Always a Witch

July 15, 2011

How does one go about saving one's family from history?

Tamsin Greene, now the Keeper of the Domani that controls the magical power of the evil Knight family, thinks her troubles are over. She has known of her magical Talent for a few months now, and she enjoys no longer being the only non-witch in her very Talented family. And didn't she manage to put an end to the evil Alastair Knight's plan to thwart the Domani? But when a mysterious stranger intrudes and the mystic book that contains her family's chronicle is suddenly blank, she realizes that her troubles are not over. Back she goes to 1887 to infiltrate the Knight family mansion and stop Alastair from warning them about the not-yet-made Domani. She gets herself hired as a new lady's maid to the then-powerful Knights, where she waits for Alastair and begins to discover their secrets. As with Tamsin's first outing (Once a Witch, 2009), neither plot nor setting astound, but Tamsin is a perfectly likable narrator, and it doesn't hurt that the dreamy Gabriel uses his time-traveling Talent to appear on the scene. The Upstairs, Downstairs–style details of the Knights' household intrigue, and they make effectively chilling villains.

Readers unfamiliar with the first book should check it out before they tackle this one; that background under their belt, this proves to be an enjoyable magical adventure. (Urban fantasy. 12 & up) 

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Seventeen-year-old Tamsin Greene has finally found the Talent that her grandmother prophesied, yet her experiences still set her apart from her magical family. When sinister Alistair Knight from Once a Witch (Clarion, 2009) reappears, and Tamsin becomes aware that he has traveled back in time to destroy the Greenes, she must stop him. The danger increases exponentially when she becomes a maid to the powerful Knight family, the deadly magical enemies of the Greenes, in mid-19th-century New York City. In the process of trying to save her family, the teen is faced with the reality of her grandmother's prophecy and its life-changing implications for her and her Talent. Deft plotting and sinister characters and setting make for an enjoyable and gripping read, and a gentle romantic subplot adds to the appeal. Tamsin is an interesting and believable character, and the 19th-century figures are briefly but vividly drawn. Although this book will be most enjoyed by fans of the first title, MacCullough's prologue, judicious explanations in the body of the novel, and a satisfying ending will allow librarians to recommend it as a stand-alone novel.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.