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The Wildstorm Curse
A fabled witch. A powerful curse. A monster out for revenge.
13-year-old Kallie Tamm can't wait to spend a week of her summer holidays at the Wildstorm Theatre she's determined not to let her dyslexia hold her back from achieving her dream of becoming a playwright. The finale of the whole week is a performance in the local village theatre. But as soon as she arrives, Kallie discovers that the cast will be performing a play written by a 17th Century witch, Ellsabet Graveheart, and strange, scary things start happening. Unbeknown to Kallie, a dark shadow is stirring in the woodland near an ancient and dangerous creature has awoken from a centuries old slumber, and they're out for revenge, putting Kallie and all of her new friends in grave danger.
The Wildstorm Curse is a thrillingly suspenseful story about unlikely heroes and the power of storytelling, from author of The Bird Singers, Eve Wersocki Morris.
Praise for The Wildstorm Curse
''A cursed theatre, a witch's play and a warm-hearted heroine determined to follow her dream. I loved this perfectly paced mystery showcasing the magic of storytelling and the power of friendship.' - A.F. Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
'A riveting tale full of secrets, suspense and the power of storytelling. Just beware reading it if camping out in a dark, spooky wood...' - Jamie Littler, bestselling author of Frostheart
'Fabulously gripping. I couldn't put it down.' - Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of Sky Song
'Bewitching and beguiling - The Wildstorm Curse is a heartwarming and spinechilling tale of friendship, bravery, and the intoxicating magic of storytelling. Once you step foot into the Wildstorm Theatre, you'll never want to leave.' - Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany
'The Wildstorm Curse is a brilliant, spine-tingling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I would wholeheartedly recommend it!' - Ewa Jozefkowicz, author of The Dragon in the Bookshop
'Distinctive, dark and mysterious - a thoroughly intriguing adventure.' - Katherine Woodfine, author of The Sinclair's Mysteries
13-year-old Kallie Tamm can't wait to spend a week of her summer holidays at the Wildstorm Theatre she's determined not to let her dyslexia hold her back from achieving her dream of becoming a playwright. The finale of the whole week is a performance in the local village theatre. But as soon as she arrives, Kallie discovers that the cast will be performing a play written by a 17th Century witch, Ellsabet Graveheart, and strange, scary things start happening. Unbeknown to Kallie, a dark shadow is stirring in the woodland near an ancient and dangerous creature has awoken from a centuries old slumber, and they're out for revenge, putting Kallie and all of her new friends in grave danger.
The Wildstorm Curse is a thrillingly suspenseful story about unlikely heroes and the power of storytelling, from author of The Bird Singers, Eve Wersocki Morris.
Praise for The Wildstorm Curse
''A cursed theatre, a witch's play and a warm-hearted heroine determined to follow her dream. I loved this perfectly paced mystery showcasing the magic of storytelling and the power of friendship.' - A.F. Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
'A riveting tale full of secrets, suspense and the power of storytelling. Just beware reading it if camping out in a dark, spooky wood...' - Jamie Littler, bestselling author of Frostheart
'Fabulously gripping. I couldn't put it down.' - Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of Sky Song
'Bewitching and beguiling - The Wildstorm Curse is a heartwarming and spinechilling tale of friendship, bravery, and the intoxicating magic of storytelling. Once you step foot into the Wildstorm Theatre, you'll never want to leave.' - Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany
'The Wildstorm Curse is a brilliant, spine-tingling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I would wholeheartedly recommend it!' - Ewa Jozefkowicz, author of The Dragon in the Bookshop
'Distinctive, dark and mysterious - a thoroughly intriguing adventure.' - Katherine Woodfine, author of The Sinclair's Mysteries
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2023
6 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 20, 2024
Kallie and her friends come face to face with an ominous supernatural entity in the forest surrounding their theatre camp 🎭🌿. The Wildstorm Curse tells the exciting story of their adventures as they try to use the power of storytelling to fend off the evil force and ensure the success of their summer camp show!
As a lover of theatre and spooky stories, the themes of The Wildstorm Curse really drew me in. Reading the book, you feel like you’re included in all the excitement and hustle and bustle leading up to the camp’s big show. Kallie was an interesting main character, with her commitment to being vegetarian and her determination not to let dyslexia interfere with her playwriting. It was nice to see her come into her own and gain more confidence in herself as camp went on. It was also fun to meet some of the other kids at Wildstorm (although I would have liked to know more of the campers’ names and personalities). I especially liked reading about Kallie’s new friend, Emilia, who dreams of being an actor. The story of the seventeenth-century witch, in turn, was fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about her mysterious past as I read the book.
I found the setting of the book very appealing: campers sleep in cosy tents in a flowering meadow by the ivy-covered Hollowstar House. Nearby is a thick wood and, among the trees, the ancient and mysterious Merricombe Theatre. With this kind of setting, it seems almost natural for magic to be involved! The story has very spooky elements, such as people becoming possessed by the evil entity, that make for a thrilling and suspenseful plot. While the ancient being from the forest is clearly evil, however, it’s hard to believe the other main ‘villain’ of the story, Mr. Mildew (the head of the town’s Historical Society), is as villainous as the book tries to portray him. He’s obviously unpleasant and mean, but as a real villain, he would be more convincing if he had intentions worse than simply trying to protect a seventeenth-century manuscript from being damaged by its use as the working script for a summer camp production. As it is, his claims of the importance of preservation, and of everyone’s ‘duty to history’, come off as reasonable enough and left me puzzling over the intense backlash he faces from the ‘good’ characters in the book. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book’s unique blend of magic and theatre in a wonderful woodsy setting!
The Wildstorm Curse is an enjoyable summertime read that combines the fun of a theatre camp with the thrills and chills of a supernatural mystery.
🎭 For my full review and recommendations for similar books, check out my book blog: https://newkidonthebookreviews.wordpr... 🎭
As a lover of theatre and spooky stories, the themes of The Wildstorm Curse really drew me in. Reading the book, you feel like you’re included in all the excitement and hustle and bustle leading up to the camp’s big show. Kallie was an interesting main character, with her commitment to being vegetarian and her determination not to let dyslexia interfere with her playwriting. It was nice to see her come into her own and gain more confidence in herself as camp went on. It was also fun to meet some of the other kids at Wildstorm (although I would have liked to know more of the campers’ names and personalities). I especially liked reading about Kallie’s new friend, Emilia, who dreams of being an actor. The story of the seventeenth-century witch, in turn, was fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about her mysterious past as I read the book.
I found the setting of the book very appealing: campers sleep in cosy tents in a flowering meadow by the ivy-covered Hollowstar House. Nearby is a thick wood and, among the trees, the ancient and mysterious Merricombe Theatre. With this kind of setting, it seems almost natural for magic to be involved! The story has very spooky elements, such as people becoming possessed by the evil entity, that make for a thrilling and suspenseful plot. While the ancient being from the forest is clearly evil, however, it’s hard to believe the other main ‘villain’ of the story, Mr. Mildew (the head of the town’s Historical Society), is as villainous as the book tries to portray him. He’s obviously unpleasant and mean, but as a real villain, he would be more convincing if he had intentions worse than simply trying to protect a seventeenth-century manuscript from being damaged by its use as the working script for a summer camp production. As it is, his claims of the importance of preservation, and of everyone’s ‘duty to history’, come off as reasonable enough and left me puzzling over the intense backlash he faces from the ‘good’ characters in the book. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book’s unique blend of magic and theatre in a wonderful woodsy setting!
The Wildstorm Curse is an enjoyable summertime read that combines the fun of a theatre camp with the thrills and chills of a supernatural mystery.
🎭 For my full review and recommendations for similar books, check out my book blog: https://newkidonthebookreviews.wordpr... 🎭
May 8, 2023
The Wildstorm Curse is a gripping, fast-paced story with many elements that will appeal to horror fans, myself included, as well as a heart-felt story of friendship and the power of storytelling.
Highlights for me included this theme of story-telling and the power of words: The story concerns the poison of lies as well as touches on the liberating power of truth. The strength of friendship and perseverance in the face of evil also features strongly in the story, and I liked the parallels between the past and the present.
I really liked Kallie. She arrives in the camp as a fish out of water (one of two new kids) in the dead of night, encountering the grim theatre director, before being led to a darkened tent and given only a small torch – it’s very atmospheric! Kallie is at the camp only because she won a play writing competition. She’s also dyslexic, and her struggles and means of coping are authentically depicted. I was glad she made friends with Emilia (their banter lightened the darker side of the story). I loved the mystery of the past and the antics Kallie and Emilia get up to in their investigations, but I suspect even without her friends’ support, Kallie would have kept going in her battle against evil.
I loved the setting of a theatre camp, inspired by the author’s own teenage experience. This one has a purpose-built 400-year old theatre, in which a play has never been performed, apparently due to the ancient curse. I loved how the local villagers milked the story of the curse with their Ellsabet-the-witch-themed tea-towels and other knick-knacks, before being turned into an angry mob (like that of four centuries earlier!).
The horror elements: creepy woods, an evil and vengeful entity (demon??) lurking there, turning people into empty shells to do its will, an enemy hidden amongst them, tattoos that change with phases of the moon as the hour of reckoning comes… I loved all these plot elements but they are dark, although appropriately handled for the age group generally, but perhaps not for every reader.
Overall this is an exciting read, with lots of action and tension, and a satisfying story, some great characters and a strong plot, so check it out!
Highlights for me included this theme of story-telling and the power of words: The story concerns the poison of lies as well as touches on the liberating power of truth. The strength of friendship and perseverance in the face of evil also features strongly in the story, and I liked the parallels between the past and the present.
I really liked Kallie. She arrives in the camp as a fish out of water (one of two new kids) in the dead of night, encountering the grim theatre director, before being led to a darkened tent and given only a small torch – it’s very atmospheric! Kallie is at the camp only because she won a play writing competition. She’s also dyslexic, and her struggles and means of coping are authentically depicted. I was glad she made friends with Emilia (their banter lightened the darker side of the story). I loved the mystery of the past and the antics Kallie and Emilia get up to in their investigations, but I suspect even without her friends’ support, Kallie would have kept going in her battle against evil.
I loved the setting of a theatre camp, inspired by the author’s own teenage experience. This one has a purpose-built 400-year old theatre, in which a play has never been performed, apparently due to the ancient curse. I loved how the local villagers milked the story of the curse with their Ellsabet-the-witch-themed tea-towels and other knick-knacks, before being turned into an angry mob (like that of four centuries earlier!).
The horror elements: creepy woods, an evil and vengeful entity (demon??) lurking there, turning people into empty shells to do its will, an enemy hidden amongst them, tattoos that change with phases of the moon as the hour of reckoning comes… I loved all these plot elements but they are dark, although appropriately handled for the age group generally, but perhaps not for every reader.
Overall this is an exciting read, with lots of action and tension, and a satisfying story, some great characters and a strong plot, so check it out!
March 14, 2023
I really enjoyed The Wildstorm Curse. It is exciting and mysterious with some really important themes.
It's about the theatre and the power of stories. Now, I'm a book blogger, I know stories are powerful but still, it's great to see a book like this really get into what makes them so powerful, what it is that gives stories their magic. Some of it is positive, but not all of it, because that power, that magic, can be used for wickedness just as easily as for good, maybe more easily. People are, generally, more inclined to believe a lie than the truth after all. Stories have magic, and in The Wildstorm Curse, that magic comes to life with shocking and thrilling effect.
This book is exciting, dramatic and tense! As the curse takes over more people it feels like the odds are against Kallie and her friends. It's mysterious too, as the true identity of their foe lies hidden for much of the book. There are ancient mysteries and secrets to uncover and lots of pieces that fall into place beautifully for the finale.
I loved the mix of the theatre and the ancient witch, two things that work so well together but in a combination I've not seen before. It was very effective and really set a wonderful scene for the storytelling.
There are some really important elements in the book too. Kallie comes into the theatre camp as an outsider, into a group of people that know each other from the year before, and feeling like she's the odd one out. I think that's a position most of us have found ourselves in, and it was easy to appreciate how hard it was for her, how much she resented it and felt resented or alienated in turn. Those feelings are again tied very cleverly into the curse, but even without that they feel real and important. Then there's the dyslexia, and that is handled so incredibly well. Kallie is dyslexic, and she is a playwright. The Wildstorm Curse makes it very clear how she can be both of these things, without ignoring the struggles she goes through, the problems she faces and how she tries to deal with it. It's honest, up-front but ultimately very optimistic and empowering. I loved it!
A magical tale about the power of stories and storytelling.
It's about the theatre and the power of stories. Now, I'm a book blogger, I know stories are powerful but still, it's great to see a book like this really get into what makes them so powerful, what it is that gives stories their magic. Some of it is positive, but not all of it, because that power, that magic, can be used for wickedness just as easily as for good, maybe more easily. People are, generally, more inclined to believe a lie than the truth after all. Stories have magic, and in The Wildstorm Curse, that magic comes to life with shocking and thrilling effect.
This book is exciting, dramatic and tense! As the curse takes over more people it feels like the odds are against Kallie and her friends. It's mysterious too, as the true identity of their foe lies hidden for much of the book. There are ancient mysteries and secrets to uncover and lots of pieces that fall into place beautifully for the finale.
I loved the mix of the theatre and the ancient witch, two things that work so well together but in a combination I've not seen before. It was very effective and really set a wonderful scene for the storytelling.
There are some really important elements in the book too. Kallie comes into the theatre camp as an outsider, into a group of people that know each other from the year before, and feeling like she's the odd one out. I think that's a position most of us have found ourselves in, and it was easy to appreciate how hard it was for her, how much she resented it and felt resented or alienated in turn. Those feelings are again tied very cleverly into the curse, but even without that they feel real and important. Then there's the dyslexia, and that is handled so incredibly well. Kallie is dyslexic, and she is a playwright. The Wildstorm Curse makes it very clear how she can be both of these things, without ignoring the struggles she goes through, the problems she faces and how she tries to deal with it. It's honest, up-front but ultimately very optimistic and empowering. I loved it!
A magical tale about the power of stories and storytelling.
May 14, 2023
The Wildstorm Curse follows the story of Kallie, who is excited to spend a week of her summer holidays at Theatre Camp. She longs to be a writer and has even written her own play. But something strange is going on at camp… is Kallie in danger? And if so, from what?
This novel is a fun exploration of horror and the supernatural for middle grade readers. Characters are well thought out and engaging, and the plot is exciting and sets a good pace to ensure the reader doesn’t get bored.
The writer has thought carefully about atmosphere and how to keep the plot tense, and overall, it’s not a bad storyline. I love the idea of the power of stories and I think the book is really promoting a strong message.
Kallie is a very relatable character for young people, as are some of the situations she finds herself in, so I can see this being quite an empowering read.
Some of the supporting characters are a little stereotypical, and the drama camp side needed a stronger dose of reality thrown in, but overall, I can see the appeal.
I think a good adventure that young children will love.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a fun exploration of horror and the supernatural for middle grade readers. Characters are well thought out and engaging, and the plot is exciting and sets a good pace to ensure the reader doesn’t get bored.
The writer has thought carefully about atmosphere and how to keep the plot tense, and overall, it’s not a bad storyline. I love the idea of the power of stories and I think the book is really promoting a strong message.
Kallie is a very relatable character for young people, as are some of the situations she finds herself in, so I can see this being quite an empowering read.
Some of the supporting characters are a little stereotypical, and the drama camp side needed a stronger dose of reality thrown in, but overall, I can see the appeal.
I think a good adventure that young children will love.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2023
A strong four stars, for this strong read of a girl who gets to win a place at a summer camp for young actors. The theatre is mysterious, the villagers surprisingly against the place's existence and the camp's activities, and our heroine suddenly starts having weird dreams and even weirder things happen to her improvised scenes. Could there be some possible connection between all the weird and a local witch – or was she just the stuff of legend?
This ends up being a fantasy read, but one grounded very much in reality – there is no escaping the personal memories of the author inspiring the whole summer school setting. It shows itself to be a great love letter to story-telling, as well, in having memories, histories and drama put on the page for other people to read or to act, but it never loses sight of being a good, warm-hearted action adventure. An easy recommendation.
This ends up being a fantasy read, but one grounded very much in reality – there is no escaping the personal memories of the author inspiring the whole summer school setting. It shows itself to be a great love letter to story-telling, as well, in having memories, histories and drama put on the page for other people to read or to act, but it never loses sight of being a good, warm-hearted action adventure. An easy recommendation.
August 10, 2025
Probably not my favourite book from Ms Morris but it is still so good! I love that Katie (our main character) wants to be a playwright and is dyslexic. I love that her friends aren't bother by this and even help her. I like the crossover between modern day and 400 years. And the final showdown is so well done. A fantastic book.
January 31, 2023
Loved this story so much! The children at Wildstorm Drama Camp must fight and ancient demon to save the town and their camp. Brilliant characters, lots of action and fantastic storyline!
July 10, 2024
This book had everything a play, a curse and a girl with the power of words but also is dyslexic and I loved that readers who are dyslexic will be seen.
Kallie was an amazing main character and the side characters were so well written But the stars of the show were the plot and the atmosphere which went deliciously dark which I loved. The twists well I was totally wrong on all counts so well done Eve.
For all the above reasons The Wildstorm Curse receives 4 stars
Kallie was an amazing main character and the side characters were so well written But the stars of the show were the plot and the atmosphere which went deliciously dark which I loved. The twists well I was totally wrong on all counts so well done Eve.
For all the above reasons The Wildstorm Curse receives 4 stars
June 8, 2023
Kallie is at the Wildstorm Theatre Camp, a dream come true, a week of theatre and drama although the drama turns out to be rather unexpected!
This is a story all about the power of words, of dreams, of magic and of believing, not only in yourself but in your friends too. It is exciting, unexpected and clever, a tale within a tale, drama within a drama it had me hooked!
This is a story all about the power of words, of dreams, of magic and of believing, not only in yourself but in your friends too. It is exciting, unexpected and clever, a tale within a tale, drama within a drama it had me hooked!
June 20, 2023
A greats summer story set at a theatre camp where magical, and dark magical, events begin to happen. A mystery to unravel. A main character who lacks confidence and is dyslexic but knows the power and value of words. This book beautifully depicts the value of words and storytelling.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews