Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Flame and Ash
SERIES: Witchbane #3
AUTHOR: Morgan Brice
PUBLISHER: Darkwind Press
LENGTH: 229 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2019
BLURB:
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse
Seth rescued Evan Malone from one of the witches, and they’ve fallen in love despite the danger and chaos, going on the road to complete the quest and bring an end to the ritual murders. Their relationship is new, their emotions are raw, and the danger is real. It’s a challenge to find their way as a couple while they’re on the road together in the close quarters of Seth’s RV, training in magic and combat skills to fight off a supernatural killer.
In pursuit of the next witch-disciple, Seth and Evan team up with older hunters Milo and Toby as their quest to stop a century-long killing spree takes them to a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They’re ahead of the sacrifice cycle, with plans to stop the murders and kill the dark witch. Only this time, the hunters become the hunted when the witch knows they’re coming to get him, and has deadly plans of his own. When their lives are on the line, will love be enough?
REVIEW:
In this novel, the hunters become the hunted. When Seth and Evan head to the Blue Ridge Mountains, they meet up with Seth’s surrogate fathers – Toby and Milo. They combine forces to save the next sacrifice in a warlock’s bid for vengeful immortality. Unfortunately, word has already reached the evil witch’s disciple, and he decides to be proactive.
Kyle Henshaw is the next victim on the list, and he’s not totally naive about his situation. His boyfriend’s father is a cop who is friends with Milo.
In this story of me watching you, watching me, watching everyone else – The scenario made for something different to the others in the series. One that I enjoyed.
Like the other novels, the story is told in the third person, present tense with named chapters from Seth and Evan’s viewpoints. Scene setting is exemplary, and I loved the paranormal encounters. I’ll admit that I’m getting somewhat hooked on them. As each story in the series can be read as a standalone, and I am reading these, one after the other, the backstory is getting repetitive. But that is my problem with reading/reviewing habits.
As mentioned earlier, the boys meet up with Toby and Milo – Seth’s parental figures. As such, the prospect of the encounter brings to the fore some niggling worries and self-doubts for Evan. Milo and Toby try the divide and conquer method of getting information out of Seth and Evan regarding the stability of their relationship. The men want the best for our heroes. Seth may be their chosen son, but they care for Evan, too.
As an older person in my 50’s, I empathize with Milo and Toby, and despite the fact that the two have had a tough life hunting, I kind of objected to the way the men were as good as described as needing Zimmer frames. I understand some aspects of the reasoning, and thankfully the older generation proved that experience has its place.
With Flame and Ash, Evan proves his worth. Old insecurities are used as a weapon against him, but he shows everyone that he is not to be trifled with. He has effectively earned his hunter stripes and can hold his own.
There are similarities between all the books – tunnels, use of ghosts, spells, sigils, salt, iron. If something works well in one book, it is used in the next. If I was reading this without having read the others first, I’d probably be giving it a higher score, but as it is the fourth in a row, it doesn’t have quite the same impact.
The story contains magic, drama, emotional anguish, wily experience, sex and men with a cause—a delightful read.
RATING: 
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