Witchfall

Gr 8 Up—Meg Lytton continues to serve Princess Elizabeth in the 16th-century English court while struggling to conceal her dangerous powers and her secret betrothal to priest Alejandro de Castillo. At equal turns historical, magical, and romantic, Lamb cranks up the action double-time to create a story with unexpected twists, pitfalls, and secret plots. Meg's extraordinary abilities, capable of temporarily thwarting witchfinder Marcus Dent, are used to conjure Elizabeth's dead father, King Henry VIII, and her mother, the shamed Anne Boleyn. Readers will also be impressed by the heroine's astounding courage in withstanding torture at the hands of the evil Inquisitors, and her willingness to risk her own life to save her love from the vicious Marcus Dent. Without detracting from the romance sizzling between the two leads, the narrative showcases Meg as a teen independently capable of saving herself and those important to her. Far more unexpected is Elizabeth's shocking betrayal when she dismisses Meg from her service, revealing a two-sidedness that is in true Tudor fashion ("When were the Tudors ever grateful towards their servants?"). Lamb's poetic language is paired with action-packed intrigue and suspense that keeps the plot moving at a rapid-fire pace. This is a top-notch, above-average series of magical proportions that will keep teens yearning for more.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY