Ghosts of Albion: Accursed

Publishers Weekly

In this entertaining, fast-paced supernatural thriller, which originated as a "flash-animation" drama on the BBC Web site, Benson of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame and Stoker-winner Golden (Wildwood Road) have created an alternative universe in which vampires, ghosts and wizards populate Victorian England. Their protagonists, the young magicians William and Tamara Swift, are the new Protectors of Albion, entrusted with defending their country against supernatural foes. Aided by an eclectic collection of spirit allies, including Lord Byron, Admiral Nelson and Queen Bodicea, the Swifts must confront a bizarre plague that has moved from the slums to the precincts of the well-to-do, transforming people into reptilian monsters reminiscent of some of H.P. Lovecraft's horrors. While the setup is familiar, the writing is good enough to raise hopes for future entries, assuming a better balance is struck between adventure and heroes who engage the reader's emotions. 5-city author tour. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

As Protectors of Albion, brother and sister William and Tamara Swift have the duty to guard Britain against supernatural dangers. When London suffers a plague of monsters that attack the innocent and helpless, the sibling guardians call upon their ghostly allies-Queen Bodicca, Lord Byron, and Admiral Lord Nelson-to help them track down and destroy its source. Benson, who appeared as Tara in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, and veteran dark fantasy writer Golden (The Ferryman) have created a supernatural adventure, the first in a projected series set in Victorian England, that features equal doses of dark humor and genuine horror. Not for the squeamish, this is nevertheless a good choice for most horror collections. [This was first developed as a flash-animation series on the BBC web site, and Subterranean Press recently published Ghosts of Albion: Initiation, which collects the full scripts for the BBC series.-Ed.] Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Demons from the subcontinent threaten Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Actress Benson (Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) teams up with journeyman horror novelist Golden (The Boys Are Back in Town, 2004, etc.) in this hefty, hormone-stuffed novel, likely the first of a series. Based on the BBC Web series, the story is set in Victorian London, where siblings William and Tamara Swift are young magicians charged with guarding England from the forces of evil and keeping watch over the ancient magic in their domicile Ludlow House. It's a nice sort of place, if you don't mind the ghosts of a lustful Lord Byron and the flagrantly naked and combative Celtic warrior queen Bodicea, not to mention the body of their father, chained to a chair upstairs, likely dead and possessed by the spirit of a malevolent demon. With all this going on, William and Tamara still find ways to stay focused. The somewhat priggish William is busy courting the strong-willed Sophia, which involves a lot of impassioned necking, while Tamara writes under a pseudonym and longs after the rakish John Haversham. Meanwhile, dark things are stirring along the river wharfs and East End slums, where women-mostly Indian-are being forcibly impregnated and giving birth to loathsome creatures. Also, a number of reptilian beasts skulking in the dark are murdering any who cross their path. If this were a job for only William and Tamara, the Queen might be in some trouble, as they are still young and haven't perfected their magic. Fortunately, they have a number of well-meaning ghosts-as well as one deadly handsome vampire Tamara had a thing for-on their side. Demons, bodice-ripping passion and some good old murky London gloom; all one can askfor in a dark night's reading.