"...it was a House, with a capital H. And even now, far removed from that exquisite, terrible place and time, some nights as I drift to sleep, dreams reach for me with dark, ravenous tentacles"

Having taken care of my mother in her final years, the beginning of The House at Watch Hill packs a punch but it also sets the stage nicely, pulling you in. Zodeckymira Grey is an incredibly sympathetic character but she's no shrinking violet. I like her grit. The plotline is a nice mixture of mystery, magic, psychic ability and romance. The eloquent prose evokes older, classic literature. Despite not being the biggest fan of the "long lost heir" trope, KMM twists to make it her own in the most glorious fashion, she always has my fullest confidence and that was not misplaced. It's a slow build but totally worth it. This book 1 in the upcoming Watch Hill Trilogy, is a lot of getting to know the setting and players involved but by the end you're totally immersd. The male characters are, as usual with her books, chef's kiss perfection. When Zo says "Chocolate, chocolate everywhere, but not a bar to eat" I literally laughed out loud.

The Hill House/Rose Red type of gothic mansion that is basically alive is my absolute favorite part of any haunted house book. The description of the house on Watch Hill as "Crouching... [like a] a venomous spider presiding over the town, studying its meticulously spun web of streets below" won me over immediately. Being a fan of witchy tales AND a Karen Marie Moning super fan, it should come as no surprise that I loved every word of this book. I am going to be waiting on pins and needles for the next two books in the series to be written. I've already preordered multiple copies.

Zo Grey has just lost her mother & soon after finds out she is heiress to an extensive fortune which could solve all of her problems. But as the stipulations of will begin to unfold and she learns more about herself, she begins to question everything her mother ever told her. Can she survive Watch Hill or will it be the end for her?

The story follows Zo during one of the hardest times in her life. KMM does an amazing job of showcasing the emotions someone goes through when grieving a loved one & how easily it can be to latch onto something new that brings you hope. Before she knows what’s happening, Zo’s powers are fully awakened and she’s thrown into a life she isn’t sure she’s ready for but because of how heart broken she is, she’s willing to do anything. I enjoyed her building relationships with Devlin and James & also loved the relationship she had with Este. She proved to be a very strong MFC & truly wanted to do what is right. Although the cliffhanger ending was quite fitting for Zo’s story, I still wish it could’ve ended in such a way where you had some closure until the next book.

Thank you #Netgalley & William Morrow Publishers for an ARC for my honest review.

Rating 4.2

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review. I will share this review on my Goodreads, Tumblr, and Instagram.

Likes: I loved the magic in this story, I found its system quite intriguing and wanted to dive into it even deeper. Another aspect I loved was the development of the characters, particularly how the house was a character in itself. The book had its fun and quirky moments contrasted by mystery, suspense, and passion. I’ve been a fan of Karen Marie Moning for a while and this recent novel hits all the notes that are enjoyable within her work. Overall, I would certainly recommend this book if you are already a fan of the author and even if this is your first venture into her worlds.

Dislikes: That being said, there were a few things I didn’t enjoy. First, I found the book to have an extremely slow start. It was so slow that I almost DNF’d it because of how uninteresting it was. However, I pushed through despite the overly descriptive elements of the prose. It felt as if Moning didn’t trust the reader to understand what she wished to convey, which was a shame. Another aspect I didn’t enjoy was the overuse of curse words. This is a personal preference, but there were A LOT. To be clear, I don’t mind curse words, I simply felt their abundance here was not necessary and it constantly threw me out of the story.

Final Verdict: Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I would recommend this novel to others who also enjoy fantasy/paranormal romance.

3.5 ⭐️
After horrible loss and tragedy, a bereft Zodeckymira Gray is in disbelief that she is the sole heir to a massive inheritance. With nothing but hope and a tired heart, Zo makes her way to Divinity, Louisiana to see if her life will finally change for the better. She discovers that not only is she now extremely wealthy, the inheritance comes with an entire witch coven to lead and protect as well as overseeing the welfare of Divinity as a community. She must stay and agree to all terms to fully become the heiress, including the requirement of living alone in the hulking, gothic monstrosity of a manor built on Watch Hill for three entire years. As she settles into her new life, she soon realizes that a lot of people have reasons to prevent her from becoming the new coven leader and official beneficiary of the Cameron estate; Zo must navigate and choose who to trust in a new town with all new faces and a long, seemingly dark history full of warring witch clans and power-hungry witches. Everyone seems to be holding their secrets close, and somebody in the town definitely wants Zo to find her early grave in The House at Watch Hill.

The world Moning has created is shrouded in mystery and unknown dangers for Zo, but so far we know there are witches and covens, vampires, shapeshifters…and potentially so much more. I loved the idea of warring witch communities–especially the battle between light and dark magic. Moning lovingly crafted themes of legacy, the power of choice, and female empowerment throughout her book. From various relationships in Zo’s life to difficult decisions with no clear, right path to take, our main character is consistently reminded that above all, love provides the light to see both where to go next and where you have been. It is emphasized that Zo’s current choices are actively determining how the future unfolds for the town of Divinity–this is freeing for her but also damning, depending on the impact of them. As always, there are absolutely fantastic love interests–Jesse the bodyguard, Kellan the enigmatic stranger, and Devlin the Irish groundskeeper. Although not the focus of the story, the romance that is present is fun to read and is a bright spot of character connection. It seems Moning is shifting her writing from being structured around romance to being told around the “coming of age” of a character. More appropriately, I think it would be termed a “coming into her power” tale, since Zo is in her mid twenties in the book, but is not knowledgeable about the magical community, her past, nor her own magical powers. 
   
This book ends on a huge cliffhanger, which is both exciting and maddening. I think the story would have benefited from at least one culmination of an important story event. I feel like there was excellent anticipatory build up to big points in the plot, but then it sort of shies away from ever giving the reader any clear action. Perhaps, if it had another 200-300 pages developing the progression of the story, I would have better understood the more abrupt ending we were left with. Moning’s ability to build a complex world and her engaging, multidimensional characters are always solid…but this time we needed a bit more to feel like a complete plot line. This book is almost like a prequel, setting the stage for the next book, and I cannot wait to read it because it feels like half the book is missing! I need it in my life, fast.    

For those who love the warm feeling of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, the unsettling sentient presence in The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and the gothic, magical world with battles between good and evil witches like in Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, I highly recommend this book to you. The release date, October 1st, is also perfect timing for Fall and enjoying all things spooky and/or witchy.

Thank you so much Net Galley and William Morrow for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.
I will be posting this book to good reads and instagram! Links are on my NetGalley profile page!

The Fever Series has long been my favorite book series, and I thought nothing could touch it. But I was wrong, Karen Marie Moning has once again drawn me in with The House at Watch Hill. This first book of the series has all that I love about KMM’s writing, amazing characters, mystery, otherworldly themes, passion, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to read the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

4.25⭐️
Zo Gray is barely scraping by, trying to support her dying mother holding down as many jobs as she can get. When an abrupt fire takes their home, and her mother with it, Zo gets a chance to start over. In Divinity, LA. But starting over comes with cavers: she must stay, alone, in a seriously creepy mansion for three years. At the end of the time, she inherits ungodly amounts of money and more… but while that sounds too good to be true (and it might be) does Zo want the house and scrutiny? Does the house want HER?

This turned out much more interesting than it started. I was very confused in the beginning… we did not get an explanation on how Zo ended up going to Louisiana. There’s talk of a call, but I flipped back and didn’t see that happen on page? We also get many many things repeated throughout the story, phrases and descriptions that I personally wish had been altered. Also, I personally dislike when a character “always feels like they’re missing something” and in this book Zo talks about wishing she was magical as a kid… then she absolutely rebukes the fact magic is real, that she has it, and is livid about this fact. I’m sorry, I’d be ecstatic if I found out I had magic. Again, this is my personal opinion.

Overall I really enjoyed the way things unfolded at the end and will look forward to seeing where the series goes in the future. It’s rare that I don’t exactly predict how scenarios play out and while I was correct about the who’s, I was not correct about the how’s.

The House at Watch Hill is a beautifully tragic, magical, and mysterious book. I was hanging on every word and, like Zo, I had no idea who or what to trust. There is a darkness that surrounds Zo, not only does she not know who she is but she doesn’t even know what she is up against. Even as she starts to unravel her history, most questions remain unanswered. Karen Marie Moning’s writing is incredibly vivid and moving, I felt Zo’s emotions and the dark whimsy of Divinity.

Karen Marie Moning's The House at Watch Hill is a chilling tapestry woven with threads of suspense, desire, and dark enchantment. From the first page, Moning casts a spell over her readers.

The house itself is a character, a looming specter that breathes with the echoes of its tragic past. Moning masterfully evokes a sense of creeping dread, her prose like a knife's edge, sharp and unyielding. The story unravels with the elegance of a nightmare, each twist tightening the noose around the reader's throat until escape seems impossible.

This is a deliciously dark feast for those who crave the macabre. Moning's ability to blend sensuality with terror is nothing short of intoxicating, and her tale will linger long after the final page is turned, like the echo of a distant scream in the dead of night.

“The House at Watch Hill” is the first book in a new series by Karen Marie Moning. It was a rather slow start, but I was soon drawn in to the quirky Zo and the unusual residents of Divinity, Louisiana. Zo is dirt poor, unemployed, and caring for her dying mother when her life takes a 180 degree turn where she inherits a mansion in Divinity along with millions of dollars IF, and only if, she follows the very strict rules set forth by her dead relative, the previous reigning “monarch” of Divinity. The book ended with too many questions unanswered, even for a first book of a series. I was hoping for a Hill House type mansion, but instead got a weird house with a lot of old rooms and warring witch factions. Zo, herself, was not a terribly likable character, so you couldn’t call her a heroine and by the end of the book, I’m not sure I even liked her. Still, I will give the series a chance in the hopes that the second book fills in more gaps and we have someone to root for. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning
Book 1 of The Watch Hill Trilogy

4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Romance
Format: ebook ARC (thanks @NetGalley)

Loved:
*Intrigue/mystery
*House
*Zo's character development
*Este
*Magic system

Loved Less:
*Too many curse words
*Description Diarrhea
*Too verbose

Description:
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 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.

My opinion:
Excellent storyline with well developed figures who continue to grow throughout the novel especially Zo. Este and James are both charming side characters! Moning keeps you guessing and on your toes with the mystery and intrigue. The magic system including the mansion is quite entertaining. There is way too much cursing that does not further the storyline for my personal preferences. Moning spends too much time/words on describing anything and everything (2 pages to describe a bar and 3 to describe a garden.) Not only that, but she constantly uses huge words that are not normally used in daily conversations or internal thoughts. This novel really sets up for the next 2 books in the trilogy and i cannot wait to read them. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Paranormal romance and/or fantasy.

#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #fantasybooks #magicbook #booktok

The House at Watch Hill is an intriguing read that I couldn't help but devour. I found myself easily swept up in Zo's story. Even though she frustrated me at times, I understood where she was coming from and found her devotion and hardships relatable.

I thought the author did a great job creating a web of mystery and intrigue. I enjoyed the whole process of trying to figure things out. There are a lot of odd/strange things and secrets everyone was privy to except Zo.

As far as romance goes, I wouldn't consider this book a romance. There is definitely steam and chemistry with certain characters, but it wasn't the focus of this story. I'm looking forward to seeing the romance expanded upon.

The House at Watch Hill isn't without its issues and imperfections. The pacing felt a bit off at times, which I attributed to the world-building. There is a lot of story to build and secrets to uncover. But now that the stage has been set, I look forward to seeing how everything will play out.

Overall, I think this series is off to a great start. I've got a ton of questions and look forward to getting them answered. The House at Watch Hill ended with one delicious cliffhanger that will leave you anxious to get your hands on the next book. I certainly can't wait to find out what happens next.

I enjoyed the early Fever books a lot, but I'm substantially older now than I was when I first read them, and it is possible that Moning's work just isn't for me anymore.

I really liked the ghost/house story. What I didn't really care for was the romance - that is not my thing. It never really was, although it was easier for me to deal with it when I was younger. These days I find it distracting, particularly when the underlying mystery or story is compelling - as it was here.

I also felt like it struggled a little by forcing it into a position as a setup for future installments in the trilogy. Usually it's the second book where you get weighed down with exposition and backstory and explanation, but this one felt like it was setting things up more than telling its own story and I found that a little wearing after a while.

I’d say this book has a solid beginning and a solid ending, but everything in between felt more like a set up. We’re left with far more questions than answers and overall there was so much potential:

Maybe if this had been the first half of one book with a whole second half it would have been better? I’m not quite sure what it was that did throw me off.

I will say, I definitely will be reading the next book though!

I genuinely liked the premise of this book -- girl with sick mother always scrambling to make ends meet finds out she's the heiress to a wealthy philanthropist and inherits a strange house in a weird town. However, this read like a slightly altered Darkfever to me. Instead of Fae, we have witches; instead of whatever Barrons was we have vampires. The issues I had with Mac as a main character I also had with Zo. Despite caring for her always sick mother, Zo is a very self centered character. Her entire personality is anger, sex, and more anger. She's a very manic character which I think was supposed to show her grief, but it didn't feel genuine. The story moved at a fairly slow pace and then sprinted to the finish and ended on a predictable cliffhanger. The dialogue felt off in various places and I think it could definitely do with another editing pass. I'm undecided if I will continue on with the series, even if I am curious as to how it will all play out.

My Honest Review
The House At Watch Hill
By Karen Marie Moning

What an interesting read. I did enjoy reading it but can definitely tell this is a start to a series so felt like there were so so many more questions and half answered responses. However, there was fair share of cringy moments and MFC felt a bit flat for me. More than likely I’ll follow up with the next one.

📚Expected Release October 1, 2024📚
Thank you William Morrow, NetGalley, & the brilliant author Karen Marie Moning. I’m super appreciative for the opportunity.📚

I loved Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series and was hoping to love this book too. Unfortunately, it was barely “okay”.

Zo has lived a nomadic life, seemingly always on the run from an unknown threat with her sick mother. When a tragic fire takes her mom’s life, something awakens in Zo. Before she can explore it or grieve her mother’s death, she is contacted by a lawyer who says she is the heir to millions and a home in an idyllic town in Louisiana. She travels there to discover that the inheritance comes with many strings and begins to learn about her witchy roots.

The first 25% of the book moved at a good pace and was engaging. It dragged a bit in the middle and seemed to be gearing up to something at the end, but instead of even a small resolution/revelation, it ended on a cliffhanger and not even a good one. Some of the dialogue seemed stiff and the chapters were far too long (personal preference - but 30 minute chapters feel like they drag and is too long between stopping points to talk myself into “just one more chapter”). The story was told mostly from Zo’s POV, but there was an occasional chapter thrown in from an “Alisdair” but we never learn who this is or how they are connected to Zo or her story. Overall, this isn’t the caliber of book I was expecting from Karen Marie Moning. 2.75⭐️

This one was just fine. It really felt like it took awhile to get started only to end on a cliffhanger. It was pretty cookie cutter. Still love and will always read KMM!

Zo Grey, twenty-four years old and alone in the world, has just lost her mother in a gruesome way. She has no family left, or so Zo thought, when she is contacted by a lawyer in the rural town of Divinity, Louisiana, regarding an inheritance of a huge manor house and its attendant fortune. Zo is in a very dark place having been devoted to her mother who constantly moved them from place to place during her childhood. Drowning in grief and debt from her mother’s illness, Zo takes what seems like a lifeline leaving dark and dreary Indiana for the sultry, swampy, and mysterious environs of what may be her new home.

As soon as Zo arrives, things get really strange especially in the mansion that dominates the town. Not only is it huge, but Watch Hill has more secrets than can seem possible. Menacing forces are at work and most stunning to Zo, she finds out that the supernatural world is not just a fairy tale or in this case, a possible horror story. Zo is dragged into a strange environment with rules she does not understand and pushed unknowingly into her nascent witch powers.

This first book in this new series reads like a horror gothic Women’s Fiction with a witchy feel. Zo is so depressed and angry from the major loss as well as freaked out by her new environment that it takes some time get to know her beyond the turmoil of her emotions. This story, with its high angst level, has quite a bit of internal monologue that bogs it down at times. While this is a new trilogy, there is a connection to one of the author’s previous series especially since the founders of the town are of Celtic origins. The story has a slow build to get to the action; fair warning, this first book ends on a cliffhanger.

I absolutely loved this book! Karen has been one of my favorite authors for years and this book is on par with her other series I love. It had lots of world building but each detail seemed important and not just fluff. The twist at the end has me begging for the next book already!

"The House at Watch Hill" by Karen Marie Moning is a hauntingly atmospheric tale that weaves together mystery, romance, and the supernatural. Set in a secluded mansion with a dark past, the story captivates with its eerie setting and the slowly unraveling secrets of its characters. Moning's lyrical writing and ability to build suspense make this book a mesmerizing and unforgettable read.