Eternity by Maggie Shayne is the first novel in her bewitching new series.

In this enthralling tale of witchcraft and magic Maggie Shayne introduces to us a new kind of witch....a witch such as Raven St James.

The stories say that if a person dies trying to save the life of a witch in their next life they are born as an immortal witch.  Raven St James is one such witch.

When Raven St James and her mother are hung for witchcraft in the 17th century she is shocked to find that she is not dead but in fact just starting her new life.

Her small magical powers are now magnified and she uses these to help her escape from England to start a new life in America.  However in pursuit of her is one of the dark ones.  An immortal witch who gains immortality by taking the hearts of immortal witches - the only way to destroy an immortal witch.

Only just escaping with her life she sets sail for America on a ship where a young man who witnessed her hanging is also on board.

Raven recognises Duncan and when he becomes sick she uses her gifts to heal him in repayment for his attempt to save the lives of herself and her mother.  Hiding from him on the ship she is sure that if he remembers her he will simply put it down to his illness.

Once in America they go their separate ways.  Raven travels to her aunt in Sanctuary while Duncan works to repay his debts.  But their paths are to cross again when Duncan returns to the clergy and takes up a position in Sanctuary.

Duncan recognises Raven at once but she soon concocts a story to convince him as to why she is alive.  Drawn together they become lovers.  But they do not seem destined to be together.  The townspeople of Sanctuary are sure they have witches in their midst and call on Duncan to rid them of the witches.  The witches who are Raven and her sister Arianna.

Arianna has searched for Raven for hundreds of years.  She was her sister in Raven's last life and was the witch who Raven tried to save.  Reunited at last Raven has no memory of her sister but accepts the truth and they become close friends.

But the citizens of Sanctuary are determined to rid themselves of the witches and when Duncan tries to stop them he finds himself being thrown from the cliffs to the rocks below.

Raven is distraught at losing Duncan and with Arianna's help she begins her wait of centuries before Duncan is reborn again as an immortal witch in the late twentieth century.

However, just as Raven had not knowledge of her sister, nor does Duncan have any knowledge of Raven or his past life.

It is up to Raven to convince Duncan of the truth and to save themselves from the dark one who is using Duncan to search from Raven in order to steal her powerful heart.

Eternity is an excellent novel and the start of what promises to be a great series.  There is lots of suspense in this enchanting novel and lots of romance too.  A romance that will keep you guessing until the end; I was never entirely sure whether Raven and Duncan would come together or not.  After all this is the start of a series and continues with Infinity.

Infinity is the second novel and from the preview at the back of Eternity  it promises to be just as good.

RATING : 
(if you need an explanation of the hearts ratings see my homepage)

Links to  Online Stores

Also by Maggie Shayne :   Everything She Does is Magick, Infinity, Destiny and Immortality.

Visit Maggie Shayne's  website