Have you ever loved something someone that you knew was completely wrong for you, yet you couldn’t help yourself? I’ve run into that particular problem many a time in my life. I can completely commiserate with Orayna, the main character in The Wicked Witch, by Ms. Jennifer Cloud.

Orayna is a half-breed. She’s part demon, part human, and has never struggled with her identity. She knows what her limitations are, thanks to her father, the demon Asmodeus. Orayna’s job is to bring more souls to Hell for her father. She’s also a strong person, and is usually able to separate her “work” from her home life. She shares her home with Trenton- a human who has lived with Orayna for much of his life. Orayna took pity on the young man when his mother had died of AIDS. Trenton has always had a crush on Orayna, but also knew that she would never give him the time of day.

Orayna’s life changes when she meets Peter Gretting. Peter’s company has had past business dealings with Orayna, who also works as a freelance computer programmer. Peter has been tasked with convincing Orayna to help repair a program that she had created for his company. There is an instant attraction between Peter and Orayna- one that they can’t seem to fight. They begin spending a little time together.

Trenton, who has always been loyal to Orayna, is propositioned by a demon. The demon tells him that in exchange for knowledge, he’ll give Trenton the power to bed Orayna- something that he has always wanted. Unfortunately, Trenton’s deal with the demon isn’t working out quite as planned – Orayna is able to fend off the demon and Trenton, but not without bloodshed. She is wounded during the fight, and is forced to stay with Peter. Poor Peter gets a visit from Orayna’s father who begrudgingly entrusts Peter to nurse his young daughter back to health. It’s within these tight quarters that Peter and Orayna fall in love. Peter also gets more than he bargained for when he learns Orayna’s deepest secrets.

Asmodeus begins to understand that Peter has learned more than he should, and tells his daughter that he should be killed. Orayna wrestles with her feelings for her lover as well as her newfound realization that perhaps her life has not been led the best of ways.
Ms. Cloud has created a wonderful web of intriguing characters as well as interesting plotlines that will keep you glued to your seat the entire book. It’s characters like Orayna, that make the perfect read- their supernatural side keeping the reader interested, and their human side giving the reader something to whom they can relate. I could definitely relate to Orayna and her struggle with loving someone that was totally against all that she stood for, yet could not help. This was a great book, and one that I would recommend to any Paranormal Romance lover!

Reviewed By Sue
© September 2006