Review: The Power Of Dark

Published: June 2016

Pages: 288

Synopsis: “An enthralling mix of magic and horror – first of a new series from fantasy legend Robin Jarvis. Something is brewing in the town of Whitby. To best friends Lil and Verne, it just seems like a particularly bad storm. But Cherry Cerise, the last of the Whitby witches, fears that ancient forces are at work, reviving the curse of a long lost magical artifact. The legend goes that the Nimius was created by magician Melchior Pyke, with the assistance of a young witch known as Scaur Annie. But they were both betrayed by Pyke’s villainous manservant, Mister Dark, causing a feud that has survived even beyond death. As Mister Dark, with his horrific winged familiar, arises to mastermind Whitby’s very own apocalypse and take the Nimius for his own evil purposes, can Lil and Verne join with Cherry to quell his plans and save their home?”

Rating: ****

As a child, I loved Robin Jarvis’s The Whitby Witches trilogy, all the more because my Dad is from Whitby and Jarvis’s writing perfectly evoked the spookiness of the town. When I discovered there was to be a new series set in Whitby, I pre-ordered without question and was so glad that I did.

The illustrations throughout the book – also by Robin Jarvis – were fantastic additions and enhanced the plot. Especially the drawings of the fisherfolk, some of whom I believe also featured in the original Whitby Witches trilogy.

Nice additions such as the lucky ducks and Botham’s the bakers, which only resident of visitors to Whitby would recognise. These definitely gave the story so much authenticity, which as a reader who is familiar with the setting of a book, you really do appreciate.

My favourite character was Lil, as I enjoyed the idea of her rebelling against her parents and against Whitby as this is a very real situation for a young person living in such a small town to go through. I was also intrigued by the Frankenstein-like Mister Dark.

The use of text messages between Verne and Lil was an effective way of providing setting and bringing the novel into the present and mixed well with the scenes set in the past.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the last third of The Power of Dark, as I found the unravelling plot convoluted and difficult to follow. But this didn’t detract too much from the overall novel and I particularly liked the subtleties and ‘Whitbyisms’ dotted throughout.