The Hawley Book of the Dead

by Chrysler Szarlan

[Beth C.]

The history of witches and witchcraft has always fascinated me, as I know it does for many. But sadly, too many books on that topic are whitewashed versions of things that have come so many times before. Thankfully, 'The Hawley Book of the Dead' does not fit into that category.

First and most important - the characters felt like real people, not some caricature of "every witch". The history was well-woven into the story, and even had a few twists that I didn't see coming. Even the "bad guy" wasn't just the all-evil one, but a fully fleshed out man who finds himself in a place he never imagined he would be.

I know this book has been compared to 'The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane', but I actually liked this one better. It was more compelling and interesting. After all, what *do* you do when your entire life has been torn upside down in an ancient battle that you knew nothing about? When your children are threatened and your beloved is dead - at your hand? And when the mysterious suddenly becomes the impossibly possible? You keep reading, of course - and whether that book happens to be a book OF magic, or a book ABOUT magic, it suddenly makes no difference. You are transported just the same, into a world that just *might* hold the answers...if you're brave enough to hang on for the ride.