Demon Witch : Book II: The Ravenscliff Series

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Sequel!
Review: Demon Witch is better and scarier than the first book! A lot more mystery, a lot more adventure, and a lot more exciting! Demon Witch should not be missed by anyone!

Rating:
Summary: She's back
Review: Geoffrey Huntington's second Ravenscliff book lives up to the promise of the first. It's a dark fantasy triumph with a new and nastier villain, plenty of ugly demons, and ambiguous characters galore. Though a few plot twists are broadcast way in advance, it's a solid sequel that doesn't slip into the same sort of plot as the first book.

At Ravenscliff, Devon March meets the new caretaker -- a gnome. Devon is shocked when the supposedly friendly Bjorn Forkbeard directs him to the Stairway Through Time, which takes him to what seems to be a Hellhole. To make things worse, Edward Muir (Alexander's father) shows up with his new fiancee, Morgana, who seems to have a certain druglike effect on the men around her. Cecily and her mother loathe Morgana instantly, which puts Devon's new relationship to the test.

That's the last thing Devon needs, because he has been hearing strange laughter and weeping, and demons are creeping through Ravenscliff. Isobel the Apostate, a powerful witch burned five hundred years ago by the Nightwing sorcerers, has returned to open the Hellhole. To make things worse, Devon has a hideous vision of demons overrunning Ravenscliff and killing his friends -- and is told that he will cause that to happen. To save the present from Isobel, he will travel through time and space to medieval England-- and learns a hideous truth about his own past.

The Ravenscliff series is darker, grittier and more twisted than the Harry Potter series and similar fantasy tales. It's New England gothic without being over-the-top, complete with haunted houses, graveyards, weird caretakers and undead sorcery. Somehow, Huntington manages to avoid being bogged down in cliche -- although his cliffhanger will leave readers howling.

His handling of the Nightwing sorcerers in old England is very well-done, once he gets past the initial awkwardness of time travel. The main stumbling block is Morgana's identity, which I figured out in a few pages. However, the handling of succubus/witch Isobel is phenomenal; she's genuinely scary from the first chapter onward. And the lingering question of who the weeping women in the basement is, and what connection she has with Bjorn and Devon, is a fantastic subplot. (Although having the old lady die just before revealing Devon's secret made me groan)

Huntington keeps up the good work with Devon's character development, especially since nobody tells him anything. His growing dread and confusion are excellently done. Bjorn Forkbeard is a nice addition, especially since it's genuinely hard to tell what he's thinking. Edward Muir is a blueprint for an irresponsible rotter; the other supporting characters are generally solid.

Though there are a few flaws at Ravenscliff, the sequel to "Sorcerers of the Nightwing" is a fine piece of dark fantasy that won't disappoint. "Demon Witch" definitely casts a spell.

Rating:
Summary: HARRY POTTER'S LONG LOST BROTHER FOUND
Review: THIS IS AN EXCELLANT BOOK THAT WILL KEEP YOUR INTEREST TO THE LAST PAGE. EVERY CHAPTER IS ACTION PACK AND YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT TILL HAPPEN NEXT. A MUST FOR HARRY POTTER FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!