#74 Jolene by Mercedes Lackey

[missingvolume]

 

This story is set in the Appalachian Mountains with a poor miner’s daughter being sent to her root witch aunt to live. Anna May has always been a sickly child with never enough to eat, her father finally allows the child to live with his wife’s sister, a witchy woman who has always sent them herbal medicines that they have sold for cash.  Anna May quickly becomes healthy and soon shows an aptitude to magic since she is no longer living on poisoned land. Anna May slowly starts to learn how to make potions and infuse them with magic.  As she becomes more comfortable living with her aunt other teachers of magic come to her including Jolene, a magical being that her aunt tells her to watch herself when she is with her.  As Anna grows in power a local evil magician finds out about her and wants her to use to increase his power. A good story and nice to see the Elemental Masters stories move back to America.

 

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss