Footprints of the Dead

Twilight: Where Darkness Begins #14

by Jay Callahan

Dani returns to her birthplace, the Caribbean island of St. Jacques, and becomes involved in the terrifying rituals of voodooism.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult

151 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 15, 1983

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing-wise, this book is a lot better than most of the other books in this series. It has some telling, but not as much as the others, and there seems to be a deftness of narrative here that the others are lacking. Unfortunately, the story itself isn't that great. It's about voodoo, so it relies a lot on stereotypes regarding the islanders, which led to a lot of lazy characterization. It was enjoyable enough, but the ending was a let-down.

Also, "turgid yellow"? I don't think that means what you think it means.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle returns home from boarding school to the Caribbean after her father passes away. There she finds her family’s plantation has been entangled with voodoo, mysterious amulets, and sugarcane fields full of zombies. Dani discovers just exactly how her uncle has achieved such a bountiful harvest of sugarcane and has become the richest man in town.

[Pamela Rowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very predictable and dated to the 1980's.

[Marcey · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's dated i will give it that

[littlemiao · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a discard that my father picked up at school because it features “real” zombies - real Caribbean zombies, as opposed to the ubiquitous modern walking dead created by non-traditional means. His quest for real zombies must continue. The ones in this book are not real – real “real” zombies would be drugged but alive, technically not undead. The book is a quick read, barely 150 pages of large print, and filled with sensationalistic descriptions, stereotypical characters, and a predictable storyline. It was difficult not to be annoyed by the protagonist, a spoiled plantation heiress who is equal parts condescending, naïve, and stubborn. On the positive side, the author did a pretty good job of evoking the lush and sinister beauty of the tropical island setting. Mosquitoes were unexpectedly scarce, but there was no shortage of terrified natives shuddering in thatched huts (they make their first appearance on page 2). One striking image the book left me with was the moon casting a “turgid yellow glow”. Turgid glows? More like turgid prose.