The Hawkweed Legacy

July 15, 2017
Witch queen Poppy Hawkweed returns in this sequel to The Hawkweed Prophecy (2016).After the events of the last book, Poppy attempts to escape her new life as a witch queen by transforming into a swallow and migrating to Africa, though to what part of the vast continent is unclear. There, white Poppy's taken in by a medicine maker, Mma, and her dark-skinned great-grandson, Teko. Though Mma and Teko are initially portrayed as likable characters, they eventually imprison Poppy, ostensibly for her own good, as they've seen a vision that she will be killed if she returns to England. Back in England, the third-person narrative perspective shifts among characters and times. There's Poppy's birth mother, Charlock, both in the present and when she was younger, as well as Leo, Ember, and Betony, Leo's mother. Through the many lenses and back stories readers learn of Leo's conception and what became of Betony, who left the witches to have her son. Teko eventually allows Poppy to escape, and once back in England, she's bullied into taking up her queendom. But there are many twists and turns and painful betrayals to be hashed out before there's a chance of happily ever after. Though themes of sisterhood are strong, most female relationships are interrupted, if not broken, by male intrusion. The real unbreakable bond in these stories is that between mother and child. Interesting and well written but problematic in its conceptualization of a generic Africa and Africans. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Poppy Hawkweed, now queen of her coven, avoids her expected leadership role by fleeing to an unspecified country in Africa. A healer and her great-grandson nurse her back to health, though their characterizations are unfortunately vague. Poppy is confronted with a vision of her impending death and decides that it would be better for her to stay away from the coven and from Leo, the boy she loves. Flashbacks from Poppy's true mother, Charlock, and a former member of the coven, Betony, reveal their lives as teenage witches. Their story is built on friendship and romance with outsiders, much like Ember and Poppy's tale from The Hawkweed Prophecy. The flashbacks are compelling and offer much-needed backstory. The former queen of the coven still finds ways to exert her control from beyond the grave. Her meddling provides much of the tension for the modern-day intrigue. Even though Ember and Leo are romantically involved, missing Poppy puts a strain on their relationship, as does a potential new love interest for Ember. The constant manipulations of the witches can get a little frustrating, though their range of ulterior motives does make for a fascinating cast of characters. Themes of motherhood and the bond between parent and child are particularly emphasized. Readers will be eager to keep turning pages in this rousing sequel. VERDICT Purchase where the first volume and paranormal romances are popular.-Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.