The House at Watch Hill is masterfully written and a must-read, regardless of genre. I must admit, since KMM Fever Series, I have eagerly awaited this new series, and it did not disappoint. H@WH is completely unique in its storyline and delivery.
Zo Cameron is a 24 year old young woman with no home, family, and drowning in grief. When an unknown relative passes, Zo has the chance at a whole new life and having a home. Of course, H@WH is not so simple a story like that. Zo is shrouded in mystery in a house that is beyond freaky.
Throughout the novel, we see Zo question everything she knows while getting little hints of what's to come that really suck you in even more. The whole book sucks you in with its detailed descriptions and leaves you guessing at everything. I sort of felt this book was like a mounsterous storm building in the summertime, you can see the sky darkening, clouds gather, hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, feel the ground thrum as the sound of thunder gets louder and the humidity in the air feels like an oppressive blanket weighing you down. You just know it's gonna be a crazy storm. That is how The House at Watch Hill made me feel while reading it. I am seriously dying to know what more will happen. Amazing storytelling.

What did I like? I loved the premise of a secret inheritance set in a spooky Louisiana town. Because of course, that's going to come with some strings attached. While the first 1/3 of the book was slow after that I did find myself wanting to pick up the book and find out what would happen.

What didn't I like? While I loved the spooky Louisiana house with a secret inheritance premise, the plot is predictable and does feel a bit "been there, done that." You know the "young adult with dead parents discovers she's secretly the heir to a fortune and has magical powers, but come to think of it didn't the powers make sense because of this secret ability she knew about that wasn't mentioned in the first 40% of the book" plot? It felt like it could have been handled with more finesse, and better woven throughout the book. I likely could have overlooked this if more happened. Seriously, almost nothing happens in the book, the main character Zo builds no real relationships and learns nothing about her heritage or background. I wish this had either been longer with a more meaningful plot or that it had been condensed into about 4 chapters and added to the next book. Because the entire thing feels like a barely relevant prologue rather than a meaningful beginning to a series.


Unfortunatly, not only does Zo not have much going on, she is unlikeable. She is constantly whining and complaining about her life, crying about the loss of her mother, all while doing nothing but going with the flow of whatever comes at her. This gives her all the personality and backbone of a wet noodle. She continually thinks about sex and one-night stands, not in an "I'm 24" way but in a desperate "look how cool and detached I am" way. Because it's just her obsessing over a series of men while simultaneously insisting she never cares about men, there's no real love interest in the book. There can't be, she never actually gets to know anyone.


Who's it for? I would recommend it to fans of books about witches and vampires who don't mind that this book feels like the set-up for a series and is a bit light on a distinctive plot. Despite the amount of time the FMC spends thinking about sex, there is no spice in the book, and there is no romantic relationship.

I LOVE Karen Moning's writing and books but it's been a minute since I've read anything from her. As soon as I saw she was the author of this I requested it, and SIS STILL HAS ITTTTT.

This is a slow burn in the best ways. We start off with our FMC, Zo, and quickly learn her life has anything but easy. Her mother has always kept them on the run and living in poverty... she says from Zo's father but after her mother's tragic death and receiving an inheritance from an unknown family member, Zo quickly starts to question her whole life. After caring for her sick mother and worrying about every dollar, she doesn't know what to think of an inheritance that would put her living in a mansion with millions... but only if she follows a few rules.

Zo is thrown into a completely new world, one where she doesn't have to worry about money... Too bad that will be the least of her issues now. Family secrets pile up as does suspension of friends all while she's figuring out who she is... or isn't.

This story blends so many of my favorite things, gothic mystery, a bit of romance and supernatural beings. Then there's the house that Zo inherits, it's almost character in itself, the whole mystery surrounding it making it more eerie. The way that Karen writes the characters leaves you questioning who friend or foe is.

A slow burn that you will fly through trying to get answers.

I had no idea what to expect from my first Karen Marie Moning book but I understand the hype! This was a really thrilling and surprising read set in a spooky gothic mansion in a strange little town. The MC Zo inherits the estate after the sudden death of her mother from a relative she didn’t know existed and things seem a bit too good to be true. She soon finds out that everyone in her life has been lying to her and she has more power than she knows.

This had all of the creepy vibes including forbidden rooms and secret passageways, mysterious deaths, realistic nightmares, and supernatural creatures. It kept me asking questions the entire time and wondering who could be trusted. The romance was pretty light but had me really intrigued about who the love interest is going to be - so many hot Scottish/Irish men! Definitely looking forward to continuing this series and getting more answers.

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

Karen Marie Moning’s “The House at Watch Hill” is a gripping gothic paranormal mystery that will spook you out - I found myself getting creeped out reading this book in bed before falling asleep. Moning’s brilliant writing style has a way of captivating and keeping you invested - it was truly a challenge to put this book down - I had so many questions that I needed the answer to, and even upon finishing I’m hanging off a cliff waiting for the next installment to provide me with the solutions that I’m desperate for. I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t be invested in the entire series after dipping their toes into this one.

FMC Zo has just lost her mother and now is finding out that she has a multi-millionaire distant relative who is leaving an entire estate and then some to her … just so long as Zo agrees to a few stipulations and follows some rules. The house that she is inheriting and expected to live in has many secrets & Zo is going to find out secrets about her family and self that she has been completely kept in the dark about.

If you are looking for something spooky that might give you nightmares then you have struck gold - this book does have a lil bit of spicy spice in there, but romance is definitely not the central theme so don’t go into this with expectations and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was my first KMM book & certainly will not be my last. Keep ‘em coming!!

Thank you to William Morrow for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I am a Moning Maniac ok? I’m a huge fan. The Fever Series is one of my favorite series of all time. I live and die by Mac and Barrons. That being said: I’m incredibly biased in favor of this author. So, I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear that I loved this novel. LOVED.

This is more of a paranormal fantasy with a romantic subplot. The romance, however, is very much a subplot to the main plot which is Zo losing her mother and discovering a massive inheritance in Louisiana.

This is not a Gothic novel. I know some might have thought that, but it’s not Gothic. It is witchy and creepy and gives massive spooky season vibes, but it’s based in Louisiana.

This series is completely different from The Fever Series. It is separate and it is distinct. Zo is nothing like MacKayla Lane or Dani. I loved that this wasn’t the same.

We do get similar writing however: tons of foreshadowing, narrative from future characters that aid in the foreshadowing, lots of character narrative and in classic Moning fashion, a massive cliffhanger.

I don’t want to tell you too much because this novel relies on the suspense of not knowing anything. Our main character, Zo, knows nothing and therefore, we know nothing. For a while. The suspense of that, however, builds so much that I couldn’t put this book down because I had to know what happens and I had to know IMMEDIATELY.

I’ll say this: if you’re a fan of the author, this is a different vibe and a different tone and it’s not spicy, but I loved it. It’s still got the KMM charm and the brutal cliffhanger.

I need the second book as soon as possible.

This book was sooo good! I really love the story line, and I CAN’T WAIT for book two! This is such a fun blend of paranormal/found family/haunted house that had me running late because I couldn’t put the book down. Karen Marie Moning is an old favorite of mine, and I loved rediscovering her work through The House at Watch Hill!

Fans of Karen Marie Moning and her Fever series are going to be very, very happy with this new, witchy fantasy series.

There’s a lot of tropes here, but they’re my favorite kind. A protagonist with hidden powers, learning her own identity and not knowing who she can trust. An unexpected inheritance from a distant relative with crazy strings attached. A giant, foreboding, twisty mansion house. Good witches, bad witches, witches of unknowable powers. And because it’s Karen Marie Moning, throw in some sexy Scottish men with dark, brooding looks.

It wouldn’t call this romantasy, and the romance isn’t the focus of the book, but we do get a minor triangle and some steamy scenes. Zo Grey is clearly a sexually liberated woman who knows what she wants and has no shame in getting it. But she doesn’t spend the entire book yearning for a guy when there’s life-or-death stuff happening, which is a trope I hate. All the yearning is situationally appropriate! The real focus of the book is on Zo’s awakening powers, the revelations of her lineage and how it was hidden by her family and friends, and trying to understand the implications of her inheritance and what accepting it will mean for the rest of her life. And not just her life, but the entire town of Divinity and all it’s residents. Because this place is a bit weird, and it seems her family is connected to it in strange ways. Unfortunately, not everyone is thrilled to see Zo come to town.

I wasn’t entirely in love with the cliffhanger ending because I wanted it to be a bit more about the witchy politics and power, but overall this was a banger. Fast read, great vibes, perfect book for Halloween!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! It had everything I wanted. Along with Zo, I cried, got furious, questioned who was lying and who wasn’t. This was the best ride and I will snatch up the next book as soon as it becomes available.

I'm at a loss for words to do this book justice. I devoured it. I have to admit, I sort of scoffed at the thought of getting my hopes up because how in the world could this author ever outdo herself on her highlander books or the Fever Series? Of course, I knew it would be a whole new world. But I'll say, get your hopes up! You will not be disappointed. I couldn't get enough. It doesn't really start slow. Things are happening but she is building a large world. This is one I will be reading over and over and even getting the audiobook.

Zo's mother has protected her all her life. Fleeing from one place to another, from what. She knows not. She doesn't even know she is something other than ordinary. But she soon finds out. Now she has to decide if she will accept and be a part of this powerful blood line of witches or are they the thing she has been protected from? As she resides at the giant house for the days required, who exactly can she trust? And what side is the handsome Devlin on that is more than meets the eye? I wondered if maybe the house itself wasn't more than just a house. With hidden rooms and books that write themselves. And there's the lone owl that shares it all. My favorite was Devlin. Even if he were to be bad, I'd take that chance lol. This was simply amazing and full of a magical world.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and William Morrow Books

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

I had no expectations going into this book. I absolutely loved the writing style, and the world building was so fun. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy upon release and re reading. Thank you to the author, netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

Yes, I read this author’s previous series, so I think that prepared me for what happened in this: everyone and nothing is as it seems. LOL! Ok, maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but I didn’t know what was up, down, or sideways for most of this book, and the end was such a shock…well, in some ways but not others. It’s really hard to say much without giving away a lot of things, but I can say that this book is similar in tone and spooky atmosphere of her previous series, and I enjoyed the build up to the conclusion even if it I felt it was a tad too long to get to that point. This is a well-written, engrossing, spooky, sad, and just so many other adjectives. I can’t wait to read the next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This was an excellent start to a new series. Zo has lost everything when she learns that she has received an inheritance from an unknown relative. She travels to Divinity, Louisiana and finds out that she stands to inherit millions as well as a home but there are some very strange and constricting conditions. She soon finds out that everything she has known is not what it seems. She is thrust into a world of witches and other paranormal creatures. She must keep her head and find out everything she can if she is going to survive.

Karen Marie Moning is one of my all time favorite authors because of her writing. She blends mystery, romance, fantasy, and suspense in this must read story. I love that Zo is a strong female. She is an interesting character who is not afraid to fight for what she thinks is right. The best part of the book was how the author kept unfolding the events so that I had to read more. The ending is a cliffhanger and I would read the next novel immediately if I could. I feel very invested in this world and can't wait to read more. This is a must read if you love reading about witches, magic, fantasy, and love a little spice in your books.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for this ARC.

THIS. Okay. This was my first Karen Marie Moning book. I've had her others on my shelf for years, and this was PERFECT for fall. The vibes in this book, the house, the owl (the groundskeeper, hello), were everything that I needed and wanted. The only sad part is that now that I've read it early, I have to wait longer for book 2.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

After suffering the greatest loss of her life, the loss of her mother, Zo Grey receives a phone call notifying her she is the only living heir to an impossible fortune. She is promptly summoned to Divinity, Louisiana by Mr. Balfour, the legal representative of the estate, to review her inheritance. After three years of living in the mansion on Watch Hill, the mansion and the rest of the unfathomable inheritance are hers. She quickly realizes there is more to Divinity than meets the eye and she suspects there are many in the town who would love to see her fall and be replaced as heir. Bound by several strict stipulations set forth in the will regarding her time in residence within the imposing gothic mansion and presented with what feels like endless time to do nothing in solitude, she searches the mansion for answers concerning her heritage. The mansion itself is filled with guarded secrets, confounding riddles, strange symbols, hidden corridors, and doors that lead nowhere, offering up little in the way of answers and instead yielding more questions.

Karen Marie Moning does it again!! The House at Watch Hill is an immersive dark fantasy filled with mystery, magic, witches, all manner of paranormal surprises, and sexy Scotts!! This book had me flipping pages well into the night and ends on a cliffhanger leaving you begging for more. The House at Watch Hill does not disappoint!

I met Miss Moning when I was going through my highlander phase, and I devoured every book she has ever written. I was intrigued when I saw this new series.

Zo Grey has just lost everything including her mother. When she gets a call about an inheritance, she drops everything to find out about it. What does she have to lose? The only catch, this new inheritance comes with a 3-year requirement to live in the house at Watch Hill.

There was a lot of world building and character development in this book. I appreciate the detail that the author used as I think it will be helpful in books to come, however it did get a tad boring at times. There was a lot of foreshadowing that really makes me want to continue the series. I have the need to find out what happens to all of the characters.

The ending had me on the edge of my seat and when Kellan's last name was revealed I was literally screaming! Such a shocking end to a great first book. I deducted one star for the times when I was a little bored, but I look forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and William Marlow for this title. This is my very honest review.

Zo Grey went from working three jobs where she was barely making ends meet to overnight being the sole heir to a vast fortune and jaw-dropping manor on the hill. Before her death, Juniper Cameron, the matriarch and benefactor of Divinity, Louisiana spared no expense on her search for a blood heir. Once Zo arrives at the house on Watch Hill the family secrets begin to trickle out. It seems everyone has a hidden agenda in Divinity and even the house seems to give off vibes of bending Zo to its desires. It’s hard to tell who’s genuine in offering friendship and who has other reasons for wanting to be near her. Although I wasn’t completely smitten with the first book of this series, I can see the strong promise of an unfolding story you can sink your teeth into in the making. Keep ‘em coming KM! I can’t wait to read the next installment. I have a lot of unanswered questions!

*I received an arc of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have noticed that this author, Karen Marie Moning, has a large following, so I was excited to read this book, and it definitely did not disappoint. I absolutely need the next book in the series as I need to know what is going on! A woman, Zo, gets a strange inheritance from a distant relative while she is also grieving the loss of her mother. The inheritance of a house and money comes with the stipulation that she live in it for three years. The house is Gothic style and intriguing. I definitely loved this book and need more of this story!!! I also need to look into more books by this author!

I like KMM and was excited to read this start of her new series, but I think I suffered from too high expectations when reading this. I say that as someone who only read the first 7 books of her Fever series (I *loved* the first five books, but I couldn't stand Dani and never finished it). So I felt like my expectations going into this were tempered. And yet I still finished this feeling like I was missing the second half of the book.

The blurb makes this out to be a story about a suddenly orphaned young woman named Zo who inherits a spooky mystery house that looms ominously over a town full of odd people. Oh and she is going to develop powers that she will need to use to fight something.

So call me crazy, but I was expecting an almost sentient house (like the [book:Starling House|65213595]) or at the very least a house that is haunted by something scary. Instead, we just get a kind of weird house? And as far as Zo's "dormant powers" goes - that only gets half-explained, which is fair for the first book of a new series. I would even say that Zo's confrontation about that whole situation was my favorite part of the entire book. But the "sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend" mentioned in the blurb that she is supposed to fight against? That is no where to be found in this book. Unless you count the book’s ambiguous/cliffhanger ending, which I absolutely do not.

Do I want to know what happens next? Yes. Do I feel like at least part of it should have been included in this book in the first place? Also yes. There's more I could say, but I'm trying really hard to avoid spoilers so I'll end my review here.

I received a free ARC of this book through Netgalley and that did not impact my review/rating of this book. This book is expected to be published on October 1, 2024.