Review: The Watchtower

The Watchtower by Lee Carroll is the second novel in the trilogy by author Carol Goodman and her poet husband Lee Slonimsky. It makes for interesting reading as it's not your typical urban fantasy book but it combines great writing with creative poetry!

The first book in the series, Black Swan Rising was about jewellery design Garet James and her journey to discovering about her life and heritage on her mothers side. We are introduced to a love interest by the name of Will Hughes who is a four hundred year old vampire with a history attached to Garet's ancestors. We follow the story from Garet's perspective as she uncovers the truth about who she is while she is trapped into an never ending fight with multiple forces of evil coming from every angle. I suggest reading this book before you move on to the second.

The Watchtower continues from the first book where the dashing Will Hughes steal's Garet's magical antique box and runs off to Paris, leaving Garet a tip on where to start to find him.
Will is on the quest to reach the Summer Country where in an attempt to reverse the vampire curse and become mortal so that he can be with Garet.

There are new characters introduced and old ones who have come back with a vengeance, obviously not giving up on their goal to control the world.Throughout the book, we learn more about Garet's past and are now introduced to Will's past and how he became a vampire. Garet learns that her ancestors are more powerful than she imagined, they are in fact guardians of the line between the earth and the mythical world.

 

The entire novel alternates chapters between the past featuring Will's story and the present where Garet is speaking. It does get a bit confusing at times, but once you get into a few lines of each chapter, you can figure out which story you are following.
There's alot more poetry, action, drama and interesting turn of events which the first book was lacking. I was very pleased with this book and can't wait for the third.

My only disappointment is that Will as one of the main characters isnt as strong or smart as I initially imagined him to be... he seems to live off his good looks more than anything.
The author duo have done a superb job for a team effort.

Rating: 4.5/5

Release Date: August 2011

Publisher: Bantam

Author: Lee Carroll