OUR TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR LORRAINE CAREY, IS SHARING WITH US, AN INSIGHT INTO HER CHARACTER, LATRICE BURKE, FROM THE 'WOMEN OF THE WILLOW WOOD' TRILOGY. #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

Character: Latrice Burke from The 'Women of Willow Wood' Trilogy

Latrice Burke: The Shadow Sister of Willow Wood Women

There’s always one—the rebel, the risk-taker, the one who dances too close to the flame. For the Sisterhood of the Willow Wood, that sister is Latrice Burke.

A long-standing member of the ancient and secretive society—born out of the deserts of New Mexico but rooted in something far older—Latrice has lived more lives than any mortal woman should. Whispers claim she was seen at Woodstock, her eyes reflecting every color of chaos and creation. Others say her laughter once echoed through the streets of Salem during the witch trials. The truth? Only she knows. What is certain is that Latrice has learned to cheat time itself, reanimating her essence through forbidden rites shared among those who long ago bartered their souls to darker forces.

Her admission into the Sisterhood was controversial. Her mastery of forgotten spells and her gift for channeling ancient goddesses could not be ignored. Yet her connection to shadow magic was undeniable. The High Priestess herself demanded Latrice swear an oath—to forsake the darkness that once fed her and devote her powers only to the light. Latrice agreed… but temptation has a way of whispering to her, and whose whispers come quite frequently to her.

You’ll recognize her instantly: long, flowing caftans etched with esoteric symbols, heavy gold hoops glinting beneath the desert sun, and her signature purple turban concealing a waterfall of raven hair. Purple, she often says, is the color of power—and she wears it like a second skin.

In Book One of The Women of the Willow Wood Trilogy, Latrice tends the mystical shop Desert Mirage in Old Town Albuquerque. When Dani Reyes enters her life seeking protection, Latrice offers aid—but pride is a dangerous spark. She alters the spell to her own liking, unleashing disastrous consequences that ripple far beyond what either woman could foresee. Her punishment is swift: banishment from the Sisterhood.

But true power never stays buried.

In Book Three, “Last Rites,” the Sisterhood faces their greatest threat—Eternity’s Gate, an unholy cult led by five powerful men known only as the Grand Masters. With the lives of three innocent girls at stake, the Sisters reluctantly summon Latrice once more. Redemption, they tell her, comes at a price. She accepts.

From the shadowed caves of Cayman Brac, where she casts the legendary Santori’s Spell to freeze the cultists mid-sacrifice, to the haunted temples of Ohio, where she battles both demonic forces and her own inner darkness, Latrice walks the line between savior and sinner. Her unmatched magic—and her defiance—make her indispensable, even as her actions threaten to fracture the Sisterhood forever.

When Dani’s lover, Brandt, becomes possessed by a succubus, it is Latrice who is called again. The cost is devastating, and once more her soul teeters on the edge of exile.

But when the Sisterhood unites for a final stand against Eternity’s Gate, Latrice signs a soul contract—a vow to purify the cult, redeem herself, and restore balance to the Willow Wood clan, even if it means her own end. In a fiery clash of divine and infernal power, she summons the Mayan priestess Xtabya, merging light and shadow in one final act of atonement. The temple burns, and flames could be seen for miles. The innocents are saved. The dark are consumed.

As her youth fades and her magic withers, Latrice meets her fate with a knowing smile. She has finally made peace—both with Dani Reyes and with her own demons.

But those who truly understand the Sisterhood whisper one last question:

Can a soul like Latrice Burke’s ever truly rest?

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COMING SOON: On Wednesday, 24th November, we are thrilled to have author, Kathryn Wild, who will be sharing chapter one of her novel, 'Firebound'.