This is a great mix of supernatural horror, second chances, and some coming of age as well.

Our main protagonist is a down on his luck guy who just got kicked out of a band. His life has been in a downward spiral and it's about to get worse.

Going back to the small town he grew up in, people start disappearing. There are no bodies and no clues. But some old memories of his childhood come to the surface and piece by bloody piece, we'll find out that what's happening is much more terrifying than everyone believes.

The author really melds different elements together in a fantastic way. But the main focus is always on the horror and I always appreciate that. Because there are horrors here. Nasty, brutal, and unforgiving. But we also have some well written characters that give more depth to the story.

I really recommend this book and don't be by a window when you read it!

3.5/5✨

With a Blighted Touch is about middle aged guitarist, Kit, whose life isn’t going so great. When a death in the family brings him back home, he’s confronted with the strange goings-on in his hometown, which has haunted him his entire life. He saw something long ago that he hasn’t told anyone, nearly half of his high school graduating class is dead, and somehow both of these things are connected. Something evil has its sights on him.

This book was absolutely chilling in the best ways. It was suspenseful, to the point where sometimes I both wanted to and was afraid to turn the page. The imagery was gross and creepy in a way that drew me that much more into the story, and Kit, while very flawed, was someone you could root for.

That being said, the beginning was a little slow for me. It kept going back and forth between the present and the Kit’s memories of the past. For me, this was a little jarring and slowed down the pacing early on, though I was thankful for the context it provided later. There were also some logic issues I noticed in the Kit’s reactions, especially regarding the nature of the curse, and how who dies is decided (see more about this in my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5556463122).

Other than that I found this a quick, thrilling read that I’d recommend to anyone who likes folk horror, or just wants a quick scare.

(Additional Note: I can’t speak to the Uyaga myth, but, as mention of it is made in the book’s synopsis and plays a significant role in the story, a note crediting/paying homage to its origins seems only respectful.)