Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dayna Walsh, 17, feels most at home with her coven and away from her reverend father and his followers. Dayna has plenty to deal with--the disclosure of her bisexuality in her small Irish town, her OCD, and the return of her estranged mother--even before a witch is killed and branded with the mark of the Butcher, a serial killer hunting witches in 10-year cycles. When her coven accepts the help of a witch rumored to work in black magic, Dayna navigates her feelings for a new love interest and member of a rival coven. In her race to catch the Butcher, Dayna experiences coincidences that suggest her role within her own coven is more complicated than first believed. Latimer (The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray) infuses modern-day references with Celtic mythology while packing the novel with gory action, alternating viewpoints between the witches and those who hunt them. Despite unresolved subplots and a problematic depiction of Catholicism, the action sequences are cinematic in scope, and rich interior characterizations add depth to an arresting story. Ages 14--up. Agent: Silvia Molteni, Peters Fraser and Dunlop. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Dayna Walsh is a closeted witch hiding the truth from her conservative reverend father. Recently outed as bisexual, Dayna is socially isolated outside of her coven in her small Irish town. When witches start becoming victims of an alleged serial killer, two rival covens must team up to hunt the hunters. Complicating this fact is Meiner King, the granddaughter of an infamous dark witch, whom Dayna finds infuriating and fascinating. Dayna and Meiner must join together in a fight for their lives, their town, and the world. The creative magic system, based on Celtic mythology combined with modern neopaganism, is the selling point of this story. The well-drawn and diverse set of queer female characters is also notable. Young readers may be frustrated and disoriented in the beginning when the book switches among a large number of point of view characters. The rapid-fire introduction of characters with names unfamiliar to an American audience may also confuse readers, but it is worth it to read the conclusion of this pulse-pounding story. Each character has complex motives and backstory, and these plotlines intertwine well in the end. Latimer does not shy away from the gruesome side of dark magic, so squeamish readers should stay away. VERDICT A suspenseful supernatural story. Recommended for libraries serving teens, especially where occult and horror books are popular.--Jeri Murphy, C.F. Simmons Middle School, Aurora, IL
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A coven of modern witches seeks power from ancient Celtic gods.Dayna Walsh may be a witch, but magic is just one of the ways she's othered in her small Irish town: She struggles with OCD and was just outed as bisexualan especially painful revelation given that her father is the reverend of the local church. Dayna has more than enough trouble to deal with even before a group of rival witches shows up. Chemistry sparks between Dayna and the group's quasi-leader, a girl named Meiner; their romance blooms with charm and realism. The vivacious, twisty plot brims with satisfyingly dark magic supported by a diverse and well-developed cast of characters, including Dayna's friend Reagan, who is dark-skinned and whose Nigerian mother attends mosque. The Irish setting, however, reads as bizarrely unresearched; on every level, from the linguistic to the cultural, this is a North American small town transplanted in whole to another country. North American references and slang abound, but the descriptions of religious life ring most hollow: Dayna's father is leader of a formerly Catholic church yet is called "reverend" and, of course, is married and has a child. Modern-day Ireland is still haunted by a dark history of sectarian violence; ignorance of that history feels especially offensive in a story of clashing magical traditions such as this.An entertaining diversion into queer witchcraft and dark magic marred by ignorance of its setting. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
