Heavy World-Building, Light Engagement
Book Four of Stephen Atchison’s The Witches of Scotland series slows down considerably compared to its predecessors. This installment leans heavily into world-building, which, while important for expanding the scope of the story, made for a much slower and at times frustrating read. Out of all the books so far, this one was the hardest to stay engaged with.
The constant perspective and timeline shifts pulled me out of the story. Instead of deepening the narrative, moving between Jessica, Alicia, Aunt Gen, and David often made the pacing feel disjointed. The constant scene changes; from Edinburgh to Jessica’s home, to the library, to the World Economic Forum; added to the confusion. If the story had kept the characters in the same timeline and given us alternating perspectives on the same events both parties were apart of, it would have been much easier to follow and more immersive in terms of flow.
Jessica continues to be a sticking point for me. After her frustrating arc in Book Three, her storyline here didn’t add to her likability. The mystery of what’s happening inside her head is introduced but not resolved, which left me feeling even more disconnected from her as a character. Then the mystery found at her home that she is transported to is just another confusing addition. The lack of clarity in her arc made her feel more like a plot device than a protagonist.
The book only began to pick up when in the David sections finally faced off in his challenges. Those chapters had the tension, focus, and excitement I had been waiting for throughout the entire novel. Unfortunately, it was sporadic and came too late to elevate the overall experience.
While Book Four builds out the world and sets the stage for bigger battles and gives insight on what is to come, its scattered perspectives and slow pacing made it my least favorite read of the series so far. I’m still invested enough to continue, but I hope the next installment brings sharper focus, more consistent pacing, and finally, some long-overdue answers for Jessica’s character to make her likeable again. 2.5/3 for me.