Title: Witchcraft (The Witchblood Series)
Author: Emma Mills
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
On this sophomore outing in the writing world, this second in the Witchblood Series has me scratching my head.
There are many more errors in this book, by way of grammatical and spelling. (I'm learning a lot of British words though!). There are also, unfortunately, several references to J.K. Rowlings' "Harry Potter" character and actual usage of spells from the book series and movies. I realize having my own children grow up reading the series and watching the movies, that their generation knows of and enjoy the characters, spells and other things from the world that J.K. Rowlings has so beautifully connected us to. However, using the characters and spells, to me, is just too much of a really badly plageristic move. It would have been much better to not use actual character names and spells, and instead just give hints of who and what Jessica is thinking about.
Another thing I noticed was a reference to a television show from the U.S. called "Charmed" and the use of one of the main characters' name from that show, as well as her power as a witch. I'm very familiar with this show as well (my girls, all three of them, have the symbol from the show's "book of shadows" actually tattooed on their backs, because from this series they learned the three of them are stronger together, than apart, with the power of three.), which now segues into our villains name of "Cole". In the TV Series "Charmed" he was one of the villains, in fact a main character from "Charmed". Ms. Mills is losing originality points quickly now. I'm waiting for other unnecessary references now... are we going to start calling the angels who are earthbound "White Lighters"?
Continuity errors are abundant as Jessica's father told her in a letter that when he met her birthmother, she said her name was Laurie, however as she was giving birth before she died she admitted her name was Rachel Bishop. In this book, her own family from the U.S. refers to her birthmother as Laurie. Another continuity problem when the drinks in the bar had been laced with date rape drugs, Eva (another character in the book who is also a vampire) explained that the smell of it is what they use to get rid of the people that use them from the club, as part of her "job". When Jessica asked if the drugs effected them Eva said she wasn't sure, but if they did it wouldn't be for long. No given excuse as a "fast metabolism" as is given here; in the same continuity issues Jessica says the ONLY person who called her "Jessie" was her father because he liked Jesse James. Everyone else called her "Jess". So after her father died she allowed Daniel to call her "Jessie". Now everyone is calling her "Jessie" -- CONFUSED!
Another Continuity issue, Eva never told Jessica silver was a vampire no-no yet somehow she knows and says Eva taught her. The errors go on with angels and other things.
This book has a sadder story line. The plot is well thought out, however the ending left me wishing it was different. But only the author knows where the third installment will lead us. I just hope her continuity improves. Other than that, the series is quite an interesting one and as in the first book, the Young Adult audience will enjoy it if some originality returns.
2.9 out of 5 Bookmarks
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