Casee‘s review of Soul Magic (Wing Slayer Hunters, book 2) by Jennifer Lyon.
When an ancient pact is broken, powerful witches who once used their magic to help humanity become the twisted playthings of demons, and the mortal men who once protected the sorceresses become witch hunters, cursed with the longing to spill the witches’ blood: an irresistible craving that will cost witches their lives and witch hunters their souls.
The Wing Slayer Hunters fight this curse, guarding innocent witches until the urge to harm them grows too strong–then they must kill their own. Wing Slayer Sutton West has always honored that vow. His own father killed himself rather than go rogue. But now Sutton is tempted as never before by Carla Fisk, a brilliant psychologist and dynamic witch whose twin sister, Keri, was murdered by rogues.
Bound by blood and passion, Carla and Sutton dare not succumb to their deadly attraction. Yet when a mysterious rogue named Styx joins forces with the demon Asmodeus, witch and hunter have no choice but to work together. For Keri’s immortal soul is at stake–and with it, balanced on a knife-edge, is the fate of humanity itself.
This series is my favorite new series of the year. I loved the idea of witch hunters, witches (good and bad), and curses. It’s just intriguing. Like I’ve said in the past, coming onto the paranormal scene these days is hard b/c there is so much out there. This series is fresh and original. Soul Magic takes us deeper into the world that Lyon has created.
Both Sutton and Carla were fairly prominent in Blood Magic. Sutton is a Wing Slayer and Carla is a witch. After a mortal woman attacks Sutton, they take her to Carla when it’s clear that she’s been under some kind of mind control. Carla is able to go to the astral plane to help the soul go back to the physical body. When she attempts to bring the woman back, she finds her twin sister Keri’s soul. Keri died two years before and it is very obvious that Keri didn’t go onto Summerland. Keri stopped this particular knife from killing Carla which is how her soul got trapped in it.
Sutton and Carla are forced to work together, something neither of them want. Sutton is afraid that he’s finally going to give into the bloodlust that turns witch hunters into rogues. Like his father before him, he will die before he lets that happen. Not only does he not want to become the very thing that he’s hunting, he doesn’t want to hurt Carla.
When it appears that Sutton and Carla are soul melds, Carla isn’t so sure. Keri has a bond with Sutton that doesn’t seem to include Carla. Sutton denies it, telling Carla that it’s her he’s always been attracted to. He is sure that Carla is his soul meld.
That aspect of the book was the most interesting. It doesn’t become apparent until the end who Sutton’s soul meld really is. I don’t want to spoil it, but it doesn’t end as easily as you expect. In fact, it was probably the most emotional part of the book. I really like what Lyon did with the Sutton/Carla/Keri triangle (not that it was a triangle.
4.25 out of 5.
This book is available from Ballantine. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Other books in the series:
ooh, witch hunters is a new thing for me, too. Sounds cool, and I’m intrigued by your mysterious analysis of the romance endgame. Hmmm!