Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Witch Is Back-H.P. Mallory

The Witch Is Back


H.P. Mallory

Bantam, Jul 31 2012, $7.99

ISBN 9780345531568



Master vampire Sinjin Sinclair vowed to keep his bewitching Jolie Wilkins safe but needs a do-over to have the “right” ending. After she is crowned queen of the Underworld (see Witchful Thinking), he sends her back in time to before she learns that she is a witch. Jolie is working at her tarot-reading store clueless as to her otherworldly powers.



Sinjin’s enemy warlock Rand Balfour makes it clear to Jolie he wants her as does her vampiric protector. Jolie is attracted to both males but feels unworthy especially with the debonair Sinjin. She is baffled, not by her divided romantic feelings, but more a sense that something is off kilter in her world. She remains clueless that the Underworld is in peril as she remains ignorant to its’ existence of the Underworld. As she must choose between the two hunks, Jolie needs to save the world by using her witch powers that she is unaware she possesses while the Lurkers stalk her and others.



This is an intriguing entry once fans of the series adapt to a sort of new beginning; newcomers will struggle to adjust to the déjà vu references. Fast-paced, Jolie retains her likability enhanced by a new vulnerability on top of her lack of confidence. In addition there is also a well written novella “Be Witched” that tells the same storyline in "Toil and Trouble" but from Rand’s viewpoint; however this tale comes across as awkward due to the feature fantasy’s time travel premise and would have been more apropos as a bonus with Witchful Thinking.



Harriet Klausner

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