STARTING with the Book of Shadows which constitutes the first volume, the book under review with three volumes compiled in it, is a work of fiction set against the US East Coast background. Morgan Rowlands who discovers that she is a ‘blood witch’ and learns that she must battle dark magic. As the series progresses, Morgan comes into contact with a truly remarkable set of characters and also many problems that beset teens of today.
Morgan is an ordinary high school student living an ordinary life in Widow’s Vale. Her life becomes unsettled upon meeting Cal Blaire. With his handsome personality, he quickly becomes the centre of attraction for girls in the school, and this includes Morgan and her best friend Bree Warren too. Blessed with charisma and good looks, Cal is able to gather people for his party where he reveals his Wiccan origins by inviting his peers to join him in a circle to celebrate Mabon, one of the Wiccan sabbaticals.
In the second volume titled The Coven, Morgan concludes that her parents are blood witches and confronts them. Her parents deny that they are blood witches, which leads Morgan to find if she could have been adopted. Yes, she has been and she gets so angry that she runs out of the house in a fierce rage finding comfort with Cal. From here on, Cal and Morgan’s relationship develops.
In the third volume titled, Blood Witch, we find Morgan looking flustered and wanting to be away from Sky and Hunter in Cal’s home. She leaves the room and discovers a door hidden in the hallway. On entering the room, Morgan realises that it is Selene’s study. While glimpsing the thousands of books that stand against the wall, Mrgan gets overtaken by a sensation. Unconsciously, she pulls out a book with no title. Flipping through the pages, she realises that what she holds is her mother’s Book of Shadows. Just then Cal and his mother Selene Belltower enter, wondering how she could have entered the secret room. At first, she feels guilty, but on realising that the Book of Shadows is rightfully hers, Morgan confidently opposes Selene and without any conflict, Selene gives the book to Morgan, who returns home and Cal begins to respect and love her all the more. Tensions rise and things start to become clear.
(Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11, Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi -110 017; www.penguin.com/teens)
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