From Goodreads: Abandoned, neglected, and sitting atop Hathorne Hill, Danvers Asylum for the Insane towers above modern-day Danvers, Massachusetts. When November Atwood and her twin cousins, Jeff and wheelchair-bound Hawk, discover a strangely-marked wooden box long-buried in the asylum’s shadows, they unwittingly set in motion events leading to the culmination of a diabolical pact signed more than three hundred years ago-when Danvers was Salem Village and witchcraft was a hanging offense.

The cryptic clues on an old vellum document, along with a curious gold coin found inside the box, prompt the trio to venture into the tunnels beneath the asylum, where Jeff is struck by elf-shot, abducted, and replaced by a changeling.

With the aid of a gnome called Dynnis, the pair embark on a journey through the treacherous tunnels and into the Hill of Hathorne. They encounter Hob, the keeper of the Room of Rings, an enormous portal that carries them back in time to Salem Village, current date 1701. Can November summon the courage to bargain her soul to spare the souls of those hanged for witchcraft in 1692? For she is the only one who holds the key in November in Salem: The Bargain of Witches.

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I am always amazed when authors come up with such intricate, original stories, leaving no stone unturned and answering every possible question a reader could have.  That takes talent, and talent is exactly what Russell showcases in her novel, November in Salem!  I really enjoyed this novel as November and her friends battle against evil throughout this novel, piecing together the past in order to set free the hundreds of souls trapped by the bargain.

While this novel is fictitious, the use of real places and events in history show Russell’s research and the care she put into her novel as she wrote, an aspect that will please any interested in the history of Salem.  Russell’s characterization is also superb as the young tweens begin coming-of-age, and though this novel fits into the YA genre, it easily lends itself to MG and adult—completely appropriate and captivating for all ages.  Russell’s writing is immaculate and her prose draws the reader in from the very beginning. 

The flow of the novel is magnificent, and Russell’s dialogue easily switches between archaic and modern language where appropriate, creating a very real feel to the novel and adding to the intrigue.  Many writers struggle when archaic dialogue is utilized, but Russell gracefully writes her dialogue, maintaining sound transitions between the 1700s and the present, which made reading the novel extremely fun for me. 

Though there is a well-rounded conclusion to the novel, Russell hints at a sequel through many of the events, and I do hope that a sequel is in fact in the works!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.