The Lights Go Out in Lychford

Cornell’s captivating fourth Witches of Lychford novella brings otherworldly chickens home to roost. Apprentice witch Autumn Blunstone has foolishly weakened Lychford’s magical borders, and other realities now threaten to subsume not only the sleepy English town but the entire human universe. Judith Mawson, resident wise woman, is elderly and falling prey to dementia. Rev. Lizzie Blackmore is still trying to get used to having second sight as well as Christian faith. When upright Lychford resident Maitland Picton begins promising to make wishes come true, Autumn and Lizzie suspect she’s hiding something. Once Maitland reveals herself to be an alien entity who’s using Judith as a conduit for her own nefarious plans to warp the universe, it’s up to Lizzie and Autumn—and Judith, when she can—to stop Maitland from erasing Lychford from the map forever. Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next. (Nov.)