"Within the pages of this eerily atmospheric novel set in Scotland during 1841 dwells an entirely captivating, and entirely chilling story."
Slicing its way into my thoughts, this novel caught hold of my imagination from the very start and refused to release me from its grip. Joseph Ware finds himself snared by the Witch Tree, where a woman was executed in 1567, when he determines to catch a falling chestnut that legend promises will grant every desire. Author Scott O’Neill has the ability to take whispers of dreams and magnify them into nightmares. HIs descriptive detailing is so vivid, there were times when I wanted to shut my eyes to protect myself, and yet I couldn’t stop reading. The sense of place, particularly around Braid House on the outskirts of Edinburgh was intense. Family and love are planted in the centre of the plot, and then the supernatural twists its way into the tale. While the uncanny haunts the pages, the torture and terror arrive from another direction. There is a decided edge to this gothic horror story, it isn’t a carefree read where you can hang your conscience up before diving in, it made me wince and consider and delve into my own thoughts. And yet, it is oh-so readable, with heart and resilience and hope available to those who seek it. Hauntingly captivating, The Witch, the Seed, and the Scalpel carves its way into being, shaking thoughts and feelings out into freefall.
| Primary Genre | Horror and Supernatural Fiction |
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