A week has passed since Nate Watson defeated the evil warlock, Malleus Hodge, with the help of the witchfinder’s serpent, a magickal, snake-shaped bracelet once owned by Hodge himself. Unable to remove the ancient bracelet from his arm, Nate struggles to control the serpent’s immense powers.
As hellish monsters and once-dead creatures arrive accompanied by impossible displays of magick, it becomes clear that Hodge is back with a plan: to unleash a twenty-first century witch hysteria. Neighbor will be pitted against neighbor as the warlock stokes the flames of fear and paranoia to epic proportions.
With the help of his friends and a beautiful, mysterious visitor, Nate searches for a way to defeat Hodge for good—while coming to terms with loss, betrayal, and the fear that the serpent’s dark magicks are beginning to influence his behavior in unexpected ways.
What Nate doesn’t know is that a sinister pact drives Hodge, who will stop at nothing to fulfill a dark bargain several centuries in the making.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author, for this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The Witchfinder’s Sacrifice is a thrilling fantasy with supernatural and historical fiction elements. This is the 2nd book in the Witches of Windsor series, and it’s recommended to first read book one, “The Witchfinder’s Serpent,” to fully comprehend the characters’ backstories. The story follows teenager Nate Watson, who recently defeated evil warlock Malleus Hodge using a magical bracelet. Nate is now unable to remove the bracelet, which Hodge utilizes to send hellish monsters to Nate’s town.
The story is a classic tale of evil vs. good. Although it’s marketed for a YA audience, the series can be easily enjoyed by adults. Goodwin’s vivid writing and intriguing characters make for a compelling story, and the fast-paced plot keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
The story toggles between the 1600s Witch Trials and Nate’s present day. The story is told from a 3rd-person perspective and switches between multiple POVs in the past and present. As the POV jumps around, there’s not much character development, and it would be great to see further development of interesting side characters in future books.
Narrator Nick Morelli does a great job narrating. His clear and commanding voice lends itself perfectly to this fast-paced story, allowing listeners to easily follow the different POVs and timelines. Morelli’s performance is well balanced as he delivers excitement to the horrifying scenes and emotional intensity to the dialogue and historical scenes. Morelli also provides distinct, entertaining voices for the characters, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
Overall, this book is a perfect blend of historical, supernatural, horror, and YA fantasy. Fans of Harry Potter, Shadow and Bone, and Cassandra Clare’s books will definitely enjoy this series. If you’re looking for a fast-paced fantasy series that you can quickly devour, this series is a great option!
