Divine Banishers – A Review
Fantasy fiction need not be rooted in reality—you can dream up a castle in the sky and build an entire world around it. Yet Divine Banishers is anchored in something recognizably real. Its titular clan, the Banishers, are a Celtic order based in Nova Scotia—Latin for “New Scotland.” They are God’s chosen creations, tasked with protecting Christians across the globe. Possessing supernatural powers—virtual immortality, rapid healing, teleportation, and heightened strength, sight, and hearing—the Banishers are a blend of myth and divine purpose.
Book III introduces a black Banisher, a distinguished man from the Ural Mountains. The Nova Scotian Banishers, by contrast, appear white, with English names and speech patterns. One wonders if Banishers from other regions—Asian, African, or otherwise—exist, and whether future installments will expand this world’s diversity. Though the hierarchy may appear white and elitist, the queen consults her black subject without hesitation, suggesting space for broader representation in later volumes.
AuCoin writes with warmth and humor; her tone often borders on playful. The Banishers, though powerful, are drawn with a wink—heroic yet faintly goofy, their flaws humanizing their immortality. Each Banisher is part human, part otherworldly, with distinctive traits. The twin brothers Darko and Drake, for instance, may be shifted into “beast mode” at will. Immortal to humankind, Banishers alone possess the power to destroy one another. Their supernatural gifts are matched by unrestrained passions—violent, sensual, even absurd—making clear that Divine Banishers is not conventional Christian fiction.
At its heart, this is a patient and engaging exploration of good versus evil. AuCoin’s narrative is character-driven, insightful, and suffused with affection for her homeland. Nova Scotia’s vast landscapes and elemental beauty provide a fitting stage for this ongoing battle between the divine and the demonic—a place where her powerful creations roam freely, preparing for the next cosmic confrontation.
(c) 2025 by Novelty Fiction.
