Fantasy/SF Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoThe Dragon Charmer by Jan Siegel
Del Ray, August, 2002Paperback, 333 pages
ISBN: 034544258X
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
In Prospero's Children, the first book in this excellent
dark fantasy series, we met Fernanda Capel, a child
who learns that she is descended from the citizens of the
long-vanished Atlantis. Fernanda has some amazing powers,
but after the shocking events of her childhood, she has put
her Gift aside in order to try to live a normal life. She has
a good job in London at an ad agency and she has become
engaged to a nice, stable man, although she isn't really in
love with him. The night before her wedding, she falls
into a deep coma from which she cannot be awakened.
Fernanda's soul has been stolen by an evil witch, and she
is imprisoned at the roots of the great tree at the heart of
Purgatory. While her body lies in a hospital, guarded by her brother,
and loyal friends, Fernanda must learn to marshal her powers,
defeat the evil that stalks her, and reunite her body and soul.
Jan Siegel is extremely skilled at creating a world which is both ordinary and supernatural at the same time. The characters in this series are wonderfully real: Fernanda's absent-minded father, her best friend, the always practical Gaynor Mobberly, the ancient wizard Ragginbone, Bodachin, the irascible Scottish house goblin and Will, her brave little brother who is growing into a very interesting person indeed. This is an outstanding series, with imaginative plotting, vivid characters and a pervading sense of dark menace.
Sorcerers of the Nightwing by Geoffrey Huntington
ReganBooks, August, 2002Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN: 0060014253
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Most children at one time or another are convinced that
there are monsters either under their beds or in the closet, although
their parents tell them that the monsters are not real and cannot
hurt them. Six year-old Devon March knows that the monsters
in his closet are quite real; he and his father Ted March
have fought them off together many times. Ted tells Devon that
as long as he remembers that he is stronger than they are, he
will always prevail. When Devon is fourteen, his beloved father dies
and he finds out that he is adopted. Ted March has made arrangements
for Devon to become the ward of a Mrs. Crandall, who lives with
her son and daughter in a big, gothic mansion called Ravenscliff, which
is perched on the edge of Misery Point. Mrs. Crandall is
most uncommunicative with Devon about who his real father is and
she refuses to discuss his magical powers with him. But magic
follows Devon, and if he doesn't learn about his powers soon,
the demons will emerge from their prison and wreak havoc on the
Earth.
This is the first in an interesting new gothic/horror fantasy adventure series from the pseudonymous Geoffrey Huntington. With an excellent premise that those monsters in the closet are real, the book begins young Devon's journey from being a boy to accepting his destiny as a Sorcerer of the Nightwing, an ancient order which protects the world from evil. The writing is excellent, the characters are well-drawn and the gothic and adventure elements are very well-done. But the cover art is most off-putting (an evil clown with fangs leers at the reader, which brings to mind the most cheesy of horror films). In fact, the cover art will be so repulsive to the many readers who despise clowns in any form, that one can only hope that a new cover will be chosen for the next book in this otherwise excellent series. Note to the art department: Why not put a darkly handsome young Devon on the cover?
The Witch Queen by Jan Siegel
Del Ray, August, 2002Hardcover, 352 pages
ISBN: 0345439031
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
After the exploits described in Prospero's Children and
The Dragon Charmer, Fernanda Capel, the beautiful young witch,
is finally all grown up. She has accepted her Gift and that she
must use it to fight evil. And she will need all of her powers very
soon. Morgus, the evil sorceress who Fern thought she had defeated,
turns out not
to be dead at all. Morgus is back in England and is determined to
destroy Fern and everyone she loves. But things are even more
complicated and dangerous for Fern. Azmordis, the ancient evil
spirit, is determined to possess Fern's soul and will do anything
to obtain it. With the help of her brother Will, her best friend Mobberly,
and the ancient wizard Ragginbone, Fern must put her considerable
powers to the ultimate test; the penalty for failure is unthinkable.
The Witch Queen is a thought-provoking, rich and exciting fantasy story. Drawing on Arthurian and Atlantean myths and legends, Jan Siegel creates a modern day England which is at once familiar and yet magical. Fern herself is a fascinating character who is finally growing into the powers that she exhibited in childhood, and her transformation is compelling to watch. This is an outstanding series, and Jan Siegel is a talent to watch.
Return to the September 2002 issue of The IWJ.
More from Writers Write