12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Complex, intriguing plot; but no Wiccan info, despite title, June 30, 2003
How gratifying to find an author who is obviously quite familiar with the world of "Charmed"; the powers & personalities of the Halliwells (& their friends & lovers) are depicted perfectly. While this should be mandatory for any author entrusted with a "Charmed" novel, it is, sadly (& infuriatingly), the exception in recent novels (the worst example being "Shadow of the Sphinx"; see my review of that book). "Something Wiccan..." has two main failings: one (I'll get to the other later) is that there is a paucity of humor--either situationally or in the witty dialogue that makes the TV episodes sparkle. However, the plot is complex and multi-layered, and filled with surprises; the ending features not just one, but two, surprise twists, neither of which I saw coming.
The biggest disappointment of the book (and what I consider the 2nd major failing), is the lack of insight into Wicca as a religion, and the differences between Witchcraft and Wicca (no, they are not synonomous terms or practices). The plot centers around a Wiccan retreat, which Paige is eager to attend in order to learn more about Wicca, while Piper & Phoebe reluctantly accompany her in the hope of catching whoever is kidnapping members of covens. While the book presents a reasonably good picture of a typical Gathering, and the diverse types of people who practice Wicca, it fails to give any real information as to just what Wiccans actually believe, their religious beliefs, holidays, rituals, etc. This plot presented a golden opportunity to enlighten readers who are understandably confused about Wiccans vs Witches, and a skilled writer (which I think this author is) could have slipped at least some basic info in among the action without sounding preachy.
A more general complaint (not aimed at this book exclusively) is that ever since Paige became a Charmed One, every subsequent novel has focused on her as the main character, with the main plot centering around her & told primarily from her viewpoint. In the earliest novels, the sisters seemed to take turns at center stage (e.g., Phoebe gets sent to the past, to old Salem; Prue's photo assignments have unexpected--and magical--ramifications; Piper volunteers her time with troubled, homeless teens, little knowing that the shelter is run by a warlock who brainwashes the teens to do his bidding) but they still functioned as a team, each of equal importance (i.e., The Power of Three, not Paige and her back-up group the Charmettes). Another stereotype the writers seem to be clinging to is Grouchy Piper and her Reluctance to Accept Paige as either a sister or a responsible adult (despite the fact that Paige, at approximately the age Phoebe was when they became the Charmed Ones, is obviously more responsible & goal-oriented than Phoebe was at that age). Granted, Piper is perhaps too anxious and even obsessed in her new role as the eldest sister, but since Piper & Paige now seem to be close on the TV series, showing mutual affection and respect, it's time that the books also reflected their current relationship. But ever since Paige's arrival, the writers seem mostly interested in her, content to sketch the other sisters as shadowy two-dimensional background figures. Phoebe has been the one most relegated to the background (though to be fair, this DOES reflect the trend on the TV show); it's natural that her divorce & new job have made her more serious, but the books haven't yet caught up with the tragedies in her life (e.g., in this book, she's still happily with Cole). Yet it's as if her role as the carefree, optimistic, effervescent free spirit has been arbitrarily re-assigned to Paige, while Phoebe has become a workaholic in her newspaper job.
But despite these flaws, the book does do a good job of portraying the Charmed Ones' powers and methods, without any embarrassing errors (at least, none that I caught). The dialogue rings true. And the plot is sophisticated and absorbing, a magical who-dunit, and I defy you to not to be surprised at the surprise double twist ending. (On thinking it over, I think that the ending was actually a little improbable--and more than a little confusing--but when I first read it, it had the wonderful quality of being both a total surprise and yet seeming perfectly logical in retrospect. Maybe any confusion I feel in looking back over it will be cleared up on a more careful second reading--which I definitely look forward to.
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