The Lights Go Out in Lychford

by Paul Cornell

Overview

Be careful what you wish for...

Paul Cornell's The Lights Go Out in Lychford continues the award-nominated Witches of Lychford series, described by Seanan McGuire as "Beautifully written, perfectly cruel and ultimately kind."

The borders of Lychford are crumbling. Other realities threaten to seep into the otherwise quiet village, and the resident wise woman is struggling to remain wise. The local magic shop owner and the local priest are having troubles of their own.

And a mysterious stranger is on hand to offer a solution to everyone's problems. No cost, no strings (she says).

But as everyone knows, free wishes from strangers rarely come without a price . . .

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250249463
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/26/2024
Series:	Witches of Lychford , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	162
Sales rank:	534,582
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

PAUL CORNELL is a writer of science fiction and fantasy in prose, comics and television, one of only two people to be Hugo Award nominated for all three media. A New York Times #1 Bestselling author, he's written Doctor Who for the BBC, Wolverine for Marvel, and Batman & Robin for DC. He is the author of the Witches of Lychford series for Tor.com Publishing. He's won the BSFA Award for his short fiction, an Eagle Award for his comics, and shares in Writer's Guild Award for his TV work.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2019

Judith, the Wise Woman of Lychford, is losing her mind; whether this is the result of aging, Alzheimer's, or something more magical remains to be seen. As Judith wanders the streets of the English town on a mission only she seems to understand, her apprentice, Autumn, and another coven member, Lizzie, try to pick up the slack of protecting their community. Autumn and Lizzie encounter a being who Judith claims is harmless, but they work tirelessly to ensure this new community member is not yet another threat to their town. With the borders of Lychford still healing from the last attack, Autumn and Lizzie have to use all they have to protect the town—this time, without the guidance of the Wise Woman. VERDICT Another entertaining and imaginative entry in Cornell's "Witches of Lychford" series. A quick read with an interesting town full of characters, but readers may want to start at the beginning of the series to fully understand the story.—Brooke Bolton, Boonville-Warrick Cty. P.L., IN

Library Journal

08/19/2019

Cornell’s captivating fourth Witches of Lychford novella brings otherworldly chickens home to roost. Apprentice witch Autumn Blunstone has foolishly weakened Lychford’s magical borders, and other realities now threaten to subsume not only the sleepy English town but the entire human universe. Judith Mawson, resident wise woman, is elderly and falling prey to dementia. Rev. Lizzie Blackmore is still trying to get used to having second sight as well as Christian faith. When upright Lychford resident Maitland Picton begins promising to make wishes come true, Autumn and Lizzie suspect she’s hiding something. Once Maitland reveals herself to be an alien entity who’s using Judith as a conduit for her own nefarious plans to warp the universe, it’s up to Lizzie and Autumn—and Judith, when she can—to stop Maitland from erasing Lychford from the map forever. Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Captivating... Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next." —Publishers Weekly

"[The Lights Go Out in Lychford] balances gracefully on the border of cozy small town mystery and cosmic horror... It’s a small book that packs a solid narrative punch." —Booklist

Praise for the Lychford series

"Cornell introduces some genuine existential chills into this ingratiating setting." —The Chicago Tribune

Praise for WITCHES OF LYCHFORD

"At once epic and terribly intimate. This is the story of a village, not a city, and all the more powerful for that; not all big fantasy needs an urban setting. Beautifully written, perfectly cruel, and ultimately kind. This is Cornell at the height of his craft." —Seanan McGuire, author of the Incryptid and October Daye series

"Paul Cornell has written a marvelous story, rich in charm, about local politics and witchcraft writ small and personal, but large in consequence." —Bill Willingham, author of Fables and Down the Mysterly River

"Masterfully creepy and sinister, all the more so for taking place in the beautifully drawn English countryside." —Jenny Colgan, author of Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere

"Cornell weaves together a fast-paced story and engrossing character studies; he paints a setting of a gloomy English countryside, disarming his readers with magic and danger that lurks unseen. Beneath the suspense lies wry humor that buoys the tale along."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher