In folklore and mythology, witches are often depicted as powerful and mystical figures who possess the ability to perform magic spells and enchantments. One such mysterious witch is known as the "root witch." The root witch is often portrayed as an elderly woman with gnarled hands and a deep knowledge of the Earth's natural remedies. She is said to have a deep connection with plants and herbs, using their powers to heal, curse or protect. Legend has it that the root witch possesses an extensive knowledge of the magical properties of various roots, bark, leaves, and flowers. She knows the exact plants and herbs to mix to create powerful potions and tinctures.

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

Genres HorrorFictionWitchesParanormalAdultThrillerMystery

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2022

About the author

Debra 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 .

She knows the exact plants and herbs to mix to create powerful potions and tinctures. These concoctions can heal ailments, offer protection, or even bring forth visions of the future. Though often depicted as a terrifying figure, the root witch is not inherently evil.

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“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.

She uses her power for both good and bad purposes, depending on her intentions. Villagers seek her out for remedies to their ailments, and she is seen as a healer and wise woman. However, those who cross her or disrespect her powers may find themselves on the receiving end of a curse or hex. The root witch is believed to be a gatekeeper of the natural world's secrets. She understands the delicate balance between humans and nature and works to safeguard this relationship. She reminds people of the importance of respecting and honoring the Earth and all its creations. Though the image of the root witch may vary in different cultures and regions, the essence of her power remains constant. She is a formidable force, respected and feared by many, yet revered for her ability to heal and protect. Her connection to the natural world sets her apart from other witches, making her an intriguing and captivating figure in folklore and mythology..

Reviews for "The Root Witch's Oracle: Divination and Herbalism"

1. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Root Witch" but was left feeling disappointed. The book started off promising with its intriguing premise and dark atmosphere. However, as I got further into the story, I found myself losing interest. The pacing was slow, and there were too many unnecessary details that dragged the plot. The characters lacked depth and failed to evoke any emotions in me. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.

2. Michael - 1 out of 5 stars - "The Root Witch" was a complete letdown. The writing style was incredibly dull and lacked any creativity. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The plot itself was predictable and didn't offer anything new or interesting. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat in every aspect. I struggled to finish it and felt like I wasted my time.

3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I expected "The Root Witch" to be a thrilling and gripping read, but it fell short of my expectations. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed. The author introduced too many subplots and unnecessary characters that ultimately led to confusion and a lack of focus. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and unsatisfying conclusions. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was disappointed with the book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

4. Jason - 2.5 out of 5 stars - "The Root Witch" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver a compelling story. The characters felt flat and lacked development, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The prose was average, and the world-building felt incomplete. The pacing was slow, and there were unnecessary filler scenes that didn't add anything to the plot. While there were some moments of intrigue, they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster execution of the story. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.

The Root Witch's Grimoire: A Guide to Spellwork and Rituals with Herbs