Witches' Key to Terror

Witches' Chillers #3

by Silver RavenWolf

A devastating fire, a rash of farm accidents, a poisoned apple and a woman's mysterious disappearance-what's happening at the Bindart Orchard? People keep secrets but ravens and rabbits bring messages-if you can decipher them. When Cricket Bindart asks Bethany for assistance, the Witches' Night Out coven is drawn into a dark harvest of danger. Do you dare to join them? In this excerpt from Witches' Key to Terror , the harvest moon has risen, and magick is afoot... Sixteen-year-old Cricket Bindart knew she was in deep trouble. The dead bunny dangling from the mailbox was a good indication, and the note attached to the limp animal only served as conclusive evidence. "You're fast, but I'm faster... " A noise in the orchard made her heart kick into double-time. A tendril of autumn-spiced wind fluffed her long copper hair, splaying the ends across the lifeless form of the bunny. The skin on the back of Cricket's neck itched and she imagined that somewhere in those darkened woods someone was watching her. In defiance, she pulled the rabbit free of the mailbox and threw it into the woods. There was a crash in the bushes. Cricket's eyes widened. From the exact place she had thrown the dead rabbit, a live one appeared, bursting from the thicket and tearing across the cornfield, full force toward the face of the moon.

Genres: Young Adult, Witches, Fiction, Witchcraft, Paranormal, Supernatural, Fantasy

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Silver RavenWolf (Pennsylvania) is a nationally recognized leader and elder of Wicca, and through her writing has been instrumental in guiding the future of one of the fastest-growing faiths in America today. The author of seventeen books, she has been interviewed by The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Bust Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, the St. Petersburg Times, the National Review, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul Magazine, and Teen Lit Magazine.

Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver's Spells for Protection, Silver's Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series. Her new book Hedge Witch is forthcoming from Llewellyn in September 2008.

Reviews

[Cat clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thouroughly enjoyed "being a teenager" again, although I think for most of us we never truly grow out of some of that angst. Great mystery series this being the third and unfortunately last. Great representation of the Craft and it's tenets.

[Nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since my early teen days when I devoured Teen Witch (my first source of information on Wicca) I had always wanted to read this series. I knew when I found this one at the used book store the other day that I probably wouldn't get as much enjoyment out of it at 25 as I would have at 14 but I thought I'd read it anyway for nostalgia purposes.

Overall, it was pretty sound. The story was engaging and it was an easy page turner. With my busy life, it usually takes me a week or more to finish a book, but I finished this one in only two days time. I'm no huge fan of the mystery genre but I felt it treated the genre pretty well. I also liked its treatment of magic as something a little more realistic and a little less Harry Potter or Mayfair Witches.

There were a few things that irked me about the book, most notably, the authors need to make sure we knew the main characters' races. I think it stemmed from a good intention of showing diversity and that anyone of any background could practice Wicca, but her descriptions borderlined on stereotyping more than once and surely would ruffle a few feathers. Also, the book was a bit on the preachy side, akin to the way Christian inspirational fiction tends to be.

Accept these things for what they are and you have a decent young adult mystery novel, but no doubt there are many who would find this annoying if not downright offensive.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nostalgic fun, but man - this author really doesn't trust 'boy crazy' women...

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read

[Mecque · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, the same quality as the others, Bethany and Nam drove me insane through the whole series. However, the mystery was interesting this time, and there were side characters I actually liked.

[Nyeisha (Bookbabe of Delaware)]

another good one

[Marloes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a really cheap three-package with the other three books of this series. The book was okay.

[Ginnie Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good paranormal YA mystery. It was well written, It surprised you and It was believable. with most mysteries I figure the end out halfway through but this one kept me guessing.