In the realm of supernatural entities and haunted artifacts, few names hold the same chilling significance as Annabelle. The malevolent doll, said to be possessed by a vengeful spirit, has captured the imagination of horror enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Over the years, countless tales of unexplained events and eerie occurrences have surrounded Annabelle, leaving many to wonder about the truth behind the ghostly curse. The origin story of Annabelle can be traced back to two paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren. According to their accounts, a nursing student named Donna received the doll as a gift in the 1970s. What initially seemed like an innocent and harmless toy quickly turned into a nightmare as strange phenomena began to transpire.
What initially seemed like an innocent and harmless toy quickly turned into a nightmare as strange phenomena began to transpire. The doll seemed to move on its own accord, leaving handwritten messages and even physically attacking Donna's friends. Soon, the Warrens became involved in the case, eventually determining that the doll was not possessed by a deceased child, as many believed, but rather by a malevolent spirit pretending to be innocent.
Review: Witch Please by Ann Aguirre
In Witch Please, Danica Waterhouse—a modern witch who co-owns the Fix-It Witches, a magical tech repair shop—finds herself in the midst of a family feud. After a disheartening break-up, she’s made a pact with her cousin not to get their hearts broken again. Their grandmother, the matriarch of the family, isn’t going to let that fly, though. Hellbent on setting Danica up with another magical man—non-magical people would only sully the bloodline—without Danica’s consent, tensions are high in the Waterhouse family. Meanwhile Titus Winnaker, owner of Sugar Daddy’s bakery, is dealing with his own set of troubles. After a long string of failed relationships and a tragic loss, all he can count on is his sister and the bakery they both love. That is, until he meets Danica. Sparks fly instantly and Titus knows, this woman is the one. But Danica is hesitant, and for good reason. Can her ever-growing feelings for Titus stand the test of time—and of her domineering grandmother’s demands for a magical partner?
I said it once and I’ll say it again: this fall is going to be witch-central when it comes to books and I am here for it. Give me magic in any shape or form, and I will want to read it.
And while the concept of Witch Please sounded right up my alley, the execution didn’t quite work for me. What mostly kept me from really loving the novel were some writing style choices. Some of the dialogue reads quite stilted, most often because Danica and Titus think what they want to say and then end up saying the exact same thing out loud with little variation in words used. That repetition did slow things down considerably. Also, some mundane (pun-five) moments were dragged on endlessly to the point where I began to question every single thing about where this plot was going. Need an example? Early on in the story, Titus describes his evening routine with his dog in such excruciating detail that I was highkey convinced that something would happen to the dog because surely no one needed a two-page deviation of a dog’s peeing and eating routine if it didn’t serve the plot—spoiler alert, the dog is fine. Elements like that kept creeping up in the story, however, and made the pace almost glacial at times.
That being said, once I got over those unfortunate pauses in the storytelling, I did actually quite enjoy the plot. There are some things that I definitely had to suspend my disbelief over and there a few unresolved issues that I hope will be picked up on in future books but Aguirre really went for the disruptive and manipulative matriarchs in the book and that’s what kept me reading. Danica’s grandmother is so domineering and does her best to make her grandkids follow whatever rules she stipulates and watching her get what’s coming to her definitely was my favourite part in the whole novel. I loved how we got to see just how intricate a web the grandmother had woven to keep Danica and others under her ruling thumb.
I also really enjoyed both Danica and Titus on their own. Danica is wary of her feelings for Titus, especially due to her grandmother’s influence. But she’s also dealing with a string of bad relationships in her past and is a busy woman who has goals beyond meeting the one. Titus, similarly, has made his job his primary focus, but he’s also a great protective brother to his sister, and though he comes on a bit too strong, really only wants to have someone in his life to share everything with. Though this story lacked tension, I still found Danica and Titus to be a cute couple. Sure, there were a few things Titus thought about Danica that threw up red flags in my mind early on, but he does turn out to be a genuinely good guy. And Aguirre does eventually deliver on the steamy scenes.
One thing this book really had going for it was the casual queer rep. Besides Titus, who is bisexual, we also have his sister who is a lesbian and in a relationship with a woman. Beyond that, there are people in the coven who are sapphic—this is the kind of casual representation I want to see in romance novels even if it isn’t the focal point of the story. Another highlight for me were the genuine female friendships. Danica and her coven all like to gossip and shoot the shit, but in the end, they’re supportive of one another and try to make each other’s lives easier in whichever way they can, which was so lovely to see, especially with Danica’s grandmother trying to make Danica cower. There’s also a very endearing side plot about Titus, his sister Maya and another new family member creating their own kind of family which tugged at my heartstrings. Found family is one of my favourite tropes and I loved that we got to see Titus and Maya create their own. All in all, even though Witch Please has its flaws, I think the female friendships, the concept of magic coming in various forms and the eventually steamy romance make up for them in spades.
With a sprinkle of magic, a handful of small-town romance and a dash of family drama, Witch Please is perfect for fans of Practical Magic!
Witch Please is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 27th 2021.
Will you be picking up Witch Please? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls in this adorable witchy rom-com with:
Concerned for Donna's safety, they took the doll into their possession and housed it in a specially designed case, hoping to contain its sinister powers. Since then, Annabelle has become a prominent figure in the paranormal community, featured in various films and documentaries. Visitors to the Warrens' Occult Museum in Connecticut have reported feelings of unease and discomfort in the presence of the doll. Many have claimed to witness the doll's movements and even hear disembodied voices whispering in its vicinity. The question of whether Annabelle's curse is real or simply a figment of collective imagination is one that continues to divide both paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics. While some argue that the stories are mere fabrications or exaggerations, others insist that the unexplained events surrounding the doll cannot be easily dismissed. In an attempt to seek answers to the ghostly curse of Annabelle, researchers and paranormal investigators have devoted time and effort to understanding the nature of the doll's alleged possession. Some suggest that the phenomenon may be rooted in psychokinetic energy, while others propose that it stems from a more supernatural source. Yet, despite the decades of speculation and research, the true nature of Annabelle's curse remains elusive. It seems that as long as the doll continues to captivate the public's imagination, the search for answers will persist. Whether one believes in the ghostly curse or attributes the phenomena to psychological factors, the legend of Annabelle will undoubtedly continue to haunt and intrigue those brave enough to delve into the mysteries of the supernatural..
Reviews for "The Eerie Story of Annabelle: Searching for Answers"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Seeking Answers to the Ghostly Curse of Annabelle," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The documentary lacked a cohesive narrative and seemed to jump from one anecdote to another without any clear direction. The interviews with supposed witnesses were unconvincing and felt staged. Overall, I was left disappointed and wanting more substance.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - While "Seeking Answers to the Ghostly Curse of Annabelle" had its moments, it failed to fully captivate me. The storytelling felt disjointed, and I struggled to connect with the characters involved in the investigation. The scares were few and far between, leaving the film feeling more like a documentary about failed paranormal investigations rather than a thrilling exploration of the Annabelle curse. It had potential, but it ultimately fell short of my expectations.
3. Mark - 1/5 stars - I found "Seeking Answers to the Ghostly Curse of Annabelle" to be a complete waste of time. The documentary offered nothing new or groundbreaking in terms of the Annabelle curse. The reenactments were cheesy and melodramatic, and the supposed experts seemed more interested in self-promotion than actual investigation. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for a genuinely chilling or thought-provoking paranormal documentary. Save your money and skip this one.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Seeking Answers to the Ghostly Curse of Annabelle" failed to live up to its premise. The pacing was slow, and the investigation lacked suspense or genuine scares. The interviews with witnesses were unconvincing and seemed scripted, making it hard to take the claims seriously. The documentary felt like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the Annabelle curse and left me feeling unsatisfied as a viewer. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by this film.
5. David - 2/5 stars - I was excited to watch "Seeking Answers to the Ghostly Curse of Annabelle," but it left me disappointed. The documentary lacked depth and failed to explore the Annabelle curse in a meaningful way. The reenactments felt forced and the supposed evidence presented was unconvincing. It felt more like a cash grab than a genuine effort to uncover the truth behind the curse. Overall, I found the documentary to be lackluster and uninspiring.