The Witchfinder's Serpent

A teenager must confront an evil that has ties to 17th-century witch hunts in Goodwin's YA fantasy novel, the first of a prospective series. After losing their father, 14-year-old Nate Watson and his 12-year-old brother, Marc, go to live with their paternal aunt, whom they didn't know existed. They move from New York City and settle into Aunt Celia's Windsor, Connecticut, home and community for the better part of a year. But a locked room--the only place in Celia's home that's off-limits--is impossible for them to ignore, especially after Nate overhears his aunt having a conversation with someone there that indicates that she's keeping secrets from the boys. When the brothers later peek inside, they find books about demonology and witches, as well as a small, metal representation of a snake that wraps itself around Nate's wrist. They also inadvertently unleash an imprisoned menace named Malleus Hodge, who threatens Nate's friends and family in a bid to get the bracelet. Nate learns that he's up against dark "magick" and evil creatures, connected to the Watson family and centuries-old New England witch trials. Fortunately, he, Marc, and Celia have allies to help combat their sinister, daunting foe. Goodwin ably weaves real-life history into this swiftly paced narrative; intermittent chapters set in the mid-1600s reference the first-known person executed for witchcraft in the American colonies. This plotline intertwines with those of Nate's family and the villain they're determined to stop, and the periodically tightening bracelet serves as a constant reminder that time is short. A host of appealing characters make up the cast; at one point, for example, Nate and his pal Jenn Quigley appealingly challenge a hulking school bully, and Marc is amusingly curious throughout. For a series opener, the author supplies a wealth of details, including backstories and insight into various types of magick. The final act offers some closure while also revealing a few surprises that could kickstart a sequel. Well-developed characters enliven an absorbing novel that promises a bewitching saga to come.

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January 8, 2024
In his impressive debut, based on a true story, IT specialist trainer Goodwin toggles between witchcraft in the 1600s and present day to breathtaking effect. After their father’s death from lung cancer, Nate and his brother Marc are sent to live in Connecticut with a mysterious, previously unknown aunt. Celia—aka Alice, the daughter of a convicted and executed witch from the 1700s—has inherited the magick of her mother, including a seemingly impossible lifespan. After the brothers enter a forbidden room, they unintentionally unleash long-bottled-up evil that will threaten their lives and the lives of everyone they love.
Readers will immediately fall for Goodwin’s entire cast of characters. Nate comes across as an empathetic everyman (in his case, boy) who is racing to save himself and his loved ones from an unimaginable fate with a thoroughly evil actor, Matthew Hopkins aka Malleus Hodge, with dedicated, mysterious Aunt Celia and a-hundreds-of years-old shapeshifting bird as allies. Goodwin’s birds behave convincingly throughout, and his supporting characters ably underpin a tale that blends the spooky pleasures of New England history with a contemporary sensibility that finds words like “doth” amusing. A mysterious serpent bracelet also plays a central role, with the story’s villain determined to steal it and end the lives of everyone good.
Goodwin expertly ratchets up the tension throughout, keeping readers enthralled as they power through the narrative. He makes the unfathomable seem very plausible, with world-building that will easily captivate readers—many who will not know that the witch trials in Connecticut actually preceded the better-known Salem Witch Trials in nearby Massachusetts. His characters also command respect, and the motives of several seemingly innocent players will thoroughly shock readers at the tale’s conclusion. While intended for a YA audience, this lively, well-plotted fantasy thriller will command interest from adult readers as well.
Takeaway: Spellbinding tale of New England witchery with stellar twists.
Comparable Titles: Adriana Mather’s How to Hang a Witch, Sally Green’s Half Bad.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A