familiars

Review of The Ether Witch: The Divining of A Devil by Delemhach

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Magic. Mystery. Mayhem. Fate has come due.

Having defeated the corrupt concubine Soo Hebin, and cast the first witch into a prison she shouldn’t be able to escape easily, Tam thinks some rest is in order.
Sadly, because the Zinferan emperor has it in his mind that Eli should be the heir to his throne, there isn’t much time for that.

With help from Katarina Ashowan and the Ryu family, Tam, Eli, Luca, and Penelope set sail for Dazaria at long last.

Only, leaving Zinfera doesn’t get rid of their troubles for long.

Upon rescuing some mysterious Lobahlans from Zinferan pirates, and learning that the rebellion of the covens is coming to a climax, Tam finds that his new moniker, the devil, is starting to sit a little heavily on his shoulders.

Can he manage to help stop an all-out war from breaking out between witches and humans? Will the First Witch stay banished and leave him and his family alone? And most importantly, can he convince the freedom-loving Eli to agree to marry him?

Discover the epic conclusion in The Ether Witch, Volume 3: The Divining of a Devil—a spellbinding fantasy filled with witches, royal intrigue, magic, and star-crossed romance.

Review:
This book has everything: sass, cats, chickens (you’ll understand when you read it), and our favourite hybrid human-witch family reunited once more. Tamlin has grown so much since the first book in this series, and it is hard to say goodbye–but this book does have an absolutely lovely send off. While so many were always so hard on Tamlin, it is easy to see how he really shaped the younger family members he cared about. Perhaps some may consider him a bit too willing to jump into self sacrifice, but what is a familiar for if not to talk their witch down from making some quite stupid mistakes? Though the ending is bittersweet, there were also some very serious subjects throughout this novel of choice and what people do under pressure for those they love. One is set to dislike Luca’s mother for the way he had been reared, but after hearing how everything transpired, it is hard not to feel a modicum of sympathy for her; as in the real world, nothing in Tam’s life is completely black and white. With everything wrapped up neatly in Epilogue 2 one might have thought that this is our last glimpse into the world of The House Witch… but Epilogue 1 has me thinking that this may not be the last readers see of the Ashowan family. (May the empurror and empurress long reign!)

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Spells Like Poltergeist Spirit by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
Astra Arden’s back, and this time, she’s got a poltergeist problem in “Spells Like Poltergeist Spirit,” the 18th book in The Owl Star Witch Mysteries!

When a mischievous poltergeist starts wreaking havoc in Forkbridge, Astra and her sisters must figure out to banish the troublesome spirit. The timing couldn’t be worse for this supernatural upset, too—Astra’s relationship with Lothian is on the rocks after she turned down his proposal, and even her best friend Emma is giving her the cold shoulder.

As the poltergeist’s antics escalate from harmless pranks to dangerous destruction, Astra races against the clock to uncover the source of the spirit’s unrest and send it packing. But with her personal life in shambles, can she keep her focus long enough to solve the mystery?

Packed with humor, heart, and a heaping helping of otherworldly mischief, “Spells Like Poltergeist Spirit” is a must-read for fans of this bewitching series! As always, No gore, intimate scenes, or swearing—only a captivating story suitable for adults.

Review:
One of my favourite things about the Owl Star Witch Mysteries is that they’re a quick, easy, cozy reads with interesting mysteries. This book actually had a lot of good life advice about mistakes and being in love, that you have to do the work, and that love is wanting to be a part of what someone is/doing–not forcing someone to choose between them. I also quite enjoyed the magical lesson Ayla gave about how all energy can be transformed. This particular mystery had a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t necessarily see coming. Did I figure out who the poltergeist was well before it was mentioned? Yes. The why? Not so much. I thought this was a great addition to the mysteries so far, and I absolutely loved the ending!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Burning Witch 3 by Delemhach

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Synopsis:
A young witch takes on burning new passions, simmering ancient grudges, and timeless magical mayhem in the last book of this delightful romantasy trilogy.

Lady Katarina Ashowan is used to getting into trouble, but her latest muddle takes the cake. A moment’s weakness in her attraction to Eric Reyes, crown prince of Daxaria, has landed her in an unexpected marriage with the man . . . just as her father, Lord Finlay Ashowan, arrives in Troivack to check on his headstrong daughter. As if figuring out how to acclimate her father to her scandalous elopement isn’t bad enough, there are rumors of dangerous magical plots afoot at court—with Kat seemingly at the center of them all.

For one thing, the devil is still prowling around, with dubious intentions as to Kat’s powers. For another, an underground network of wrongdoers has been spreading a mysterious and addictive drug throughout both Troivack and Daxaria. And perhaps most concerning, a villainess is hiding in plain sight somewhere close to Kat and her best friend, Queen Alina, hoping to use them to strike at the devil. Now it’s up to Kat—with the help of her kitten familiar, Pina, as well as her friends and family—to untangle the twisted web of courtly and magical intrigue before her hurried honeymoon is cut short by deadly disaster . . .

A pitch-perfect blend of humor, romance, fantasy, and mystery, The Burning Witch 3 is the brilliant and heart-pounding conclusion to the enchanting House Witch spin-off series.

The third volume of a new spin-off of the hit romantic-fantasy series that has more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!

Review:
Waiting for this book to come out was hard! I absolutely loved every moment with Kat. Although she did learn some tact and decorum, I could very much resonate with this fiery heroine. While Kat may have always felt as if she was out of place and didn’t quite fit in, everyone seems to believe that things are brighter when she is around. Getting to see Fin again and have the family (minus Tam) reunite was splendid. Seeing Annika both in her element as well as showing Kat she truly supports her was uplifting, especially when Kat realizes just how much she missed and wanted to have her mom there. Having Kat sass to her loved ones when it wouldn’t start political warfare was just as amusing as when she’d been snarking to the courtier’s faces.

While I may not be able to resonate with this personally, I particularly loved the line, “Gods, there is nothing quite as humbling nor maddening as having a daughter, is there?” (said by Faucher, Chapter 12)

I absolutely loved how everyone was in awe of Fin when he arrived, but not just because he is the house witch, but because he is Kat’s father, and she is a force to be reckoned with. The mention of Ashowans always being where they’re needed was absolutely spot on–they always seem to find themselves fighting for justice on the good side.

Pina’s powers of cuteness are just absolutely splendid. I love seeing her and Kraken together, especially at the end.

A less humourous line, but one that truly resonates would be, “Death is hardest on those that remain living.” (Chapter 36)

This book had many layers, and dealt with some rather heavy topics. Loss is hard, but I admired the way Delemhach approached that typically taboo subject to show ways in which one can support, and how those that immediately felt the loss may react and feel as well.

I love that while all the characters within Delemhach’s The House Witch/spinoff series are completely capable on their own, they feel that it is better when their partner is there. That is such an accurate depiction of having a good match, and I wish that everyone finds that in their partner.

As always, a perfect ending to a series. I cannot wait to read about Tam, as I feel another spin off must be on the horizon. This world is one I feel has been perfectly built and developed. Every country mentioned has its own feel, politics, etc, and it’s one of a thousand details that puts me in awe of Delemhach. With such a well developed universe and magic system, I cannot wait to see just how many amazing books we manage to see set here.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯