BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, the second book of a planned four-volume
series, is a southern gothic fantasy unlike anything you've ever
read. It focuses on magic and casters (without wands) and is set in
Gatlin, South Carolina, a town populated by fundamentalists and
civil war fanatics. Gatlin's peculiar appeal lies partly in its
strong foundations and history, and partly in all the hateable and
likable folks who live there. These people can be fierce and nosy
and are obsessive about traditions, but most are good at heart and
aspire to do simple things like cook a good meal or win the blue
ribbon at the county fair. There are few outsiders in Gatlin and
very few who know the truth about the oldest families in town.

Marion, Gatlin's kind, quirky librarian and magical keeper, is
secretly in the know about the caster world. Lila, Ethan's late
mother, had been another. Ethan's surrogate mother, Amma, is as
aware as any about the magical plane that exists --- a descendant
of one of the oldest voodoo clans in the South. And of course there
are the casters, people like Macon Ravenwood and Lena Duchenne.
Since meeting Lena, Ethan and Link are now closely involved with
casters, but Lena, having forestalled her choice for a year, has an
exclusive destiny written in the stars. As an elemental, her
abilities are unpredictable and reach beyond the normal boundaries
of magic.

Since the night of Lena's 16th birthday, her powers are growing,
but she's having difficulty controlling her grief. With Macon lost
and the outcome of her claiming ahead, it seems too much for her.
Ethan is a supportive and tender boyfriend but is finding that he
can't reach her anymore, despite the fact that he has experienced a
similar grief. He is also becoming disturbed to see changes in
Lena, and when he finally realizes their relationship is in
trouble, Lena shocks him by revealing that she's leaving
Gatlin.

Readers may be surprised by the unexpected changes that occur in
BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, where the central couple walk separate paths
for most of the book. With Lena fundamentally changed, she enters a
series of magical tunnels as Ethan tries to reach her, and amid
dark casters (her cousin Ridley among them) searches for a magical
nexus. Ethan, meanwhile, tries to uncover the truth about his
mother and her murder, and to determine the path he must take
alone. This is a troubled and unsettling time for both as they
ponder their strange connection and question whether a caster/human
relationship is even worthwhile, let alone physically possible. The
greater conflict of this second book seems to be not so much in the
outcome of Lena's claiming as it is in the choice of who she is and
who she'll pick.

There are some inventive ideas in this series that are unlike
any popular fantasies out there. The question of good versus evil
is not as cut-and-dried as in most YA books, and the casters have
some really creative abilities and different sects to keep the
novel interesting. Some great new characters who are major
contenders in the love stories are introduced, and most of the best
people from the first installment are still present and equally
important. Link and Ridley are absolutely delightful in this second
book (even more so than in the first), and their antics and
dialogue add humor and a little wicked pleasure. As always, Link is
a wonderful friend, and I was pleased to see the suggestion of an
even bigger role for him in the next installment.

Though some fans are likely to be disappointed in the rocky
central love story, I would expect to see more sparks fly in the
final two volumes (to be released in the fall of 2011 and
2012).

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