Peter took me into Denver City on Christmas Eve. We left at first light, wrapped in buffalo robes against the frigid air, our breath making clouds of mist as the mules plodded along under the brightening sky. We made far better time riding than if we’d brought the wagon and reached town by midday.
From the look of things, every rancher and miner in the territory had come into Denver City for the holiday. The streets were jammed, and as we turned into Wazee Street I worried Bonnie might not have a room for me. There hadn’t been any way to tell her I was coming, and with so many people in town, the temptation to rent out her spare room might have been too much to resist.
But she looked pleased to see me when I arrived, smiling from across the front room, her hands full of plates. She put the dishes in front of a pair of men at a corner table, then stopped for a moment to speak to a plain-faced young woman wiping up a spill from one of the long trestle tables before making her way over to me.
“Joya! You made it.”
Joya Shaw has had her magic bound and been sent out west after using a forbidden spell. What she had found out, though, was bigger than her own relationships. Not all witches are using their power for good.
Official synopsis:
But it is 1862, the American Civil War is raging, and going west doesn’t mean leaving the battlefields behind. When Joya arrives at a homesteader’s cabin and discovers the occupants savagely slain, she knows it is no mere murder: traces of demon magic cling to the bodies. When a Union patrol is later wiped out the same way, Joya begins to suspect that someone is trying to create a new weapon for the rebel arsenal.
She gambles that thwarting the plot could be the key to ending her exile. But demon hunting is a dangerous game, and it’s all too easy for the hunter to become the prey. Trapped, Joya enters into an uneasy alliance with a demon. She must find a way to free herself or bend its power to her will. If she fails, she will forfeit not only her life, but also her soul—along with the chance to stop the tide of the war from turning in an unspeakable direction.
Joya starts out trying to do right and serve her time gracefully. A visit to the city reunites her with the ranger who escorted her to her new home, and introduces her to the rest of his special family. Their warm welcome encourages her to return when she can, and her loyalty to them has her wanting to use her magic again to help them.
Unfortunately, evil is already running amok before she arrives. When she notices what’s going on, she does not realize the damage has already started. Without her powers, can she really prevent the destruction of those she’s grown to love?
This was a great historical fiction book with a believable portrayal of the Colorado Territory and how a whole population of witches may be incorporated and involved in the Civil War. The story was well told and earned a high 3 out of 5 stars. It could be recommended to those who like witchy stories and U.S. historical fiction.
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Becki Bayley is a wife and mom who also enjoys reading, Legos, and hanging out with her kids. See what else they’re up to on her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.
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The Witch's Secret, by Stacie Murphy
This looks like a great novel. Thanks for sharing.
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