Review: Nine Candles of Deepest Black

Nine Candles of Deepest Black by Matthew S. Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: NINE CANDLES OF DEEPEST BLACK by Matthew S. Cox

This YA-themed, paranormal/occult thriller, is riveting. Author Matthew Cox develops his themes so subtly, placing his story in the hands of a small high school clique, seemingly harmless girls just having the normal identity crises and crushes of adolescence; oh, but... I was frequently reminded of the wonderful film "The Coven," in which a group of adolescent girls, seemingly unknowingly, mess with magic. In this novel, the ringleader eschews sweetness and light as oh too "new agey, Wicca, tree-hugging nonsense." She wants more: to compel the universe to provide the girls' true desires. She has wealth and charisma, and as a manipulator of the first order, she compels. The five open a portal so destructive it makes the hell mouth of Sunnydale ["Buffy the Vampire Slayer"] seem like a child's playground. This is a champion story not to be overlooked.

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