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In the Forest of Light and Dark
With one look at her, you would think that Cera Singer from Saraland, Alabama is your typical teenage girl from a rural Southern Gulf town. That is, she faces all the problems you would expect a seventeen-year-old would face; boys, drugs, fitting in, her upcoming senior year, and on top of that getting her first car on the road. But what Cera doesn't know yet is what will ultimately set Cera apart from all the other girls her age. Cera is a witch. In this supernatural thriller, you’ll be taken along as Cera recounts her experiences in her memoir of how she discovered that the women in her mama’s family lineage were actually a long line of witches responsible for the protection of her new home and community. As Cera writes she will explain to you how her honest curiosity along with her rebellious, down-to-earth nature quickly got her into more than she could handle, mentally and physically, as she uncovers the many deep and well-hidden layers in her relationships with her mother and grandmother. After the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill shut down the fishing industry in the Gulf causing Cera’s Step Daddy Cade to lose his job, Cera and her parents find themselves in dire straits when they learn that their local bank is planning to foreclose on their home. Now just when Murphy's Law seems to be at its all-time worst for Cera and her family, news comes that Cera's grandmother, Lyanna Barrett, has passed. But soon, Cera and her family quickly find out her passing isn't all bad news. In an inheritance letter that Cera's mama (Janine) receives in the weeks that follow her mother’s death, she is informed that she is to receive all of her mother’s assets which are to include a house in New York, a new Cadillac, and a substantial amount of cold, hard cash. Reluctant to leave Saraland and move back to New York, Cera's mama is torn but sees no other option other than accepting the inheritance that her mother bequeathed to her and make a fresh start back in her place of birth, Mount Harrison. After arriving in Mt. Harrison, a picturesque, little Western New York village nestled in a valley below the forest covered mountain from which it gets its name—Cera quickly comes to the understanding as to why her mama, at age eighteen, had elected to run away from her home and head for the Deep South. Nearly all the village’s residence, acting under a curse put upon them by Abellona Abbott (a three-hundred-year-old witch that still resides in the forest atop Mt. Harrison and takes the embodiment of her teenage former self) treats Cera and her mama with utter contempt for bringing the Barrett bloodline back into the village and thereby angering Abellona Abbott even further because of a grudge the witch still carries against the Barrett family that stretches back to the time of her death. As Cera and her family try their best to settle into their new home and community, Cera immediately finds out, even before her very first day at her new school, that she along with her mama are not going to be welcomed in their new village which quickly becomes evident to Cera by the lack of acceptance she receives from several of her new classmates and her neighbor’s disdainful attitudes towards her and her family. If Cera hopes to survive her senior year of high school, then together with the help of another village outcast named Katelyn, she has to piece together her family’s history in Mt. Harrison in connection with Abellona Abbott and develop her newly found magic skills before it’s too late. In the Forest of Light and Dark IS IN NO WAY A CHILDREN'S BOOK!!!
- GenresThriller
571 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2015
63 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 21, 2016
Mehreen' review: Pdf Copy
The complexity of this book sets it apart from the many books written on witches and witchcraft. The convoluted plot actually does this book favour rather than not. It is very well written that has taken care of every aspect of life - adventure, witchcraft, family bequeaths just name it. Teenage issues have also been dealt with competently. In the Forest of Light and Dark, as the title suggests, horrors take place which is quite beyond people's comprehension. An atmosphere is created here and all credit goes to Mark's fertile imagination where magic is born and conjures events beyond the sense of ordinariness, however, alongside a very realistic world.
The complexity of this book sets it apart from the many books written on witches and witchcraft. The convoluted plot actually does this book favour rather than not. It is very well written that has taken care of every aspect of life - adventure, witchcraft, family bequeaths just name it. Teenage issues have also been dealt with competently. In the Forest of Light and Dark, as the title suggests, horrors take place which is quite beyond people's comprehension. An atmosphere is created here and all credit goes to Mark's fertile imagination where magic is born and conjures events beyond the sense of ordinariness, however, alongside a very realistic world.
July 20, 2017
I was trepidatious about this book when I first came across it, mostly because I felt I had read that first paragraph in the description twenty times before, and witch stories seem to be the hardest to get right when it comes to the main "monster" villains (zombies, vampires, etc.) Luckily, I was very pleasantly surprised!
Early on, I thought that the book was meandering too much, and that none of what I was reading would matter. I found out that everything is important, not just to inform the story, but the characters. It is extremely well written, and the world in which Cera exists is solidly built.
Writing about witches is such a difficult task. It is far too easy to go too over the top silly (think something like that show Charmed), or to go too far into actual Wicca that readers would find the magic almost boring - compared to what many would believe magic to be. Kasniak finds a glorious middle ground that the rest of the story truly helps to impact. This is definitely not just a story about witches, but it is a damned good witch story.
Early on, I thought that the book was meandering too much, and that none of what I was reading would matter. I found out that everything is important, not just to inform the story, but the characters. It is extremely well written, and the world in which Cera exists is solidly built.
Writing about witches is such a difficult task. It is far too easy to go too over the top silly (think something like that show Charmed), or to go too far into actual Wicca that readers would find the magic almost boring - compared to what many would believe magic to be. Kasniak finds a glorious middle ground that the rest of the story truly helps to impact. This is definitely not just a story about witches, but it is a damned good witch story.
September 18, 2018
A bit of Buffy, a bit of Carrie, a soupçon of the short-lived British TV show, Hex, an air of Sleepy Hollow and some Southern charm. Any eccentricities of language are happily attributable to the teenage narrator and lend a feeling of innocent naivete. And the last few chapters roar on like a storm down Mt. Harrison.
May 2, 2018
Mount Harrison Magic!
Cera and her family are broke and unhappy in Alabama. And then the news comes. A strange journey ensues and I was hooked! So glad there's a second book!
Cera and her family are broke and unhappy in Alabama. And then the news comes. A strange journey ensues and I was hooked! So glad there's a second book!
January 9, 2016
In The Forrest of light and Dark MORE than becomes its title. Opposite ends of the visible spectrum being an apt analogy of the course of this Mysterious Thriller. The story starts out in the all too well envisioned south coast of gulf shore Alabama. Where the main protagonists(Cera Singer-Barret) largest concern is not becoming another episode of 16 and pregnant.
Some of the early build in the book is well spent establishing a southern girls world viewpoint, and the dire straits that can drive a familly to abandon all they know in pursuit of a good life. It seems the story is going to be about excaping generational curses, and overcoming societal convention, however, a change of scenery, and an intriugeing mystery begins to emerge.
A journey into the history of collonial era America, and the mislead agression of a fearful, and developing community tells the tale of tragedy, betrayal, and shameful deeds. The past comes back to haunt the citizens of Mount(Morris)Harrison New York in a more than metaphorical sense.
In the shockingly powerful conclusion of In the Forest of Light and Dark the building flow of the story reaches off the page and threatens to bash the reader into submission, This final showdown could have easily been a feature length Tarantino film, complete with the kind of powerful imagery , and deliciously filthy descriptive language Grind-house fans love.
I have a suspicion much of the setting from this novel may be easily visited, with a trip up to the Letchworth State Park for a 4d reading experience. the southern setting is probably based around somewhere between Dothan AL, and Gulf Port Miss in the NASCAR loving area surrounding Mobile(pronounced Mo-bull not mo-beel)
All in all I have to say the story is bada$$. It may start like a typical teen angst piece, but hold on to your seat, and grab a box of salt.
Alexander Gabriel.
PS No cats were harmed in the making of this review.
Some of the early build in the book is well spent establishing a southern girls world viewpoint, and the dire straits that can drive a familly to abandon all they know in pursuit of a good life. It seems the story is going to be about excaping generational curses, and overcoming societal convention, however, a change of scenery, and an intriugeing mystery begins to emerge.
A journey into the history of collonial era America, and the mislead agression of a fearful, and developing community tells the tale of tragedy, betrayal, and shameful deeds. The past comes back to haunt the citizens of Mount(Morris)Harrison New York in a more than metaphorical sense.
In the shockingly powerful conclusion of In the Forest of Light and Dark the building flow of the story reaches off the page and threatens to bash the reader into submission, This final showdown could have easily been a feature length Tarantino film, complete with the kind of powerful imagery , and deliciously filthy descriptive language Grind-house fans love.
I have a suspicion much of the setting from this novel may be easily visited, with a trip up to the Letchworth State Park for a 4d reading experience. the southern setting is probably based around somewhere between Dothan AL, and Gulf Port Miss in the NASCAR loving area surrounding Mobile(pronounced Mo-bull not mo-beel)
All in all I have to say the story is bada$$. It may start like a typical teen angst piece, but hold on to your seat, and grab a box of salt.
Alexander Gabriel.
PS No cats were harmed in the making of this review.
December 15, 2015
IN THE FOREST OF LIGHT AND DARK
Witch/Fantasy stories are very difficult to write and many writers do a less than admirable job of putting the events together in a logical plot. The main character and narrator of the book is Cara Singer, a high school student from the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Kasniak does a good job of sketching her character from the first paragraph through the language Cara uses. She has plenty of attitude and isn’t afraid to express it. The Singers are a working class family, and when the Gulf oil spill destroys the local economy, her family become desperate as they seek a way to keep from losing their home. Cara is somewhat rebellions, because of her strong will and a desire to find herself in a difficult world.
There is plenty of black magic in the book, but the author wisely leaves it until he has hooked the reader into suspending disbelief. As the story unfolds, you find yourself liking Cara and her friends which is what carries the action of a good book along to a satisfactory conclusion. I was delighted when I read the author’s note at the end and found that there will be a sequel. This is a great Teen/YA book that the reader will find difficult to put down. I give Mr. Kasniak a well-deserved 5-stars and wish him every success with this and his other books.
Witch/Fantasy stories are very difficult to write and many writers do a less than admirable job of putting the events together in a logical plot. The main character and narrator of the book is Cara Singer, a high school student from the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Kasniak does a good job of sketching her character from the first paragraph through the language Cara uses. She has plenty of attitude and isn’t afraid to express it. The Singers are a working class family, and when the Gulf oil spill destroys the local economy, her family become desperate as they seek a way to keep from losing their home. Cara is somewhat rebellions, because of her strong will and a desire to find herself in a difficult world.
There is plenty of black magic in the book, but the author wisely leaves it until he has hooked the reader into suspending disbelief. As the story unfolds, you find yourself liking Cara and her friends which is what carries the action of a good book along to a satisfactory conclusion. I was delighted when I read the author’s note at the end and found that there will be a sequel. This is a great Teen/YA book that the reader will find difficult to put down. I give Mr. Kasniak a well-deserved 5-stars and wish him every success with this and his other books.
December 20, 2015
This is a YA/teen read I wasn’t too sure about at first as I’m not a great fan of the genre, but as I read on, I was pleasantly surprised. Of course you have to believe in witches and the like, but once you do, you are in for a hell of a ride. Cera is a typical teenager with attitude and problems the same as everyone else. What sets her apart from everyone else is that she is a witch. Cash problems force Cera’s family to have their house repossessed, and then out of the blue comes a call that Cera’s grandmother has died leaving them some money and a large house. But the will states that they must live in the house in a small village for a year or the will is null and void. This is where her troubles begin. A slick read that moves at a fast pace and keeps the reader interested throughout. I was very impressed, and think it could be read by anyone liking a good story.
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January 5, 2016I had to reread the author's bio. I could've sworn this was a woman writer based on how the story was written. I've never read a book that's been written by a man but from a woman/girls point of view and this I hope will not be my last.
Mark did a great job telling his story and bringing the characters to life. The thought of children's souls being trapped inside of cats is brilliant to say the least. Cera became a part of my life I felt what she felt and I experienced everything around her because of the great descriptive writing by the author.
Ever since my daughter made me read the drek known as Twighlight I've been turned off YA books but not anymore. I even picked up another one of his books. Autumn Harvest. I hope I like it as much as I liked this one.
P.S. My daughter just started reading In the Forest of Light and Dark and she loves it.
Mark did a great job telling his story and bringing the characters to life. The thought of children's souls being trapped inside of cats is brilliant to say the least. Cera became a part of my life I felt what she felt and I experienced everything around her because of the great descriptive writing by the author.
Ever since my daughter made me read the drek known as Twighlight I've been turned off YA books but not anymore. I even picked up another one of his books. Autumn Harvest. I hope I like it as much as I liked this one.
P.S. My daughter just started reading In the Forest of Light and Dark and she loves it.
February 24, 2016
I liked this book from the start. Kasniak 's descriptive narrative brought the story of Cera Singer to life. She's sassy, funny, kind and brave. I'm from the UK but the language and attitude made Cera your typical teenage girl. Her Southern Gulf talk had me laughing out loud. The story develops as the author describes Cera life and current circumstances which change when her grandmother dies and leaves an inheritance. A move to Mt Harrison has Cera discovering the town's history and its connection to witchcraft. Together with her friend Katelyn, Cera must piece together her family history and it's connection to the old witch and Mt. Harrison.
Th book is funny and all about a teenage witch coming of age.
Th book is funny and all about a teenage witch coming of age.
December 6, 2015
I love how the author made the characters realistic, not only by describing them, but also in the dialogue and how other characters act and react around each other. I love how the characters were relatable, like Cera, a southern teenager who speaks with a low class southern slang. But, not only is she a poor southern teen, but she's also a witch...and her fortune ends up being in New York, so she moves from the slow of the south to the fast of NY.
I'm not going to lie, I read through this book fairly quickly. Not because I was rushing to get through it, but because every time I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up again to find out what happened next.
Five stars.
I'm not going to lie, I read through this book fairly quickly. Not because I was rushing to get through it, but because every time I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up again to find out what happened next.
Five stars.
May 20, 2016
Past meets present
For Cera, the sudden move from Alabama to Pennsylvania was a good thing. Even though it was her senior year, her grandmother's will came in time to really help her family. When her family got to Mr. Harrison, she didn't understand why no one liked her family. After finding out that she and her mother were supposed to be witches, she had to figure out why the townspeople blamed them for every bad thing that has happened for over three hundred years. Slowly it came out that her family and the townspeople had been cursed. Will she be able to break the curse?
For Cera, the sudden move from Alabama to Pennsylvania was a good thing. Even though it was her senior year, her grandmother's will came in time to really help her family. When her family got to Mr. Harrison, she didn't understand why no one liked her family. After finding out that she and her mother were supposed to be witches, she had to figure out why the townspeople blamed them for every bad thing that has happened for over three hundred years. Slowly it came out that her family and the townspeople had been cursed. Will she be able to break the curse?
June 3, 2016
Great book!
I really enjoyed this book. In turns it frightened me,amused me and made me sad. The main character was written as a real teenager,not a goody two shoes or a bad delinquent, just a modern teen with unusual problems.
I really enjoyed this book. In turns it frightened me,amused me and made me sad. The main character was written as a real teenager,not a goody two shoes or a bad delinquent, just a modern teen with unusual problems.
February 9, 2016
Awesome book!
I couldn't put it down! It flowed nicely and didn't loose my interest at any point of the book. Simply awesome.
I couldn't put it down! It flowed nicely and didn't loose my interest at any point of the book. Simply awesome.
June 4, 2016
Touching
A new sort of coming of age story. Strength and love are some of the strongest powers. Tho actual magic helps too
A new sort of coming of age story. Strength and love are some of the strongest powers. Tho actual magic helps too
September 8, 2017
If you enjoy a good paranormal witchcraft story then I encourage you to read this. The book is about a girl, Cera, moving to a new town and through a series of strange occurrences finds out that she is a witch. Her family is charged with the monumental task of protecting an entire village from a hell bent witch only wanting revenge for something that happened 300+ years ago.
The character development in this book is quite good. It starts out with Cera in Alabama and continues on as she moves to New York and eventually learns that she is a witch with powers. She goes through learning how to use these powers to defeat the evil witch. Friends from her past in Alabama come back to help, as well as her grandmother and mother who are also witches.
The thing I disliked most about this was the grammar/spelling mistakes. It was written in the point of view of Cera writing like in a journal. However, there were several instances of words spelled wrong or punctuation in the middle of what would have been a continued sentence. It was as if no editor looked at this book before it was published. Even with a journal type writing style I still expect some grammatical rules to be followed. Like not putting a period at the end of an incomplete sentence only to have that sentence continue on. It made reading certain parts very difficult.
All in all, this is a good fast read. Even at 500 pages, it doesn't feel like you're reading forever and getting nowhere, which is really important to me as a reader. I would recommend this book as long as you can overlook the spelling and grammar mistakes. The story line and plot itself make reading this book worth it.
The character development in this book is quite good. It starts out with Cera in Alabama and continues on as she moves to New York and eventually learns that she is a witch with powers. She goes through learning how to use these powers to defeat the evil witch. Friends from her past in Alabama come back to help, as well as her grandmother and mother who are also witches.
The thing I disliked most about this was the grammar/spelling mistakes. It was written in the point of view of Cera writing like in a journal. However, there were several instances of words spelled wrong or punctuation in the middle of what would have been a continued sentence. It was as if no editor looked at this book before it was published. Even with a journal type writing style I still expect some grammatical rules to be followed. Like not putting a period at the end of an incomplete sentence only to have that sentence continue on. It made reading certain parts very difficult.
All in all, this is a good fast read. Even at 500 pages, it doesn't feel like you're reading forever and getting nowhere, which is really important to me as a reader. I would recommend this book as long as you can overlook the spelling and grammar mistakes. The story line and plot itself make reading this book worth it.
September 4, 2017
I was a little hesitant when I first started reading this book, mainly because it started out slow and seemed to be a stream of consciousness narration from a seventeen year old girl. About twenty percent in, I was starting to wonder why every thought she had needed to be put into the book. I still think the book could have been cut down to under 300 pages or so if a developmental editor got their hands on it, but I think this might have been a deliberate choice to give the narrator character.
It's hard to write witch's curses the right way. You don't want to turn them into cartoons, but you also want to make them scary. This is where the author succeeded. He bobs, weaves, and feints as far as the witches curse goes, which works because it's a 300 some odd year curse. Someone heard it this way, someone else heard it that way.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I still felt like it could have been trimmed down several pages, taking out some unnecessary words or over thinking. If you like witches, I think you would enjoy this book
It's hard to write witch's curses the right way. You don't want to turn them into cartoons, but you also want to make them scary. This is where the author succeeded. He bobs, weaves, and feints as far as the witches curse goes, which works because it's a 300 some odd year curse. Someone heard it this way, someone else heard it that way.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I still felt like it could have been trimmed down several pages, taking out some unnecessary words or over thinking. If you like witches, I think you would enjoy this book
June 19, 2017
First off, the ending is great! Probably one of my favorite endings. The whole book is very entertaining. I really enjoyed all the history, even though it took some time to find out the true history behind the witches of this small village. Cera, the main character, is fun and witty. She has to deal with normal high school struggles along with many other "coming of age" issues, let's call it. Oh and a sneaky 300 year old witch who had a very personal vendetta. There really aren't any dull moments in this book. I didn't know how it would all play out, but I thoroughly enjoyed finding out.
March 7, 2017
Cera Singer is a seventeen year old from Saraland, Alabama. She lives with her mother and step father. Times are hard for her family and things seem to be getting worse when news arrives that changes the family's life for ever. Cera's Grandmother, Lyanna Barrett, has died and left Cera's family a house, a car and money. However, her will stipulates that the family must live in the house in Mount Harrison, New York, for one year.
After moving to Mount Harrison, Cera discovers not only that her Grandmother was a witch, but that she and her mother are too.
In the woods behind her house she meets Abellona Abbott, a three hundred year old witch who has placed a curse on the inhabitants of Mount Harrison in revenge for her death. Abellona hates all Barretts, believing she was betrayed by one of Cera's ancestors.
Cera is having a hard time at her new school and missing her friends. Things improve a little when she makes friends with Katelyn, another outsider, who is also a witch and was her Grandmother's apprentice. Together Katelyn and Cera try to protect the town from Abellona and set out to discover the truth about the part the Barrett's played in Abellona's death.
This story is told in the first person. Cera has a very distinctive voice. She's impulsive, brave and stubborn and the author has brought her vividly to life. She has all the problems of the average teenager but also has to come to terms with her new found powers as a witch. She's a very strong character, yet still a typical teenager.
The writing is very descriptive and atmospheric and makes good use of the locations of the woods and the Genesee River. Cera's moods affect the weather and when she gets angry or stressed she brews up storms, one of which shatters the windows of her house.
I liked the relationships between Cera and her family. She's very close to her parents but still gets into typical teenage moods with them.
There are some genuinely creepy moments in this story, as when Cera meets Abellona in the woods, and also in the closing section of the book.
This would be an easy five star for me if there hadn't been so many typo's which I found irritating and detracted from the story. The plot is suspenseful, unpredictable and contains plenty of twists and turns. A gripping and engrossing read.
After moving to Mount Harrison, Cera discovers not only that her Grandmother was a witch, but that she and her mother are too.
In the woods behind her house she meets Abellona Abbott, a three hundred year old witch who has placed a curse on the inhabitants of Mount Harrison in revenge for her death. Abellona hates all Barretts, believing she was betrayed by one of Cera's ancestors.
Cera is having a hard time at her new school and missing her friends. Things improve a little when she makes friends with Katelyn, another outsider, who is also a witch and was her Grandmother's apprentice. Together Katelyn and Cera try to protect the town from Abellona and set out to discover the truth about the part the Barrett's played in Abellona's death.
This story is told in the first person. Cera has a very distinctive voice. She's impulsive, brave and stubborn and the author has brought her vividly to life. She has all the problems of the average teenager but also has to come to terms with her new found powers as a witch. She's a very strong character, yet still a typical teenager.
The writing is very descriptive and atmospheric and makes good use of the locations of the woods and the Genesee River. Cera's moods affect the weather and when she gets angry or stressed she brews up storms, one of which shatters the windows of her house.
I liked the relationships between Cera and her family. She's very close to her parents but still gets into typical teenage moods with them.
There are some genuinely creepy moments in this story, as when Cera meets Abellona in the woods, and also in the closing section of the book.
This would be an easy five star for me if there hadn't been so many typo's which I found irritating and detracted from the story. The plot is suspenseful, unpredictable and contains plenty of twists and turns. A gripping and engrossing read.
July 10, 2017
I quite enjoyed this book and found it to be a fairly quick read. A young girl Cera gets moved from her home in Alabama to the mountains after her grandmothers death. Once there, she is befriended by one girl but the rest just shun her and create havoc for her. She finds out that her family are witches and that she too has inherited the gift. This story is about the battle that she fights for her family that has been going on since the original fight with the Barrets and Abbelone.
October 14, 2019
Interesting premise, atrocious/possibly no editing
If you can read past the grammatical errors, misused punctuation, constantly flip flopping tenses and the occasional repetitiveness you will find an interesting story.
I read the whole thing, so it's definitely better than some other self published works out there, but it is desperately crying out to be edited.
Note to the author, Fiver has some decent editors that won't break the budget while you're getting started.
If you can read past the grammatical errors, misused punctuation, constantly flip flopping tenses and the occasional repetitiveness you will find an interesting story.
I read the whole thing, so it's definitely better than some other self published works out there, but it is desperately crying out to be edited.
Note to the author, Fiver has some decent editors that won't break the budget while you're getting started.
February 8, 2018
Glad I took a chance on this one.
Wasn't sure by the cover but the word Witchcraft in the title pulled me in. Although the beginning of the book started slow and I believe could have been summed up better, once the story really picked up it kept my interest till the very end.
Wasn't sure by the cover but the word Witchcraft in the title pulled me in. Although the beginning of the book started slow and I believe could have been summed up better, once the story really picked up it kept my interest till the very end.
October 19, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
December 9, 2015
If you like a good, eerie witch story -- complete with hundreds of cats running around with the souls of children imprisoned in them -- then In the Forest of Light and Dark is your kind of book. It's a superb YA/teen read that will appeal to older readers as well.
Its narrator, Cera Singer, is a spot-on example of a down-home, countrified Southern girl, sixteen, going on seventeen, with plenty of attitude and eye-rolling sarcasm, though she's basically a good person stuck in awful circumstances.
Her mama and step-daddy are both unemployed and on the verge of having their home repossessed when, out of the blue, a certified letter arrives with the news that Cera's grandmother in New York state has died, leaving them a Cadillac, more than $400,000 in cash -- and a huge house that comes with a peculiar stipulation -- they must move from their home in Alabama and occupy it for a full year, or the inheritance is null and void.
After much soul-searching, the family decides it would be best to make the trek to the tiny village of Mount Harrison, N.Y., and have a go at it. Only problem -- it's Cera's senior year in high school, which means she'll have to endure the agony of making new friends. However, this turns out to be the least of Cera's obstacles to a happy life up North.
Right away, the persecution begins for Cera and her poor mama. Their return to the small town heralds a fresh surge of deadly occurrences -- deaths and unexplained illnesses -- allegedly owing to a long history of witchcraft in Cera's mother's family. The townies recall more than two hundred years of bad happenings, all blamed on the supposed spells cast by the female members of the family through the years.
As a result, Cera is persecuted at her new school and actively harassed before finally making a friend -- Katelyn, who stuns Cera with the news that she herself is, in fact, a practicing witch, and had been the apprentice of Cera's grandmother before the old woman died.
The story gets progressively scarier as the two teens ditch school for the day and Katelyn confirms that the 280-year-old spirit of the first girl convicted of witchcraft in Mt. Harrison -- Abalona Abbott -- still haunts the forest bordering the property, and -- even after all this time -- she's still pissed at the villagers for drowning her all those years before.
It's a good premise for a spell-binding story, one that teens and many others will undoubtedly enjoy. The author does a magnificent job of making Cera and the other Southerners speak as though they've never heard of proper grammar and he also either has a teen -- or is not far out of his teens himself -- because Cera and her young friends use the universal language of youth everywhere effortlessly. Whatever!
Five stars to In the Forest of Light and Dark. It's a story of triumph over supernatural tribulation and a tribute to the awesome power of family and friendship.
Its narrator, Cera Singer, is a spot-on example of a down-home, countrified Southern girl, sixteen, going on seventeen, with plenty of attitude and eye-rolling sarcasm, though she's basically a good person stuck in awful circumstances.
Her mama and step-daddy are both unemployed and on the verge of having their home repossessed when, out of the blue, a certified letter arrives with the news that Cera's grandmother in New York state has died, leaving them a Cadillac, more than $400,000 in cash -- and a huge house that comes with a peculiar stipulation -- they must move from their home in Alabama and occupy it for a full year, or the inheritance is null and void.
After much soul-searching, the family decides it would be best to make the trek to the tiny village of Mount Harrison, N.Y., and have a go at it. Only problem -- it's Cera's senior year in high school, which means she'll have to endure the agony of making new friends. However, this turns out to be the least of Cera's obstacles to a happy life up North.
Right away, the persecution begins for Cera and her poor mama. Their return to the small town heralds a fresh surge of deadly occurrences -- deaths and unexplained illnesses -- allegedly owing to a long history of witchcraft in Cera's mother's family. The townies recall more than two hundred years of bad happenings, all blamed on the supposed spells cast by the female members of the family through the years.
As a result, Cera is persecuted at her new school and actively harassed before finally making a friend -- Katelyn, who stuns Cera with the news that she herself is, in fact, a practicing witch, and had been the apprentice of Cera's grandmother before the old woman died.
The story gets progressively scarier as the two teens ditch school for the day and Katelyn confirms that the 280-year-old spirit of the first girl convicted of witchcraft in Mt. Harrison -- Abalona Abbott -- still haunts the forest bordering the property, and -- even after all this time -- she's still pissed at the villagers for drowning her all those years before.
It's a good premise for a spell-binding story, one that teens and many others will undoubtedly enjoy. The author does a magnificent job of making Cera and the other Southerners speak as though they've never heard of proper grammar and he also either has a teen -- or is not far out of his teens himself -- because Cera and her young friends use the universal language of youth everywhere effortlessly. Whatever!
Five stars to In the Forest of Light and Dark. It's a story of triumph over supernatural tribulation and a tribute to the awesome power of family and friendship.
July 25, 2016
First off, many thanks to the author, who provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cera Singer has spent her entire life in the small southern town of Saraland, Alabama. She has grown up not quite on the wrong side of the tracks, but certainly on the less fortunate side. When the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico begins to affect her town, she soon finds herself the only breadwinner in the family. Out of the blue, and in the nick of time, a windfall arrives in the form of an inheritance from the grandmother she has never seen. Her mother originally hailed from Pennsylvania, and it is back to her hometown of Mt. Harrison that the family must go to receive this fortune. Cera’s mother is reluctant - she hightailed it out of Mt Harrison when she was not much older than Cera, for reasons that she will not elaborate on. But the will states that they must live in the house for a year, or they will lose it all. With both of the parentals out of work, it seemed like a simple decision, despite any misgivings.
When they arrive in Mt Harrison, it quickly becomes evident that things here are just…..not right. The people of this town are violently opposed to their arrival and make no bones about letting their feelings be known. Cera gets a quick and violent introduction to the family history, and feels that surely, these people must be off their collective rockers. But strange occurrences keep happening around her, and soon the evidence impossible to deny. Crazy at it may seem, Cera, and her mother, and her entire maternal line, are witches. Due to some nastiness in the past, the entire town is against them, thinking that their presence is responsible for some terrible losses the town has suffered. Cera’s first response is to fight back, and she soon finds herself embroiled in a struggle that began more than a century in the past.
Honestly, I frigging loved this book. Cera’s voice sold this story to me. She was so real that her character just leaped off of the page. Having grown up Southern and broke myself, it was like she was speaking my language. The history was well done, the action was awesome, the angle with the cats was just off the chain - really, I can’t praise this story highly enough. I expect great things out of this author. If this is just the first, I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest.
Cera Singer has spent her entire life in the small southern town of Saraland, Alabama. She has grown up not quite on the wrong side of the tracks, but certainly on the less fortunate side. When the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico begins to affect her town, she soon finds herself the only breadwinner in the family. Out of the blue, and in the nick of time, a windfall arrives in the form of an inheritance from the grandmother she has never seen. Her mother originally hailed from Pennsylvania, and it is back to her hometown of Mt. Harrison that the family must go to receive this fortune. Cera’s mother is reluctant - she hightailed it out of Mt Harrison when she was not much older than Cera, for reasons that she will not elaborate on. But the will states that they must live in the house for a year, or they will lose it all. With both of the parentals out of work, it seemed like a simple decision, despite any misgivings.
When they arrive in Mt Harrison, it quickly becomes evident that things here are just…..not right. The people of this town are violently opposed to their arrival and make no bones about letting their feelings be known. Cera gets a quick and violent introduction to the family history, and feels that surely, these people must be off their collective rockers. But strange occurrences keep happening around her, and soon the evidence impossible to deny. Crazy at it may seem, Cera, and her mother, and her entire maternal line, are witches. Due to some nastiness in the past, the entire town is against them, thinking that their presence is responsible for some terrible losses the town has suffered. Cera’s first response is to fight back, and she soon finds herself embroiled in a struggle that began more than a century in the past.
Honestly, I frigging loved this book. Cera’s voice sold this story to me. She was so real that her character just leaped off of the page. Having grown up Southern and broke myself, it was like she was speaking my language. The history was well done, the action was awesome, the angle with the cats was just off the chain - really, I can’t praise this story highly enough. I expect great things out of this author. If this is just the first, I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest.
January 10, 2016
We all know that there are a ton of books starring teenagers and witchcraft out there so, when I started reading 'In the Forest of Light and Dark' I was a bit skeptical. I mean, if the book didn't give me anything new then really it didn't deserve me wasting my time on a 500+ page story. However, all of my inhibitions flew out the window as I got to know more about Cera Singer and her family history. The first thing you're going to notice about this book is the language. Mark Kasniak does an amazing job giving Cera a personality that actually feels real. She talks like your typical teenage girl from a rural Southern Gulf town, and it makes the whole story enjoyable.
The plot itself is entertaining as well. The author spends the opening chapters telling us about the environment Cera has lived in and what she feels when she has to move to a new location once her maternal grandmother dies and leaves her fortune behind for her daughter. Mt. Harrison is not your typical little village, one which you can expect from books of such genera. The residents aren't happy with Cera and her mother coming back, and the horror starts once we get to know about an old witch (who wouldn't let go of a grudge) named Abellona Abbott. Cera find a friend in Katelyn and together she tries to piece together her family history and it's connection to the old witch and Mt. Harrison.
In the Forest of Light and Dark is an enjoyable and fast-paced read (regardless of the page count) and reading the author's note at the end you can be sure it's not the last readers have seen of Cera. Go read it and follow a teenage witch coming into her powers.
Note: Same review has been posted on Amazon US.
The plot itself is entertaining as well. The author spends the opening chapters telling us about the environment Cera has lived in and what she feels when she has to move to a new location once her maternal grandmother dies and leaves her fortune behind for her daughter. Mt. Harrison is not your typical little village, one which you can expect from books of such genera. The residents aren't happy with Cera and her mother coming back, and the horror starts once we get to know about an old witch (who wouldn't let go of a grudge) named Abellona Abbott. Cera find a friend in Katelyn and together she tries to piece together her family history and it's connection to the old witch and Mt. Harrison.
In the Forest of Light and Dark is an enjoyable and fast-paced read (regardless of the page count) and reading the author's note at the end you can be sure it's not the last readers have seen of Cera. Go read it and follow a teenage witch coming into her powers.
Note: Same review has been posted on Amazon US.
December 24, 2015
Mark Kasniak has accomplished something that is not an easy task, working from the perspective of the opposite sex. For a man to write from the female perspective and succeed is an accomplishment in itself if done well and Mark has done just that. Another feat Mark performed was his beautiful story featuring a real life experience of his main character Cera Singer. The reader can easily associate them self with Cera and her life predicaments, experiences and events which carry her to the conclusion of this story. Cera, a young teenage girl, going through all the experiences of a teen, then having to deal with adult decisions as she stands against the evil being that is terrorizing her family and their village and has been for over 300 years. A family history of epic proportions which this young girl has to face off against without a hope of winning. Cera's stuborn nature refused to back down from a hopeless battle to save the ones she loves.
Filled with the ordinary life of a teenager, culminating in a world of magic and conflict, ending with an epic battle filling the night with the scars of that conflict...I'll leave the story for your pleasure, but I assure you, if you get through the mundane life a mortal you will find your way to the tale of the mystical as Mark's story culminates to the point where you won't be able to put the book down...
Filled with the ordinary life of a teenager, culminating in a world of magic and conflict, ending with an epic battle filling the night with the scars of that conflict...I'll leave the story for your pleasure, but I assure you, if you get through the mundane life a mortal you will find your way to the tale of the mystical as Mark's story culminates to the point where you won't be able to put the book down...
December 5, 2015
Cera is a Southern girl and she have found a job with the thought to restore a Trans Am his step dad hold years into a garage. One day Cera mama receive an inheritance letter with the notice her mother died and left house, money, and a car to her, at one condition: she have to move to New York state for inherit all. Cera soon discover that her grandma was a witch, but a good witch because she protect Mt.Harrison village from a bad witch called Abellona.
Cera meet Katelyn at school and she become her friend revealing she is a witch too and she was a apprentice of her grandma. Katelyn teach her magic to fight the evil witch Abellona.
I can say it is very interesting story, i liked the idea of her grandma who were living far was a witch in a New York village, so that throw Cera in another strange and dangerous situation very far from her previous quiet and slow standard of living of the Deep South.
Cera meet Katelyn at school and she become her friend revealing she is a witch too and she was a apprentice of her grandma. Katelyn teach her magic to fight the evil witch Abellona.
I can say it is very interesting story, i liked the idea of her grandma who were living far was a witch in a New York village, so that throw Cera in another strange and dangerous situation very far from her previous quiet and slow standard of living of the Deep South.
January 3, 2016
This was a great book! Mark and I did a review swap and I was hardly disappointed! His writing is great and kept my interest all the way to the very end. His characters were well developed and had a great voice. I felt very much a part of the scenes, scenarios, actions - everything. Cera become someone I couldn't stop reading about - and just wanted more.
Learning about her family's history, becoming engrossed in the setting - sometimes I felt like I was right there with Cera. This is definitely a book that will keep your attention to the end. I don't want to write a summary to give away the plot, but believe me - as you read the other fantastic reviews, you'll see that you will not be disappointed. Great Job Mark! I'll be looking for more of your books!
Learning about her family's history, becoming engrossed in the setting - sometimes I felt like I was right there with Cera. This is definitely a book that will keep your attention to the end. I don't want to write a summary to give away the plot, but believe me - as you read the other fantastic reviews, you'll see that you will not be disappointed. Great Job Mark! I'll be looking for more of your books!
November 25, 2015
In the forest of light and dark. The story is about a teen -Cera of Saraland who discovers the mysteries of her grandmother's hometown and her witch abilities. I in particular liked Cera who stepped up when it came to family, most teenagers in the fiction I come across now a days are mean to their parents, run away and such stuff. The characters were interesting and the backstory was told in bits and pieces- correcting itself as the plot went on, and it looked realistic because different people tell one story in different ways- some people lie, and others just add or mix some things up. This was a good read according to me and I couldn't put it down until I finished the whole story.
November 29, 2015
The vernacular used by the 'white-trash' teenager, Cera, transfers the reader into a world of the extremely poor in the South of the USA. The author paints a picture of people who, after losing their jobs, struggle to survive. All this changes when the family inherits the Grandmother's fortune in New York. What happens next is very interesting. The story flows fluently and holds the reader's attention to the end. The title leaves the reader questioning which part of the story is in the 'light and which is in the 'dark' Leaving the reader with this question adds to the mystery.
I highly recommend.
I highly recommend.
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