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The Witch's Revenge
In Harangul, a village in the Latur district of Maharashtra, the Nehra family wakes up to what they believe is an ordinary day. But things are about to take a dark turn in the little village when a mysterious old woman moves into the abandoned house next door. Padma, a simple woman, is married to Mohan, a hardworking tailor. They have four children and are raising them in a loving, traditional Hindu family. They enjoy the culture of their small community and rely on their many friends, elders, and traditions to lead happy and spiritual lives. But soon after the arrival of the strange woman next door, a child is involved in a horrible, fatal incident. Another child becomes seriously ill, and a woman falls to her death from her roof. Then Padma's own family suffers a tragic loss. Mohan and Padma seek spiritual advice, to no avail, and the authorities offer no assistance. Finally in desperation, as things become more bizarre in the colony, a party of brave men ventures out to seek a strong baba from far away. With faith, strength, and a very strong sense of community, the people of Harangul work tirelessly to free their home from the grasp of a terrible evil presence-a daayan who threatens their very existence. The Witch's Revenge is a striking novel that seamlessly blends Indian tradition with suspense and horror-a book eloquently presented by a gifted new storyteller. About the Author: Born in Italy in 1953, Danny Odato, a father of four, had to provide for his family at a young age instead of following his dream of writing. With The Witch's Revenge, his debut novel, his dream has finally come true.
- GenresHorrorParanormalWitches
178 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2014
4 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Danny Odato
9 books17 followersBorn in Italy in 1953, Danny Odato, a father of four, had to provide for his family at a young age instead of following his dream of writing. With The Witch’s Revenge, his debut novel, his dream has finally come true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 25, 2024
Danny Odato's debut novel, The Witch’s Revenge, features an Indian village plagued by unexplainable accidents and deaths.
Let’s talk about the good parts first. The base story of a girl out for revenge who learns dark craft is intriguing, and the village has likeable enough characters. This story has great potential, and it is different enough from other common topics to be enjoyable. It was apparent that Danny Odato took the time to understand certain close-knit aspects of a small Indian community.
This was easily identifiable as a debut novel by one main feature: editing, or lack thereof. My first problem with this book arose from the cover photo. There is a young woman in black who is very obviously not of Indian descent. This struck me as unfitting when so much of the book is about the importance of a traditional Indian village. With so much focus on tradition, it seemed weird that there were a couple of Christian references to God from a traditional sense focused more on a specific God and not just “God” in Hindu belief.
Danny Odato uses a multitude of Indian words but offers no glossary and lacks any explanation for many of the words within the book. As a reader, you are forced to take the context around the word to try to translate what he meant, and in some cases, you are left with a guess that is never confirmed, even after the book's completion.
Apart from the editing in general, my only complaint about this book is a complete lack of descriptions. I do no know what anyone or anything in this book looks like. I find it ignorant to assume that “everyone looks like a traditional Indian.” That could mean so many different things depending on the section of India that they are in. The description we get most of is about minute details, such as eyes gouged out or the beads of the witch. Also, the description of a persona was missing. Instead of describing a character in a way that the reader can feel their emotions, the emotions are given repeatedly with no real descriptions, such as saying someone walked depressingly and spoke depressingly. I wanted to yell: “Quit telling me and show me.”
Overall, I give this book 2/5 stars. I give Danny Odato props for putting himself out there and getting a book onto paper, which is more than a lot of people have accomplished. However, with that being said, you would think that he would have had some people look it over and edit it for me. There was a complete 3-page section at the end of a chapter that was exactly repeated a few chapters later. With some editing and possibly a descriptive writing workshop, this story could blossom into something that would make a more enjoyable read. It caters to a lover of witchcraft, India, fiction, mystery, etc.
Let’s talk about the good parts first. The base story of a girl out for revenge who learns dark craft is intriguing, and the village has likeable enough characters. This story has great potential, and it is different enough from other common topics to be enjoyable. It was apparent that Danny Odato took the time to understand certain close-knit aspects of a small Indian community.
This was easily identifiable as a debut novel by one main feature: editing, or lack thereof. My first problem with this book arose from the cover photo. There is a young woman in black who is very obviously not of Indian descent. This struck me as unfitting when so much of the book is about the importance of a traditional Indian village. With so much focus on tradition, it seemed weird that there were a couple of Christian references to God from a traditional sense focused more on a specific God and not just “God” in Hindu belief.
Danny Odato uses a multitude of Indian words but offers no glossary and lacks any explanation for many of the words within the book. As a reader, you are forced to take the context around the word to try to translate what he meant, and in some cases, you are left with a guess that is never confirmed, even after the book's completion.
Apart from the editing in general, my only complaint about this book is a complete lack of descriptions. I do no know what anyone or anything in this book looks like. I find it ignorant to assume that “everyone looks like a traditional Indian.” That could mean so many different things depending on the section of India that they are in. The description we get most of is about minute details, such as eyes gouged out or the beads of the witch. Also, the description of a persona was missing. Instead of describing a character in a way that the reader can feel their emotions, the emotions are given repeatedly with no real descriptions, such as saying someone walked depressingly and spoke depressingly. I wanted to yell: “Quit telling me and show me.”
Overall, I give this book 2/5 stars. I give Danny Odato props for putting himself out there and getting a book onto paper, which is more than a lot of people have accomplished. However, with that being said, you would think that he would have had some people look it over and edit it for me. There was a complete 3-page section at the end of a chapter that was exactly repeated a few chapters later. With some editing and possibly a descriptive writing workshop, this story could blossom into something that would make a more enjoyable read. It caters to a lover of witchcraft, India, fiction, mystery, etc.
June 22, 2014
sigh
I tried, I did.
The premise sounded promising. Chris' passion for Indian culture guaranteed she would want to read it as well.
I rarely give up on a book. I've only done so one other time since joining Goodreads, and less than a dozen times in my life.
But . . .
Chris grabbed the book first and quit after 50 pages. She gave little explanation, knowing that I would read it regardless and wouldn't want the experience tainted.
I've participated in and/or ran several writing seminars and workshops. One of the more tedious maxims that will inevitably be brought up is "Show don't Tell". This will be applied repeatedly and misapplied almost as often. The Witch's Revenge consists entirely of the type of writing that the maxim was created to address. This is the protagonist. These are the protagonist's children. This is how she feels about her children. This is how they feel about her. This is the protagonist's husband. This is how they feel about each other. This is their village. This is how they feel about the village. This is how the village feels about them. A THING HAPPENS. This is how the village feels about the thing. This is how our protagonist feels about the thing. This is how her 2nd child feels about the thing. etcetera, ad infinitum.
gah.
Is it possible that the book might have won me over through clever invention, or characters I empathized deeply with, if only I had bothered to finish it? It's possible, but it seems so terribly unlikely that I just couldn't bear to go on.
I tried, I did.
The premise sounded promising. Chris' passion for Indian culture guaranteed she would want to read it as well.
I rarely give up on a book. I've only done so one other time since joining Goodreads, and less than a dozen times in my life.
But . . .
Chris grabbed the book first and quit after 50 pages. She gave little explanation, knowing that I would read it regardless and wouldn't want the experience tainted.
I've participated in and/or ran several writing seminars and workshops. One of the more tedious maxims that will inevitably be brought up is "Show don't Tell". This will be applied repeatedly and misapplied almost as often. The Witch's Revenge consists entirely of the type of writing that the maxim was created to address. This is the protagonist. These are the protagonist's children. This is how she feels about her children. This is how they feel about her. This is the protagonist's husband. This is how they feel about each other. This is their village. This is how they feel about the village. This is how the village feels about them. A THING HAPPENS. This is how the village feels about the thing. This is how our protagonist feels about the thing. This is how her 2nd child feels about the thing. etcetera, ad infinitum.
gah.
Is it possible that the book might have won me over through clever invention, or characters I empathized deeply with, if only I had bothered to finish it? It's possible, but it seems so terribly unlikely that I just couldn't bear to go on.
August 3, 2014
“The Witch’s Revenge” by Danny Odato
Horror. 183 pages. Outskirts Press. 2014
Courtesy of: Goodreads First Reads
Synopsis:
In a small village, the people of Harangul had a peaceful and
abundant lives. A place where people work hard, love with an
endless heart, and raise their children.
Until…a mysterious woman moves into the village. A dark
witch, who’s very existence is focused on revenge. She will
rid this village of every man, woman, and child.
No forgiveness, no mercy.
With no help from the police, or the village council, or spiritual
guidance, these peaceful people must take matters into their own
hands. The evil that is growing stronger with every life she takes.
This evil must be stopped.
Author:
Danny Odato is a self published author that likes to take his
reader inside the Indian culture to better understand the hardships
in daily living. He is a women’s rights activist, and his books
reflect on the rights, and freedoms of women.
Thoughts:
The read was actually inspiring. I enjoyed the look into the Indian
culture and their traditions. I realize it was only a small peek, but
very enlightening. I would recommend this read. An excellent story.
It will appeal to both suspense and horror genre.
Horror. 183 pages. Outskirts Press. 2014
Courtesy of: Goodreads First Reads
Synopsis:
In a small village, the people of Harangul had a peaceful and
abundant lives. A place where people work hard, love with an
endless heart, and raise their children.
Until…a mysterious woman moves into the village. A dark
witch, who’s very existence is focused on revenge. She will
rid this village of every man, woman, and child.
No forgiveness, no mercy.
With no help from the police, or the village council, or spiritual
guidance, these peaceful people must take matters into their own
hands. The evil that is growing stronger with every life she takes.
This evil must be stopped.
Author:
Danny Odato is a self published author that likes to take his
reader inside the Indian culture to better understand the hardships
in daily living. He is a women’s rights activist, and his books
reflect on the rights, and freedoms of women.
Thoughts:
The read was actually inspiring. I enjoyed the look into the Indian
culture and their traditions. I realize it was only a small peek, but
very enlightening. I would recommend this read. An excellent story.
It will appeal to both suspense and horror genre.
May 5, 2014
I truly enjoyed the author’s debut novel! Beautifully written, the story combines mystery and suspense…family drama along with tradition and culture. It has a rich tapestry of characters that I enjoyed! I was thrilled from the beginning, sucked into the story as the horror of the woman is revealed. I love how the community banded together to stop her and the darkness which plagues their home.
I love the atmosphere of the book, its well paced and flows and I truly look forward to reading more from this author!
Recommended to those who enjoy History, Culture, Paranormal and Mystery/Suspense.
I love the atmosphere of the book, its well paced and flows and I truly look forward to reading more from this author!
Recommended to those who enjoy History, Culture, Paranormal and Mystery/Suspense.
April 22, 2015
I really liked the book. I found it interesting to see how the people in India who live in small villages related to each other within their village, and also the villages nearest to them. They basically have the same value system. However, some people believe in different gods of good and evil to help them with their daily lives.
I give this book a Four Star rating.
I give this book a Four Star rating.
May 15, 2014
Mohan is a man who loves his wife and four children very much. He is a very hard working man who loves taking care of his family he goes to work as a tailor everyday so that he can provide for his family. His wife Padma loves her family just as much as her husband if not more. Padma is not like a lot of the other mothers who live in their village. I loved that Padma would wake each of her children at different times in the mornings before school to help them with their baths and getting them dressed for school. Padma loved the time that she spent with each of her children. She believed and wanted to give each child the same amount of her time. Padma was such a good mother and knew that not only did she love spending time with each child but her children needed this alone time with their mother as well. Most of the women in the village would bathe their children together to save time but not Padma.
Padma, Mahon, their children and everyone else who lived in the village were all like family. The women would take turns babysitting each other's children when they needed the help for whatever reason whether it is for one of them to go shopping or even just to give each other a break once in a while. They all stuck together and would do anything for each other. The women would gather together at each other's home and spend time with each other just talking and hanging out while their children played together.
Everyone that lived in the village were all very happy with their lives and family until a new woman moved into the house at the end of the street next door to Padma and her family. Padma is the only one that the old woman would visit and the only one who has seen her. After her arrival in the village bad things started to happen; children having bad accidents and even some were murdered. Padma and the whole village joined together and tried to stay in groups at all times hoping that the evil that had entered their village would not bother them as long as they were not alone. Everyone in the village except Padma thought the old woman was a witch and was the one who was taking away their children. Some of the men in the village along with Mohan went on a little journey far, far away to another village to find a Baba to help them to get rid of the witch after their own Baba was killed.
I loved The Witch's Revenge from the first page until the very last page. I loved that Padma loved spending time with each of their children. She didn't care about how much earlier she had to get up in the mornings so she could spend that little bit of time with each of them. She wanted that closeness with all of her children not just one. She treated all of her children the same and she loved them the same too. Padma is a prime example to how all mothers should treat their children.
If you love reading about witches and evil wicked things with a whole lot of mystery thrown in then The Witch's Revenge is one book you need to check out. I love the world that author set up with everyone in the village being best friends with each other and would do anything they could for their neighbors.
Padma, Mahon, their children and everyone else who lived in the village were all like family. The women would take turns babysitting each other's children when they needed the help for whatever reason whether it is for one of them to go shopping or even just to give each other a break once in a while. They all stuck together and would do anything for each other. The women would gather together at each other's home and spend time with each other just talking and hanging out while their children played together.
Everyone that lived in the village were all very happy with their lives and family until a new woman moved into the house at the end of the street next door to Padma and her family. Padma is the only one that the old woman would visit and the only one who has seen her. After her arrival in the village bad things started to happen; children having bad accidents and even some were murdered. Padma and the whole village joined together and tried to stay in groups at all times hoping that the evil that had entered their village would not bother them as long as they were not alone. Everyone in the village except Padma thought the old woman was a witch and was the one who was taking away their children. Some of the men in the village along with Mohan went on a little journey far, far away to another village to find a Baba to help them to get rid of the witch after their own Baba was killed.
I loved The Witch's Revenge from the first page until the very last page. I loved that Padma loved spending time with each of their children. She didn't care about how much earlier she had to get up in the mornings so she could spend that little bit of time with each of them. She wanted that closeness with all of her children not just one. She treated all of her children the same and she loved them the same too. Padma is a prime example to how all mothers should treat their children.
If you love reading about witches and evil wicked things with a whole lot of mystery thrown in then The Witch's Revenge is one book you need to check out. I love the world that author set up with everyone in the village being best friends with each other and would do anything they could for their neighbors.
August 16, 2014
I won this through Goodreads First Reads! (Just a little side note: this book really went through its own personal odyssey to finally arrive at my doorstep, and let me tell you I was very glad it did).
This book is about a little village, in India, where an evil witch schemes a horrible revenge against its inhabitants. The villagers must find a way to get rid of this mysterious evil before it's too late.
***Spoilers***
Now to the things I liked a lot.
1. I liked how the author ended a chapter and continued it right at the beginning of the other one without losing the flow.
2. Some of the scenes were very spooky!
3. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I find myself a bit confused about how I feel about this one. Even though I found a lot of errors in the writing and in the plot, I still want to say that it was a great little story. If you are prone to get scared easily by horror stories then this is a book you might enjoy, for it focuses more on a plot about revenge than in supernatural spirits or monsters. Read, Live, and Imagine! :)
I just want to give a special thanks to the author (for being tenacious and honorable when dealing with the post office to send me this book. Twice! And to Amanda Cooper who is a Goodreads representative who mediated the whole process (and for being so nice!)
This book is about a little village, in India, where an evil witch schemes a horrible revenge against its inhabitants. The villagers must find a way to get rid of this mysterious evil before it's too late.
***Spoilers***
Now to the things I liked a lot.
1. I liked how the author ended a chapter and continued it right at the beginning of the other one without losing the flow.
2. Some of the scenes were very spooky!
3. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I find myself a bit confused about how I feel about this one. Even though I found a lot of errors in the writing and in the plot, I still want to say that it was a great little story. If you are prone to get scared easily by horror stories then this is a book you might enjoy, for it focuses more on a plot about revenge than in supernatural spirits or monsters. Read, Live, and Imagine! :)
I just want to give a special thanks to the author (for being tenacious and honorable when dealing with the post office to send me this book. Twice! And to Amanda Cooper who is a Goodreads representative who mediated the whole process (and for being so nice!)
July 10, 2014
I received a copy of The Witch's Revenge through Goodreads: First Reads, and I thank the program for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.
Firstly, I would like to say that this book had initially drawn me in because of the close-knit family and Indian culture mentioned within the summary, along with the promise of suspense and horror within the novel. I was intrigued from the start and I was very happy to hear that I would be getting the chance to read it.
However, after having read this book, I must say that I didn't really enjoy it. It pains me to say that, but somewhere along the way of reading it I completely lost interest. The story fell flat. This novel is missing something--something necessary to make a book good and enjoyable--and I'm not sure exactly what that missing piece is.
The Witch's Revenge was, I suppose, a decent enough debut for Danny Odato, but I feel like he has some work to do before his writing really becomes worthy of great praise. The grammar used was good, but the storytelling wasn't polished enough for me to really enjoy. In my opinion, there wasn't enough backstory and the writing simply didn't flow beautifully. The suspense almost felt forced, and the descriptions of the characters were generic and uninspiring. It was like the author tried a little too hard and in turn made his writing feel oddly cold and shallow. Maybe that's just how I saw it, but I don't think I would really recommend this book to any friend of mine.
Overall, I am slightly disappointed. I did manage to read the entire book, but it wasn't because I wanted to. I suppose I just thought that maybe I would like it in the end, but in thruth, I didn't.
Firstly, I would like to say that this book had initially drawn me in because of the close-knit family and Indian culture mentioned within the summary, along with the promise of suspense and horror within the novel. I was intrigued from the start and I was very happy to hear that I would be getting the chance to read it.
However, after having read this book, I must say that I didn't really enjoy it. It pains me to say that, but somewhere along the way of reading it I completely lost interest. The story fell flat. This novel is missing something--something necessary to make a book good and enjoyable--and I'm not sure exactly what that missing piece is.
The Witch's Revenge was, I suppose, a decent enough debut for Danny Odato, but I feel like he has some work to do before his writing really becomes worthy of great praise. The grammar used was good, but the storytelling wasn't polished enough for me to really enjoy. In my opinion, there wasn't enough backstory and the writing simply didn't flow beautifully. The suspense almost felt forced, and the descriptions of the characters were generic and uninspiring. It was like the author tried a little too hard and in turn made his writing feel oddly cold and shallow. Maybe that's just how I saw it, but I don't think I would really recommend this book to any friend of mine.
Overall, I am slightly disappointed. I did manage to read the entire book, but it wasn't because I wanted to. I suppose I just thought that maybe I would like it in the end, but in thruth, I didn't.
July 26, 2014
I was given a copy of this book by the author and thought that the premise for it was interesting. It is written like a folk tail of sorts and I was hoping that if I thought about it in the format I would begin to like it as I read it. However, after about 50 pages into it, I had a very hard time going forward to finish the book.
I think that Danny Odato's idea for the book was a great horror story. A small village is terrorized by some sort of evil force that is taking the lives of the children and pregnant woman. However, there was a great deal of telling where some showing needed to happen throughout. I wasn't really given the ability to imagine anything for myself since everything was handed to me.
Even though I knew that it was a horror story going into it, the fact that there were some very graphic scenes regarding children either dying or injuring themselves, really bothered me and I had a hard time connecting to the characters. Some of the dialogue and scenes felt choppy or shortened like they needed a little more fleshing out to be interesting to the reader. There seemed to be maybe a little too much tension and climax happening and I never really got to build with the sensation of fear. Instead, it felt overwhelming and I did not want to continue turning pages. The only other thing is that there were some general editing issues, which seem to be standard with novels that are self published by the author.
Overall, I thought that the story had really good promise to be scary if it had maybe been written a little more like a folk story being told to warn naughty little children. If you like short horror novels than you might like this. If you are like me and the detailed deaths of children bother you, then you may want to skip this book.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review; I was not paid to give my review.
www.thepensivechronicler.blogspot.com
I think that Danny Odato's idea for the book was a great horror story. A small village is terrorized by some sort of evil force that is taking the lives of the children and pregnant woman. However, there was a great deal of telling where some showing needed to happen throughout. I wasn't really given the ability to imagine anything for myself since everything was handed to me.
Even though I knew that it was a horror story going into it, the fact that there were some very graphic scenes regarding children either dying or injuring themselves, really bothered me and I had a hard time connecting to the characters. Some of the dialogue and scenes felt choppy or shortened like they needed a little more fleshing out to be interesting to the reader. There seemed to be maybe a little too much tension and climax happening and I never really got to build with the sensation of fear. Instead, it felt overwhelming and I did not want to continue turning pages. The only other thing is that there were some general editing issues, which seem to be standard with novels that are self published by the author.
Overall, I thought that the story had really good promise to be scary if it had maybe been written a little more like a folk story being told to warn naughty little children. If you like short horror novels than you might like this. If you are like me and the detailed deaths of children bother you, then you may want to skip this book.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review; I was not paid to give my review.
www.thepensivechronicler.blogspot.com
June 13, 2017
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads.
I was actually really excited about this book from reading the blurb, but I felt that the story itself had poor execution. There was so much potential, and that's the only reason I'm giving it two stars. Otherwise, I don't think I could have given it any more than one star simply because of the amount of errors, bad grammar, and inconsistencies. (My status updates while reading this book will provide some of the grammar issues and inconsistencies, if you're interested.)
One of the first problems I had with this book was the lack of definition for Indian words used throughout. The story is set in an East Indian village, so the author uses Indian words throughout the story. This would have added to the story *if* the reader was given the definition of those words within the text, or even if there was a glossary at the back of the book. As it stands though, the reader is forced to guess what the words mean based on surrounding text.
Another issue spanned from the sheer number of characters introduced in such a short period of time. There were no less than fifteen characters introduced within the first couple chapters, and none of them really had any defining characteristics to make them stick out from one another. It was extremely confusing to remember who was married to who, who was a child & who was an adult, etc.
Overall I think the book could have done with a much better editor (if it had one to begin with). With just one read through I found so many mistakes and inconsistencies that I'm sure any experienced editor would have come across. In no way do I consider myself a writer, but I have to believe that this story would have been vastly improved with more description and detail.
Unfortunately I would not recommend this book due to the above information.
I was actually really excited about this book from reading the blurb, but I felt that the story itself had poor execution. There was so much potential, and that's the only reason I'm giving it two stars. Otherwise, I don't think I could have given it any more than one star simply because of the amount of errors, bad grammar, and inconsistencies. (My status updates while reading this book will provide some of the grammar issues and inconsistencies, if you're interested.)
One of the first problems I had with this book was the lack of definition for Indian words used throughout. The story is set in an East Indian village, so the author uses Indian words throughout the story. This would have added to the story *if* the reader was given the definition of those words within the text, or even if there was a glossary at the back of the book. As it stands though, the reader is forced to guess what the words mean based on surrounding text.
Another issue spanned from the sheer number of characters introduced in such a short period of time. There were no less than fifteen characters introduced within the first couple chapters, and none of them really had any defining characteristics to make them stick out from one another. It was extremely confusing to remember who was married to who, who was a child & who was an adult, etc.
Overall I think the book could have done with a much better editor (if it had one to begin with). With just one read through I found so many mistakes and inconsistencies that I'm sure any experienced editor would have come across. In no way do I consider myself a writer, but I have to believe that this story would have been vastly improved with more description and detail.
Unfortunately I would not recommend this book due to the above information.
March 27, 2014
The last place I would ever have expected a novel about a witch to take place was in a small town in India. But that is exactly where this takes place. A small, very close knit community who watch out for each other and follow the Hindu religion faithfully. All the women congregate and talk daily, help each other out. The husbands are good family men who take care of their families. But--a generation ago something happened and it has come back to haunt them. Only a few people would even remember this occurrence. The children are either dying or being maimed. The people are petrified and really have no idea why all this is happening.
A single woman has moved into their village and pretty much stays to herself. It would be pretty easy to blame her for all that is happening but the villagers decide to wait it out and see. Things get even worse and the entire village is in mourning-the men decide they need a holy man to come and help them. Events come to a head but I can't tell you or I'll give away the plot and the ending. Yes, this is certainly worth the read especially if you like suspense and mystery. I would not recommend this book for teens-it could give them nightmares!!The Witch's Revenge
A single woman has moved into their village and pretty much stays to herself. It would be pretty easy to blame her for all that is happening but the villagers decide to wait it out and see. Things get even worse and the entire village is in mourning-the men decide they need a holy man to come and help them. Events come to a head but I can't tell you or I'll give away the plot and the ending. Yes, this is certainly worth the read especially if you like suspense and mystery. I would not recommend this book for teens-it could give them nightmares!!The Witch's Revenge
August 9, 2016
I'm a pretty big fan of horror stories and overall this one didn't disappoint. I did struggle a bit to get caught up in the story but it didn't take too long before I was hooked. There are a few inconsistencies in the story and it does get a bit confusing at times, but it definitely moves at a fast/thrilling pace. I absolutely loved the plot and if there is anything negative about it, I would have to say that I think it could have used a little more character development. I felt like I could really relate to Padma, but none of the others. The story just felt like...well... like a story. Now don't get me wrong, overall it was a great story and I did enjoy reading it in the two days that I did, in fact one of those days I sat outside in the sun for what I thought to be about 30 minutes caught up in reading it, only to find out that it had been a couple hours.(I wont get in to how my skin feels as I type this, lol) But I didn't get the book "hangover" after finishing this the way I usually do after a good book, and I can only think that this has to do with the lack of connection to the characters. Still not a disappointing read and a great start for this author. I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. :-)
June 14, 2014
I won this from a goodreads giveaway which didn't influence my review.
I liked the Indian setting and the connection to the culture. There are several point of view characters but mostly it is Padme and her husband, Mohan and the villainess, Kamilvatra. Kamil makes herself an instant outsider with her strange dress and actions which is a curious way to handle things since she is going to kill them all later. Padme and her friends think she is a witch but then almost instantly dismiss that.
Then things begin to happen. People die mysterious deaths, maim themselves, have horrible nightmares and eventually this comes to nearly everyone in the village including Padme's family. The villagers try to find a way to stop the witch. As for Kamil, she has her reasons for her actions but it goes as most revenge scenarios do.
Overall I thought it had a lot of interesting potential. there were problems however. I thought that the ending was abrupt and there is a lot of telling instead of showing and plenty of passive verbs. So the writing could have been tighter. More like a 2.5 stars rounded up thanks to some of the more interesting ideas.
I liked the Indian setting and the connection to the culture. There are several point of view characters but mostly it is Padme and her husband, Mohan and the villainess, Kamilvatra. Kamil makes herself an instant outsider with her strange dress and actions which is a curious way to handle things since she is going to kill them all later. Padme and her friends think she is a witch but then almost instantly dismiss that.
Then things begin to happen. People die mysterious deaths, maim themselves, have horrible nightmares and eventually this comes to nearly everyone in the village including Padme's family. The villagers try to find a way to stop the witch. As for Kamil, she has her reasons for her actions but it goes as most revenge scenarios do.
Overall I thought it had a lot of interesting potential. there were problems however. I thought that the ending was abrupt and there is a lot of telling instead of showing and plenty of passive verbs. So the writing could have been tighter. More like a 2.5 stars rounded up thanks to some of the more interesting ideas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2014
Padma and Mohan live in a small village where everyone works together and helps each other out. Mohan is a tailor and Padma loves her family and goes above and beyond what the average parent does for her children. Then, one day an older woman moves in next to Padma.
Then strange things start happening like children getting hurt or killed. Mohan starts having nightmares about the haunted jungle and then his daughter then gets a strange mark. Everyone thinks the new woman is a witch. The villagers then start doing everything they know to protect themselves from her but it doesn’t work. The men then go on the hunt for someone to help protect them from the witch.
I really liked this story. It was a little difficult for me to start but it soon sucked me in. I wanted to turn away but I just kept reading. It was one of those slow creeping terrors. I loved how the story wrapped up. It made me regret finishing the book in the middle of the night.
This is one great horror story that will wiggle under your skin and get to you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Then strange things start happening like children getting hurt or killed. Mohan starts having nightmares about the haunted jungle and then his daughter then gets a strange mark. Everyone thinks the new woman is a witch. The villagers then start doing everything they know to protect themselves from her but it doesn’t work. The men then go on the hunt for someone to help protect them from the witch.
I really liked this story. It was a little difficult for me to start but it soon sucked me in. I wanted to turn away but I just kept reading. It was one of those slow creeping terrors. I loved how the story wrapped up. It made me regret finishing the book in the middle of the night.
This is one great horror story that will wiggle under your skin and get to you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2014
I’m a huge fan of horror/suspense/supernatural and love learning about other cultures, so I was attracted to this book right away. It was a wonderful experience being immersed in the inner working of a community in India. Seeing how closely the families lived and cooperated, reminded me of my childhood when neighbors were extended family.
The one thing I had trouble with was the manner with which the story was told. I’m a huge fan of formal writing and the classics and while the suspenseful moments were well done, there was something about this story that felt flat to me. I can’t really put my finger on why, so please take my concern with a grain of salt.
I did enjoy the overall story and characters and, I admit, I’m usually a fan of the bad guys as they’re often the most interesting characters and this book didn’t disappoint in that. By the end, I understood the anger the witch felt towards the townspeople. It added something more than the standard, “the witch is evil and must be killed just because” mantra so prevalent in movies and other stories.
The one thing I had trouble with was the manner with which the story was told. I’m a huge fan of formal writing and the classics and while the suspenseful moments were well done, there was something about this story that felt flat to me. I can’t really put my finger on why, so please take my concern with a grain of salt.
I did enjoy the overall story and characters and, I admit, I’m usually a fan of the bad guys as they’re often the most interesting characters and this book didn’t disappoint in that. By the end, I understood the anger the witch felt towards the townspeople. It added something more than the standard, “the witch is evil and must be killed just because” mantra so prevalent in movies and other stories.
June 18, 2014
This book is about a witch who begins attacking a small Hindu village. It takes the whole village working together to stop this witch from murdering their innocent children.
As much as I don't like to, I have to give this book a bad review. I would rather be honest than not and lie about books to make the author feel better.
One of the first things I noticed about this book was that some of the information repeats. Odato restates things in the same sentence and it takes away from the book. Also, there are a paragraph that appear in the book more than once and are word for word. If this book had been edited or even reread, these paragraphs could have been deleted and the book would have been better for it.
Another thing was that the characters weren't very distinctive. I had trouble telling one from the other because they're all perfect and have no faults at all. This book would have benefited from more dimension.
The only good thing about this book was the idea behind it. For me, I don't think I would read it again.
As much as I don't like to, I have to give this book a bad review. I would rather be honest than not and lie about books to make the author feel better.
One of the first things I noticed about this book was that some of the information repeats. Odato restates things in the same sentence and it takes away from the book. Also, there are a paragraph that appear in the book more than once and are word for word. If this book had been edited or even reread, these paragraphs could have been deleted and the book would have been better for it.
Another thing was that the characters weren't very distinctive. I had trouble telling one from the other because they're all perfect and have no faults at all. This book would have benefited from more dimension.
The only good thing about this book was the idea behind it. For me, I don't think I would read it again.
September 18, 2014
I won a copy through the Goodreads: First Reads program.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But the author falls victim to the old problem that leads writing teachers to beg their students: "Show. Don't Tell." We're constantly told things that should be shown. Add to that a deep need for an editor (the grammar's fine, but repeated paragraphs abound, including almost an entire chapter that is nothing but a copy of part of an earlier chapter). Based on what (admittedly little, mostly through hearsay from friends) I know of Indian culture, the descriptions of said culture in this book bear only a passing resemblance to actual Indian culture. One more nail in the coffin? The rather definitely NON-Indian person on the cover. If every character in the book is Indian, why does the woman on the cover appear white?
There is one good point: when the action (finally) gets going (at almost the end), Mr. Odato does quite well. It gives me hope that future books might not have the same problems -- especially if he decides to hire an actual editor.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But the author falls victim to the old problem that leads writing teachers to beg their students: "Show. Don't Tell." We're constantly told things that should be shown. Add to that a deep need for an editor (the grammar's fine, but repeated paragraphs abound, including almost an entire chapter that is nothing but a copy of part of an earlier chapter). Based on what (admittedly little, mostly through hearsay from friends) I know of Indian culture, the descriptions of said culture in this book bear only a passing resemblance to actual Indian culture. One more nail in the coffin? The rather definitely NON-Indian person on the cover. If every character in the book is Indian, why does the woman on the cover appear white?
There is one good point: when the action (finally) gets going (at almost the end), Mr. Odato does quite well. It gives me hope that future books might not have the same problems -- especially if he decides to hire an actual editor.
August 10, 2016
I kept trying to figure out why this book just seemed to miss. There was plenty of horror and well defined characters and a storyline that was different than anything else I’ve read but it missed being a good read and quickly became an okay read.
I would have liked more of a back story on Kamilavati so I could have a better understanding of her character beyond the obvious and perhaps more details of the past history of the village. Also it seems odd that only two of the villagers remember what happened in the past.
I finally came to the conclusion that the story was dragged out too long. Also one of the chapters at the end of the book seemed to be missing since the end came about very abruptly without explaining a few things. Since this was a first effort I would be interested in seeing how the author continues to develop since there certainly are moments of very good writing within an okay book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway.
I would have liked more of a back story on Kamilavati so I could have a better understanding of her character beyond the obvious and perhaps more details of the past history of the village. Also it seems odd that only two of the villagers remember what happened in the past.
I finally came to the conclusion that the story was dragged out too long. Also one of the chapters at the end of the book seemed to be missing since the end came about very abruptly without explaining a few things. Since this was a first effort I would be interested in seeing how the author continues to develop since there certainly are moments of very good writing within an okay book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway.
July 30, 2014
I was surprised by this book. Even though I love intrigue and mystery, I am not a fan of violence and torture especially of the weak (children). With that said, I put aside 2 other books that I was reading and concentrated on this book only after the first chapter.
It was well written and kept your interest. It never slowed, but I could see where the author could have added more by not acknowledging early on who Kamilavati was.I think it could have been expanded on and gone in several directions. I would have liked the ending of the witch to have been more difficult. I understood that Mohan was an admirable spirit filled individual that would have trouble beheading someone, but in the end you knew he was prepared to do just that. To have forgiven her would have opened the door to a sequel to this one. Nice...
very good writing and I plan to look for others by Danny Odato.
It was well written and kept your interest. It never slowed, but I could see where the author could have added more by not acknowledging early on who Kamilavati was.I think it could have been expanded on and gone in several directions. I would have liked the ending of the witch to have been more difficult. I understood that Mohan was an admirable spirit filled individual that would have trouble beheading someone, but in the end you knew he was prepared to do just that. To have forgiven her would have opened the door to a sequel to this one. Nice...
very good writing and I plan to look for others by Danny Odato.
May 12, 2015
The witch's Revenge expresses the Indian tradition to it best and worst cases. A good blend of tradition, folklore,suspense, and horror.
In the village of Harangul of the Latur district of Maharashtra strange and bizarre things are happening to their people, innocent lives are taken. The villagers will do anything to stop this evil from doing any more harm. "They (will) relying on their faith, and their strength in number. United they will fight the daayan (witch).
A great story, a bit predictable but it surprised me in some aspects. The history of the village and the reason why this daayan was taking revenged. There was a flaw on the book, I don't know if it was intentional or not, but at the end of chapter twenty-three it described the same conversation as of the end of chapter sixteen. other than that i found the story pleasant to read. I loved the plot, and the diversity of the characters. Great read. 4 Stars.
Received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
In the village of Harangul of the Latur district of Maharashtra strange and bizarre things are happening to their people, innocent lives are taken. The villagers will do anything to stop this evil from doing any more harm. "They (will) relying on their faith, and their strength in number. United they will fight the daayan (witch).
A great story, a bit predictable but it surprised me in some aspects. The history of the village and the reason why this daayan was taking revenged. There was a flaw on the book, I don't know if it was intentional or not, but at the end of chapter twenty-three it described the same conversation as of the end of chapter sixteen. other than that i found the story pleasant to read. I loved the plot, and the diversity of the characters. Great read. 4 Stars.
Received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
January 6, 2016
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
The book overall was just okay for me. I think it is pretty well done for a self-published author and for what I think may be a second language as well. The writing is simple, but you can follow the story pretty easily.
It was refreshing to get the whole village involved in the plotline, rather than just one family, but it still focuses nicely on one family. Sometimes the names were a little confusing or hard to keep track, but I am not familiar with Indian names or culture, so that was probably more my fault.
I don't think I am normally a huge fan of suspense or horror. It carried over into the reading of this novel. It was still decent though, so if you normally like suspense or horror you will probably enjoy this book.
The book overall was just okay for me. I think it is pretty well done for a self-published author and for what I think may be a second language as well. The writing is simple, but you can follow the story pretty easily.
It was refreshing to get the whole village involved in the plotline, rather than just one family, but it still focuses nicely on one family. Sometimes the names were a little confusing or hard to keep track, but I am not familiar with Indian names or culture, so that was probably more my fault.
I don't think I am normally a huge fan of suspense or horror. It carried over into the reading of this novel. It was still decent though, so if you normally like suspense or horror you will probably enjoy this book.
July 30, 2014
I won this one on Goodreads and it took me a while to get around to reading it. Once I started thougth I had trouble putting it down. The story really pulled you in. It's truly horrific as far as horror books go and not at all predictable. It's set in a small village in India so Hindu is the religion. This setting and culture really makes it a very different type of story. My only complaint is that pages 107 and 144 are identical. I'm not sure if this was by design because the main character is reflecting a conversation or if it was a mistake. It was an awfully long section to duplicate if it was just a reflection. Distracting to say the least. I completely quit reading and went back to see if I was seeing things right. It's still a great horror story and not for the faint of heart.
March 16, 2014
Well I know that this book is mystical, but the pages almost turned themselves! Seriously a definite page-turner.The author immediately engages the reader with the terrifying tale. The stranger in the midst of the close-knit community effortlessly devours it with spiteful malice and a large doze of witchcraft. She hides inside her dark home and conjures images of many a neighbor in the here and now..... Yes, so although fiction, it packs a magnificent right-hand wallop of reality. There is a grand thread of cultural wisdom throughout the story which is superb. Anyone who likes a book that enjoys goosebumps by the bucketful should treat themselves to a copy.
August 31, 2014
I won The Witch's Revenge on the giveaways a while ago and I never got around to review it so I decided I would do it now.I liked it especially because i'm a fan of the supernatural and horror. There were few mistakes like in the last sentence of page 59, paragraph 3 where it said Ragini instead of Vidya and page 145 paragraph 2 where it said Gupta instead of Joshi and that's pretty much it. I didn't like that when Mohan was recalling something it was word for word the same thing and i would have also liked to have read what happened after the killed Kamilavati and what happened to the teacher Mrs.Laxman but besides that i enjoyed reading it.
August 24, 2014
A small community in India is experiencing strange phenomena. Their children go missing at first and then are found brutally murdered in the forest. Rumors point to an old woman who is new to the town. Turns out she is a dark witch from an ancient family whose members were persecuted by this town's ancestors. She has returned to avenge their deaths and plans to start with killing all the children. The community bands together, after suffering terrible losses, to defeat this demonic force. I was not sure if this was an actual legend in India, but it is worth the read if you are looking in the horror genre. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy.
June 17, 2014
I did receive this book free through Goodreads First Reads. "The Witch's Revenge" is a story that blends suspense/supernatural with Indian tradition. The story line is strong and entertaining, though the dialogue fell flat for me in many places. There were parts of the story that would contradict what I'd already read and a repeat on almost a whole chapter. Even with those distractions I still managed to get drawn into the story and truly enjoy it. With better editing this book would have easily went from a three star to a five star rating for me.
June 29, 2014
The setting for The Witch's Revenge is a small village in India. A strange woman moves into the empty house next to the Nehra family. Is it not long before children start dying and others get seriously injured. The village suspect that there is evil in their village. They go to their religious leaders to help them.
The Witch's Revenge was a free book from Goodreads. The book is full of the culture of the village, how the families interact with one another. And of course there is the witch that they must get rid of. This is a well written story of good vs evil.
The Witch's Revenge was a free book from Goodreads. The book is full of the culture of the village, how the families interact with one another. And of course there is the witch that they must get rid of. This is a well written story of good vs evil.
July 19, 2014
Being an avid reader, I found this book to be a contradiction for me. I hated it more with the turn of each page. That being said, I couldn't stop reading it. In my humble opinion, that is the mark of a truly great read! This story was disturbing on SO many levels, but also completely engrossing.
I look forward to future books by this author. To keep me repulsed and absorbed in the story at the same time is quite the accomplishment.
I look forward to future books by this author. To keep me repulsed and absorbed in the story at the same time is quite the accomplishment.
June 9, 2014
I began reading The Witch's Revenge by Danny Odato a few days ago and just couldn't put it down until I had time to finish it. I enjoyed reading a book that involved another culture and I love horror, suspense, and similar type material. I really got into the closeness of the community and felt much compassion for Padma and Mohan. I enjoyed learning about some of the culture that was an added plus in reading this book. Very good reading material.
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May 18, 2014United we stand.
This is not a bad little yarn. I would have preferred if the story had been fleshed out a bit more. A longer back story, perhaps. A bit more depth to the characters and some more details on life in the colony would have been nice. In any case, I enjoyed the story. It was a good way to spend a few hours on the weekend.
This is not a bad little yarn. I would have preferred if the story had been fleshed out a bit more. A longer back story, perhaps. A bit more depth to the characters and some more details on life in the colony would have been nice. In any case, I enjoyed the story. It was a good way to spend a few hours on the weekend.
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