Book Summary:
An engrossing and atmospheric debut that follows young Weatherly Wilder as she uses her unique gift to solve her cousin’s mysterious murder and prove her own innocence, set in the beautiful wilds of Appalachia and imbued with magic realism.
In a small town in rural Georgia, Appalachian roots and traditions still run deep. Folks paint their houses blue to keep the spirits way. Black ferns grow, it’s said, where death will follow. And Weatherly Wilder’s grandmother is a local Granny Witch, relied on for help delivering babies, making herbal remedies, tending to the sick—and sometimes serving up a fatal dose of revenge when she deems it worthy. Hyper-religious, she rules Weatherly with an iron fist; because Weatherly has a rare and covetable gift: she’s a Death Talker. Weatherly, when called upon, can talk the death out of the dying; only once, never twice. But in her short twenty years on this Earth this gift has taken a toll, rooting her to the small town that only wants her around when they need her and resents her backwater ways when they don’t—and how could she ever leave, if it meant someone could die while she was gone?
Weatherly’s best friend and cousin, Adaire, also has a gift: she’s a Scryer; she can see the future reflected back in a dark surface, usually her scrying pan. Right before she’s hit and in a bicycle accident, Adaire saw something unnerving in the pan, that much Weatherly knows, and she is certain this is why the mayor killed her cousin—she doesn’t believe for a moment that it was an accident. But when the mayor’s son lays dying and Weatherly, for the first time, is unable to talk the death of him, the whole town suspects she was out for revenge, that she wouldn’t save him. Weatherly, with the help of Adaire’s spirit, sets out to prove her own innocence and find Adaire’s killer, no matter what it takes.
Review
Well! This is not your usual story! Weatherly has a unique gift. She is a death talker. She can talk people out of dying. Being from rural Georgia and the Appalachian mountains, Weatherly is used to superstitions and strange behavior. Her grandmother is considered a witch of the region and has raised Weatherly but she has also used her and her gift. When Weatherly’s cousin Adaire was hit by a car and killed, Weatherly knows she must use everything in her power to find out what happened even if it alienates everyone around her.
I really enjoyed this unique novel. I was captivated by Weatherly and her gift. Talk about a strange family and strange situations. Weatherly is truly gifted, but she is also a bit abused by her grandmother. As she gets older, she realizes, her grandmother has not been truthful and has kept many secrets.
This story is rich with superstitions and a bit of the supernatural. It also has fabulous characters and a good mystery to boot!
Need a unique tale with a bit of sorcery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Author Bio:
Dana Elmendorf was born and raised in small town in Tennessee. She now lives in Southern California with her husband, two boys and two dogs. When she isn’t exercising, she can be found geeking out with Mother Nature. After four years of college and an assortment of jobs, she wrote a contemporarty YA novel. This is her adult debut.
Social Links:
Author website: https://www.danaelmendorf.com/p/home.html
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12099732.Dana_Elmendorf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danaelmendorf/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaElmendorfAuthor/
Buy Links:
HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-the-hour-of-crows-dana-elmendorf?variant=41105349050402
BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-the-hour-of-crows-original-dana-elmendorf/20588600?ean=9780778310495
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-hour-of-crows-dana-elmendorf/1144020590?ean=9780778310495
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