This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite
Severed by Dax Varley is a rehashing of the horror classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow told from the perspective of Katrina Van Tassel, the 18-year-old daughter of Sleepy Hollow's richest landowner. But Kat has dreams beyond plantation life and marriage to Brom, the Van Tassel's touchy-feely overseer, She is quite the mainstream feminist as she hopes to sail the world and leave all her responsibilities behind.
Soon a new school teacher by the name of Ichabod Crane arrives (he's a replacement for the previous school teacher who was unfortunately dressed and unfortunately beheaded). Kat quickly fall in love with the handsome and progressive Crane but she's not the only one to take an interest in the new arrival. When Sleepy Hollow's grim specter marks Ichabod for death, Kat must using everything in her power to put the Headless Horseman in its grave once and for all. Fast paced (except for when it pauses for a heady touch of romance), Severed is a potent mix of horror and romance that's sure to delight.
Severed is perfect for readers who love young adult horror as well as new spins on old classics. I actually read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow years ago though unfortunately I didn't remember enough to compare Ms. Varley's tale of romantic horror with the original. I'm sure there were many inside jokes that I missed.
Severed is set a few years after the Revolutionary War but it's a historical novel that can easily be mistaken for a modern era as the characters are imbued with all the thoughts, morals, and sensibilities of the 21st century. I almost expected Kat to text her best friend, Elise, instead of using her slave to send notes.
