When Nicola’s old friend Joseph shows up at her door, she doesn’t believe the tale he tells her: that her ex and father of her child Keith is now running a cult and physically invincible. After being told her sister has gone missing, Nicola decides to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Finding her is the easy part. Keith, it turns out, possesses some Runespells—pendants of the ancient Norse runes that grant the power of that rune to the wearer. Keith is trying to bring about Ragnorak with a very distorted view of Odin and the other gods. Nicola, an ordinary Heathen witch, must now fight demons, cult fanatics, and a cop on her tail who believes she is a murder suspect.
Overall, I like this novel. It is a magickal novel firmly rooted in the real world—Nicola still has bills to pay, and the politics of the Pagan community are spot on. (Even if I didn’t already know the author is Pagan, it is very clear from all the details in the novel.) The magick is not Harry Potter fantasy, but built on concepts found in modern magickal traditions.
I enjoyed diverse characters and a sympathetic representation of homeless teenagers. It doesn’t moralize, but represents their struggles realistically. My favorite part is when Nicola and Joseph are introduced to a Valkyrie, they shrug. To the complete shock of the Valkyrie, who is expecting a more panicked reaction.
A minor issue is there are a couple of parts that need more editing. The use of “off of” was distracting to me, and a little more proofreading would have helped.
There are enough tantalizing hints to the overarching plot line to keep me hooked on the next book. Who is behind the cult is intriguing. Overall, I can’t wait to read more.