Midnight Omen

The past haunts the present in this lumbering piratical fantasy, first in the Deja Vu Chronicles. When ER nurse Katherine experiences unusual phenomena while on duty one night, her mentor suspects it’s related to her magical gifts and mysterious heritage. In order to learn more, Katherine undergoes shamanistic regression to a past incarnation, where she relives the adventures of Kathryn, a Welsh witch living in 1721. As Kathryn, she’s coerced into joining the crew of the pirate ship Revenge, under the captaincy of John Phillips; many of the men superstitiously avoid her, but she nevertheless finds a place among them, using her powers to protect and heal them. As they confront other pirates, thwart mutiny, and plunder their way across the Caribbean, Kathryn suspects larger forces are at play and have brought her on board for a reason. Despite the modern-day framing sequence, most of this tale takes place in 1721, leading to a narrative imbalance between the various threads. Melville’s work, which heavily romanticizes the life of a pirate, is atmospheric but overly descriptive and even flowery, which drags down the pacing and tension. It’s a solid start to the series, but it lacks real story movement. (BookLife)