The Price Guide to the Occult

The Price Guide to the Occult follows Nor Blackburn, a teenage witch living on Anathema Island off the Pacific Northwest coast. She comes from a long line of witches beginning with Rona Blackburn, who faced persecution from the island's founding families in 1853. Each Blackburn woman inherits one magical gift, but Nor's estranged mother Fern developed additional dark powers that brought destruction to their family. When Fern releases a book called The Price Guide to the Occult, offering supernatural services for a fee, Nor must confront both her family's past and her own growing abilities. The narrative moves between Nor's present-day struggles on the island and the multi-generational history of the Blackburns. The story incorporates elements of Pacific Northwest folklore, family curses, and the complex bonds between mothers and daughters. At its core, the book explores themes of identity, inheritance, and the cost of both accepting and rejecting one's legacy. The narrative raises questions about destiny versus choice, and what people will sacrifice for power.

Readers describe this book as atmospheric but underdeveloped. The consensus across review sites points to strong opening chapters that lose momentum. Readers appreciated: - The Pacific Northwest setting and moody atmosphere - LGBTQ+ representation - The intergenerational witch family concept - The dark, gothic tone - Clean, lyrical writing style Common criticisms: - Plot pacing slows significantly after the first third - Character relationships feel rushed and shallow - The ending leaves many questions unanswered - Content warnings needed for self-harm scenes - Marketing misleads readers expecting more romance Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (80+ ratings) One reader noted: "Beautiful writing but the story never quite delivers on its initial promise." Another mentioned: "The atmosphere carries it, but the plot fizzles out." Many reviews indicate readers wanted more development of both the magic system and character relationships.

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🌿 Author Leslye Walton was inspired to write this book after experiencing a particularly harsh winter storm on Puget Sound, where the story is set. 🌙 The book features nine distinct magical gifts possessed by the Blackburn women, each unique to the individual witch who manifests them. ⚡ The novel incorporates elements of real Pacific Northwest history, including the story of the first lighthouse keeper on Anvier Island. 🔮 Many of the herbal remedies and natural healing practices mentioned in the book are based on actual folk medicine traditions from the region. 🌊 The fictional Anvier Island where the story takes place was partially modeled after the San Juan Islands of Washington State, known for their misty atmosphere and isolated communities.