Synopsis:
Spidena Kettle runs a quiet magic shop at the edge of town, selling just enough spells and potions to keep herself afloat—and out of trouble—when Benthrop Hozel enters her shop one day. On the run from the nefarious sort, he simply wishes to be forgotten by his pursuers. In exchange, he promises a favor to Spidena.

Such a deal could have dire consequences if Ben is unable to fulfill his end of the bargain. Not that the witch is overly concerned—after all, there’s no risk to her making such an arrangement with a normal human. Only Ben may be more than he seems. With their fates forcibly intertwined for a full journey, Spidena and Ben must not only evade their enemies and use precious magical resources to get by, but confront the secrets they’ve long kept…that is, if they can manage to stop getting on each other’s last nerve for long enough to do so.

Review:
“He doubted it’d become any more pleasant, since she was, quite obviously, a massive pain in the ass.” (Page 31)

Stepping into a book in a completely new world to The House Witch was a bit scary at first; Delemhach had me locked in with the Ashowan family. There was absolutely no reason to worry as the world that Spidena and Ben live in developed beautifully as I read. From the opening description leaving one wondering why anyone would be desperate enough to try making a deal with someone who works and lives there, to the understanding of magic, how it has affected both those with it in their blood and those without, was expertly crafted together. Nothing was ever simply stated or information dumped–we learned about things and how they were prevalent to both our male and female protagonists as it pertained to their past and how people considered and treated them in the present and future. I loved the change of perspective throughout the novel, and how we got to see both sides of what was going on.

The story itself was pure gold; the magic system is unique and intriguing, and the magical ties and costs related equally enjoyable to read about. All of the characters were well fleshed out, and even a certain little unspeaking friend had great depth and understanding. Seeing how Spidena and Ben interact with each other versus others was truly marvelous, especially as one learns why they seem so uncertain of how to communicate pleasantly with each other. I love Wolf and how he interacts with everyone; absolutely brilliant. The wedding and description of how it differs from a human wedding was well thought out and beautiful.

As always, I cannot recommend Delemhach enough. If you love cozy fantasy, slow burn romantasy, incredibly oblivious protagonists with great banter, and a grand adventure featuring a myriad of mythical/fantasy creatures, and witches then I would highly recommend this book!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯