Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
A winter storm blows through Salem, Massachusetts, setting young witch Alexander MacBeth on a perilous path to adulthood as his dying mother gifts him an heirloom and pleads for him to use it to survive.
To do so, he will need to perfect his inherited witchcraft to protect himself from those who want him dead. In his journey to adulthood, he falls in love with dashing nobleman Crispin Nottingham. Abandoned by Crispin and pursued by the Puritans, he finds he must harness the wind to assist his escape and flee his homeland aboard a pirate ship led by the handsome captain, Henri the Twisted.
Struggling against distrustful pirates, an evil witch, and his continued longing for Crispin, Alexander sharpens his magical skills and falls into a romance with Henri. Chaos and danger confront him at every turn, even as he searches for love and belonging. A new sail on the horizon may signal hope or more danger than ever before—if Alexander can survive to meet his future.
The Review
In 1692, a young Alexander MacBeth lived on a farm in Salem with his Mother and Father. He took to hiding in the loft with a small doll his Mother made for him long ago, and hid the doll from his Father.
Alexander had watched as the sheriff, ministers and Puritans killed his parents. His mother was betrayed as a witch by her brother Bartholomew. Alexander was removed from the farm and made to live with Bartholomew at the run-down mill. There he was abused and treated as a slave and his family’s old farm deteriorated with time.
Lord Crispin Nottingham, under orders from the Governor, came to look out for the ward of the state, Alexander. His Uncle refused legal custody, being afraid of witchcraft. Lord Crispin offered to invest in the mill, and promised to come by regularly to check in on Alexander. As Crispin came to see Alex often, his feelings became apparent.
He still has memories of his Mother, and the lessons she taught him, including to just “survive” and never let anyone know of his powers. She told him that he had powers in his blood from his grandparents, powers to be used for good.
Whenever Alexander can get away into the forest, he practices his powers, hoping to become a full-fledged witch. And there were times when Alexander would take the horse and a bit of money and go to Boston to see Crispin. He loved the freedom from the abuse and the mill. But he needed to be careful and not get caught, as it was considered stealing, even though the horse was from his farm. Alexander heard stories of pirates that controlled the Caribbean, stole from merchant ships, and were unafraid of the His Majesty’s Navy, and he grew curious.
Then one day Lord Crispin came and told Alex the truth about his visits, the investment, the failing mill and his witchcraft. What hurt the most was Crispin’s denial of their relationship. When Alexander went to Boston again to see him, he came face to face with the evil Portia Nottingham, Crispin’s mother.
Even though the Royal Governor had set the rule that there were to be no more witch trials or accusations, Alexander found himself being plotted against. His Uncle and the same Puritans that killed his parents and Portia Nottingham were determined to see him dead.
In his early twenties, Alexander finds a way to escape those who conspired against him. He’s accepted by Captain Henri and the pirate crew of the All Hallows Eve. He sails the seas from Massachusetts to Florida, the Caribbean, Windward Passage, Bahamas and the Tortuga Isles. His home is now the sea and his family is the pirates, but not all are friendly.
He is able to use his powers and his mother’s crystal, and it’s kept secret by Capt. Henri and first mate Spittal. Then one day, while trading in port, a story reaches him about someone seeking out a particular ship, and certain persons. Will it finally force Alexander to make a decision about love, and heartbreak?
Serbu takes readers on a high seas adventure with Witch in the Wind, filled with action, witch craft, black magic, danger, hatred, times of celebration and two views of romance. Alexander experienced love for two men who were very different.
I highly recommend this book – I was immersed in it from the very start. I didn’t read the original story, The Pirate Witch, published in 2014, but Witch in the Wind is a more extensive version of it. I have read Serbu’s series “The Realm of the Vampire Council” which I enjpyed, and thought Witch in the Wind was a very good change. I hope Serbu has more exciting novels to come!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
