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The Devon Bookshop
There are ghosts in The Devon Bookshop . Could there be angels? And witches? Matt is sure they don’t exist. Acacia knows they do. Matt’s dead aunt, Wiladelle, unhinged while alive is still unhinged, now dead and is set to cause problems for Matt and the people he cares about. Matt and Acacia’s comfortable lives are thrown into disarray as first ghosts, then witches cause upheaval. Matt wants to bring order to the chaos. Acacia wants to protect the people she loves. Family, friendship and love will all be challenged as hostile witches appear one at a time, threatening everything Matt and Acacia hold dear. Luckily Acacia’s beliefs are very different to Matt’s and allies come forward to help with the battle. Are they up to the fight?
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 3, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Devon Bookshop is a dark fantasy by debut author V. E. Hall. Released 14th Nov 2022, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a quirky paranormal fantasy set in and around a bookshop. There are ghosts (oh, so many ghosts), witches, benign and malign influences and a semi-hapless couple running the bookshop who believe (Acacia) or not (Matt) in the supernatural influences in their environs.
It's charming by turns, the author has created a simple but entertaining story. The writing is choppy and unfinished in places; there's -so- much telling and not a lot of showing in her writing style. The basic story is solid, though, and nothing that wouldn't be fixed with a firm editing process.
Three and a half stars. It's unclear from the denouement (and the author's website) if this will be a continuing series, but at the present time, there are no announcements of upcoming books. It does work well as a standalone, however.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Devon Bookshop is a dark fantasy by debut author V. E. Hall. Released 14th Nov 2022, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a quirky paranormal fantasy set in and around a bookshop. There are ghosts (oh, so many ghosts), witches, benign and malign influences and a semi-hapless couple running the bookshop who believe (Acacia) or not (Matt) in the supernatural influences in their environs.
It's charming by turns, the author has created a simple but entertaining story. The writing is choppy and unfinished in places; there's -so- much telling and not a lot of showing in her writing style. The basic story is solid, though, and nothing that wouldn't be fixed with a firm editing process.
Three and a half stars. It's unclear from the denouement (and the author's website) if this will be a continuing series, but at the present time, there are no announcements of upcoming books. It does work well as a standalone, however.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 23, 2023
I admire an author who starts her novel with half her cast of characters already dead! And even some of her living characters turn out to be witches, or wizards, or charmers. And one must not forget Tiger, the psychic cat, who is in my opinion the most endearing character in the book.
Set in the market town of Holsworthy and the Cornish coastal resort of Bude the author weaves a quirky tale of dark revenge fought with magic wands and ghostly apparitions, and a constant supply of cups of coffee.
If you are looking for an easy read that is a bit different this is the book for you.
Set in the market town of Holsworthy and the Cornish coastal resort of Bude the author weaves a quirky tale of dark revenge fought with magic wands and ghostly apparitions, and a constant supply of cups of coffee.
If you are looking for an easy read that is a bit different this is the book for you.
March 2, 2023
What a great find! I absolutely loved this book and am so hoping that although the ending for this story was great that that may of been a little tease for a new book at the end! Keeping my fingers crossed.
March 8, 2023
This quirky book is set in a picturesque town in Devon. Engaging characters, charm and humour. Oh, and books, coffee and cake. What's not to love? Harry Potter for grown ups! I hope this is the first of many.
November 12, 2023
***SPOILER ALERT***
Writing so amateurish it hurts.
*Everything* is told to you, not shown. There's no drama in the (what are supposed to be?) dramatic parts, no pain, no humour. (Well, that's not strictly true: Milton's death was unintentionally amusing, due to the badly written suddenness and the universal lack of grief and mourning from his friends and comrades. I've felt more emotion in a shopping list.) Everyone is related, but I'm the least interesting way imaginable: this is the monotone level of the revelations: Ooh, we look alike. Could you be my dad? Yes, you're my dad... and so on.
There actually a decent plot hiding under this bushel of tedium, but truly, save yourself, don't bother.
Writing so amateurish it hurts.
*Everything* is told to you, not shown. There's no drama in the (what are supposed to be?) dramatic parts, no pain, no humour. (Well, that's not strictly true: Milton's death was unintentionally amusing, due to the badly written suddenness and the universal lack of grief and mourning from his friends and comrades. I've felt more emotion in a shopping list.) Everyone is related, but I'm the least interesting way imaginable: this is the monotone level of the revelations: Ooh, we look alike. Could you be my dad? Yes, you're my dad... and so on.
There actually a decent plot hiding under this bushel of tedium, but truly, save yourself, don't bother.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews