The Witchlings are back in the fourth volume of Claribel Ortega’s fun and magical series! Witchling Seven Salazar and friends Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux are continuing to fight the evil Ambert Lophiifor’s plan to take over the Twelve Towns. But when a malignant magic makes even their closest allies forget who they are, they must flee into the wilds of the Enchanted Grim, in search of a witch who might have answers to help them. What they learn there, however, sends them through the monstruo-filled Grim to places even more unknown, all while Seven still struggles to master her own mysterious monstruo powers.
Valley’s girlfriend has also broken up with her, but it seems like another girl could be developing a crush on her in this queer-normative world. (It’s relevant to the amount of queer inclusion in the book, but I don’t want to spoil anything; if you want to know, click and drag here: It’s Thorn.) Their evolving relationship is adorable and sweet. Seven, for her part, is still dating the boy whom she had a crush on in previous volumes (although in an earlier one, there’s a hint that she has had crushes regardless of gender. I’m therefore tagging this volume as having a bi character, so readers can decide for themselves.)
Author Claribel Ortega has once again imagined a fun and fantastical setting that both evokes the world of She Who Must Not Be Named and goes beyond it in important and original ways. Here, a character of color takes the lead; the culture is infused by Ortega’s Dominican heritage (as well as by purely imagined phrases, events, and traditions); it’s not centered on a school; and themes of power, privilege, and social justice come to the fore. In this volume, Ortega also highlights the importance of friendship and belonging, remembering our history, welcoming immigrant populations, defining our own communities, and being our true selves.
Lophiifor may also remind readers of a certain real-life politician, with supporters “determined to believe anything he said,” including his assertion that it is “dangerous outsiders” who “are the cause of all our troubles.” Ortega, however, does not simply make the character a carbon copy of his real-life counterpart, who is, after all, not the first to have such characteristics. Ortega’s point seems to be that many people with privilege and power have certain similarities no matter when and where they are found.
The deeper themes give the story substance, but don’t take away from the delightful fun of it all. Fans of the series should love it (though readers who haven’t yet met Seven and her pals are advised to start with the first volume). It’s a recommended tale—and there’s one more volume in the series to look forward to!
