Book 1 of The Summoning: Abbatoir

After losing her fiancé, Mariah tries to distract herself by going to a Samhain celebration hosted by one of her classmates. There, she is unwittingly able to contact John, her dead fiancé, and is told to watch herself because there is evil afoot. Completely unnerved by this incident, she decides to sit out the rest of the divination going on around her and speculates what John may have meant. When she rejoins the festivities, the other women are burning their hearts’ failures/pains and are letting go to continue the year free. They are also burning their hearts’ wishes for the rest of the year. When Mariah speaks her wish that all those deserving find justice, a spell has been cast. An evil is unleashed and follows her home. That night she wakes from horrific dreams of Jack the Ripper butchering his victims.

The evil spirit possess Mariah’s downstairs tenant and strives for immortality. In his quest, he believes that he must absorb the essence of the witches that were there when he was released and he begins to kill them.

Not only is Mariah dealing with the grief of losing her fiancé, and the deaths of two of her friends, but she also is searching for someone to lean on and to love her. She isn’t aware of this, but she’s found him anyway. Mikhail Borokov has known that she is his soul mate since the fateful day three years ago when he met her. Mike has been in the US for 20 years, but the years before that he spent in service to the USSR. During those years, he saw more than he ever wanted to and now believes in things others believe don’t even exist. When he finds out about the menacing force that is stalking Mariah, he helps in his own way. Will his way keep them from ever being able to be together? Can Mariah accept him for what he is? Can she accept that there are more things in heaven and hell?

This was a great story that touched on a number of fascinating issues. Not only does this deal with Wiccan beliefs, but also the rituals and constraints of the American military. Mariah is a pleasingly strong character who isn’t afraid to give of herself. Mike is a satisfyingly eerie man who you are never quite sure of. This makes for a lot of fun exchanges and peeks into the psyches of the two of them. I give this book 5 Angels. It was a very enjoyable read with fascinating topics. Thanks Ms. Walder.

Reviewed by: Serena