Witch of the Midnight Shadow

Name: Witch of the Midnight Shadow
Price: 32.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798823210379

✍️ Maria Devivo

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$32.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A novel about a fortune teller hiding in an Ohio carnival from an occultist.

Devivo constructs a story where Madame Jane Crowe and her young daughter Nancy seek safety at a traveling carnival in Glenmoor, Ohio. They are pursued by agents of Aleister Crowley, whom Jane has wronged by taking his magic cards. Tophat Trent narrates the events, revealing his dual role as protector and someone with secret plans for the child. The narrative focuses on the tension between the safety of the carnival grounds and the ever-present threat of Crowley’s reach extending into their lives.

Key Themes

occult pursuit carnival refuge maternal protection

Literary Context

The story is set in Glenmoor, Ohio, featuring a traveling carnival called The Gentry Brothers' Wonders of the World. It engages with the cultural history of American carnivals and the folklore surrounding occultists like Aleister Crowley during the period when such figures were part of popular imagination.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier · Thomas Ligotti · The Gilded Age horror genre

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 4 Horsemen Publications 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9798823210379

📝 Description: Witch of the Midnight Shadow

Maria Devivo presents a narrative centered on Madame Jane Crowe, a fortune teller who flees to the United States after stealing a valuable deck of magic cards from the occultist Aleister Crowley. She arrives in Glenmoor, Ohio, with her three-year-old daughter, Nancy, seeking refuge within The Gentry Brothers' Wonders of the World traveling carnival. The story follows their precarious existence as they evade Crowley’s associates who hunt them for the stolen items. The text is framed by Tophat Trent, the boss of the carnival, who recounts his efforts to protect Jane and Nancy while harboring his own intentions regarding the child. Devivo draws upon themes of occultism, family flight, and the atmospheric setting of early twentieth-century American carnivals. The narrative structure relies on Trent’s perspective to guide the reader through the dangers posed by Crowley’s pursuit. This work suits readers interested in gothic fiction involving occult figures and traveling circus settings. It may not appeal to those seeking historical accuracy regarding real-life Aleister Crowley or preferring straightforward non-fiction accounts of carnival history. The book offers a fictionalized exploration of secrecy and survival within the context of supernatural threats.

💎 Our verdict on Witch of the Midnight Shadow

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Devivo effectively constructs a tense narrative where the safety of a carnival ground contrasts sharply with the pervasive threat of occult pursuit. The story succeeds in maintaining suspense through its focus on the precarious existence of its protagonists, guided by the dual-role narrator Tophat Trent. This approach creates a rich, atmospheric experience suitable for fans of gothic horror and supernatural fiction. While it may not satisfy readers seeking strict historical accuracy regarding real-life figures like Aleister Crowley, it delivers a compelling fictional exploration of secrecy and survival that captures the eerie spirit of early twentieth-century American settings.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to atmospheric gothic fiction and the eerie allure of traveling carnivals will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of occultism and supernatural thriller elements, particularly those who enjoy stories centered on flight, secrecy, and family survival against formidable magical adversaries. The unique framing device offers a distinct perspective on protection and hidden agendas within a high-stakes chase.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Devivo effectively constructs a tense narrative where the safety of a carnival ground contrasts sharply with the pervasive threat of occult pursuit. The story succeeds in maintaining suspense through its focus on the precarious existence of its protagonists, guided by the dual-role narrator Tophat Trent. This approach creates a rich, atmospheric experience suitable for fans of gothic horror and supernatural fiction. While it may not satisfy readers seeking strict historical accuracy regarding real-life figures like Aleister Crowley, it delivers a compelling fictional exploration of secrecy and survival that captures the eerie spirit of early twentieth-century American settings.