Eternal

July 1, 2011

This third book in Shield's continuing supernatural series (Immortal, 2009, etc.) can feed the needs only of those who crave 100-percent full gothic fiction.

With good and evil witches' covens, an ancient Stonehenge-like circle, a magically sealed attic room, an abbey turned school and romance both natural and supernatural, the author does her best to include every convention of the genre. This book focuses on Sarah, a part-gypsy–turned-lady student and member of the good witches' coven, who struggles to keep the group together when best friend Evie tries to bow out. The main bad witch, thought vanquished in the previous installment, returns to wreak havoc. Havoc includes, in the most imaginative portion of the book, tempting Sarah into mysterious caves where gnomelike underground rock creatures can capture her and hold her forever. Gothic conventions continue as riders gallop wildly across the moors, ghosts appear when summoned and every kiss equals an out-of-body experience. Place names typically include y's or double f's or both, as in "Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies," the novel's setting. Emotions, romances and dramatic situations turn on and off with the sudden intensity of a melodramatic silent movie from the 19-teens, a scenario also called to mind by much of the dialogue.

Some readers will enjoy it, especially those with little experience in the genre. It's all been done, better. (Supernatural romance. 12 & up)

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

September 1, 2011

Gr 7-10-This book's beautiful cover will attract gothic paranormal romance readers, but the plot will leave them wanting more-and confused, unless they've read Immortal (2009) and Betrayal (2010, both HarperCollins). Reliable, down-to-earth Sarah, a student at the posh Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, on the English moors, is close with fellow students Evie and Helen. They are bound by the elemental powers that they share-water for Evie, air for Helen, and earth for Sarah. Sarah is plagued by dreams of ugly, misshapen creatures, accompanied by the relentless sound of drumming, but now the emotional distance she feels from Evie and Helen prevents her from confiding in them. Evie is grieving after losing her love, Sebastian, in Betrayal. Helen is moody and withdrawn after her unloving mother, the school's evil High Mistress, died and crossed into the shadow world as a vengeful spirit to serve the corrupt king. Sarah, part-Romany, loves Cal, a fellow Gypsy, but he's traveling. She feels the presence of her great-grandmother, a former student, and uses her diary to help her when Evie is kidnapped. Helen has an accident, and her mother reappears. Sarah suspects that the new student, Velvet Romaine, the wealthy, tabloid-worthy daughter of a rock star, is somehow involved. The two-dimensional characters, melodramatic plotting, and repeated phrases get annoying. Strictly for fans of the earlier books.-Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton

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