Shivers and tingles continue in frozen Wisconsin as McKenna Brady races to save the life of her friend Mischa, whose death should be next according to the lore of the game Light as a Feather. It's Christmas break, and McKenna and Trey are released for the week from their respective reform schools, following the harrowing, supernatural events and subsequent court trials from autumn. Violet is living carefree at home in Willow and upping the ante, apparently, by continuing her game and predicting as many deaths as possible. Emotions run high for McKenna, Trey, Mischa, and Henry, who collectively prove that there's no bad choice they wouldn't make in order to stop Violet from spreading her fatal curse. Meanwhile, McKenna is haunted by a whispering voice, and Trey suffers as a family secret surfaces. Despite the over-the-top actions undertaken by the characters and the melodramatic dialogue, it's hard to put this second trilogy installment down once you've started.--Jeanne Fredriksen Copyright 2010 Booklist

High school students dabble in witchcraft in a race to break a deadly spell.McKenna Brady is back from boarding school for winter break, having been expelled after unsuccessfully attempting to break Violet Simmons' lethal curses. She now has just eight days to prevent Violet from killing her friend Mischa. Last fall, Violet predicted the deaths of their friends Olivia and Candace, with macabre details and accuracy during a game of Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board. Now Violet is giving tarot card readings in school, and McKenna believes her predictions are connected to the lunar calendar. Aarsen quickly picks up where Light as a Feather (2018) leaves off, with improved results: The story is gripping and fast-paced, with sharper dialogue and plenty of hair-raising spookiness mixed with high school tomfoolery. Readers will devour the juicy occult particulars as McKenna discovers that she is a medium and teams up with friends to use a divination pendulum, phases of the moon, and other Wiccan magick to try to stop Violet. There's much to enjoy here, but the main premise, that McKenna and her friends must somehow force Violet to lie down and play Light as a Feather, Cold as Marble to break the spell, is flimsy enough that one hopes Aarsen uses her growing talents on new material. Most characters are assumed white.A lively and captivating teen paranormal ride. (Horror. 13-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.