Malediction

By: Lisa Morton

Narrated by: Michael Hacker

In 1863, a young woman's heritage is stolen from her, and she lays a terrible curse on the City of Angels. Now, in the 21st century, a teenaged girl with lethal psychic abilities arrives in Los Angeles, ready to ally herself with vengeful spirits of the past to feed her insatiable appetite for destruction. Only Gwen Michaelson, a natural healer afraid of her gifts, and Sam West, a broken amnesiac who was once a brilliant historian, stand against the psychotic and increasingly powerful May Blanco. Will Gwen be able to use her skills to restore Sam's mind, which holds the key to the mystery of May's unearthly companion? Together, can they find a way to stop May before she unleashes a wave of death?

Malediction is a novel about magic and darkness, power and lust, folklore versus fact, love against rage, and the secret history of Los Angeles.

©2011 Evil Jester Press (P)2014 Lisa Morton

Outstanding!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. My biggest hang ups in recommendations are too much sex and lacking plot. This book is lacking sex and just enough plot. There are paranormal/religious elements, that my vamp-hating friends would be fine with, so ... No snags as far as telling everyone to READ IT!

What other book might you compare Malediction to and why?

This book is incomparable to any other book I've ever read. Closest would be a Dan Brown novel... Sort of a Ghost Whisperer/ DaVinci Code/ revivalist hybrid. A truly original novel.

Which character – as performed by Michael Hacker – was your favorite?

Sam. He had the most vocal range when he spoke for Sam. From the crusty unused voice of a crazy homeless man, to the slightly more refined and lubricated voice if a former professor, SAMs intonation was recognizable, yet diverse.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. I got a little misty when main characters were nearly destroyed, but no extreme reactions.

Any additional comments?

All in all, this was a fantastic book. I love the audio, which doesn't lose any of it's tone if you speed it up to 1.25+ for immersion reading. Truly a talented narrator, reading a very good book!

A great read!

Any additional comments?

While the narrator was a touch odd in places (still good overall), I loved the story. There were a ton of eyebrow-raising moments that made me prick up my ears. Lisa Morton KNOWS how to write a great story, and this book is proof of it. I've known her for her Halloween-related non-fiction books in the past, but this book will make me seek out her fiction too!

Great listening!

If you could sum up Malediction in three words, what would they be?

Spooky, engaging, unique.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the storyline, that it was convoluted and complex, but still easy to follow and different from any other book I can think of.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't laugh or cry, but I got so sucked in to the story that I couldn't stop listening! I took my iPod everywhere with me so I wouldn't have to stop.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book, and I think I liked it even more as an audiobook. The narrator brought the story, and all of the characters in it, to life very convincingly.

Engrossing Read.

Would you consider the audio edition of Malediction to be better than the print version?

I've only listened to the Audio but I think an Audio book breaths life into a story anyway.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything. I loved the Secret History of LA and how the story weaved together at the end.

Have you listened to any of Michael Hacker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, this is my first but I will definitely check out more from him. He really brought the characters to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No because it's so long but when I was listening to it I didn't want to stop.

Any additional comments?

This was such an engrossing read. Everything from it's plot to it's characters were really well written and developed. I loved how we learn a little at a time about the history and the curse and how the story is weaved together.

Long ago when a woman thought she was cheated out of land, she brought a curse down upon the land and everyone who ever owns it. Skip to modern day LA and the curse seems to come to life through a teenage girl called Mae.

Mae was an amazing villain, I don't mean that I liked her but that she was the nastiest one I've ever read. At the start I felt so sorry for her, her parents locked her away for most of her life because she could do things. She had no love nor companionship for the first 18yrs. One day she decides enough is enough and kills her father and mother. But she doesn't stop there! Mae is the epitome of sociopath and kills for fun or when she wants something. She is pure evil!

Gwen can also do things. She can heal people, so naturally, she is the only person who can try to stop Mae. Along with Portia, a physic and Sam, a scholar, Gwen has to become stronger in order to face Mae, but how do you face someone who will kill with a look, who blows a heart up without a thought or a care??

The lore about the curse was awesome as well. I loved the interludes where we learn about the origin of the curse and how its played out over the years.

Anyway, Malediction was a thrilling and frankly chilling read. I flew through listening to it and didn't want to stop. Its such an intrinsic plot and one I found myself engrossed in. Highly recommend.

Michael Hacker did an amazing job of reading the story. His reactions to things and the way he voiced each character was awesome. Loved listening to this.

Malediction review

If you could sum up Malediction in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, suspenseful story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, because of the content and plot of the story.

Which character – as performed by Michael Hacker – was your favorite?

May.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, definitely.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this.

A Big Bloody Love Letter To Los Angeles

First, the prose is excellent. Really, it's notable and for reasons I will get to shortly. Second, the story enchants. Like the best cocktails, it intoxicates you with such sweet poison--one moment, you're taking a sip and having a chat, next moment, you're waking up awash in someone else's blood with tattered flesh under your fingernails. We've all been there, am I right?! AM I RIGHT?! Right. ANYway, yeah, this one kills. Slays, even. Third, for there is a third, it DELIVERS. Yes, folks, it breaks no promise with the reader. It gets big and the set pieces escalate like any proper horror show should.

The performance? The performance is on the melodramatic side when a grounded naturalistic narration would have been a much better fit. As is, it's serviceable. And if you can get past it, then you're in for a story that takes its time to get someplace worth visiting. If you can't get past it? Kindle! This one reads really well. Again, the language is masterful.

But here is point final and fourth--fourth, this book is WELL RESEARCHED; unbelievably so. Through the conceit of a published work of nonfiction in the world of the book, the narrative alternates between moments with this fictional nonfiction and the story at large to great effect. How do I know? Well, for me, personally, I honestly had no idea until deep into the work that the book within the book couldn't be found on its own on a shelf somewhere. It's that good. The style of writing stands apart and reads as though written by a different author. That's hard to do. That's a real achievement. I mean, I was listening along and after a point wished to read the book within the book after I was done with reading the book. The research that went into this book in the book is that kind of impressive. Book, book, book, book, book, book, book. There. I've typed the word 'book' sufficiently to round out this review to my admittedly peculiar tastes. Book. Okay, no--I did one more.

Let's see some more from this Lisa Morton person!

Kudos!

An exciting spooky story.

Wow, what an imagination it took to write this book! This is really a good book,but hard for me to explain. While this isn't my usual genre, It is very exciting and found myself glued to the computer Christmas Eve & Christmas Day listening to it. It is spooky, exciting, dangerous and adventurous all wrapped up in a sci fi / paranormal / suspense / thriller!

Long ago (pre 1900s) a curse was put on a man & his property. Now present day the curse comes to life thru a girl named Mae. Mae has special powers and is locked up in her room until she turns 18. Then one day Mae decides to kill her parents and escape to the big city. Sam was writing a book about old Los Angeles. Then one day while heading to an area suspected to be where the curse was put, Sam goes crazy and is missing for 2 years. Gwen is a natural healer and Mae's polar opposite / match (like good vs evil). It is up to Gwen who is the only person who can fight Mae & stop her from the killing spree she is on.

Mae is on a killing spree collecting souls to make her even more powerful. Mae can kill people just by thinking it. She can cause heart attacks, reach into brains and even make people rise without even touching them. it is up to Gwen to save the world even though she herself lost the most important person to her. Even though Manny dies (Gwen's man), he is still able to talk to her as a spirit. Sam help and advises Gwen and teaches Gwen all he learned while writing this book.

The author Lisa Morton did a fantastic job on this story! I can't even imagine the amount of work that went into writing this book, but the subject content is just incredible! The plot teased me and kept me here listening for 2 days! The narrator, Michael Hacker did a great job delivering this story to us with her multiple voices and accents. The speed was just right for me to absorb all the details in this book! Excellent job ! This book is definitely going on my must read again list!

Lisa Morton is great!

She’s a solid writer. Great tale of psychic powers coming into awareness, and clashing. On one end, a childish angry black force of destruction, day by day learning the joys of following every raging impulse. On the other, a healing, generous force, building in its own power to put back together things broken and to set right those astray. There is Los Angeles and it’s hidden history. A great cast of local LA color. I loved Dom, the Psychic Eye, oops I mean the Tree of Life( not Bhodi Tree) bookstore owner. I’d love to see a short story expanding on his exploits. A horrible man. Greedy, self serving, occult dabbler, who thinks he’s found a treasure he can exploit when May shows up at his store. And what what a great villain she is! Lisa Morton. Rock and roll!

Great story, but struggled with narration :(

If the story weren't so engrossing, I would have returned this book. I kept finding myself thinking, "No one actually talks this way!!" Kudos to anyone pursuing their passion in a career choice, but I would have preferred a narrator who read in a tempo and rhythm consistent with a conversation instead of seeming forced and affected.

Malediction

Any additional comments?

This book was AWESOME!It reminded me of older horror books like Carrie, Firestarter,etc.May is a sad and terrible teenager that's been kept locked in a room all her life.This is just what a malevolent entity is looking for. MAYhem ensues!
Michael Hacker was perfect for this book.He is fine with both women and mens voices.