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A CastOff Coven A Witchcraft Mystery Juliet Blackwell Books

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A CastOff Coven A Witchcraft Mystery Juliet Blackwell Books

I really enjoyed Secondhand Spirits: A Witchcraft Mystery, the first book in Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series featuring Lily Ivory. I found it well-plotted and well-written and was particularly impressed with its stellar characterizations. I was anxious to see if Blackwell could continue to impress me with book two.

Happily, the answer is "yes". Not only did Blackwell not disappoint, she drew me deeper under her spell with A Cast-off Coven. I am declaring myself a fan.

As the story begins (only a week after the events of Secondhand Spirits conclude), odd sounds, ghostly footsteps and doors opening and closing on their own have students from the San Francisco School of Fine Arts spooked and stopping into Lily's vintage clothing store in search of protective talismans. At her assistant Maya's request (and in exchange for some Victorian clothing recently found at the school), Lily agrees to check things out and attempt to calm the students' fears. Instead she finds a dead body and comes across evidence that has her wondering if someone at the school has summoned a demon.

A Cast-off Coven is a solid mystery and a nicely creepy ghost story with moments I found somehow reminiscent (in feeling) of the old Julie Harris - Claire Bloom film "The Haunting" (which is #1 on my official list of "Movies That Scared the Heck Out of Me When I Was A Kid and Still Pretty Much Freak Me Out Even Though I Am Now All Grown Up"). The story is wonderfully paced and plotted, with touches of humor, strong friendships and possibilities of romance.

Enhancing that plot is Blackwell's ability to take pieces of myth and legend that seem at least vaguely familiar and twist them just enough to make them seem new and - in most cases - more intriguing. Her depiction of Lily's craft has depth and a degree of detail that make it seem believably real and it comes across as an essential part of Lily rather than something she "practices". Simply put, the paranormal world of A Cast-off Coven really works for me. And Lily, while she knows a lot about this magical world, also knows that she has a lot to learn. This helps make Lily accessible to us and we are allowed to learn alongside her.

Blackwell also does a terrific job of making San Francisco come alive. Her rich descriptions enable me to "see" the city and deepen my determination to visit it someday soon. Elements of the city's history - including the Great Earthquake of 1906 - have been woven into the story.

However, as with Secondhand Spirits, it is the wonderful characters that really pulled me into A Cast-off Coven. I like these people. I admire many of them. And I am intrigued by all of them. These are smart, strong, complex and interesting characters with layered histories that Blackwell is revealing to us bit by bit. This slow reveal keeps me on my toes while reading because I never know when another fascinating little detail about someone will be made known to me and I don't want to miss anything. There is so much we have yet to learn about each and every one of them that I can only hope Blackwell has many, many more volumes in the series planned. But whether it's one book or ten, I am so there.

I'm also going to give Blackwell's other stuff a try. I have ordered If Walls Could Talk: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery (Haunted Home Repair Mystery), the first in her new series which is due to be released in December, 2010. And sitting in my TBR pile is Feint of Art (Annie Kincaid Mysteries, No. 1), the first in a three volume mystery series she co-wrote in 2006/2007 with her sister, Carolyn, and published under the name Hailey Lind.

I highly recommend both Secondhand Spirits and A Cast-off Coven. Enjoy!


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A CastOff Coven A Witchcraft Mystery Juliet Blackwell Books Reviews

I'm blown away. Magic, mystery, good and evil, humour, love, suspence and lots of emotions. Couldn't put the book down until the end. Enjoyed a lovely read and would love to read more.
I commute on public transportation, a little more than an hour each way. This book is well-written, charming and funny. Characterization and plot are very well done. I feel that I would recognize some of the characters if I met them and the story is just fantasy enough to be enjoyed without reservation. In several places I found myself chuckling out loud, much to the amusement of others in the crowded train. This is the second book of this particular series by this particular author and I am eager for the third, fourth, etc. I highly recommend this book; particularly to other working women. We need the occasional smile, chuckle, or, if possible, belly laugh. Wonderful book. Buy and read it.
I bought the kindle version of the first book in this series after reading a few chapters in the bookstore. I loved the suspense and the whodunnit concept of the first book. I hoped for the same thing with this book but it was a bit lacking...I was confused at some parts, and I missed having a big finale. The ending was rather weak, although the writing throughout the book was compelling.

I'm looking forward to giving this series another chance with the third book. Lily and her friends are lovable characters, and I adore Oscar!! I feel very cozy reading this, although I admit I can't read some parts in the dark lol. Overall, I look forward to the third book.
A nice paranormal cozy mystery with Lily, a witch. Lily decided to,settle in San Francisco and is making new friends. Her familiar is Oscar, a pig. Maya tells her that strange things are happening in the Bell Tower of the art institute. There a number of vintage clothing that she can have if she will expelled the ghost that everyone is sure is there.
Lily in Maya company visits the tower and has a frightening experience. They find a body of Jerry Becker at the foot of the tower stairs. Most believe that the ghost killed him but Lily knows,that was a human. Lily works to find the killer and to expels the demon. Is strong enough to bind it the seal room before it processes another person.
This story will written with graphic descriptions of her methods and the characters. This series should be read in order.
A very interesting premise, likable hero with a back story that is revealed as you go along and not just given in a lump. Characters that you wonder if they are good guys or bad guys, and a most unusual familiar. San Francisco is such an interesting and appropriate back drop to this series, the neighborhood sort of becomes an additional character.

There is a lot of humor in this book, she will have you chuckling as the hero doesn't take herself too seriously. On the other hand, she has had things happen in her life that provides a depth the character that you don't usually see in a light read like this. Not all of her characters believe in witch-craft, and you are uncertain how the characters are going to relate to your hero. Many of the things that really keeps you reading a series of books. I am really interested in where the next books are going to go.
Not as enjoyable as Secondhand Spirits, but almost there. The premise is cute, the setting is totally realized, and the plot is fun in a convoluted, cozy mystery way. My only problem with this book is that our protagonist, Lily Ivory, is always so weirdly clueless. I think the author assumes that the reader will find it endearing that Lily doesn't understand pop culture, or literature, etc but it comes off as incredibly forced. I mean, I'm not looking for realism in my vintage witch mysteries, but I can only accept so much. A coven of nuns? A demon that looks like a winged jaguar? Ok sure why not? A protagonist who's from Earth and grew up in the 90's but doesn't know what Star Wars is? I find that a bridge too far.
I really enjoyed Secondhand Spirits A Witchcraft Mystery, the first book in Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series featuring Lily Ivory. I found it well-plotted and well-written and was particularly impressed with its stellar characterizations. I was anxious to see if Blackwell could continue to impress me with book two.

Happily, the answer is "yes". Not only did Blackwell not disappoint, she drew me deeper under her spell with A Cast-off Coven. I am declaring myself a fan.

As the story begins (only a week after the events of Secondhand Spirits conclude), odd sounds, ghostly footsteps and doors opening and closing on their own have students from the San Francisco School of Fine Arts spooked and stopping into Lily's vintage clothing store in search of protective talismans. At her assistant Maya's request (and in exchange for some Victorian clothing recently found at the school), Lily agrees to check things out and attempt to calm the students' fears. Instead she finds a dead body and comes across evidence that has her wondering if someone at the school has summoned a demon.

A Cast-off Coven is a solid mystery and a nicely creepy ghost story with moments I found somehow reminiscent (in feeling) of the old Julie Harris - Claire Bloom film "The Haunting" (which is #1 on my official list of "Movies That Scared the Heck Out of Me When I Was A Kid and Still Pretty Much Freak Me Out Even Though I Am Now All Grown Up"). The story is wonderfully paced and plotted, with touches of humor, strong friendships and possibilities of romance.

Enhancing that plot is Blackwell's ability to take pieces of myth and legend that seem at least vaguely familiar and twist them just enough to make them seem new and - in most cases - more intriguing. Her depiction of Lily's craft has depth and a degree of detail that make it seem believably real and it comes across as an essential part of Lily rather than something she "practices". Simply put, the paranormal world of A Cast-off Coven really works for me. And Lily, while she knows a lot about this magical world, also knows that she has a lot to learn. This helps make Lily accessible to us and we are allowed to learn alongside her.

Blackwell also does a terrific job of making San Francisco come alive. Her rich descriptions enable me to "see" the city and deepen my determination to visit it someday soon. Elements of the city's history - including the Great Earthquake of 1906 - have been woven into the story.

However, as with Secondhand Spirits, it is the wonderful characters that really pulled me into A Cast-off Coven. I like these people. I admire many of them. And I am intrigued by all of them. These are smart, strong, complex and interesting characters with layered histories that Blackwell is revealing to us bit by bit. This slow reveal keeps me on my toes while reading because I never know when another fascinating little detail about someone will be made known to me and I don't want to miss anything. There is so much we have yet to learn about each and every one of them that I can only hope Blackwell has many, many more volumes in the series planned. But whether it's one book or ten, I am so there.

I'm also going to give Blackwell's other stuff a try. I have ordered If Walls Could Talk A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery (Haunted Home Repair Mystery), the first in her new series which is due to be released in December, 2010. And sitting in my TBR pile is Feint of Art (Annie Kincaid Mysteries, No. 1), the first in a three volume mystery series she co-wrote in 2006/2007 with her sister, Carolyn, and published under the name Hailey Lind.

I highly recommend both Secondhand Spirits and A Cast-off Coven. Enjoy!