Wicked Cries

Wicked Cries #1

by Michelle Areaux

For 16-year-old Sadie Sanders, dealing with the dead is growing tiresome, especially when they expect her to be their messenger from the afterlife. But when her family moves to Salem, Massachusetts, and she finds the diary of a young girl named Elizabeth who was accused of witchcraft, she may need some help. Soon, Elizabeth begins to haunt Sadie, first in her dreams and then when she's awake.

As Sadie delves into Elizabeth's journal, she slowly uncovers the secret Elizabeth needs to reveal, and it's one that could change the course of history. Sadie needs help, and she wonders who, if anyone, she can tell about it. Worried that her friends and family wouldn't believe her, or worse, prevent her from continuing her journey to find the truth, Sadie has a choice to make...and it's not going to be an easy one.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2015

About the author

Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, and seventh grade Language Arts teacher.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Literacy from Asbury University.

Reviews

[Keith Chawgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic mystery for young and old alike

Michelle Areaux has committed to paper a truly astonishing novel intertwining the complexity of moving to a new town and the excellent researched story of a girl combating persecution in 1662 Salem Witch trails.

Seamlessly jumping from modern to early history, Sadie's plight urges the reader to sally forth through this spirited adventure. As the main character manoeuvres herself through the mystery of a found diary and the journey of self discovery, the reader is delightfully enticed emotionally as Areaux masterfully propels you forward to its exciting conclusion.

Rich with characterisation, Areaux is definitely a new voice that should give her a legion of fans that will hang on every written word. This is definitely a book that needs to be read and cherished.

The reader receives a history lesson whilst at the same time, learning the flights of a teenager learning acceptance and trust within herself. Giving excellent descriptions, witty and realistic dialogue, Areaux shows she is a true master of her craft.

Exceptionally written, realistically dramatic without over egging the pudding, great relationships and brilliant settings delicately described to produce a true winner.

This is a definite must read further r all young adult fiction readers and people who love a marvellous yarn. Experience the Wicked Cries series for a true rewarding experience.

Areaux is the new name in fiction. Experience and share with your friends. Catch this boat early because this is a start of a sure fire winner.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie was always a bit of an outsider. So when her parents decided to move from California to Salem she was okay with that. She was hoping the spirits she could see would not follow her but that was just wishful thinking. When she gets to her new home, she finds a journal of a young woman who had been alive during the witch trials. Then she is asked for help by the author of the journal.

This is a wonderful young adult/teen, paranormal romance with a mystery to uncover. The characters are extremely well developed, making you interested in the outcome of their story. The book flows along well and has a great narrative that allows you to picture places and events well. The dialogue is great. The mystery is full of surprises, twists and turns. The romance is sweet and so is her new friendships. I liked the fact that Sadie seemed to grow in confidence as the book progressed. It is a great action packed paranormals romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carlene Cayenne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure that the author was Connected very much to her protagonist. I just felt the writing was very immature even though it was a young adult book the writing should still be strong but this was wishy-washy and the book was more of a tell kind of book not show. She didn’t spend much time on flushing out the character I think nor her surroundings nor the emotions that someone would have who had the talent of seeing ghosts. Logically I think someone seeing ghosts even on an ongoing basis would still feel a lot of fear but there was no mention of that sort of thing not a lot of mention of emotion at all. That’s why I say the writing was immature what is the point of some of the stuff she wrote I thought it was just filler.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Cries by Michelle Areaux is a story so well written it makes me say OMG!!!!!!!. This is book number one in this amazing start to a new series that I fell in love with. I read this book and was so interested in it I could not put it down till I was finished with it. It is a wonderful YA book to read and I can not wait to read the next book written by this author. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about anything to do with witches like I do I loved reading this book very much.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the best book in this genre I have read and yes there are some negatives but I liked it. I can't put my finger on why I like it, there is something about it that had me turning the page until the end. Yes the book needs work but I still enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who knows Sadie knows she can talk and see ghosts. This book was such an incredible read it was very ghost whisperer but in Salem where we talk about witches and learn what happened to Elizabeth. I highly recommend this very quick read for anyone who likes ghost/witchy stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Michelle Areaux; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is tired of the dead asking her for help so she hopes it will change with a move. She will find the diary which will take her on a journey to prove a girl was not a witch. Who can help her? Who can she trust? see how she solve this mystery

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this YA 1st in the series. I definitely am going to continue it. :D I enjoyed the history (mixed with some fiction). I loved the relationship between Sadie & her friend/boyfriend. I loved how she realized the difference in those relationships and those in Cali, and WHY they are different. GROWTH!

[Vanessa M Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

A great story set in Salem. Loved the characters. Can't wait to read the next one. Wished the editing was better, a little distracting to have reread a section because of the errors.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the cover. The storyline and characters are well written and developed. I recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

S great starring character and intriguing storyline drew me into the story. I loved the intensity of this story. It had mystery and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more.

I requested a copy of this book so I could provide an honest review.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read with a main character that feels real and a plot that flows smoothly and keeps you interested.

[Michelle Shemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Cries
The Wicked Cries Series Book 1
Michelle Areaux

This was a great story. I loved the characters. Sadie was great. I loved her. The storyline was full of adventure and intrigue.

[Tayra Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. It didn't seem rushed. This was sweet and steamy, full of romance and passion with great characters that were interesting enough to draw you.

[O. D. Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description: This story is about a teenage girl name Sadie who speaks to the dead. She has made it her job to relay messages from the dead to the living. When she moves to an old home in Salem, MA and finds the diary of Elizabeth, a girl who lived during the Salem Witch Hunt, she decides to solve the mystery of what happened to Elizabeth. Elizabeth aids her in her search for answers by coming into her dreams to talk to her and show her the past.

In Short: A YA paranomal novel ideal for ages 10-16, due to the dramatic style of the story and the characters. Sadie is a very dramatic teen girl, for example when the popular girl (nicely) invites her to a party she decides to start a fight with her unprovoked. If you love supernatural themed novels with a ton of drama, check this one out!

Pros: The ending was great. I was so glad Sadie was able to rewrite history. The story is more about the development of Sadie's character than the ghosts. She starts as a very reclusive teen who pushes away anyone who tries to get close to her but in the end she has warmed up. She becomes closer to her parents, establishes tighter friendships than she had ever had before and truly begins to appreciate the people around her instead of feeling so alone and exiled by her secret. Overall, the story is good. My favorite part was when the ghost was once again invading her dreams but this time her boyfriend Noah was there too. That really creeped me out wondering how he was there and what the connection was. I noticed this story drew a lot of parallels between Sadie's life and the life of Elizabeth who was alive hundreds of years ago during the Salem Witch Hunt. I think the similarity between the two girls and their lives was a nice touch.

Cons: This book needs a lot of editing. There are many types of errors: wrong word usage, grammar/punctuation, unnatural dialogue, plot holes and a lot of things that just don't make sense. For example a character will leave, but then a moment later they are still there talking and then they leave again. Or when the arsonist confessed to her that he started the fire and why, and then later she started to get suspicious that the fire was arson. There are a lot of inconsistencies like that, and things out of order, which is the reason for the star deduction. Please note that I am reviewing the digital first edition, if in time you are able to get a later edition that includes editing you may not have this experience.

Parent's Guide: Clean book - there is no vulgar language or sexual content.

I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Full review and more at ODBookReviews.blogspot.com

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie Sanders has her hands full with dead people. She has the ability to communicate with dead people and her family has just moved to Salem, Massachusetts for Sadie to get a new start. But soon Sadie finds a journal connecting to her a young lady named Elizabeth from 1696 who found herself involved in the witch hunts.

As Sadie becomes friends with Noah Bufford and Lucy the three begin to work together to figure out what happened to Elizabeth and why someone is trying to stop them. Will they each confide their secrets in one another or are some secrets best kept to ourselves?

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a great YA book. That being said there was some language and scenes that were perfect for high school kids that made me laugh - like the first I love you's, etc. I think it's important to keep that in mind when reading as the book is meant for a younger audience and for them it's great.

I really liked Sadie but I thought I honestly thought by reading the description of the book that there would be more interactions with different dead people through out the story. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more. Sadie had a tough go being "different" and she was very hesitant to make new friends. I really enjoyed her relationship with Lucy and Noah.

The mystery with Elizabeth was interesting as you knew all along that she was innocent but to hear why she was charged was pretty sad and I felt so awful for what all these innocent people went through at the times. I liked the link to the present and it was interesting why the secret was wanted buried.

I enjoyed watching Sadie grow as a person through the book and everything that she was able to gain by researching Elizabeth's past and allowing her to move on.

Reviewed for KFA

[Mary Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** audio book review ***
I loved this book! It was such a fun read...well listen. This is the story of 16 year old Sadie. She moves to Salem, Mass with her family. She becomes best friends with a girl named Lucy and has her first boyfriend, a goofy boy named Noah. Together these three embark on an adventurous mystery concerning a diary Sadie finds hidden in her home. It's the diary of girl name Elizabeth who was persecuted with her family during the Salem Witch Trials. The journal reveals the truth and Sadie and her friends are on a mission to find out the details and help Elizabeth clear her family's name. They also have the help of Elizabeth's ghost. Sadie can see ghosts and they come to her for help. For the first time in her life Sadie feels like she belongs. She shares her gift with Lucy and Noah and she's expects them to think she is a freak. But they think it's cool and help her on this adventure. This was a great story from start to finish. It had me hanging on to every word. I felt like I was along on this quest for the truth with these characters. And this is just book one. There are more books in this series and I can't wait to read on. I highly suggest this YA mystery to all readers. This story is entertaining for all. It's not just a paranormal mystery with historic elements. It's also a story about finding yourself and accepting who you are, even if it's different than everyone else. What makes us different is what makes us who we are. It's a great story about surrounding yourself with people who support you and are there for you when you need them.

[John Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

High school can be a tough time for many boys and girls but if you’re new in town, not part of the cool, popular set and see dead people, it can be especially hard. While living in California, 16 year old Sadie Sanders would be contacted by the recently dead who’d ask her to perform a specific task. She hopes she is leaving this all behind her when her family moves across country, but it is not to be when she is contacted by the ghost of Elizabeth and the deeds she must perform become exponentially grander and harder than anything’s she’s had to do before. Wicked Cries is a fun read with likeable characters that you can pull for and an interesting storyline. I especially like the way Ms. Areaux weaved history into the story. There were a couple points where I thought to myself that Sadie was perhaps over-dramatizing the situation, but then I stepped back and thought to myself: this is high school isn’t it? Doesn’t drama often reign supreme here? I thought the “villains” of Wicked Cries could have been a little better developed and more nuanced, but this is hardly a fatal flaw. I recommend this book to all.

[Dawn Siemer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started so promising!

I got 55 pages into this book before getting frustrated. The intro is great. It's a bad day for Sadie all around. We learn she talks to dead people and has to move across the country for her senior year of high school.

Then... she has to do a thing for a ghost, but we'll never see what came of it. She leaves "California" for Salem. My guess is she's supposed to be from a wealthy suburb of LA, but the author only calls it California. Since I live in California, I found that annoying.

Sadie does not think like a teenager. She is understanding of her parents moving, and oddly hopeful.

Then, since Sadie is in Salem, the Salem witch trials are brought up. The Salem Witch Trials are a well documented part of history. Many urban fantasy authors have used them. I think, if you're going to use them, you'd better research them first. I didn't get the feeling Areaux did that. She just made up her own thing.

But the real death knell for this story was going 55 pages without introducing any real conflict or mystery. There's no problem that needs to be solved. Despite that, I think Michelle Areaux shows promise as an author.

[Kate Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Cries is a page turner of a debut Young Adults novel. Sadie is an awkward teen in the aftermath of a cross country move, hoping to fit in at her new school and escape the ghosts who turn to her to resolve their problems. When she finds a secret in a hidden room off her bedroom, she realizes that her new life has taken quite a twist. The voices from 16th century Salem, Massachusetts are calling for her and she has no choice but to answer. Along with her quest for justice, Sadie must overcome her shyness and battle the school bully. An entertaining read with a dash of romance to keep the audience entranced, I have no doubt that Sadie will return for another adventure. I did find that the timeframe of the story was unnaturally compressed, but that did not detract from the overall impact of this imaginative tale.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the story line very much! This is geared towards teenaged readers, and I think it will be well received. I was unable to put the book down until I finished it, because I had to know how it was going to play out!
In the story, Sadie, has a secret gift that she feels she can't share with anyone. This makes her feel very isolated and like a freak. Her family moves to Salem, Massachusetts and she hopes that her life will be normal finally. She begins to make friends, and also uncovers a hidden mystery that she is compelled to solve! Through that journey, she begins to discover how strong she is and how much she needs other people in her life! I love how the author brings out the strength in this character! I look forward to reading more by this author!

[bookgeek607 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie has a secret that has always made her misunderstood. She is the messenger for the dearly departed. Upon her families move to Salem, she has a fresh start at a new life. Hoping to have left the ghostly deeds back in California, she is quickly pulled into a mystery different from all the rest. With the help of her new friends Lucy and Noah she embarks to set the record straight on the history of what really happened during the witch trials.

Honestly this is a great Ya read with the paranormal twist. I couldn’t put this book down it pulled me in wanting to know the truth just as bad as Sadie did. I found I was addicted right to the end! Here is to Hoping we will get more stories about Sadie, Noah, and Lucy!

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Cries by Michelle Areaux is a story so well writen it makes me say OMG!!!!!!!. This is book number one in this amazing start to a new series that I fell in love with. I read this book and was so interested in it I could not put it down till I was finished with it. It is a wonderful YA book to read and I can not wait to read the next book writen by this author. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about anything to do with witches like I do I loved reading this book very much.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie's always been able to communicate with ghosts, she's always been called peculiar and been a quite girl.

When her family shifts to Salem she finds a new ghost mystery to solve. Who is Elizabeth, why did she find Elizabeth's journal and what does Elizabeth want her to do?

Along with her new best friend Lucy and boyfriend Noah, Sadie gears up to find her answers.

An interesting book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brea Behn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Cries is a fun, feel-good adventure. From facing the normal high school dilemmas to the less than normal shocking revelation in the first chapter. You won't want to put it down until you too solve the mystery with the characters that really helps each character find their own satisfying conclusion.

[Renee Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Wicked Cries is a great coming-of-age YA novel about a teenage girl trying to find herself and deal with her special abilities along the way. What I loved most about this book - as a lover of history - was that the author was able to intertwine a real historical event into the story in a way that was exciting and SO interesting! Loved it!!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is special who helps the dead and one enters her dreams after she finds their journal. They had been branded a witch and killed for it. As she learns more she gets drawn into more secrets. Can she help them? Will all the secrets be revealed? See if they are

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie thought she was a freak but a move to Salem changed all that. She helped a dead girl,Elizabeth clear hers and her families name, gained a great new friend and a boyfriend to boot. The characters were fantastic and the story line was very imaginative.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mona williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing! its about a young girl with a special gift of seeing the dead. she helps them to move on to the after life. she meets one who was accused of being a witch. now she must help to prove her innocence. it will keep you on the edge until the end!