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    The Price Guide to the Occult
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    The Price Guide to the Occult
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    The Price Guide to the Occult
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Price Guide to the Occult

    Written by Leslye Walton

    Narrated by Whitney Dykhouse

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From the author of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender comes a haunting maelstrom of magic and murder in the lush, moody Pacific Northwest.

    When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Guilt and fear instead led the island's original eight settlers to burn "the witch" out of her home. So Rona cursed them. Fast-forward one hundred-some years: All Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. She has reason to hope: First, her supernatural powers, if they can be called that, are unexceptional. Second, her love life is nonexistent, which means she might escape the other perverse side effect of the matriarch's backfiring curse, too. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. Nor senses a storm coming and is pretty sure she'll be smack in the eye of it. In her second novel, Leslye Walton spins a dark, mesmerizing tale of a girl stumbling along the path toward self-acceptance and first love, even as the Price Guide's malevolent author—Nor's own mother—looms and threatens to strangle any hope for happiness.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMar 13, 2018
    ISBN9781543687538
    Unavailable
    The Price Guide to the Occult

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    Reviews for The Price Guide to the Occult

    3.5/5

    246 ratings19 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      I absolutely adored "The Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender" and was excited to see Walton had release another book. This is a very different book than "The Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender" but I still enjoyed it. I love Walton's writing style, although this book is not quite as unique and beautifully written as Ava Lavender, it's still very well done.Nor is the descendent of witches and has a painful past. She spends most of her time trying to not be noticed and trying to ignore her magical abilities. However, when her mother returns to terrorize the island Nor has to rethink her life and step up to the challenge.I loved the island setting and the interesting characters. The storyline involves magic and a theme of good vs. evil. Additionally, the book does feature a character who has historically had issues with self-harm and is trying to find meaning and self-worth in her life.I read this in a couple days and really enjoyed it. It is a bit slow at points but things really pick up at the end. The books is a bit open ended which made me wonder if this is going to be part of a series. I hope it is, I would love to read another book with this world, characters, and setting.Overall I would recommend; I enjoyed the small town setting and the malevolent magic. Just remember this is a very, very different book from "The Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender", it’s well done for what it is and I would recommend to people who enjoy paranormal YA books.
    • 1/5
      This book is not for me right now. I received this book fro Librarything Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I have tried to pick up this book several times and I cannot get into it. Every time I try I read a few pages and loose all interest. I would eventually like to try this again when I get into a better mood towards reading a book like this (maybe around Halloween?). I am a mood reader and need to be in the right mindset to read specific genres of books. Please give this a try if the synopsis sounds interesting to you!
    • 5/5
      I was so excited when I won this book in the early reviewers. I had heard so much hype about it and, I must say, it completely lived up to it. The world building is so beautiful and spooky in it's own way. The cover design and the painted edges are perfect for the ambience. The characters are top notch. This is just a really well written story that will leave you on the edge of your seat. 5 out of 5 stars.
    • 4/5
      Off the coast of Washington there is an small island and witches live there. A small town's worth of other people also live there but the witches are really the important bit. Well, semi-witches is probably the more accurate descriptor for the last 8 generations of Blackburn women. For hundreds of years this family of witches were powerful but good peeps overall. Unfortunately humans beings aren't known for their high tolerance for magical entities real or imagined. This lead to a many generations of witches being forced to constantly move when their neighbors tolerance levels peaked. So eventually one of these witches, Rona Blackburn, decides she's going to set up a life on a little remote Island where there's not even a dozen other inhabitants. Remote locale hermit lifestyle , all should be good and safe for Rona the witch. Yeah, not so much. Some 18th century drama goes down, there's fires set, babies are born, it's not good. So Rona, sick of all the problems her magic has brought to her life decides she's going to try and bind her powers and keep all the future generations of her family safe from what she's suffered. What results is more like a cruse than a protection and it is passed along to each generations Blackburn woman and then on to her one daughter and so on. Eight generations later our story begins with, Nor, who's chillin, living her life, when one a book arrives at the town psychic shop where she works. A book of available spells, incantation pricing, and an order form. A book of Blackburns spells that have been and should still be unusable due to the Blackburn biding curse. Only it appears Blackburn #8, Nor's mother, has found a way to achieve what ought not be achieved. Also, she's like a supermodel channeling her inner Charles Manson. This is not the best combo and pretty much all hell starts breaking loose from this point on. Good times!


      I honestly enjoyed this read. It was a quick fun read that I devoured in pretty much one sitting and that says a lot for a book. I'm ADD to the extreme and this a chronic book jumper. This novel kept my attention firmly in place. It brought to mind books like L.J. Smith's Secret Circle trilogy, and Lana Popovic's Wicked like a Wildfire. I think this book be a pretty good matchup for anyone who has read and enjoyed those stories. I believe this book should be available to the public on March 13, 2018.
    • 5/5
      Loved this so much. The words offer amazing visuals, and I can already see the movie in my mind. My only complaint is the teaser that there is more to come; I tend to prefer the neatly tied up ending.
    • 3/5
      I liked it well enough and it's more clearly YA than The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, which fell into that odd place between high YA and Adult and never quite found as much of an audience as it deserved because of it. But, this was also lacking the lyricality and depth of Ava Lavender. It also feels like the start of a series, but like that was an afterthough—like this was meant to be a stand-alone and, somewhere toward the end of the writing, someone thought these characters would be good in a series—and I'm not really sure if I cared enough about Nor or her friends and family to read more about them.
    • 5/5
      Hooks you from the first page with gritty and down to earth heart and pain.
    • 3/5
      I read this author's first book The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and found, while the plot was pretty unmemorable, the writing was hauntingly beautiful and carried me through the book absorbing each and every word. So I was excited to be lucky enough to read this book. What I found was a completely opposite experience. This book had a pretty decent and memorable plot but the beautiful writing was gone. What happened?? My first experience with this author led me to believe each word of the book had been sat over and contemplated until just the exact meaning and emotion were expressed. So much so that the plot was secondary. On the other hand, this book felt like a good bit of time went into the plot but then was hastily hashed out as a means to an end without much, if any, care and thought of how it was conveyed to the reader. I am left disappointed but mildly entertained. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Definitely a nice and easy read. Story is enjoyable, but could have used a little more oomph to it
    • 4/5
      Nor is a witch but she doesn't want to be. Scarred by her psychpathic mother as a child, Nor's greatest wish to to be utterly invisible and nondescript. As Fern (Nor's mother), dets out on a path of world domination, Nor's becomes a pawn in her mother's quest for power. Will Nor finally have the courage to accept her gift and save the people she loves?
      There is a lot of blood in the book- a. lot. Its really a wonder that everyone doesn't need a transfusion. Nor's lack of self confidence can get to you after a bit. Usually i really hate books where characters are locked into silence- where if they just talked to each other things would get resolved about 50 pages sooner.
      There are zombies (or the walking dead), magic and dark storms a plenty and death. A. Lot. Of. Death. In fact the action never stops. I wish there had been a bit more depth to Fern's character as it stands she's just a sadist who likes causing mayhem and pain and wants power at any cost. Its all in all an enjoyable romp- hence the 4* rating.
    • 5/5
      I found the writing to be perfect. Descriptive enough to feel like you were there without going overboard like some writers do. The story was a fun one. I’d like to see a book 2 here and watch the characters grow.
    • 4/5
      This is a really well written book. The characters are clear and vivid. Walton sets a mood that is palpable and weaves each chapter with symbolism and nuance that leaves the reader continually satisfied as you move through the story. I also really appreciated the depiction of Nor’s mother and the fight Walton gives to readers who may understand that a child’s parent can sometimes be the truest source of narcissism in her life. Also, there’s will never be enough stories about girls, almost women, Who can coming into their bottomless power, especially to protect the ones they love.
    • 5/5
      It's a lovely story, entertaining and full of mysteries. I enjoyed it very much.
    • 2/5
      It’s meh.
      I wanted modern day witches doing modern day witch stuff and it only really happened in like the 2nd to last chapter.
      Nor is a crappy main character. She does stupid shit all the time that makes no sense. Ugh
    • 5/5
      Loved this so much. The words offer amazing visuals, and I can already see the movie in my mind. My only complaint is the teaser that there is more to come; I tend to prefer the neatly tied up ending.
    • 2/5
      bad rating because the audiobook is really bad but i feel like i would have actually enjoyed this story if i read a physical copy
    • 2/5
      The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton is a unique paranormal novel. Rona Blackburn moved to Anathema Island off the coast of Washington over a hundred years ago. She claimed a plot of land and put a sign on the door that said “witch”. A year after she arrives on the island, the men come at her home and set fire to it. Rona escapes into the woods and casts a dark spell on them using her blood and that of her daughter. A hundred years later, her descendant Nor is the eighth (and last) of the Blackburn daughters. She lives with her grandmother, Judd and has what she calls an unremarkable gift (she can hear and talk to plants as well as animals). Nor’s goal is to make the slightest mark as humanly possible on the world. Nor dropped out of high school and works in a dead-end part-time position at the Witching Hour. Then The Price Guide to the Occult comes out which allows people to order spells for a price. Two things catch Nor’s attention: the picture of the author and the free spell included. The author and the caster of the spells is Fern Blackburn, Nor’s mother and the free spell is a Blackburn family spell. Fern is a dangerous witch with formidable magic. As Fern’s book becomes more popular, the island starts deteriorating. Trouble is coming to Anathema Island and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. There is only one person who can defeat the evil but is she ready to face her destiny.The Price Guide to the Occult had a captivating description, and I was eager to read it. The prologue captured my attention, and I soon discovered it was the best part of the book. I am not sure what happened to the author after she wrote the prologue. Her writing became stilted and her word choices made for a slow-paced story (good for insomnia). It seemed like Ms. Walton was overthinking her writing. The transitions between sections were awkward and jarring. Ms. Walt does provide some lovely descriptions that help readers imagine the island and the foliage. The book is better at the end when the action picks up, but I feel that few readers would make it that far into the story. There is a lack of character development and depth. Nor was the most developed character, but she was not likeable nor is she compelling. Nor was too busy trying to be bland and fixated on Reed (her love interest). Of course, the author had to insert a love triangle. The romance did not feel natural. Fern had the potential to be a great antagonist, but she did not reach it. She is evil, but one dimensional. I did like Ms. Walton’s unique take on magic. I have not encountered it before in other paranormal novels. The Price Guide to the Occult does contain foul language, gruesome violence, and self-harm (fair warning). The ending was lackluster, unsatisfying, rushed and predictable. The author left the possibility of a sequel (oh dear). The Price Guide to the Occult is geared to the New Adult audience (over sixteen). My rating for The Price Guide to the Occult is 2 out of 5 stars.
    • 4/5
      From the author of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender comes a haunting maelstrom of magic and murder in the lush, moody Pacific Northwest.When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Guilt and fear instead led the island’s original eight settlers to burn “the witch” out of her home. So Rona cursed them. Fast-forward one hundred–some years: All Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. She has reason to hope: First, her supernatural powers, if they can be called that, are unexceptional. Second, her love life is nonexistent, which means she might escape the other perverse side effect of the matriarch’s backfiring curse, too. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. Nor senses a storm coming and is pretty sure she’ll be smack in the eye of it. In her second novel, Leslye Walton spins a dark, mesmerizing tale of a girl stumbling along the path toward self-acceptance and first love, even as the Price Guide’s malevolent author — Nor’s own mother — looms and threatens to strangle any hope for happiness.Out March 13, 2018MY THOUGHTS:I received this book in exchange for my honest review.Can we just admire this cover for a moment!?? It's stunning!So, we have a girl (witch) who wants nothing more than to fit in to "a regular" person's life, with as little 'excitement' as possible so that she can blend in to the background and not stand out. She wants a boyfriend and a 'normal' life. She also has an insufferable mother who is determined that she not reach any of those goals.Fitting in, blending in and being 'plain.' Okay..."The Price Guide to the Occult" is the second book of Leslye Walton who made her debut and instant fame from her first book, "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender." That book was remarkable and noteworthy because of her writing style, which was utterly lyrical and beautiful.This book is not the same. I give the author a lot of credit for keeping the two different. This shows a huge amount of talent. I think that this book also shows that a lot of editing could have been involved because it's more "slotted" than the first. What I mean by this is that it fits the requirements of a YA fiction novel just a bit too perfectly. It has all the cards: an older teen, girl wanting to fit in, conflict surrounding her mother, girl wanting normal boy, possible love triangle forming, no real love scenes.... blah, blah, blah, just like all the rest. Instead of striving to 'fit' in with all the other YA books out there, it would have been nice to see the author's unique writing style again. A bit ironic considering the premise of the book.I'm not entirely sure the lovers of her first book will like this one equally, but, if you go in to it knowing not to expect the same, you will enjoy this book too. The book is enjoyable, it's written well and I enjoyed it. On the flip side, for those who didn't appreciate the writing style of the first book being too whimsy and fluffy, this book may be a better fit, minus the rest. You'll encounter paranormal elements, magic and teenager angst (maybe a bit too much?), and family issues.There are subject matters that may not sit well with others, such as cutting and suicide, but like I said, it's 'slotted' well. I think some parts dragged while others were rushed too much. Character development was not bad. Plot was good; it kept me invested in the story. I think I'll wait to see what this author does next before deciding whether to continue reading work by this author.
    • 3/5
      Review based on ARC (Advanced Review Copy received for free in exchange for an honest review). (TW: Self-harm)Let me start with the physical -- the copy I received was simply beautiful. I loved the font and colors, but even more, I loved the texture! There was an almost velvety'ness to the book. It somehow made me more excited to hold it, read it. The book starts with a little history. The main character is Nor Blackburn... the book starts with her great great (I don't remember how many greats) grandmother Rona. She arrives on the all-male island (all-male sounds weirder than it is in the history -- there are something like 8 men who lives on the island, their wives "back home," while the men ... I don't know, build lives and make money to send back) on which the story takes place, more than a century before, and, yes, Rona's a witch. So she gets burned in typical fashion of the day, but she's a witch, so she doesn't (a little opaque, I know, but I'm trying to remain spoiler-free :)). In response, she curses them. But there's an element of love-story-gone-wrong that is really at the heart of the curse and, as a result, her own line is likewise cursed.In the main story, we have teenage Nor (ugh: the name kept tripping me up... it's hard to read "Nor" and not think "nor" as in, neither-nor), who just wants to be "normal." She has the one supernatural "curse" that each member of her lineage has and maybe a secret or two up her sleeve. She lives with her grandmother and her partner, her mother having fled for "better" when Nor was a child. The island has progressed and the residents seem to accept the limited "witchiness" that exists in the Blackburn family (primarily in the form of healing), and Nor's life is, essentially, normal.But then the book comes out, the Price Guide to the Occult, which claims it can cast any spell for the right price. And for reasons that I won't go into for spoiler-sake, everything around Nor starts to crumble. The book is a little bit of a love story and a lot bit of a family/coming-of-age/self-acceptance story. It was entertaining enough and certainly kept me reading. It was sufficiently atmospheric with a nice setting, a bit angsty, and had a nice cast of characters that were diverse but not aggressively so. But, in the end, I felt the book, overall, just fell a little short of "great" for me. It was fun.. no waste of time.. enjoyable to pass the time.. a good book'y book, but nothing groundbreaking or amazing or jaw dropping. The writing was fine, the characters were interesting, the setting was fun, but I wasn't moved by the experience or awed by anything in the book.I also confess I didn't love the resolution, though I'm sure many will find it satisfying. I felt it was ... I don't know, maybe it was a little rushed or a little sloppy for my tastes. Overall, I would recommend as something to pass the time. Three stars.