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Based on their track record you would think that the Halliwell sisters would pay more attention when guys start hitting on them.  You'd also hope that Pocket Books would try to steer their Charmed authors away from using this idea.

Of course, both of these scenarios are highly unlikely so it's no surprise that the first couple of chapters of Soul of the Bride see Prue and Phoebe meeting new guys who seem just too good to be true.

As with The Gypsy Enchantment, it's Prue's photographic work that provides the springboard for the story itself.  Searching for an idea for a possible cover story, she's delighted when the hot new guy she's just met shows her a turn of the century portrait.  Naturally enough Prue is delighted with the idea and ropes her sisters into helping as well as utilising Halliwell Manor for the shoot itself.

Things don't go as planned as, following her new beau's suggestion, Prue decides to use an antique camera to capture that period feel.  Unfortunately, it also happens to send her models, with the exception of Piper and Phoebe, into a deep slumber, leaving the Charmed Ones to travel to the Greek Underworld to save them.

Unfortunately, the setting isn't really explored, although that isn't really surprising given the Charmed novels' page count and target audience.  But for those of us hoping for something more, it's disappointing that the novels often have more exotic settings than the TV series, yet never really take advantage of them.

There are a few nice touches, such as Piper's geeky high school past (which we saw in Coyote Piper) proving useful and there are no problems on the characterisation or continuity fronts.  As with The Gypsy Enchantment, the author doesn't feel the need to demonstrate that they've watched a couple of episodes on videotape and throwing in a load of references in order to "impress us".

However, what lets the novel down are the limitation of the format.  Having to wrap everything up within 180 pages doesn't leave too much space for anything more than an enjoyable runaround.  There's also some cop-out time travelling to provide a handy way out, which is pretty unsatisfactory.

It's an enjoyable enough read but, just as Prue's models end up not remembering the events of Soul of the Bride, it's unlikely the reader will either. BACK TO THE TOP

SOUL OF THE BRIDE

Written by ELIZABETH LENHARD

POCKET BOOKS

£3.99


RATING: 6/10


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