Title: Black Magic: The Haunted Women – 3

Author: Joseph Stone

Genre: Dark Fantasy

 

Daedrian is a phantom who has haunted Fran Tarantino’s bloodline for more than a century. Daedrian has forced his way into Fran and many of her foremothers’ lives and seduced them, often against their will. Fran and her cousin Mary Jane are cognizant of Daedrian’s ability to take over other men to satisfy his carnal desires. Fran and Mary Jane believe they need to dig into Daedrian’s past to find a way to erase the malevolent spirit from their lives; the key lies back in 18th-century Scotland with a midwife named Máirin. Meanwhile, a recent violent act committed by Daedrian continues to have repercussions for Fran’s cousin Richie, whose emotional distance from his parents continues to grow as he deals with issues of sexual identity.

Black Magic is the epic conclusion to the Haunted Women trilogy, wherein Fran Tarantino and Mary Jane attempt to evict the powerful but dangerous phantasm from their lives. The absorbing supernatural tale picks up where its predecessor, A Blood Witch, left off, with a quiet resilience building inside the young women as their need to decipher the past grows with each day. The drama of the narrative doesn’t stay confined to the Fran-Mary Jane-Daedrian story, as there are the compelling flashbacks dealing with Máirin and the Lord Galloway, as well as the ongoing cold war between cousin Richie and his parents. Author Joseph Stone injects his concluding narrative with equal elements of tragedy, reconciliation, and resolution.

The relationship between Fran and Mary Jane is that of cousins, but their dynamic more closely resembles sisters, as artfully expressed by the author. The interplay between Fran and Mary Jane is spirited, even when cloaked in hushed whispers or covert communication as the pair conspire against Daedrian. The frustration experienced by Mary Jane at Fran’s often bold actions, whether it be engaging in blood visions or enlisting Daedrian’s help, is tangible while also serving to drive the tense plot forward. In Black Magic, Fran and Mary Jane continue to grow as characters while seeking to reclaim their bloodlines. Their bond serves as a plot point of empowerment.

Family ties are an unmistakable element of the story as superbly highlighted by Joseph Stone throughout the Haunted Women series. As witnessed in the events of Black Magic, the women, whether they be Máirin, Violet, Aurora Ciccone, or Fran, are willing to make grave sacrifices to protect those closest to them, and this heightens the emotional impact of the narrative. As Fran and Mary Jane learn more from family history, they come to understand and have some compassion for who Daedrian is. A similar understanding is what is sorely missing from Richie’s life, as both parents refuse to accept who he truly is, and that lack of understanding serves to drive a further wedge between a near-broken family. The conflict between Richie and his parents is portrayed with stark realism and poignancy throughout the series.

Black Magic delves into family history and how murderous actions committed by Fran’s ancestors led to the presence of Daedrian and a karmic debt that has been borne by generations of women. While the story contains shifting perspectives and timelines that are intriguing, the storyline involving Fran’s cousin Richie and his identity, while powerful are given short shrift.

Black Magic is a superlative and satisfying finale to a fascinating trilogy about a generational curse involving an enigmatic but menacing Lothario and the women who are forced to confront him. Joseph Stone has written a laudable and entertaining novel from start to finish.

 

 

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