The Coven Conspiracy

by Youngblood Hawke

Joanna was running, mile after endless mile of running. Panting. Screaming. The black-robed man was behind her, gaining with every step! It seemed the faster she tried to run the slower her legs moved. She was now running in slow motion, agonizing minutes passing between each step, and the man was gaining, until he was only a step behind her! Then his evil hand grabbed her hair, which was blowing behind her in the wind. She heard herself screaming, and it was for real, not just a dream now. Hands were clawing at her face tearing her flesh! She jerked away and opened her eyes. She was alone. It was a dream. But something was wrong............terribly wrong

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Fiction

202 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2011

About the author

Hawke began his unorthodox life at an early age. As a teenager still in high school he applied for and received a mineral concession from the government of Venezuela to search for gold in the jungles near Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall. Prohibited from going to Venezuela because his passport application could not be approved and issued without his parents' approval, he was forced to complete high school and graduate from college with a degree in civil engineering. Following a brief stint as an engineer, Hawke decided he wanted to be a writer and wanted life to be an adventure. Thus began a nearly four-year sojourn that began in Mexico, where his bus once came under automatic weapons fire, to its end in London where he flipped a coin to decide whether he should get married or go to Tangier. He didn't go to Tangier.

When Europe beckoned he spent months hitching around the continent while sending back stories of his exploits to his hometown newspaper. He wrote stories ranging from the hardships of a struggling young writer who covered himself with newspapers to keep warm while sleeping in the weeds, to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of fighting a bull in Spain.While living in London he worked security at Sotheby's , the world famous auction house, and once served as a security guard for former British Prime Minister Ted Heath. Providing security at Sothebys, Hawke came into contact with numerous celebrities including Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful. In London he also came to know some of the world's most infamous mercenary soldiers, the African mercenaries that best-selling author Fredrick Forsythe dubbed "the Dogs of War".

Hawks first literary success came in London, where he was once featured in an article in LORDS, an early spin-off of PENTHOUSE magazine. At the time, he was a professional gambler, and LORDS featured Hawke in an article about a horse race betting system Hawke had developed. However, one day at the track he bet and lost all his money and had to peel potatoes for two months to support himself. Once he returned to the U.S. he worked as an investigative newspaper reporter and a regular contributor to several national men's magazines, with short stories and articles about his European adventures.

Following publication of his premier novel of the occult in 1978 he started a business which quickly became more profitable than his writing ever could, and he didn't write another creative sentence for more than 20 years. His current book, THE COVEN CONSPIRACY is on sale now, and his latest novel, ANCIENT MEMORIES, is based on cutting edge advances in science and hotly debated metaphysical concepts.Hawke is believed to be living in Hong Kong and studies Mandarin Chinese. His close friends calll him "Bloody".

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me from the very beginning and kept me all the way through. Enjoyed very much and didn't want to put down. Though I was disappointed with the ending, felt the author could have given so much more and I was left with many unanswered questions, for example, what really happened during the four days she couldn't remember?

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a novel by Youngblood Hawke, and I must say that I really enjoyed The Coven Conspiracy. The premise is this: a young artist, Joanna, revisits a secluded cabin outside of a small mountain town to be alone to paint to her heart's content. However, immediately upon entering the town she finds the townspeople unwelcoming and strange. Undaunted, Joanna makes a few friends who help her acclimate to the mountains and she begins her work. Things take a frightening turn when Joanna is visited by a coven of witches, who are the subject of local foklore and the objects of fear in the small community. The Coven Conspiracy follows Joanna on her journey of discovery... of her surroundings, the townspeople and, ultimately, of herself.

The only complaints that I have of this book are these: the Nook version has many typographical and formatting errors, to the point where I had to re-read sentences to see what was intended. Also, there are certain things that happen in the story that are hard for me to see from Joanna's point of view. For instance, something very traumatic happens to Joanna and, if that happened to me, I'd get away from the situation in a flash. Joanna decides to stay, which makes sense for the story and plays into the dual nature of her personality, but it's still hard for me to wrap my brain around.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Coven Conspiracy and I hope to see more from this author!

[Gracey Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written with suspense in mind. Intriguing to say the least as you read through wondering what will happen.

To say that the ending was sprung as a well designed surprise is putting it mildly. Youngblood Hawke took a conspiracy of witches, an old town and a scary forest and put it into a story of secrets, betrayal and years of fear.

I'm sure that you will enjoy this read and the increased heartbeat in certain parts.
The Coven Conspiracy

[Len Cenotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a very long time. The characters are very likeable and Youngblood Hawke's style of writing made me feel as if I was there with them. The ending caught me off guard and was a total surprise. I never write reviews, as you can probably tell, but I enjoyed it so much I just had too this time. I am really looking forward to my next book, "Ancient Memories".

[Kelvin Kettle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Coven Conspiracy was an ok read. I liked Ancient Memories by the author Youngblood Hawke better. Coven was fairly interesting. Minimal suspense. I just thought it would have a lot more to do with witches than it does. When I came to the ending, I was left unsatisfied. Youngblood does have a talent for writing, but this book just didn't capture my attention all the way through.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this sat on my kindle for a while and have been dying to read it, and it didnt dissapoint i couldnt put it down, the end left me with many questions though, would like to know more about some of the characters and what happens with Joanna next.

[Tracy Hollander · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was not much to like about this book. Did not like the main character and really not many of the other ones. Mostly skimmed through it after the first couple of chapters.

[Meg St. Clair · Rating 1 out of 5]

My only excuse is that the eBook was free on Amazon.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very hard to put down. It was full of suspense I loved reading it. A MUST read!