Under Her Spell

A maid and an heiress fight for love in Morton’s lackluster (but not lust-lacking) second erotic romance (after Dreaming of Her). Wealthy Athene and servant Terra have been lovers for years, enjoying kinky games that flip the power imbalance and put Terra on top. When it’s time for the magical quest for Athene’s hand, Terra disguises herself as a man and joins in. Terra lost her mother before she could go through the traditional adolescent ritual to unlock her magic, so she despairs of success in the quest, but she can’t bear to risk the loss of her lady love. The lovers keep in close contact through a magic portal, permitting frequent and clumsily written sexual encounters that feel sharply at odds with the characters’ juvenile dialogue and behavior. The plot is mostly window dressing, giving Terra and Athene things to do in between rolls in the hay. Unfulfilled ambitions of adventure and suspense make this sexy fantasy fall decidedly flat. (Jan.)