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Since the Occult gained power, Magic Users are feared and reviled. They’re hunted by the sinister organisation, and when captured are often used as tools to help capture other Users. Prue is a seer, a User who gets visions, which she has learnt always come to pass; whether she wishes them to or not. She and her brother, Everett are on the run – trying to evade the Occult. It’s a harder task than you may think; the Occult are everywhere – have spies everywhere. When they’re cornered by Noah (a User with telekinetic ability), on behalf of the Occult, it’s only Prue’s quick thinking that helps them escape. They flee to Lily, Prue’s best friend, who provides them with a semblance of sanctuary – until Noah turns up.
It’s a trope that is becoming increasingly popular. Magic being outlawed and those with powers being hunted by governments or people in power. In this urban fantasy, the trope has a fresh take. The lead characters weave between alleys, cars and smog filled city scapes as they flee their pursuers. The ever present shadowy figure of the Head of the Occult is nothing short of creepy; his looming evilness shadowing everything. That he’s never named, simply referred to as The Head, cements his aura of menace.
What I especially enjoyed about The Reign of the Occult is the way Hazel has managed to show that just because you’re supposed to be on one side of the fight, your allegiances are not necessarily guaranteed. There’s going to be people who are coerced to the other side, blackmailed in one way or another. There’s going to be those whose scruples aren’t particularly pure; they’ll offer their services to anyone who can offer them a decent amount of money. It’s refreshing, having these supposed allies being so morally grey.
The Reign of the Occult is a shuddering, thrilling, urban fantasy for Young Adults. Filled with hair raising chases through shadowy streets, frightening fights and mind-blowing magic, it’s sure to keep many a different genre loving reader happy.
S. A.
This book was reviewed as part of the Reedsy Discovery ARC program. You can read the original review here
You can buy Reign of the Occult here. You can also read it for free on Kindle Unlimited.