Douglas Clegg, Isis

Isis

Douglas Clegg

Cemetery Dance, 2006, $20.00

ISBN: 1587670895

She was born Iris Catherine Villiers, the youngest of four siblings. Her oldest brother Lewis was six years older than her, while the twins Spencer and Harvard were three when she was born. Their mom was an artist from Chicago, while their dad was a Brit living in Manhattan. They initially lived on Fischer Island in Long Island Sound, but when their father was assigned to Burma, the family, except for Lewis moved to his ancestral home Belerion Hall in Cornwall to be with the dying "Gray Minister", their paternal grandfather, who considered them sinners. Still, in spite of the dark mutterings of her crazed grandfather, life is good for pre-adolescent Iris and the twins, as they play together the Tragic Tale of Isis and Osiris.

As the years pass by, Iris continues to dabble as Isis, though her governess Edyth believes this is sinful pagan byplay. When Iris discovers her governess is sleeping with her brother Spence, the two women argue. Edyth slaps Iris, almost knocking her out the window. Her brother Harvey comes to her rescue, but Iris can't hold on to his hands and they both fall out the window. Harvey dies, but using the spell she has learned over the years, she brings him back from the dead, not realizing that what she has done will come back to haunt her.

ISIS is a terrific horror novel that grips readers who know what the outcome is, but readers will wonder how a kindhearted precocious little girl transforms into the Oracle at Harrow. The storyline is a dark coming of age thriller as Iris begins to become Isis. Fans who appreciate a character driven horror novelette will enjoy this fast reading, one sitting transformation tale.