Something Wiccan by James Drummond is the second book in the Shadow Tales series. The last thing Natalie expected was to discover that magic actually exists and that it's far more dangerous than anything she could ever have imagined. She's looking for a hiding spot when she stumbles upon a spellbook that opens her world into a whole other reality of power and the impossible. But after she tries a few spells, things soon start to spiral out of control. She couldn't have predicted what she would unleash and how she would become the one responsible for stopping a terrible threat. Elsewhere, Toby receives an opportunity to join international hunters that have taken notice of his heroism after he saved his town during an attack by werewolves. His first mission sends him into the path of Natalie which will find the two of them working to put a stop to a danger that proves to be more than either could have predicted.

James Drummond revolves the story around the concept of power and the consequences of it which are seen through some who treat it like an addiction and others that unknowingly unleash dangers. Each of the teens' own coming of age journeys coincides in the guise of a metaphor of magic through power and consequence. Jack Steele is an example of a hardcore hunter that lives his life traveling the globe to kill vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. He has power over this side of the world by literally hunting it which contrasts with the character of Eirik who takes joy in the power in the darkest parts of it. The story has an undercurrent of sins which is seen through sinners being killed and is a layer of the consequence of power that the story presents. Something Wiccan is a coming of age journey about strength, power, discovery, and consequences that stem from this supernatural world.

Something Wiccan is a work of fiction in the fantasy, paranormal, and adventure sub-genres, and was penned by author James Drummond. Written as the second book in the Shadow Tales series, the work is intended for young adult audiences and upwards, and it contains some moderate fantasy violence suitable to the plot and context of the story. Our first protagonist is Natalie Sherwood, a young woman who uncovers a myriad of supernatural problems when she finds a magical book in the crawlspace. This causes her to come into contact with monster hunter Toby Hoffman, and soon the pair will face some seriously dangerous adversaries in a bid to save Toby’s new career and undo Natalie’s mistakes.

Author James Drummond has created a fast-paced and highly enjoyable work of fantasy fiction which will surely please the target YA reading audience on many levels. First off, there’s fantastic attention to detail in the development of the two central characters, whose unusual coming together sets them off on a feisty dynamic that is highly entertaining to read throughout the plot. Then, the plot itself is filled with plenty of surprises, and solid lore to this interesting world that never offers confusion. Add to this the brilliant atmospheric touches in the descriptive language, sharp dialogue, and lively action scenes, and what results is a brilliantly crafted second novel that raises the stakes for books to come. Overall, I would certainly recommend Something Wiccan for fantasy fans everywhere seeking a well written and truly thrilling adventure.