Book Review: Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer

 

From the publisher:

Nice witches finish last…

A guilt-ridden former coven is forced to tap into the magic of their past . . . if they want to stop their lives from going up in flames again.

On the outside, luxury real estate agent Sarah Nelson looks like every other mom in the suburb. But she has an edge that others don’t: She’s a witch. And no one knows . . . except her estranged ex-coven and college friends, Katrina and Alicia.

One terrible night during their freshman year, the trio accidentally burned down their dorm, and soon after they scattered. Their secret had been safe, until Sarah learns they’ve been invited back to commemorate the anniversary of the fire.

Suddenly, the magic doesn’t want to be controlled. Sarah’s orange tabby cat, Katy Purry, now argues with her. Her broom has become self-brooming, and her fridge somehow restocks thirty pounds of sliced turkey for school lunches. As it grows increasingly difficult to hide the magic and the past, Sarah, Katrina, and Alicia must harness their power together . . . before they find out if polite society still burns witches.

Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer was released September 19th, 2023 from G.P. Putnam's Sons.

My Thoughts:

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a good horror story with some humor, Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer would be a good book for you. 

Three very different friends made up a coven while they were in college. They did get some good out of it, think Sarah being able to communicate with her cat telepathically and use small magics to help her around the house and in her career. The dorm fire was a major drawback. 

Coming back together, their basic personalities haven't changed much. Magic surges and the three of them are caught in the web again. This time they are dealing with a podcast journalist who threatens to upend their lives.

I kind of wish that there was more of how the three women used to be shown. But the story still works. Two out of three of the women show character development. The third one seems stuck out of fear.

The book moves along at a decent pace. I thought the twists were well done. And I thought that the tension in the story was also done well.

Overall, it's worth a read. In particular, if you enjoyed Suburban Hell then you will enjoy this book as well. And if you like your horror with a touch of humor, you will also like this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #479: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. 

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor. 

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is expected out April 9th, 2024 from Flatiron Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like the way Leigh Bardugo writes. I haven't read any of the books in the Grishaverse yet, but I've read Ninth House and Hell Bent and enjoyed them both. I like the idea of Luzia using her gift to make her life better. And how she uses it seems to morph from the description. And it is a dangerous time both to be Jewish and to have magic. I want to know what happens to her. I am rooting for her already.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #478: Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

Seanan McGuire's New York Times-bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated urban fantasy InCryptid series continues with the thirteenth book following the Price family, cryptozoologists who study and protect the creatures living in secret all around us

Mary Dunlavy didn't intend to become a professional babysitter.  Of course, she didn't intend to die, either, or to become a crossroads ghost. As a babysitting ghost, she's been caring for the Price family for four generations, and she's planning to keep doing the job for the better part of forever.

With her first charge finally back from her decades-long cross-dimensional field trip, with a long-lost husband and adopted daughter in tow, it's time for Mary to oversee the world's most chaotic family reunion. And that's before the Covenant of St. George launches a full scale strike against the cryptids of Manhattan, followed quickly by an attack on the Campbell Family Carnival.   

It's going to take every advantage and every ally they have for the Prices to survive what's coming—and for Mary, to avoid finding out the answer to a question she's never wanted to know: where does a babysitting ghost go when she runs out of people to take care of?

Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire is expected to be released March 5th, 2024 from DAW Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like the InCryptid series. I have to admit I'm a little behind in my reading of the series though. Mary Dunlavy is one of my my favorite characters. I love her caring nature. And I enjoy Seanan McGuire's writing.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

 

From the publisher:

A ragtag posse must hunt down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts—where death is always just around the bend—in this new supernatural horror by bestselling author Alex Grecian.

Sadie Grace is wanted for witchcraft, dead (or alive). And every hired gun in Kansas is out to collect the bounty on her head, including bona fide witch hunter Old Tom and his mysterious, mute ward, Rabbit.

On the road to Burden County, they’re joined by two vagabond cowboys with a strong sense of adventure – but no sense of purpose – and a recently widowed schoolteacher with nothing left to lose. As their posse grows, so too does the danger.

Racing along the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, they encounter monsters more wicked than witches lurking along the dusty trail. But the crew is determined to get that bounty, or die trying.

Written with the devilish cadence of Stephen Graham Jones and the pulse-pounding brutality of Nick Cutter, Red Rabbit is an epic adventure of luck and misfortune.

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian is expected out September 19th 2023 from Tor Nightfire.

My Thoughts:

I gave Red Rabbit 5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed reading it. If weird westerns is your thing, then this would be a good book for you. Also if you enjoy horror that just happens to be set in the old west, you would probably enjoy this book as well. 

Old Tom and his mute ward Rabbit are on their way to catch a witch. The group grows first by 2 cowboys, then the recently widowed woman, and a ghost that none of them seem to know is there. So, you have a large group of characters going on a trip in this book, not to mention the witch herself.The group encounters horrors along the way - obstacles in their paths on the way to the witch. I liked the little group that tagged along with Old Tom basically because they had nothing better to do. I especially liked the widow woman and that the men she traveled with treated her well.

This book seemed pretty much to be a quest story. Generally, it's well-paced. Everyone had their reasons for being part of the group. And when their first goal seemed to fall through, they find another goal and keep going.

It's a well-written horror/adventure story. The way it ends leaves it open to sequels without being a cliffhanger. I definitely recommend this book if you like weird westerns or horror quest stories.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Book Review: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

 

From the publisher:

Most people wouldn’t buy an infamous murder house to renovate for fun . . . but Sarah Slade is not most people.

A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin was released September 12th, 2023 from Bantam Books.

My Thoughts: 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's interesting - comes across as a gothic thriller. The plot moves along at a good clip. I haven't read a character quite like Sarah Slade before. And there are many twists that help to move the plot forward.

Sarah Slade has a shadowy past. What she has done to cause her to flee her home before this one isn't revealed all at once. It feels like she's being set up for an identity twist. As the book goes on, it becomes clear there is more to Sarah than meets the eye.

Speaking of twists, this book has many. I think I anticipated two of the twists. The rest of them surprised me right up to the final twist. This is a good thing.

It's sort of a gothic story. There are hints that the house or something in it may be a character. And there are hints that the town may be conspiring against Sarah. There is sort of a descent into madness that makes you question not only her sanity at the moment, but at every previous moment before that. There are layers to the story which just make it so much more enjoyable.

If you enjoy gothic thrillers, then this would be a good book for you. There are many surprising twists right up until the end. And it's a bit of a page turner. I give 5 out of 5 stars to this debut novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #477: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: 

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are—seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car—it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.

Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all—he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.

But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for—Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike—and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.

If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano is expected out March 5th, 2024 from Minotaur Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like humorous mysteries and this definitely qualifies as one. The whole series is humorous starting with Finlay Donovan is Killing It. This is the fourth book .And the series is light reading. I'm really looking forward to reading the further adventures of Finlay and her babysitter and partner in crime, Vero.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #476: Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: Legend goes that long ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, and their family was cursed as a result. Now, every woman born to the family has a touch of magic.

 
Sage Flores has been running from her family—and their “gifts”—ever since her younger sister Sky died. Eight years later, Sage reluctantly returns to her hometown. Like slipping into an old, comforting sweater, Sage takes back her job at Cranberry Rose Company and uses her ability to communicate with plants to discover unusual heritage specimens in the surrounding lands.

What should be a simple task is complicated by her partner in botany sleuthing: Tennessee Reyes. He broke her heart in high school, and she never fully recovered. Working together is reminding her of all their past tender, genuine moments—and new feelings for this mature sexy man are starting to take root in her heart.

With rare plants to find, a dead sister who keeps bringing her coffee, and another sister whose anger fills the sky with lightning, Sage doesn’t have time for romance. But being with Tenn is like standing in the middle of a field on the cusp of a summer thunderstorm—supercharged and inevitable.

Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is expected out September 12th, 2023 from Berkley.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like books with magical realism. I like the idea that the sisters all have different gifts. I wonder how a ghost is bringing Sage coffee. And I wonder where the romance plot will go and how it will affect and be affected  by the magic. 

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria

 

From  the publisher:

I’m not who you think I am.

My transformation from a poor, orphaned scullery maid into the enchantingly mysterious lady who snagged the heart of the prince did not happen—as the rumors insisted—in a magical metamorphosis of pumpkins and glass slippers. On the first evening of the ball, I didn’t meekly help my “evil” stepmother and stepsisters primp and preen or watch forlornly out the window as their carriage rolled off toward the palace. I had other preparations to make.

My stepsisters and I had been trained for this—to be the cleverest in the room, to be quick with our hands and quicker with our lies. We were taught how to get everything we wanted in this world, everything men always kept for themselves: power, wealth, and prestige. And with a touchingly tragic past and the help of some highly illegal spells, I would become a princess, secure our fortunes, and we would all live happily ever after.

But there’s always more to the story. With my magic running out, war looming, and a handsome hostage prince—the wrong prince—distracting me from my true purpose with his magnetic charm and forbidden flirtations, I’m in danger of losing control of the delicate balance I’ve created . . . and that could prove fatal.

There’s so much more riding on this than a crown.

My Thoughts:

i gave this book 4/5 stars.It's an interesting take on the Cinderella story. Happily Ever After isn't guaranteed. It's up to Ash aka Lady Aislinn to use her wits, charm, and magic to work towards that goal.

I thought it was interesting that magic is dependent on lustre - a substance that can be mined. How the lustre is used plus the willpower behind the spell affects the results. Ash has been using lustre to establish herself in the palace. As the book goes on, there is a shortage of lustre due to unrest among the miners. Ash must then rely on her wits and charm to continue to hold her place in the palace. Good thing her stepmother taught her how to do that as well as how to perform spells.

Overall, the book is well-written. It is slow a bit in the beginning as the stage is set. Later on, the pace picks up and maintains a good clip until the end. I found myself struggling a little in the beginning. Once I reached the point where the pace picks up I found myself reading late into the night to find out what would happen next.

I liked Ash more than her alternate persona Lady Aislinn. I think even Ash prefers to be herself than to perform as Lady Aislinn. Prince Everett who plays the role of Prince Charming falls for her as Lady Aislinn. He is next in line for the throne. Everett is okay, but the hostage prince shines. I especially liked that he has a dog that he treats quite well. 

Happily Ever After is not guaranteed. Ash, along with her stepsisters, must make it happen if they can. I had a little trouble accepting the ending. But, it is still a good ending.

Setting wise, it's a little unclear. The time period strikes me as a little medieval, but they have running water in the bathrooms. I was happy for Ash and them that it's like that, but it occasionally brought me out of the book when it was mentioned.

Overall, it's a good book. It's well written though it is a little slow in the beginning, the rest of the book makes up for it. I liked the characters I was supposed to like and didn't like the ones we are supposed to find unlikeable. There are some characters that start out in one column and end up in the other as the story progresses. This makes it more interesting. If you enjoy retellings, this is an interesting one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review,