The gaslights of Victorian London give way to fairy lights.
It's here, in this enchanted, alternate reality England
that we are first introduced to Lady Philomena (or Phil)
Radcliff. Making her livelihood as a medium, Philomena
tries to bring comfort to the living by contacting the
spirits of their dearly departed.
Of course, things don't always go as planned when
conducting a séance. Sometimes, the dearly departed stir up
as much trouble dead as when they were alive. It's at one
of these disastrous séances that Phil makes the
acquaintance of Sir Nicodemus (Nico) Wulfson, Baronet of
Grimspell castle. Nico hires Phil to investigate the recent
haunting of Grimspell. Something has stirred up the
castle's ghostly inhabitants and Nico's brother has been
the target of their ire. Fearing for his brother's health
and sanity, Nico is desperate for a solution, even if it
means hiring a medium.
Lured by the handsome Nico and his equally handsome purse,
Phil and her servant leave London immediately and travel to
Grimspell. Once at the castle, Phil feels a calm and
acceptance she has rarely enjoyed in London. She soon comes
face-to-face with the first of the castle ghosts. As Phil
tries to solve the mystery of Grimspell, she hears gossip
that Nico may have murdered his fiancée while in his were-
form, which is a large wolf. Not one to listen to the idle
chattering of servants, Phil watches Nico and sees a man
who loves his family, is kind to the servants and villagers
who depend on him and welcomes her and her maid into his
small band with open arms. All she needs to do is put aside
her inhibitions and step into his welcoming embrace.
Kathryne Kennedy has created a world where magic is
as natural as drawing breath. And when your pumpkin turns
into a coach, thank your fairy godmother, Ms. Kennedy, for
the magical ride. This series is so enjoyable. Each book is
a stand-alone, but you won't want to miss a one. Kennedy
folds you into her world so effortlessly. All three of
these books are truly a magical experience.
Grimspell castle. With its dark, imposing stone walls, it
certainly looked haunted. As a ghost-hunter, Lady
Philomena was accustomed to restless spirits. But she
found the dark, imposing nature of the castle's owner far
more haunting than any specter. London Society might not
approve of shape-shifters such as Sir Nicodemus Wulfson,
but firmly-on-the-shelf Philomena rather enjoyed the young
baronet's sudden interest in sniffing around her skirts.
She'd even consider giving in to him altogether if not for
a murderer on the loose-a beast that might just be Nico
himself.