Weather Witch

Gr 8 Up—Drama and intrigue abound, and this novel is built on an interesting concept, but, ultimately, Delany's steampunk fantasy misses the mark. Readers will likely be confused and frustrated by unexplained plot elements and terminology. In an alternate 1840s Philadelphia, Weather Witches control everything from the winds that power airships to the lights that illuminate homes. Yet magick is shunned by society. Seventeen-year-old Jordan Astraea's biggest worry used to be whether or not her beau, Rowen, would be a suitable match—but then she's accused of witchcraft. Despite professing her innocence, Jordan is stripped of her affluent rank and is imprisoned in a deplorable place where witches undergo torture to release their powers. The man who conducts much of the torment, Witch Maker Bran, has his own troubles: an illegitimate daughter to care for, an ominous prophecy uttered by a dying witch, and his own morality. Rowen travels to rescue his love, Jordan struggles to escape her predicament, and a rogue witch seeks vengeance. Several seemingly important ideas are inexplicably dropped soon after their introduction. The text feels weighted down by filler dialogue and overly lengthy descriptions of the setting. The numerous plots and subplots meander toward a predictable cliff-hanger, setting the stage for a sequel. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that average readers will have the patience to see this novel through to the end.—Alissa J. Bach, Oxford Public Library, MI