The Bitterwine Oath

October 19, 2020
West (the Nissera Chronicles) packs the thrills of the Vampire Diaries series and Buffy into a smart, wry supernatural novel set in East Texas. In 1921, teenage witch Malachi Rivers and three friends botched a spell to expose their abusers—fatally poisoning 12 men by mistake—and unleashed a haunting that claims 12 boys every 50 years. A century later, Malachi’s 18-year-old descendant Natalie Colter’s biggest problems are nosy tourists and her awkward kiss with poet Levi Langford. When cult symbols and decapitated deer appear around her house, Natalie discovers that her town’s women secretly protect the town’s men from dark possession with hereditary magic—and that they need Natalie’s powers to prevent another tragedy. Despite blind spots on race, West’s nuanced handling of gender politics and cycles of misogyny avoid easy answers, and Natalie and Levi’s kind romance is one to root for. This fun, chilling, and sincere gothic novel keeps its head—and its heart. Ages 14–up.

October 1, 2020
A 100-year-old act of revenge continues to torment a Texas town. In 1921, four young women cast a spell to reveal the evil in the hearts of 12 men who committed horrible crimes. The curse went awry, killing its targets. The girls' involvement was never proven, but suspicions remain. Another massacre 50 years later left a dozen local boys and men dead, the deaths unsolved. As the semicentennial approaches, the town is filled with tension: Is another mass murder on the horizon? Natalie Colter plans to spend the summer before college working and hanging out with friends, but her plans are canceled when Nat discovers, as a last living descendant of the original spell's creator, she's inherited a burgeoning, powerful magic. Nat is a Warden, one of a group of spellcasting, gun- and knife-wielding maidens, mothers, and elder wise women, descendants of the original four. Only the Wardens know that the 1971 murders were committed by Woodwalkers, terrifying creatures inhabited by the souls of the original 12 victims; it's the Wardens' mission to destroy them. Narrator/protagonist Nat retains her cool even when facing death, and the satisfying conclusion hints at the possibility of another adventure. Evocative writing enhances the horror with a chilling atmosphere. Natalie is White; one Warden is of Mexican descent and another is Black. Female empowerment at its fiercest. (Horror. 13-18)

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November 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 This action-packed story of sisterhood will suck readers in from the first page. Eighteen-year-old Nat didn't expect to be reunited with a boy who broke her heart, or play a central role in stopping a decades-old curse in their sleepy Texas town. She's the descendant of the mysterious Malachi, a young girl accused of murdering 12 boys in the 1920s. But as she discovers more about her ancestor, she also learns about a mysterious force that may have taken the lives of those boys, and more lives years later. They're closing in on the centennial anniversary of the first murders; could there be more to come? Armed with magic that might keep evil at bay, Nat and her friends became demon hunters while uncovering the mystery as to why these murders happened in the first place. West's propulsive supernatural tale keeps the story grounded in female friendships, the struggle to process change, and a second-chance romance. Hand this to fans of Kiersten White's Slayer (2019) or any reader looking for a creepy read with a bit of heart.

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January 15, 2021

Gr 9 Up-This tale takes place on the 100th anniversary of a curse created by a group of witches who tried to take revenge on the men who wronged them. Set in San Solano, TX, the novel tells the twisted story of murder in a small town. Natalie Colter's great-great-grandmother's past as the local "cult" leader seems to haunt her when strange events start occurring-hinting that the ritualistic murders of the past might begin again. This book has a little bit of magic, a little bit of thriller, and a little bit of romance. And amid all of this there is an overarching theme of female empowerment and standing together while fighting for what is right. The plot is dark and contains mature themes of animal and human violence, supernatural possession, and cults. While the story is paced slowly throughout, there is a constant sense of urgency, making the slower moments feel all the more pressing. The writing is descriptive and flows throughout the passages, adding to the thriller aspect of the story, though the romance is underdeveloped. The main characters come from multiple ethnicities and backgrounds. VERDICT A solid magical thriller perfect for fans of witchcraft and slightly darker YA books.-Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee

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