SPELLS OF SUMMER
From the Inheritance series, volume 8
by A.K. Faulkner
A search for lost memories pits lovers against an immensely powerful force in this eighth urban-fantasy installment.
Laurence Riley and Quentin d’Arcy make the most of their shared life in San Diego, where they live with and care for a mansion full of youngsters who, like the couple, are “gifted” with supernatural abilities. Quentin, for example, is telekinetic, and Laurence is a witch, although he’s not as skilled or formidable as his mentor, Rufus. As a trade-off for this mentorship, Laurence uses his gift to gaze into Rufus’ memories—specifically, his family’s fatal car accident from 10 years before. Rufus wants to find out who killed his parents, believing that it was more than a mere accidental collision. But as Laurence surprisingly discovers, no one who was at the scene on that particular day—including himself as a boy—remembers much about what happened. So he turns to Quentin’s telepathic twin, Frederick, who’s already at work making amends for startling transgressions, real or perceived, against his brother and Laurence. Frederick’s deep dive into someone else’s mind, however, only deepens the mystery, as he spots missing memories, or “blips,” during his exploration. Identifying the reason why those blips exist will ultimately put Laurence, Quentin, and their family members and friends in the company of warlocks and sorcerers, with some more intimidating than others. The heroes will use their gifts and whatever spells they can get their hands on to somehow restore the missing memories and maybe unmask a killer along the way.
This latest offering retains the somber tone and understated humor that Faulkner mastered in previous volumes in the series. Most characters have dark pasts that weigh heavily on them in the present day. This sequel explores familiar territory, with copious nods to earlier events throughout the series. Still, the mystery this time around is thoroughly engaging, and the cast is, as always, fascinating. Series staple Frederick is especially memorable as a sublimely complicated telepath who’s easy to like despite his unquestionable capacity to do some awful things. Laurence and Quentin, too, are shown to struggle with the effects of past traumas, including Laurence’s former heroin addiction and Quentin’s father’s abuse. In this novel, Quentin shows his own paternal side, as the gifted youth are akin to his and Laurence’s children, and he even runs into an intriguing potential addition to their household. As the story continues, the author steers readers through numerous plot turns, including the heroes getting an unexpected helping hand and one character facing sudden peril. The main mystery also gets a satisfying resolution. Moreover, Faulkner’s prose is as sharp and concise as ever, smoothly alternating between close third-person narrative perspectives, although Laurence most often takes the narrative reins. Notwithstanding all the backstory, this focused installment rarely strays from the main plot; this makes for a thrilling tale that culminates with not one, but three rousing scenes that set the stage for another series installment.A well-developed cast fuels the latest entry in a consistently absorbing paranormal series.