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Malocchio: Dark Magic of the Evil Eye
In the chaos and destruction of World War II, a small farmhouse in Northern Italy stands quiet and unnoticed...until the young witch who lives there uses the dark magic of the evil eye to protect herself.
Disrupted radio communications, missing soldiers, and horrifying canine creatures draw a distant wizard closer. An American soldier named Edward may be her connection to salvation. But is the beautiful young witch protecting herself from a past she does not understand?
Thwarted in his efforts to save his companions and escape what appears to be an enemy trap, Edward Layne is pulled deep into the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. Who is the distant wizard, and why has he come to the farmhouse?
Will the young witch overcome the taint of dark magic before Malocchio escapes and the evil eye consumes her and Edward?
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In this fast-paced dark fantasy novella, the powers of light and darkness collide, compelling characters to weave their lives together in a dangerous dance of life or death.
Described as "Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead" and "The Dark Tower meets The Wheel of Time", Malocchio, Dark Magic of the Evil Eye is packed with ancient magic, horrifying monsters, and layers of human agendas...perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss and George R.R. Martin.
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Disrupted radio communications, missing soldiers, and horrifying canine creatures draw a distant wizard closer. An American soldier named Edward may be her connection to salvation. But is the beautiful young witch protecting herself from a past she does not understand?
Thwarted in his efforts to save his companions and escape what appears to be an enemy trap, Edward Layne is pulled deep into the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. Who is the distant wizard, and why has he come to the farmhouse?
Will the young witch overcome the taint of dark magic before Malocchio escapes and the evil eye consumes her and Edward?
---------------------
In this fast-paced dark fantasy novella, the powers of light and darkness collide, compelling characters to weave their lives together in a dangerous dance of life or death.
Described as "Game of Thrones meets The Walking Dead" and "The Dark Tower meets The Wheel of Time", Malocchio, Dark Magic of the Evil Eye is packed with ancient magic, horrifying monsters, and layers of human agendas...perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss and George R.R. Martin.
---------------------
Join dark fantasy author Nicholas Anthony's VIP Reader Club for more dark secrets, delivered directly to your inbox.
As a member of the VIP Reader Club, you will receive:
Special offers and discounted books
Exclusive behind the scenes
Book recommendations
Important updates and news
Sign up for the VIP Reader Club on the author's website ByNicholasAnthony.com
Follow author Nicholas Anthony on Twitter @byNickAnthony
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2019
5 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Anthony
2 books3 followersInspiring readers with brave hearts and sharp minds to turn pages of dark fantasy and horror.
Get your FREE copy of The Rise of King Byron when you visit the author's website: https://www.bynicholasanthony.com
Nicholas Anthony is the author of dark fantasy and horror novels for readers with brave hearts, sharp minds, and strong stomachs. Every turn of the page brings the possibility of instant death. Or dismemberment. The author currently resides in the Midwest United States, which is where many of his characters yearn to return home.
Nicholas Anthony has been writing since he first learned to hold a pencil, and is proud to have his first title under his belt, along with a dark fantasy series in the works. His stories are epic adventures, with themes ranging from Witchcraft, to World War II, to the Wild West.
When he is not writing, reading, or dreaming up new stories to share, author Nicholas Anthony has a regular arrangement of hobbies. He enjoys cooking with spices from all over the world. Friends and family insisted he mention that he is very good at grilling.
Nicholas follows sports, in particular baseball. He is a talented heavy metal guitar player. He enjoys weight training during the week and the occasional long-distance bicycle trip on the weekend.
Join dark fantasy author Nicholas Anthony’s VIP Reader Club for more dark secrets, delivered directly to your inbox. As a member of the VIP Reader Club, you will receive:
Special offers and discounted books
Exclusive behind the scenes
Book recommendations
Important updates and news
Sign up for the VIP Reader Club on the author’s website ByNicholasAnthony.com
Follow the author
Facebook @byNicholasAnthony
Twitter @byNickAnthony
Get your FREE copy of The Rise of King Byron when you visit the author's website: https://www.bynicholasanthony.com
Nicholas Anthony is the author of dark fantasy and horror novels for readers with brave hearts, sharp minds, and strong stomachs. Every turn of the page brings the possibility of instant death. Or dismemberment. The author currently resides in the Midwest United States, which is where many of his characters yearn to return home.
Nicholas Anthony has been writing since he first learned to hold a pencil, and is proud to have his first title under his belt, along with a dark fantasy series in the works. His stories are epic adventures, with themes ranging from Witchcraft, to World War II, to the Wild West.
When he is not writing, reading, or dreaming up new stories to share, author Nicholas Anthony has a regular arrangement of hobbies. He enjoys cooking with spices from all over the world. Friends and family insisted he mention that he is very good at grilling.
Nicholas follows sports, in particular baseball. He is a talented heavy metal guitar player. He enjoys weight training during the week and the occasional long-distance bicycle trip on the weekend.
Join dark fantasy author Nicholas Anthony’s VIP Reader Club for more dark secrets, delivered directly to your inbox. As a member of the VIP Reader Club, you will receive:
Special offers and discounted books
Exclusive behind the scenes
Book recommendations
Important updates and news
Sign up for the VIP Reader Club on the author’s website ByNicholasAnthony.com
Follow the author
Facebook @byNicholasAnthony
Twitter @byNickAnthony
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2020
Nicholas Anthony’s Malocchio: Dark Magic of the Evil Eye combines dark fantasy with historical fiction. Taking place in Italy during World War II, the story interweaves witchcraft and wizardry in with the humanity of a war winding down.
One of the places Anthony excels at is crafting a world hidden within the real world. We’ve all heard the metric for horror/fantasy, if you removed all the supernatural elements, the story should still stand on its own. Much of the work early on is setting up the soldiers that make up the main cast of characters. The interactions between soldiers feels authentic, and once established, Anthony sets to work showing the magic behind the scenes.
The supernatural characters have familiar elements enough to catch the readers attention, but seem to draw from local folklore. A story set in Italy that the author successfully convinces us only could have happened in Italy. The stregas are creepy and ruthless, but imbued with enough character that we get drawn into whatever they’re doing or who they’re doing it to.
This portion could be considered mild spoilers, so read on at your own risk. The titular villain is alluded to through most of the book, but doesn’t make a physical appearance until late in the game. While this is far from a sin, and can be quite effective, his return is very exposition heavy and anticlimactic. I like the way the author keeps Malocchio in the background as a looming threat, but a slightly sooner appearance with a condensed explanation for absence would’ve worked for me. As always, it’s worth noting this is simply one reader’s opinion.
I love folklore interspersed into my horror, and I’m always down for a unique take on historical events. Anthony has crafted a little slice of the world in which to play, but also leaves the door open to more tales told utilizing this mythos. If those aspects appeal to you, this book just might be up your alley.
I was given a copy by the author for review consideration.
One of the places Anthony excels at is crafting a world hidden within the real world. We’ve all heard the metric for horror/fantasy, if you removed all the supernatural elements, the story should still stand on its own. Much of the work early on is setting up the soldiers that make up the main cast of characters. The interactions between soldiers feels authentic, and once established, Anthony sets to work showing the magic behind the scenes.
The supernatural characters have familiar elements enough to catch the readers attention, but seem to draw from local folklore. A story set in Italy that the author successfully convinces us only could have happened in Italy. The stregas are creepy and ruthless, but imbued with enough character that we get drawn into whatever they’re doing or who they’re doing it to.
This portion could be considered mild spoilers, so read on at your own risk. The titular villain is alluded to through most of the book, but doesn’t make a physical appearance until late in the game. While this is far from a sin, and can be quite effective, his return is very exposition heavy and anticlimactic. I like the way the author keeps Malocchio in the background as a looming threat, but a slightly sooner appearance with a condensed explanation for absence would’ve worked for me. As always, it’s worth noting this is simply one reader’s opinion.
I love folklore interspersed into my horror, and I’m always down for a unique take on historical events. Anthony has crafted a little slice of the world in which to play, but also leaves the door open to more tales told utilizing this mythos. If those aspects appeal to you, this book just might be up your alley.
I was given a copy by the author for review consideration.
November 15, 2020
I found this story to be smart and compelling. It is a combination historical fiction and fantasy horror set at the end of WWII Italy. Although a much more concise story, it gave me the feel of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. A fun read. Give it a go if you like fantasy horror. There is a touch of profanity, for those who are sensitive to that.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews