Review Detail

This is the perfect middle-grade read for those who love eerie stories of curses, witches even demons wrapped with magic and mystery but want to read something different/unique from what has been filling the market. The set is unique as well and the bog being bog has enough symbolism of time and history, giving magical vibes that help with the world-building.

The author chose to write a first-person present tense and we can hear Jim's comments as well. Plus the beginning has a very strange writing style, it seems the character is always all over the place. This has a reason to be. It helps a lot when we learn about the major plot twist. The author was clever in making us feel this way in the beginning: nothing is quite determined, explained, or set. All is very strange, and seems not to be explained why the parents left them and why Oliver is obsessed with notes, but all gets stitched together making it a great story.

I love an author that makes the end pay off and this book didn't disappoint.

I couldn't resist the cover although now that I read is quite bright for the story. Still, it's gorgeous.