This needs to be a series of novels! No, more than needs to be a Netflix series. I know Laszlo is repeatedly described as looking like Paul Neuman but I can’t help picturing David Tennant every time he gets quirky and has to worm his way out of a situation. A fun, enjoyable work of magic and world building, Laszlo is a demon who has a deadline to inflict unspeakable anguish on the barers of the curse he is in charge of keeping. Unfortunately, he’s kind of lazy and entitled and has never really had to work for anyone or care about anything before. He’s more than a bit of a leech. A very charming, handsome leech with lots of tricks up his sleeves. Enter his curse bearers, Maggie and Lump, who are both clever if naive young people that seek to save their dad and themselves from the curse overtaking them and turning them into monsters. They can’t trust a demon though, right? Even if he is their only hope? Accept they bring out the best in him. As the three of them tromp around the globe seeking to find artifacts to break the curse, their lives are in one another’s hands. Lots of thrills and funny mishaps, tons of quips and enjoyable supernatural characters. I particularly loved Clarence! I do wish that Laszlo and Maggie ended up together but I know a lot of people prefer their friendship. Still I think there’s a lot of potential chemistry. Super fun book. I loved it.

Funny and rollicking. I think this would be a great choice for one of our book clubs. We will be ordering for our library.

I had a difficult time getting through this book. The Plot was entertaining and original, but it took me too long to get into. Laszlo's character was funny and I enjoyed the banter, but at times it seemed a little OTT. The quests were a fun part of the book, I just wasn't invested enough to be hooked. I didn't enjoy Maggie's character, she seemed dull and flat to me.

One day Laszlo goes into the office to find he not only has a new supervisor,  but they are shaking things up and getting rid of the dead weight. So instead of facing imminent destruction like his colleagues,  he lies like the demon he is and wins himself one standard hell week to improve his numbers and save his hide. Laszlo grabs his curse keeper gear and is off to help Maggie and Lump break the family curse.
THE WITCHSTONE is a well written story that draws the reader into a fictional world of demons and curses. It has some surprises, and instead of despising the demon, you find yourself asking if this is for real? The cast of characters is memorable and, at times, comedic.

I enjoyed this book. I don't know what I expected when I first started reading it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.

The characters were well done, and I really enjoyed their parts in the overall story. The siblings adventuring together with the witless demon was fun. Watching the family succumb to their curse was a little heartbreaking. It was also a little gross that they change into blobby monstrous things. The banter was great, and the fact that you begin to feel for the halfwit demon is the mark of a good writer.

Overall I liked the plot, and I enjoyed the twists and turns. You should give this book a chance if you like fantasy without romance, adventure, good banter, and good character growth.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. This was exactly what I have been looking for ever since I finished watching the Good Place. Though it lacks the philosophical depth of the beloved show, its humor and setting are reminiscent enough to scratch that itch. We follow Laszlo, a rather unmotivated curse warden who loves humanity. That’s not to say that he’s soft—he just enjoys out-conning tourists on the trains and eating human foods. Without spoilers, this book would fit right at home among Terry Pratchett fans and fills a particular need for light humor, heart, and an easy read. My main concern: this was a fall book. It had no business being published in summer when its core audience is busy reading romance.

A humorous and fast-paced race around the world for a demon and the curse-bearers he is responsible for. I enjoyed the humor spread throughout this book as well as the pacing. Though quite funny, the book does cover serious events and does have graphic violence/mature themes so I would recommend it for adults and older young adults. Few books can make a demon character an enjoyable and a funny favorite. I also enjoyed many of the featured side characters. To me, the pacing felt appropriate and no section felt too slow or drawn out. I would recommend this book to readers who have enjoyed titles such as Good Omens.

This story had an Incredibly Creative premise!

I did struggle with it at times and felt it was longer than it needed to be but it was enjoyable most of the time. The two POV characters of Maggie and Lazlo were a nice duo, Lazlo being comic relief and Maggie being the heart and grit of the story. In the beginning I think I was hoping for a romance between them but by the end I was so happy the story didn’t go in that direction.

I couldn’t picture the time period it was set in at first then it became quickly apparent that it was modern.

There is some unexpectedly squeamish body horror at times. Then it got kind of rapey. The horror elements were surprisingly effective when you least expected it.

The way everything wrapped up at the end was clever but part of it didn’t feel satisfactory or enjoyable. The epilogue was great though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced reading copy of The Witchstone. | 4.5 stars / 5

This book was a straight-up silly hoot! I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started reading, but soon I was pulled in by the whipsmart writing and engaging plot. A lazy demon and a stubborn 19-year-old girl embark on a whirlwind adventure to defeat an age-old curse – sign me up!

The Witchstone's pacing was deft, full of unexpected twists, and the fantasy aspect (primarily "Corporate Hell") was hilarious. The action was a total blast, and I loved the gruesomeness of the body horror. Hell and demons are messy, okay? Neff has created such a fun, imaginative world within these pages – pure magic!

The main characters (Laszlo, Maggie, and even Lump) were well-rounded and all grew so much within their specific experiences. Laszlo's general attitude and snark were hilarious, and his dialogue often had me laughing audibly. Maggie's development as a young woman finding her way in the world was wonderfully written and felt very honest. And what a supporting cast! Clarence, Signora Bellascura – I loved them all!

The whole read was wildly charming, full of wit and adventure, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy with a side of gore. If I had any gripe, I would say that once or twice the humor/dialogue tries a bit too hard and lands flat. But that's honestly subjective and nitpicking. Fingers crossed we meet these characters again in a follow-up novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC Copy!

I had so much fun with this story. One of the main characters is Lazlo who is a demon who works in a corporate setting and it was like a cross between the Office and Hazbin Hotel. Our FMC Maggie is sassy and determined, and the brother Lump is just the comedic relief that is needed to tie this story up in a fun little bow.

Cozy horror is growing into one of my favorite genres and though there are instances of body horror, its nothing that is too extreme.

The writing was so enjoyable and just the right amount of dark comedy to keep me hooked from start to finish.

I think in the description of the book they compare this to a Neil Gaiman-esque story and I completely agree. This book was funny, interesting and kept me interested throughout the entirety of it. Towards the end it got a little much in terms of keeping up with what was happening, but that for me didn't make it any less enjoyable.
I love a good coming of age/brother sister adventure/funny demon book and this one really nails it.
This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out his other work! I will definitely be recommending this to others!

The Witchstone is a hilarious read following Lazlo, Maggie, and Lump's riotous adventure to break the Drakeford curse.
Maggie and her family are cursed after her ancestor burned a witch. The curse damns the Drakeford's to slowly transform into a scaley, sludgy parasite. Lazlo is a lazy grade 3 demon with an important daddy who is the Drakeford's Curse Keeper. Due to his laziness over the centuries he has been called in for inspection as the curse has been neglected; as a result he has been given 6 days to mend his ways or be put through the Crucible and melted into an ooze.
In order to improve his record he has to enlist the help of the Drakeford's under the guise of breaking their curse.
The Witchstone is an action packed adventure with many riotious laughs along the way. I absolutely love the mixture of the modern world with ancient curses, and corporate Hell. It was spectacular!

Highly recommend adding to your TBR!

Thank you to Henry H. Neff, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for this advanced copy.
**I received this advanced copy for free, but have willingly left this review**

What a fun romp! Never thought I’d come to love a demon character but page after page Lazlo grew one me. I really loved the settings and challenges the trio faced and especially loved the side characters of Clarance and the Signora. (Can we please get a book 2 involving the Signora and Maggie making good on the promise?? Such juicy characters)

Recommended for readers who enjoy tropes of chosen one, curses, Faustian bargains and absurdism comedy! What a good time

Thank you NetGalley,

This book was marketed as The Good Place meets American Gods. I haven’t read American gods but I love the Good Place. But this book does not have the same humor or charming characters as the Good Place. I am a little disappointed.

For fans of:
- Masters of Death
- When Among Crows
- A Sorceress Comes to Call
- Evocation

The Drakeford family has been plagued by a horrible curse for centuries. Generations upon generations have met a miserable ending, their humanity slowly slipping away from them until they devolve into wretched monsters and die. Maggie is the most recent Drakeford to succumb to the curse, but she hasn't resigned herself to her fate just yet. She dreams of living a normal life and one day freeing herself and her little brother, Lump, from the =ir curse. When opportunity comes knocking in the shape of a sleazy demon called Laszlo, she decides to do whatever it takes to free the Drakefords.

This book includes:
- incredibly witty platonic banter
- demons with desk jobs
- ancient beings and their political machinations
- a dreadful curse
- unreliable allies
- strained family dynamics
- the modern supernatural

If you love clever characters and high-stakes quests, "the Witchstone" is for you. I enjoyed this story immensely. The wit and banter between Laszlo, Maggie, and Lump while they followed the demon through an international scavenger hunt had me giggling while I read. "The Witchstone" was very well written and totally immersed me in its world. I also felt like there was significant depth to the curse beyond the supernatural. Maggie was also fighting against psychological generational curses, and I loved that the author included that, instead of just resting on the spookiness. Still, the book manages to be lighthearted a fun whilst exploring deeper themes.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Veronica Roth for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

Years ago, my son and I devoured Henry Neff’s Hound of Rowan series, which are fine examples of fantasy writing for older kids and fantasy-loving adults. I was intrigued when I saw The Witchstone, Neff’s debut novel specifically for adults. I was not disappointed. At all.

Neff’s storytelling ability shines here as he develops characters that leap off the page and who are caught up in one of the most unusual stories I’ve read in a while. There are certainly some traditional storytelling conventions here - such as the quest at the heart of the story taken up by three “heroes.” But this is a kickass quest tale bookended by a terrible curse and an epic battle (which cemented my thought that this would make an awesome movie!)

The level of imagination on display in this story combined with the skillful writing secures Neff’s spot as one of the best fantasy writers of his generation. I was reminded a bit of Alex Grecian’s Red Rabbit and definitely had some Christopher Moore vibes from Laszlo.

Highly recommended.

This book was an absolute hoot, and I devoured it like the perfect extra dirty martini. "The Witchstone" is a captivating fantasy novel that effortlessly weaves together humor, adventure, magic, and mystery. Neff's storytelling prowess shines through in his richly imagined world and well-developed characters, each with their own unique quirks and motivations. I laughed out loud several times at Lazslo's quips and antics. Overall, "The Witchstone" is a must-read for fans of sardonic demon main characters offering a spellbinding journey that leaves a lasting impression.

I was IMMEDIATELY hooked. I read the first chapter and the whole writing style had it playing out like a movie in my head! The cover got me. Then I read the description and I knew it would be right up my alley. The whole premise of the Demon Society is so cool. The structure was set up, and the way it was mapped out so clearly so you weren't confused which could have been by the complexity of it. I am a fan! I would have paid full price and more for this book!!

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!

This book is a fast paced and laugh-out hilarious read that will have you devouring pages of this story! Laszlo is a level III demon who has been slacking off big time on his curse keeping job responsibilities. When the boss comes to the office to do a major shake down on demons doing their work, Laszlo is given six days to work with the Drakeford family's generational curse in exchange for staying alive. This is a sobering slap in the face for Laszlo who has gotten used to keeping life interesting: sipping martinis, some light thievery here and there, messing with humans, and keeping life interesting after existing for nearly eight centuries. As he works with the two young Drakefords, Maggie and her brother George, none of them could have foreseen the adventures waiting for them as the time to break this curse relentlessly comes close to running out.

The characters are well defined and plucky, the pacing is great! It has a delightful lord of the rings feel to it as we find our characters thrown together on a mission. We also come across many magical creatures that round out this world. I really enjoyed this book, especially with Maggie being a very strong and resilient female lead who is determined to make her own story. 5 Stars and I'm hoping that this might become a series as it's so much fun.

I unfortunately wasn't enjoying the writing style or Laszlo much and vowed to give it 50 pages. Even more unfortunate was around that mark the female character is introduced with an attempted sexual assault. So, I looked at some reviews and saw that was a recurring theme. I like dark books, I'm used to such scenes but this was not handled in a way that could work for me. Especially since it seems like that was part of the curse.