Arcana

September 29, 2014
Magic, romance, and intrigue are erratically melded in Leake’s undistinguished romantic fantasy debut, set in a vague facsimile of 1905 England. The Hon. Katherine Sinclair, daughter of the Viscount of Bransfield, carries a dread family secret. Arcana—a magical power based on sunlight—comes to Katherine through her mother, a Sylvani who left her world and her family to marry Katherine’s father. As a peer coming of age, Katherine is required to go to London for her debut, but she would rather ride horses than endure the marriage mart. Guarding against callow rakes is a given, but Katherine must also safeguard her family secret against the shadowy Order of the Eternal Sun, which craves the power of arcana. Is the dashing Earl of Thornewood a member of this villainous group? Or is Lord Blackburn, whom Katherine’s grandmother wants her to marry? Lack of detail and a routine plot bog down the supernatural and romantic aspects of this story, making it predictable and forgettable. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House.

November 15, 2014

Katherine Sinclair is going to her grandmother's home in London for the 1905 debutante season and has a lot of secrets to keep as she enters society. She has inherited her mother's Sylvani abilities to harness the power of the sun and turn it into magic. Katherine will have to rein in her temper and exert some impulse control unless she wants all of London to realize she isn't completely human, which could put a crimp in her grandmother's plan to find her a husband. VERDICT This is an uneasy mix of Edwardian-era historical romance and fantasy that succeeds better on the romantic front, even if debut novelist Leake has borrowed heavily from the Pride and Prejudice playbook. Neither the historical nor magical worldbuilding are particularly new. The book is helped a great deal by the chemistry between the hero and heroine.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.