by Jeff Mariotte
Review by: Skitty
Warning: All reviews may contain spoilers.
Witch's Canyon picks up right where Nevermore left off, with one subtle difference: This one is actually good. How good is it? I could hardly put it down, that's how good. Not only does the writer, Jeff Mariotte, have a good handle on both Sam and Dean, but he can actually tell a story that's worth reading. Let's start with Mariotte's portrayal of the brothers. Now, as many Supernatural fans know, there are many layers to our boys, Dean in particular. This book gives us everything. It gives us Playboy Dean, Hero Dean, Humble Dean, and Soldier Dean all in one handy little novel. And Sam? Mariotte takes a look at how the few years Sam spent away from the hunting lifestyle has changed him, and he does it really well. What's more, fans of Gilmore Girls might notice a subtle in joke at Jared Padalecki's expense about half way through the book. Don't worry, you'll know it when you see it. Now what about the story? I'm actually struggling to come up with words to describe it. It felt...real. It felt like a true honest to God episode of Supernatural. The casualties weren't superfluous death. The ending wasn't easy to see. The action did not climax prematurely. And, most importantly, it was true to the Winchester way. They do the job, and they do it well, leaving no loose ends, which is just as it should be. I do have a favorite part. Or rather, parts, I suppose. Mariotte devotes a good bit of time to flashbacks of the boys' childhood. In one section of the book, we are taken inside Dean's memory to a training expedition with their father. The dynamic of those two brothers is a hard thing to understand now that they are adults. Seeing them as children, and seeing it's roots, is incredibly poignant, and Mariotte does not disappoint. The scene is so real and so touching you can almost see it as canon. So, for those of you who got burned with Nevermore, I suggest you give this one a try. It may start off a bit slower than us action-aholics traditionally like, but it's worth it for the pay off. |