The Allies are fighting World War 2 on three fronts. They have the Western Front with England battling the Germans. Russia and Germany wage war on the Eastern Front and across Europe, hidden from public view, magic users fight on the Midnight Front. The forces of good and evil, angel and demon, battle not only for the outcome of the World War but the fate of the World itself!

That is the stage David Mack sets in his book Midnight Front. With Halloween just around the corner Midnight Front felt like a fitting read for the fall.

The book begins in 1939 and the story is woven into the history of the time. Supernatural events shape and, in turn, are affected by “real” events. Mack’s world appears to be just like ours. Technology and an understanding of the world is taken for granted. The threat of the Nazi’s in Europe is evident and tensions are high in Britain.

We’re introduced to our protagonist, a young man named Cade Martin. Unbeknownst to Cade he has a connection to magic powers. His potential has been kept from him to protect him, at least that is what his parents intended to do but Cade is fated to fight a war across Europe.

Magick (“magick” involves supernatural powers and is different from stage “magic” involving sleight of hand, card tricks, etc.) works differently in Mack’s world than in many other fantasy novels. Masters of the “Art” are called Karcists and they gain their power not from gestures or words but by bending the will of demons and even angels to their needs. This technique is called “yoking” and involves precise ceremonies. The bond demons yield powers and abilities but at a cost. A demon may give the karcist the ability to turn invisible but at the cost of constant nose bleeds or headaches. The greater the number of demons a karcist yokes the greater their power becomes along with the pains the demons inflict. It is a high price to pay and there are only a small number of people able to effectively practice the Art.

The world is blind to the existence of magick. This is primarily because of a reliance on technology to meet the needs of the people. Magick has been forgotten and thought of only in stories and fairy tales.

Unfortunately this belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Many of the the world’s leaders are not only aware of the existence of magick but they are taking steps to utilize it as a weapon of war.

Hitler is among the first to field an organized karcist force. It’s leader is a karcist named Kein Engel who has is own agenda. Kein needs the resources Hitler has as leader of the Axis powers. Under the guise of fighting for the Nazi’s Kein is building coven of karcists across Europe. He has plans that go beyond the mortal world and do not include the Axis, Alies, or the majority of the human race.

Cade’s mentor on the Allied side of the conflict is a Scotsman named Adair Macrae. Adair leads the Allied magick force named the Midnight Front. This organization is based out of Scotland and reports directly to Primer Minster Winston Churchill. The other Allied leaders are aware of its existence and provide intelligence. Presient Franklin Roosevelt and Premier Josef Stalin coordinate the advances of their armies with the progress of Adair’s team. Kein has placed protective wards on Hitler and several other prominent Nazi’s and Adair has provided similar protections to the Allies.

In order for one side to win either Kein or Adair need to be eliminated. The Midnight Front is the driving force of the Allies battle plan. Including the invasion of Normandy which can only be successful if the Midnight Front succeeds.

We learn that Kein has been hunting Adair’s adepts and eliminating them. Half of Adair’s forces are dead and he must rely on Cade to help win the war. Cade knows nothing about magick or why he is so important.

Cade’s parents tried to shelter him from the world of magick but there was no avoiding his fate. Adair seeks him out to recruit him while Kein sets out to kill the young man. It is an interesting piece of storytelling that Mack uses to reveal just why Cade is so important. He is not exceptional in any way other than coming from a well to do family. He is American by birth and his parents are attempting to flee Great Britain before the Nazis come. Cade doesn’t see the war as his problem and naively thinks it best to return to America with his parents. It is a trip he will not complete.

Adair rescues the young man from the brink of death and introduces Cade to the world of magick. Instantly Cade begins to outpace the mastery and skill of Adair’s other adepts. By this time only three remain alive. Stefan, Niko, and Anja are nearing the end of their training when Cade arrives. Stefan and Niko warm to the new recruit while Anja is cold and distant. These three supporting characters aren’t recruited simply to fight for the homeland, they have all lost something in the time leading up to the war. Each has motivations which can complicate Adair’s plans. But, there is no where else for them to go and all they have is each other.

Midnight Front takes us from London to Paris to Stalingrad. We see the inner workings of the Pentagon, the horrors of concentration camps, and realms beyond the mortal world.

If you are a fan of alternative history or fantasy I think you will enjoy Midnight Front. Although if  you find demonology and non-traditional religious themes disturbing you may not feel comfortable with many parts of the book. The characters interact with demons and the denizens of Hell frequently. In fact demons are the source of the characters powers on both sides of the conflict. Mack explains why demons are the primary source of magick and that involves a unique take on Heaven and angels.

Midnight Front is the first book in the Dark Arts novel series. As I write this the second book, The Iron Codex, is now out in stores. To help you keep track of locations and descriptions Mack includes maps and a glossary at the back of the book. The first chapter of The Iron Codex is also included to give you a sample of the next book.

I always welcome feedback and would like to know what you thought of Midnight Front. Please feel free to comment below.

If you liked this review of Midnight Front be sure to check out my other reviews here, exclusively on EvolvingRPG.com.

Oliver Greytome

@olivergreytome