👻 Ghost Stories

Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens

✍️ Joani Lacy
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$16.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A sequel following Eve Hollister as ghosts return to her Mississippi home.

Lacy, an author of supernatural fiction, explores the lingering dangers of a haunted Victorian estate. The plot focuses on the resilience of the Hollister women as they face a resurgence of malevolent forces. The narrative examines the limits of family magic and introduces potential support from New Orleans voodoo traditions. It contrasts the initial relief of safety with the sudden return of threat. The story emphasizes the vulnerability of blood bonds when confronted by powerful spirits. Lacy constructs a tense atmosphere where the past refuses to stay buried. The work appeals to fans of Southern gothic horror who enjoy complex family dynamics and magical realism.

Key Themes
haunted Victorian homes family magic New Orleans voodoo
Literary Context

The book is set in Mississippi, specifically within an ancient Victorian home and its surrounding yard. It draws on the traditions of the mystical American South, incorporating elements of ghosts, dark magic, and New Orleans voodoo. The narrative reflects the gothic literary tradition prevalent in Southern United States fiction.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Anne Rice · Shirley Jackson · Poppy Z. Brite · Southern Gothic anthologies
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 iUniverse 📅 2011 📖 310 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781462056323

📝 Description: Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens

Joani Lacy returns readers to the mystical American South in Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens. This narrative continues the saga of Eve Hollister and her family’s ancient Victorian home in Mississippi. After a previous battle with evil spirits, the house appears free of its dark influence. Eve feels secure within these walls, believing the past is finally behind them. The banyan tree in the yard still offers a strange sense of kinship to those who enter. The peace proves fragile as the ghosts of Hollister House remain at rest only in appearance. They wait for the precise moment to strike again, targeting every member of the Hollister clan. The women of the family must unite against this unseen adversary that seeks to claim Eve once more. Their survival depends on their collective strength and the efficacy of their inherited family magic. The story raises questions about whether traditional blood ties are sufficient or if New Orleans voodoo will enter the conflict. Nothing remains certain in this haunted setting, not even the bonds of kinship. Readers interested in gothic fiction set in the Deep South will find this tale compelling. Those seeking lighthearted supernatural adventures may find the tone too intense.

💎 Our verdict on Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Lacy constructs a tense atmosphere where the Mississippi setting serves as both sanctuary and prison. The narrative effectively contrasts initial relief with sudden threat, emphasizing the fragility of peace in haunted estates. The exploration of whether traditional blood ties suffice against powerful spirits adds depth to the plot. While the focus remains tightly on the Hollister women's struggle, the introduction of New Orleans voodoo traditions provides a fresh cultural layer. This is not a casual read but a serious inquiry into the limits of family magic. It suits readers who appreciate dense, moody prose and psychological horror over fast-paced action.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave atmospheric Southern Gothic horror will find this narrative compelling due to its intense focus on complex family dynamics and the vulnerability of blood bonds. The book appeals to those interested in magical realism and voodoo traditions, offering a tense exploration of inherited family magic against malevolent forces. It is ideal for fans who enjoy stories where the past refuses to stay buried and where safety is merely an illusion. Those seeking lighthearted supernatural adventures should look elsewhere, as this tale maintains a serious, intense tone throughout its examination of resilience and kinship.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Lacy constructs a tense atmosphere where the Mississippi setting serves as both sanctuary and prison. The narrative effectively contrasts initial relief with sudden threat, emphasizing the fragility of peace in haunted estates. The exploration of whether traditional blood ties suffice against powerful spirits adds depth to the plot. While the focus remains tightly on the Hollister women's struggle, the introduction of New Orleans voodoo traditions provides a fresh cultural layer. This is not a casual read but a serious inquiry into the limits of family magic. It suits readers who appreciate dense, moody prose and psychological horror over fast-paced action.

✍️ More books by this author Joani Lacy

Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
$18.95
78
Read →
Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
$28.95
78
Read →
Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: The Banyan Tree Awakens
$26.95
78
Read →
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
$19.95
78
Read →
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
$29.95
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher iUniverse

When Spirits Walk
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Christine Gentry
When Spirits Walk
$19.95
78
Read →
Hunter
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
P a Skinner
Hunter
$29.95
78
Read →
Perchance to Scream Vol. 1
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Thomas Brumskill
Perchance to Scream Vol. 1
$23.95
81
Read →
There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Andrew Carmitchel
There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland
$28.95
78
Read →
From Sparta
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Gerald J Tate
From Sparta
$26.95
81
Read →
A Nice Place to Live: A Tale of a Damsel in Serious Distress
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alex Tamsula
A Nice Place to Live: A Tale of a Damsel in Serious Distress
$30.95
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: The Witch and the Banyan Tree
$18.95
78
Read →
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Joani Lacy
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree
$19.95
78
Read →
Ring a Ring of Roses
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Randall K Scott
Ring a Ring of Roses
$15.95
86
Read →
Crossroads
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Vincent Edmonds
Crossroads
$17.99
86
Read →
The Drifting Soul
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Matt Spencer
The Drifting Soul
$14.95
86
Read →
The Palo Muerto: A Novel of Santeria
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Daniel Vega
The Palo Muerto: A Novel of Santeria
$13.95
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist