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475 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2024
Twenty years ago, when they were in high school, Athena, Hal, Peter and Erin were the best of friends. Not only that, but they were the students of Peter's grandfather, Professor Marsh, in Dissonance, a system of 'magic' that comes from harnessing negative emotions like anger and pain. It felt like they'd be friends forever, until a horrific day that changed all their lives forever and pulled the coven apart.
Now, Athena, Hal and Erin have been summoned back to the small town where they grew up, invited to a memorial service to remember that day. But the service will be interrupted by a being of great power that will force the trio to reforge their broken connections. Because the world is starting to fall apart and unless they can make one last stand, they'll lose each other and everything else, all over again.
This contemporary fantasy-horror is not perfect. Yet, I gave it five stars because it was just so damn entertaining that I couldn't put it down. It reminded me a bit of the series "Heroes" (which only had one good season before dropping off the radar) and of "Stranger Things". It is a great exploration of how even deep friendships are precarious, especially during the highly emotionally charged teenage years, but how bonds formed in childhood are often the strongest.
It has adventure, magic, and romance, has a diverse cast of characters and is just oodles of fun.