A Costly Wish

In the mysterious realm of Juju's collection, a town teeters on the edge of darkness, its streets alive with whispers of forbidden forests and spectral echoes from an eerie hamlet. Each tale in this dynamically crafty seven-tale collection unfolds like a cryptic puzzle, drawing readers into a world where innocence collides with perilous situations and otherworldly influences lurk in the shadows. The journey begins with the unsettling title story, where a traveling carnival descends upon the town, bringing with it a sense of both wonder and foreboding. As the decrepit fortuneteller meets a tragic end, her spirit lingers on, weaving a web of haunting intrigue that ensnares a local child and sets the stage for a deadly confrontation. But the theme of innocent trespassing extends beyond the carnival grounds, echoing through the lush yet forbidden green groves of "The Moss," where two sisters venture into the unknown, joining the ranks of the missing children that haunt the town's darkest secrets. Amidst the chilling backdrop of the town's mysteries, new arrivals emerge, each bearing their own secrets and burdens. Maggie, a newly widowed mother seeking solace, finds herself drawn back to the place of her youth, where her enigmatic mother, "Momma C," holds sway over the bountiful strawberry fields and dispenses protective talismans with a divine hand. In the shortest yet most impactful tale, "It's All a Balancing Act," the macabre motivations of Momma C are laid bare, revealing a complex web of morality and retribution that binds the town together in a delicate dance of justice and revenge. Throughout the collection, Juju weaves a tapestry of spine-tingling suspense and eerie revelations, where every evil deed exacts its toll and every act of darkness is met with a counterbalance of otherworldly justice. From the sinister carnival at the town's border to the quiet whispers of the supernatural, these stories deliver a potent blend of creepy, spooky fun, perfect for YA readers and fans of Twilight Zone-style horror fiction alike.