{Book Review} WITCH FIRE by Laura Powell

Witch Fire
by Laura Powell
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Lucas and Glory are hard at work in WICA (Witchkind Intelligence and Covert Affairs). As part of their training, they learn more about the witch-terrorist organization Endor. It is believed that Endor has infiltrated a boarding school for young witches in Switzerland, so WICA sends their two youngest agents—Lucas and Glory—to the school undercover. There, they learn more about an experimental brain implant that blocks the power of the fae. It’s a dangerous procedure . . . more so than they could ever have imagined

What if the witches of the 1600s persecutions were real and they had proliferated and became part of our society? That is what this novel's premise is based on. And this proliferation isn't just in the United States near Salem, but all over the world. Although it is accepted that there are witches in the world, registration is demanded and required by government. Some protest against this bias and go rogue to fight back. Some in protest resort to minor but strong and well-formed criminal groups. When these criminal witches are caught and prosecuted, their punishment, at the worst, is to be burned alive. Although "numbed" from the pain, they are conscious and aware of their flesh burning. *shudders*

Glory and Lucas, both born witches, have joined WICA. Sent undercover to the school in Switzerland, Glory learns the truth about her mom's involvement in what they had said she did, and her disappearance after the accusations. Glory's only memories of her mom consist of an old photograph of her mother and a short note she left to her husband, Glory's father, Patrick, that said it is better if she is gone and that she is sorry. That was all Glory knew about her mom until the moment of discovery at this school for the well-to-do families with witch children. The kids are sent to this school to be hidden away from the public at large, really. Since Lucas's conversion, his father, one of the heads of the Inquisition Office, had to resign from his post and yet still is involved, although from a more subtle position/post. He's still powerful though. He's not a bad man though; he just strongly believes in the law and justice. Events lead these two to Cordova in South America and that's where everything comes to light. Mysteries answered, unknowns made known, and both the good and the bad revealed.

It was an enjoyable alternate history story to what happened in American culture before the USA was the USA we now know. It incorporates some of the ugliest events of our past as well as events into the present day and gives the reader a different and interesting take on the witch hunting. Well envisioned, I enjoy this tale and could see parallels and correlations to politics and prejudices of our society to here.