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Witchboard: The Official Novelization
Dare to play, and you may never escape… the Witchboard.
When Linda Brewster agrees to try a Ouija board at a party, she never imagines it will open a door to terror. But what starts as a harmless game quickly becomes a living nightmare as the spirit she contacts seems friendly, at first. Soon, unexplained accidents, terrifying visions, and sinister forces invade her life.
As her boyfriend Jim and his estranged friend Brandon are drawn into the mystery, they realize the spirit’s intentions are far from benign. Together, they must unravel the secrets behind the board before Linda, and everyone she loves, falls victim to an evil beyond imagining.
When Linda Brewster agrees to try a Ouija board at a party, she never imagines it will open a door to terror. But what starts as a harmless game quickly becomes a living nightmare as the spirit she contacts seems friendly, at first. Soon, unexplained accidents, terrifying visions, and sinister forces invade her life.
As her boyfriend Jim and his estranged friend Brandon are drawn into the mystery, they realize the spirit’s intentions are far from benign. Together, they must unravel the secrets behind the board before Linda, and everyone she loves, falls victim to an evil beyond imagining.
228 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 26, 2026
This review will probably come off more negatively than my thoughts towards this individual book actually are. It's fine. Snappy, engaging, the prose is nice, flows well. I didn't dislike reading it. My issue is more of a general bit of snobbery as a longtime fan and collector of film novelizations, and what that medium can achieve with some thought and effort.
I've been excited about this niche revival of the format through retro-novelizations, ie new books based on older films. I haven't had a chance to sample any till now, but it's been exciting to see the catalogue of what's out there rapidly expand in just a couple years. At the center of it, Christian Francis has easily been the most prolific of the adapters. Unfortunately, having finally dipped my toe in, I wonder if that's a good thing.
Again, Francis' prose is nice, everything reads fine, but it's a very standard and quick novelization, about on par with a typical Schoolastic teen thriller from the late 80s. Yes, that's what most novelization were like, a draft quickly hacked out in often just a few weeks to match the film's release date. Given the heap of titles Francis put out just last year, I feel like he's following the same method. I get it. But 1) the films have already been out there, often for decades with this current batch, so you can't say you don't have the time. 2) You're overlooking what made the really great novelizations stand out. By the likes of Craig Shaw Gardner, Randall Boyll, Neal Barrett Jr, George Gipe, SD Perry, Peter David. They didn't just adapt the script to prose, they built on the material, to a point where the best of them were wonderful novels in their own right.
By just hacking out a standard adaption, Francis doesn't really give the characters any more depth. He doesn't dig into the history and world of Ouija. Frankly, he's stuck with a decent yet awkward script and doesn't do anything to save poor character choices, its sidelining of the female lead perspective, doesn't expand any of the side characters (the cop! the neighbors! the witches!). All he really adds are lingering descriptions of occasional gore. Which are fine, but there's so much more meat to chew on and develop, that it makes me less excited dig into the broader range of his adaptations, some of which are really great films I'd love to see someone build on the page.
As it is, it's largely the film in prose. Which is fine, but I wish Francis had really challenged himself to make it something more.
I've been excited about this niche revival of the format through retro-novelizations, ie new books based on older films. I haven't had a chance to sample any till now, but it's been exciting to see the catalogue of what's out there rapidly expand in just a couple years. At the center of it, Christian Francis has easily been the most prolific of the adapters. Unfortunately, having finally dipped my toe in, I wonder if that's a good thing.
Again, Francis' prose is nice, everything reads fine, but it's a very standard and quick novelization, about on par with a typical Schoolastic teen thriller from the late 80s. Yes, that's what most novelization were like, a draft quickly hacked out in often just a few weeks to match the film's release date. Given the heap of titles Francis put out just last year, I feel like he's following the same method. I get it. But 1) the films have already been out there, often for decades with this current batch, so you can't say you don't have the time. 2) You're overlooking what made the really great novelizations stand out. By the likes of Craig Shaw Gardner, Randall Boyll, Neal Barrett Jr, George Gipe, SD Perry, Peter David. They didn't just adapt the script to prose, they built on the material, to a point where the best of them were wonderful novels in their own right.
By just hacking out a standard adaption, Francis doesn't really give the characters any more depth. He doesn't dig into the history and world of Ouija. Frankly, he's stuck with a decent yet awkward script and doesn't do anything to save poor character choices, its sidelining of the female lead perspective, doesn't expand any of the side characters (the cop! the neighbors! the witches!). All he really adds are lingering descriptions of occasional gore. Which are fine, but there's so much more meat to chew on and develop, that it makes me less excited dig into the broader range of his adaptations, some of which are really great films I'd love to see someone build on the page.
As it is, it's largely the film in prose. Which is fine, but I wish Francis had really challenged himself to make it something more.
September 14, 2025
An excellent novelisation which is vivid enough to "see" the movie without having seen the movie - if that makes sense?
And further insight into character's thoughts, motivations, and fears was an added bonus on top. Brilliant work 👏
And further insight into character's thoughts, motivations, and fears was an added bonus on top. Brilliant work 👏
September 14, 2025
This was an intriguing story which I blasted through in one sitting. You can see where Christian has done his level best to enhance the original story through extra scenes, dialogue and micro storytelling.
Overall a great adaptation of what was originally a fairly poor movie. But this is what Christian does! He turns underwhelming movies into compelling books.
And that is why he is the king of novelisations.
Overall a great adaptation of what was originally a fairly poor movie. But this is what Christian does! He turns underwhelming movies into compelling books.
And that is why he is the king of novelisations.
December 2, 2025
This novelization was cool as hell. If you are a fan of the movie this is a book for you. Adds more than just more scenes with the characters too. You can see Linda’s descent into possession. Also gives more into the David spirit that we didn’t get in the movie. Great read. Check it out.
February 28, 2026
A Well Done Companion to the 80s Classic
I grew up loving the movie Witchboard. This novelization gives depth to the story I love, while adding scenes missing from the final film that really add to the story. If you love the movie, the novelization will give you a deeper appreciation. I dig it!
I grew up loving the movie Witchboard. This novelization gives depth to the story I love, while adding scenes missing from the final film that really add to the story. If you love the movie, the novelization will give you a deeper appreciation. I dig it!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews