ILLUSION

The conclusion of the magical, Southern Gothic Heirs of Watson Island trilogy.

Barrie (white), Obadiah (black, with some Cherokee heritage), and Cassie’s (white) attempt to lift the Colesworth curse (and the Beaufort binding) has failed. Because of her deceptions, Barrie is also estranged from love interest Eight (white). The tormented spirits behind the curse—Obadiah’s enslaved ancestors—threaten to emerge as energy-sucking dangers, driven mad by the crimes committed against them. And the blowback caused by the curse is still harming their present-day descendants. In order to give peace to the supernatural entities and freedom to the human players, Barrie must examine every preconceived notion she has, especially the ones she didn’t realize she carried. This is especially true when she realizes how many negative Native American stereotypes she has accepted without question from incorrect stories (such as the nature of the yunwi), revelations that leave Barrie feeling deeply ashamed. (Lengthy backmatter provides additional fact-versus-fiction information, and sources are included in the acknowledgments.) By contrast, Cassie’s character arc is rockier, as she fights against accepting responsibility for her own greed and entitlement (and her family’s monetization of slavery—restoring its relics as a tourist trap and Gone with the Wind performances in front of the plantation ruins—is firmly rebuked). While the pacing is sometimes slow and occasionally repetitive, the story thoroughly weaves the four principal families together to a resolution that settles all storylines.

A solid ending.