VOYA
- Kathleen Beck
Katy and her boyfriend, Peter, having defeated the Darkness in Cochran’s Legacy (Simon & Schuster, 2011), look forward to a peaceful year at the exclusive Ainsworth School in Whitfield, Massachusetts. Most of Ainsworth’s students are “cowen,”--ordinary people--but the rest are secretly witches, descendants of the original twenty-seven families who fled neighboring Salem during the witch trials. The witch students are pledged to silence, but it is hard to conceal magical gifts. Katy’s skill is to “read” objects, discerning the stories of the people who owned them. Suddenly things in Whitfield take a frightening turn, as a wealthy relative takes an unprecedented interest in Peter, beautiful but sinister Morgan appears in town, and Morgan’s gift of a ring makes Katy’s enemies suddenly fall ill and die. What is Morgan’s connection with the legendary magician Merlin, and why is a threat to the mythical land of Avalon spilling over into Whitfield? Magical romances are in style, and Katy and Peter’s story is certainly romantic. The author seems uncertain whether this is a serious fantasy or a light tale touched with humor. Somehow the Darkness threatening Whitfield is not very compelling. The connection to King Arthur’s legend seems forced. Morgan and Katy’s struggles with neglectful fathers offer potential but are not explored in depth. Anyone hoping for Hogwarts-style school incidents will be disappointed--Ainsworth might as well be Anytown High. Nevertheless, fans of Beautiful Chaos (Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl) and similar series will enjoy this one too. Buy where Legacy has proved popular. Ages 11 to 18.
Kirkus Reviews
When three cowen--nonmagical--girls at the Ainsworth School fall prey to a mysterious illness and Katy takes the blame, it's clear that evil forces have returned to Whitfield (Legacy, 2011). To clear her name, she embarks on a dangerous mission, using her powers to journey between worlds to stop them from claiming any more innocent lives. Little does she know that it will mean facing some of witchcraft's greatest legends. It's a lonely quest, as Katy's boyfriend, Peter, is wrapped up in his own family drama, her friends have written her off, and the close family of witches she came to know in the previous book is almost completely missing in action. Her isolation only worsens as the story progresses, and Katy discovers that even if her loved ones were around, her very presence might kill them. While Katy is a likable-enough heroine, the noticeable lack of meaningful interactions with other characters will frustrate readers attempting to connect to the story on an emotional level. This is especially problematic when it comes to Peter and Katy. Their professions of undying love for each other feel shallow, given they are hardly ever in the same room at the same time. Fortunately, the introduction of Arthurian legend is intriguing, and the last few chapters are real nail-biters. Whether that's enough to keep fans reading the series remains to be seen. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—Life has not gotten easier for Katy Ainsworth since readers last met her in Legacy (S & S, 2011). Being a witch in a school that also includes non-adepts has its pitfalls, and Katy quickly finds herself in the midst of a controversy when four of those non-magical students fall into comas, apparently at her hands. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the real culprit turns out to be Morgan le Fay, fresh from Avalon and just as deceptive as ever. Moving back and forth between eternal Avalon and all-too-present Massachusetts, the novel takes readers on a lengthy ride through teenage angst, love, and bad parent relationships. There are so many threads woven into this plot that they sometimes get lost among the many peripheral scenes and conversations. Still, those who liked the first book will certainly enjoy this one, and fans of Arthurian legend will appreciate this alternative view of the infamous Morgan le Fay.—Sara Saxton, Tuzzy Consortium Library, Barrow, AK
