ARC provided by NetGalley & the publishers, William Morrow Books, the views are my own.

3 1/2 stars, rounded up, as of right now

My usual rule of, "I probably won't reread," for this score does not apply here, & I am fairly confident my rating will change (increase) once I reread after the release of the next book.

This is a complicated review for me to write, on multiple levels...

I've been a fan of Karen Marie Moning since 2008, when I binged the first three books in the Fever series, then read them again until Dreamfever released. If I had only had Darkfever available to read at that time, my view of the series would have been greatly different, & I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to continue the series. But since I have built this trust in Karen's process over the years, I know how I feel initially is not how I will feel at the end, & it likely will not be how I feel about the same book upon reflection.

Starting the book was both like a warm hug for me, coming back to Karen's easily recognizable writing, & a shock. I was under the impression that the series was more focused on a thriller aspect, & did not expect the amount of spice. I had to very drastically change my expectations, which required me sitting the book aside for about a week & a half while I opened my mind.

"More than merely four walls, an impossible dream of a life, home has always been an irresistible word to me."

Zo Grey mysteriously inherits a mansion upon the death of supposed relative that she's never met, fresh on the heels of her mother's death. Flooded with grief & other emotions, she goes to quaint town of Divinity, Louisiana, to check out the monstrosity of a house & find out all the requirements of her inheritance, & weird things start happening. Weird things, that Zo rationalizes or ignores, of course, until she no longer can.

Zo marches to a steady drumbeat of lustlustlustSEXlustlustlustSCREAMlustlustlustCRY (repeat), & the inhabitants of the town & the help at the house do not help to change up any of those beats...

"Home, I thought, as we turned and headed for the stairs. It was such a seductive word."

TL::DR: This wasn't what I was expecting, & I quickly reset my expectations. It's definitely a set up book, with a lot of foreshadowing, & I'm looking forward to see what book 2 expands upon, & what direction it takes us.

✨Book Review✨

The House at Watch Hill - Karen Marie Moning

📖 Zo Grey is mourning the sudden loss of her mother when she gets an unexpected phone call from a lawyer, claiming she will receive an inheritance from a distant relative. She travels to Divinity to learn about the details of her inheritance, which include a monstrous house and huge sum of money. The stipulations that are in place for her to receive her inheritance are strange and a bit controlling, but the life changing aspects of her inheritance make it a worthwhile deal. The house has many secrets of its own including hidden doors, secret passageways, and an entire staff to help upkeep it. What Zo doesn’t know yet is that she doesn’t really know who (or what) she is, and there is more than meets the eye about Divinity.

📚 Karen Marie Moning is an expert at making you curious about characters and what is truly happening in their world. She weaves a few secretive points of view into the narrative that draws the reader in and makes the question everyone. I love the way she develops the plot while not rushing or lollygagging. I am already on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book in this series.

🌟 This book is a bit of fantasy and thrill mixed into one. If you enjoy a mystery with your fiction and a relatable and lovable main character then this book is for you!

I had the pleasure of receiving a digital copy of this book in advance of its publishing. The House at Watch Hill will hit shelves October 1st later this year. Thank you to @NetGalley and Karen Marie Moning for allowing me to read early - I was hooked!

#BookReview #NetGalley #KarenMarieMoning #ZoGrey #TheHouseAtWatchHill
#MustRead #PageTurner #BookReviewers #GoodReads

I have been a fan of KMM from the beginning, and this one is a banger to! I enjoyed everything about this book and know it's going to be a series i re-read. It was hot, but I'd have liked a little more detail on that. I can just picture the House (Rose Red in my mind). Umm, McKeltar, hello?!? Highly recommend!

Oh man, I hate to have to write this review. I’m a huge fan of this author and I absolutely loved her Fever series when I read it years ago so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this new release. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. I wasn’t a fan of the main character at all and that really disappointed me and made me not want to pick up the book.

I loved it! This is one of my favorite authors with a new and very different type of series. It was excellent! Realizing that the world was not as she knew if for 24 years isn't going to be easy to adjust to for Zo. She has to deal with ancient secrets and mistrust and all that happens to her is both exhilarating and frightening. The author is fantastic at weaving the story and leaving so much unsaid. I'm anxious to find out what happens next!

Zo descubre que es una bruja y que su madre estuvo suprimiendo sus poderes.

Hay brujas, Vampiros, magia, enemistades, traiciones, secretos y en lugar de sacarle provecho a todo esto se centran en el sexo.
Me dio risa lo de la mirada seductora, lo del dragón en su interior y como en cualquier parte se intentaba meter la "sensualidad" en la historia. Fue muy forzado esa parte.


No continuaré con la trilogía, me cayó mal Zo y aunque estuvo entretenido no logré disfrutar la historia.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this one down! I loved the spooky vibes and how all the mysteries intertwined. The imagery of the house was so vivid I could picture it all so clearly in my mind! I can’t wait to see what happened next!

For as long as 24 year old Zo Gray can remember she’s had nothing of permanence in her life, except for her mother who is in the late stages of cancer, and her best friend Este. Zo and her mother have spent their lives on the run, never staying in one place for too long. Tirelessly working to pay her mother’s medical bills, Zo is living a half life. When tragedy strikes, Zo is left heartbroken and grieving. When she gets a call telling her that she is the heir to a monstrous estate, she heads to Divinity, Louisiana. To get her inheritance, Zo must live in the house on Watch Hill for a total of three years. But, soon Zo will learn that in Divinity, nothing is as it seems and she will uncover the roots to her past and just maybe, find out why she had spent her whole life running.

How am I supposed to wait for the next book?! Although I guessed that twist I still LOVED it.

This first book was definitely setting us up for the rest of the series. It shows us a lot of pieces to the puzzle and I can’t wait to see how everything fits together!
As with many set up books, it felt slow and somewhat dragging at times.
Nonetheless, the prose was beautiful and it was very easy to immerse myself into this world.
I was worried that this would be too reminiscent of other secret heir to a haunted house books but things took a turn in a direction I wasn’t expecting and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
The lore and world building was so well done. I don’t want to give too much away in that sense but Moning has created a fun and immersive urban fantasy that I can’t wait to continue reading!
I will say that this is not a romantasy, so if you go into this looking for romance or a romance subplot, you will be disappointed. There are definitely some spicy scenes and plenty of eye candy but this book centers around Zo and her self discovery. I think in the next couple of books there will be more romance but for this first installment is filled with betrayal and healing, loss and acceptance and most of all self exploration.
Zo is deep in the trenches of grief throughout this book and reeling from truths long hidden from her. We follow her from the POV of “future Zo” after the events at Watch Hill, as she recounts what happened.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like the tropes/themes of
-Gothic
-Witches
-Secret Heir
-Inheritance
-Haunted house
-Hidden truth
-Magic

Similar titles
Inheritance by Nora Roberts
Gallant by VE Schwab
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. The gothic setting so extremely well done. The writing was very beautiful.

I can’t quite put finger to it but it missed the make slightly.

Thank you to William Morrow publishing, Karen Marie Moning, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The House on Watch Hill.

I will start off by saying I am a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning and all of her books. Her Fever series and her Highlander books have topped my favorite books' list for years. When I heard Moning was writing again, I was so excited! Moning never disappoints!

The House on Watch Hill was everything I have been waiting for, wanting, and more! Moning has a magical ability to create the most irresistible men characters. Hello Jericho Barrons?! Now we have Kellan and Devlin?! Not only does Moning create spectacular characters, she knows how to create enticing worlds that a reader can't help, but get drawn into.

The House on Watch Hill has mystery and intrigue in spades. I love a good gothic story that involves witches and manor houses that have a history or mysterious past. Honestly, Moning is off to a wonderful start to her new series!

I am hoping to love Zo and her character arc as much I enjoyed the journey with MacKayla in the Fever series. I do feel the readers are going on a developmental journey with Zo. I am already rooting for her! Can you imagine finding out your entire life has been a lie?

My only complaint is this book ends on a cliffhanger. I'm not a huge fan of those endings. However, I am left in a state of need for more of Zo's story immediatly! I have high hopes that Moning is already writing her next book!

The House on Watch Hill should be on everyone's to be read list. Not only should it be on the list, it should top it. I will be highly recommending this book and publishing reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! Despite the fact that I have so many questions after finishing, I still had a good time reading this. The atmosphere is what did it for me - the writing really sucked me in and kept things interesting. The vibes are ominous and I found myself unable to stop reading because I needed to know what would happen next. I do wish there had been more of a romance plot, however I'm thoroughly invested in the main character and her story. I will definitely be continuing this series once it's available!

This was such a beautifully written and created spell binding story. The world building is absolutely incredible, involvement and development draw you in. This book immediately tugs on your heartstrings from page one. Honestly, I was hooked, and I didn’t even know where this book was going to go, the twist and the turns, they were phenomenal.

I was able to connect and also ache for our main female character (Zo). Not only were her struggles real, and her feelings were valid, but as somebody who has lost their parent this year, I was able to feel that emptiness. Coming out of the woodwork, she finds out she has this inheritance, desperate for a change and to put the pain behind her, she accepts to hear them out. What she does not expect is her life to be put in danger and the truth of the past coming into the light.

All of a sudden, she learned she is not the person who she thought she was. How would you feel if you woke up and everything that you have ever known changed?

This book does have a cliffhanger which is a love-hate relationship with me. I desperately need to find out what happens. However, if you want a enchanted spellbinding mesmerizing thriller, I absolutely recommend this book.

KMM's Fever series is one of my top 3 favorites, so when I saw she was releasing a new series, I was immediately on board! Then, add in that it has a witchy plot? Take all my money.

I'm in book hangover mode after finishing this. I found that it was a little slow to start, and I got a tad frustrated that the setup took so long to manifest any real action. But once the fireworks started, it was nonstop!

In true KMM fashion, we meet a woman who is far more complex than even she herself realizes at first. The development of the main character, Zo, is in the beginning stages but progressing nicely. I am loving some of the other characters and really don't dislike more than 1 person in the story so far.

The plot is a little spooky, a lot witchy, and VERY mysterious. I know this is supposed to be a trilogy, so it's not too surprising that almost the whole first book is mainly the setup with some action and few reveals at the end. I can't wait for the next book! Such a cliffhanger ending with so many questions left unanswered, but don't let that deter you! Knowing how Karen writes, we must be in store for some fantastic reveals.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC!

Karen Marie Moning has been on my radar for a long time, and I’ve been meaning to read her Fever series forever, but this is my first book by her.

Let me say I am IMPRESSED! I could not put this book down from the moment I started it. It has been so long since I’ve read a witchy book and this did not disappoint. I spent the weekend immersing myself into Zo Grey’s world as she navigates the secrets of a past she knew nothing about. Halfway through I went to double check because I forgot that this will be a series – I trilogy to be specific – because I knew I would need more. This does end on a little bit of a cliffhanger but I don’t think it’s a painful one so would still recommend you read this even if you tend to stay away from non-completed series.

Lots of questions were answered and still so many left that have me clamoring for the next book. This book is a perfect fall release and I’m so excited for others to read this. My only gripe is that I selfishly wish it was longer cos I didn’t want it to end and now comes the wait for book 2.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morris for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

hmm low key this was a big lot of nothing. like, things happened but nothing that really elevated the plot and im so surpassed because i loved her other series and a new book after so long was really exciting, but this *was* the first book. 3 stars sadly

KMM can do no wrong! I loved her Fever series and was eagerly anticipating this release. It’s the perfect gothic, atmospheric, and steamy urban fantasy!

All of the characters were incredibly well written and Zo (like no) was a very relatable MC. The plot was the right combination of intrigue and suspense, keeping me hooked as Zo learned more about her witchy heritage.

The House at Watch Hill is very much the first book in a trilogy. The stage is set, the players are introduced, the mystery starts to unravel, when BOOM, cliffhanger. I am already eager to get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a long-time reader of KMM, and when I saw her announce a new series, I was eager to get my hands on it, and once I did, I devoured it pretty quickly.
Zo (like no, not Zoe) Grey is a young woman, struggling to make ends meet while supporting her terminally ill mother in a small town in IN, when tragedy strikes, and her mother dies in an all-consuming house fire. Shortly after her mother's death, she learns she has been named in the will of a relative she didn't know she had, in a small town in LA, Divinity. The main plot of the book takes place in Divinity, as Zo comes to terms with the death of her mother, while living in the House at Watch Hill, and learning about her past and all that her mother kept hidden from her while she was alive. There is a diverse cast of side characters that aide Zo, but she is the primary narrator.
The book itself is a bit of a slow burn, primarily setting up the action for future entries in the series, with almost everything left as an unanswered question by the closing of this book. There are some minor issues I have with the side plots and back stories, but I remain hopeful that they will be wrapped up in the subsequent books, and so with that all in mind, I am rating a 5 star, rounding up from 4.5.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

A spooky, gothic and endlessly intriguing start to a new series by Karen Marie Moning! Zo Grey has led a life of struggles, moving from town to town with her ailing mother and never putting down roots. Suddenly her life is turned completely upside down - her mother dies and Zo finds out that she has been left an inheritance by an unknown distant relative. Moving to Divinity to discover her heritage and claim her birthright is filled with secrets upon secrets. Who to trust? How to unravel the mysteries? Every answer learned opens the door to more questions.

Admittedly this got a bit slow at times - it felt like I had too many questions and not enough answers. A good chunk of the book continued in that same vein and it was hard not to feel a bit frustrated by the story. With that being said, I do feel like the rich world building in this book laid a foundation for what could be an awesome new series. I will definitely be reading book two!

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for the chance to read an early copy.

KMM came back swinging. I missed her so much. I swear the woman can do no wrong. The writing hooked me from the first page and didn't let go. I read it in 2 days.

Thanks so much for the galley I can't wait to add it to my recs shelf

This book is witchy, gothic and atmospheric. I love the FMC, she is relatable, funny and dynamic. I enjoyed the storyline, it felt a little bit slow at some points but I realized it’s also building up for the trilogy. Would definitely recommend this one!