Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong (2004, Paperback)

This is the classic tale of people who don't want to change and are afraid to stand up to others and reach their potential. Paige who is raising a young witch, Savannah, due to the death of the child's mother is trying to change the beliefs of The Coven and to bring them into the 21st century. Of course they throw her out of THe Coven and she sets off to start one of her own. In the process of the start of this she is bombbarded with a law suit for custody of Savannah. Savannah's father - whom no one knew existed - wants to take custody of her and raise her in his "empire" - The Cabal. Ths Cabal is similar to and industrial age Mafia to hear Paige tell it. So she sets off to avoid anything to do with it. Murder attempts,false accusations, kidnapping, and more pursue.

Kelley Armstrong has a wonderful satiric voice. I meant to bring the book in to quote one paragraph that sums her voice up, but left it at home.

This was my first book by Ms. Armstrong. A friend told me I had to read this one. She was right. Well-written in a strong, stand-alone voice, _Dime Store Magic_ will go on my keeper shelf once I buy my own copy. I will also order her backlist and am heading to the store today to look for _Industrial Magic_.

The relationship between 20-30 something Paige Winterbourne and her 13 going on 40 year old ward is almost too real. I found myself sympathetic to both sides. Armstrong masters the teenage angst and doesn't make it laughable at all.

If I had to quibble then I would say her mocking Wiccans with one broad brush is a bit much. I am Wiccan though and I found most of the comments really funny. Although, most Wiccans wouldn't do the hysterical ritual in the backyard. But it's fiction! And if I can't laugh at myself, who can I laugh at, right?

The concept is fresh. The relationships are built slowly and tightly. The plot is character-driven. The characters make mistakes and grow from them.

I can't say enough good things about this book!

I read this book a couple years ago and then lost it in a lend. So I bought it again for a reread. Its a very interesting tale of modern witches and warlocks with demons thrown in. A young witch who is trying to be raised by her aunt and is coming into her powers. The pair are not content with just being potion makers and chanters, they want power spells which is against the coven's rules. Bodies start dropping, evil industrialite warlock family appears to capture the young witch. Local police get involved due to the deaths and legal trouble brew. A mysterious, motorcyle riding lawyer appears and trys to help but he is repeatedly spurned.
Not all witches have to be evil, nor all warlocks. But watch out when your the "white" sheep of the family!
The book is an easy read and yet draws your attention to where you don't want to put it down. I recommend it for subject readers and young readers interested in following a series of stories.

BACK OF BOOKS SAYS:

PAIGE WINTERBOURNE was always either too young or too rebellious to succeed her mother as leader of one of the world's most powerful elite organiations the american coven of witches. now that she is 23 and her mother is dead, the elders can no longer deny her. but even paige's wildest antics cant' hold a candle to those of her charge an orphan who is all to willing to use her budding powers for evil and evil all to willing to claim her. for this girl is being pursued by a dark faction of the supernatural underwold . they are a viscious group who will do anything to woo the you malleable and extremely powerful neophyte including commit murder and frame page for the crime.

it's a child custody case gone wild, to the point of murder.

i felt bad for paige because she was too naive in the beginning.

she starts off with a sleezy human lawyer.

then she ends up with a newby powerful lawyer.

then the coven turns there back on her.

then the town tries to take her house.

and a lot of other sneaky cruel things happen, and some betrayals too.