Review: The Traveler by Sol Smith
A Story of Supernatrual Identity Theft ith a Wiccan Twist
Feb 10, 2009
Sol Smith has written a thrilling coming of age story about a Wiccan girl, Abigail who is struggling with the lost of her mother as well as a broken heart. Unlike most stories about Witches, “The Traveler” has a nearly accurate account of Wicca, one of many magic-positive NeoPagan faiths. Abigail lost her mother, also a Wiccan and practicing midwife, suddenly to an illness, leaving the father in a crisis of faith.
As her father withdrawals from his practice of Wicca, Abigail finds solitude in her study of “The Old Religion”. She, like many seventeen year olds, is quite rebellious and speaks up at school when historians and English teachers get their facts wrong about Witchcraft. As Abigail tells her story in the first person, she explains what it means to be a witch while making incense, weaving spells, communicating with her mother on Samhain, and performing rituals. Abigail is a very troubled teen, who often wishes to be someone else. Not helping the matter is her unrequited crush on Vic.
The Love Triangle
Vic has been a friend of Abigail’s for most of her life, her mother, a midwife, delivered him on the families antique bed. They both enjoyed music and went to school together, but their friendship never blossomed into romance. But to complicate matters, “in a moment of either intense passion, or extreme boredom” they slept together, putting a strain on their friendship.
Then there is Erica, who is also Wiccan, but coven trained, not a solitary like Abigail. Vic does find her attractive but Erica remains a friend to both, despite Abigail’s suspicions. Who Erica is attracted to is quite a pleasant surprise, to this reader.
Identity Theft
Subtly threw out the story “The Traveler” emerges as a character. First mentioned to Vic as Abigail’s imaginary big sister, Abigail gradually begins to change. After moving her mother’s antique bed into her room, her own childhood bed, she dyes her hair. Then after practicing a new scrying technique, a divination method involving gazing into a reflective surface, her eyes turn green. Then she hears whispers at night in her bed, and soon her old friend and sister, The Traveler, begins to speak to her, misleading her to distrust her friends and to cast negative magic on Vic and Erica. Slowly sapping her strength, Abigail declines into a depression, and invites The Traveler to borrow her body.
This reader enjoyed the first person perspective and the mostly accurate account of how modern Wiccan Witches practice. Smith does stretch the truth a bit when Abigail says, “I come from a long line of witches; women who passed their beliefs, their practices, down from mother to daughter for more generations than we are aware of.” In truth, Wicca is a new religion, about 60 years old, that is comprised of ancient beliefs.
This reader also cautions parents that this is a "Young Adult" novel and does have adult topics, handled in tasteful ways. If you are a fan of movies like “Practical Magic” you will enjoy this book. You can find it at the Jupiter Gardens web site.
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