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Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill
‘Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill’ is a spooky middle grade adventure from author Jeff C. Carter for kids and adults who love Halloween.
When a freak blizzard cancels trick-or-treating (based on a true event), a Halloween-obsessed nerd and his friends break the rules and go out, only to discover that a terrible curse has befallen their town.
‘Cold Spell’ is a fun, fast-paced story of friendship and supernatural adventure that will appeal to fans of ‘Hocus Pocus’, ‘Goosebumps’, and anyone who believes there is magic just beyond the veil of red and orange woods.
This book is packed with dark whimsical illustrations by Mexican artist Mariana Garcia Pizá. Her charming map of Summerhill shows a town on the verge of Halloween and all the places that the kids will go as they battle the Witch’s forces and attempt to break her curse.
There is a handy ‘Spookabulary’, a list of new words that every Halloween lover should know, as well as a Monster Manual featuring the unique creatures that serve the Witch, compatible for the D&D 5E and TinyD6 RPG systems.
When a freak blizzard cancels trick-or-treating (based on a true event), a Halloween-obsessed nerd and his friends break the rules and go out, only to discover that a terrible curse has befallen their town.
‘Cold Spell’ is a fun, fast-paced story of friendship and supernatural adventure that will appeal to fans of ‘Hocus Pocus’, ‘Goosebumps’, and anyone who believes there is magic just beyond the veil of red and orange woods.
This book is packed with dark whimsical illustrations by Mexican artist Mariana Garcia Pizá. Her charming map of Summerhill shows a town on the verge of Halloween and all the places that the kids will go as they battle the Witch’s forces and attempt to break her curse.
There is a handy ‘Spookabulary’, a list of new words that every Halloween lover should know, as well as a Monster Manual featuring the unique creatures that serve the Witch, compatible for the D&D 5E and TinyD6 RPG systems.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2021
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Jeff C. Carter
21 books24 followersJeff C. Carter’s stories have been featured in dozens of anthologies, translated for international markets and adapted for podcasts.
His love of science, adventure and Halloween continue to inspire his science fiction, action and horror writing. He lives in Southern California with a cat, a dog and a human.
He is also a host of The Six Demon Bag Podcast.
Join his mailing list to get free stories and updates
(http://eepurl.com/gcRTgn)
Find him on Facebook (Jeff C Carter) or contact him right here.
His love of science, adventure and Halloween continue to inspire his science fiction, action and horror writing. He lives in Southern California with a cat, a dog and a human.
He is also a host of The Six Demon Bag Podcast.
Join his mailing list to get free stories and updates
(http://eepurl.com/gcRTgn)
Find him on Facebook (Jeff C Carter) or contact him right here.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 27, 2021
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Arriving just in time for Halloween…
A group of adolescent friends begin preparations for their favorite holiday, Halloween. Their Candy Club is now in session and the planning of creepy costumes and pillowcase toting trick-or-treating routes are in full swing. However the autumn wind brings more than just a chill and blowing leaves. A freak snowstorm descends upon the town of Summerhill not only threatening to cancel the spooky holiday, but simultaneously it opens a passage to a sinister spirit world. The boys now have the heavy responsibility to not only save Halloween but battle restless beings of the supernatural world.
You know it’s that time of year when you see the friendly familiar writings of Jeff C. Carter. This ‘All Hallows Eve’ author once again bestows the sights, sounds and smells of harvest festivals and pumpkin patches combined with the hometown childhood traditions of Halloween. Expect a winter ‘Samhain’ experience full of vampires, werewolves and skeletons. With his creative monster mind, Carter cleverly twists these creatures of the night into Frostferatu, snow-werewolves and snowletons and takes the halloweenergy to a new level.
Readers of all ages will enjoy sinking their icicle fangs into this frightful piece of fiction full of lit jack-o-lanterns, gated cemeteries and contorted dark woods. Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse Of Winterhill brings back the tradition of Goosebumps in an enjoyable YA fashion. This is for those who like their October 31st sprinkled with enough ice and bone to send chills up the spine. Not since Nightmare Before Christmas has there been a better clash of holidays.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Arriving just in time for Halloween…
A group of adolescent friends begin preparations for their favorite holiday, Halloween. Their Candy Club is now in session and the planning of creepy costumes and pillowcase toting trick-or-treating routes are in full swing. However the autumn wind brings more than just a chill and blowing leaves. A freak snowstorm descends upon the town of Summerhill not only threatening to cancel the spooky holiday, but simultaneously it opens a passage to a sinister spirit world. The boys now have the heavy responsibility to not only save Halloween but battle restless beings of the supernatural world.
You know it’s that time of year when you see the friendly familiar writings of Jeff C. Carter. This ‘All Hallows Eve’ author once again bestows the sights, sounds and smells of harvest festivals and pumpkin patches combined with the hometown childhood traditions of Halloween. Expect a winter ‘Samhain’ experience full of vampires, werewolves and skeletons. With his creative monster mind, Carter cleverly twists these creatures of the night into Frostferatu, snow-werewolves and snowletons and takes the halloweenergy to a new level.
Readers of all ages will enjoy sinking their icicle fangs into this frightful piece of fiction full of lit jack-o-lanterns, gated cemeteries and contorted dark woods. Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse Of Winterhill brings back the tradition of Goosebumps in an enjoyable YA fashion. This is for those who like their October 31st sprinkled with enough ice and bone to send chills up the spine. Not since Nightmare Before Christmas has there been a better clash of holidays.
October 3, 2021
What a fun read! Totally put me in the Halloween spirit… my hallowenergy is flowing!
September 28, 2021
Okay everyone and anyone needs to put this on their October TBR!
This spooky middle grade book was such an adventure. It follows a group of Halloween obsessed boys from the New England town Summerhill as they try to save Halloween and their small town. This was pitched as being for fans of Goosebumps, Hocus Pocus and anyone who believes there is magic beyond the red and orange woods. It truly fit this description perfectly.
Let’s begin with atmosphere. This book oozes Autumn atmosphere from the descriptions of the golden trees to the cider and pumpkin carvings. Summerhill felt like a town I want to visit in Autumn! I’m only disappointed it isn’t real. The magic of Autumn and Halloween is well truly captured in this story.
A lot of nostalgia is also captured, and the friendships between the boys felt so sweet and innocent. They all band together to try save their town from a witch’s curse and I enjoyed watching them try save their town. I would class this as a coming of age tale.
As with his other works, Jeff includes fantastic artworks which reflect the story and add to the overall sense of enjoyment. I also loved the ‘Spookabulary’ which included all of the fun words thrown around by the boys such as ‘highween’ meaning a Halloween that falls on a weekend and ‘loween’ which as you probably guessed is a Halloween that falls on a week/school night and isn’t as fun!
This story had me utterly enchanted with all of the gorgeous fall descriptions and I was cheering for the boys throughout as they tried to save their town. Anyone who enjoys reconnecting to the magic of childhood during Halloween is sure to love this one. It’s also a really quick read so you could literally squeeze it into one reading sitting! It would be perfect for Halloween.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Available to purchase now!
This spooky middle grade book was such an adventure. It follows a group of Halloween obsessed boys from the New England town Summerhill as they try to save Halloween and their small town. This was pitched as being for fans of Goosebumps, Hocus Pocus and anyone who believes there is magic beyond the red and orange woods. It truly fit this description perfectly.
Let’s begin with atmosphere. This book oozes Autumn atmosphere from the descriptions of the golden trees to the cider and pumpkin carvings. Summerhill felt like a town I want to visit in Autumn! I’m only disappointed it isn’t real. The magic of Autumn and Halloween is well truly captured in this story.
A lot of nostalgia is also captured, and the friendships between the boys felt so sweet and innocent. They all band together to try save their town from a witch’s curse and I enjoyed watching them try save their town. I would class this as a coming of age tale.
As with his other works, Jeff includes fantastic artworks which reflect the story and add to the overall sense of enjoyment. I also loved the ‘Spookabulary’ which included all of the fun words thrown around by the boys such as ‘highween’ meaning a Halloween that falls on a weekend and ‘loween’ which as you probably guessed is a Halloween that falls on a week/school night and isn’t as fun!
This story had me utterly enchanted with all of the gorgeous fall descriptions and I was cheering for the boys throughout as they tried to save their town. Anyone who enjoys reconnecting to the magic of childhood during Halloween is sure to love this one. It’s also a really quick read so you could literally squeeze it into one reading sitting! It would be perfect for Halloween.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Available to purchase now!
Read
October 14, 2021Jeff C. Carter’s Cold Spell steps into a New England Halloween with a group of friends who pour themselves into the holiday, even when a Nor’Easter dumps a blizzard - and a malicious witch - on their plans. These adaptable young men face dead beings resurrected as Snowlems (Golems made of snow), Frost vampires, a headless horseman made of snow, and more while they battle to keep the witch from opening a gateway between the worlds of the living and that of the dead.
This is a thoughtfully put together book. The book shows friendships and parental relationships in a good light. The scares are fun and the stakes are high, which make for an investing experience. Between chapters, small pen and ink drawings grace the pages. At the end, readers can refer to an appendix of the colorful vocabulary created by the boys, and in classic D&D style, the monsters they faces are given rankings, stats, and the like. I read this with my kids, and they enjoyed it. My eleven-year-old, especially, found the book invigorating and fun.
This is a thoughtfully put together book. The book shows friendships and parental relationships in a good light. The scares are fun and the stakes are high, which make for an investing experience. Between chapters, small pen and ink drawings grace the pages. At the end, readers can refer to an appendix of the colorful vocabulary created by the boys, and in classic D&D style, the monsters they faces are given rankings, stats, and the like. I read this with my kids, and they enjoyed it. My eleven-year-old, especially, found the book invigorating and fun.
November 16, 2021
The author does it again! Avid reader of all his book and endless love for all things Halloween, this book take what home with New England childhood and spooks. Quick, fun, creepy and lots of aventures that at first for the holiday!
November 10, 2021
Y'all this is a really sweet middle grade book about friendship and the love of Halloween! So it was perfect for me. When a freak blizzard cancels trick or treating, a Halloween obsessed kid and his friends break the rules and go out anyway, only to discover that a terrible curse has been fallen their town. This is definitely Hocus Pocus meets Goosebumps. I really like how the author wrote this friendship. Even though they argued and disagreed, they stuck together to save each other and the town. And isn't this cover super cute?!
October 26, 2021
The most wonderful and spooktacular time of the year is near and I have just read the latest work of probably the official ambassador for Halloween.
Jeff C. Carter is for Halloween, what Santa is for Christmas and the proof is in 'Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill'.
This wonderful spooky middle grade story, manages to fully entertain kids and adults who remain kids at heart.
In this beautiful love letter to Halloween, a freak blizzard cancels trick-or-treating. This does not stop the Halloween-obsessed boys of Summerhill, New England from breaking the rules and go out. To their horror, they discover that a terrible curse has befallen their town.
What follows is a sweet, unique, fast paced adventure of friendship and companionship against the powers of an evil witch that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.
The nostalgia alone and the hauntingly beautiful spooky autumn atmosphere that the author manages to sprinkle the pages with, is truly phenomenal.
It's like a cross between the sweeter version of IT with the good old Goosebumps series.
Extra bonus for the awesoooooome 'Spookabulary' (word builder supreme, essential for every Halloween lover) along with a fantastic Monster Manual of the witch's minions.
I loved this book, not only because it evoked feelings of a good old time, but because it's the kind of material that I would proudly introduce my kid to, when the little monster reaches the right age.
I'm turning 42 next month but this lovely Halloween tale, made me a kid again.
Perfect in every possible way.
Jeff C. Carter is for Halloween, what Santa is for Christmas and the proof is in 'Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill'.
This wonderful spooky middle grade story, manages to fully entertain kids and adults who remain kids at heart.
In this beautiful love letter to Halloween, a freak blizzard cancels trick-or-treating. This does not stop the Halloween-obsessed boys of Summerhill, New England from breaking the rules and go out. To their horror, they discover that a terrible curse has befallen their town.
What follows is a sweet, unique, fast paced adventure of friendship and companionship against the powers of an evil witch that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.
The nostalgia alone and the hauntingly beautiful spooky autumn atmosphere that the author manages to sprinkle the pages with, is truly phenomenal.
It's like a cross between the sweeter version of IT with the good old Goosebumps series.
Extra bonus for the awesoooooome 'Spookabulary' (word builder supreme, essential for every Halloween lover) along with a fantastic Monster Manual of the witch's minions.
I loved this book, not only because it evoked feelings of a good old time, but because it's the kind of material that I would proudly introduce my kid to, when the little monster reaches the right age.
I'm turning 42 next month but this lovely Halloween tale, made me a kid again.
Perfect in every possible way.
November 1, 2021
Seeing as this is a middle school aged read, I read this as if I were a child. This book got me in the Halloween spirit; I ended up doing this I haven't done in year, going to the pumpkin patch, drinking apple cider, going to a haunted corn maze and carving pumpkins. The book was a fun read even as an adult, very much a stranger things meets Hocus Pocus vibe. As the witch would speak I even heard Winifred Sanderson in my head. The kids came up with fun names for the snow creatures and thought it was fun that Jeff included a spookcabulary and monster manual at the end with illustrations. Highly recommend for everyone.
October 30, 2021
Jeff C Carter knows how to capture the excitement & feelings of Halloween, & that's why I love his Halloween stories. It's nostalgic & fun & action-packed. Here we have a group of boys who must save their town from the wintry curse of a vengeful witch. Monsters, costumes, & jack o'lanterns galore, it's also about friendship and trying to hold onto that feeling of the spookiest night of the year.
October 12, 2021
I have read a couple of Jeff's books with short stories and thought many of them would suit becoming a fuller story so I'm glad to finally have read one.
Cold Spell is another Halloween spectacular that I think would be best enjoyed by middle grade aged readers.
I loved the Halloween terminology - I need some halloweenergy in my life, the spookabulary at the end was a nice addition.
Well written and fast paced - I flew through this in a couple of hours.
Cold Spell is another Halloween spectacular that I think would be best enjoyed by middle grade aged readers.
I loved the Halloween terminology - I need some halloweenergy in my life, the spookabulary at the end was a nice addition.
Well written and fast paced - I flew through this in a couple of hours.
October 14, 2021
A fun middle grade story that is perfect for October. It definitely raised my Halloweenergy.
December 28, 2021
ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
Cold Spell: The Halloween curse of Winterhill - Jeff C Carter
This is my third read from Jeff, and he always comes with those Halloween vibes without fail - I missed a trick not getting this in before the All Hallows’ celebration we all love.
𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜 𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜-𝕠𝕣-𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 (𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕟 𝕒 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥), 𝕒 ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟-𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕠 𝕠𝕦𝕥, 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕨𝕟.
Sure, this is more of a YA read, but it’s a fun read and even us adults like to have fun don’t we?!
Not so frightful, more wonderfully autumnal, Jeff transports you back to your trick or treat childhood memories.
If you’re suffering a Halloween hangover, and require a shot of ‘halloweenergy’ then get back on the horse and pick up Cold Spell.
Thank you @jeffccarter for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚/10
Cold Spell: The Halloween curse of Winterhill - Jeff C Carter
This is my third read from Jeff, and he always comes with those Halloween vibes without fail - I missed a trick not getting this in before the All Hallows’ celebration we all love.
𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜 𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜-𝕠𝕣-𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 (𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕟 𝕒 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥), 𝕒 ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟-𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕠 𝕠𝕦𝕥, 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕨𝕟.
Sure, this is more of a YA read, but it’s a fun read and even us adults like to have fun don’t we?!
Not so frightful, more wonderfully autumnal, Jeff transports you back to your trick or treat childhood memories.
If you’re suffering a Halloween hangover, and require a shot of ‘halloweenergy’ then get back on the horse and pick up Cold Spell.
Thank you @jeffccarter for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚/10
January 5, 2026
Kids fighting monsters! It's fun! And the monsters are so cool.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews