Review-Bane by Trish Milburn (Coven #2)

Goodreads Summary:

To protect those she loves from herself, Jax will leave them all behind. She'll risk everything in a desperate search for answers.
Jax Pherson fled the darkest of covens and from her own father's evil. For a brief moment, her courage was rewarded. She found everything she'd ever wanted. A normal life. An amazing boyfriend. An envy-worthy best friend .
But her past put them all in danger, forcing a confrontation with the dark covens. In a life-and-death battle to save those she loved from the covens, Jax gained staggering power. Power so intense, so dangerous, she fears the darkness that now dwells inside her like a living thing.
If she can't control the power, she may yet become as evil as the witches she conquered.
With her friend Egan, Jax leaves all she's built and heads for the one place that might hold the answers she desperately needs to hold back the darkness-Salem, Massachusetts. Her research unearths a shocking discovery: the Bane, a secret group of witches dedicated to thwarting the covens.
Jax desperately needs their help in her fight against the covens, but finding the Bane is easier said than done and takes all her skills and courage. As Jax gets closer, her dark powers begin to rise and control her actions. If she succumbs to the darkness, Jax may have as much to fear from the Bane as the evil covens and the determined hunter on her trail.

Publication Date:  May 31, 2012

This is a tough review to write because I have a feeling the next book is going to be really good. However, not much happened during this sequel to White Witch and I couldn't help feeling a little let down. I like Milburn's writing style and I really enjoy the characters of Egan and Jax, but the plot in this one was kind of a snooze. 

What I Liked: Jax and Egan continue to be my favorite characters. They are both good witches with dark undercurrents to their personalities. Ever since the showdown with Jax's coven in the last book, she has a hard time controlling her dark powers. Milburn was able to draw a realistic picture of Jax's inner struggle to keep the darkness from taking over. Rule and his family was also a nice addition to the series and I thought the Salem backdrop was a cool touch.

What I Didn't Like: I understand that the characters need to research to find the answers they seek, but it was a huge portion of the book. I wished it could have been summarized quicker and have more action take place. Plus, the Keller and Jax relationship continues to be my least favorite part of the series. Keller's character is underdeveloped and I think this is why I'm not more invested in their relationship.  

Rating: Three out of five stars