Demon Witch: Book II: The Ravenscliff Series (Hardcover)

by Geoffrey Huntington (Author) "FOR SEVERAL SECONDS the wind howling through the trees sounds like the tortured scream of a woman, overwhelming everything else..." (more)
Key Phrases: new caretaker, great sorcerer, Isobel the Apostate, Devon March, Edward Muir (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Seriously scary...Best described as Buffy meets teenage Goosebumps...Not for the squeamish!" (Sunday Times (London) )

Product Description

Devon March matches wits and wizardry against a five-hundred-year-old evil in Demon Witch, the spine-tingling sequel to Sorcerers of the Nightwing

Long before the days of Madman Jackson Muir, a witch named Isobel the Apostate made war upon her fellow sorcerers, the noble order of the Nightwing. Backed by an army of bloodthirsty demons, she became the most feared woman in all of Europe, even challenging King Henry VIII for the throne of England. Burned at the stake for her crimes, Isobel vowed to return and conquer the world.

She kept her word. And now that she is back, the only person who can prevent hell on earth is fourteen-year-old Devon March.

In Demon Witch, the second thrilling installment of the Ravenscliff Series, Devon must summon all of his strength and courage to fight the evil Isobel and her demon horde, who aim to open the Hellhole beneath Ravenscliff and free the beasts within. As Devon's Nightwing powers grow and he discovers more of the secrets of his past, life at Ravenscliff takes another unu-sual turn when a long-lost member of the family returns -- with a beautiful and charming surprise. This new arrival will put Devon's blossoming relationship with Cecily to the test, and challenge his friendships with D.J., Alexander, and even his mentor, Rolfe -- all of whom he will need to thwart the diabolical plans of Isobel.

In a battle that takes him from modern-day Ravenscliff to Tudor England and back again, Devon March must unleash the Nightwing power within him and call upon friendships in the strangest of places to stand against an evil that has waited five centuries for revenge. For at Ravenscliff, friends come in all sizes and shapes -- and enemies are everywhere.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006001427X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060014278
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #514,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's back, October 9, 2003

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Geoffrey Huntington's second Ravenscliff book lives up to the promise of the first. It's a dark fantasy triumph with a new and nastier villain, plenty of ugly demons, and ambiguous characters galore. Though a few plot twists are broadcast way in advance, it's a solid sequel that doesn't slip into the same sort of plot as the first book.

At Ravenscliff, Devon March meets the new caretaker -- a gnome. Devon is shocked when the supposedly friendly Bjorn Forkbeard directs him to the Stairway Through Time, which takes him to what seems to be a Hellhole. To make things worse, Edward Muir (Alexander's father) shows up with his new fiancee, Morgana, who seems to have a certain druglike effect on the men around her. Cecily and her mother loathe Morgana instantly, which puts Devon's new relationship to the test.

That's the last thing Devon needs, because he has been hearing strange laughter and weeping, and demons are creeping through Ravenscliff. Isobel the Apostate, a powerful witch burned five hundred years ago by the Nightwing sorcerers, has returned to open the Hellhole. To make things worse, Devon has a hideous vision of demons overrunning Ravenscliff and killing his friends -- and is told that he will cause that to happen. To save the present from Isobel, he will travel through time and space to medieval England-- and learns a hideous truth about his own past.

The Ravenscliff series is darker, grittier and more twisted than the Harry Potter series and similar fantasy tales. It's New England gothic without being over-the-top, complete with haunted houses, graveyards, weird caretakers and undead sorcery. Somehow, Huntington manages to avoid being bogged down in cliche -- although his cliffhanger will leave readers howling.

His handling of the Nightwing sorcerers in old England is very well-done, once he gets past the initial awkwardness of time travel. The main stumbling block is Morgana's identity, which I figured out in a few pages. However, the handling of succubus/witch Isobel is phenomenal; she's genuinely scary from the first chapter onward. And the lingering question of who the weeping women in the basement is, and what connection she has with Bjorn and Devon, is a fantastic subplot. (Although having the old lady die just before revealing Devon's secret made me groan)

Huntington keeps up the good work with Devon's character development, especially since nobody tells him anything. His growing dread and confusion are excellently done. Bjorn Forkbeard is a nice addition, especially since it's genuinely hard to tell what he's thinking. Edward Muir is a blueprint for an irresponsible rotter; the other supporting characters are generally solid.

Though there are a few flaws at Ravenscliff, the sequel to "Sorcerers of the Nightwing" is a fine piece of dark fantasy that won't disappoint. "Demon Witch" definitely casts a spell.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, December 20, 2007

By	Denver A. Sizemore "Andy Sizemore" (Navy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Demon Witch (The Ravenscliff Series, Book 2) (Paperback)

This is a must read, if you like Harry Potter. A little more on the dark side and can get a little scary for small children. But a very good book for a teenager.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Sequel!, May 24, 2004

A Kid's Review

Demon Witch is better and scarier than the first book! A lot more mystery, a lot more adventure, and a lot more exciting! Demon Witch should not be missed by anyone!