Rating: 
Summary: WITHERED RAIN
Review: I think "Wither" is one of the best horror novels to come out in years, and was highly excited when I saw Passarella (Now writing alone) had done a sequel. Unfortunately, this one is nowhere near the novel "Wither" was. And why is that? I think one of the reasons is that Passarella seems to be going more to charm his "Buffy" audiences, and in doing so, has resorted to gratuituous gore, crude sex scenes, and a lack in creating the true suspense he had done so well in the original.Wendy Ward, who is obviously going to be Wendy the Witch Slayer, is an alright heroine, but her character is not fleshed out enough to really get into what she's gone through. Her "Mirror" diary is so contrived, and even though it's used to let us know Wendy's thoughts, it's more a distraction than aid. Although her last entry is more to the point and seems more real. Not that I'm saying "Wither's Rain" is supposed to be "real", but within its framework, the diary loses its punch.
The addition of The Crone is okay until she starts philosophizing on this "time" thing, and for two or three pages, some weird doctrine on what time really is seems to come out of nowhere, makes little sense and the resolution of who the Crone really is, is downright implausible and ludicrous.
Also in this book, moreso in the first, Passarella seems outright cruel in the way he handles several of the deaths. Key characters are wiped out, and dealt with superficially.
And Gina? Well, she's so overblown, she never seems menacing; she merely acts as an actress chewing up the scenery, and her evil is so over the top, she doesn't create the terror Elizabeth Wither did in the original novel.
It's sad to see such a unique book obscured by this exercise in teenage angst. I think Passarella is a good writer, but I don't think I'll be following his Wendy Ward books. His lack of strong adult characters in useful roles (Sheriff Nottingham is basically ineffectual and Abby's turning into a wolf? Oh, puhleese!) will limit his audience to the market age of 16-18, or whatever.
Sorry, can't recommend this one. Read "Wither" or reread it.
It's a hundred times better!
Rating: 
Summary: Even better than the first!
Review: If you're into witches and great writing that will make your skin crawl at times, your heart pound at others, this is the book to read. A real page turner that delivers! I can't wait for the next installment in the Wendy Ward saga.
Rating:
Summary: The First Great Novel of 2003!
Review: John "Jack" Passarella has delivered an outstanding sequel to his earlier hit WITHER. I don't want to rehash the obvious summaries that other folks have done so well, but let me just say that if you're looking for a great book to curl up with and read while the snow/rain/winds howl outside - this is it! Jack's novel delivers on all fronts: great characters, exciting tension, some romance, and evil that bleeds off the pages and plays with your mind. You can't do wrong buying this book. Have fun!
Rating:
Summary: Read this book now!
Review: John Passarella has done it again; he's reached the standards of godliness in the world we know as writing. Wither`s Rain improves on Wither so much you may believe that Wither`s Rain isn't a book at all. Passarella will draw you into unique life of Wendy Ward and the scary town of Windale. I have never read such an excellent book that actually captured me so much as Wither. What improves on Wither`s formulae is that Passarella delves into the lives of the characters further than any author dares go. If your looking for a once in a lifetime horror/supernatural books then this is your puppy.
Rating:
Summary: WOO-HOO!
Review: On Halloween night in 1999, a group of young people defeated an ancient evil known as Elizabeth Wither. They thought they had destroyed it. They were wrong! The second book began on the same night. After her defeat, Wither escaped her human host's body. Wither's blood had but a short wait before a new host arrived. Angelina "Gina" Thorne changed the instant Wither entered her body. Any good within Gina was quickly corrupted. Slowly, Gina learned about the demonic entity, as well as, the extent of her new powers. Wither needed a new coven. Wither wanted revenge! Wendy Ward was a college student, gifted with white magic. Wither had left Wendy with doubts as to her magical abilities. When "the Crone" began appearing before her, Wendy thought she had finally gone mad. Instead, the Crone began teaching Wendy the lessons she must learn - QUICKLY! For Wither was on the hunt and Wendy was to be her prey. ***** Nine year old Abby and baby Hannah was not left "normal" after their ordeal in book one. They appear in this exciting sequel to John Passarella's first novel, "Wither". The story mainly targets Wendy and Gina though. Be forewarned of dark magic and hard sexual scenes, but that is expected in any book that I could ever consider as a "true" horror novel involving the dark arts. The story clearly showed that Passarella did a lot of deep research in his Wicca topic. The casual referrals to subjects, such as making the circle, and steps detailing rituals, make the story even more realistic. John Passarella is a powerful voice in the horror genre of today. I expect him to quickly become the Master of Horror! Highly recommended reading here! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch.
Rating:
Summary: Here he goes again - wonderful!
Review: Passarella does it again. Just when we thought Wendy could kick (...) we relize she was nothing in "Wither" compared to what she does in "Wither's Rain"!
Wither has a new body and is ready for revenge. Her drive for revenge makes her more dangerous and horrifying than the Wither we knew in the first novel. Of course we have other charachers that have changed too - Abby has a big secret that turns out to very important to Wendy and Karen's baby, Hannah, joins Wendy's team in a very surprising way. If you liked "Wither" you'll love "Wither's Rain".
Rating:
Summary: Watch Out Buffy!
Review: Passarella has done it again! I thought Wither would be hard to top but he has weaved a seductive, horror story that will keep you up well into the Witching Hour! Wendy Ward is one of the most engaging characters since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A must-read!
Rating:
Summary: Wendy Vs. Wither part 2!
Review: Passerella has done it again with this utterly gripping and sometimes gruesome horror novel pitting Wendy Ward, the college student and struggling white witch against the ancient evil called Wither! Wendy thought the terror was over when she destroyed the Wither in the first book only to find that true evil never dies and Wither's evil spirit has now taken up resident in body of a immoral young woman named Gina Thorne and now wants revenge against Wendy and her family and friends! Passerella's chilling sequel to his hit Wither has all of the ingredients:
a brave young heroine who must rise to occassion to save her life and the lives of all the people she cares for against a
unspeakable evil. This novel also boast scenes of Gina under the guidance of Wither capacity of evil as she targets her family for death and she corrupts her boyfriend. Other characters shine in this book such as young abby, the nine year old girl who
shapeshifts into a wolf thanks to the powers of the witch coven and the crone, invisible spirit that guides Wendy in her uses of magic and warns her of the dangers poses by Wither.
This novel also has a very memorable climax as Wendy has a fight through the death(through magic) between herself and Wither. Please bring us another Wendy ward book!
Rating:
Summary: Open the floodgates...
Review: Scarier, sexier, and equally as enjoyable as it's predecessor, John Passarella is sure to please fans old and new with 'Wither's Rain', the stand-alone second novel in the critically-acclaimed Wendy Ward series.
In a welcome return to his fictional town of Windale, Massachusetts, Passarella greets us with a much darker side to his Bram Stoker Award-winning writing, delving into the deepest and darkest of human emotions with the introduction of a human host for the demonic entity once known as Elizabeth Wither.
Frightfully as un-predictable and suspenseful as ever, 'Wither's Rain' is another highly recommended novel from the new master of horror.
Rating:
Summary: the perfect curl up horror book!
Review: when i first saw wither i didnt think much about it and put in in my pile of to be read. then someone recommended it to me, it was the best recommendation i have recieved! as soon as the second book came out i grabbed it up! these 2 wendy ward books are truly spookalicious! i cant wait to read the third book coming out in october! john passarella is one of the best writers i have come across! thank god it was recommended to me!if you love horror, love witch stories this is for you! superbly written and simply enchanting! highly recommended to all!
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