Set against the decadent riches and the stern religiosity of 19th century France, THE BOOK OF SHADOWS by James Reese is a dark and dramatic tale of self-discovery and the supernatural. Herculine, a young orphan living in a convent after witnessing her mothers bloody and bizarre death, finds herself in her own bloody and bizarre situation. After a sexual encounter with the Mother Superior's niece, Herculine is accused of witchcraft. As she sits awaiting her surely violent fate, she is visited by two ghosts and a mysterious and beautiful woman. They have come to rescue her, reveal her true identity and enlist her help. Herculine, as it turns out, is a witch and a hermaphrodite, and her powers are essential in releasing one ghost from her eternal purgatory.

THE BOOK OF SHADOWS is Herculine's own Book of Shadows; her witch's journal of spells, autobiography, and record of her knowledge of the Craft. In it she recounts her early years in the convent, her intense sexual awakening, her amazing rescue, and her adventures with her rescuers --- Sebestiana, Father Louis, and Madeleine. The book also excerpts episodes from Sebestiana's Book of Shadows and takes the reader to the violent days of the French Revolution. Reese's prose is at once lush and brutal. Herculine's tale is gory and sexually charged yet oddly mannered and occasionally understated; beauty and tenderness are often juxtaposed with violence and pain. This tale, despite its romantic trappings, is graphic.

There are two major themes of potential interest introduced by Reese: gender and identity and the historic corruption of the Catholic Church. Both of these, one would think, would have far-reaching emotional implications for Herculine. She seems, however, to take it all in stride. She is excited to leave the convent and excited to be a witch. She is comfortable with the gender issues presented her and soon adopts men's clothing. All of her intimate partners are also comfortable and seem even less surprised than she was to discover her "uniqueness." While it is refreshing to find an author who treats these issues at all and especially one whose character remains strong and even confident, Reese fails to add any depth or dimension. So much could have been done with these themes, transforming the novel from a dark but fun read into a challenging and interesting one. Reese chooses not to allow Herculine's life-altering revelations to lead to any personal alteration or emotional conflict.

All of the characters in THE BOOK OF SHADOWS are interesting but none are fully developed or three-dimensional. All have potential to draw the reader in and affect them, but none actually do. As much as you may want to care about these characters, Reese gives you little reason to do so. This is not to say this novel is without merit. It is painstakingly composed, obviously well researched and quite fun at times. It is bloody, romantic, raunchy and sometimes sweet. Although it never seems to fully commit to a genre, gothic horror and vampire fiction fans looking for a sexy and easy (but detailed) read will enjoy this tale. Those hoping to be really scared or challenged will be disappointed.

   --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

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