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Sheila Deeth
, September 19, 2019
(view all comments by Sheila Deeth)
Blending Anasazi mystery, Navajo legend, and Steven-King-style horror, WiZrD by Steven Zell is a terrifying teen adventure, with horror always just beneath the surface of a very convincing reality. In the hardback version, the protagonist is just coming of age, confusion over his changing body forming a background to the trials of a rapidly changing world... because he's just moved from the big city, and the town he ends up in is neither young nor old—it looks like a place just coming to life, but it hides a scary cycle of terror and death.
The novel moves smoothly between different points of view, creating sympathy for characters before it starts to change them, leaving the reader always trying to guess who or what might survive. It’s a tale of generous friendships, hidden histories, and shifting allegiances. A father’s love of art, a mother’s love of others, a boy’s need for love and a sister’s need for her brother… the perfectly imperfect family becomes real and relatable. Then the world, step by step, river by cave by graveyard, falls apart.
WiZrD starts with a bang, slows down, speeds up, then sprints to a haunting conclusion, leaving the reader breathless. It’s a powerfully scary tale and I’d love to read more by this author.
Disclosure: I met the author and borrowed the book, but now I need to buy my own copy.
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