Whisper the Dead

September 1, 2014
Regency London continues to boil over with witches, mostly aristocratic ones, as three cousins, each with her potential boyfriend, battle the allies of evil witches thought vanquished in A Breath of Frost (2014). Even though Napoleon has just been captured, thus setting the book in 1814, the real war continues among the witches. Gretchen, Emma and Penelope still reside at their school for witches, learning both spells and proper deportment. Although they chafe at the need to act ladylike, nevertheless they traipse all over London without permission and frequently without chaperones. They see ghosts and wonder why. Various exciting incidents happen with all three, always involving dark magic, usually including the potential boyfriends and sometimes including Moira, the little Madcap witch who skips over rooftops. They spend time at the goblin markets, meeting the Toad Mother, a nifty minor character. Tension persists between the girls and the Order, the tyrannical society of aristocratic warlocks who control the magic in London. Everyone has a personal crisis. Some kissing occurs, and there's plenty of snappy patter. Finally, all of magical London comes under attack by the evil Greymalkin Sisters, newly unleashed. Harvey keeps the romance and action flowing throughout the lengthy narrative, although she doesn't spend enough time with spunky Moira, the most original and entertaining character in the book. This installment ends with a major cliffhanger, propelling fans into the next book. Occult cotton candy. (Paranormal romance. 12-18)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-In this alternate history fantasy, cousins Gretchen, Penelope, and Emma are still learning to control their newfound powers and understand what it means to be members of one of the oldest witching families, the Lovegroves, in 1814 London. Reluctant debutante Gretchen will have to harness her own abilities as a Whisperer who can hear the spells of dead witches if she wants to help stop dark witches from wreaking all manner of havoc in London and beyond. She will also have to contend with the frustratingly proper Tobias Lawless and other Keepers tasked with keeping the cousins under surveillance. Recaps and multiple viewpoints help summarize key events from the first book in this trilogy. The narrative focus shifting from Emma to Gretchen also means that this volume will be approachable and only slightly confusing to new readers who missed A Breath of Frost (Bloomsbury, 2013). Rollicking action and mystery come together with humor and charm to make this a fast-paced and engrossing story. A well-developed romance and a cliffhanger ending help guarantee that this book will have high appeal and leave readers eager for the final installment. A must-read for fans of "The Cahill Witch Chronicles" by Jessica Spotswood (Putnam) or the "Sorcery and Cecelia" series by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevemer (Harcourt).-Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 The Lovegrove cousins return in this second volume of the Lovegrove Legacy series, this time with spirited Gretchen taking center stage. She is a whisperer, which means she can hear the spells of other witches and knows when something is going wrong. So when evil begins to cause havoc all around London, the Lovegrove cousins know that they must prevent the Greymalkin Sisters from rising again. An entertaining mix of Regency romance and magic, this is a welcome return to Harvey's magical London and her eccentric and memorable cast of characters. Adding in shape-shifting werewolves, ghosts, and underworld portals, the pace and excitement never let up, and the surprising ending will leave readers eagerly anticipating the final volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)