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whatyoutolkienabout's review
5.0
Review
I was kindly given an e-arc to review by the author. Now anyone who knows me knows I love a good horror novel. With a Blighted Touch is not just a good horror novel it is a great one! I was hooked from the start and just had to keep going till the end to find out what was going to happen next.
With a Blight Touch sees Christopher ‘Kit’ McNeil having to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains, the small town called Black Rock, known for it’s unusual and prevalent blight that taints all vegetation. After eighteen years of staying away an unexpected death calls Kit home and sees him facing his past and a terrifying secret he’s held since he was twelve. A talented guitarist but with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with his old best friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They can’t help but wonder if it’s all connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they kids and if the creepy local family is at the centre of it all. Perhaps the strangest happening is that almost half of their high school graduating class have died. When more shredded bodies being to appear, Kit’s bad luck sees him become a suspect. But what he discovers his more frightening than he could have imagined. Evil has set its sights on him and his friends and won’t stop until it gets what it needs. Will Kit and his friends be able to band together and stop the evil? Or will a new reign of terror begin that the Cherokee who once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more?
If you are looking for a chilling and creepy horror look no further. With elements of eldritch horror and an interesting cast of characters With a Blighted Touch offers a captivating read that is sure to keep you hooked. The first thing I enjoyed was that Kit is not your normal protagonist, a little older with a string of bad choices under his belt and burnt bridges from his past it was interesting to see his character evolve in the novel. But it isn’t only Kit who gets chance to shine, each character is fleshed out (pun intended) and well developed.
Now this is going to be difficult to review without spoiling so I’m going to compromise. While there won’t be a lot of spoilers I’m going to have to talk about the ‘monsters’ in this because I have never been more creeped out than I have when reading about them. When Kingrea gives you three murderous, supernatural children with dead eyes and sharp claws and teeth you better be ready to be scared. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was that freaked out. Now this is obviously a massive positive because Kingrea nails the horror in this aspect but I honestly have to say I found them more terrifying that Uyaga. Speaking of Uyaga was a brilliantly terrifying monster in her own right with elements of the eldritch to her it was hard not to be scared but also love her at the same time.
The plot and pacing is another thing I adored. Everything happens so fast, relatively speaking, and while the pace is quick I never felt anything was rushed. We learn about the land, the blight, Uyaga, the connection to the family in Black Rock and also about the characters along the way and not once did I feel like there was an information dump or too much or too little happening. In short, for me, it was perfectly balanced between learning about the past, focusing on the present and about the town and characters.
I think it is safe to say Kingrea will be an instant author now. If you love horror I find it hard to believe you won’t love With a Blighted Touch. Also that ending (no spoilers) was perfection!
Hashtags
#WithABlightedTouch #JToddKingrea #BHCPress #ARCReview #AD #BookReview #BookReview #BookReviewer #BookBlogger #BookHoader #FantasticRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book
I was kindly given an e-arc to review by the author. Now anyone who knows me knows I love a good horror novel. With a Blighted Touch is not just a good horror novel it is a great one! I was hooked from the start and just had to keep going till the end to find out what was going to happen next.
With a Blight Touch sees Christopher ‘Kit’ McNeil having to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains, the small town called Black Rock, known for it’s unusual and prevalent blight that taints all vegetation. After eighteen years of staying away an unexpected death calls Kit home and sees him facing his past and a terrifying secret he’s held since he was twelve. A talented guitarist but with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with his old best friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They can’t help but wonder if it’s all connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they kids and if the creepy local family is at the centre of it all. Perhaps the strangest happening is that almost half of their high school graduating class have died. When more shredded bodies being to appear, Kit’s bad luck sees him become a suspect. But what he discovers his more frightening than he could have imagined. Evil has set its sights on him and his friends and won’t stop until it gets what it needs. Will Kit and his friends be able to band together and stop the evil? Or will a new reign of terror begin that the Cherokee who once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more?
If you are looking for a chilling and creepy horror look no further. With elements of eldritch horror and an interesting cast of characters With a Blighted Touch offers a captivating read that is sure to keep you hooked. The first thing I enjoyed was that Kit is not your normal protagonist, a little older with a string of bad choices under his belt and burnt bridges from his past it was interesting to see his character evolve in the novel. But it isn’t only Kit who gets chance to shine, each character is fleshed out (pun intended) and well developed.
Now this is going to be difficult to review without spoiling so I’m going to compromise. While there won’t be a lot of spoilers I’m going to have to talk about the ‘monsters’ in this because I have never been more creeped out than I have when reading about them. When Kingrea gives you three murderous, supernatural children with dead eyes and sharp claws and teeth you better be ready to be scared. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was that freaked out. Now this is obviously a massive positive because Kingrea nails the horror in this aspect but I honestly have to say I found them more terrifying that Uyaga. Speaking of Uyaga was a brilliantly terrifying monster in her own right with elements of the eldritch to her it was hard not to be scared but also love her at the same time.
The plot and pacing is another thing I adored. Everything happens so fast, relatively speaking, and while the pace is quick I never felt anything was rushed. We learn about the land, the blight, Uyaga, the connection to the family in Black Rock and also about the characters along the way and not once did I feel like there was an information dump or too much or too little happening. In short, for me, it was perfectly balanced between learning about the past, focusing on the present and about the town and characters.
I think it is safe to say Kingrea will be an instant author now. If you love horror I find it hard to believe you won’t love With a Blighted Touch. Also that ending (no spoilers) was perfection!
Hashtags
#WithABlightedTouch #JToddKingrea #BHCPress #ARCReview #AD #BookReview #BookReview #BookReviewer #BookBlogger #BookHoader #FantasticRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book
indiebookaddict's review
4.0
Kit returns to his hometown after many years. Recent disappearances bring Kit’s haunted past front and center and the authorities think he may be responsible. Kit and his friends have little time to put all the pieces together before it’s too late.
Kingrea did a great job with this book. The pacing was good, which really kept me engaged. Add some suspense, terror and enjoyable characters and you have this entertaining read. I loved the small town setting too. The author really brought Black Rock to life. I found it super easy to relate to the main character, Kit. Down on his luck, internal struggles, but he still tries to suppress all of that to help others. I thought he was a great character!
If you’re looking for a chilling and creepy read, this is for you. I’d recommend this to fans of small town horror, cursed beings and the supernatural.
“For I have marked you and will always be waiting for you in the darkness.”
Kingrea did a great job with this book. The pacing was good, which really kept me engaged. Add some suspense, terror and enjoyable characters and you have this entertaining read. I loved the small town setting too. The author really brought Black Rock to life. I found it super easy to relate to the main character, Kit. Down on his luck, internal struggles, but he still tries to suppress all of that to help others. I thought he was a great character!
If you’re looking for a chilling and creepy read, this is for you. I’d recommend this to fans of small town horror, cursed beings and the supernatural.
“For I have marked you and will always be waiting for you in the darkness.”
goobersmom57's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this. It was creepy, and dark and exciting.
I loved the ancient lore, and the relatable characters.
The slow build up in the beginning was perfect for this story, as it kept me turning the pages not entirely sure what was coming. Once I hit that midway point it was an intense and unputdownable read.
This is my exact definition of a roller coaster read. Slow anxiety ridden anticipation of what’s coming, just to hit that point where there is no going back and everything starts coming quick, with a nice smooth ending point.
Thanks so much J. Todd Kingrea this was a blast to read. I look forward to seeing what else you put out for us.
I loved the ancient lore, and the relatable characters.
The slow build up in the beginning was perfect for this story, as it kept me turning the pages not entirely sure what was coming. Once I hit that midway point it was an intense and unputdownable read.
This is my exact definition of a roller coaster read. Slow anxiety ridden anticipation of what’s coming, just to hit that point where there is no going back and everything starts coming quick, with a nice smooth ending point.
Thanks so much J. Todd Kingrea this was a blast to read. I look forward to seeing what else you put out for us.
annasbookishbrew's review
4.0
Thank you so much for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
~ It was the dread humanity had sought to escape with illumination and activity and noise that forever lurks just beyond the edge of the light. It was the primal horror of man huddled in a cave during the first eclipse. It was a creak in a dark house, the chill in a graveyard, the petrifying awareness of being followed but seeing no one.~
Synopsis: Guitarist Kit must return to his hometown because of an unexpected tragedy. Quickly he finds himself confronted by the memories of the past...by the horrifying things he saw as a child and the secrets he never dared to tell anyone. When he learns that since he left many people here have died in the most obscure circumstances, he understands that the evil entity he felt as a child was and still is very real. And Kit might be the only one to stop this ancient curse to save the ones he loves.
I personally really enjoyed this story! On one hand, the main character and his crew were fun to follow and I absolutely rooted for them. On the other hand some scenes were really disturbing in the best way possible. Some descriptions made my stomach churn. The author described the smell and textures of certain beings in a way that gave me goosebumps or made me stop reading because I needed a break
~ It was the dread humanity had sought to escape with illumination and activity and noise that forever lurks just beyond the edge of the light. It was the primal horror of man huddled in a cave during the first eclipse. It was a creak in a dark house, the chill in a graveyard, the petrifying awareness of being followed but seeing no one.~
Synopsis: Guitarist Kit must return to his hometown because of an unexpected tragedy. Quickly he finds himself confronted by the memories of the past...by the horrifying things he saw as a child and the secrets he never dared to tell anyone. When he learns that since he left many people here have died in the most obscure circumstances, he understands that the evil entity he felt as a child was and still is very real. And Kit might be the only one to stop this ancient curse to save the ones he loves.
I personally really enjoyed this story! On one hand, the main character and his crew were fun to follow and I absolutely rooted for them. On the other hand some scenes were really disturbing in the best way possible. Some descriptions made my stomach churn. The author described the smell and textures of certain beings in a way that gave me goosebumps or made me stop reading because I needed a break
nbucaro15's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
I love the trope of someone going back to their small town and shit hitting the fan once they're there. Therefore, this book was an easy sell for me. This book surrounds our main character, Kit going back to the small town he grew up in, Black Rock. He and his best friend always thought the town was cursed. One great example is that of their graduating class of 129, 54 are dead! What or who is causing all these deaths and how is Kit involved?
I found the main character relatable. He's your everyday person who's made some mistakes and hasn't "made it" in life, but you root for him and want the best for him. I struggled with the Dunley family characters because I personally hate reading about people that are bullies. It just makes me angry, especially when these characters are one dimensional and we don't understand their POV/rationale for acting that terribly. However, their part in the story is important and overall well done/explained in a satisfying way. The atmosphere in the book I felt was there, but could have been more. The blight affecting this small town, Black Rock, matters, but I feel like we didn't actually get that much imagery of it. However, the atmosphere and scare factor are there in the creepy children! The scenes with the children got me! I feel the pacing of this story was done well. It gradually goes from unsettling, to creepy, to scary, with a great culminating scene and satisfying ending.
I love the trope of someone going back to their small town and shit hitting the fan once they're there. Therefore, this book was an easy sell for me. This book surrounds our main character, Kit going back to the small town he grew up in, Black Rock. He and his best friend always thought the town was cursed. One great example is that of their graduating class of 129, 54 are dead! What or who is causing all these deaths and how is Kit involved?
I found the main character relatable. He's your everyday person who's made some mistakes and hasn't "made it" in life, but you root for him and want the best for him. I struggled with the Dunley family characters because I personally hate reading about people that are bullies. It just makes me angry, especially when these characters are one dimensional and we don't understand their POV/rationale for acting that terribly. However, their part in the story is important and overall well done/explained in a satisfying way. The atmosphere in the book I felt was there, but could have been more. The blight affecting this small town, Black Rock, matters, but I feel like we didn't actually get that much imagery of it. However, the atmosphere and scare factor are there in the creepy children! The scenes with the children got me! I feel the pacing of this story was done well. It gradually goes from unsettling, to creepy, to scary, with a great culminating scene and satisfying ending.
torilind13's review
4.0
Kit McNeil is chronically unlucky in life. After getting fired from his band, he learns of his mother's death and travels home to Black Rock, Tennessee, a town just as unlucky as him. Black Rock has always been surrounded with odd happenings and mysterious deaths. After learning that nearly half his graduating class has already died, Kit starts looking into all the deaths and finds that he is somehow connected. Soon he becomes the suspect of a cop's murder and is hunted by three murderous children. To save himself and the town, he must face an ancient, evil being responsible for all of Black Rock's dark history.
The writing in this book was really good and face paced. The level of description felt very similar to Stephen King and Dan Simmons, as well as the overall plot. I always love a horror story that has regular, every day bullies and also a much worse supernatural evil entity. This book combined those two elements well. The history of the bullies, the Dunley family, was great and provided great detail to how the town became such a dark place. The evil being was spooky and the book had a good amount of creepy scenes with the unnatural children attacking Kit and other characters.
Sometimes the book would go from one scene to another with just a new paragraph. I feel like some sort of spacing or even a chapter break would make this a bit cleaner. But overall, the writing was really good and I enjoyed the plot. The main character was likable and the book had a good amount of other side characters to make it dynamic and realistic.
This book comes out on October 24th, 2023!
With a Blighted Touch by J. Todd Kingrea
The writing in this book was really good and face paced. The level of description felt very similar to Stephen King and Dan Simmons, as well as the overall plot. I always love a horror story that has regular, every day bullies and also a much worse supernatural evil entity. This book combined those two elements well. The history of the bullies, the Dunley family, was great and provided great detail to how the town became such a dark place. The evil being was spooky and the book had a good amount of creepy scenes with the unnatural children attacking Kit and other characters.
Sometimes the book would go from one scene to another with just a new paragraph. I feel like some sort of spacing or even a chapter break would make this a bit cleaner. But overall, the writing was really good and I enjoyed the plot. The main character was likable and the book had a good amount of other side characters to make it dynamic and realistic.
This book comes out on October 24th, 2023!
With a Blighted Touch by J. Todd Kingrea
shennelleinez's review
5.0
I’m going to go ahead and say that this book is officially in my top 10 ever.
ＡＲＣ- ＲＥＡＤ
Plagued with bad luck Kit continues to roll with the punches. Until the death of his mom brings him back to his hometown, that also seems to be full of bad luck.
This book is well rounded of conquering childhood bullies, rekindling relationships with childhood friends, and breaking curses. It kept me up at night and left me thinking of it for days after. Full disclaimer, I finish this book two days ago and needed to get my head right to even get to here.
This is the perfect book to kick off spooky season. With hints of paranormal as well as a psychological thrill this book will have you questioning two things.
1 - Exactly how many in my graduating class have passed away?
And
2 - Is this ranch still good
ＡＲＣ- ＲＥＡＤ
Plagued with bad luck Kit continues to roll with the punches. Until the death of his mom brings him back to his hometown, that also seems to be full of bad luck.
This book is well rounded of conquering childhood bullies, rekindling relationships with childhood friends, and breaking curses. It kept me up at night and left me thinking of it for days after. Full disclaimer, I finish this book two days ago and needed to get my head right to even get to here.
This is the perfect book to kick off spooky season. With hints of paranormal as well as a psychological thrill this book will have you questioning two things.
1 - Exactly how many in my graduating class have passed away?
And
2 - Is this ranch still good
opheliasviolence's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
When a horror book seeps into my nightmares, I'd say the author did an excellent job writing a good story.
I had a good time reading this (at night) This has everything I love about small town horror. A hero down on his luck, childhood memories, secrets, etc.
The characters we got to root for: Kit, Troy, Courtney were likable & well written. The villains were perfect. I don't want to give too much away. Let's just say we get a variety. The descriptions that we get are well done and very disgusting.
Once the action gets going, you won't want to stop reading. The ending had me at the edge of my seat. I loved it.
If you enjoy Stephen King, specifically Salem's Lot and IT or Stranger Things, even The X Files, this is the perfect read.
Thank you so much to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.
I had a good time reading this (at night) This has everything I love about small town horror. A hero down on his luck, childhood memories, secrets, etc.
The characters we got to root for: Kit, Troy, Courtney were likable & well written. The villains were perfect. I don't want to give too much away. Let's just say we get a variety. The descriptions that we get are well done and very disgusting.
Once the action gets going, you won't want to stop reading. The ending had me at the edge of my seat. I loved it.
If you enjoy Stephen King, specifically Salem's Lot and IT or Stranger Things, even The X Files, this is the perfect read.
Thank you so much to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.
connorjdaley's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just a bit late with this one, but I bought an audiobook copy to help me catch up. The narration from Nathaniel Gray was very good and added to my enjoyment.
The town of Black Rock was always referred to as cursed, but what if it actually was, genuinely? This is a horror novel that features a dark, ancient entity plaguing the town with disappearances, surprising deaths, and bad luck. Kit thought he had gotten out, taken his guitar and moved on with his life. But a surprise visit home, due to the loss of his mother, has drawn him right back into the craziness—and he’s front and center for the show.
For me, Kit wasn’t the most interesting or endearing main character I’ve ever read. However, I did like the fact that he’s forty, a bit heavy, and kind of at rock bottom. It was at least of interest to read a story that doesn’t feature the typical main. And Kit was not without qualities. His willingness to sacrifice is quite a good one, too.
The ancient Uyaga’s use of children was very disturbing, and the description of how they looked made me think along the lines of NOS4A2, which I quite liked, but the stories are very different.
Personally a 4/5*, a nice horror entry, but with quite a quick climax.
bibliophileroxy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0