Early Book Review: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

The Water Witch by Juliet Dark, a pseudonym for Carol Goodman, is the second book in the Fairwick Chronicles series. It is scheduled for release on February 12, 2013. The Water Witch picks up shortly after the end of The Demon Lover, the first book in the series. While a reader new to the series would be able to enjoy the story without having read the first book, I highly recommend reading the series in order to fully understand the history of the characters and town and how it effects the larger story arch.

Callie McFay is a professor that also happens to be part faerie,  part witch, and the doorkeeper or guardian to the last known door between our world and the realm of faerie. Callie banished an incubus from her home in The Demon Lover, but she has not quite banished him from her mind. That complication combined with a house in need of serious care, an angry Undine, factions seeking to close the door, and her attempts to fully understand and control her powers keep the book moving quickly and set stage for further sequels.

The Water Witch, like The Demon Lover, his an urban fantasy with a slight gothic flavor. Callie is conflicted by her desire for her banished incubus and her roles in the paranormal world. Her powers seem to be bound and fluctuating wildly, and a magical tutor is found to help her with that, but he wants more than she ever suspects. The role as gatekeeper brings about more complications, as she tries to maintain the balance in the town, college, and her life which  are full of a variety of creatures others consider evil because of their heritage. The suspense and mystery involved, particularly in figuring out where everyone stands and their motivations, keep the story extremely interesting and kept me reading. Callie's personal growth, and her understanding of the world around her, is just as compelling as the rest of the story.

I recommend The Water Witch to readers that enjoyed The Demon Lover and to those that enjoy suspense, urban fantasy, and gothic fiction. Although, as I stating in the beginning, this is a series that I recommend reading in order to enjoy to its fullest.