirt appear and his daughter’s imaginary friend is warning her of danger coming.
Read as Thad tries to race against time in getting back to save his family, while his wife tries to fight against terrifying spirits.
Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam Rating – N/A
Angst Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Writing Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? DEFINITELY
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 10, 2025
He estado tan absorbida en esta historia que ni me daba cuenta de que pasaba las páginas sin parar 🫢.
Es una historia de terror, a diferencia de las otras novelas.
Un escritor famoso ha acabado de escribir su última novela, una que no dejará indiferente a nadie. Una historia que ha escrito en un estado de claridad como ninguna otra. Pero llega un punto en que la ficción parece convertirse en realidad… Ella está cerca.
Sin duda, una historia que te atrapará desde el principio, te hará dudar de si realmente está ocurriendo o si es simple imaginación…
Es una historia de terror, a diferencia de las otras novelas.
Un escritor famoso ha acabado de escribir su última novela, una que no dejará indiferente a nadie. Una historia que ha escrito en un estado de claridad como ninguna otra. Pero llega un punto en que la ficción parece convertirse en realidad… Ella está cerca.
Sin duda, una historia que te atrapará desde el principio, te hará dudar de si realmente está ocurriendo o si es simple imaginación…
June 21, 2018
......."From the witch trials of centuries past, an evil awakens"....... That blurb and the creepy book cover caught my attention years ago when first published, and after reading J. D. Barker's THE FOURTH MONKEY about a year ago, (that I loved) I thought it high time to retrieve FORSAKEN from my ebook library.
.......Unfortunately, FOR ME nothing much scary or creepy here....not the witch....not her lame "clickity click click click" sounding nails....and certainly not the silly little minions made of smelly dirt.
WHAT I DID LIKE:
.......the reference to the creepy antique store in Stephen King's novel NEEDFUL THINGS and what it means to play Let's Make A Deal there. (Have not yet read the book, but certainly remember the movie.)
.......the storyline of an author seeking fame and fortune who writes of evil and a time long past that wreaks havoc on present day lives.
.......the history of the Salem witch trials depict in the gifted NEEDFUL THINGS journal entries from 1692.
.......the brave little dog named Buster.
Such great potential, but the characters and their supposed dire predicaments were unconvincing FOR ME, the dialogue often flat....sometimes even boring.
I know, I know, FORSAKEN was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for superior achievement in a debut novel, but I'm sorry to say it was just okay and barely a three FOR ME.
January 14, 2023
Forsaken rattles along at a breakneck pace with a plot that outshines its expectations from just a few pages.
I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in his waking moments too. I love stories about witchcraft, but I just haven’t read enough of them lately, this has ignited a fire that has me seeking out more.
This subgenre has everything I crave – an amazing storyline, an antagonist whose presence is etched upon every page and yet isn’t revealed until those ending chapters, and a narrative that is as propulsive as rocket fuel.
Thad McAllister has struggled with his writing career for many years. Like most writers, it isn’t just a case of writing a fantastic story and expecting your name to be on everyone’s lips. After years of hard work and dedication he has written his best work to date, his agent, Del is getting him places and a movie studio is interested in adapting it. He’s looking at millions in revenue. Life couldn’t be better. He has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and another child on the way. It’s a great message about battling the current storm, although the outlook seems grim, it won’t last forever.
Thad heads to New York to hash out some of the details for the movie rights acquisition; meanwhile, his wife is at home with their young daughter, Ashley, and their housekeeper, Miss Perez. She’s having a tough time of it, what with the end of her pregnancy nearing, lack of sleep due to the vivid dreams she’s been experiencing, her daughter’s erratic behaviour, and her complaints about her imaginary friend.
The author writes with such tenacity and accuracy that you feel immediately connected to the wife and her child. You can understand the push and pull in Thad’s life. The need to be at home to support his wife and the need to sign on the dotted line to ensure their financial stability for years to come. Nonetheless, she’s struggling to get a hold of him, little insecurities start to resurface and she finds herself questioning his actions. Nothing brings out the anxieties quite like pregnancy hormones! But it’s not just that that is weighing heavily on her mind, just why has their garden died in the space of 24 hours including the huge oak tree that’s been there for hundreds of years? And just who is the old woman that comes to her in her dreams and demands she takes something precious from her?
I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in his waking moments too. I love stories about witchcraft, but I just haven’t read enough of them lately, this has ignited a fire that has me seeking out more.
This subgenre has everything I crave – an amazing storyline, an antagonist whose presence is etched upon every page and yet isn’t revealed until those ending chapters, and a narrative that is as propulsive as rocket fuel.
Thad McAllister has struggled with his writing career for many years. Like most writers, it isn’t just a case of writing a fantastic story and expecting your name to be on everyone’s lips. After years of hard work and dedication he has written his best work to date, his agent, Del is getting him places and a movie studio is interested in adapting it. He’s looking at millions in revenue. Life couldn’t be better. He has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and another child on the way. It’s a great message about battling the current storm, although the outlook seems grim, it won’t last forever.
Thad heads to New York to hash out some of the details for the movie rights acquisition; meanwhile, his wife is at home with their young daughter, Ashley, and their housekeeper, Miss Perez. She’s having a tough time of it, what with the end of her pregnancy nearing, lack of sleep due to the vivid dreams she’s been experiencing, her daughter’s erratic behaviour, and her complaints about her imaginary friend.
The author writes with such tenacity and accuracy that you feel immediately connected to the wife and her child. You can understand the push and pull in Thad’s life. The need to be at home to support his wife and the need to sign on the dotted line to ensure their financial stability for years to come. Nonetheless, she’s struggling to get a hold of him, little insecurities start to resurface and she finds herself questioning his actions. Nothing brings out the anxieties quite like pregnancy hormones! But it’s not just that that is weighing heavily on her mind, just why has their garden died in the space of 24 hours including the huge oak tree that’s been there for hundreds of years? And just who is the old woman that comes to her in her dreams and demands she takes something precious from her?
June 18, 2015
I liked this book.
Thad McAllister suddenly becomes a best selling author following his wife's purchase of an old leather journal as a gift for him from a store called "Needful Things".
And like all other gifts from this store, there is a price to be paid - not a monetary one.
Thad has had a story haunting him ever since he received the journal. It virtually wrote itself, and now it is time for it to be published. It is his greatest work, one that will guarantee him an exalted position among the legends of his craft.
And now it is time to pay the price - She (whose name may never be spoken) wants to come back. And nothing can be allowed to stand in her way.
The story switches between Thad's current day life and that of "She" at the witches trials in 1692.
This is cleverly written, and more than a little creepy in places. It made me think about what really does frighten me.
A worthwhile read and one I will be recommending.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, NetGalley and JD Barker for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thad McAllister suddenly becomes a best selling author following his wife's purchase of an old leather journal as a gift for him from a store called "Needful Things".
And like all other gifts from this store, there is a price to be paid - not a monetary one.
Thad has had a story haunting him ever since he received the journal. It virtually wrote itself, and now it is time for it to be published. It is his greatest work, one that will guarantee him an exalted position among the legends of his craft.
And now it is time to pay the price - She (whose name may never be spoken) wants to come back. And nothing can be allowed to stand in her way.
The story switches between Thad's current day life and that of "She" at the witches trials in 1692.
This is cleverly written, and more than a little creepy in places. It made me think about what really does frighten me.
A worthwhile read and one I will be recommending.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, NetGalley and JD Barker for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2015
4.5 stars full review to come.
I confess, as I began this book, starting at the prologue, I double-checked I was reading Forsaken by J.D. Barker. I had a split second of confusion as the author with the permission of Mr. Stephen King name dropped one of my favorite books.
Then after a short prologue Barker jumps into his novel introducing the reader to successful novelist Thad McAllister, his wife Rachel and young daughter Ashley and lest we forget another key character Ashley's "imaginary friend" Zeke.
Thad's latest bestseller is based on the journal of Clayton Stone describing the Salem witchcraft trials. As a reader this novel may lead one to ask what price success?
This novel is very meta with the narrative perspective smoothly transitioning between various points of view and timelines.
In Forsaken Barker has crafted a much needed suspenseful witchy tale in the horror genre and displays an obvious admiration and respect for language in framing this novel. whereas some novelists are so eager to show off their love of language and strong grasp of it their prose suffers from being a little flowery and complicate, but Barker avoids that pitfall and overcomes a few instances of what could become cliched tropes regarding a cheating husband etc...to pen a strong exciting and creepy novel.
I wish to thank the author for s copy of forsaken ( via smashwords) in exchange for an honest review.
I confess, as I began this book, starting at the prologue, I double-checked I was reading Forsaken by J.D. Barker. I had a split second of confusion as the author with the permission of Mr. Stephen King name dropped one of my favorite books.
Then after a short prologue Barker jumps into his novel introducing the reader to successful novelist Thad McAllister, his wife Rachel and young daughter Ashley and lest we forget another key character Ashley's "imaginary friend" Zeke.
Thad's latest bestseller is based on the journal of Clayton Stone describing the Salem witchcraft trials. As a reader this novel may lead one to ask what price success?
This novel is very meta with the narrative perspective smoothly transitioning between various points of view and timelines.
In Forsaken Barker has crafted a much needed suspenseful witchy tale in the horror genre and displays an obvious admiration and respect for language in framing this novel. whereas some novelists are so eager to show off their love of language and strong grasp of it their prose suffers from being a little flowery and complicate, but Barker avoids that pitfall and overcomes a few instances of what could become cliched tropes regarding a cheating husband etc...to pen a strong exciting and creepy novel.
I wish to thank the author for s copy of forsaken ( via smashwords) in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
Aunque de lectura fácil y capítulos cortos la realidad es que no me ha gustado. las brujas no me han dado el miedo que se les supone, los esbirros aún menos y la historia tiene muchos flecos sueltos y cosas sin mucho sentido.
Read
February 6, 2021“Not all witchcraft is evil, and certainly not all witches are akin with the devil,” she began. “Most are healers, utilizing methods passed down from each generation to the next. Herbs and spells, remedies known only to a few but meant to help the many… this is what true witchcraft is borne of.” I felt her fingers tense within mine, her grip hesitant, yet firm. “There is a book, but it is not what you believe it to be.”
J.D. Barker has quickly become a favorite author for me. I enjoyed this, his first book, which was an excellent debut.
Thad McAlister is a famous horror story author. Already popular, but his new book about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, he is certain is his best book ever. The book he’s written, he admits, even scares him.
Thad’s wife gifted him a beautiful, leather bound, journal and it’s this journal that he is using for notes, illustrations and his chapters for the new book. The chapters flow seamlessly, page after page, everything comes together. It’s as if the ideas come to him magically, quickly and often he cannot keep up with his own frantic writing.
As Thad leaves town to meet his agent and a representative for a movie deal, his wife, Rachel, struggles at home. She is pregnant and she, her nanny, Ms. Perez, and daughter, Ashley, are dealing with havoc caused by things they don’t understand. No one would understand the creepy things that begin to happen, such as their lawn dying overnight as well as a big, beautiful oak tree.
I like the fact that Mr. Barker drew from history for his work. I’ve read multiple books about the witch trials and he’s spot on in how these women were treated back then, how easily people lied and turned on each other. The plot is tight and the characters are well-drawn. There are surprises hidden in the mist.
I loved the atmosphere in the book. The rain, thunder, dark clouds and fury. I closed by eyes and could envision Shadow Cove, the musty smell of the earth, decaying leaves, trees that died long ago. Water was a major element in the book, which I loved.
Overall, I loved the book, it’s creepy essence, the characters and how things swirled together, like smoke mingling together to fly up to the heavens, or is it hell?
Clickity click click ....
______________________________________________________________
GR Friends: Can any of you point me to JD Barkers’ ebook, "Hybrid"?
I’ve looked on all the book websites and it appears this ebook isn’t downloadable anymore. Maybe an old site or obscure book site? Any help is appreciated as I'd really love to read all his books, even short ones. Thanks, Kat
J.D. Barker has quickly become a favorite author for me. I enjoyed this, his first book, which was an excellent debut.
Thad McAlister is a famous horror story author. Already popular, but his new book about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, he is certain is his best book ever. The book he’s written, he admits, even scares him.
Thad’s wife gifted him a beautiful, leather bound, journal and it’s this journal that he is using for notes, illustrations and his chapters for the new book. The chapters flow seamlessly, page after page, everything comes together. It’s as if the ideas come to him magically, quickly and often he cannot keep up with his own frantic writing.
As Thad leaves town to meet his agent and a representative for a movie deal, his wife, Rachel, struggles at home. She is pregnant and she, her nanny, Ms. Perez, and daughter, Ashley, are dealing with havoc caused by things they don’t understand. No one would understand the creepy things that begin to happen, such as their lawn dying overnight as well as a big, beautiful oak tree.
I like the fact that Mr. Barker drew from history for his work. I’ve read multiple books about the witch trials and he’s spot on in how these women were treated back then, how easily people lied and turned on each other. The plot is tight and the characters are well-drawn. There are surprises hidden in the mist.
I loved the atmosphere in the book. The rain, thunder, dark clouds and fury. I closed by eyes and could envision Shadow Cove, the musty smell of the earth, decaying leaves, trees that died long ago. Water was a major element in the book, which I loved.
Overall, I loved the book, it’s creepy essence, the characters and how things swirled together, like smoke mingling together to fly up to the heavens, or is it hell?
Clickity click click ....
______________________________________________________________
GR Friends: Can any of you point me to JD Barkers’ ebook, "Hybrid"?
I’ve looked on all the book websites and it appears this ebook isn’t downloadable anymore. Maybe an old site or obscure book site? Any help is appreciated as I'd really love to read all his books, even short ones. Thanks, Kat
April 21, 2015
4.5 stars
A great story of an ancient witchcraft, with ties to the Salam Witch Trials. This was one of those stories that you keep telling yourself "just one more chapter", and before you know it, hours have elapsed.
Rachael McAlister wants to get just the perfect gift for her struggling writer, fiancé, Thad. Little did she realize the repercussions that would come years later as a result....
Thad is now a bestseller author, but he isn't quite sure if his latest story came from his imagination or from....another....source.
This story is such a fast paced read, that once I really started getting into the characters, I read the final 3/4 in a single sitting. An author that I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Recommended!
A great story of an ancient witchcraft, with ties to the Salam Witch Trials. This was one of those stories that you keep telling yourself "just one more chapter", and before you know it, hours have elapsed.
Rachael McAlister wants to get just the perfect gift for her struggling writer, fiancé, Thad. Little did she realize the repercussions that would come years later as a result....
Thad is now a bestseller author, but he isn't quite sure if his latest story came from his imagination or from....another....source.
This story is such a fast paced read, that once I really started getting into the characters, I read the final 3/4 in a single sitting. An author that I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Recommended!
August 10, 2016
Forsaken By J.D> Barker was awesome was a little slow at the beginning but once it got into the storyline it drew me in from beginning to end. This is a dark horror book delving into witch craft & the unknown, J.D. Barker wrote the complete horror story he is up there with Stephen KIng & Dean Koontz.
Thad MCallister is a too bit author who is going nowhere until he writes a best seller & suddenly he is taken over by the journal IS IT HIM WRITING IT OR SOME FORCE CONTROLLING HIM!!
His world seems to be going into another time , his wife Rachael is pregnant is the baby possessed by a witch ?? from there the novel explodes into the darkness of witchcraft Thad becomes obsessed with the journal & takes him into the darkest places to Shadow Cove.
I wont go any further as i may give spoilers away but the ending was brilliant not what i was expecting cannot wait for the second in the series 5 + *s
Thad MCallister is a too bit author who is going nowhere until he writes a best seller & suddenly he is taken over by the journal IS IT HIM WRITING IT OR SOME FORCE CONTROLLING HIM!!
His world seems to be going into another time , his wife Rachael is pregnant is the baby possessed by a witch ?? from there the novel explodes into the darkness of witchcraft Thad becomes obsessed with the journal & takes him into the darkest places to Shadow Cove.
I wont go any further as i may give spoilers away but the ending was brilliant not what i was expecting cannot wait for the second in the series 5 + *s
November 23, 2014
Perhaps the best measure of any book I read is how enthusiastic I grab the kindle, and reading this book, I looked forward to every moment I could power up. Forsaken is a unique story with two intertwined plotlines. A brief backstory of Witch trials from hundreds of years ago is linked to a horror writer who has just written his greatest piece of work yet. Only this book is different, and the price for putting it on paper and unleashing it onto the world puts his children and pregnant wife at risk. The author and his family in isolation from each other worked so well, as did so many other elements in ths story. Supernatural elements blended perfectly into the tangible world. Escalating conflict turned the volume up with each page, and it all built to a suprise ending and an unusual and perfectly blended shout-out to King's Needful Things. Highly recommend this great accomplishment.
April 26, 2015
*This book was on the read now list at Netgalley*
This book is creepy!! I'm going to have to add a few **SPOILERS**
Ok, so the cool part is Thad's wife stops into the shop, "Needful Things". Does that ring a bell? She picks up this journal for Thad to do his writing in, he's an author. The journal belonged to Clayton Stone from the Salem witch trials, but was never written in besides his name. Thad seems to have no trouble writing out this new horror novel, which is actually true. The book brings the witch to life and all kinds of horror ensues as you can imagine.
I'm not going to put too many spoilers from here on out because what would be the point of telling you everything! So, Thad goes out of town to push this book to get released and a movie, etc and so forth.
His wife, who is pregnant, stays home with their daughter Ashley, the housekeeper and dog Buster :)
Well now that the witch is out and all these people are involved they make Thad go and get this old ancient box and they want his unborn baby so the old crone can live in the child.
The creepy stuff are these little minion things that run around attacking them at home but they collapse into dirt if you hit them etc. They are there to keep the family from getting away.
OK BIG **SPOILER**
The thing is, when his wife was in Needful Things she told Mr. Gaunt she would give her first born child for Thad to have a great book, something along those lines. Soooo, all the people that show up to steal the baby at the house, since she goes into labor, it's not the baby they take! Can you guess who it was?
So, a lot of people die and the evil witch is in the new body. There are going to be more books to the series so I'm wanting to see what happens!
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
This book is creepy!! I'm going to have to add a few **SPOILERS**
Ok, so the cool part is Thad's wife stops into the shop, "Needful Things". Does that ring a bell? She picks up this journal for Thad to do his writing in, he's an author. The journal belonged to Clayton Stone from the Salem witch trials, but was never written in besides his name. Thad seems to have no trouble writing out this new horror novel, which is actually true. The book brings the witch to life and all kinds of horror ensues as you can imagine.
I'm not going to put too many spoilers from here on out because what would be the point of telling you everything! So, Thad goes out of town to push this book to get released and a movie, etc and so forth.
His wife, who is pregnant, stays home with their daughter Ashley, the housekeeper and dog Buster :)
Well now that the witch is out and all these people are involved they make Thad go and get this old ancient box and they want his unborn baby so the old crone can live in the child.
The creepy stuff are these little minion things that run around attacking them at home but they collapse into dirt if you hit them etc. They are there to keep the family from getting away.
OK BIG **SPOILER**
The thing is, when his wife was in Needful Things she told Mr. Gaunt she would give her first born child for Thad to have a great book, something along those lines. Soooo, all the people that show up to steal the baby at the house, since she goes into labor, it's not the baby they take! Can you guess who it was?
So, a lot of people die and the evil witch is in the new body. There are going to be more books to the series so I'm wanting to see what happens!
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
August 20, 2025
Hoy vengo con la reseña de “Las abandonadas” de J. D. Barker, una novela que desde las primeras páginas me atrapó con su atmósfera oscura y esa tensión que no te suelta. La historia nos presenta a Thad McAlister, un escritor que está trabajando en una novela sobre los juicios de Salem. Lo inquietante es que las palabras parecen no salir de él, sino que brotan solas, como si una voz extraña se las dictara. Lo que empieza como un impulso creativo fascinante se convierte pronto en una pesadilla, porque lo que escribe parece tener consecuencias reales y conecta con un pacto antiguo que nunca debió ser desenterrado.
Barker sabe muy bien cómo enganchar. Su estilo es directo, con capítulos cortos que hacen que la lectura avance a toda velocidad. Cada escena está narrada de forma muy visual, con esa sensación de que algo acecha en cada esquina. Lo que más me gustó es cómo combina lo sobrenatural con el suspense familiar, mostrando cómo los secretos y las tensiones personales también forman parte del terror.
Yo ya había leído “Drácula, el origen” y la saga de “El cuarto mono”, que son de mis lecturas favoritas, y se nota que “Las abandonadas” fue en realidad la primera novela escrita por el autor. Tiene esa frescura del debut, con ideas potentes que más tarde desarrollaría con más madurez, pero ya con ese sello tan suyo que consigue atrapar al lector desde la primera página.
En definitiva, “Las abandonadas” es un thriller con tintes sobrenaturales que entretiene, inquieta y mantiene un ritmo constante hasta el final. No es la obra más redonda de él autor, pero tiene ese encanto especial de las primeras novelas, cuando un autor empieza a mostrar de qué es capaz. A mí me ha parecido adictiva, inquietante y perfecta para quienes buscan una lectura oscura y rápida que no da tregua.
Barker sabe muy bien cómo enganchar. Su estilo es directo, con capítulos cortos que hacen que la lectura avance a toda velocidad. Cada escena está narrada de forma muy visual, con esa sensación de que algo acecha en cada esquina. Lo que más me gustó es cómo combina lo sobrenatural con el suspense familiar, mostrando cómo los secretos y las tensiones personales también forman parte del terror.
Yo ya había leído “Drácula, el origen” y la saga de “El cuarto mono”, que son de mis lecturas favoritas, y se nota que “Las abandonadas” fue en realidad la primera novela escrita por el autor. Tiene esa frescura del debut, con ideas potentes que más tarde desarrollaría con más madurez, pero ya con ese sello tan suyo que consigue atrapar al lector desde la primera página.
En definitiva, “Las abandonadas” es un thriller con tintes sobrenaturales que entretiene, inquieta y mantiene un ritmo constante hasta el final. No es la obra más redonda de él autor, pero tiene ese encanto especial de las primeras novelas, cuando un autor empieza a mostrar de qué es capaz. A mí me ha parecido adictiva, inquietante y perfecta para quienes buscan una lectura oscura y rápida que no da tregua.
March 1, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this story that brought past and present together in a very imaginative and exciting way. An unfortunate family are thrown into a frightening and deadly encounter with a long dead witch and her creepy modern day followers. The end had a twist that I did not at all see coming, and then the prologue was completely unexpected. Very good, smart writing that made the unbelievable, believable. The narration was good but I did speed it up to 1.25, for me the regular speed made the verbiage too drawn out. Best witch book I have read in quite a while.
July 10, 2025
Novela de terror y paranormal. Me lancé a leerlo por el autor sin ver que es una tematica que no me gusta.
Pese a que está fuera de mi zona de confort tengo que decir que me ha tenido enganchada. Son capitulos cortos donde intercalan el presente con una historia pasada.
Una historia contrareloj por salvar a la familia con duendes, fantasmas y brujas de por medio.
Quedan varios cabos sueltos a la espera de más libros.
Pese a que está fuera de mi zona de confort tengo que decir que me ha tenido enganchada. Son capitulos cortos donde intercalan el presente con una historia pasada.
Una historia contrareloj por salvar a la familia con duendes, fantasmas y brujas de por medio.
Quedan varios cabos sueltos a la espera de más libros.
May 6, 2015
I received a free copy of Forsaken from the publisher for an honest review. Rachel McAlister was looking for something special for her author husband Thad. Rachael walks into this little unique store located in the town of Castle Rock, Maine. The proprietor of the store Mr. Gaunt claims to have something for everybody. He shows Rachel three things. The last one caught her eye. It was a journal of Clayton Stone from 1692. The Journal was about the Salem Witch trials. Thad McAlister was writing his latest book. The words flowed from page to page, like never before. His book included parts from the journal of Clayton Stone and Thad thinks that this could be his best novel yet. The story switches back to the time of the Salem Witch trials and then back to the present. Rachael has a horrible dream about this ugly looking woman from the past that wants to rip her unborn child from her belly. Thad struggles to keep his family safe from these horrific nightmares. There were many twist and turns that I did not see coming. JD Barker weaves a tale of creepy horror. The characters in the story are well developed and this helps to make the story stronger. This is one of the best new author's that I have read in a long time. If you are a fan of horror,look no further. I highly recommend this book. There will be a sequel to this book in the near future.
September 17, 2021
Класен хорър-роман, с който Дж. Д. Баркър отдава почитта си към Краля на Ужаса. Защото, макар и появяващ се само в една кратка сцена, основен двигател за фабулата е не кой да е, а мистър Лийлънд Гонт, демоничният джентълмен-магазинер от Неизживени спомени и емблематичен герой на Стивън Кинг. А внимателният читател може да открие още доста препратки към произведенията на последния. Без никаква претенция за изчерпателност споменавам лошата красавица Кристина и капризният буик, ремонтиран от бензинджията по пътя за Шадоу Коув. Дневникът, задаващ една от двете главни сюжетни линии - съдебният процес срещу вещицата отпреди няколко века, пък е воден от Клейтън Стоун, чието име, поне за мен, фонетично (и ритмично) се доближава до името на сещате-се-кого, а на български език дори инициалите съвпадат, макар и разменени, хаха. Финалът беше наистина майсторски пипнат и нямаше как да не ме наведе на мисли за друга хорър-класика - Бебето на Розмари.
September 6, 2022
Terminada esta excelente historia sobre brujas (según he leído fue su debut como escritor novel) el adjetivo que me viene ahora mismo a la mente es escalofriante. No puedo dejar de decir siempre en mis reseñas que me encanta como me cuenta sus historias J. D. Baker. Creo que esta frase de Patterson plasma exactamente lo que pienso.
“Es un escritor único y eso es algo raro y especial.”
PD: es una pena que no continuara con la saga, por lo que he ido investigando es el único libro que publicó.
“Es un escritor único y eso es algo raro y especial.”
PD: es una pena que no continuara con la saga, por lo que he ido investigando es el único libro que publicó.
July 23, 2015
Nominated for the ‘Bram Stoker Award’ in 2014, “Forsaken” is the first in ‘The Shadow Cove Saga.” This fast paced novel takes place over an action packed few days and concerns horror writer Thad McAlister, his pregnant wife Rachael and their young daughter, Ashley. Many years ago, Rachael bought her young, aspiring writer fiancé, Thad a journal in a small, Oceanside town – hoping to inspire him – with disastrous consequences. Many years later, Thad is a bestselling author and about to jet off to New York for talks on publishing his new novel and discuss movie rights. Left behind with her little girl and disagreeable housekeeper, Mrs Perez, Rachael begins to doubt Thad and is troubled by dreams. Meanwhile, Ashley seems to be attention seeking and annoying Mrs Perez and Rachael, shortly about to give birth, feels unable to cope. However, before long, she has more than a little bad behaviour to cope with, because although Thad thinks his new novel will bring him untold wealth, in fact it is about to bring about the rising of an evil power…
The modern day storyline is told alongside excerpts from the 1692 journal, concerning witch trials in Shadow Cove. Now, ‘she’ wants to return. Thad has, inadvertently, told ‘her’ story and her minions are ready to help her come back. If Thad does not do their bidding then the lives of Rachael, Ashley and Rachael’s unborn child, are in danger. We follow both Thad’s journey to do ‘her’ bidding and Rachael and Ashley’s story at home; where strange things begin to happen – from the lawn dying overnight to strange piles of powder appearing in the rooms. This is a creepy book and has an interesting storyline. It is, obviously, the first in a trilogy and so – although the author does give this a satisfactory ending – there is also the promise of the continuation of future events ahead. If you enjoy horror with an interesting storyline and good characters, then you will certainly like this and I look forward to reading on.
The modern day storyline is told alongside excerpts from the 1692 journal, concerning witch trials in Shadow Cove. Now, ‘she’ wants to return. Thad has, inadvertently, told ‘her’ story and her minions are ready to help her come back. If Thad does not do their bidding then the lives of Rachael, Ashley and Rachael’s unborn child, are in danger. We follow both Thad’s journey to do ‘her’ bidding and Rachael and Ashley’s story at home; where strange things begin to happen – from the lawn dying overnight to strange piles of powder appearing in the rooms. This is a creepy book and has an interesting storyline. It is, obviously, the first in a trilogy and so – although the author does give this a satisfactory ending – there is also the promise of the continuation of future events ahead. If you enjoy horror with an interesting storyline and good characters, then you will certainly like this and I look forward to reading on.
July 18, 2015
Forsaken is a great book for horror fans. I’ve loved reading horror since I was a child. Although I don’t read horror as much these days, I do enjoy a good horror from time to time, and I definitely enjoyed this one.
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga tells the story of an author and his newest horror novel. One that is different to any of his previous novels, much darker, yet it came to him so easily, almost as if the story had written itself. Remember that saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Well, don’t be so sure, that’s all I’m saying. To find out more, you’ll have to read Forsaken.
This story is very well written, has a well thought out plot, atmospheric, dark, eerie, and I found the focus on witchcraft really intriguing. I wouldn’t say it scared me, but it takes a lot to scare me.
There was a traditional horror feel to this novel, with little snippets of Stephen King in there, but it still felt original. J. D. Barker is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
The story had a good pace, which really picked up later on in the book, leaving me eager to find out what was going to happen to the characters. I loved the ending too. Not an annoying cliffhanger, but it definitely left you wanting to know more, and setting the scene for the next book in this series.
I would like to thank the author and their publicist for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga tells the story of an author and his newest horror novel. One that is different to any of his previous novels, much darker, yet it came to him so easily, almost as if the story had written itself. Remember that saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Well, don’t be so sure, that’s all I’m saying. To find out more, you’ll have to read Forsaken.
This story is very well written, has a well thought out plot, atmospheric, dark, eerie, and I found the focus on witchcraft really intriguing. I wouldn’t say it scared me, but it takes a lot to scare me.
There was a traditional horror feel to this novel, with little snippets of Stephen King in there, but it still felt original. J. D. Barker is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
The story had a good pace, which really picked up later on in the book, leaving me eager to find out what was going to happen to the characters. I loved the ending too. Not an annoying cliffhanger, but it definitely left you wanting to know more, and setting the scene for the next book in this series.
I would like to thank the author and their publicist for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2016
It's been a long time since I've read a witch-themed horror book - I recognize some of the ideas used in this one, with a few of them being new. There was something familiar about it, almost like the characters themselves were haunted by something they recognized in the back of their minds. The book goes back and forth through brief experts in the novel of something that happened back in the day with the original witch trials, to the current day where an innocent family now has to pay the price for their success.
The book reads quickly, the chapters driven by scenes told through the points of view of a small scattering of characters. Pace is consistent, where there isn't much down time to grow bored. The author has some genuinely creepy scenes, especially with the strange minions and the dirt that keeps trapping the family inside the house. I tried practicing a clickity-click-click noise with my own fingernails - how annoying that would grow.
While the story works for being an old-fashioned witch focused horror tale, with a small surprise or two, it didn't live up to my expectations with characterization. I found the page players one-dimensional and predictable, down to some of the dialogue, especially from Dell toward the end. Enough of the story is too familiar, with the characters being a little light, and some of the predictable cheesiness like seduction in the basket, that I settled on a three star rating.
It's worth a read, especially for horror fans who dig this kind of thing.
The book reads quickly, the chapters driven by scenes told through the points of view of a small scattering of characters. Pace is consistent, where there isn't much down time to grow bored. The author has some genuinely creepy scenes, especially with the strange minions and the dirt that keeps trapping the family inside the house. I tried practicing a clickity-click-click noise with my own fingernails - how annoying that would grow.
While the story works for being an old-fashioned witch focused horror tale, with a small surprise or two, it didn't live up to my expectations with characterization. I found the page players one-dimensional and predictable, down to some of the dialogue, especially from Dell toward the end. Enough of the story is too familiar, with the characters being a little light, and some of the predictable cheesiness like seduction in the basket, that I settled on a three star rating.
It's worth a read, especially for horror fans who dig this kind of thing.
August 14, 2015
I finished this weeks ago and forgot to add it. It was one of the better witchcraft themed books I've read in recent years. I definitely intend to read the sequel.
September 28, 2025
Thad McAlister es un novelista reconocido y querido. Sin embargo, pocos saben que los libros que le han traído tanto éxito comenzaron hace 10 años con un regalo especial de su esposa, Rachel. Un viejo diario en blanco, encuadernado en cuero y de origen desconocido, inspira inexplicablemente a Thad, cuyas páginas parecen escribirse solas. Su última novela, aún no publicada, "El regreso de la bruja", transporta al lector al juicio de una mujer acusada de brujería. Ciudadanos temerosos de Dios, un juez cruel y la maldad en sus múltiples facetas. Es una historia que aterroriza al propio autor.
Cuando Thad regresa a casa con su agente para reunirse con un productor de cine, no tiene ni idea de lo que les espera a su esposa e hija embarazadas, ni de la estrecha relación que esto tiene con una promesa que Rachel hizo en "La pequeña tienda de los sueños"...(referencia a King)
"Las abandonadas" es la novela debut de JDBarker, publicada originalmente en 2014. Es una mezcla de thriller y terror, con elementos de fantasía oscura. La acción se desarrolla de dos maneras: en la actualidad, pero también en 1692, durante el juicio de la Bruja de la Cala de las Sombras, que constituye la trama principal del libro de Thad McAlister (estos pasajes me parecen brillantes). Si bien el comienzo de la historia es definitivamente inquietante y oscuro, el resto, con la introducción de unas extrañas criaturas llamadas esbirros, resulta un poco cliché y pierde su atractivo, en mi opinión. En "Las abandonadas" , la realidad se funde con lo paranormal en una alta concentración, con una fuerte dosis de magia oscura, decadencia e inspiración de King. Los diálogos son excelentes y los personajes intrigantes, un punto a favor. El agradable final da esperanzas de una gran secuela, y considerando el enorme progreso del autorpodría ser un éxito rotundo
Cuando Thad regresa a casa con su agente para reunirse con un productor de cine, no tiene ni idea de lo que les espera a su esposa e hija embarazadas, ni de la estrecha relación que esto tiene con una promesa que Rachel hizo en "La pequeña tienda de los sueños"...(referencia a King)
"Las abandonadas" es la novela debut de JDBarker, publicada originalmente en 2014. Es una mezcla de thriller y terror, con elementos de fantasía oscura. La acción se desarrolla de dos maneras: en la actualidad, pero también en 1692, durante el juicio de la Bruja de la Cala de las Sombras, que constituye la trama principal del libro de Thad McAlister (estos pasajes me parecen brillantes). Si bien el comienzo de la historia es definitivamente inquietante y oscuro, el resto, con la introducción de unas extrañas criaturas llamadas esbirros, resulta un poco cliché y pierde su atractivo, en mi opinión. En "Las abandonadas" , la realidad se funde con lo paranormal en una alta concentración, con una fuerte dosis de magia oscura, decadencia e inspiración de King. Los diálogos son excelentes y los personajes intrigantes, un punto a favor. El agradable final da esperanzas de una gran secuela, y considerando el enorme progreso del autorpodría ser un éxito rotundo
October 26, 2019
“Sometimes the most frightening of thoughts can be found hiding among the shadows of our own minds.”
This quote has appealed to me long before I opened the pages of this fantastic novel. This is such an ominous, but powerful statement. The majority of us living inside our own minds, the truly sick and demented trapped by their thoughts like a prison. The mind is something that for centuries that we have longed to understand, to understand behaviors and predict patterns of psychotic behavior, but deception of one's thoughts is far greater than imagined.
To be fair, this novel is about witches, and not the mind... at least that's what you're thinking right? Yes, it is, and it's by far the best novel I have read involving witchcraft. I have to be honest though, J.D. Barker may have set out to write a horror novel involving witchcraft, but this novel delivers so much more, which is why for a debut novel it's no wonder it's set him apart as an author. There is a psychological aspect at play here. J.D. Barker takes a story... a seemingly unrealistic story of witchcraft, and makes it credible. How does he do this you ask? Through the emotional undoing of his characters, it's their distress and psychological state that pulls you in. This is what sets it apart from fantasy, to what could be a truly horrific reality.
I have to say, that J.D. Barker's ability to intermix the telling of the past while simultaneously telling the present is unlike no other. I've read multiple novels from other authors, who shall remain nameless, where they've tried to do this, and have failed. Somehow always falling short and losing the reader in the process, never quite making the connection, and just creating more confusion rather than adding to the suspense intended. This has become a signature of his writing now, I saw this with The Fourth Monkey , and now with Forsaken. The way he tells the story of Her, the witch, through Thad's novel, intermixing chapters with the present creates the perfect story.
The influences for J.D. Barker is clear in his writing, we can see this by his paying homage to Stephen King's Needful Things. It's common for many authors of the horror genre to look up to the greats such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul, but it's another thing for them to come close to following in their footsteps. I for one have to say that J.D. Barker is well on his way to being one of the next "GREAT" horror writers.
This quote has appealed to me long before I opened the pages of this fantastic novel. This is such an ominous, but powerful statement. The majority of us living inside our own minds, the truly sick and demented trapped by their thoughts like a prison. The mind is something that for centuries that we have longed to understand, to understand behaviors and predict patterns of psychotic behavior, but deception of one's thoughts is far greater than imagined.
To be fair, this novel is about witches, and not the mind... at least that's what you're thinking right? Yes, it is, and it's by far the best novel I have read involving witchcraft. I have to be honest though, J.D. Barker may have set out to write a horror novel involving witchcraft, but this novel delivers so much more, which is why for a debut novel it's no wonder it's set him apart as an author. There is a psychological aspect at play here. J.D. Barker takes a story... a seemingly unrealistic story of witchcraft, and makes it credible. How does he do this you ask? Through the emotional undoing of his characters, it's their distress and psychological state that pulls you in. This is what sets it apart from fantasy, to what could be a truly horrific reality.
I have to say, that J.D. Barker's ability to intermix the telling of the past while simultaneously telling the present is unlike no other. I've read multiple novels from other authors, who shall remain nameless, where they've tried to do this, and have failed. Somehow always falling short and losing the reader in the process, never quite making the connection, and just creating more confusion rather than adding to the suspense intended. This has become a signature of his writing now, I saw this with The Fourth Monkey , and now with Forsaken. The way he tells the story of Her, the witch, through Thad's novel, intermixing chapters with the present creates the perfect story.
The influences for J.D. Barker is clear in his writing, we can see this by his paying homage to Stephen King's Needful Things. It's common for many authors of the horror genre to look up to the greats such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul, but it's another thing for them to come close to following in their footsteps. I for one have to say that J.D. Barker is well on his way to being one of the next "GREAT" horror writers.
December 2, 2021
Хорър за вещици, призовавания, мрак и превъплъщения.
Писател пише поредния бестселър, но книгата е различна от предните му романи, много лична и буквално реална. Рейчъл, съпругата на Тад, е бременна с второто им дете, когато започват да се случват странни събития в къщата. Тад оставя сами съпругата си и дъщеря си Ашли, но никой не е очаквал, че злото ще завземе дома им и ще накара Тад да пътува в търсене на едно ковчеже, за да спаси семейството си.
Краят е завъртян, последните глави четох с напрежение. Не мога да кажа, че книгата ми стана любима, нито да я препоръчам. Авторът пише добре, лесно се чете, има страшни моменти и зли вещици. Замесени са едно неродено бебе и едно дете на 3 годинки, от което настръхнах. Готови ли сте да си пожелаете това, което много искате и да заложите нещо лично в замяна?
Писател пише поредния бестселър, но книгата е различна от предните му романи, много лична и буквално реална. Рейчъл, съпругата на Тад, е бременна с второто им дете, когато започват да се случват странни събития в къщата. Тад оставя сами съпругата си и дъщеря си Ашли, но никой не е очаквал, че злото ще завземе дома им и ще накара Тад да пътува в търсене на едно ковчеже, за да спаси семейството си.
Краят е завъртян, последните глави четох с напрежение. Не мога да кажа, че книгата ми стана любима, нито да я препоръчам. Авторът пише добре, лесно се чете, има страшни моменти и зли вещици. Замесени са едно неродено бебе и едно дете на 3 годинки, от което настръхнах. Готови ли сте да си пожелаете това, което много искате и да заложите нещо лично в замяна?
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