Morgan Spring-Glace introduces the War of the Mountains series with an ambitious, character-driven opener, THE WITCHES OF SERNA. In an era when magic is believed to be extinct and any signs to the contrary spell death, three humans risk their lives as their magical abilities are revealed during the course of intense battles. Kora’s fire is uncontrolled, consuming enemies and allies as she struggles to defend her home and her people. Similarly, Ayza’s wind magic grows out of desperation and fury as she lifts and tears orcs apart. However, she seems to have more control over her abilities than her sister, who is immediately branded a witch that must be killed: “Kill ‘er before she burns all of us!” Mkaela’s powers, on the other hand, are less loud but just as impactful. She’s a healer, and when people start dropping around her, she can’t just watch them die. Thus she is exposed, and the calls for her death begin.

Serna, where most of the fighting occurs, is a working town with tanneries, inns, glass workshops, gossip, and fatigue baked into daily life. Its people are divided along the lines of those who believe witches must be killed and those who acknowledge and appreciate their help.

Outside Serna, the story widens into a broader political and military landscape. There are multiple species, such as orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, elves, and humans with differing but somehow common personality traits. The orc encampment at Serna Hills includes wounded fighters, as well as women and children. So, while the humans and elves view them as the enemy, they are also relatable beings with emotions. Hobgoblins plan strategically and form alliances; elven travelers observe and assist while keeping secrets in ways that feel bureaucratic rather than mystical.

While the various characters enrich the book with their plethora of abilities and perspectives, their sheer volume and the rate of their introduction into the story is a bit overwhelming. The density of names, calendars, ranks, and cultural distinctions often interrupts the flow, especially when scenes move from Serna to report-style political updates elsewhere. This is especially so during the final segments of the book, where the significance of the concluding events is quite unclear. What is evident is that they are necessary for the next entry in the series.

In the end, Spring-Glace effectively portrays how fear and survival collide as something believed to be impossible turns out to be very real.

Morgan Spring-Glace’s immersive series-opener THE WITCHES OF SERNA skillfully explores the consequences of rediscovered magic in a land divided by language and appearance.

~ Gabriella Harrison for IndieReader