Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read The House of Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning in exchange for my honest review.

The House at Watch Hill presents a promising premise: Zo Grey, an orphan reeling from her mother’s sudden death, inherits a mysterious mansion in the enigmatic town of Divinity, Louisiana. With an inheritance tied to a peculiar condition—she must live alone in the house for three years—Zo embarks on a journey filled with secrets, magic, and unsettling encounters. However, despite the gripping setup, I felt the novel struggles to deliver on its potential.

What worked for me - The town of Divinity is one of the most intriguing aspects. The idea of a hidden town, accessible only to those with enough power or a special invitation, was a fun twist and created a sense of mystery that I enjoyed.

The house itself, with its Gothic, foreboding presence, feels like a character, filled with secrets and oddities—doors leading nowhere, mysterious rooms, and the unsettling presence of the owl.

Moning’s writing strength lies in world-building, and she does a commendable job of establishing a mystical setting.

What didn’t work for me - Unfortunately, the pacing drags significantly in the middle. Despite the initial excitement, the story becomes bogged down by an overload of details. I found myself getting lost in the details and not in a fun way.

Though Zo is meant to be lost and struggling with her newfound powers, her characterization leans heavily into a confused girl with a high libido, caught between multiple love interests which reminds me of Moning's Fever series. I hope Zo’s development, both in terms of her magical abilities and maturity grows in the next book.

Zo’s dormant magic is only half-explained, and the "sinister forces" mentioned in the blurb are largely absent from the plot. The book feels more like a setup for the rest of the series rather than a story that can stand on its own. By the end, readers are left with more questions than answers, which can be frustrating, especially when paired with an ambiguous cliffhanger.

Overall The House at Watch Hill feels like a prelude to a larger narrative. While Moning’s talent for world-building shines, and the concept of rival witch communities holds promise, the novel falls short in pacing and character depth. As a huge fan of her Fever series, I appreciated the world-building, the atmosphere, and the setup for future books, which I’d say she is known for. But, for me, The House at Watch Hill left me wanting more, but not in a good way. I don’t know if I’d come back for book two.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Its been a minute since I have read any of Karen Marie Moning's books and she has not lost her touch!

This is story about a woman who is taking care of her dying mother while trying to get by in life. On this day, she felt her mom's death and a whole new world opens up for her. She discovers that she has inherited a Louisiana mansion which leads her on a path to witchy discovery filled with lies, twists, learning and ruling.

This is a slow build but a fun read that picks up about the middle of the book! Recommend!!!

I cannot wait for the next book! This was the perfect start to spooky season read, a witchy maybe-haunted house, a questionable inheritance, and a protective morally gray MMC- sign me up!

I do feel that the pacing was slow in some places and there were some scenes that happened off page that I wanted to read.

Otherwise, I'm hooked!

“‘Where there is love, there is no law.’
I was very excited to start this new book because I am a big fan on this author and have been for many years. Her writing has changed so much. This is the first in a new trilogy. Not my favorite but also not bad .I guess because it’s so different. That ending did have me shocked. So I’ll give the next one a try because now I need answers.

If you had heard the volume of my squee when I saw that Karen Marie Moning has begun a new paranormal series, you would also be absolutely running to buy this new book!!!!!

Zo is in a really hard place in her life and her mom is dying. What will happen to her if the worst happens? Will she find out her mom's secrets? Why is there suddenly all the good fortune happening in her life? There must be a catch...

I have yet to read anything by Karen Marie Moning and not love it. She is the absolute best at transporting the reader to a new world, you really should read this new series.

I was obsessed with Karen Marie Moning’s fever series in college and my early 20s - the girl was writing about fae BEFORE it was cool - and I jumped (and begged) at the chance to read her newest book.

Synopsis:
Zo Grey has worked her booty off trying to provide for herself and her sick mom. But shortly after her mom dies, she receives a call from an attorney about a long-lost relative and she’s inherited a fortune. But there’s stipulations.

My Thoughts:
I had no idea this was about witches (I should read a synopsis sometimes but I just ran when I saw the author), so I was pleasantly surprised to read it with my love of witchy books.

It’s hard not comparing it to her past books, but this gave strong “book one” vibes. There’s a lot of world building and trying to figure out how everything plays out, but the world is rich and unique and I’m very excited to continue reading to see how it comes together. (Especially after that cliff hanger!) I loved the different houses of witches, and the town. Just a solid start to a series!

What You’ll Find:
🔮Witches
🪄Magic
🔍Mystery
🦉Pet owl
🏠Quirky house
🖤Romantic connection but not a romance
🌋Cliffhanger

24 year old Zo Grey is no stranger to hard work and a nomadic lifestyle,as her childhood was spent hopping from town to town.Now as an adult a similar pattern follows but with jobs as she moves from one mediocre waitressing position to the next, working to keep her mother as comfortable as possible as she fights the cancer attacking her body. However,when a tragic fire takes everything from Zo she has left devastated and now alone. Along with the loss of her mother Zo receives word that she has inherited an estate in Divinity Louisiana.For the first time in her life she finds herself in no need of a job and surrounded by enormous wealth. Her new home however comes with eccentric and controlling rules, as well as eerily unexplored halls filled with ancient secrets. Secrets of magic,wonder,and danger that both terrify and intrigue Zo.

The House at Watch Hill was my first Karen Marie Moning read and I loved every second of this perfectly blended atmospheric Gothic fantasy.We’re given a strange hauntingly eerie and also beautiful manor on a hill,long held magical secrets,
witches,grimoires,shapeshifters,scottish runes,and vampires! All of which are elements that I so deeply love in my reads. Add in the immersive gothic mystery and romance of the story and I was completely engrossed in this occult world that Moning created.The plot moves at a delicious slow burn that by the end will have you screaming for the need of the sequel immediately! Simply put if you’re looking for the perfect fall witchy read this spooky season you absolutely have to pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.

The House at Watch Hill comes out October 1st 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a Karen Marie Moning fan ever since reading the Fever series, and I had super high expectations because she was the author that spiked my love for reading. i am STOKED to say this book hit the right spot. Perfect for the spooky season, and beautiful new characters to obsess over. I am excited to re-read this again when it comes out with my friends and book clubs.

The main character, Zo, has no money and no family. She’s been told she has an inheritance and a house in Divinity, Louisiana. Once she arrives things aren’t what they seem to be.
This book immediately pulled me in. The middle did drag a bit as the author had to build this new world she’s writing. I decided to trust the process. I’m a huge Karen Moning fan, and the end of this book did not disappoint. The writing was interesting. The world was even more interesting. I loved the characters, and I can’t wait for the next one to see what happens next! The ending had my heart thumping.
Huge thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book.

Karen Marie Moning is back with a vengeance, readers. If you loved her fae series, then get ready to be scorched by her witches!

Moning’s newest draws from haunted house lore and builds an elaborate feminist saga.

Zo will, no doubt, go down as an icon. I loved Moning’s Fever series and this is such an incredible launch— I am absolutely hooked.

The premise of the book sounds familiar. Young woman in dire straits suddenly learns she will inherit a house and a lot of money if she relocates--in this case, to Divinity, Louisiana--and stays in the house for 3 years. Intriguing? I thought so. But that's where the similarity to other books I've read stops.

What the book description doesn't say is that this is a Gothic fantasy, replete with warring witches, vampires, violence, and raw sex. Fans of this popular author's books are loving it, but it just wasn't for me. I did enjoy some of the description of the mansion and its grounds. The plot development, however, is somewhat repetitive, and Zo Grey, the protagonist, seems largely unlikeable. The book ends abruptly with a cliffhanger, and I'm certain devotees of this genre will be eagerly waiting for the next in the series.

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book,

This one is a special one for me, friends. Karen Marie Moning quite literally put a spell on me with her Fever Series 8ish years ago after my daughter was born. I also listened to her Highlander series in the wee hours of the night while feeding my son. So, naturally, this is my most anticipated release of the year, and it did not disappoint!

This story features a headstrong heroine who doesn't know who she can trust as she is thrusted into a life filled with witches, covens, vampires, shift-shapers AND a gothic mansion that's equally dark and light. It's basically the epitome of fall. What more could you want?, Some will undoubtedly find it a bit slow, because there's a lot of story building going on, and she has to set the stage for things to happen in the next book (as with any fantasy). However, that ENDING. You will be gasping for more. I love fantasies that are intricately built in their own world with their own set of rules, but what I love even more is when a person living in the real world is abruptly catapulted into an existence with magical beings questioning the life they thought they knew. It's why we all love Harry Potter. No one does this better than Karen Marie Moning (in my opinion), and I am just feral over anything she writes. She came out swinging in this newest series, and I simply cannot wait for book two.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Karen Marie Moning in years and it’s a winner. Moning has always written Fantasy with a deft hand and The House on Watch Hill is no exception. As this is the beginning of a series, there is a lot of world building and explanation, but I never found it tiresome. I was captivated by this new world and began to see things through Zo’s eyes. Zo’s grief and process of going through her mourning were relatable and spot on. The secondary characters were fully realized and I found myself caring about them just as much as Zo. I can’t wait to see what happens next, as there were questions left open at the end of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy of this book.

I went in to this book expecting something slightly different then I got. I was expecting a Gothic Fantasy romance with some mystery involved. I Loved the Atmosphere in this book the Gothic Witchy small town vibes, However I do feel there were a few times when way to much description was given and it pulled me out of the story. The romance in this book was very sporadic and highly lacking I expected it to have more of focus but we really only got it in the last 25-30% and the FMC drove me insane but I think by the end of the book why she was written that way made more sense. I did enjoy the world and the writing and am curious to know what happens next.

Oh man, I wanted to love this as much as the Feber series, and I am sure I will...once the story progresses. This was a set uo..and I mean a LOT of set up! Excessively so. Almost like KMM had an idea but was too scattered to find the flow. I will.be reading book 2 though!I love that the house is an entity. The town sounds great. The men , meh,. The friendship, real. A solid start.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really loved this book. I was already a KMM and this book only solidified that. You are able to really get to know the character as there is a lot of inner monologue (which occasionally got long winded,’one of my only criticisms). The plot had you constantly going in different directions with your thinking on who to trust. Information is gathered almost painfully slowly, but that is part of what keeps you so intrigued and unable to put it down. At the end, there are still many unanswered questions, so I look forward to the next installment!

Oh my goodness! When they say the Morning fandom doesn't need to read any synopsis of a new Karen Moning book coming out. It's so true! Just hit yes to preorder a copy. Don't read what it will be about. The author is Karen Moning. The book is going to be delicious! This book absolutely is delicious! I preordered a physical copy as well and can't wait to read it again.

Loved the premise, but Zo was not engaging. I nearly stopped and DNF'd 1/4 way through. It was grindingly sad at the start. It did pick up, and I will read the next because there is some great mystery's in the house. Not really up to par with the Fever series. 3 stars.

Such a great book to read. i didn't want to put it down. Karen writes such captivating characters and settings.

With the utmost excitement, I cracked open the first pages of Karen Marie Moning’s newest book, The House on Watch Hill! This is the perfect witchy novel to kick off October's spooky season.

As always with a new series, the first volume is filled with character-building and introductions. It almost felt nostalgic reading KMM’s notable prose, as she is a master of creative writing and innovative sentence structure. Oh, how I’ve missed it.

So open a window and light a pumpkin-scented candle because the stage has been set for another epic series from the incomparable Karen Marie Moning.

~KT Book Reviews