cover image Dark Witch

Dark Witch

Nora Roberts. Berkley, $17 trade paper (368p) ISBN 978-0-425-25985-6

Bestselling contemporary romance and women’s fiction author Roberts (the Inn Boonsboro trilogy) ventures into paranormal territory with the competent first segment of the Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy. Iona Sheehan has come to Ireland in search of her roots. From her distant cousin Branna O’Dwyer, Iona learns she has inherited the “magick” of the legendary Dark Witch Sorcha, who sacrificed herself to destroy the evil wizard Cabhan. Sorcha passed her powers on to her three children, and Iona, Branna, and Branna’s brother, Connor, are the latest group of three descendants to wield them. Unfortunately, Finbar Burke—Connor’s best friend and possibly Branna’s lover—has inherited the taint of Cabhan, though the evil has not yet affected him. Between magick lessons, Iona falls in love with handsome Boyle McGrath, “cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horseman... three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all rolled into one big, bold package.” Her happiness is threatened by frightening visions of a wolf and other hints of Cabhan’s encroaching evil. The magick is never quite convincing, but Roberts’s focus on romance will satisfy her core audience. (Nov.)