Review by Karl Verhoven

Despite being the last of a powerful lineage, Marie Blackwood would prefer to have nothing to do with magic, or witchcraft practitioners organised into the equivalent of a church. As she puts it, “in an era when you can just turn on a tap or switch on a light, it isn’t wise to be indebted to the spirits”. However, for practical purposes she can’t ignore them completely, so when thirteen year old apprentice Theo is dumped on her she agrees to take him in and train him.

It seems Theo is more comfortable with her than those more enthusiastic about magic as she provides practical advice of magic having a cost, and that the spirits are not to be trusted. It also become apparent that the magical authorities are more than a little fearful of Theo, referring to him as “The Blood of Righteous Anger”, and not in a good way. He’s previously been kept away from the outside world.

There’s a beautiful delicacy to John Tarachine’s art, and portrait after portrait resonates, both Marie and Theo extremely attractive without being exploitative. Setting the series in Edinburgh adds to the beauty. The city is packed with memorable old locations, so Tarachine doesn’t want for attractive scenery either, although he cheats by merging locations. That all looks very nice, but isn’t unusual. What distinguishes Tarachine’s world is his use of spirits as ethereal, almost unformed creatures twisted into strange shapes and with eyeballs prominent.

This opening volume supplies plenty of surprises despite being little more than an introduction, via Theo, to Marie and her world. She has plenty of friends in tucked away places, all of whom regard her highly. The final chapters relate how there’s an uneasy alliance between church and witchcraft, celebrated every year in France, which is where the volume ends.

Anyone captivated by worlds of magic ought to find more than enough intrigue and inspiration in a series that looks to have legs.