Mayfair Witches Book 1 - Originally Published October, 1990
Random House
March 1993
Featuring: Michael Curry; Rowan Mayfair
1056 pages ISBN: 0345384466 Paperback (reprint) Add to Wish List
The first in the Mayfair Witches series, The Witching Hour
introduces the fictional Mayfair family of New Orleans,
generations of male and female witches. This tight-knit
and deeply connected family, where a death of one
strengthens the others with his/her knowledge. One Mayfair
witch per generation is also designated to receive the
powers of "the man," known as Lasher. Lasher gives the
witches gifts, excites them, and protects them. Unsure as
to exactly what this spirit is, the Mayfair clan knows him
variously as a protector, a god-like figure, a sexual
being, and the image of death. Lasher's current witch is
Deirdre, who lies catatonic from psycological shock
treatments.
Deirdre's daughter, Rowan, has been spirited away from
this "evil" and has happily become a neurosurgeon and has
an uncanny gift to see the intent behind the facade. Rowan
also has a gift few doctors possess--she can heal cells.
Yet, though she uses it to save lives, she also fears that
she hs caused several deaths. She rescues Michael from
drowning. Michael then develops some extraordinary powers
that compel him to seek New Orleans and to seek Rowan. He
finds both, and pulls the tale closer together by meeting
people connected to the Mayfair family who now fear Rowan
because she is the first Mayfair who can kill without
Lasher's help.
Michael dives into learning the history of the Mayfair
witches: Deborah, Charlotte, Mary Beth, Stella, Antha, and
many others across hundreds of years and three continents.
When Michael looks up from his reading, he learns that
Rowan has come to New Orleans to attend her mother's
funeral. Rowan learns of her family history, her ancestral
home in shambles, and Lasher waiting for the next one.
Rowan dedicates herself to stopping Lasher's reign.
Michael too has his own mission, but it is foggy and
unclear to him. But Lasher is seductively powerful and
Rowan's gifts offer him the opportunity to achieve his
ultimate goal.