Unlike her brothers, Tom (10) and Richard (15), 12 year old Orla Perry is looking forward to their holiday on the Cornish Coast in a borrowed cottage. Upon arrival, Richard is mortified with the absence of Wifi and Tom is quickly bored. Mum gets stuck into paperwork, but Orla goes exploring at the first opportunity.

This is quickly stopped by Mum after Orla arrives home with a bleeding scratch across her face and messed up clothes. Orla decides not to tell Mum that a falling tree just missed her and that she’d found an incredible necklace made of what she was sure were rock-sized-rubies and gold.

Orla also keeps the meeting of a teenage goth called Raven to herself. Raven is camping nearby and with some coaxing (more like constant questioning), Raven tells Orla that something strange is happening in the local area.

Orla had noticed the lack of any birds or animals in the fields or nearby wood. She is intrigued, then shocked when she also learns of Raven’s Dad’s untimely death nearby. Was it really part of something wicked taking lives for over a century?

More investigation is a must and Orla asks more questions – first of the cottage’s owner then further afield. She can hardly believe what she discovers, but coupled with dreams so real she’s always surprised to wake up in her own bed; she digs deeper.

All the while, the family dog Dave is on high alert. He sees himself as the family protector, and although they love him to bits they believe him a bit dumb. He’s fine with that as long as he can keep them safe. Suddenly that is harder than ever before in this country setting. Orla isn’t the only one to find something remarkable and soon her brothers are in just as deep.

They soon learn that they are all connected to a centuries old curse and Orla is the only one with the power to save them, the village and ultimately everything.

Don’t let the adventure, tween looking cover deceive you. This tale of curses, witches and betrayals is deep, complicated and completely captivating as the main character learns her family holiday is a trap. She’s always been a bit different and soon understands why.

Taken back and forth in time, battling witch curses, real witches and dabbling with spells to raise the dead, a quiet country holiday turns into a intense beach battle, similar to one that kicked off an age old villainous curse in the first place.

Seeing the action from the family dog’s point-of-view is different but ultimately rewarding as he comes into his own. The final scenes are especially movie worthy as the action cranks up to Deadly.

There are lots of exclamations of “What the hell?” scattered through the book and “Oh my god!” too, but if that doesn’t offend, Orla and the Serpent’s Curse is a riveting, heart pumping read.

Author – C J Haslam

Age – 10+

(2020, Witch, Curse, Spells, Amulet, Ancient necklace, Cornwall UK, Deaths, Accidents, Betrayal, Love, Time shift, Dreams, Crow, Galleon, Pirate, Beach, Holiday, Siblings, Dog, Bravery, Courage, Action, Historical, Grief, Mystery)