Customer Reviews

Traitor to the Crown: A Spell for the Revolution

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My only quibble about this book is that it's the middle book in a trilogy. In truth, it reads like the middle of one book, not a trilogy; I think that after I get the third book I will read them all together.

I'm hoping Finlay will write more set in this world; I really like the historical details and clever ways that he manages to insert actual known historical figures.

A Spell for the Revolution picks up where The Patriot Witch left off, and while I felt that the beginning was a bit slow (mostly the rehash of what happened before) the introduction of a new villain and his henchman kept me reading all afternoon and into the evening until I (unhappily) finished.

I'm not going to spoil the plot for anyone, but if you like historical fantasy and are interested in the American Revolution, this is definitely a keeper!

C. C. Finlay is back with the second installment to his TRAITOR TO THE CROWN series and continuing with his inventive and clever twists on the American history we thought we knew. There's something in here for everyone; a little romance, detailed and accurate history with real historical figures, and ghosts, living scarecrows and demons for the horror fans.

The characters are three dimensional with their own memorable quirks. Deborah is a likeable, strong-willed woman with enough mysteries about her past and her abilities to keep readers intrigued. The one exception is Proctor, who is a nice guy, but doesn't go much beyond that. I liked him well enough, but I kept wanting more "oomph" or something from him, since although he does try to make a difference, things seem to happen to him more by luck or chance than his own efforts.

The writing is solid, the tension is enough to keep readers eagerly turning pages and reaching for the next installment. From a writing perspective, it's impressive how Finlay managed to weave in the supernatural elements with actual historical events and it's worth reading for that alone. Even though this is part of a series, it stands well on its own, so if you've missed PATRIOT WITCH (why?) you'll still know what's going on.

I was lucky enough to borrow a copy of the firt book in this series, The Patriot Witch, and blew through it in a few days. I immediately ran out to get A Spell for the Revolution, and enjoyed it immensely! Just like the first book, I had a very hard time putting it down, and the blend of history and fantasy is really fun. I think the historical context and details are really what make the novels stand out to me; it's fun to recall bits of your American history (dusty though it may be) as you read.

A SPELL FOR THE REVOLUTION picks up in August 1776, a year after THE PATRIOT WITCH. The witch in question, Proctor Brown, is living with would-be girlfriend witch Deborah Walcott, who's running a revolutionary version of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, training colonial America's hated and feared in the use of their various talents that they may use them in service of God and the Colonials. Unfortunately, a powerful Covenant of evil European witches is out there, looking to enslave or kill any American witches who might oppose them.

This book opens with a bang, introducing a mysterious new villain and several new characters, but unfortunately quickly turns into a quest the pointlessness of which bogs the novel down for nearly half its length. Finlay is a moderately good writer, so even when not much is happening the pages keep turning easily, but it definitely feels like a good 30k words of journeying and bickering could have been cut from the middle of the book without losing anything important. The book picks up again in intensity and fun once it gets past the midway point, and it is fun to see Brown Forrest-Gumping his way through history. In the first book he fired the first shot at Lexington and then was a hero of Bunker Hill. Here he and his friends are more-or-less directly responsible for both the genesis of Paine's American Crisis and the creation of the Colonial Flag, and he's also on the same boat as Washington during the famous Christmas crossing of the Delaware -- which, as the novel's big set piece, is unfortunately a very difficult scene to swallow, as Brown is cavorting around with the flag right behind Washington and no one else on the crowded boat seems to notice anything out of the ordinary.

Finally, the big showdown with this book's Big Bad is rather anticlimactic, with Brown basically, as with nearly every confrontation he has in this book, bumbling through a fight with a much more powerful witch more on luck than cleverness. And the book ends on a definite Empire Strikes Back note, with some happy reunions but also one character's fate hanging in the balance -- a character, alas, with whom we never got to spend enough time to really care much about. One also wonders how long it will be before the characters realize what the readers have long known -- just how powerful Brown is.

Finlay is a pretty good writer and these adventures are above-average for paperback originals anymore, but this second book in the series is definitely a step in the wrong direction from the first. Even so, it was a quick fun easy read, and I'll likely stick with the series at least through the next installment, in hopes that it lives up to the promise of the best bits of the first couple books.

Finlay's novels are a creative new way to write about the American Revolution. I love the part the Quakers play in these stories.

But I have been disappointed in the books, due to the constant complaining, whining, depression, and negative feelings I have found in the characters. It all seems to be I can't, I can't, I can't and get out of my life.

Then, somehow, they do succeed. Several times, however, I was tempted to give up reading the books.

I have begun the third book in the series and it's the same thing all over again. Helpless whining.

In A Spell for the Revolution, CC Finlay skillfully blends revolutionary war history and magic to create a satisfying and enjoyable novel.

Sequel to The Patriot Witch, A Spell for the Revolution picks up the action again a year later. The main character, Proctor Brown, has continued to grow up, losing much of his naivete but gaining a deeper appreciation for and ability to read a person's character (as is evidenced by his growing relationship with Deborah, the Quaker witch met in the last novel). With the opening chapter Finlay jumps right into action. Proctor is in search of other witches to help in the revolution - and in the fight against The Covenant, a sinister group that seeks to prevent the rebels from succeeding. But when he encounters a strange scarecrow-like man named Bootzamon he discovers that The Covenant has been in search of witches, too. Specifically young witches, for an unclear but no doubt dastardly purpose. While searching for a young witch, desperate to reach him before the Covenant does, Proctor continues to be drawn into the Revolutionary War. An evil spell has been laid upon the soldiers, weighing them down with the ghosts of their fallen comrades, destroying their morale and sapping their strength. Proctor and Deborah must find a way to break the spell before the last of the army gives up hope.

Proctor has learned a lot about magic since the last novel, but Finlay wisely continues to show that the majority of his successes come through quick thinking and taking action. Finlay weaves together many subplots - the search for a young boy with magic who may be targeted by the Covenant, Proctor and Deborah's budding romance, magic lessons and the fate of the Farm - that dovetail nicely with the main plot. The Revolutionary War is, for the most part, a neglected period in fantasy literature, and I really enjoyed exploring it in the capable hands of a trained historian. The historical details never overwhelmed the plot or characters, but integrated seamlessly with the main action. My only complaint was that the motivation for Proctor and Deborah's actions, and travels to and from different towns, did become a bit muddled..

This was a fun and quick read - well-written, carefully researched, and enjoyable from start to finish. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

CC Finlay's 2nd installment in this series is not nearly as fun as his first installment. However, it is certainly more educational than the first entry. We are treated to page after page of military drudgery as our hero, Proctor Brown, and his headstrong pseudogirlfriend, Deborah (whatever her last name is), get embroiled in some of our country's most famous battles in the winter of 1776.
Historical figures galore populate the pages: Washington, Hamilton, Paine, Betsy Ross, and Nathan Hale are featured in more than just cameo roles.

Overall, Finlay does a fine job of setting the atmosphere. The book itself is sluggish, and I found it easy to put down at night. I did want to finish the book, and someday might pick up the final entry.

The Patriot Witch (the precursor to A Spell For the Revolution) had a great concept - a reimagining of the American revolution, but told through the eyes of a young patriot farmer with a talent for witchcraft. The way Finlay handles this concept works well. He uses it as a backdrop that gives cinematic scope to the more personal story of his characters, while limiting known historical figures to appropriate cameos. The other choice Finlay makes which works really well, is to have the characters interpret their witchcraft through Christian scripture. It adds a touch of originality, and integrates the magic into the setting with cultural authenticity.

Finlay has done a lot of research, but does not let this overwhelm his story. It is not necessary to be familiar with American history to read the books, although some familiarity with American geography is helpful, because there is not much guidance on this for the non-American reader.

While I enjoyed the first book, my feeling was that the story and characters were just a vehicle for the concept. Proctor was well drawn, but I found the other characters on the farm a bit sketchy, and I would get confused about who was who.

So I was pleased to find that the second book moved past selling the concept and developed a story and characters that I really engaged with. The farm characters were delineated more clearly, and the action started earlier. Focusing on the growing relationship between Proctor and Deborah drew me more intimately into the world, and I found Bootzamon to be a more interesting villain than the widow - one who ultimately gave the story a more rounded, mythic quality than The Patriot Witch.

A very enjoyable read, and I look forward to the third instalment!

C C Finlay's sequel to his first book "The Patriot Witch" plunges us back into a war between good and evil. Proctor Brown continues with his mission to smite the evil preventing American soldiers from winning the war. Battling undead creatures and seeking to defeat the source of evil, can he and his witch friends free the soldiers plagued by dead souls and help them win the war? Find out in "A Spell for the Revolution.

A Spell for the Revolution is the second novel in C.C. Finlay's "Traitor to the Crown" series. The author does a great job picking up the story of Proctor and Deborah, and bringing in some frightening new enemies. My only (minor) issue with the book is my own impatience; the story ends with rescuing that still needs to be done, and I'm left in anticipation of the third book. Can't wait to finish the trilogy!