Burn Marks

Gr 7 Up—Set in a modern-day England where witchcraft is highly regulated and discrimination against "witches" is prevalent, this coming-of-age novel manages to be an action-packed read and a metaphor for intolerance and suspicion currently experienced by some minorities. Two teens come into their fae power on the same day. Upper-class Lucas is a the son of a seventh-generation inquisitor, the public servants charged with prosecuting "fae" crimes, and he plans to follow in his father's footsteps. Then he finds the "Devil's Kiss" on his back and feels the power awaken within. This unexpected and unwelcome power means the end of his father's career and a life of heavy supervision by the state, as he will, of course, register himself and submit to the mandated testing and binding of minors. Working-class Glory, on the other hand, is overjoyed the day her power awakens. Daughter and granddaughter of witches famed for their style and criminal acumen, she knows that her gift brings new life to her family's aging criminal enterprises. She is surprised when her beloved aunt insists on keeping her new power a secret; being a witch for a gang, it turns out, is more dangerous than glamorous, and rival operations have been watching, waiting to see if Glory's power would develop. The two teens are brought together by political intrigue after an incident of witchcraft-based terrorism and a race to stop anti-witch zealots within the government. A well-done, fast-paced read that will appeal to both paranormal fans and thrill-seeking readers.—Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA