New Twists and Lingering Frustration
Book Six continues the wild ride of Steven Aitchison’s The Witches of Scotland series, but once again, much of my frustration circles back to Jessica. David shoulders the work and pain of the trials to get into the Academy, yet Jessica will reap the benefits without the same amount of work or sacrifice. Her continued tiny minuscule increments of growth make her an insufferable presence in an otherwise engaging series.
Even when she gets the incredible opportunity to be tested for the magic academy and witness David bond with a crystal, she undercuts the moment with fear, resistance, and disruptive behavior. Instead of surrendering to the waves of contentment, she resists, dramatizes, and turns it into another one of her hysterical scenes. For a character I want to like and admire in many ways, she continues to miss chances to show maturity and depth.
“But where do the ideas come from to make these innovations happen? Sometimes it seems like they happen been overnight…”
Jessica does finally show the smallest glimmer of growth by appreciating her father’s help, instead of throwing another tantrum about doing everything on her own. *insert eye roll* Still, her arc feels like one step forward, ten steps back.
On the broader stage, the story remains enthralling. Alicia’s motives remain unclear, and now we’re introduced to her sister, Anna, adding even more complexity to the tangled alliances. The mystery of magic, shifting loyalties, and hidden manipulations kept me turning the pages. But David felt underutilized in this book, and there wasn’t nearly enough Terence and David, their Bromance is always a fan favorite.
Overall, Book Six is messy but captivating. The twists are there, the world keeps growing, and the threads of mystery keep me hooked. But the character arc for Jessica, continues to weigh down an otherwise strong fantasy series.