The Power of Dark

This is the first in a new series of magical thrillers set in the town of Whitby and featuring the witches that guard it. However this is not the first series by Robin Jarvis to feature this town and the forthcoming series is an extension to the wonderful books that have become classics of their genre. The main characters are Lil and Verne and they are gradually becoming aware that something sinister is happening in the town. Then they make the acquaintance of Cherry Cerise, the last witch in Whitby, who is aware of ancient evil stirring. Things become really scary when Lil and Verne are possessed by the spirits of long dead ex-lovers who still want revenge for perceived wrongs.

Robin Jarvis is a consummate exponent of the art of fantasy writing. The characters really come alive and you build a connection to them and what they are going through in this fast paced, exciting and at times very dark tale of magic and murder. The story is told in the third person and moves between the main protagonists in a simple and very fluid way. The style of writing is natural and the language is modern, without being ‘over the top’. The story will be just as readable in 20 years as it is now. The author obviously knows Whitby extremely well and his descriptions really add to the atmosphere that we feel when reading. His thoughts about the ‘Goth’ weekend and the ‘witch’ culture are quite interesting and I love the idea of yarn-bombing the churchyard in order to liven the place up. This is a story that will be loved by those who already know and love Robin Jarvis’s work but it will also bring him a new audience; little do they know about the wonders that await them as they discover his other works.