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Subjects > Fiction genres > Horror
Subjects > Fiction themes > Religion & beliefs > Occult
Subjects > Fiction themes > Literary genres & types of novels > Literary horror
Subjects > Witches
Subjects > Body, mind & spirit > General > Demonology


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About This Book:

Title: Wither's Rain: A Wendy Ward Novel

Other Available Formats:
Paperback, 2007

Details
Language:        English

Size
Length:        384 Pages
Weight:        0.5 Pounds
Height:         6.8 Inches
Width:          4.3 Inches
Thickness:    1.3 Inches


Publisher Notes

Once they were strangers bound by their fears of a demonic entity called Elizabeth Wither. They saw her come to life on Halloween in the historic college town of Windale, Massachusetts. They saw their dark dreams come true by the terror she wrought. They watched her crushing death in tons of falling stone. But if Wither is gone and their nightmares are over, why do they wake up screaming?

Wendy Ward -- a college student with a gift for white magic -- can sense that the town of Windale is in for a dramatic change in weather. There's a new chill in the air....It's whispered in the warnings of an old woman. It's hidden in the corrupting legacy of a newborn baby. It's waiting in an ancient evil impatient for a human host. And it's being carried in the creeping flow of black blood -- Wither's rain.

AllBookstores User Reviews:
Average rating:    Based on 8 reviews
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   Passarella does it again!,   January 05, 2003
Reviewer: Liz Heywood from Waiuku, New Zealand
After reading and being enchanted by 'Wither' I was thrilled to be able to read an advance copy of 'Wither's Rain.' Although 'Wither's Rain' is a stand-alone book it is a brilliant sequel to 'Wither'. The ancient evil of John Passarella's character, Elizabeth Wither, reaches out with cold slimy fingers, to steal the soul from it's human host and to squeeze the life from the reader's heart. Elizabeth Wither, an evil witch, returns to Windale, Massachusetts, to wreak havoc and seek revenge upon those who have tried to destroy her. Windale and it's inhabitants are about to be destroyed by an ancient evil. More than that, the evil needs to conquer the soul of Wendy Ward, a college student with a gift for magic and an extra sensitivity to her surroundings and all she holds dear. The events leading up to and including, the final showdown between good and evil are electrifingly scary. For those who enjoy a thrilling novel of good versus evil, 'Wither's Rain' will be THE horror novel of 2003. I simply cannot wait for it to hit the bookshelves so my family and friends can purchase copies.

   Passarella weaves a tale of horror and suspense that can't be missed,   January 04, 2003
Reviewer: Blake Tullo from New Jersey, United States
Wither's Rain, the second book in the Wendy Ward saga, begins with Wendy and her friends resuming their lives after their confrontation with Elizabeth Wither. While they are battered, injured, and exhausted, they are relieved to move on with their lives again, free of the evil that was Wither. Their relief is short lived, however. Wither's black essence was able to escape the fire that supposedly destroyed it, and it strives to live again. Wither is an ancient evil which awakens every century from its slumber to wreak havoc upon Windale, Massachusetts. Wendy Ward is a practicing witch and is beginning to realize that there might be more to the powers that awoke in her on All Hallows Eve, during her battle with Wither. These two adversaries are destined to fight again, although Wendy is unaware of her destiny. Will she realize what is going on before it's too late? Jack Passarella weaves a tale of Horror and Suspense that keeps you turning the pages. His writing style is smooth and engrossing. It pulls you into the world of Wendy Ward and won't allow you to leave until you live the tale with her. This second book in the series expands upon the main character of Wendy, but also focuses in on the others who opposed Wither: Alex, Hannah, Karen, Abby, and Sheriff Nottingham. We see the lingering effects of Wither's curse upon these unlikely heroes, and we know their lives will never be the same again. If you are a fan of horror and suspense, strong characters and story, then you can't miss Wither's Rain and its predecessor, Wither. You will find yourself unable to tear away from this masterful tale. Jack Passarella is making his mark on the literary world; expect more to come from this talented author.

   Welcome the new king of horror,   December 29, 2002
Reviewer: Michele Owotomo from Claymont, Delaware, United States
Hold on tight as John Passarella re-weave's the story of Wither in his new book Wither's Rain. a solo sequel to Wither. If you love to be scared this is the book for you . A hair raising roller coaster ride that will leave you itching for more. John is a master story teller that will have you looking for Windale on the map. No library is complete without Wither's Rain on it's bookshelf. A must for any true horror fan.

   Make Room For Passarella Alongside Your Favorite Authors,   December 20, 2002
Reviewer: Chuck from Mickleton, New Jersey, United States
First of all, before I get into my long review, I am going to start with saying this is a great book that any horror or avid book fan for that matter, should enjoy. In only his fourth novel(3rd solo, he was co-author of Wither), John Passarella breathes fresh air into the horror genre that even the most jaded fan should enjoy. The story of Wither’s Rain centers around Wendy Ward, a college student with a gift for magic. She thought she had taken care of Elizabeth Wither when she watched her get crushed under falling stone, but it would not be the last she would see of her. Wither’s physical form may have been crushed, but her blood survived. Unknown to Wendy, Wither’s blood has found a new host in Angelina Thorne, and this time Wither’s power grows more quickly. Wendy is going to have to face the same evil that she has not been able to get out of her nightmares since that one Halloween Night. In order to face the evil, she will need the help of her friends, Abby a young girl with the new found ability to turn into a wolf, Hannah a baby with extremely accelerated growth, and a crone figure from the future. That is a real simple explanation of where the book begins. One important thing to mention is that Wither’s Rain stands alone really well. Meaning that you didn’t have to read Wither in order to understand what is going on. Passarella does a great job of leading you into the story, and offering the vital information you might have missed not reading the first. Though since Wither was so great, I would think that you would enjoy going back and reading it anyways. Wither’s Rain is one of those books that grabs a hold of you and just doesn't let go. From the first page, it engulfs you, and you just can’t stop flipping the page. I would pick up the book to read just a few pages before I go to bed, and next thing I know, I have read over thirty pages(which is a lot of pages when you read as slow as me) and still can’t seem to stop. Passarella just does such a great job of setting situations up, that you continue to read just a few more pages to find out what happens. The suspense throughout Wither’s Rain is of a cailiber rarely seen or even approached. Then there is Wendy Ward, who is a great main character to base a series around. She has that extra something that helps to put her in a catergory with some of the best leading characters of today, such as Buffy and Anita Blake. John Passarella is a great author, and is personally responsible for my new found interest in books. Wither’s Rain is a completey enjoyable and satisfying experience. John Passarella continues to prove why he belongs to be mentioned with some of the great writers of today.

   A Horror Novel with a Realistic Pagan Twist,   December 16, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Taylor, Michigan, United States
"Wither's Rain" is the second book in the Wendy Ward saga which began with "Wither". As the story opens, we find Wiccan college student Wendy dealing with the traumatic aftermath of her good versus evil battle against the creature-witch Elizabeth Wither and her coven. Wendy thinks the ancient evil has been laid to rest, and now it is time to pick up the pieces of the shattered lives Wither left in her wake. But soon Wendy begins to suspect that all is not well in Windale, Massachusetts. Has Wither managed to cheat death again and returned to rain havoc upon those who survived her earlier rampage? Has a new force of darkness moved to town? Or is it merely Wendy's overactive imagination and lingering guilt revolving around the amount of damage Wither managed to inflict before Wendy found a way to stop her? Wendy must reclaim her wavering faith in herself and expand her magical talents to find the answer to that all important question before time runs out. "Wither" was one of the very few novels that I've ever found so engrossing that I literally could not put it down; "Wither's Rain" follows in what will hopefully be a long tradition of excellent horror writing. Wendy is a realistic and decidedly human heroine, with all of the foibles and flaws that come entangled in flesh and blood. Her Wiccan practices are realistic to a great extent, with some dramatic flair mixed in to make the story exciting. Her opponent is a witch of a different color and character, leading to interesting contrasts and comparisons between the two. And the tension generated will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. A definite must-read for any horror or pagan fiction fan.

   Wither's Rain is a Shower of Suspense,   November 12, 2002
Reviewer: Lori Ford from Eureka, Kansas, United States
Wither's Rain is the best sequel to come along in years. John Passarella brings us back to the town of Windale just where we left off. Wendy Ward is a young Wiccan that is only just beginning to trust her white magic and has to learn to use it against Wither in a hurry. Thanks to the help of a mysterious old woman that appears to her, she is ready when the confrontation comes. This book has it all--romance, horror, mystery, tragedy--and blends it with the hand of a master. If you only read one sequel this year, let it be Wither's Rain. You won't be disappointed.

   Outstanding and full of suspense,   November 07, 2002
Reviewer: Tammy from Brooklyn, New York, United States
When I first discoverd "Wither" I just could not put the book down. The final pages just made me want to read more and finally "Wither's Rain" comes along. I waited anxiously for the book and quickly began to read it. After not reading about Wendy for a long time it picked up right where it left off and it all comes back to you. The description of the town of Windale and it's events just puts you back where it all started. The characters as always were so descriptive that you can imagine their facial expressions and personalities, coming to life. Gina the new villian puts a nice touch of spice to the book. Abby the shape-shifter catches you off guard at an instant with the definite "What The!" flowing off you lips. A true page turner which will make you beg for more. This should definately be one for the big screen. Bravo Jack! You did it again! "Wither's Rain" is a definite book to read.

   Passarella is a God,   November 04, 2002
Reviewer: Dayna from Ohio, United States
I was elated upon my discovery of Wither, Passarella’s first novel in what I believe will be a trilogy of horror/thriller novels centered around the ever-diabolical witch Elizabeth Wither. I had searched high and low for a quality story about witches, and here it was, embodied in this wonderful novel. You can imagine, then, the absolute euphoria that swept over me when I read Wither’s Rain, the sequel to Wither, and found that it involved not one, but two of my mythical interests, beautifully adding a young werewolf to the mix. Well, maybe not a werewolf per se. Nine year-old Abby MacNeil, changed irrevocably by her first encounter with Wither, has become a shape-shifter, taking on the form of a white wolf. Also changed by their earlier encounters with the evil witches of old Windale, Massachusetts are Karen Glazer and her daughter Hannah, who seems to be maturing in both body and mind at an exceptionally accelerated rate. And, of course, there’s Wendy Ward, the teenage Wicca whose body had been chosen by Wither herself to inhabit after her three-hundred-year nap in a farm outside of the city. Wendy thought she’d rid herself of the evil witch, crushing her in the final chapters of Wither, but she was wrong. Now, Wither has taken refuge in the body of high school student Gina Thorne, and continues on with her chaotic behavior, and her prideful pursuit of Wendy, the woman who almost destroyed her. With the aid of a watchful old woman from the future, Wendy must destroy Wither once and for all, before its too late and no matter the cost. Passarella is incredible in his ability to make his characters come alive on the page. I could literally feel the fear that swelled through Wendy as she raced to save her parents from Gina’s wrath, and oxygen seemed a rare commodity to me as little Abby lie dying on the cold floor of Wendy’s cabin. More than once I found myself whispering such phrases as No, don’t go in there! Hit him, hit him! Look out! You’ll be okay, it’ll all be okay. Passarella has a rare knack for making his readers empathize with his characters, and an even rarer talent for scaring the hell out of us. The characterization of Gina Thorne was purely magical. The indifference with which she regarded her victims, the whimsical way she expelled them and moved on, the sexy wiles with which she engaged her intended “Keepers” or simple play things. Never have I liked a villain so much, she has become my newest guilty pleasure. My only qualm with this book was that it had to end, as do all good things, they say. From page one to the final confrontation, the chills never stopped coming. Passarella is making a name for himself in the horror writing industry. If it were up to me, that name would be bathed in light, the light reserved for only the best.



Book Details Summary: The title of this book is Wither's Rain: A Wendy Ward Novel and it was written by John Passarella. This edition of Wither's Rain: A Wendy Ward Novel is in a Paperback format. This books publish date is February 2003 and it has a suggested retail price of $7.99. There are 384 pages in the book and it was published by Pocket Star. The 10 digit ISBN is 0671024825 and the 13 digit ISBN is 9780671024826. For the most current lowest price, Click Here.