Cauldron: Sixteen Chapters of Terror, Mystery and Suspense (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798860934887)

In "Cauldron", Squabbling siblings, in search of their long-lost parents, take a house-sitting job in the countryside, only to find they've been lured into a trap by a wicked witch.

Shane Winters, an awkward young man, arrives at the fishing port of Cauldron Cove with the hope of finding his estranged sister, Greta, and bringing her back home. It's been many years since their parents seemingly disappeared at sea, and while the conservative Shane has moved on, the free-spirited Greta has devoted much of her life to finding the truth, back-packing and barhopping through Europe with reckless abandon.

Her latest odyssey, to Cauldron Cove's local pub, has her snagging a house sitting job, courtesy of the bar maid. It's a care taking assignment at a remote cottage that should buy her more time to investigate the gnarled branches of their family tree.

Shane arrives at the bar, and strenuously objects to his sister's new gig, provoking a fight with some ornery dock workers, vying for her affection. Once things come to a settle, he asks Jacoby, a grizzled old sea captain, to take them to the pier so they can catch the last ferry home.

But as they pass the old cottage on the way, a memory is rekindled, and Shane has second thoughts. With the surly dock workers following after them, they rush from Jacoby's truck, into the dense fog, and take shelter. Inside the quaint cabin, they find a dog, a cat, and a constantly squawking parrot, all starved for attention. They find odd books on the occult, old paintings and knickknacks...

Some of it, astoundingly, is from their very own past.

In the kitchen, a feast has been laid out on the table, a banquet suitable for a king. Freshly made, it beckons them, and they begin engorging themselves. But Shane overdoes it, becoming deathly ill. An untimely knocking in the dead of night follows, and Greta is soon face to face with Magwood, the leader of a group of escaped cons.

The menacing man and his crazed cohorts try to gain entry, but seemingly can't. When Greta discovers an old spell book with a map of the property hidden inside, it is clear they are in the dwelling of a powerful witchcraft adept.

The convicts force their way in through a back window, overpowering Greta. Despite a daring rescue attempt by Jacoby, they find themselves captives of the criminals, clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The convicts want answers and more importantly, a hex removed from them. Notes are frantically compared, with some startling insights coming to light... All of the assembled are connected to the mutiny and piracy of the HMS Grimoire in some way and have been lured here on this foggy night for a nefarious purpose.

Greta has little time to figure it out as the woman of the house returns to weave more of her magic, seducing the men one by one, and shifting the eye of suspicion squarely onto her.

If it's a witch they want, it's a witch they get...

Greta heeds the call, barricading herself in the kitchen with the spell book for a crash course in conjuring. There she assembles an arsenal of "spell bombs" to ward off the wicked old crone and her new pawns. Greta must make her stand, break the witch's curse and free Shane, before he's lowered into a boiling cauldron in the basement below.

Together they must put sibling rivalry aside and give the sinister sorceress all the toil and trouble they're worth. Faith renewed. Loyalties tested... The shocking truth about their parents revealed. When destiny calls, there's no turning back the fates.

Author: Brefni O'Rourke
ISBN-13: 9798860934887
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 09/10/2023
Pages: 250
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.57d