Witch's Pawn

by Victoria Clapton

Though she is dead, life is good. Being the Vampire Queen of New Orleans is not without its perks. For Sybella Rose, her new life with her mate, King Demien, with whom she shares the connection of the Binding, is a vampire's version of happily-ever-after. She has adapted to the differences that come with being a preternatural creature and is making her way as vampire royalty. Yet, life and everything Sybella knows about herself is about to be uprooted. A new presence of faeries menaces the city, and it will take the combined efforts of vampires, witches, a little voodoo, one ghost, and a small white cat to solve the mystery and save the vampires from a detrimental curse that could lead to their demise. With the help of friends, old and new, Sybella must learn what it means to be a Witch's Pawn.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2022

About the author

Southern-born Victoria Clapton is no stranger to writing. She completed her first book of poetry at age eight and her first novel at age thirteen. Multilingual, friend to all creatures, (and in particular, especially a friend to cats in need of rescue), Victoria is a forever curious world traveler with a mysterious knowledge of things and places that encompass many lives ago, an avid collector of saga books, a practicing vegetarian and yogini with her feet well balanced in earth’s splendor. She and her cat companions enjoy all things Viking, faery, vampire, new writing instruments, herbology and anime.

Reviews

[G.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I was sure I had reviewed this book and the following one, but it seems I did not. Hmm...

Great debut of the series. Ms Clapton introduces us to New Orleans and the city's mysterious night life. I fell in love with the story and was happy to continue reading especially that I beta the books so I felt privileged to be able to read them before they were actually published, which sadly made me forget to write a review.

[Elizabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

If reading THE BINDING was comparable to walking through a beautiful old historical New Orleans home, (as previously mentioned in my review for book 1, THE BINDING), Victoria Clapton’s WITCH’S PAWN (second in series) is like throwing a Block Party for all the French Quarter dead…This monster mash-up includes the usual suspects, vampires, witches, and a mysterious voodoo practitioner from the initial installment book, but also added into this newer brew are faeries (of very poor disposition) who are determined to obsessively wreak the darkest of havoc! Holding you spellbound are the rich descriptives of previously unexplored places, New Orleans’ ever-present music, it’s own slant at southern art, the pungent smells and spicy tastes of Cajun foods, and especially those colorful one-of-a kind people and “other” beings that dwell in this unique world. Vampire Queen Sybella is in powerful form and it will take help from all walks of creatures and humans to end the threatening reign of imbalance that looms largely behind the silent wrought iron gates of New Orleans. Encore performances by ghostette Lysette, protective vampire-who-knows-twin-speak Oliver, and wee darling Marie all lead us through pages of hell and high water as Queen Sybella and her friends and enemies join together to fight for what they love most. Then, of course, there is the matter of a tiny black box, a gift she is afraid to open, a gift from Demien……..Just like THE BINDING, WITCH’S PAWN will have you gasping for more, as if you, yourself, were trapped forever in an airtight coffin, awaiting your own eternal fate. Read it, you will love it!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

WITCH’S PAWN continued the fabulous vampire love story with New Orleans that Victoria Clapton started in book one with The Binding. Be sure to check out the playlist at the front of the book for classic New Orleans style music! Demien and Sybella Rose have just completed the “binding” ceremony and are the newly anointed king and queen of the vamps. But there is tension in New Orleans as the fae have taken a special interest in the city… and that can’t be good. All of the great characters from book one are back—Aloysius, ghost bestie Lysette, along with new allies like Oliver and foes who may turn out to be not so bad after all. Demien and Sybella are separated for parts of this book, but when they are together, the heat in the spicy scenes is scorching! One amazing thing I love about this food is the way New Orleans is so richly described! I love the French Quarter descriptions, decorating for Halloween, NOLA style, and the food descriptions, from fried shrimp to melted brie and ham on French baguettes, YUM! We learn more about Sybella in this one and more about the fae, and there are definitely some twists and surprises that will leave me grabbing book 3 in a hurry! 5/5 stars.

[Books With Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing

This book was so good. This is the second book in the Binding Universe and I loved it. The only thing I can say I didn't like was Zyphilia that character got an attitude lol. Can't wait to read book 3 next.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the continuation of Sybella’s story…she’s an interesting vampire to say the least.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sybella Rose is settling into her position of Queen of New Orleans, even though Demien isn't around much so he has appointed her a vampire like advisor, along with her friends, a ghost and a cat. But now she is after information about herself that is hard to come by, is she fea? If she is that might help dealing with the fairies that are trying to destroy New Orleans. But her father is no help so with friends old and new the hunt is on.

A perfect sequel to The Binding as it picks up right when Sybella and Demien come back from their trip, and now need to settle into their new lives. The action is non stop and there is suspense galore, but the best is being back in New Orleans, the food, the stores, everything, it makes me homesick to go back but my New Orleans is a older city. The narration by Teresa Booth will keep you up way past your bedtime as it is so engaging. What ever platform you choose I think you will love this book and if you are like me you can't wait for more.

[Anne Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know what it means to miss New Orleans...then you will love the series The Binding!
Witch’s Pawn has fabulous characters, a spectacular setting and all the twists and turns of an intriguing Crescent City vampire drama!

[Kwekwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous romp thru New Orleans with Witches, Voodoo practitioners as well as Vampires aplenty. Let’s not forget the imagery of the French Quarter and it’s food sprinkled in to add some seasoning and it’s a fine read!