cover image Shadow Spell

Shadow Spell

Nora Roberts. Berkley, $17 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-425-25986-3

The second Cousins O’Dwyer paranormal (after Dark Witch) continues the tale of six magical warriors—the three descendants of the 13th-century Irish witch Sorcha, and their loyal friends—determined to stand against the evil sorcerer Cabhan. After battling Cabhan on the summer solstice, the group decides that the only way to defeat him is to destroy his power source. As they prepare for the next battle, Cabhan seeks to exploit their individual weaknesses, but as always, he underestimates the power of the warriors’ mutual love and respect. The slim plot is strongest when focused on the romance between Connor O’Dwyer and his sweetheart, Meara, making the battle between good and evil a relatively minor part of the novel. The character-driven story, with its picturesque rural Irish setting, will charm romance fans, but readers more familiar with contemporary urban fantasy are likely to be impatient for more action and fewer emotional tangents. (Apr.)