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Gr 8 Up—After the death of his father, Ryder is forced to take over the care of his troubled mother, Mabis; two younger sisters; and the farm. Though they live in the foothills of the "Witchlander" mountain territory and Mabis was raised as a witch, Ryder scoffs at their supposed magic and resents the tithe he is obliged to pay for protection against the Baen people. Years earlier, the witches drove the Baen out of their territory and the groups now live as acrimonious neighbors. Ryder watches his mother battle her own demons as she deals with an addiction to a hallucinogenic flower called "maiden's woe." While under its influence, she chances upon a frightening vision of monsters set to destroy the Witchlanders. Meanwhile, Baensman Falpian has been exiled for a winter season to mourn the death of his twin brother. With only his massive hound to keep him company, he begins to discover that he holds the coveted ability to sing magic—a powerful accomplishment sought by the Baen. Ryder and Falpian find themselves oddly drawn toward one another despite being pitted on opposing sides of a decades-old hatred. Singing together increases their latent powers, leading them to realize that they are extremely powerful spiritual twins. But will this be enough to save their people from monsters—and from one another? This ambitious tale is tautly spun. Coakley's world comes to life with exquisite detail and imagery; readers will feel the chill of the frost and smell the crackling bonfires. High fantasy lovers will gobble up Witchlanders.—Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJRyder doesn't believe witches can tell the future until his mother's final prophesy comes true. When he meets an enemy Baen, the two have to overcome their prejudices and combine their powers to survive. Secrets, magic, and action are the heart of this book. While the end clearly sets up a sequel, the story is rewarding enough in itself.
A vividly imagined psychological page-turner. Nuanced, thoughtful, and complex, Ryder finds himself at the center of a mystery that threatens everything he cares about. Lena Coakley’s gritty, realistic descriptions make the story eminently believable. For example, in a scene featuring Ryder’s mother, Coakley writes: “Mabis had left the table now and was kneeling over the great bowl, shaking it with both hands. She could do this half the night, Ryder knew: stir the bones, shake them, mumble at them, then pour them out onto the floor and pretend to read like some ancient witch doing a casting.” Ryder’s cynicism about the red witches and their magic is challenged as he witnesses inexplicable sights, exemplifying the interplay of doubt and belief that is woven throughout the novel.
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