Rate this book

In A Witch's Wardrobe (2012)

by Juliet Blackwell(Favorite Author)

4.11 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0451237471 (ISBN13: 9780451237477)

languge

English

genre

Paranormal Fantasy

publisher

Obsidian Mystery

series

A Witchcraft Mystery

review 1: This is the fourth novel of the Witchcraft Mystery series, following “Hexes and Hemlines.” It is not a standalone work; the three previous novels are essential for world building, character interaction and character development. And this work is, by far, the darkest entry in this serial drama to date.The story begins about one week after the close of the previous novel. It opens with Lily and Aidan in attendance at the annual Art Deco Preservation Ball, an event that has been under discussion throughout the previous two novels in the series.Lily has already been asked by the SFPD to consult on the death of a young woman with ties to a witch’s coven. Before Lily and Aiden can even have their second dance of the evening, another member of that same coven collapses in t... morehe ladies’ lounge. Lily is beside her when it happens and Lily realizes that the woman’s spirit is trapped in the mirror above her comatose body. Aiden takes one look at the woman, drags Lily from the lounge and orders her to leave the situation alone. When Lily turns back from retrieving her purse, Aidan has disappeared, abandoning her at the ball. And the betrayals begin.One of the sub-plots throughout the last several novels in the series has been about choices, in particular, choosing to do what one thinks is right even when others do not wish it done. The author explores this ethical dilemma by having Lily refuse to accede to others’ wishes when she feels that the end result of fighting to defeat an injustice or evil is more important than succumbing to another person’s immediate fears or losses. The author flips the coin on that argument by painting Aidan’s refusals in the colors of personal need and personal gain only. Altruistic, he is not.Because Blackwell has each of these major characters remain true to themselves, one working to save another’s soul and the other working to save his own soul, we have an incredibly tense reading experience. Before all is said and done, Lily will succeed. She will solve the murder; she will save the young woman’s soul from the mirror; and she will be betrayed three times, eventually betrayed to the core of her spiritual and emotional existence. If you have been a Team Aidan reader in the previous novels, there is a strong possibility that you will be kicking that sympathy to the curb. The author’s depiction of him has always made me suspicious of his motives. But, by the end of the book, I felt him to be the most despicable, smug, jealous, self-absorbed coward that I have had the occasion to read about lately. At the end of the last page, I just wanted to slam the book closed and throw it across the room. At that point, I actually wished that Aidan was real and that I had the power to kick him from one end of his supernatural universe to the other.I just love it when an author can write a set of characters that can bring about such intense feelings. Juliet Blackwell writes a good modern witch story, even if this particular one does not have the happiest of endings. However, the set-up for the next tale is in place and I can’t wait to see how Lily works it all out.
review 2: Well I'm pissed. First because these mysteries are starting to annoy the crap out of me. Lily gets into situations she has no business with and then involves all her friends too because they have no other choice but to intervene to save her *ss. Secondly because she finally got some happiness with Sailor but, of course, that was the most short-lived romance ever. I did not like that turnaround. I suspected something would happen with Aidan but was it really necessary to be that crappy and idiotic? And now her father is coming to visit her. After four books of not talking about her family. Four books of not knowing that part of Lily's life. That's just super screwed up and more screwed up is her having to ask for Aidan help once again when he can't even be slightly trusted with anything really, no matter how small. I have a sense this is starting to get way too convoluted for my tastes. I have a feeling I'm gonna start to lose interest soon if things don't get better, specially if Lily keeps acting as Aidan's pet. It's annoying and makes her look like a disoriented little child. She needs more backbone regarding him. less

Download links for: In a Witch's Wardrobe

Advertising