Witch Creek

November 20, 2017
In Bickle’s introspective fourth novel featuring geologist Petra Dee (after 2016’s Nine of Stars), Petra has recently begun treatment for an aggressive form of leukemia, and she’s desperately missing her new husband, the formerly immortal Gabriel Manget, who’s vanished from the town of Temperance, Wyo. He would never abandon her, so Petra decides to discontinue her chemo and go find him, at any cost. Unbeknownst to her, Gabe has been kidnapped by Owen Rutherford, a cop who wants revenge. Gabe killed Owen’s cousin Sal, who once reigned over the Lunaria, the Tree of Life that gave Gabe his immortality after he was hanged from it and resurrected. Owen has also unleashed on Temperance a ravenous creature called the Mermaid. Petra, accompanied by her human friend Maria, wolf-woman Nine, and coyote Sig, sets off on what may be her very last adventure into the spirit world and beyond. The looming possibility of Petra’s death makes the story harrowing, and longtime fans will appreciate new insight into Gabe’s past as a Pinkerton agent. Bickle’s story is a rich, surreal, alchemical brew, as wondrous as the magic that infuses her fascinating weird west setting.

January 1, 2018

Following in the footsteps of her alchemist father, Petra Dee has dealt with the supernatural for much of her life. But even magic cannot help Petra find her missing husband, Gabriel, or cure the cancer that is ravaging her body. She is certain that her spouse is being held at Sheriff Owen Rutherford's Wyoming ranch. Owen wants Gabriel to reveal the power of the Tree of Life that exists in the dark tunnels beneath the ranch; Owen has also made a pact with Muirenn, a flesh-eating mermaid imprisoned there years before by Gabe who's now hungry for revenge. Petra must rescue Gabe by confronting the darkness once again. VERDICT This second "Witchlands" title (after Nine of Stars) leads readers further into the world of alchemy and magical power. For fans of Faith Hunter's "Soulwood" titles and Suzanne Johnson's "Sentinels of New Orleans" series.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., South Deerfield

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