Witchery

Witchery picks up where Accursed left off, with William and Tamara still facing the dilemma of trying to oust the demon Oblis from their father's body. Yet, their duties as Protectors of Albion, Williams impending nuptials to Sophia, and Tamara's tentative flirtations with a certain gentleman caller of course make this all the more difficult. In Witchery, William is determined to oust the demon Oblis so that his father can attend his wedding. However, when an exhausted old friend, the sprite Serena, comes to the Protectors for help in order to save young faerie girls who have disappeared in a far off town, Tamara and William disagree on where their duties lie. Ultimately Tamara starts off alone to investigate the disappearances of faerie girls and human girls of the village near the wood, getting herself into a situation that's more than one Protector can handle alone. Finally, William joins his sister, and together they fight to save the abducted girls in a battle that could nearly cost their lives. Yet, even with victory comes defeat. I was so reluctant to put the book down when I couldn't finish it one sitting. Lord knows I picked it up at every opportunity. Ghosts of Albion is an excellent series, and I only hope it continues.

"Witchery" is the second novel from Amber Benson (fan favorite "Tara Maclay" from Buffy) and Christopher Golden, in the "Ghosts of Albion" animated series that began on the BBC's website. Like the first novel "Accursed", "Witchery" takes the story to levels that were not possible on the BBC, not just in terms of what could be done technically, but storywise as well. The story is darker, more dangerous and steeped in Victorian era sensuality. The story continues the exploits of the Swift Siblings, Tamara and William, the newly anointed "Protectors of Albion", the protectors of England's magical soul. Back for more adventures are the epynonymous "Ghosts of Albion" Queen Bodicea, Lord Horatio Nelson, and Lord Byron who defend Albion even after their own deaths. Also returning are their allies, both human and otherwise. The Swifts must return to Cornwall when they learn that young girls, both human and faerie, are disappearing into the night without a trace of their whereabouts, and some have been discovered dead. The local townspeople fear that it might have something to do with the old tales of "witches" in the area dating back to King Arthur's time. Of course they need to figure out what is going on, who is doing it and how to stop it before the Solstice, or certainly a dozen girls will die. In the meantime the siblings still have their demon-possessed father to deal with, the machinations of the Algernon Club, and William's impatient fiancé Sophia. Once again authors Benson and Golden paint a rich picture on a fertile canvas. Exotic locals such as a faerie stronghold in Cornwall and a Louisiana bayou are contrasted with moments of beauty and sheer horror. Even such mundane locals as the bank William runs is not safe from the darkness in their lives. Benson and Golden mix and match their Gothic feel with fairy tales of England's past. The result is something darker and more dangerous. It is reminiscent of Golden's own "Myth Hunter" series or "The Menagerie" series he co-writes with Tom Sniegoski. Yet again there is something else here that can only be attributed to Ms. Benson's hand in the work. This creates such an alchemy that both authors seemed pushed to do better in the other's presence. "Myth Hunter" is modern noir in feel, "The Menagerie" feels like a gothic ode to superheroes, "Ghosts of Albion" is a Keats poem, dripping with blood and lust. Where "Accursed" had the required set up to bring in new readers and thus a slower start, the action in "Witchery" begins right away and the tension does not let up till the very end. But it is not all action, there is also character development and carefully crafted plotting. The world made believable because they take the time to make the people in it believable. And students of Victorian age occult history and horror fiction fans should look for some surprise "cameos" as well. The attention paid to research by the authors is in and of itself rewarding; something many modern hor

When their grandfather dies, Tamara and William Swift become the new protectors of Albion, sworn to protect Britain from her mystical enemies. Although they are new to their positions and must learn how to use their powers, Tamara and William, the "mystic defenders of the soul of England", have the help of the ghosts of Lord Byron, Queen Bodicea and Lord Admiral Nelson. William is determined to oust the demon Oblis from his father but he shuts out his fiancée Sophia Winchell who has nobody to turn except William's father when she thinks he has temporarily defeated the demon within. Tamara is at Camelford where it is said King Arthur and Mordred fought their fatal battle. Virgin girls from the town and fairies from Stronghold, the border manor between the mortal world and faerie and unseen by human eyes are disappearing and whispers of witches, half humans and half demons are said to be taking them. Tamara knows that they are still alive and will be used in an evil spell to bring forth a malevolence into Albion that she and her allies must prevent at any cost. This magical and enchanting Victorian Gothic thriller shows the champions of light battling the minions of darkness in a horror tale that pulls the audience into the storyline and keeps them there because there is no break in the action. Surprisingly, in spite of the non stop adventures the characters are fully developed including the ghosts. The amusing Serena, the less than one foot sprite who is always ready to fight, is used as comic relief to lessen tension levels when they threaten to become too overwhelming, seems in a small way genuine. Harriet Klausner