Book Nook - Rook (William Ritter)

 I recently had a chance to review Rook by William Ritter. Original described to me as a paranormal history - "Doctor Who meets Wednesday Addams" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Sherlock Holmes," I was intrigued, and so was my daughter, who loves all things dark and fantastical.

We weren't disappointed. The setting was particularly interesting for my daughter, who loves a Victorian setting.

In 2014, William Ritter’s debut novel Jackaby garnered a place on the New York Times bestseller list, a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book pick, a Top Ten Kids' Indie Next List Pick, a Pacific Northwest Book Award, and a YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Title. Ritter concluded the Jackaby series with The Dire King in 2017. This picks up as a stand-alone novel with Jackaby's assistant, Abigail Rook, as the central character.

I never read the original Jackaby series, but it's still easy to enjoy this novel (and reading it made both my daughter and myself want to check out the original Jackaby series).

Book synopsis:

Abigail Rook never intended to be the mortal bridge between the human and supernatural worlds. But now the power of the Sight, and all the discord that comes with seeing the truth behind everything and everyone both mundane and magical, is hers and hers alone. With this overwhelming new gift, she should be able to settle disputes, solve crimes, and help the late-nineteenth-century city of New Fiddleham, New England, find calm in its supernatural chaos.

 

The only problem? She has no idea what she’s doing.

 

And New Fiddleham isn’t waiting for Abigail to be ready. Local witches and other magical beings are going missing, as tensions between human and supernatural residents curdle into a hatred that could tear the city apart. Abigail’s fiancé, Charlie, works alongside her to unravel the magical disappearances, but as a shapeshifter, he’s under threat as well. Then Abigail’s parents appear, ready to take her back to England and marry her off to someone she’s never met. As Abigail learns to master her gift, she must follow her Sight, her instincts, and any clues she can find to track a culprit who could destroy everything she holds dear.

The book is a satisfying blend of mystery and action, with just a little bit of humor and romance, so there's something in the book for just about anybody. It's a book that's hard to put down until the very end, and was a delight to read.

William Ritter is an Oregon educator and the New York Times bestselling author of the Jackaby series, which received glowing trade and national reviews and was named to many state lists. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark. Visit him online at rwillritter.wordpress.com and find him on Twitter: @Willothewords.