I just finished a two book series (with book 3 slated to be released next month) by Jennifer David Hesse. The series concept is based upon the Wiccan religion and references Wiccan Sabbats. The first in the series is "Midsummer Night's Mischief", the second is "Bell, Book & Candlemas" and the third, yet to be released, is "Yuletide Homicide".
I will say that I enjoyed the first two books in the series very much. The main character is Keli Milanni and she is an attorney and a closeted, solitary practitioner of Wicca. I really enjoyed the closer to realistic depiction of witchcraft in this story. A lot of the witch-related cozies are more, um, supernatural than this depiction. What do I mean by this? There is more religion than magick in this book. She talks about spellcasting, her altar, the connection to nature...but her workings are no more supernatural or paranormal than prayer. She does cast a love spell at the beginning of the book and it seems to have a lot of general impact with random people in her life. Kind of funny how it manifests and it was acknowledged in the book that love spells can be tricky business.
The story itself is a good one concerning Shakespeare's first folio which has gone missing after the elderly owner has died. Keli was the attorney who drafted her will and who was blamed by the family for not having had the folio insured, which makes the daughter of the deceased owner very angry...and puts Keli on leave of absence at her law firm until things are settled. In order to save her job, Keli must solve the mystery of the stolen folio. There's no lack of suspects and one of them is a new romantic interest.
I liked the story. I liked the Wiccan elements. The characters were interesting. Keli is vegan but doesn't seem to be one who lords it over others, although she does catch some flack from a coworker. I can see interesting story lines coming up in the future, especially with her Aunt Jo, who was the black sheep of the family and who she has never met but who writes every 10 years on her birthday. Aunt Jo was part of a now-defunct commune in the area where Keli has settled down. What I didn't like in the first book was the depiction of Keli as a lawyer. She's seemed a bit wishy-washy to be an attorney. I had a hard time visualizing her in court arguing a case. I thought perhaps she's patent attorney or contracts...but it appears she's family law. Maybe she flips into attorney-mode when needed but is more of mess personally? I know attorneys like that but it seems odd to create a character without amplifying the disparity because in the books there's not a clear distinction between what might be two very different sides of the same coin. The only part that is distinct is her Wiccan beliefs...and there are a lot of people who walk the line on keeping their religion and work separate.
The second book in the series "Bell, Book & Candlemas" was also enjoyable. A little more revealing of the Wiccan faith to her best friend and boyfriend; still not out to the masses, though! She seems to have a bit more backbone and is more forthright as work-Keli, in the book. The mystery in this book is a little more difficult to discuss without giving away major plot-points. There are break-ins happening in the business district. One of those impacts the shop of Keli's friend, Mila. Moonstone Treasures is a gift shop and is also a shop that Keli visits regularly as it carries items that she might need for spellwork. Keli vows to help her friend and fellow Wiccan, but feels she must do so without outing herself as a witch. When a dead body turns up in the shop, the urgency for resolution increases as Mila is now a prime suspect.
The budding romance between Keli and Wes is fun to watch, but doesn't overtake the storyline. The reveal of Keli's religious beliefs to Farrah is not earth shattering, but I do wonder if there will be an impact in their relationship that shows in book 3? Wes is agnostic and there is a good conversation between the two characters about that. A few more tidbits regarding Aunt Jo. I can't wait to read the next in the series!
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