Book Review: Witchmark by C.L. Polk

 

Witchmark

by C.L. Polk

This book caught my attention as I was selecting reading material for a patron. The simple design of the blue cover is lovely, and has a certain 1920's charm, with the bicycle rider in a bowler hat and the reflected image of a man in a top hat and woman in a skirt.

The tag line on the back definitely caught my attention as I turned it over – “A stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance.” Who doesn’t love a book with all those things?

But did it live up to the promise of that cover and tag line? Mostly. It was certainly a page turner; I didn’t want to put it down.

The story is set in a world that’s very similar to England just after World War I, where men are returning home, shell-shocked. Miles is a psychiatrist at a veteran’s hospital.

Miles has been treating returning veterans who feel like they have a killer living inside of them, someone separate from themselves. He manages to heal one man using his magical talent but he isn’t completely sure how or if it will come back. He needs to figure this out and heal the other men, because these men sometimes kill their families.

One night, just as Miles is leaving, a well-to-do man pulls up in a carriage with a dying man. The dying man manages to gasp out that he was poisoned, then transfers his power to a shocked Miles.

Miles is afraid someone will realize he is a witch, a dangerous thing to be in these days, where witches are sent to asylums because they all eventually go crazy. Or do they?

Miles himself is from a rich family, and they consider themselves mages. They don’t go insane. So why do the witches? Are they just weak?

The posh man who brought the poisoned man to the hospital is not who he seems, and he has seen everything – including the dying witch giving his magic to Miles. Is he a friend or a foe? Of course, Miles isn’t quite who he seems either.

The setting is deceptively simple. It’s Edwardian England with just enough Steampunk style touches to make it foreign. They have "aether" instead of electricity. The dialogue and stage direction are well crafted. You can fade right into the story.

The only criticism I have is a couple of important scenes that are rushed, just a shade too fast, lacking mental and emotional reaction from the characters. I suspect the original manuscript was a bit longer than the publisher liked.

The story builds logically with solid detective work and revelations building on revelations. I did not see where this was going, which is always one of my highest notes of praise. I like to be surprised.

And yet, the journey is the best part.

“I understand what it’s like.”

“You don’t. You imagine. You sympathize. But you can’t understand.”

Isn’t that true of us all in a number of circumstances? Definitely a very strong debut novel.

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Dead Ever After
By Charlaine Harris

I picked up the Sookie Stackhouse series years ago when it first started and have enjoyed it along the way, fourteen books in all.  The dialogue was quick and action was fast, with a good deal of humor.

The main character, Sookie, is a small town waitress who happens to be a little different, she can hear people’s thoughts.   Sookie has a joie de vivre even though she has had a hard time because of her ability.  She calls herself disabled, other people call her crazy.  She’s a fast talker, a little nervous and shy.  Her parents are gone, her grandmother is her world, her brother isn’t someone she can rely on and she’s naïve about many things. 

The stories have the comfortable trappings of old fashioned pride and care.  Sookie is a Christian and she tries to live by that in the truest sense.  Her grandmother taught her to keep a clean house, to be sensible, polite, kind, caring and modest.  She takes care of the house, is concerned with repairs and plants vegetables in her backyard. 

Sookie is looking for a new experience when she meets Bill, her first vampire.  She gets quite a bit more than she bargained for.  The first book, Dead Until Dark, is starts off pretty quickly with some violent action but Sookie is tough. 

Sookie spends more time musing on her life in this book.  The action scenes seem more subdued.  Things are being wrapped up.  It’s the end. 

Relationship-wise, Sookie ends up with just who I always wanted her to.  Those who didn’t want her to end up with him were sorely disappointed.  I became aware that there was a great deal of controversy surrounding the book from the fans of the long running series.  I saw various criticisms, suggestions that someone must have ghost written it because it sounded nothing like the original character.  I disagree.  When Sookie begins to narrate, I can hear her in my head and it is pitch perfect. 

After reading the criticism, I wasn't sure that I wanted to read the book but now I'm glad I did.  It’s a fun book and an end to the series.  I think it did what it needed to, tied up loose ends and brought closure to the series.  Sookie is a long way from where she started out.  She’s tired and she’s ready to settle down.  The heroine has returned from her journey.

Now, in Dead Ever After, Sookie is plain jaded and tired.  She needs a new direction in life, and I think Charlaine Harris gives it to her by the end of the book.  It is reminiscent of the end of the hero cycle.  She has gone out into the world, had her adventures and now she is home again. 

The book starts a dark note with the two men selling their souls to the devil in order to get at Sookie. Several of Sookie’s old enemies turn up, spoiling for revenge.  Then, when Sookie arrives on the scene, it is with the grim reminder of how Sam had died in a horrible event and she brought him back to life, and how put out her vampire husband, Eric, is by that choice of how to use her one fairy wish.