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Melissa began writing as a child, and over the years, her love of literature grew from a hobby to an all-encompassing passion. She now follows in the footsteps of her late grandmother, Patricia Kaspar, writing novels that defy the confines of a single genre. Though her books are rooted in fantasy, she incorporates themes that fall under young-adult, horror, mystery, and science fiction. Due to her proclivity to blend genres and her inclination toward the eerie and fantastical, Melissa has found her niche in the indie industry, writing books that fall into a class of their own.
Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite
Jan, or Jinx as she liked to be called, is thrilled that she gets to spend the whole summer with her friend while her parents are visiting Scotland. As a way to make money over the summer, Jan and her friend decide to collect sand dollars and shells to sell to a local jewelry shop on the beach. During one of their dives, Jinx finds a mysterious box after hearing the sound of two men dropping it in the cove. It’s a strange mermaid box with a locket inside. Not thinking anything of it, Jinx starts to wear the piece of jewelry, but that’s when things get strange. She begins to have weird episodes that scare her friend Shelly, who thinks they might be seizures. Aside from that, she has a lasting taste of metal in her mouth, as well as not being able to take the locket off, even when it means risking their lives. The two mysterious men begin stalking the girls, which is when they realize how serious this old box really is. Jinx starts wondering if the box and locket have some sort of mystical power.
I really enjoyed reading Jinx by Melissa K. Magner and Patricia M. Kaspar. It immediately captivated me and kept me hooked till the very end. The two main characters were very likable and relatable and the overall plot was just great. It’s one of those crazy summer adventures that you wish you had experienced growing up. Of course, it was a very dangerous adventure, but that’s what made it thrilling to read. I also loved that the book had some lovely illustrations, which isn’t always the case with Young Adult reads. It’s always a pleasure to have a mental image represented in what you are reading. Overall, I think Melissa K. Magner and Patricia M. Kaspar did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. I will be on the lookout for more of their work.
