The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 0-330-37625-x
Genre: Fiction/Horror
Pages: 394
Format: Paperback
Publisher: PAN

"We thought we'd found our haven, a cottage deep in the heart of the forest. Charming, maybe a little run down, but so peaceful. That was the first part of the Magic. Midge's painting and my music soared to new heights of creativity. That was another part of the Magic. Our love for each other - well, that became the supreme Magic. But the cottage had an alternative side - The Bad Magic." "What happened to us there was horrendous beyond belief. The healings, the crazy sect who wanted our home for themselves, the hideous creatures that crawled from the nether regions, and the bats - oh God, the bats! Even now those terrible things seem impossible to me. Yet they happened..."

This is the second time I've read this book, having read it for the first time years ago. I had forgotten the story so reading it again, was really enjoyable. Although James Herbert is not my most favourite author I really do like some of his books. Reading his books are a little like reading Stephen King's books, I have to be in the 'mood' for it. Otherwise, I'll soon get bored.

Anyway, it took half of this book to get through for anything to really happen, the first half is learning about Midge and Mike, and them moving to the cottage and some of the strange things that begin to happen. Midge is getting over her parents deaths and they both move out into the Cottage. Things happen that they can't explain, and the cottage seems to have a life of it's own. Not too far is a group of people, who are part of a sect. Things seem OK at first, but Mike is suspicious, and as Midge begins to become more friendly with them, the sect begin to get in between them both. There is more to this story but, if I carry on I'll be telling you the whole story!!!

This book is pretty spooky, I was especially spooked when Mike's friend 'Bob' comes to stay with his girlfriend Kiwi. They're awoken to Bob's screams as he sees something 'unnatural' in the cottage, and swears never to return again.

Overall, this is a good spooky ghost book. Which will have you shouting down at the characters, saying No! Wake Up! RUN! I loved the way Mike was described, and the whole relationship he had with Midge. It was sexy in places and had me laughing and smiling a long with them.
I loved how the Cottage was described, it made me want to move in there.

If you're a James Herbert fan, you'll love this book. If you haven't read this book, give it a go. You may find you'll love it.