The Ghosts of Albion: Accursed
by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden
Published by Del Rey
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Reviewed by Guy Wegener
Move over Buffy. Step aside Charmed. There are some new demon fighters on the block.
Brother and sister team, Tamara and William Swift, are kicking some major demon butt in the new series of books by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden. And unlike their 2lst century counterparts, they're doing it with style in 19th century England.
The Swifts have inherited a powerful legacy from their grandfather that transforms them into Protectors of Albion (the ancient name for England). Upon his deathbed he informs his grandchildren of the responsibility he is passing onto them. But before he can instruct them in the use of their new powers, he is killed.
Tamara and William are thrust into a world where demons are trying to take over and they, as the new Protectors of Albion, must defend England against otherworldly attacks. With the help of the vampire Nigel Townsend and a few ghostly allies, Tamara and William might just have a fighting chance.
The Ghosts of Albion: Accursed is the first published novel featuring the demon-fighting siblings Tamara and William Swift. However, their story began a couple years ago on the BBC cult website which combined flash animation, sound effects and music--not to mention the vocal talents of Anthony Daniels (Star Wars), Emma Samms (Dynasty), and Roy Skelton (Doctor Who).
The first animated audio adventure was followed by two short stories and another animated adventure. Familiarity with the past exploits of the Swifts and their friends is not essential to enjoying the book, but I wouldn't be surprised if people weren't flocking to the BBC website in order to get another fix, once they've finished with the book.
The Ghosts of Albion: Accursed is one of the freshest, most original takes on a tried-and-true idea. Certainly author Benson's past association with another demon slayer is an influence. What is different is the scale in how the story is told. Whereas Buffy had Sunnydale, the Swifts have the whole of Victorian London to live and fight their battles in.
And what a place Victorian London is. Beautifully described and containing believable and realistic characters, the place comes alive in the skilled hands of authors Golden and Benson. The dialogue is sharp and witty. You can truly hear and see the characters while you're reading it. This is one snappy and exciting adventure.
There are a few minor problems with the book. I felt that the character of Oblis (Tamara and William's demon-possessed father) was used as padding to the story. How he became possessed and the creepy nature of his possession was handled better in the BBC website outings. In the book he's depicted as a lecherous old man instead of an evil being capable of all sorts of atrocities.
There were also occasions when I felt the description of events were the author's desire to paint a realistic setting that actually impeded the action. And while I loved, absolutely loved the world they created, I felt that the story suffered from laboring too much on the William and Sophia love story and sudden changing character points of view at a climactic point in the narrative. These few items and the dreadful cover design (no offense to the beautiful Ms. Benson, but why is she prominently depicted on the cover when she isn't a character in the book?) were the only things I felt hindered the book as a whole.
Armchair Interviews says: The Ghosts of Albion: Accursed is a fast-paced and exciting novel. It is beautifully written with fresh dialogue, realistic and believable characters and almost poetic descriptions. Readers will be left wanting more adventures of the Swifts and their friends. Sci Fi fans should all be eager for the next installment.