A summary of "The Lightning Charmer" by Maria Danilova Automatic translate

The book was published in 2016. The plot focuses on the development of the protagonist Vilu’s magical abilities and the deepening secrets among the students of a closed academy. The reader witnesses the heroine’s transformation from an insecure girl into a powerful witch ready to challenge the forces of evil. The work is part of the "Shadow Enchantress" series. The series consists of seven parts: "Shadow Enchantress," "Cold Enchantress," "Lightning Enchantress," "Blood Enchantress," "Time Enchantress," "Ocean Enchantress," and "Storm Enchantress." This book is the third in the series.

Plans and training

Vilu continues her search for the "redeemer." She uses the students’ routine vaccinations to examine their shoulders for a cross-shaped scar. The examination is inconclusive; no scar is found. Vilu contacts her partner, Oli. The seer reports that the girl in question has dark brown hair. Oddet confesses to secretly meeting with the demon Kian. Vilu is jealous, as Scarlet has forbidden her from communicating with the guard. But the heroine suppresses her feelings and supports her friend.

The heroine resumes her magical training. An immortal raven named Raven transports her to a deserted ocean shore. The girl learns to create sparks by concentrating her inner energy. The touch of a servant helps awaken her power. Raven shows her the necessary movements. The girl feels an electric charge coursing through her veins. During a trip to the Vilu ski resort, she learns of an upcoming swimming competition. Students from twenty other schools will be attending the academy. About a hundred people are expected. Patrick shares the schedule of events. The girl plans to inspect the competitors’ shoulders during the preliminary heats, sitting in the stands.

New threats and surveillance

New gym teachers appear at the academy. One of them turns out to be Mr. Roberts. The memory of his previous dismissal due to drunkenness has been erased from all the students. The only ones who remember the truth are Vilu and Alison. The second teacher makes the heroine shudder with horror. It is Miss La Morte, the devil who previously tried to kill the girl. Vilu flees in panic.

Scarlet, the security guard, notices a student’s strange behavior. The blood mage begins surveillance. To divert suspicion from his minion, Vilu leads Raven into a dead end. The girl kisses Raven right in the hallway, hoping to pass for an ordinary teenager in love. Scarlet doesn’t believe this scene and installs a hidden camera in the heroine’s room. Raven later destroys the device during a power outage. The students were hanging tinsel when the lights suddenly went out.

Relationships with others become strained. Sebastian Blackthorn intercepts a photograph of Vila and a Raven kissing. He blackmails the girl, demanding a mysterious favor in the future. Oli reveals a secret: Sebastian himself will become a Raven in the future. The student attacks the blackmailer in the cafeteria, using her newfound ability — an electric shock. Blackthorn recoils in pain. In response, he posts the photograph of the kiss on the academy website. Students begin to mock Vila, making caustic comments during recess.

Revelations and betrayals

Vilu continues to develop her magical skills. During her next lesson, she manages to gather sparks together. She creates a veritable ball lightning bolt about five centimeters in diameter. The bolt slams into a tree, leaving a charred hole.

Late at night, Rocky comes into Vilu’s room. The panther girl is seriously injured, her back lacerated by claws. Raven heals her human form, causing her intense pain in the process. Rocky recounts his story. Five years ago, a light witcher cursed her, fusing her soul with that of a wildcat. The animal is gradually gaining control, stealing entire weeks of memory. Only the blood of the "redeemer" can lift the curse. Vilu promises to help and suggests they do good deeds for now. Rocky reluctantly agrees to teach Zoe how to skate.

At a swimming competition, the heroine examines the girls. One participant has her left shoulder wrapped in bandages. Vilu infiltrates the women’s locker room disguised as a nurse’s assistant. It turns out the athlete has a common sprain; no one else has a cruciate scar. The heroine calls Olya to tell her the news. During the conversation, the seer accidentally reveals his secret connection to Alison. Vilu realizes that her ally was working with several agents simultaneously, concealing the truth. Feeling deeply hurt, the girl cuts off all contact with him.

Battle in the Forest

That night, Rocky is attacked again. Vilu runs into the snowy forest to help and encounters Gray. The young man confesses: it was he who led the light witcher to Rocky. Gray considers himself a judge, obligated to destroy evil based on the color of one’s aura. The young man also confesses to killing Darren. He offers Vilu leave, but the girl shields Rocky with her body. The witcher casts a spell, forever trapping Rocky in the body of an animal. The demon Kian arrives and engages in battle with the light mage.

Sebastian Blackthorn tries to take Vila away, but retreats after seeing Raven’s obedience. Gray attacks Kian with a sword. The fight is interrupted by Gray’s parents. His angel father and demon mother appear from a bright flash. They strip their son of all magical abilities for killing innocent people. Gray’s wings crumble into smoldering embers. He becomes an ordinary man. Sebastian takes his broken friend to the dorm. Raven carries Vila and Rocky to their room. The acolyte can no longer heal the animal. Vila is forced to bandage the panther’s wounds himself.

Freedom of the Raven

Raven stops responding to her call. Vilu despairs. She asks Kian to help her search. The demon finds another Raven at the academy gates. The alien servant reads Vilu’s memories, viewing scenes of the kiss and training. He transports her to the basement, but Raven is not there. The history teacher, Mr. Barrett, tells the parable of the Prince of Carthoen. The heroine realizes: the clue is right before her eyes. She returns to the basement and sees through the ceiling window a flock of birds above the forest.

The girl trudges through a deep snowdrift. The snow gradually disappears, revealing a bluish glow. Vilu finds Raven. He is trapped in a magic circle. Other Ravens surround him, preparing to kill the traitor. Vilu assembles a powerful electrical sphere to protect the servant. Suddenly, Raven speaks aloud. He commands her to stop. Finding his voice means Raven’s imminent freedom.

Ravin confesses: he originally planned to kill Vila with a knife to the heart. He hid the blade during a snowstorm and while bandaging his wrist. The servant abandoned the plan, realizing that the girl would free all the Ravens from the devil’s control of her own free will. The remaining guards retreat, believing in her power. That evening, Ravin sits in the heroine’s room and reads a book aloud to her.

At the Christmas ball, Vilu notices something odd. Mr. Barrett remembers Darren, revealing his affiliation with the magical community. Blackthorn claims that humans can’t become Ravens, but Vilu doesn’t believe him. Suddenly, time freezes, creating a time loop. Vilu looks in the mirror and sees herself in a beautiful burgundy dress, wearing a mask. Kian and Gray stand nearby. Two meters away, the heroine sees a girl. A cross-shaped scar is clearly visible on the stranger’s left shoulder. Raven stands nearby, hugging Vilu around the waist. He confirms: they have found the "redeemer."