Witch Fire continues the adventures of Glory Starling and Lucas Sterne, that began in Burn Mark. It’s not necessary to have read Burn Mark; Powell does an excellent job of providing enough back story to fill in new readers and not annoy fans who have already read the previous book.Powell continues her unique blend of espionage, adventure and witchcraft. The gritty, understated “British-ness” I found in Burn Mark remains and further endears me to the series. The fact that it’s YA might turn off some readers, but I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if that’s the reason why you’d make a pass on it. In Witch Fire actions have consequences, characters die – the descriptions might not be gratuitous, but often I find that implication throws a stronger punch. I found myself every bit as much on the edge of my seat as I would be with Quintin Jardine novel.Glory and Lucas have been recruited and trained by WICA (Witchkind Intelligence and Covert Affairs) but its all hush-hush because of their ages. They are beginning to get tired of the endless training when they are offered their first assignment – to go undercover at a special school for troubled witchkind teens with rich parents.It sees them both leave England for the first time and the reader begins to get a wider understanding of the alternate reality that Powell presents. In the background is the ominous threat of an Inquisition that neither of them can quite trust and the shadowy terrorist group known as Endor.Burn Mark impressed me with the goal driven characters and a generally well balanced take on gender roles. Witch Fire continues in the same vein. While there’s a budding attraction between the two main characters, this plot thread is left alone for most of the book. Lucas and Glory can be as incompetent as each other (they are teens) and are adept at coming to each others rescue. The secondary characters are also competent (they are intelligence operatives) and gender diverse. I did feel that the make up of the nationalities at the school was a little “cookie cutter” stereotypical i.e. a Chinese witch who is really quiet and plays the piano expertly, an American cheerleader, a sleazy Latin-American playboy and the sister of an Indian Bollywood star. It was the only hiccup in what was a very smooth read.Witch Fire picked up the threads that were left hanging at the end of Burn Mark and wove them into a compelling and expanding story, major character goals were realized, villains encountered justice and yet it does not feel as though the story arc is anywhere near finished. I don’t think “issues” should be the focus of every book written for teens but I think Powell gives us a great story, well realized characters and a world that can be examined for its prejudices from a safe distance. I’ll repeat my concluding comments from the review of Burn Mark.If you’re a fan of British crime or espionage drama I think you’ll enjoy this read.This review copy was provided by the publisher at no cost
What if the witches of the 1600s persecutions were real and they had proliferated and became part of our society? That is what this novel's premise is based on. And this proliferation isn't just in the United States near Salem, but all over the world. Although it is accepted that there are witches in the world, registration is demanded and required by government. Some protest against this bias and go rogue to fight back. Some in protest resort to minor but strong and well-formed criminal groups. When these criminal witches are caught and prosecuted, their punishment, at the worst, is to be burned alive. Although "numbed" from the pain, they are conscious and aware of their flesh burning. *shudders*Glory and Lucas, both born witches, have joined WICA. Sent undercover to the school in Switzerland, Glory learns the truth about her mom's involvement in what they had said she did, and her disappearance after the accusations. Glory's only memories of her mom consist of an old photograph of her mother and a short note she left to her husband, Glory's father, Patrick, that said it is better if she is gone and that she is sorry. That was all Glory knew about her mom until the moment of discovery at this school for the well-to-do families with witch children. The kids are sent to this school to be hidden away from the public at large, really. Since Lucas's conversion, his father, one of the heads of the Inquisition Office, had to resign from his post and yet still is involved, although from a more subtle position/post. He's still powerful though. He's not a bad man though; he just strongly believes in the law and justice. Events lead these two to Cordova in South America and that's where everything comes to light. Mysteries answered, unknowns made known, and both the good and the bad revealed. It was an enjoyable alternate history story to what happened in American culture before the USA was the USA we now know. It incorporates some of the ugliest events of our past as well as events into the present day and gives the reader a different and interesting take on the witch hunting. Well envisioned, I enjoy this tale and could see parallels and correlations to politics and prejudices of our society to here.
What do You think about Witch Fire (2013)?
I am totally hooked by this series, a blend of supernatural and contemporary alternate reality. The setting is modern day London in a world where the Inquisition (yes, the one no one expects) serves as a government agency and the ability to do witchcraft -- the fae -- reveals itself in late adolescence. There is some very realistic and somewhat reluctant romance between the main characters but it takes backseat to the twisty plots and fascinating alternate world. For me, this means this series might actually appeal to my 13 year old son who loves to read but dislikes the heavy doses of romance in many YA novels.
—Chrissy
I really enjoyed this sequel to Burn Mark. I love the connection between Lucas and Glory and how Laura Powell has crafted the world they live in and the characters around them. I can see Lucas' father struggling to accept the changes in his son, he genuinely loves his son and is proud of him but it seems that the Fae is still a big unacknowledged barrier between them.Glory is still clinging to a lot of prejudices that are still getting between her and Lucas but I have hope that the events in this book will put a lot into perspective for her and hopefully put an end to a lot of her prejudices.I loved the new characters in this book as well, they were fun (espeacially Raffi!) and we found out what exactly happened to Rose which makes me think there's a good chance that there will be another book as I think their adventure isn't totally done.I hope to see more progress between them as well cause I think they're good influences on each other and are a great team. Glory gets Lucas to loosen up and question more now and she's helped him accept his Fae. Lucas is encouraging Glory to not settle for coven life and to push herself to acheive more as well as showing her a different POV and that not everything is the way she's been led to believe by the coven. They're both freer since they got their Fae and met! Love this series and really hope a third book is on the way!
—Suzan
I got really excited when I finally got a copy of this book as I loved the first one in the series and actually found time to reread book one in preparedness. This instalment is just as good as the first and whilst very different in its feel it had all the elements I loved about the first book and added to it. The story picks up shortly after book one ends with Lucas and Glory training to prepare for a mission for WICA the organisation they have recently been recruited to. I really love the two of them as characters and I loved following them in this instalment as they go undercover at a boarding school for teens who are witches. I won't tell you too much about what happens in this book for fearing of spoiling it but to say I really enjoyed it. It was pacey and exciting throughout and added to the world set up in the first book without having that second in a series feel to it. I loved getting to know the characters that little bit more and the revelations were brilliant and left me really excited for the last book without that being felt hanging. A fab story and brilliant read which I enjoyed thoroughly.
—Kirsty (overflowing library)
