-ACCLAIMED AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR-
KEN MANN
BOOK REVIEWS
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Goodreads Review
1 review
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A great read, thoroughly recommend to anyone who is looking for something different. I really enjoyed the way the story flowed from the real world to the fairy world and interaction between the characters. 5 stars! :-)
Goodreads Review
1 review 1 follower
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I really really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves this genre. The story set the platform and slowly gathered pace at the beginning but when it did it was fast paced through to the end. It flowed effortlessly between the realms of the real world and the fairy. The characters were very interesting as well. I think some might look at it and see the word Wicca and be turned off if they think it has religious overtones but this shouldn't be the case. It certainly does give an insight into this world but surprising it's a story about a struggle between the main character and her antagonist which who wants to see her dead. It story then weaves its way through the different worlds as the chase is on. I won't give anything away but it certainly makes me look forward to the future installments of this series.
S Wright
5 out of 5 stars
time reading this type of book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will look out for book
Reviewed in Australia on July 20, 2015
Format: AMZAON Kindle
My first time reading this type of book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will look out for book 2
Goodreads Review
2,358 reviews 106 followers
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Jane is still learning her craft and honing her skills from a long family Wiccan tradition. Then she gets a warning her life is in danger and she will have to combat her past. I will not give away the ending.
Goodreads Review
Author 17 books19 followers
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I was drawn in my the subject of Wicca since it's something I know nothing about and I wanted to learn more. The rituals and beliefs were interesting, and the story incredibly detailed but also incredibly slow. Lots of tell and not much show, and just so much unnecessary dialogue and description that brought the pace right down to a crawl. Lot of exposition from characters, but the scenery sounded lovely.
Goodreads Review
2 reviews1 follower
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Absolutely enjoyed this read. Easy to follow along with, I enjoyed the magic and was drawn into the world created by the author. Looking forward to Book 2 in the series
Goodreads Review
1 review
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Dabbeling in darkness brings you no closer to the Light. If you are blessed with intelligence and you lack Wisdom, you are doomed!
5 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020
Format: AMZAON Kindle
The author literally sets the scene and keeps you engrossed in the magic and mystery. I would like to see more stories like this.
Goodreads Review
164 reviews 5 followers
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The Black Locust pulls you into a world of magick, danger, and discovery right from the first page. Ken Mann does a great job of balancing mystery with emotion, making Jane’s journey both relatable and captivating. The Wiccan traditions woven into the story add depth and authenticity, while the suspense keeps you turning pages late into the night. A strong start to a series with so much potential, I’m excited to see where the next book takes us
4 out of 5 stars
Delectable
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026
Format: AMAZON Kindle
If you are a halloween is all year type…. This is your book. Dark and moody vibes with a great suspenseful yet twisty plot.
4 out of 5 stars
A slow burn but worth the wait if you like dark fantasy.
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
Overall, the book was a very slow read (for me) with some unnecessary dialogue and overly detailed descriptions that slowed the pace of the story. Once the pace picks up, it builds up to a good vs evil mystery with escalating danger. It’s a true young woman coming of age type story where her magic “awakens” and she must train to utilize it appropriately.
The writing has a light dark fantasy vibe that focuses on tradition and rituals that are not overly complex. The story flows very well between the fantasy and real world realms - it’s very easy to follow.
5 out of 5 stars
Psychological thriller
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
If you're looking for a psychological thriller that actually gets under your skin, The Black Locust by Ken Mann is a fantastic pick.
As someone who reads a lot of suspense, I really appreciated how Mann builds the atmosphere. It’s not just about the "shocks"; it’s a slow-burn tension that makes the characters feel deeply unsettled. The protagonist’s journey into his own past—and the secrets buried there—is written with a grit that kept me turning pages late into the night.
It’s dark, atmospheric, and hits that sweet spot between a mystery and a character study. If you enjoy authors like Gillian Flynn or Stephen King’s more grounded psychological works, this one should definitely be on your nightstand.
4 out of 5 stars
love the plot twists
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026
The plot twists in this book were great. Between the humans, wicca (witches) and fairies, there is something for everyone. I can’t wait to read the next book. I also love how the author incorporated the things he loves. I was not familiar with a lot of the music referenced in this book so I am going to have to go check them out.
4 out of 5 stars
Black Locust
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2026
A great story, you keep reading wondering what is going to happen next. Has some twists that you don’t see coming.
4 out of 5 stars
Witches, faires and leprechauns
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2026
Original story with fun twists in a small Australian town. Will the witches prevail over the evil leprechaun?
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5 out of 5 stars
Otherworldly
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026
Immerse yourself in a world of glimmers and scourges where it's difficult to differentiate between friend and foe. This was so fun to read!
5 out of 5 stars
Theres translations and a colored map in the book if you get confused.
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2026
Now I went into this book blindly, didn't realize it was a part two at first when I read it. However, that didn't take anyway anything and only made me want to read it the first book along with the rest of The Delta Witch Chronicles.
I absolutely love the blending of old traditional magics and the modern variety of things. It even has a map of the location and an index full of translations for the Gaelic words that is used in the story. It has good pacing and truly lets you immerse yourself in the world of the main characters.
5 out of 5 stars
!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
Ooooo witch witch witch give me more witch!!!
4 out of 5 stars
Muse
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
Good starter novel for teens who want to get into supernatural horror. Would recommend for a teen into fantasy horror.
5 out of 5 stars
Muse
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2026
The second book in the series, Muse follows Jane as she is pulled back into a world she never wanted. It's an urban fantasy with plenty of old school magic. I like the pronunciation guide and song list in the front, it's a really nice addition.
5 out of 5 stars
Muse
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2026
Not a bad book. Im not usually one to read about witches. The first sentence was so greatly written that I had ro read the whole book. I will look for the rest of the series.
5 out of 5 stars
Spooky and dark
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2026
I was drawn in by the cover of this book and started it before realizing there is a book 1. I stopped and read book 1 first. I think reading book 1 first is important for understanding all the characters and the other world in this book. This book takes you along a journey with a young witch named Jane as she discovers who she is and what her true purpose is. This is a book that shows how choices can damn you. The other world in this book is full of interesting characters that are richly described and have depth. Spooky but very interesting and fun to read.
5 out of 5 stars
Complex, but in a good way
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2026
This series combines multiple layers of genres and influences from a few different cultures, and while it can be a bit complex to understand how they all work together, it ends up working really well. There is a timeline jump for some chapters, which helps fill in information gaps to help weave together the story as it unfolds for the more modern timeline.