In the second episode of a probable four, Archie Stringweed, the young Curse Exterminator first awakened to his powers in Wind Tamer (2006), confronts a previous foe as well as another powerful escalation of “curse activity”—water-based this time—near the Scottish hamlet of Westervoe. That “activity” travels in weather-like storm fronts, which are powered by curse energy that only Archie, as a human lightning rod, can draw off. Though, as before, the climax is rousingly furious and titanic, the author takes her time getting there, trotting in an extended string of ominous portents as well as a large cast of magical creatures from original inventions like octopus-like Jellats and crab-like Glimpers to the odd giant fungus or talking seagull. Also, so confident and competent is Archie already that despite several manufactured crises, the issue is never in doubt; that doesn’t bode well for subsequent entries in the series. Still, Morrison gives bad weather a whole new meaning, and avid fantasy readers may be drawn in. (Fantasy. 11-13)