Book Review: Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch by Ian Conner

 

The Ghost-Witch is one of the scariest figures in Passamaquoddy mythology. It is often said to be born from the dead body of a shaman who practiced black magic. The demonic entity then emerges each night with murder on its mind. It can't be killed but destroyed and temporarily only banished.

Sheriff John Alton has a supernatural serial killer in the Village of Nollesemic Maine. The same one who appears every twenty years. The Two Spears and Four Claws Clans have battled the centuries-old evil that has plagued their clans for generations. A source of great shame for the clans. So much so, that it is never spoken about outside of the tribe.  Now the evil has returned, once again threatening the lives of a young mother and her twin babies.

Maggie Four Claws, Grandma Opal, and the rest of the clans move into action to hunt down and banish the Ghost Witch. Will they find the evil in time enough to banish it and save Rebecca and her babies?

 

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REVIEW

Intertwined with Native American lore Ian Conner weaves a seducing chilling tale that tells the story of the Skadegamutc or Ghost Witch. Conner grabs you at the first page as she sets us up in 16th-century Maine, Onata Village. We are given a tale of a bewitching beautiful Maidan seen by four sisters under the moonlight by the lake. When the Maiden request that they bring newborn twins that are to be born soon into their tribe in exchange for beauty, their tribe becomes alerted, and the Evil is discovered. The Evil is banished but not destroyed; cursing it will return.

Here is our setup for Ghost Witch as Conner takes you from past to present to past to tell this horrifying curse tale of the Ghost Witch. Time jump's confused me, but Conner did it well with some fantastic writing.

Conner's writing is clean, fresh, and straightforward forward, making me gobble up every syllable he writes. Conner ultimately keeps you engaged with every word. 

I love Native American lore, and there have been books and movies based on Native American ghost stories. Conner does not disappoint with his nailing it ABSOLUTELY right!

Oh, and to add to the book's more spookiness, Ghost Witch is actually based on an actual legend associated with the Mikmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Abénaki tribes. Our tribe in our book is called the L'nu'k tribe, which is what the Mikmaq tribe often calls themselves. It means "The People." I did not find if Nollesemic Village existed, but there is a Nollesemic Lake in Maine and a Pequabuck Lake, which is a location in the book. I loved Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch. You will be lured under this book's spell too. Recommend READ!

My Rating ***** 5 stars and beyond!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ian Conner is retired military and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. Now living near San Diego, California, with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass, and creating worlds on the page. Conner has authored other novels, such as political thrillers The Price of Partisanship and The Long Game * Epic Fantasy/ Science Fiction of Griffins Perch and Coopers Ridge, or Fantasy Horror like Skadegamutc: Ghost Witch.

After a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.  He found art cathartic and a way to redefine himself both in his eyes and the eyes of others. Conner can be reached at ian@blackraptorbooks.com.