The Late-Night Witches, Auralee Wallace (Review by Melissa Frye)

“The Late Night Witches” by Auralee Wallace is a fantasy set in Prince Edward Island in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The main character, Cassie Beckett, is a mom that is juggling way more than any one human can – twins and an adolescent daughter, a husband that is focused on pursuing his dreams and a sister that keeps her on her toes. The last thing she probably ever needed was to crash into the world of the supernatural watching a vampire’s demise let alone realizing that she a witch who is part of a much bigger legacy. This realization forces her to not only to confront old family members, but also herself in many ways. This book was a perfect way to get in the groove of spooky season. While the plot was formulaic, the tone and style of humor was very reminiscent to me of the Buffy series which, for me, was a huge win. The way in which Wallace sprinkled in these elements did not come off to me as cheesy, but a way to keep me engaged ultimately knowing where the plot was going to go. There was also a ton to love about the characters. I really enjoyed Dorcas and Tommy the most for wildly different reasons. Dorcas carried much of the mystical background for the Beckett family and always kept me curious. Tommy on the other hand was just flat out amusing as he learned how to exist as a budding vampire. I may have even cackled out loud a few times. I did wish on some levels that there was a bit more that we got from Ben’s backstory however I do think going much deeper there would have thrown off the lighthearted dynamics of the book. If you are ready for a witchy family adventure with some vampires, a dash of humor and love, this book is for you.