I picked up Whispers of the Pale Witch by S.A. Sizemore, published by Rowan Prose Publishing, hoping to add a little fright to my Halloween reading season. With a title like that, witches, dark family secrets, and a dangerous supernatural threat, I was ready for a story that would make the house feel just a little too quiet after dark. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver the level of horror I was hoping for. The plot wasn’t bad, but the slower pace and lack of scares left me feeling more lukewarm than haunted.
There is a giveaway of one signed copy of “Whispers of the Pale Witch” and a bag full of fun swag. Scroll down to win your copy of the book before it ends on Oct. 19, 2026, at midnight EST!
The story follows Kylie Beckett, who returns to the small seaside town where she was born after the sudden death of her great-aunt. She lands her dream job as a forensic photographer, but her fresh start comes with complications that go well beyond settling into a new workplace. A series of murders and the theft of a dangerous relic pull Kylie into the dark history of her ancestors. With help from newfound family, she must learn to harness powers she didn’t know she possessed and stop the Pale Witch from unleashing a demonic spirit on Salem, Massachusetts.
On paper, that setup had plenty to draw me in. A forensic photographer caught between a murder investigation and her own supernatural family history? That sounds like a promising way to spend an October evening. Add Salem to the mix, and I was expecting a reading experience with a generous helping of dread. My Halloween reading list had a very specific assignment, and I wanted this book to bring the goosebumps.
Thank you to the author for the book and my honest review.
Book tour sponsor is Bewitching Book Tours.
What worked for me was the basic premise. There’s a worthwhile story idea here, with the mystery surrounding Kylie’s family giving the supernatural conflict a personal connection. She isn’t simply encountering trouble somewhere unfamiliar; she’s returning to her birthplace and discovering that her own history is tied to what’s happening. That combination of homecoming, hidden ancestry, and danger gave me a reason to be interested in where the plot would lead.
I also liked the potential in Kylie’s profession. Forensic photography is an intriguing starting point for a protagonist in a story involving murders and paranormal events. It brings a practical, investigative element to a premise filled with witchcraft and buried secrets. Those ingredients were part of why I picked this one up in the first place. Even though the overall reading experience didn’t fully click for me, I could see the appeal of the story being offered.
My biggest disappointment was the horror element. I wanted more of it. I went into this book looking for a scary seasonal read, and the experience didn’t give me enough fear or unease to satisfy that particular craving. Having witches, demonic danger, and a sinister history in the premise certainly raises expectations, but those elements alone weren’t enough to make this feel frightening to me. I wanted the tension to get under my skin and linger there.
That’s a personal response, of course. Readers have very different thresholds for what feels scary, and I’m reviewing this through the lens of what I wanted when I chose it. For my Halloween reading mood, I needed a stronger sense of menace. I wanted to hesitate before turning off the light, or at least give the suspicious hallway shadow a second look. This time, the hallway shadow got to carry on with its evening undisturbed.
The pacing was my other sticking point. The story moved a little too slowly for my taste, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested. A slower pace can work for me when the suspense keeps building, especially in a supernatural story. Here, though, the lack of scares meant the pace stood out more. I kept wanting a stronger pull forward and a little more urgency to match the danger suggested by the premise.
I wouldn’t call the plot bad. That distinction matters, because my three-star rating reflects a middle-of-the-road experience rather than a complete disappointment. There were ideas here that interested me, and I understood what drew me to the book. But being interested in the setup and feeling absorbed by the reading experience are two different things. For me, this one stayed closer to the first.
Readers who enjoy witch-centered paranormal stories and don’t need their supernatural reading to be especially frightening may have a better experience. If a more leisurely pace doesn’t bother you, the family secrets and magical threat may offer enough to hold your attention. I’d approach it with those expectations rather than choosing it specifically for a night of Halloween chills.
Ultimately, Whispers of the Pale Witch earns three stars ⭐⭐⭐ from me. It’s a reasonable option for a casual read between more anticipated titles, especially if its premise catches your interest. It wouldn’t be my first recommendation for someone seeking a truly scary October book, but it may suit a reader looking for a supernatural mystery at a gentler pace. I came for the scares and left wishing the witch had whispered something a little more unsettling.
About the book:
Series: Beckett Coven, Book One
Publisher: Rowan Prose Publishing
Genre: Adult Horror / Paranormal Thriller
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ — 3 out of 5 stars
Synopsis:
Some secrets should just stay buried.
After the sudden death of her great-aunt, Kylie Beckett lands her dream job as a forensic photographer in the small seaside town where she was born. But once there, a series of murders and the theft of a dangerous relic force Kylie to uncover the dark truth about her ancestors.
With the help of newfound family, she learns to harness unconscious powers to stop the vengeful and unstable Pale Witch before she unleashes a demonic spirit on Salem, Massachusetts once again.
Shall we begin?
Enter the Giveaway:
1 Whispers of the Pale Witch Swag bag (includes stickers, a bookmark, buttons, and a coaster)
1 Signed copy of Whispers of the Pale Witch
Meet the author:
Drawn to playwriting from an early age, S.A. Sizemore began writing professionally while studying English and theater arts in college. After producing several plays regionally in Southern California, Sizemore pivoted to the themed entertainment industry. Whispers of the Pale Witch is the first installment of the Beckett Coven series inspired by Sizemore’s ancestral connection to the Salem Witch Trials. She is a full member of the Dramatists Guild of America, proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, European and Cherokee/Chickahominy decent, and resides in California with her wife and two dogs, Agatha and Harry.
Website: https://www.beckettcoven.com
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Readers Group:
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Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222468899-whispers-of-the-pale-witch