What do you think?
Rate this book
Wicked Descent
Some secrets should stay buried — especially when the truth might kill you.
I hate Shady Creek. It's the middle-of-nowhere small town my mom dragged me to when my grandmother died. The same one she ran away from seventeen years ago, where vicious rumors about our family descending from witches run wild. And it's the last place anyone saw my father before he disappeared.
After all these years, everyone at Shady Creek High still believes the lies and trying to fit in while everyone whispers behind your back isn't easy. I'd do anything to get back to Detroit and my old life.
Then I met Drew.
Drew Montgomery is the boy who knows things that no one else does. Deep, dark secrets about me, my family’s past, and what really happened to my father. But the price for information may be too high as getting close to Drew has consequences. Deadly ones.
Maybe living with the lies is safer than uncovering the truth, but the past won’t let me turn back now.
Wicked Descent is the perfect read for those who love magic, a bit of mystery, and swoon-worthy romance.
I hate Shady Creek. It's the middle-of-nowhere small town my mom dragged me to when my grandmother died. The same one she ran away from seventeen years ago, where vicious rumors about our family descending from witches run wild. And it's the last place anyone saw my father before he disappeared.
After all these years, everyone at Shady Creek High still believes the lies and trying to fit in while everyone whispers behind your back isn't easy. I'd do anything to get back to Detroit and my old life.
Then I met Drew.
Drew Montgomery is the boy who knows things that no one else does. Deep, dark secrets about me, my family’s past, and what really happened to my father. But the price for information may be too high as getting close to Drew has consequences. Deadly ones.
Maybe living with the lies is safer than uncovering the truth, but the past won’t let me turn back now.
Wicked Descent is the perfect read for those who love magic, a bit of mystery, and swoon-worthy romance.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2023
24 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 29, 2018
Shady Creek is a small town with a small mindset that never forgets and Avery is about to learn how brutal the quaint little town of Shady Creek can be when she and her mother return after the death of her grandmother. Could their accusations of “witch” be true? From the halls of her high school to the streets of Shady Creek, only one person seems willing to make her new and lonely existence tolerable, but is Drew more than a mysteriously attractive young man?
Drew knows “things” about Avery’s past, including the father she never knew and like a moth to a flame, Avery is drawn to both the boy and secrets he can share. Is she ready for the truth behind the town gossip? Is she willing to risk danger for the answers she needs?
Avery is about to learn who and what she is. Will this knowledge be the beginning of her WICKED DESCENT into the unknown? Perhaps the rumors are more than idle gossip and human cruelty or maybe they are far off the mark…
Scarlett Kol has heaped on the mystery, the unknown and Avery is the unknowing heroine in a young adult tale of one girl forced to face more than the usual angst and turmoil of being caught between childhood and adulthood. Dark and twisted, one teen will discover that her demons may be very real and she may only have herself to rely on.
Definitely a good addition to the YA paranormal genre where just growing up and self-discovery can be a living nightmare. Well written, filled with unexpected twists that are just dark enough to raise the tension on every page.
I received a complimentary edition from Evernight Teen!
Publisher: Evernight Teen (March 1, 2018)
Publication Date: March 1, 2018
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Print Length: 271 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Drew knows “things” about Avery’s past, including the father she never knew and like a moth to a flame, Avery is drawn to both the boy and secrets he can share. Is she ready for the truth behind the town gossip? Is she willing to risk danger for the answers she needs?
Avery is about to learn who and what she is. Will this knowledge be the beginning of her WICKED DESCENT into the unknown? Perhaps the rumors are more than idle gossip and human cruelty or maybe they are far off the mark…
Scarlett Kol has heaped on the mystery, the unknown and Avery is the unknowing heroine in a young adult tale of one girl forced to face more than the usual angst and turmoil of being caught between childhood and adulthood. Dark and twisted, one teen will discover that her demons may be very real and she may only have herself to rely on.
Definitely a good addition to the YA paranormal genre where just growing up and self-discovery can be a living nightmare. Well written, filled with unexpected twists that are just dark enough to raise the tension on every page.
I received a complimentary edition from Evernight Teen!
Publisher: Evernight Teen (March 1, 2018)
Publication Date: March 1, 2018
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Print Length: 271 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 1, 2018
Another great one from Scarlett Kol
Scarlett Kol is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her characters and settings leap of the page. Loved the elements of magic and the twists and turns in this book and can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
Scarlett Kol is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her characters and settings leap of the page. Loved the elements of magic and the twists and turns in this book and can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
December 4, 2020
This was a fine little book if you're looking for an urban fantasy and don't need anything terribly complex or deep. It was a good palette cleanser and reminded me a lot of the YA books we read as young teen girls.
I did guess the twist pretty much immediately, but I didn't mind too much. I do wish the MC was a little stronger of a character. There are relatively few characters and all of them are very shallow, but you don't mind too much because the story isn't trying to be character driven. That said, the MC is supposed to have a big arc and angst and tension. But because her one and only trait is: "is nice" it was really hard to believe if she was or wasn't reacting in character. She basically just did what the plot needed.
Her mom especially suffered from this "do what the plot needs" treatment and that was a real letdown.
There is also a cat in this book... we know what happens to animals in books...
I could definitely see this book sitting on a shelf with the other, somewhat unremarkable but still fun, urban fantasy YA. So if that's what you're in the mood for this book won't disappoint. It does not fall into a lot of pitfalls you associate with stereotypical self published works.
I did guess the twist pretty much immediately, but I didn't mind too much. I do wish the MC was a little stronger of a character. There are relatively few characters and all of them are very shallow, but you don't mind too much because the story isn't trying to be character driven. That said, the MC is supposed to have a big arc and angst and tension. But because her one and only trait is: "is nice" it was really hard to believe if she was or wasn't reacting in character. She basically just did what the plot needed.
Her mom especially suffered from this "do what the plot needs" treatment and that was a real letdown.
There is also a cat in this book... we know what happens to animals in books...
I could definitely see this book sitting on a shelf with the other, somewhat unremarkable but still fun, urban fantasy YA. So if that's what you're in the mood for this book won't disappoint. It does not fall into a lot of pitfalls you associate with stereotypical self published works.
June 27, 2018
A Real Horror-Tastic Paranormal Read!!👹
This isn't my normal reading fare, paranormal with a horror twist, I think I've only read one other in this category but it was also a comedy so this was still different, really creepy at times but enjoyable!! 👍
Avery & her Mum move into her Grandmothers house in the small, insular town of Shady Creek. It was left to her Mum when her Grandmother passed away!! Avery isn't happy about the move, especially leaving all her friends and during Senior year!!
Avery is dreading starting her new School. She expects to be ignored or bullied being new in such a small town. She can't believe her luck when she's invited to lunch by Lily then into her group of friends. She has a twin brother, Bennet, & Avery is really interested in him & hopes he feels the same 🙏
Another student recently started, Drew. Lily likes him & wants to get to know him but he keeps badgering Avery. She's not interested but he helps her a couple of times & she feels obligated to give him some time, as friends!! Things get strange very quickly. He challenges her at every turn, in very strange ways. He makes her question so much about her history & future. He's told her some huge secrets too but then sworn her to secrecy so when she tells a fib about not seeing him at a party and the truth is revealed she can't explain herself!! 😳
This was a gripping read. It had a bit of a slow start but picked up fairly quickly. It's gets really tense and uncomfortable in places but that's what set it at four stars instead of three 👍🌟 If PnR with a mild Horror twist is your thing then I certainly recommend this one 😃
Debbie, 1970, UK
This isn't my normal reading fare, paranormal with a horror twist, I think I've only read one other in this category but it was also a comedy so this was still different, really creepy at times but enjoyable!! 👍
Avery & her Mum move into her Grandmothers house in the small, insular town of Shady Creek. It was left to her Mum when her Grandmother passed away!! Avery isn't happy about the move, especially leaving all her friends and during Senior year!!
Avery is dreading starting her new School. She expects to be ignored or bullied being new in such a small town. She can't believe her luck when she's invited to lunch by Lily then into her group of friends. She has a twin brother, Bennet, & Avery is really interested in him & hopes he feels the same 🙏
Another student recently started, Drew. Lily likes him & wants to get to know him but he keeps badgering Avery. She's not interested but he helps her a couple of times & she feels obligated to give him some time, as friends!! Things get strange very quickly. He challenges her at every turn, in very strange ways. He makes her question so much about her history & future. He's told her some huge secrets too but then sworn her to secrecy so when she tells a fib about not seeing him at a party and the truth is revealed she can't explain herself!! 😳
This was a gripping read. It had a bit of a slow start but picked up fairly quickly. It's gets really tense and uncomfortable in places but that's what set it at four stars instead of three 👍🌟 If PnR with a mild Horror twist is your thing then I certainly recommend this one 😃
Debbie, 1970, UK
July 7, 2018
This is the first book by this author that I've read and I look forward to reading more. At first I was confused by the opening chapter but it didn't take long for me to understand where the story was going. Avery and Elizabeth Belmont return to their home town after seventeen years when Avery's grandmother dies.
Willamina Edwards Belmont was a witch, well that's what the town whispers behind her back. Avery's first day of school seems to be going okay. She's met several girl that might become friends. She's not the only new kid, Drew Montgomery also starts that day. She goes to a hockey game when the worse ice storm hits. Drew tries to be overbearing when it come to Avery. Is he bad news or what.
The author goes back in time to bring the reader ahead in the story. Just when you're wondering where, when, what and why you come to a chapter to explain it.
I received a free copy of this book and have chosen to write this review.
Willamina Edwards Belmont was a witch, well that's what the town whispers behind her back. Avery's first day of school seems to be going okay. She's met several girl that might become friends. She's not the only new kid, Drew Montgomery also starts that day. She goes to a hockey game when the worse ice storm hits. Drew tries to be overbearing when it come to Avery. Is he bad news or what.
The author goes back in time to bring the reader ahead in the story. Just when you're wondering where, when, what and why you come to a chapter to explain it.
I received a free copy of this book and have chosen to write this review.
March 16, 2019
Could have done with out the animal death :(
May 12, 2020
Avery is a teenager who has to uproot her life and move to a little town called Shady Creek. Her grandmother left the house to her mother and they move in the middle
of Avery’s senior year. What Avery expected for the first day of school
doesn’t happen. She is welcomed into a popular group but things don’t always to be as they appear in small towns.
Cue in Drew, he’s a very handsome and mysterious bad guy that shows up. Drew likes to feed Avery with bits and pieces of her past and he’s certainly a dark and brooding guy. Is he there to actually help Avery or is he there to hurt her? Pick up this book to find out!!
This book is intense and it certainly has its dark moments but for me it wasn’t scary. It was a intense and enjoyable book for me. I listened to the audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She was the perfect voice for the MC.
of Avery’s senior year. What Avery expected for the first day of school
doesn’t happen. She is welcomed into a popular group but things don’t always to be as they appear in small towns.
Cue in Drew, he’s a very handsome and mysterious bad guy that shows up. Drew likes to feed Avery with bits and pieces of her past and he’s certainly a dark and brooding guy. Is he there to actually help Avery or is he there to hurt her? Pick up this book to find out!!
This book is intense and it certainly has its dark moments but for me it wasn’t scary. It was a intense and enjoyable book for me. I listened to the audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She was the perfect voice for the MC.
July 31, 2020
Scarlett Kol’s "Wicked Descent" captures you from the first page! I was hooked on this page-turner, filled with angst and mystery. Avery is in the middle of a trying time for a teenager as it is, moving to a new town, dealing with an overprotective mother, and coping with the loss of a grandmother she barely knew. On top of all this, she is swept into the rumours surrounding her history and trying to find out about herself and what she is capable of. It’s a story of personal discovery and growth, as well as an intriguing mystery and dynamite YA supernatural story...
I received this book as a review copy from Night Owl Reviews (I gave this book 4 1/2 stars). The rest of this review is available at: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
(Copyright Night Owl Reviews)
I received this book as a review copy from Night Owl Reviews (I gave this book 4 1/2 stars). The rest of this review is available at: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
(Copyright Night Owl Reviews)
March 30, 2019
I loved this book! It was totally engaging and the pacing felt perfect for the plot. New elements were introduced at key points and kept me reading just so I could understand how the puzzle piece fit. And when I thought I understood, something else was layered on, so I never felt overwhelmed but I was consistently invested in Avery's journey.
There certainly were elements that were dark and occasionally emotionally tough to read, but none of those elements were excessive or sensational. Kol's world-building was very effective, so that the more fantastical aspects of the plot made complete sense within the arc of the story.
I'm so looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
There certainly were elements that were dark and occasionally emotionally tough to read, but none of those elements were excessive or sensational. Kol's world-building was very effective, so that the more fantastical aspects of the plot made complete sense within the arc of the story.
I'm so looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
July 7, 2020
Wicked Descent
4 stars for Wicked Descent by Scarlett Kol. This is a young adult paranormal story. Avery is uprooted from her life and taken to a small town called Shady Creek. When she meets Drew is pushy and over bearing to Avery. Is Drew someone she can trust or is he someone she should watch out for. I love how Scarlett Kol goes back in time to tell us what happened in the small town. Avery’s magic is developing and she is becoming powerful but can she stop her demons from coming out. This story was filled with ups and downs. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what this story had in store for me. I can not wait to read more from Scarlett Kol.
4 stars for Wicked Descent by Scarlett Kol. This is a young adult paranormal story. Avery is uprooted from her life and taken to a small town called Shady Creek. When she meets Drew is pushy and over bearing to Avery. Is Drew someone she can trust or is he someone she should watch out for. I love how Scarlett Kol goes back in time to tell us what happened in the small town. Avery’s magic is developing and she is becoming powerful but can she stop her demons from coming out. This story was filled with ups and downs. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what this story had in store for me. I can not wait to read more from Scarlett Kol.
April 23, 2018
The beginning was a bit slow paced but it did pick up. I was hoping that Mrs. Abernathy would have been more of a guide for her. I did like the non-violet magic Avery did against the people who picked on her. Who hasn't wanted to do that? It was a easy read with an explosive ending. I received an ebook at no charge for which I voluntarily provided an honest review.
October 21, 2018
Avery has to give up big city life when her grandmother dies and she and her Mom move back to Shady Creek. Her family has a reputation and it doesn't take long for Avery to be pulled into family secrets.
Wicked Descent is a good supernatural story. Avery shows growth as a character and the plot is interesting. Scarlett Kol is a good writer and I plan to check out more books by her.
Wicked Descent is a good supernatural story. Avery shows growth as a character and the plot is interesting. Scarlett Kol is a good writer and I plan to check out more books by her.
July 3, 2018
This book really starts ramping up around 40% through. The author does a nice job with a few twists and turns, and when you start finding out some of the answers, you may be surprised. This book had great dialog, and good action sequences – and all the lies will come to an exceptional ending. Reviewed by Cyrene
4 1/2 Stars
4 1/2 Stars
September 12, 2018
I couldn't put this book down. I had chills the entire story. Everytime I thought I had something figured out a twist came around and threw me right back in the loop. Scarlett Kol executed this paranormal plot perfectly and I'm excited to read more by her.
May 27, 2018
Great new Canadian talent!
June 27, 2018
Got really wrapped up in this book. What a twisted plot. Loved Avery and the struggles she had with evil incarnate. This was an intense read.
August 2, 2018
Great read albeit a bit long. Lots of mystery and cool mind control stuff. Fun!
May 28, 2022
Great read! Unique storyline, enjoyed the character growth of Avery.
April 11, 2023
Mindblown
I think I read this one in under a day, that's how good it was. I really don't regret picking it up! Might be the best I've read in some time actually.
I think I read this one in under a day, that's how good it was. I really don't regret picking it up! Might be the best I've read in some time actually.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews