"#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets...

Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill - but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.

Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.

Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd...

What Zo doesn't yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn't quite comprehend - or risk being consumed by them."

The real mystery though it a Scottish groundskeeper in Louisiana?

I was really hoping to like this more than I did, I will give it 3 stars. I am usually an easily pleased reader, and I will say I tried to read this while I was on vacation while I was trying to get into this and that probably was part of the reason was why I didn't like it as much. Karen Marie Moning is usually one of my top authors.

I have no clue how to rate or review this book. On one hand, it was a great book with a killer cliffhanger for the ending. It was enough to really have me looking forward to the next book. On the other hand, I really disliked the main character Zo ( and yes, that is what she prefers to be called). I found her to be childish in the extreme; as much as she was an adult taking care of her ailing mother, she was selfish when it came to other things. She never wanted to listen to anyone who might know more about what was happening; she never wanted to hear what was good for her. I did, however, love a lot of the other characters in this book.

The chapters were filled with Zo's angst, sexual thoughts, and long-winded ramblings, which I found annoying to the extreme. However, when there was someone else there or some action going on, it was a great book that allowed me to get lost in it. Unfortunately, those sections were few and far between. It was still enough for me to 'like' this book and to want to see what happens next.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all.

WOW! This book is absolutely, positively amazing! The story drew me in and captivated me from the very beginning!

The setting comes alive with the author's descriptions! The characters--so well fleshed out that I believe they actually breathe on the pages! And the plot--surely it was taken from the author's experiences, otherwise, how could she have written this?

5 stars!

I was not really sure what to expect from this new series but this book has exceeded my expectations! KMM has a true talent for creating an immersive, lush and vibrant atmosphere with her words and I immediately felt drawn into the story and characters. I also really like a book where I can’t guess immediately where the plot is going. I am so excited to see where the second book takes us because I feel like Zo still has no idea what is going on and hello cliffhanger!!
If you are needing a book to help you get into the fall, spooky season mood this book will definitely do it!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a great fall read. Haunted house vibes, magic and a lot of mystery that ends on such a cliffhanger. So incredibly atmospheric, perfect for cuddling on the couch with a warm mug of something.

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. It was a DNF about 30%. I have loved all of KMM's books but this one didn't hold my attention at all. It was confusing and honestly I just didn't want to pick it up to read.

Urban Fantasy Steamy Romance following a young woman grieving the loss of her mother moves to Louisiana to inherit a fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets.

4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Moning's Watch Hill Trilogy series, which is a Urban Fantasy Steamy Romance that features a woman who's reeling from the sudden death of her mother learns she's been left an inheritance by a distant relative. The terms: a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that she must live in it, alone, for three years. Destitute and alone, she puts aside her misgivings and moves into the foreboding Gothic mansion where she uncovers truths about her own history and learns that she has powerful dormant magical powers. But someone doesn't want to be be heir and she'll find herself facing off against sinister forces bent on stopping her from reaching her powerful potential and making her claim. The magical world Moning's crafted is well-crafted, loosely based on Celtic/Scottish folklore and traditions. Moning's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Zo's been through a lot and it's great to see her learn who she really is and grow into her burgeoning powers. There is an occasional secondary POV that's very mysterious and provides an interesting viewpoint; I can't wait to find out who they are. Additionally, I really like Mr Balfour and Rufus, the Stygian owl. Zo has sex with several different men (this isn't a Why Choose or Polyamourous book and there's no cheating.) And I have to say Moning brings the heat with incredibly sexy OPS scenes. Moning takes on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book, the ending really left me hanging!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is the kind of story that will haunt you for weeks in the best way -- from the beginning, I had so many questions, and for every answer that was uncovered, several more questions appeared. I. was.. hooked. The way KMM revealed the world was so beautiful - peace by peace, in a pace that made sense for the protagonist - it kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. The House at Watch Hill was so curious, so mysterious, that exploring it alone was magnificent, but when you add in the fascinating townspeople, the unusual society, and the expectations that come with The House, I was absolutely entranced. I did not want to put this book down. I found myself daydreaming about the House when I was working, or driving, or trying to fall asleep. I was surprised when I had the delightfully eerie sensation that there was more going on as I was up late reading. I have been thinking about this story for weeks since finishing it. I want to read this book again and again, because I am certain that every time I do, the House at Watch Hill will unveil something new. Book two cannot come soon enough!

I’ve never really been a fan of witchy books, but that seems to be changing now. I’ve read some great books about witches recently and this one is no exception.

This book was spooky and atmospheric. There were witches and vampires and old spirits in a house. One scene spooked me out enough, I was thinking of it when I woke up in the middle of the night! Still couldn’t wait to wake up and continue reading though.

This is my first KMM book, but after reading The House At Watch Hill, I am sure it will not be my last. Great book, and perfect for the upcoming spooky season!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zodeckymira "Zo" Grey has had a rough life of always being on the move and never staying in one place long enough to establish roots. It's always been Zo and her mom Joanna. Then tragedy strikes leaving Zo with more questions than answers. Zo is brought to Divinity where she's considered The Cameron Heir. Zo doesn't know what to make of all this. Yet she finds purpose and meaning in staying. Is she really The Cameron Heir? What does that mean exactly? Find out in The House at Watch Hill.

I would like to thank HarperCollins Publisher for this ARC via Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

First of all Karen Marie Moning is finally back!!!!!

I was so excited to get this ARC because I am such a huge fan. I will say the first part of the book felt very hard to get through because it’s so much world building and character building but not a lot actually happening. Then you get to part two and things start to happen and I couldn’t put the book down.

What started off as maybe a 3/5 star book for me ended up a 5/5 star book for me. That ending!! Holy cow! I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series I will definitely read everything she writes.

Zo grey has just lost her mother and found out she’s set to inherit a huge mansion and hundreds of millions of dollars from someone she’s never met or even heard of. The only stipulation is she has to stay in the house for three years.

Now I thought this was going to be more of a spooky haunted house book but it was actually more of a fantasy book. Still very good just not quite what I thought it was going to be.

5/5 stars and I would highly recommend this book and I will be buying a physical copy for my shelf.

Possible Triggers:
Death | Mild Gore

Final Thoughts:
You know, I went into this expecting more along the lines of some of the other books I have read from Karen Marie Moning, and I think that is where I went wrong. It's hard to remember that every new series is like a 100% new slab of stone that is eventually going to be a beautifully crafted finished piece of work. That being said, as a set up for a new series, I was very underwhelmed. We followed Zo Grey into a supernatural world that she had never realized existed. Something or someone is hinted at throughout the story, which is interesting but also very vague and it's never fleshed out.

I had such a hard time connecting with Zo. She was a pretty stereotypical clueless person thrown into a world of crazy that she has to deal with. Her ways of dealing are anger and release. Surprisingly, with the amount of lust she constantly comments upon, you’d think she’d actually DO something about it.

All in all, this was a paranormal spooky romance that had not so very many paranormal anythings discussed, almost no romance, and the spoop was mostly the chilling lack of the previous two. The ending was compelling enough to make me want to know if more excitement will happen in the books to come. I would be interested in reading the next to see if the story grows more as there is so much promise, but as a single installment it left me with a sense of “meh”.

We begin this book with the telling of our FMC, Zo Grey, applying and interviewing for a job. She recently lost her due to inconsistencies of her showing up and such due to her taking care of her mother, who has terminal cancer. When her mother then passes away very unexpectedly, they thought they would have a lot more time together. zo ends up inheriting a “House” in Divinity, Louisiana.

I really like the aspects of the story. I Like the world-building. I knew that KMM would be good here as I have read her highland books and Fever series. They are some of my favorites and what I have gone to over and over again for rereads.
I knew this was going to be fantasy but reading the blurb I didnt really know what flavor it was going to be. The highland series and fever both were more fae oriented. This was witches which I am defiantly happy with as the fall season is upon us so I felt this was perfect.
As this is the first book in a triology I can’t for the next one!

Great beginning to a new series. So different from the Fever series but just as good! Already looking forward to book two.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and I am so grateful to have received an ARC. It makes me sad to render such a negative review.

There were so many incredible details within this story, but the small yet prolific failings rendered the entire story irredeemable for me. Namely, the main character has a victim-mindset that bedraggles the entire book. While the atmosphere, setting, descriptions, etc. are fine, the entire venture falters because of the main character.

I’ll take my critiques of the main character in bites:
- Zo complains ceaselessly. To the point that if I could have thrown a bucket of ice water over her head, I would have.
- Every moment in which she describes her Scottish caretaker left me cringing and uncomfortable. It rises to pornographic objectification with little respect for his sentience, and I found this repelling. None of her descriptions or sentiments toward Mr. Scottish guy felt realistic. The phrasing made me deeply uncomfortable, especially given that the romance wasn’t developed well (or at all).
- She reacted to the memo like she never knew that she possessed magic powers, yet spoke of these magic powers prior to that moment… then had the audacity to act shocked? I’m just not going to give a character pity for panicking over a made-up problem, especially when it seems like her actual problems don’t really bug her.
- Zo didn’t seem to value a single thing other than clubbing, boys, and her bedroom design… even though her mom died under mysterious circumstances, there’s practically a cult running her new hometown, and she’s finding bodies in strange places… but sure, Zo, clubbing is SO important. It made her narration just wildly boring and drifted the entire story away from the plot itself. It felt like the story was happening around the character, but she paid so little attention that we didn’t actually get to see the true impact of the story. Zo was putting on a talent show in front of a movie screen, and all I wanted her to do was get out of the way. It was deeply unpleasant to be a passenger in this character’s head.

Overall, I don’t think there was anything I liked about this book. I had hoped it would feel gothic, but it seemed to abandon gothic in favor of fantasy, but didn’t truly succeed on either. The plot seemed to jump ship and abandon itself about half-way through the book, which left me simultaneously bored and nonplussed. Not a single twist surprised me. Worst yet, the novel seems to take itself way more seriously than the storyline suggests it is. At its heart, this is a story about a grieving woman who runs away to an interesting town to live in a weird house with weird people. The author adds so much fluff and half-baked philosophical theories about life that I couldn’t take it seriously. The language is flowery in a cheesy way, but not in a pleasant way—as though Zo tried to sound wise but lacked the observational skills. Nothing fit well. And I’m being nit-picky here, I suppose, but why even set a story in Louisiana if you aren’t going to have a lick of diversity resembling the actual state? This was not for me.

This book was fantastic! I absolutely loved every thing about it. Can not wait to read more by this author!

Wow! This book was rich! And I mean rich as in the emotion, the atmosphere, the danger and drama. Everything was so well developed and written that I felt as though I were enveloped within Zo’s world experiencing her loss and grief, the move into something more and then the ultimate revelations that were waiting for her. And holy heck did things start to twist and turn until I was turning pages as quickly as I could. This book consumed me and I am desperate to know what happens next!

Excellent story. I didn't realize it was part of a trilogy until the end. A spectacular ending too.

Zo had not had an easy life so far. Her mother made them move often, not telling her why they were running. Her mother is murdered and she finds out she has inherited a gigantic house along with a boat load of money, but it comes with many contingencies. Some are nice (the money each month) but some are just strange. Also the first week she lives there, strange things start to happen and she discovers that she is not what she thought she was. Her mother has supressed her powers as a witch and now they were coming alive and she didn't always have control of them. I felt really bad for her and the choices that had been made for her without her knowledge. Her best friend, Este, knew she was a witch, but was ordered by her mother and Zo's mother to not tell her. Zo had a hard time forgiving this, but as she realizes her power, I think she will understand more of the why.

The whole book takes place in a couple weeks, but so much happens, it seems like longer. She realizes that most of the town is made up of different witch groups and it is difficult to know who to trust. There is also a warm vampire (Devlin) that you don't know what his intentions are. (besides getting in her bed) And then there is Alistair. I think I know what he is, but I have to wait for the next book to be sure. Kellan - I'm not sure what he is but he has a lot of power and they had one very hot night together.

This book was an excellent story and I can't wait until the next chapter comes out

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

This book was so intriguing!!! I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Definitely read this book! Great for spooky season with its gothic witchy vibes!