Publication Date: January 8, 2014
Dora Carradine is sick of life as a good girl and decides to rebel against her religious upbringing by joining a witch’s coven. When Dora discovers that the dark side is even darker than she could have imagined, she has some difficult choices to make.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00DLQK8RK” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]A Hint of Magic[/easyazon_link] is a prequel to the Demon Diaries series.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00DLQK8RK” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]A Hint of Magic[/easyazon_link] is the first book I’ve read by Claire Chilton and very likely the last. Dora is a teen and the story seems to be written in the patter of a teen, completely with the somewhat annoying spelling errors of a 14-year-old on Facebook. She is a rebellious teen whose life has been a wasteland of forced religion and constant criticism. Dora is looking for something just for her, which, of course, her adult audience knows is only asking for trouble. What Dora asks for, she will receive.I think a lot of the humor in this paranormal comedy was embodied in Dora’s rebellious nature. Perhaps because I have a child about Dora’s age, I found her wit somewhat obvious. She came off as all bark with nothing to back it up. Her cynicism and light cursing comes off as more for the effect than as an actual conviction.
Many of the characters were one-dimensional. The parents were the overly religious evil, the readers should recognize. That her parents are controlling is perhaps as much a function of her age as anything. Dora hates them and they hate her, which sounds to me like a fairly normal teen experience. That they are abusive seems a convenient vehicle to demonize them and give Dora a reason to rebel. Could not the motivation have just stemmed from the fact that she’s a teen? Did we need this smack down on a religion that is confusing, to say the least?
If you’re looking for a complete story in [easyazon_link identifier=”B00DLQK8RK” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]A Hint of Magic[/easyazon_link], you’ll have to buy the next book. This novella sets Dora up as she launches her paranormal adventures. I wouldn’t read it again but if the criticisms I’ve had don’t bother you, pick it up and let me know what you think.
Read an excerpt and buy A Hint of Magic: A Paranormal Comedy Series by Claire Chilton on:
Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada
For more information about Claire Chilton and her work, visit her website. You can connect with her on Goodreads, Facebook, Google+ and Twitter @clairechilton1.