When it comes to the world of magic and fantasy, Elena of Avalor is a character who stands out and captures the hearts of many. She is not just a typical princess, but a strong and powerful leader who embodies the spirit of bravery and determination. In the show, "More than your magic Elena of Avalor," the true depth of Elena's character is explored. Elena is not defined solely by her magic or royal status. She is a multifaceted character who faces challenges and overcomes them with her intelligence, strength, and compassion. Throughout the series, Elena demonstrates her courage in the face of adversity and her unwavering commitment to her kingdom and its people.
The Root Witch
It’s 1986. Two strangers, hundreds of miles apart, grapple with disturbing incidents in a one-of-a-kind quaking aspen forest.
Knox is a new Forest Service ranger assigned to a vast, remote territory in Utah.
Sandy is a producer fighting for her place in a tough TV newsroom.
Both have heard about the shadowy figure believed to menace visitors to the forest. When a man disappears and reports of the Root Witch begin coming in, Knox and Sandy are plunged into a living nightmare.
Their lives converge on Halloween. Sandy sends a news crew to investigate the sightings. But when the team goes missing, and a shocking video surfaces revealing the ghastly truth, Knox and Sandy face the biggest decision of their lives.
This novel is based on a short story, "The Root Witch: An Urban Legend Caught on Tape."
Content warning: Animal death; anxiety; profanity
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Genres HorrorFictionWitchesParanormalAdultThrillerMystery
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2022
Book details & editions Loading interface. Loading interface.About the author
Debra Castaneda 13 books 145 followersDebra Castaneda is an award-winning horror and dark fiction author based on the central coast of California.
Her works include "The Devil’s Shallows," "The Root Witch", and "The Copper Man," which comprise the Dark Earth Rising series of standalone novels, and "The Monsters of Chavez Ravine," an International Latino Book Awards gold medal winner.
Debra loves writing character-driven stories about people who experience scary things, and how they react when confronted with the unexpected. She’s committed to representing Latinas and Latinos in her books.
For inspiration, she draws from her experience as a TV and radio journalist, and as a third-generation Mexican American.
Over the years, she’s lived in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay area.
Debra now lives in Capitola, California with her husband. She enjoys rediscovering the Mexican dishes of her childhood and texting her two daughters about her latest binge-watch.
~Subscribe to her newsletter for the occasional giveaway and the latest news at www.debracastaneda.com;
~Stay in touch with her at: @castanedawrites on Facebook & @castanedawrites on Instagram .
Throughout the series, Elena demonstrates her courage in the face of adversity and her unwavering commitment to her kingdom and its people. One aspect of Elena's character that sets her apart is her ability to connect with others and build strong relationships. She values the opinions and advice of her friends and family, and is always willing to listen and learn from them.
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1,330 ratings 229 reviews 5 stars 399 (30%) 4 stars 519 (39%) 3 stars 307 (23%) 2 stars 85 (6%) 1 star 20 (1%) Search review text English Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews 146 reviews 115 followers“The Root Witch” by Debra Castaneda had everything I was looking for when it comes to reading a horror novel. Scary cover. Check. Intriguing title. Check. Description hitting me with mentions of “disturbing incidents in a one-of-a-kind quaking aspen forest” which sounded terrifying. Check. So, what exactly went wrong here?
For starters, it wasn’t until 125+ pages in that something scary actually happened which was around the halfway mark. To me, that is unacceptable for a horror novel. There was way too much time spent on another story within the story that it just dragged on to where I was desperately waiting to read something, anything, to do with these disturbing incidents. Once they were eventually revealed, they seemed very basic and generic to me.
The hyping up of the Root Witch before making me, as a reader, scared or terrified of her, was just beyond frustrating. I’m talking a massive letdown because there was nothing explained, described, or crazy that would make anyone fear this Root Witch at all. This would have been a better read if instead of dedicating all those chapters to Sandy and her newsroom crew nonsense, there should have been many more on, you know, the actual Root Witch. Maybe situations that add to why I’m supposed to be scared of her? Events that send a chill down my spine that she does to others? Something? Anything? Common now, there was not enough horror at all in this novel for a title called “The Root Witch” where I didn’t get any witch vibes at all from this entity.
I felt very misled reading this as it’s more of a thriller if anything. Besides a boring story that dealt more with relationships, therapy, and work-related issues in a newsroom, I found three typos that took me out of the immersion. Typos like using “he” to describe Sandy (female) or “she” to describe Knox (male) which to me, is inexcusable. If you publish a novel for the world to read, it has to be perfect. I’m not sure if this was edited properly or even edited at all to allow this same exact typo to happen three times.
The ending wasn’t even all that climactic and ended in a dud. I was expecting a lot more after 250+ pages of reading but nope, it was quick and nothing creepy. I figured the ending wouldn’t do much to change my mind about this one but as always, once I start a novel, I finish it. Whether it’s a masterpiece or abysmal, I will read it to the end. I did exactly that here and well, it shouldn’t be a shock as to what I’m giving this novel.
I give “The Root Witch” by Debra Castaneda a 1/5 as I lost interest in this quickly because no horror happens at all. It took all the way to the 50% mark for anything remotely scary or interesting to happen as this wasn’t a horror novel at all. The horror aspect needed to be tremendously increased by many notches. This story drags on with the most annoying parts being all the wasted dialogue involving news reporters that work at a news station. That should have been cut in half and more chapters spent on the Root Witch. At any rate, this should not be labeled a horror novel at all as I would not recommend this to my fellow horror fans.
The Root Witch: An Urban Legend Caught on Tape
I almost feel guilty for using the amazing Pando quaking aspen forest in central Utah as a setting for a horror story.
Sorry, Pando !
All those pictures of your massive single root system not only stuck with me for years after I first saw them, but they also creeped me out. As in, I kept imagining terrible things involving the very thing that makes you a one-in-the-world wonder: your roots.
And because I have an overactive imagination, this led to the conjuring of The Root Witch. It invaded two bits of valuable real estate: my head and your quaking aspen forest of one hundred and six acres.
Pando has a perfect name. It means, “I spread” in Latin. New trees sprout from the massive single root system. The USDA Forest Service says the aspen forest is just one tree.
Unfortunately, the naming happened too late for the story, set in 1986.
Elena's leadership style is inclusive, and she recognizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration. In addition to her leadership qualities, Elena is also a role model for young girls in terms of embracing their cultural heritage and celebrating diversity. As the first Latinx Disney princess, Elena represents and promotes inclusivity and representation, showing viewers the importance of embracing their individuality and heritage. Furthermore, Elena's character arc explores important themes such as forgiveness, perseverance, and the power of friendship. She learns from her mistakes and uses them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement, teaching viewers valuable life lessons along the way. Overall, "More than your magic Elena of Avalor" highlights the depth and complexity of Elena's character. She is not just a princess or a magical being, but a strong and inspirational leader. Elena's journey teaches viewers about the importance of bravery, compassion, and the true meaning of being a hero. Her story serves as a reminder that there is more to a person than their external abilities or titles - it is the strength of their character that truly defines them..
Reviews for "Elena of Avalor: Championing Cultural Representation in Media"
1. Mary - 2 stars - "I really wanted to like 'More than your magic elena of avallr', but I found it underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked depth, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The writing style was also disappointing, with clunky dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book, and I wouldn't recommend it to others."
2. John - 1 star - "I was highly disappointed with 'More than your magic elena of avallr'. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, jumping around between different perspectives and time periods. The author failed to adequately develop the magical elements, leaving them feeling forced and irrelevant. The pacing was also off, leaving me bored and uninterested. I would advise others to skip this book and find something more enjoyable to read."
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "I had high hopes for 'More than your magic elena of avallr', but sadly, it fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to invest in their lives and struggles. The world-building was also lacking, leaving many questions unanswered. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it a struggle to get through the book. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read."