THE HIDING

A team of demon hunters races against the clock to stop a supernatural threat in Lyons’ fantasy novel.

In contemporary York, England, supernatural beings live in hiding, and the Queen’s Guard brutally upholds the secret of their existence, claiming to citizens that no such beings survived the purge of the past. As a child, Harper Ashbury was adopted into the De Santos family—a family that just happens to have a long line of demon hunters in its tree. Harper works as an archivist for the Council of Faiths, and her sister, Grace, is a vet. When a mysterious entity begins a spate of killings, Harper and Grace team up to investigate and stop it. Unknown to most, Harper is a witch; she does not have full control of her abilities, however. In her search for information, Harper accidentally summons a deceptive spirit, whom she dubs “Heresy,” and engages the creature to teach her how to use her powers more successfully. Lyons’ setting is wonderful, a perfect evocation of historical creepiness that allows readers to imagine supernatural beings crawling through the streets of York. The author entrancingly describes the various supernatural goings-on of the city, particularly the underground auction, which is equal parts mystical and terrifying. (“When midnight tolls, it will begin. The buyers will soon be gathered. Here you will find great wonders, if you wish to bid.”) The addition of Heresy is welcome, as the spirit adds a healthy dose of wry comic relief when needed. The story has a few problems, the first being a potential romantic subplot that’s swiftly abandoned, making its inclusion unnecessary. Secondly, Harper’s problem (being a witch who works for a religious-based organization and is forced to hide her abilities) is referenced to an irritating degree but not really explored—seeing her really struggle to reconcile the seemingly disparate parts of herself would add more emotional heft to the tale. Despite these issues, Lyons presents a story with exceptional bones.

An engaging and magical tale with a few weak spots.