Touch of Death

Sixteen-year-old Georgia “George” Colburn—who lives in the small witch-founded town of Windrop—hates her magical gift: she can experience a person’s death firsthand simply by touching them. She has always been careful to cover as much skin as possible, and even adopts a prickly attitude that she hopes will keep others from getting too close to her. When she accidentally touches new student Silas, she witnesses his bloody demise and is shocked to learn that she’s responsible. Panicked and searching for answers, she turns to classmates Felix and Trixie for their magical expertise. As the three investigate Silas’s background, George must also prepare to undergo a series of trials meant to help her gain control of her powers and ready her to step into her coven’s role as a death witch. Along the way, she learns more about her deathly gift and uncovers a secret about Windrop’s history that threatens the immortal soul of everyone who lives there. Via appropriately eerie prose that fits in well with its witchy contemporaries, debut author Munsell smartly balances horror beats with sardonic humor; steady pacing and a pervading sense of dread anchors the myriad interconnected story lines. Main characters read as white. Ages 13–up. (Sept.)