The Crowfield Demon

In The Crowfield Curse, William saved an angel. Now he must stop a demon that is bent on destroying Crowfield Abbey, even if it means turning to alchemy for help. Familiar characters return, including the fay, Shadlok, and their hob friend, Brother Walter. Magic and religion overlap in this absorbing, well-written (if derivative) historical fantasy, set in fourteenth-century Britain. Glos.

The best kind of thriller: Pat Walsh infuses the narrative with creeping dread and constantly ratchets the suspense, while also including a few truly shocking moments. Evocative descriptions provide a powerful sense of place, immersing readers in William’s world: “The lightest of breezes swayed through the branches high overhead, and sunlight dappled the forest floor with light and shadows. New green growth unfurled beneath the trees and here and there blackthorns were covered in clouds of white blossom. . . . Spring was creeping through the forest and summer would be close behind.” Walsh excels at defining her characters: “[Sir Robert’s] dark tunic was somber but even William could tell that the cloth was of the finest quality. There was a heavy silver buckle on his belt and he wore a gold ring on one finger. And he was clean, William noticed, from his carefully cut fingernails to his soft calfskin boots.” Rich symbolism adds depth to the story. For instance, the initial scenario of repairing a crack in the church’s edifice seamlessly leads into the larger plotline—a crack in the church’s spiritual foundations, which causes a grand battle between good and evil.