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The Root Witch: An Urban Legend Caught On Tape
"This is the listing for the short story, 'The Root Witch: An Urban Legend Caught on Tape.'"
Halloween, 1986. It’s a TV producer’s dream. A chance to chase down a famous urban legend known as The Root Witch. The great shadowy figure is believed to menace a one-of-a-kind aspen forest. Sandra Molina doesn’t hesitate to send a news crew to central Utah to investigate, but when the crew goes missing and a rescue team finds a shocking video, the young news producer must hand over her journal to station managers documenting her controversial decision. In those harrowing pages, Sandra reveals what she saw on the tape: the true horror of The Root Witch and its ghastly connection to the forest.
A horror novelette
Halloween, 1986. It’s a TV producer’s dream. A chance to chase down a famous urban legend known as The Root Witch. The great shadowy figure is believed to menace a one-of-a-kind aspen forest. Sandra Molina doesn’t hesitate to send a news crew to central Utah to investigate, but when the crew goes missing and a rescue team finds a shocking video, the young news producer must hand over her journal to station managers documenting her controversial decision. In those harrowing pages, Sandra reveals what she saw on the tape: the true horror of The Root Witch and its ghastly connection to the forest.
A horror novelette
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2021
21 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Debra Castaneda
26 books302 followersDebra Castaneda is an award-winning author of urban fantasy and dark fiction based on the central coast of California.
Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.
Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.
For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American
Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.
~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .
Her works include Barely Magic, the first book in the Maddy Madrigal Mysteries series of urban fantasy novels; The Spore Queen, The Devil’s Shallows, The Root Witch, The Copper Man, Circus at Devil’s Landing, and A Dark and Rising Tide, which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.
Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary or magical things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.
For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American
Debra now lives on the central coast of California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.
~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 13, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My sincerest thanks to the publisher and author. :)
This is one of those short stories where its brevity is more of a detriment than a help. If it had been a bit longer I think the author would have done a good job of building the appropriate amount of tension for the big reveal.
This is one of those short stories where its brevity is more of a detriment than a help. If it had been a bit longer I think the author would have done a good job of building the appropriate amount of tension for the big reveal.
April 14, 2021
I was intrigued by the sound of the short story so I thought I would give it a go. The storyline itself is good with the mystery of what happened to the TV crew was a great part to hook you in. But I felt it just needed a little more depth into the characters , I know in short stories that can be a hard thing to do. The bits of information in between the journal parts were interesting although I found myself distracted from the storyline.
Overall it is a good quick read but not one that will stay in my mind
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall it is a good quick read but not one that will stay in my mind
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2021
Urban legends are so creepy and yet so cool. In Debra Castaneda’s The Root Witch, TV producer Sandra Molina knows that the Trembling Giant aspen forest is spooky to say the least, but when a story presents itself just in time for Halloween, she sends out a crew to investigate reports of shadows. Her crew goes missing, and she’s afraid that the Root Witch legends are all too real.
I really enjoyed the format of the story - it was told through faxes, diary entries, and academic journal excerpts. It really lent to a fascinating telling of the story, but also provided for a bit of an unreliable narrator.
If you enjoy urban legends or The Blair Witch Project, I think you’ll enjoy The Root Witch.
I received a copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed the format of the story - it was told through faxes, diary entries, and academic journal excerpts. It really lent to a fascinating telling of the story, but also provided for a bit of an unreliable narrator.
If you enjoy urban legends or The Blair Witch Project, I think you’ll enjoy The Root Witch.
I received a copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2021
3 1/2 stars.
This is the first story I read by this author, and I plan to read more.
Here's the thing with the horror genre and stories of this length - the author has to grasp the reader by the throat practically on the first page, and not let go until the very end. I feel like there was too much "telling" leading up to the incident, and once I neared the end of the story, I was no longer "gripped" but rather, a bit disappointed.
The story is well-written, but could have used a bit more punch.
This is the first story I read by this author, and I plan to read more.
Here's the thing with the horror genre and stories of this length - the author has to grasp the reader by the throat practically on the first page, and not let go until the very end. I feel like there was too much "telling" leading up to the incident, and once I neared the end of the story, I was no longer "gripped" but rather, a bit disappointed.
The story is well-written, but could have used a bit more punch.
May 24, 2021
This is a Urban Legend with only 31 pages sorry I didn't like this short story maybe if it was longer and more detailed. I could have gotten into the story.
March 31, 2021
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens.
A big thank you to them and the author.
I loved The Monsters of Chavez Ravine by Debra Castaneda, and I love horror, so I was really excited to read The Root Witch. It was a good horror read, the kind I enjoy, and the author's style is one I appreciate. The plot is very engaging, and reminding of those movies turned like they were real stories. The characters are well-written, and Sandra is especially interesting.
This is once again a novella, but unlike my previous read from this author, I found the length disappointing. Novellas can be just as great as novels, and in some occasions, it works better than a full-length novel. But after reading The Root Witch, I can't help wondering if I would have enjoyed it a lot more as a novel. Here's why: knowing more about The Root Witch, just a little bit more, would have made me understand more Sandra sending a news crew to investigate. The ending left me disappointed. It's not a bad ending, I was just... I don't know, confused? Most of all, I craved more of this story and really thinks a novel would have been an advantage here.
A big thank you to them and the author.
I loved The Monsters of Chavez Ravine by Debra Castaneda, and I love horror, so I was really excited to read The Root Witch. It was a good horror read, the kind I enjoy, and the author's style is one I appreciate. The plot is very engaging, and reminding of those movies turned like they were real stories. The characters are well-written, and Sandra is especially interesting.
This is once again a novella, but unlike my previous read from this author, I found the length disappointing. Novellas can be just as great as novels, and in some occasions, it works better than a full-length novel. But after reading The Root Witch, I can't help wondering if I would have enjoyed it a lot more as a novel. Here's why: knowing more about The Root Witch, just a little bit more, would have made me understand more Sandra sending a news crew to investigate. The ending left me disappointed. It's not a bad ending, I was just... I don't know, confused? Most of all, I craved more of this story and really thinks a novel would have been an advantage here.
April 13, 2021
I received a complimentary advance copy of the book from Book Sirens for an honest and voluntary review.
The summary for Debra Castaneda’s left me curious to find out exactly what this urban legend was and what went down in that forest. Add to that the setting is in 1986 and follows a headstrong female news producer who witness the urban legend come to life with her own eyes.
The novelette starts off with fax correspondence briefly detailing the events that led to main character, Sandra Molina, producer at the Massey television station, to be under suspension and considered a suspect in the deaths of her coworkers. To prove her innocence, she has to hand over her journal entries where she’s written about what led her to send over the crew to investigate the Root Witch.
When you think of urban legends, the most common ones that come to mind include Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, Bloody Mary, Slender Man; all super creepy creatures who out for blood. The Root Witch is no different. I would have liked a little more information on the Root Witch in the beginning just so I had a feel for how dangerous and peculiar it is, and so I could understand Sandra’s need to send out a crew to investigate its appearance.
This is a quick read that keeps the reader guessing whether Sandra is as innocent as she is proclaiming to be, and the reader is given insight into each of her crew members’ thoughts and opinions towards the whole situation. I found Sandra to be innocent, but even I went back and forth with her rationality of her sending her crew out on this potentially dangerous mission, not just because of the dangers that lay ahead, but because she wasn’t entirely sure if the Root Witch attacks were a hoax or the real deal.
Along with Sandra’s journal entries, there was also other sources commenting on the aspen forest and how the story of the Root Witch came to be and spread, which were a unique add to an already interesting story. I also really enjoyed the snippets and added details describing Sandra’s tasks and how she and her crew handled the news station. Having once worked as a journalist, Castaneda includes a lot of interesting tidbits that I was unaware of. I learned a lot of cool terms like “sat truck” and “float the lead”.
I had no idea how this story was going to end. I had a few hunches, but what ultimately occurs is so far from any of my theories. I was left a little confused and disappointed by the ending, just the way it ended, basically. It definitely took me a minute to wrap my mind around the deeper meaning of the ending and the overall story. And once I did, I needed MORE. More to the story and more to Sandra’s story. This is definitely the type of book where if you speed read through it, which is easy to do since it’s only 30 pages long, and it is a thriller, you might need to go back and re-read it from the beginning to really get the gist of it, which is exactly what I ended up doing.
Overall, I’d say this was an exciting and adventurous read. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a quick read that’ll stick with them for a while.
The summary for Debra Castaneda’s left me curious to find out exactly what this urban legend was and what went down in that forest. Add to that the setting is in 1986 and follows a headstrong female news producer who witness the urban legend come to life with her own eyes.
The novelette starts off with fax correspondence briefly detailing the events that led to main character, Sandra Molina, producer at the Massey television station, to be under suspension and considered a suspect in the deaths of her coworkers. To prove her innocence, she has to hand over her journal entries where she’s written about what led her to send over the crew to investigate the Root Witch.
When you think of urban legends, the most common ones that come to mind include Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, Bloody Mary, Slender Man; all super creepy creatures who out for blood. The Root Witch is no different. I would have liked a little more information on the Root Witch in the beginning just so I had a feel for how dangerous and peculiar it is, and so I could understand Sandra’s need to send out a crew to investigate its appearance.
This is a quick read that keeps the reader guessing whether Sandra is as innocent as she is proclaiming to be, and the reader is given insight into each of her crew members’ thoughts and opinions towards the whole situation. I found Sandra to be innocent, but even I went back and forth with her rationality of her sending her crew out on this potentially dangerous mission, not just because of the dangers that lay ahead, but because she wasn’t entirely sure if the Root Witch attacks were a hoax or the real deal.
Along with Sandra’s journal entries, there was also other sources commenting on the aspen forest and how the story of the Root Witch came to be and spread, which were a unique add to an already interesting story. I also really enjoyed the snippets and added details describing Sandra’s tasks and how she and her crew handled the news station. Having once worked as a journalist, Castaneda includes a lot of interesting tidbits that I was unaware of. I learned a lot of cool terms like “sat truck” and “float the lead”.
I had no idea how this story was going to end. I had a few hunches, but what ultimately occurs is so far from any of my theories. I was left a little confused and disappointed by the ending, just the way it ended, basically. It definitely took me a minute to wrap my mind around the deeper meaning of the ending and the overall story. And once I did, I needed MORE. More to the story and more to Sandra’s story. This is definitely the type of book where if you speed read through it, which is easy to do since it’s only 30 pages long, and it is a thriller, you might need to go back and re-read it from the beginning to really get the gist of it, which is exactly what I ended up doing.
Overall, I’d say this was an exciting and adventurous read. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a quick read that’ll stick with them for a while.
April 6, 2021
Would you believe an urban legend if it grabbed you by your ankles??
Now I'm not a huge fan of horror, but the premisse for this short story was rather interesting and, therefore, I gave it a try! And boy am I glad!!
The Root Witch is a really short story, easily read in one seating and I'd actually advise to it, since the story is ever moving and things are happening all the time and makes it super easy to follow and enjoy all in one go!
The story itself gives a lot of Blair Witch vibes, while it seems we never got into the place of action, we follow it through a news producer diary and some police reports and even news articles about the urban legend of the root witch!!
At times it becomes confusing about why this or that is being presented and I'd much prefered if the author had chosen one way to present her story, instead of various distinct ways (diary, then article, then police report)!! But still the author caught my interest really fast and the moments were super engaging and gripping!!
The characters are not very deeply explored, but it's a short story so I feel that we get just the perfect amount of information, even enought for a big plot twist in the last sentences!!
Now the ending is absolutely fantastic and leaves you to wonder what would be happening next!!
Overall there's not a lot of the horror factor in the story, more thriller vibes, but there's always that ominous feeling of something wrong and the small appearances of the horror factor makes enough impact to raise a few hairs on your skin!!
I must thank the author for this opportunity to read this awesome book!!
This e-book was freely given to me through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review!!
Now I'm not a huge fan of horror, but the premisse for this short story was rather interesting and, therefore, I gave it a try! And boy am I glad!!
The Root Witch is a really short story, easily read in one seating and I'd actually advise to it, since the story is ever moving and things are happening all the time and makes it super easy to follow and enjoy all in one go!
The story itself gives a lot of Blair Witch vibes, while it seems we never got into the place of action, we follow it through a news producer diary and some police reports and even news articles about the urban legend of the root witch!!
At times it becomes confusing about why this or that is being presented and I'd much prefered if the author had chosen one way to present her story, instead of various distinct ways (diary, then article, then police report)!! But still the author caught my interest really fast and the moments were super engaging and gripping!!
The characters are not very deeply explored, but it's a short story so I feel that we get just the perfect amount of information, even enought for a big plot twist in the last sentences!!
Now the ending is absolutely fantastic and leaves you to wonder what would be happening next!!
Overall there's not a lot of the horror factor in the story, more thriller vibes, but there's always that ominous feeling of something wrong and the small appearances of the horror factor makes enough impact to raise a few hairs on your skin!!
I must thank the author for this opportunity to read this awesome book!!
This e-book was freely given to me through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review!!
May 19, 2021
Fun urban legend horror story
Really enjoyed this quick story, loved the epistolary format with elements of found footage. Definitely recommend, nice twist on the film crew disappears in the woods trope.
Really enjoyed this quick story, loved the epistolary format with elements of found footage. Definitely recommend, nice twist on the film crew disappears in the woods trope.
July 26, 2021
A good short story but definitely would've been more gripping if made longer. The ending was too sudden. I got a Blair witch kinda vibe from it in parts.
March 17, 2021
*this ARC was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
This was a really intriguing short story. The premise revolves around a news crew going missing in a creepy forest in Utah, and is told through journal entries primarily. I can appreciate a short story but this is definitely one that would benefit from being a bit longer. Personally, I was intrigued enough that I would have liked to have read a novel-length version of this story. It felt a little slow at times, but did pick up in the end, hence my rating. I thought the building of tension throughout was really good, and the reveal in the end of what happened was so creepy! I hope this is continued in some form.
This was a really intriguing short story. The premise revolves around a news crew going missing in a creepy forest in Utah, and is told through journal entries primarily. I can appreciate a short story but this is definitely one that would benefit from being a bit longer. Personally, I was intrigued enough that I would have liked to have read a novel-length version of this story. It felt a little slow at times, but did pick up in the end, hence my rating. I thought the building of tension throughout was really good, and the reveal in the end of what happened was so creepy! I hope this is continued in some form.
April 2, 2021
Would you cover a urban legend about a witch in the forest?
In this short novelette our main character Sandra does just that. Written through email correspondence and journal pages, this packs a punch. It is not too long before we discover some things relating to this root witch urban legend.
I really liked the damning tone right at the start, then the switch to Sandra's journal entries that are very quick and to the point. There is not a lot of character development because this is short but my, the ending made me freeze! What an awesome short story/novelette. I want more. Creepy forests, missing people and reminiscent of the Blair witch. I give this five stars. Out March 20th!
I received this ARC for free from BookSirens. A big thank you to them and the author.
In this short novelette our main character Sandra does just that. Written through email correspondence and journal pages, this packs a punch. It is not too long before we discover some things relating to this root witch urban legend.
I really liked the damning tone right at the start, then the switch to Sandra's journal entries that are very quick and to the point. There is not a lot of character development because this is short but my, the ending made me freeze! What an awesome short story/novelette. I want more. Creepy forests, missing people and reminiscent of the Blair witch. I give this five stars. Out March 20th!
I received this ARC for free from BookSirens. A big thank you to them and the author.
September 29, 2022
This was a fast, gripping read. I loved the idea of using a naturally occurring phenomenon- the clone forest- to add a fresh twist to an old horror trope. This story had the urban legend and folklore lover in me absolutely giddy, and it has made me excited to read the other Dark Earth Rising novel, The Devil’s Shallows.
I only have one main critique to offer: It would’ve been nice if the story had been able to stretch out more across a higher page count. The hinted-at feud between Knox and Lee Bradley could’ve used a bit more page space. I didn’t really feel the kind of rising tension as I should’ve, after the way it had been built up. I also would've loved a more solid feeling of closure, as far as Knox is concerned. I would say that the ending, as a whole, feels too abrupt and open-ended, but that’s not entirely the case. I can see a lot of merit in the way Castaneda chose to end it- it gives a strong sense of “Life moves on” and fits Sandy’s character perfectly. Just having a more definitive statement of what Knox will go on to do, though- that really would’ve suited me right down to the ground, as I was really invested in his character.
Really, I was invested in all the main characters- granted, some more than others. Castaneda is good at pulling you into her character’s lives and making you curious about them. Getting a glimpse into what news broadcasting was like in the late 80’s was interesting. It was easy to sympathise with Sandy and respect her tenacity. While we’re on the subject of these engaging characters, I just have to share the craziest coincidence: there’s not one, but two characters in this book that share a name with me. I got endless kicks out of the fact that I share a name with Knox and his wife both. What are the odds, especially considering that neither my name nor my deadname are terribly common?!
Spooky season is coming, folks. The Root Witch would make a fantastic addition to your October TBR list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I only have one main critique to offer: It would’ve been nice if the story had been able to stretch out more across a higher page count. The hinted-at feud between Knox and Lee Bradley could’ve used a bit more page space. I didn’t really feel the kind of rising tension as I should’ve, after the way it had been built up. I also would've loved a more solid feeling of closure, as far as Knox is concerned. I would say that the ending, as a whole, feels too abrupt and open-ended, but that’s not entirely the case. I can see a lot of merit in the way Castaneda chose to end it- it gives a strong sense of “Life moves on” and fits Sandy’s character perfectly. Just having a more definitive statement of what Knox will go on to do, though- that really would’ve suited me right down to the ground, as I was really invested in his character.
Really, I was invested in all the main characters- granted, some more than others. Castaneda is good at pulling you into her character’s lives and making you curious about them. Getting a glimpse into what news broadcasting was like in the late 80’s was interesting. It was easy to sympathise with Sandy and respect her tenacity. While we’re on the subject of these engaging characters, I just have to share the craziest coincidence: there’s not one, but two characters in this book that share a name with me. I got endless kicks out of the fact that I share a name with Knox and his wife both. What are the odds, especially considering that neither my name nor my deadname are terribly common?!
Spooky season is coming, folks. The Root Witch would make a fantastic addition to your October TBR list.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2021
If you're in a hurry and want a good scare, this is the creepypasta campfire tale for you.
80s TV journalist Sandra is determined to get her story on Halloween night. Reports of the Root Witch have been flying around and one by one, her crew goes missing. What she does find is a shocking video of the terror in the woods.
This found footage novella makes fantastic use of mixed media -- faxes, diary entries, reports, and videos. There's enough here to expand this 28-page piece into a full novel, but this bite-sized story is just right.
I love the idea of the clone forest being home to a human-hating supernatural presence. My horror-brain understands that concept, so I had no trouble getting invested in the legend of the Root Witch. And after that twisted ending, a reread made the story brand new again.
I did think maybe there was a bit too much focus on the journalism aspect. I was ready to get spooked, but the story gave a lot of details about how tv news is made. That's cool and all, but I was more attracted to the "Urban Legend" part of the subtitle than "Caught On Tape."
Half an hour cover to cover and I got chills when I heard the leaves rustling outside. I'd call that a success! Very enjoyable to this Blair Witch fan.
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher, and the author for providing a copy of this title. I am leaving this feedback voluntarily.
80s TV journalist Sandra is determined to get her story on Halloween night. Reports of the Root Witch have been flying around and one by one, her crew goes missing. What she does find is a shocking video of the terror in the woods.
This found footage novella makes fantastic use of mixed media -- faxes, diary entries, reports, and videos. There's enough here to expand this 28-page piece into a full novel, but this bite-sized story is just right.
I love the idea of the clone forest being home to a human-hating supernatural presence. My horror-brain understands that concept, so I had no trouble getting invested in the legend of the Root Witch. And after that twisted ending, a reread made the story brand new again.
I did think maybe there was a bit too much focus on the journalism aspect. I was ready to get spooked, but the story gave a lot of details about how tv news is made. That's cool and all, but I was more attracted to the "Urban Legend" part of the subtitle than "Caught On Tape."
Half an hour cover to cover and I got chills when I heard the leaves rustling outside. I'd call that a success! Very enjoyable to this Blair Witch fan.
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher, and the author for providing a copy of this title. I am leaving this feedback voluntarily.
April 18, 2021
This tale is a Halloween shocker and reads like the equivalent of a 'found footage' chiller. It features a witch, a wood, a reporter and her hapless colleagues.
The main character Sandra Molina becomes extremely concerned after the journalists she sent down to the woods at night fail to return. The found footage the leave behind do not disappoint in depicting horrors that might convince most city slickers that it might not be a good idea to go down to the woods om.
Fun fact: the Fishlake National Forest is a real place, and so are the facts given about the reproductive ways of aspen trees. The Fish lake National Forest is made up entirely of aspen clones. However, the idea that a forest of clones might possess possess a rather malignant spirit at the right, or rather the wrong time, does make for rather fertile grounds in which a horrid imagination (no pun intended) might take root.
At only 60 pages, this is a short read even by the standards of novellas, but the story does deliver. It is hoped that the writer will branch out further and deliver still more Lovecraftian sylvan chills.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character Sandra Molina becomes extremely concerned after the journalists she sent down to the woods at night fail to return. The found footage the leave behind do not disappoint in depicting horrors that might convince most city slickers that it might not be a good idea to go down to the woods om.
Fun fact: the Fishlake National Forest is a real place, and so are the facts given about the reproductive ways of aspen trees. The Fish lake National Forest is made up entirely of aspen clones. However, the idea that a forest of clones might possess possess a rather malignant spirit at the right, or rather the wrong time, does make for rather fertile grounds in which a horrid imagination (no pun intended) might take root.
At only 60 pages, this is a short read even by the standards of novellas, but the story does deliver. It is hoped that the writer will branch out further and deliver still more Lovecraftian sylvan chills.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 19, 2021
Do you believe in urban legends? I find them fascinating.
I found the cover of The Root Witch by Debra Castaneda fascinating and the blurb sounded like something right up my alley and it lived up to my expectations!
One Halloween night, a TV Channel receives reports of some creepy phenomenon going around related to the local urban legend of the root witch. Sandra, one of the producers sends a crew to investigate and record a story for the channel. The crew goes missing and all they find is their equipment with some recordings on it. It’s a fast paced read in the form of some fax communication (it was the 80’s) and Sandra’s journals.
The found footage part reminds so much of the Blair Witch Project.
It’s a short story so a quick to finish but I wanted to read more of it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The review is also posted on www.instagram.com/stellarcupofbooks
I found the cover of The Root Witch by Debra Castaneda fascinating and the blurb sounded like something right up my alley and it lived up to my expectations!
One Halloween night, a TV Channel receives reports of some creepy phenomenon going around related to the local urban legend of the root witch. Sandra, one of the producers sends a crew to investigate and record a story for the channel. The crew goes missing and all they find is their equipment with some recordings on it. It’s a fast paced read in the form of some fax communication (it was the 80’s) and Sandra’s journals.
The found footage part reminds so much of the Blair Witch Project.
It’s a short story so a quick to finish but I wanted to read more of it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The review is also posted on www.instagram.com/stellarcupofbooks
May 23, 2021
I usually do not tend to like short stories, but this one ended up being quite creepy and is based on a true urban legend called the root witch.
When a shadowy figure is reported in the woods by tourists, a group of reporters go to investigate, thinking they have the perfect story for Halloween, but things quickly become sinister when they do not report back to the office and their vehicles are found abandoned. A local police officer also goes missing and the woman in charge is left answering questions she does not know the answers to before they find the abandoned camcorder in the woods that finalizes what happened to their crew. It got a little bit confusing as it went back and forth between interviews and newspaper articles related to the history of the root witch, but it was a quick read that I easily completed in one seating. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When a shadowy figure is reported in the woods by tourists, a group of reporters go to investigate, thinking they have the perfect story for Halloween, but things quickly become sinister when they do not report back to the office and their vehicles are found abandoned. A local police officer also goes missing and the woman in charge is left answering questions she does not know the answers to before they find the abandoned camcorder in the woods that finalizes what happened to their crew. It got a little bit confusing as it went back and forth between interviews and newspaper articles related to the history of the root witch, but it was a quick read that I easily completed in one seating. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2022
I received this ARC from Booksirens.com at no cost and am providing an unbiased review.
This is a well thought out story, based off of a short story , about an urban legend. Castaneda had written another book I had read, also based on the similar idea (which I also enjoyed very much). I am not sure if the actual urban legend is set in the area of the US that the author put it, but it sounded/read like it was feasible there. The characters were interesting and fairly well developed. Much of the story I felt you could mach pretty good guesses as to what was going to happen, but the story still moved along at a good pace, and did not just "dump it into your lap" then run off.
Overall, I really enojyed the book, and look for future ones from this author, possibly relating to other urban legends...? After all, it does say 'A Dark Earth Rising novel'.
This is a well thought out story, based off of a short story , about an urban legend. Castaneda had written another book I had read, also based on the similar idea (which I also enjoyed very much). I am not sure if the actual urban legend is set in the area of the US that the author put it, but it sounded/read like it was feasible there. The characters were interesting and fairly well developed. Much of the story I felt you could mach pretty good guesses as to what was going to happen, but the story still moved along at a good pace, and did not just "dump it into your lap" then run off.
Overall, I really enojyed the book, and look for future ones from this author, possibly relating to other urban legends...? After all, it does say 'A Dark Earth Rising novel'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2021
I picked this short story up as I’ve enjoyed Debra Castaneda’s other works. I did enjoy it but think it would have benefited from being a lot longer; there was so much going on that I felt needed more explanation.
The suspense is great, the ending is chilling, and the idea behind it all is really interesting. I just wish it took the time to delve into the old myths, the current story, and the characters more. If you’re looking at reading Debra for the first time I would recommend starting with her other books first.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The suspense is great, the ending is chilling, and the idea behind it all is really interesting. I just wish it took the time to delve into the old myths, the current story, and the characters more. If you’re looking at reading Debra for the first time I would recommend starting with her other books first.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
May 20, 2021
I gave this 4 stars because I liked how the story was told- via emails, diary entries and reports.
The premise of the story hooked me..I love the concept of urban legends, and particularly those that deal with witches or woods. Think of Blair Witch project!!
For me, what I disliked about this short story was that it took a while to get to the drama, the tension. And then BOOM the story ends. We the reader are reaching the pivotal climax, and then we realise we have reached the end.
I wanted another 20 or so pages, just so I could find out more and have a bit more of a creepy experience, and for the final revelation to settle in.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the story hooked me..I love the concept of urban legends, and particularly those that deal with witches or woods. Think of Blair Witch project!!
For me, what I disliked about this short story was that it took a while to get to the drama, the tension. And then BOOM the story ends. We the reader are reaching the pivotal climax, and then we realise we have reached the end.
I wanted another 20 or so pages, just so I could find out more and have a bit more of a creepy experience, and for the final revelation to settle in.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2022
I have just had the pleasure of completing The Root Witch! First off Debra Castaneda can write. She has managed to put a novel together that starts off like a train leaving a station and hurtles along till it's at breakneck speed. The main characters are interesting, the plot is tight and the setting is creepy. The Root Witch has an original premise which I loved. I recommend this book and this author.
I have to confess this was on my wish list. I did receive a free advance copy to review and I jumped at the chance. It's not often you get to review a copy of a book that you wanted to read. Score! My review is of course voluntary and truthful. Check this author out!
I have to confess this was on my wish list. I did receive a free advance copy to review and I jumped at the chance. It's not often you get to review a copy of a book that you wanted to read. Score! My review is of course voluntary and truthful. Check this author out!
September 18, 2022
Set in 1986 having an urban legend caught on a tape is any TV producers dream so when Sandra Molina gets word of the Trembling Giant she sends out a crew to investigate only for them to go missing. Having her crew missing she is set with the realization that the Root Witch Legends just may be real.
I enjoyed this story and the foundation the author set. I do wish the story a big longer, short stories like these always feel rushed or missing something, leaving the reader with unanswered questions or it feelings like an info dump.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this story and the foundation the author set. I do wish the story a big longer, short stories like these always feel rushed or missing something, leaving the reader with unanswered questions or it feelings like an info dump.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2021
Creative Take on Found Footage
It’s common to see TV shows and movies use the found footage approach, but not so much in books, at least in my experience. I thought it was creative, and it made for an interesting tale, especially how it was woven into the other documents making up the story.
It’s a short,suspenseful read and well written. I would have liked a little more closure with Sandra and her predicament, though. A few more entries could have done this. I love wandering in the woods, but I’ll be a little more cautious from now on.
It’s common to see TV shows and movies use the found footage approach, but not so much in books, at least in my experience. I thought it was creative, and it made for an interesting tale, especially how it was woven into the other documents making up the story.
It’s a short,suspenseful read and well written. I would have liked a little more closure with Sandra and her predicament, though. A few more entries could have done this. I love wandering in the woods, but I’ll be a little more cautious from now on.
April 7, 2021
This was such a fast, creepy read! I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the urban legend/concept of “The Root Witch”. The ending had a great little twist. It gave me “The Blair Witch Project” vibes and I tend to gravitate toward books with those types of storylines/synopsis. My only critique is that I wish it wouldn’t have ended so abruptly and gave a bit more information on the twist. I highly recommend reading this, as it won’t take you long, and It is definitely worth it. Great Novella!
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2021
This was a short and brutal story of lore and urban legend. I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens! Thank You!
Despite the length, there was a feeling of connection with the characters. The protagonist, Sandra, was endearing and I rooted for her and the news team. The scenes of horror were especially brutal and chilling. I loved the “found footage” feel of the story. Told in a series of journal entries and reports; this really lent a sense of realism to the urban legend of the Root Witch.
Despite the length, there was a feeling of connection with the characters. The protagonist, Sandra, was endearing and I rooted for her and the news team. The scenes of horror were especially brutal and chilling. I loved the “found footage” feel of the story. Told in a series of journal entries and reports; this really lent a sense of realism to the urban legend of the Root Witch.
March 23, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 31, 2021
3.5 stars.
Very quick story at 28pgs. Told through a few different prospectives. A good quick creepy read. Sadly too short. Seems like the tip of of a great folk tale. Wish it had been longer with a few more scares.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Very quick story at 28pgs. Told through a few different prospectives. A good quick creepy read. Sadly too short. Seems like the tip of of a great folk tale. Wish it had been longer with a few more scares.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 30, 2021
This is an excellent short story. An imaginative way of telling the tale, with an unexpected ending. Looking forward to more of the same, hopefully a full length novel. I definitely recommend this read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 20, 2021
Too short!
Loved this story! It ended abruptly but did not leave me feeling like I had missed anything. I would love to read a backstory on this witch, how it formed and when. Great author!
Loved this story! It ended abruptly but did not leave me feeling like I had missed anything. I would love to read a backstory on this witch, how it formed and when. Great author!
August 31, 2022
Is the Root Witch just a figment of imagination? If so, why are so many people missing in the woods? A ranger comes to terms with the horrifying reality that the disappearances are supernatural. A riveting read which is mind boggling and a page turner.
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