Publishers Weekly
08/19/2019
Cornell’s captivating fourth Witches of Lychford novella brings otherworldly chickens home to roost. Apprentice witch Autumn Blunstone has foolishly weakened Lychford’s magical borders, and other realities now threaten to subsume not only the sleepy English town but the entire human universe. Judith Mawson, resident wise woman, is elderly and falling prey to dementia. Rev. Lizzie Blackmore is still trying to get used to having second sight as well as Christian faith. When upright Lychford resident Maitland Picton begins promising to make wishes come true, Autumn and Lizzie suspect she’s hiding something. Once Maitland reveals herself to be an alien entity who’s using Judith as a conduit for her own nefarious plans to warp the universe, it’s up to Lizzie and Autumn—and Judith, when she can—to stop Maitland from erasing Lychford from the map forever. Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"Captivating... Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next." —Publishers Weekly
"[The Lights Go Out in Lychford] balances gracefully on the border of cozy small town mystery and cosmic horror... It’s a small book that packs a solid narrative punch." —Booklist
Praise for the Lychford series
"Cornell introduces some genuine existential chills into this ingratiating setting." —The Chicago Tribune
Praise for WITCHES OF LYCHFORD
"At once epic and terribly intimate. This is the story of a village, not a city, and all the more powerful for that; not all big fantasy needs an urban setting. Beautifully written, perfectly cruel, and ultimately kind. This is Cornell at the height of his craft." —Seanan McGuire, author of the Incryptid and October Daye series
"Paul Cornell has written a marvelous story, rich in charm, about local politics and witchcraft writ small and personal, but large in consequence." —Bill Willingham, author of Fables and Down the Mysterly River
"Masterfully creepy and sinister, all the more so for taking place in the beautifully drawn English countryside." —Jenny Colgan, author of Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere
"Cornell weaves together a fast-paced story and engrossing character studies; he paints a setting of a gloomy English countryside, disarming his readers with magic and danger that lurks unseen. Beneath the suspense lies wry humor that buoys the tale along."—Publishers Weekly
