Blackthorn Winter is the sequel to Liz Williams’ delightful Comet Weather (you can read my review here). Both novels feature the Fallow sisters who grew up in Somerset and possess abilities which involved them in ghosts, demons, alternate dimensions, time travel, and star-sprites among other strange aspects.
Serena, a well-known fashion designer in London, finds her latest collection of clothes shredded by a demon. Stella, a DJ, meets an angel who gives her hints on where she might find her missing ex-boyfriend, Ben. Luna, pregnant with her first child, experiences visions of when England was part of the Roman Empire. Bee, the stable sister who lives in the family home of Mooncote, saves the life of a young, green-skinned girl from freezing. The girl, Aln, presents several mysteries that Bee and her Elizabethan ghost boyfriend to solve.
And then there’s the Fallow sisters’ mother, Alys, who disappears for years at a time and knows more than she’s willing to tell about those scary alternate dimensions. If you’re looking for an unconventional fantasy novel that will keep you guessing until the end, I highly recommend Blackthorn Winter. And I love the cover by Ian Whates, too! GRADE: A
The latest issue of LOCUS reports Liz Williams has sold the third and forth books in the Comet Weather series to NewCon Press. Embertide and Salt on the Midnight Fire should be published in the next year or so.
I read and enjoyed a couple novels by Liz Williams a long time ago and then she seemed to drop out of site for awhile. These books got pretty good reviews in Locus so I’ll keep them in mind.
Steve, I’ve enjoyed all the Liz Williams’ novels I’ve read. You’re right: Williams seemed to have dropped out of sight for a few years. But, now she’s back with a couple more novels in the publishing pipeline!
Love the cover, even more than the first one. I’m familiar with Somerset, as we stayed on a farm in the area (it was midway between Bath and Bristol and Wells) three times in the ’70s. Just checked the shelf. I have SNAKE AGENT, first in her Detective Inspector Chen series (from 2005), but of course haven’t read it. This series sounds more interesting.
Jeff, just keep in mind that COMET WEATHER and BLACKTHORN WINTER (and the future two novels in this series) are “leisurely” in manner. I like to read this kind of book from time to time, but many readers might become impatient.
An imagination like hers is a wondrous thing.
Patti, you would enjoy the sisters in Liz Williams’s Comet Weather series. All of them are different and Williams really develops their individuality.