A Witchly Influence

A newly divorced witch is determined to turn her life around in this lighthearted but underdeveloped fantasy from Grey (The Immortal Prudence Blackwood). Carmen Devereaux, whose powers allow her to conjure anything she desires from thin air and teleport anywhere in the world, moves back home to North Carolina for a fresh start closer to her mortal stepfamily. There, Carmen gets a promotion from her employer, Fate. In her new position as an Influencer she’ll use her magic to guide both witches and mortals to their higher calling. With the help of some eccentric characters, including an ornery snowman and a sentient pencil, Carmen attempts to balance her magical and mortal responsibilities. But one of her first assignments is to influence the life of her own stepbrother, and Carmen struggles to help him while still obeying the law that prohibits witches from revealing their magical abilities—inspiring her to propose a change to the rule. This unremarkable arc is spiced up by the quirky supporting cast, though readers will still have to overlook some plot holes. Grey’s feel-good story is just amusing enough that many readers will be willing to forgive the flaws. (Oct.)