Review: what a treat.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2013
This was a fun and eerie read.This book was a nice pleasant surprise. Usually, I'm not a big fan of the stories like this, about some kid reminiscing about a witch in the neighborhood, but Mark Parker really delivers with this one.When I first started reading this book this morning, I initially only wanted to read a few pages, but due to the nice flow of the story, I finished it in a sitting. Mark Parker has a nice fluid writing style, with a narrative style a little bit similar to Clive Barker with beautiful descriptions burrowed in a very personable narrative.The only real two qualms I had were at some points I felt some of the adverbs could have been chopped down a little, but even so, it didn't detract from the story or the flow all that much; it's just a thing that would improve upon an already nice flow. And there were a few points where the author pointed out something that was already known, repeating himself a couple of times. But, again, nothing major, just a cosmetic issue.The characters are great and flawed, which made them easy to relate with. The story was engaging and the author knows how to play well with tension, and his ability to create an eerie atmosphere is excellent. The book is well edited and I really want to read more because I feel truly invested in this story and the characters.I went into this story ready to pick it apart, but came out pleasantly surprised. I had a few minor issues, but overall this is a great read. Mark Parker has a great voice, and I look forward to reading more of his work.Highly recommended.