Forsaken: Book One of the Shadow Cove Saga Paperback – October 29, 2014

This is the most well written story I have read in years. One of my serious demands of a good story is a good, not even perfect, ending. Mr Barker does this story justice with the ending. Needful Things is also a favorite of mine. He incorporated a whole other world, so to speak, with the preface and epilogue. It explained everything. His vivid choices of wording brought every character and scene to life. I am so hopeful that the sequel to this book will be coming soon. This the first book by this author I have had the pleasure to read. It will definitely not be the last. I plan to read everything he has written. It is so awesome to find another legendary author in the making. I would give this book ten stars if I could.

4 starsThad McAlister is a famous horror writer. He is married and has a child. His wife Rachael is expecting their second child in three weeks. She has a dream in which she tries to get rid of an old journal that she found some time ago and gave to him. In the dream, she is visited by an old evil woman who threatens her and the baby should she try to get rid of the journal. The old woman wants it back.The journal is a series of vignettes about the witch trials in 1692. Thad has used this notebook as the source of his ideas. He is now working on his next book about the witch trials. It flows seamlessly onto the page, paragraph after paragraph. It is about a witch trial in 1692 and her travails regarding that trial and the subsequent events. He feels that it’s his best book yet. It is called Rise of the Witch. But there is a down side. The story he has written frightens even him. The sleepless nights that kept him up; he must get this book published and get beyond it.When it is finally finished, he travels to New York to give the book to his publisher and complete a movie deal for it. He turns the book over to his publisher, and things begin to get scary. While Thad is still in New York having his nightmarish adventures, Rachael and her daughter Ashley are undergoing terrors of their own.This book is very well written and plotted. The suspense and terror begins immediately in the story and never lets up until the denouement. Mr. Barker tells a great story beautifully. I’m not sure I liked the McAlister family, but then maybe I wasn’t supposed to. It’s a great horror novel and a must for any fans of horror, witches or just plain old good reading.I really liked the nod that Mr. Barker gave to Stephen King’s Needful Things and his evil main character Leland Gaunt. It was a stroke of brilliance to put it in the novel. I hope Mr. King noticed it. Mr. King wrote a book about a haunted novelist too. I believe the name of his character was also Thad, Thad Beaumont.Keep writing, Mr. Barker!

Did not like this book or the other one which I never finished. The theme of story is ok but the plot doesn't move smoothly and too drawn-out to the detriment of the characters. Author seems more interested in his ability to tell a tale than to keep the reader engaged. I expected more suspense, reasons to empathize with the protagonists but I didn't know enough about them. It was choppy with back and forth time sequences which were confusing and made little sense until the end of the story. Story and plot should have been told in less words and with a faster pace. I won't buy anymore books from this author. He needs to take a course with Stephen King. Mr. King knows how to weave an ingenious plot that captures your imagination.

4 solid stars. (No spoilers) The author delivers a entertaining tale of many different elements that not only horrify, but offer a tip of his hat to Mr. King. I will not delve into plotlines and character descriptions, as that would definitely ruin the book for those who have yet to venture into this dark, twisted and mysterious read. I will state that I discovered this book exceeded my expectations rather handily. Mr. Barker is a true genius of the macabre. The perfect blend of mystery, horror, humor and suspense are equally combined to present any reader with similar tastes a most assuredly entertaining tale. I applaud the editors of this creation...NO errors were to be found. I highly recommend this book to any follower of the author.

J.D. Barker is one of my favorite authors, so I bought a copy of his first book Forsaken. The other books of his that I’ve read are mystery/suspense and this one is horror, so I knew it’d be different.Thad is a bestselling horror novelist. He has a journal that his wife gave him at the beginning of their marriage. He writes his novels in it, and the stories just seem to come to him. Eventually, it becomes apparent that these stories aren’t fiction, but historical; and the results of Thad writing them will affect not only his family, but the future of mankind.The chapters alternate between Thad’s most recent novel, The Journal of Clayton Stone, and the present. This is the kind of horror I like: “normal” people who end up in extraordinary circumstances. His writing reminds me of Stephen King, and, in fact, Needful Things is mentioned at the beginning and end.Forsaken is a suspenseful, crazy page turner. It’s impressive that this was J.D. Barker’s first book. If you like horror, you will like Forsaken.

Forsaken rattles along at a breakneck pace with a plot that outshines its expectations from just a few pages.I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in his waking moments too. I love stories about witchcraft, but I just haven’t read enough of them lately, this has ignited a fire that has me seeking out more.This subgenre has everything I crave – an amazing storyline, an antagonist whose presence is etched upon every page and yet isn’t revealed until those ending chapters, and a narrative that is as propulsive as rocket fuel.Thad McAllister has struggled with his writing career for many years. Like most writers, it isn’t just a case of writing a fantastic story and expecting your name to be on everyone’s lips. After years of hard work and dedication he has written his best work to date, his agent, Del is getting him places and a movie studio is interested in adapting it. He’s looking at millions in revenue. Life couldn’t be better. He has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and another child on the way. It’s a great message about battling the current storm, although the outlook seems grim, it won’t last forever.Thad heads to New York to hash out some of the details for the movie rights acquisition; meanwhile, his wife is at home with their young daughter, Ashley, and their housekeeper, Miss Perez. She’s having a tough time of it, what with the end of her pregnancy nearing, lack of sleep due to the vivid dreams she’s been experiencing, her daughter’s erratic behaviour, and her complaints about her imaginary friend.The author writes with such tenacity and accuracy that you feel immediately connected to the wife and her child. You can understand the push and pull in Thad’s life. The need to be at home to support his wife and the need to sign on the dotted line to ensure their financial stability for years to come. Nonetheless, she’s struggling to get a hold of him, little insecurities start to resurface and she finds herself questioning his actions. Nothing brings out the anxieties quite like pregnancy hormones! But it’s not just that that is weighing heavily on her mind, just why has their garden died in the space of 24 hours including the huge oak tree that’s been there for hundreds of years? And just who is the old woman that comes to her in her dreams and demands she takes something precious from her?

Thad McAlister, a successful horror writer, leaves home for New York to promote his new novel. Thad leaves his heavily pregnant wife and young daughter in the 'care' of their housekeeper Mrs Perez who seems odd to say the least. Thad and his book seem hugely successful but, at home, events are taking a dangerously, dark turn opening a link to the witch trials in Shadow Cove during 1692. A dangerous spirit from the past attempts to make her way back to the present day and threatens the family; particularly the unborn child. It's up to Thad to do the bidding of this dark spirit and her minions or lose all he holds dear. Events are creepy, there's a decent sense of risk and the story runs quickly. I enjoyed the links back to an old manuscript and the way it's included in the story as a set of flashbacks. "Forsaken" is the first book in a trilogy and a decent read. I found the ending nicely rounded and I'd certainly consider reading the next installment.

Nominated for the ‘Bram Stoker Award’ in 2014, “Forsaken” is the first in ‘The Shadow Cove Saga.” This fast paced novel takes place over an action packed few days and concerns horror writer Thad McAlister, his pregnant wife Rachael and their young daughter, Ashley. Many years ago, Rachael bought her young, aspiring writer fiancé, Thad a journal in a small, Oceanside town – hoping to inspire him – with disastrous consequences. Many years later, Thad is a bestselling author and about to jet off to New York for talks on publishing his new novel and discuss movie rights. Left behind with her little girl and disagreeable housekeeper, Mrs Perez, Rachael begins to doubt Thad and is troubled by dreams. Meanwhile, Ashley seems to be attention seeking and annoying Mrs Perez and Rachael, shortly about to give birth, feels unable to cope. However, before long, she has more than a little bad behaviour to cope with, because although Thad thinks his new novel will bring him untold wealth, in fact it is about to bring about the rising of an evil power…The modern day storyline is told alongside excerpts from the 1692 journal, concerning witch trials in Shadow Cove. Now, ‘she’ wants to return. Thad has, inadvertently, told ‘her’ story and her minions are ready to help her come back. If Thad does not do their bidding then the lives of Rachael, Ashley and Rachael’s unborn child, are in danger. We follow both Thad’s journey to do ‘her’ bidding and Rachael and Ashley’s story at home; where strange things begin to happen – from the lawn dying overnight to strange piles of powder appearing in the rooms. This is a creepy book and has an interesting storyline. It is, obviously, the first in a trilogy and so – although the author does give this a satisfactory ending – there is also the promise of the continuation of future events ahead. If you enjoy horror with an interesting storyline and good characters, then you will certainly like this and I look forward to reading on.

In my search for real horror stories I saw this one offered by Amazon and, not knowing the author, I looked at the reviews which encouraged me to buy. The story line is certainly very different and quite interesting, flowing easily between past and present. However, it was definitely not as scary as anticipated and, on the whole, I feel it should be designated as 'teenage horror'.I am, however,sure that most readers will enjoy the book irrespective of age but I was looking for something a little more horrific.One criticism I would make regarding some of the reviews, is that the writers give too much information relating to the story line. That, in my opinion, is not the purpose of the review.AnOn

Great horror storytelling doesn't just get under your skin, it stays there, merging with your flesh and bones like this was how it was always meant to be.Forsaken, by author JD Barker, takes us into a world where the writer may have created something very nasty - very nasty indeed. Not only that - it threatens to harm our hero - Thad - and his family.Things are not looking good for the McAlisters.Thad is a writer, and as with most writers in the Stephen King universe, if you are a writer, you will suffer.I could see the heavy King influence here, but to labour any more on that point would be to do the author a disservice.Forsaken is a very well crafted horror thriller. The modern day breakdown, to the very minute things are happening in the book isn't a new thing, but it date stamps things nicely whilst being interspersed with the writing from Thad's book - the book that almost writes itself.The witch trial and the court events are brilliantly handled...dare I say I enjoyed these more than the present day events? I could be in the minority there.Taking the book as a whole, whilst it certainly has its moments I wanted to be shook out of my skin - so I think I must be a bit desensitised to horror by now.The story works because everything is logical, believable, plausible.Whilst I couldn't root for Thad as much as his wife, Rachael, I found myself leaning towards her and her daughter Ashley's plight.Told over three days, it's the sinister 'creep' of the book that is the star - you really feel like some impending doom is coming, and you as the reader will want to know what it is.I loved - absolutely loved the ending. In fact, it could be said that JD Barker has 'out-Kinged' King - but how, you say?Well, Stephen King often mentions his earlier works in his later books, but they are done more like pop culture references than anything else.In Forsaken, the author pays homage to King, but it is so well done, so clever, so 'ahhh...that's it!' that you just have to take your hat off to the author.This is book one in the Shadow Cove saga, and it's a hell of a breathtaking start.