The Reluctant Wiccan
Pamela Wendell
language
(, Nov. 9, 2017)
First Place winner of the prestigious 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award for Young Adult or New Adult...Fearing the dark and animals, a beautiful young woman faces her fears while finding romance and mystery in this coming-of-age novel set in current-day northern New Hampshire. A summer job at an Olympic and therapeutic riding academy finds our protagonist, Diana Knox, dealing with not only her life-long fears, but ultimately finding out she is living among a coven of witches. After her initial job interview at the academy, she encounters a strange "local" man warning her of things to come. This does not deter her as she feels she must confront her fears head-on if she is to finally conquer them. With a positive attitude, she jumps head first into her new job while getting to know the other employees and students at the academy. Soon, her relationship with the head trainer, Micca, becomes more than just friendly, much to the dismay of another trainer who feels Micca is hers, and jealousy prevails. Mysterious things keep happening around the stables, and although Micca's and Diana's romance blossoms, Diana soon realizes she has become part of a witch coven with mystical powers. Little does she know that she will end up becoming an important part of the coven as well, while developing her own mystical powers. Along the way, Diana works to conquer her fears of animals, and befriends two dogs, a crow and a beautiful black stallion, who all seem to have powers of their own and who seek to protect Diana.Ultimately, the academy falls on hard times due to a rival coven causing havoc at the stables, and reviving rituals at an old ceremonial site, making a local religious leader spearhead action to close down the academy and run the witches out of town. It is only when Diana faces what she has become, and fights her fears of the darkness and animals again, that she feels she can save not only the academy but her true love, Micca from the evil obstacles that lie before them.