The Witching Hour Author:Anne Rice The first in the Mayfair Witches series, the book introduces the Mayfair family of New Orleans, generations of male and female witches. One Mayfair witch per generation is designated to receive the powers of "the man," known as Lasher. Lasher gives the witches gifts, excites them, and protects them. Unsure as to exactly what this spirit is, the ... more »Mayfair clan knows him variously as a protector, a god-like figure, a sexual being, and the image of death. Lasher's current witch is Deirdre, who lies catatonic from psychological shock treatments.
Deirdre's daughter, Rowan, has been spirited away from this "evil" and is a neurosurgeon in San Francisco with an uncanny gift to see the intent behind the facade. Rowan also has a gift few doctors possess -- she can heal cells. Though she uses it to save lives, she fears she has caused several deaths. She rescues Michael from drowning. Michael then develops some extraordinary powers that compel him to seek New Orleans and to seek Rowan. He finds both, and pulls the tale closer together by meeting people connected to the Mayfair family who now fear Rowan because she is the first Mayfair who can kill without Lasher's help.
Michael dives into learning the history of the Mayfair witches: Deborah, Charlotte, Mary Beth, Stella, Antha, and many others across hundreds of years and three continents. When Michael looks up from his reading, he learns that Rowan has come to New Orleans to attend her mother's funeral. Rowan learns of her family history. Rowan dedicates herself to stopping Lasher's reign. Michael has his own mission, but it is foggy and unclear to him. But Lasher is seductively powerful and Rowan's gifts offer him the opportunity to achieve his ultimate goal.« less