What do you think?
Rate this book
Orla and the Serpent's Curse
A spooky adventure set in Cornwall; Famous Five with a twist.
A long-dead Cornish witch to thwart and a curse to stop – it's just another family holiday. Orla thought she was in for a relaxing break, but when she finds a mysterious glowing necklace in the woods, it turns out there is a slight possibility she may have uncovered a witch's ancient curse. After meeting a coven of suspicious old ladies, it becomes clear that Orla's arrival in Cornwall is no longer a coincidence. The curse is poisoning the land and destroying everything it touches, and Orla is the one person who can stop it. But she’ll need help from the only other member of the family with good instincts – Dave the dog.
A long-dead Cornish witch to thwart and a curse to stop – it's just another family holiday. Orla thought she was in for a relaxing break, but when she finds a mysterious glowing necklace in the woods, it turns out there is a slight possibility she may have uncovered a witch's ancient curse. After meeting a coven of suspicious old ladies, it becomes clear that Orla's arrival in Cornwall is no longer a coincidence. The curse is poisoning the land and destroying everything it touches, and Orla is the one person who can stop it. But she’ll need help from the only other member of the family with good instincts – Dave the dog.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 26, 2021
What a spooky, witchy adventure! Loved! Orla thought that she, her mom, 2 brothers, & their dog Dave were in for a nice relaxing holiday on the Cornish coast. Then she finds a mysterious glowing necklace, & realizes she may have uncovered a witch’s ancient curse. After meeting a coven of suspicious old ladies, it’s clear her arrival in Cornwall isn’t a coincidence. The curse is poisoning the land, & destroying everything it touches. She is the only one who can stop that. Well, w/the help of her dog of course. This was very atmospheric, creepy, & even a little goth lol I loved all the details from the necklace, the little doll, to the memory stone...all of it. I also love the little moments where it seems like we’re reading from the dogs POV! Dave is a little private eye tough guy, determined to protect his family. He has my whole heart! Raven was such an amazing, interesting character. Loved her. I also absolutely loved Pedervander. Her & her whole heartbreakingly beautiful back story. Every scene she was in I was engrossed more than ever in. Orla has always been told she was different, she didn’t realize how different lol or how awesome that actually was. She was quite a character & I loved her. Highly recommend! Stunning cover by Paddy Donnelly too. Beautiful!💜
April 1, 2020
BLOODY BRILLIANT. This is a totally magical story set in Cornwall: a young girl, a curse, a magical necklace and her brilliant dog named Dave. I was enraptured from the first chapter and I couldn’t put this down. Bloody brilliant. The twist at the end THRILLED me!
January 11, 2020
Orla And The Serpent's Curse is a story of the resilient girl, Orla as she defies an old and serious curse that will make everything right again. This is the story of her tale of discovering the truth about her lineage and chosen as the one to return back Cornish to what it once was.
Orla as described as her mother is a "peculiar, weird and different" kind of girl but that's exactly what truly makes her special. She loves exploring, brave and would not let anyone tell her who she can and cannot be. I find that truly remarkable and inspiring as it gives off a message that everyone is perfect right as they are.
In the synopsis, it only describes about Orla and Dave, the dog. But this story wasn't all about that as some other characters also play a big role. Her brothers, Richard and Tom and also Raven should be part of it too because without them, this story wouldn't be complete. They wouldn't have been able to accomplish a few things if it wasn't for them and I say they are important too.
The pace of this story was just nice. It started off right until the very end as throughout the entire journey of Orla's story was told in a nice narrative that I wanted to continue reading. Even the aspect of the fantasy were described really well what with the pellers, curse, necklace and how Orla connects to it all.
This book is a short read packed in with a great story unlike any other. I recommend it to anyone looking for a middle grade book with interesting characters, groundbreaking story and the journey to break a curse.
Orla as described as her mother is a "peculiar, weird and different" kind of girl but that's exactly what truly makes her special. She loves exploring, brave and would not let anyone tell her who she can and cannot be. I find that truly remarkable and inspiring as it gives off a message that everyone is perfect right as they are.
In the synopsis, it only describes about Orla and Dave, the dog. But this story wasn't all about that as some other characters also play a big role. Her brothers, Richard and Tom and also Raven should be part of it too because without them, this story wouldn't be complete. They wouldn't have been able to accomplish a few things if it wasn't for them and I say they are important too.
The pace of this story was just nice. It started off right until the very end as throughout the entire journey of Orla's story was told in a nice narrative that I wanted to continue reading. Even the aspect of the fantasy were described really well what with the pellers, curse, necklace and how Orla connects to it all.
This book is a short read packed in with a great story unlike any other. I recommend it to anyone looking for a middle grade book with interesting characters, groundbreaking story and the journey to break a curse.
July 27, 2021
Dave the dog is the absolute best character, he's so funny. He pretty much made the book for me.
July 9, 2021
Middle grade…..This was really really good!
October 1, 2020
I didn't really enjoy this book.
I had to leave it half way through as I just couldn't get into the book
I had to leave it half way through as I just couldn't get into the book
May 30, 2020
Solid 4.5
First off, look at this damn cover. Its vibrant and feels so expansive – its just so darn beautiful to be honest. Its also part of the reason I requested it because who doesn’t love having pretty things in their bookshelves?
I really loved the MC Orla. She is an almost tween who has been forced on holiday with her family against her will. Her teacher mother is taking the opportunity to get her children to bond while she does mark and the whole thing is just all things family vacation. Until Orla is visited by a mysterious woman in her dreams who directs her to hidden treasure, a woman who has a dark past connected to their Cornish house in the woods. If I were visited by a strange woman invading my dreams, I think I would run crying to my mother begging to go home. Instead with Orla’s inquisitive nature, she goes exploring in the woods and down on the beach with her older brother. Although she is about to undergo a massive ordeal (or at least a massive ordeal to a 12 year old), everything she goes through, she faces with an inner strength, determined to succeed in her quest for knowledge.
So, her brothers exemplify sibling rivalry at its best. When they are arguing over who has to keep their mother occupied, they are banding together to get stuff done. The older brother was probably my favourite of the two. He is a young man who has found an amazing girlfriend during vacation and is determined to impress her regardless of the sheer stupidity of some of his actions. I also loved the angry goth girl that is Raven, trying to find her father’s killer. She is strong, stubborn, and just your average tempestuous teen BUT she definitely comes through when Orla needs her most.
One of the running themes within this novel is that of witchcraft and earth magic. The whole premise of spells cast causing a reciprocity with the environment around the practitioner is woven throughout in such a way that it feels natural. There are portions relating to witchcraft that may cause mild scares in the intended tween audience but for the most part any magic used is very brief.
Now, Orla and the Serpents Curse felt well rounded and is a good introduction to unexpected endings for the intended audience. While I, a 21 plus some year old woman, found it predictable, my twelve year daughter did not. There are moments that caused her to gasp and others that made her cry, a phenomenon I rarely see in her as she too has a cold heart of ice (I’m definitely her mother).
Here is where I feel I really want to point out the intended age group. On the publishers website, this is listed as being intended for children 10+. I feel like 10 is probably a little too young for this one; this was eerie and atmospheric for myself and another parent who has already read it, there is a death and some pretty creepy scenes. Instead I would probably say intended should be that very tween area of around 12 and up (some of the scenes are a little graphic for children, but I could be wrong and maybe other people’s children have already built up a tolerance to violence in books). Also, I want to point out that this is touted as comedic but other than Dave the Dog perspective is super dark. Its creepy and definitely a mildly horror/thriller type novel
So overall I definitely enjoyed this one and so did my daughter. The protagonist is both a strong and independent child but definitely still needs those around her. The supporting cast run the gamut of personalities, but they all fit together into a nice family unit (both blood and found family). Although the blurb says this one is comedic, its actually more a horror type novel with the commentary from Dave the Dog being amusing and breaking up the eerie mood. I feel like maybe it should be aimed at slightly older children but as I said, it cold just be my child who isn’t used to reading this sort of novel. Definitely worth checking out when it releases in Australia next week.
Many thanks to Walker Books for providing me with an advanced reading copy ahead of the novel's official release. The opinions contained within this review are my own and have in no way been influenced by the publisher or its affiliates
First off, look at this damn cover. Its vibrant and feels so expansive – its just so darn beautiful to be honest. Its also part of the reason I requested it because who doesn’t love having pretty things in their bookshelves?
I really loved the MC Orla. She is an almost tween who has been forced on holiday with her family against her will. Her teacher mother is taking the opportunity to get her children to bond while she does mark and the whole thing is just all things family vacation. Until Orla is visited by a mysterious woman in her dreams who directs her to hidden treasure, a woman who has a dark past connected to their Cornish house in the woods. If I were visited by a strange woman invading my dreams, I think I would run crying to my mother begging to go home. Instead with Orla’s inquisitive nature, she goes exploring in the woods and down on the beach with her older brother. Although she is about to undergo a massive ordeal (or at least a massive ordeal to a 12 year old), everything she goes through, she faces with an inner strength, determined to succeed in her quest for knowledge.
So, her brothers exemplify sibling rivalry at its best. When they are arguing over who has to keep their mother occupied, they are banding together to get stuff done. The older brother was probably my favourite of the two. He is a young man who has found an amazing girlfriend during vacation and is determined to impress her regardless of the sheer stupidity of some of his actions. I also loved the angry goth girl that is Raven, trying to find her father’s killer. She is strong, stubborn, and just your average tempestuous teen BUT she definitely comes through when Orla needs her most.
One of the running themes within this novel is that of witchcraft and earth magic. The whole premise of spells cast causing a reciprocity with the environment around the practitioner is woven throughout in such a way that it feels natural. There are portions relating to witchcraft that may cause mild scares in the intended tween audience but for the most part any magic used is very brief.
Now, Orla and the Serpents Curse felt well rounded and is a good introduction to unexpected endings for the intended audience. While I, a 21 plus some year old woman, found it predictable, my twelve year daughter did not. There are moments that caused her to gasp and others that made her cry, a phenomenon I rarely see in her as she too has a cold heart of ice (I’m definitely her mother).
Here is where I feel I really want to point out the intended age group. On the publishers website, this is listed as being intended for children 10+. I feel like 10 is probably a little too young for this one; this was eerie and atmospheric for myself and another parent who has already read it, there is a death and some pretty creepy scenes. Instead I would probably say intended should be that very tween area of around 12 and up (some of the scenes are a little graphic for children, but I could be wrong and maybe other people’s children have already built up a tolerance to violence in books). Also, I want to point out that this is touted as comedic but other than Dave the Dog perspective is super dark. Its creepy and definitely a mildly horror/thriller type novel
So overall I definitely enjoyed this one and so did my daughter. The protagonist is both a strong and independent child but definitely still needs those around her. The supporting cast run the gamut of personalities, but they all fit together into a nice family unit (both blood and found family). Although the blurb says this one is comedic, its actually more a horror type novel with the commentary from Dave the Dog being amusing and breaking up the eerie mood. I feel like maybe it should be aimed at slightly older children but as I said, it cold just be my child who isn’t used to reading this sort of novel. Definitely worth checking out when it releases in Australia next week.
Many thanks to Walker Books for providing me with an advanced reading copy ahead of the novel's official release. The opinions contained within this review are my own and have in no way been influenced by the publisher or its affiliates
May 31, 2020
Orla & the Serpents Curse by C.J Haslam.
Thank you Walker Aust for sending me this book to review.
Publish date: 1 June 2020
Synopsis: During a family holiday away 12 year old Orla discovers that there is a long-dead Cornish witch to thwart and a curse to stop. Orla thought she was in for a relaxing break, but when she finds a mysterious glowing necklace in the woods, it turns out she may have uncovered a witch's ancient curse that is poisoning the land and destroying everything it touches. It seems Orla is the one person who can stop it. But she’ll need help from the only other member of the family with good instincts – Dave her dog.
Review: I loved the main characters 12 year old Orla and her trusty sidekick adventurer Dave, the Jack Russel but one must not forget to credit her brothers and mysterious new friend, Raven in all of the excitement.
Orla is a brave, curious girl with a lineage to the pellers of Cornwall. The pace in this story is nice. An easy and absorbing read for the most part. There were moments in the story that I got a bit lost. Packed with adventure & mystery, I found that a great deal happened in a short period of time with an abrupt end.
I liked the pov in which the story was narrated. It allowed insight into the thoughts of our brave little Jack Russel at certain points in the book with a dash of humour 😂 (pg 175-176)
When one looks at its beautiful cover, it appears that this book is aimed at middle grade readers. But what age group is middle grade exactly?! If it weren't for the relative ease in writing style - I think; aimed for a younger age group, I would expect that the content and story line would be fit for older teen readers. The talk of witches, black magic, curses and the like appear to me; better suited to an older reader?! I think a minimum reading age would be12 / 13 year old.
Overall, I enjoyed the adventure!
⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you Walker Aust for sending me this book to review.
Publish date: 1 June 2020
Synopsis: During a family holiday away 12 year old Orla discovers that there is a long-dead Cornish witch to thwart and a curse to stop. Orla thought she was in for a relaxing break, but when she finds a mysterious glowing necklace in the woods, it turns out she may have uncovered a witch's ancient curse that is poisoning the land and destroying everything it touches. It seems Orla is the one person who can stop it. But she’ll need help from the only other member of the family with good instincts – Dave her dog.
Review: I loved the main characters 12 year old Orla and her trusty sidekick adventurer Dave, the Jack Russel but one must not forget to credit her brothers and mysterious new friend, Raven in all of the excitement.
Orla is a brave, curious girl with a lineage to the pellers of Cornwall. The pace in this story is nice. An easy and absorbing read for the most part. There were moments in the story that I got a bit lost. Packed with adventure & mystery, I found that a great deal happened in a short period of time with an abrupt end.
I liked the pov in which the story was narrated. It allowed insight into the thoughts of our brave little Jack Russel at certain points in the book with a dash of humour 😂 (pg 175-176)
When one looks at its beautiful cover, it appears that this book is aimed at middle grade readers. But what age group is middle grade exactly?! If it weren't for the relative ease in writing style - I think; aimed for a younger age group, I would expect that the content and story line would be fit for older teen readers. The talk of witches, black magic, curses and the like appear to me; better suited to an older reader?! I think a minimum reading age would be12 / 13 year old.
Overall, I enjoyed the adventure!
⭐⭐⭐.5
May 23, 2020
A spooky adventure that will have you quaking in your boots!
This witchy adventure follows Orla Perry as she, her brothers and a strange Goth girl try to stop a curse from consuming Cornwall and the rest of the countryside. The three main aspects of the story that I loved was the characterisation of Orla, the fusion of past and present, and the witchcraft.
Orla was designed as a bit of an odd one – someone who was a bit different and didn’t quite fit in. This uniqueness was set up the discovery of her powers well, which we learn about as she begins to notice things that are not necessarily there. I found her grit and determination to be admirable, but her stubbornness was a little repetitive at times.
The fusion of the past and the present meant that the mystery that was being solved in the present was being supported by the inclusion of memories from the past. The revelations provided through the memories of Pedervander Mazey allowed Orla, Richard, Tom and Raven to move their investigation in the right direction, even though there were many obstacles in their way.
Finally, the witchcraft. I loved all the little tells of the occult. The herbs, protection spells, trinkets, and connection to nature.
Though it was his first foray into middle grade literature, Haslam’s imagination has conjured a fantastically terrifying tale about good and evil, and how everything is not as it seems.
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me a copy to read and review!
This witchy adventure follows Orla Perry as she, her brothers and a strange Goth girl try to stop a curse from consuming Cornwall and the rest of the countryside. The three main aspects of the story that I loved was the characterisation of Orla, the fusion of past and present, and the witchcraft.
Orla was designed as a bit of an odd one – someone who was a bit different and didn’t quite fit in. This uniqueness was set up the discovery of her powers well, which we learn about as she begins to notice things that are not necessarily there. I found her grit and determination to be admirable, but her stubbornness was a little repetitive at times.
The fusion of the past and the present meant that the mystery that was being solved in the present was being supported by the inclusion of memories from the past. The revelations provided through the memories of Pedervander Mazey allowed Orla, Richard, Tom and Raven to move their investigation in the right direction, even though there were many obstacles in their way.
Finally, the witchcraft. I loved all the little tells of the occult. The herbs, protection spells, trinkets, and connection to nature.
Though it was his first foray into middle grade literature, Haslam’s imagination has conjured a fantastically terrifying tale about good and evil, and how everything is not as it seems.
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me a copy to read and review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2020
This book is an incredible magical adventure. I absolutely adored this - I was initially attracted by the interactions between Orla and her Jack Russell dog, Dave. I loved this magical and brilliantly written adventure. This book is set in a small holiday house in Cornwall: the Perry family have taken up the chance to stay in a rural cottage as a family holiday. The family dynamics in this book are fantastic - the brothers are both kind and mischievous to Orla, their mum a little oblivious but supportive of our unusual main character. I always enjoy reading books with well-crafted families - it makes it that much more absorbing.
The main character, Orla, reminds me of Merida from Disney's Brave. Merida is one of my favourite princesses (does Mulan count as a princess?) and the red hair and tenacious attitude of Orla stood out to me. She is so determined and stubborn and caring, and when faced with curses and tough situations, she is ready to rise to the challenge, whether she wants to or not. Orla drives the story forward, faces adversity, and is an admirable character. If I could channel half of Orla's traits into my life, nothing could stand in my way! #
If you want to read my full review, find it on my website here: https://www.andrea-stewart.co.uk/post...
In summary: this book is fantastic, and will delight readers 8+, and adults alike. A brilliant summer read, and a magical adventure
The main character, Orla, reminds me of Merida from Disney's Brave. Merida is one of my favourite princesses (does Mulan count as a princess?) and the red hair and tenacious attitude of Orla stood out to me. She is so determined and stubborn and caring, and when faced with curses and tough situations, she is ready to rise to the challenge, whether she wants to or not. Orla drives the story forward, faces adversity, and is an admirable character. If I could channel half of Orla's traits into my life, nothing could stand in my way! #
If you want to read my full review, find it on my website here: https://www.andrea-stewart.co.uk/post...
In summary: this book is fantastic, and will delight readers 8+, and adults alike. A brilliant summer read, and a magical adventure
May 31, 2020
Orla Perry is on a family holiday in Cornwall staying in a tired looking “Cornish shack” in the woods. What could be better? Yet something is wrong, there’s no birdsong, no life in the woods, and a dark and heavy atmosphere hangs over the place. Orla has strange dreams about a witch and an ancient curse. A curse that is strangling the habitat and has caused people to go missing. She doesn’t know it yet but Orla has the key to solving the mystery, and with the help of a new friend, her brothers and trusty dog, Dave, she might just be strong enough for what’s to come.
An absolute corker of a book. wild adventure set in Cornwall. Beautifully spooky with perfectly pitched humour and authentic characters.
An absolute corker of a book. wild adventure set in Cornwall. Beautifully spooky with perfectly pitched humour and authentic characters.
April 20, 2023
This was so much spookier than I expected!!! It was great. It’s been a while since a middle grade novel had me staying up late to finish it because I simply had to find out what happened. Dark, witchy, fast paced, set in the Cornish coast. Really fun.
May 27, 2023
I really like this book, but at times it would make me lose interest, and get a bit bored. That was because, there were some plot holes, at times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and enjoyed the plot twist at the end!
September 30, 2024
Dave.
Dave is a such a well written character and reminds me so much of my own quirky dog. Such a witchy spooky little story. I wanted something cosy and fun to fill a little gap even though it's a very young story, I definitely got something witchy and enjoyable.
Dave is a such a well written character and reminds me so much of my own quirky dog. Such a witchy spooky little story. I wanted something cosy and fun to fill a little gap even though it's a very young story, I definitely got something witchy and enjoyable.
January 12, 2020
The real MVP here is Dave, the dog. The entire story was on his shoulders.
April 15, 2020
It was a good story but for me I just felt like there were a few gaps and rushed moments that could of really made it a stronger story 💙
June 25, 2020
3.5 stars
April 13, 2021
This could have been shorter. The story was interesting but got lost in too much back story.
Keep it simple.
Keep it simple.
March 3, 2022
Good book
July 31, 2022
Really enjoyed this book! Can’t wait to share it with my pupils in school.
August 29, 2022
Absolutely LOVED Dave!
January 29, 2023
it was really good… especially the plot twist
April 9, 2024
I N T R E S T I N G
May 19, 2025
There’s lots to like about this Cornish tale and some bits that didn’t quite fit. It’s quite dark in places, so I would say it’s suitable for age 11+, upper middle grade.
We hear the story mostly from 12-year-old Orla and partly from her dog, called Dave. To me the dog’s narration didn’t fit, as it seemed too young for this story, I think the dog could have still been involved and play his part, without hearing his inner thoughts.
That aside, the story unfolds gently, with some twists and turns, as Orla’s holiday in Cornwall becomes a bit of a nightmare. A poisoned landscape, a mutilated witch and very strange dreams do not deter Orla, who tackles everything head on.
I did enjoy the story as it unfolded, and it was easy to envisage the Cornish settings from the descriptions. It was very atmospheric and there was some great historical detail. However, there did seem to be a lot of similes that were unnecessary and once again made the book seem as though it was aimed at younger age group.
Overall, Orla was a great main character, a strong leader and the Cornish holiday setting was a great location for an interesting story.
We hear the story mostly from 12-year-old Orla and partly from her dog, called Dave. To me the dog’s narration didn’t fit, as it seemed too young for this story, I think the dog could have still been involved and play his part, without hearing his inner thoughts.
That aside, the story unfolds gently, with some twists and turns, as Orla’s holiday in Cornwall becomes a bit of a nightmare. A poisoned landscape, a mutilated witch and very strange dreams do not deter Orla, who tackles everything head on.
I did enjoy the story as it unfolded, and it was easy to envisage the Cornish settings from the descriptions. It was very atmospheric and there was some great historical detail. However, there did seem to be a lot of similes that were unnecessary and once again made the book seem as though it was aimed at younger age group.
Overall, Orla was a great main character, a strong leader and the Cornish holiday setting was a great location for an interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews