I was so excited to start a new series by KMM! Like everything else she writes, it's a real page turner. So many questions and puzzles to solve. I can't wait to read the next book and find out more about what is going on. Especially excited to find out more about one character in particular.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy, #1)by Karen Marie Moning
The story is a slow build . The intensity hits in just the last few chapters. It ends on a huge cliff hanger. { am not a favor of cliff hangers and don't know if I'll read more.

Best way to start this review is with this regular quote: Karen Marie Moning releases a new fantasy series and her devoted readers just read and review! No questions! Not even reading the blurb! Having no clue what the story is about or what kind of paranormal beings we’ll be introduced to!

As for me, witches are my soft spot (I consider myself one without the magical ability or witchcraft knowledge. Mostly, people change the 'w' word to 'b' when they call me, but I hear what I want to understand, no worries!).

I couldn’t resist the charm of this book because it feels like a combination of "Discovery of the Witches" meets "True Blood" and "Haunting of Hill House." Southern occult blends with gothic vibes, and let’s not forget we are also introduced to vampires. I’m sure in the following books we’ll meet more paranormal entities like werewolves and shapeshifters—I can’t wait!

I enjoyed the plot and the slow burn introduction to the secrets of Divinity: a town that not everyone can see or reach without being invited or having enough power to be accepted by its residents.

The story revolves around 24-year-old Zo Grey, living in debt, working multiple jobs to keep a roof over her head, and taking care of her mother, who is battling cancer. One day, while begging for another job at the diner, she gets a call from the fire department informing her that the house she shares with her mother has burned down, with her mother inside. Without having time to process the shock, she’s summoned to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit from an estranged relative, Juniper Cameron, a pillar of the town she never met. When she arrives at the grandiose "Watch Hill House" with its amenities (including a waterfall, pool, botanic garden, acres of woodland, countless rooms, and secret passages), she cannot believe her luck.

But the house is not the only thing left for her. She’s also paid monthly for her expenses, and for each year she spends in the house, she will be paid 1 million dollars. At the end of three years, she’ll inherit 140 million dollars and Juniper Cameron’s unliquidated assets.

However, there are strange rules she must obey, including that nobody can live with her for three years, and her guests cannot stay more than two days, meaning her best friend Este can only visit her briefly.

After spending seven days and nights on the premises, she is directed to open a letter from Juniper explaining her new responsibilities. Zo is enchanted by the power of the house, still thinking about a one-night stand with a charismatic stranger named Kellan, and she’s also charmed by her new groundskeeper. She’s repeatedly warned to stay away from him, especially by Juniper’s centuries-old consultant, James Baufolt, who becomes her right-hand man and savior from nosy townsfolk who don’t accept her as an outsider.

These are the least of Zo's concerns as she starts discovering her powers and realizes she’s a witch. She learns she’s been lied to about her identity, and this isn’t the only secret her mother kept from her as they kept moving towns, running from something unknown.

What if she isn’t the rightful heir? What if her powers serve darker purposes? What was her mother running from if she’s Juniper’s rightful relative? Could she reign in Juniper’s place and govern Divinity while her enemies plot her demise?

By the end of the book, we are still in the dark. Many questions are left unanswered for the sequels. Despite some eye-rolling and disappointments in certain chapters, I was hooked and eager to learn more.

Zo Grey/Cameron’s tragic story intrigues me, but I still have questions about her. She hasn’t evolved into the person she should be. She’s an orphan, lost, and has no idea who she really is or what she’s capable of. She acts like a bewildered girl with high libido, torn between the men around her. First, there’s mysterious Kellan, then she meets her charming Scottish groundskeeper, Devlin, who has his own secrets. She even lusts after bodyguards hired to protect her!

Don’t get me wrong. At a young age, she’s been through a lot, working multiple jobs to care for her sick mother, only to find out her entire life was a lie. Of course, she’s shocked and not strong enough to take the throne of Kovan (a 13-witch family with 169 members), inherit a vast wealth, and play power games with her enemies without enough experience and training.

I hope she matures, learns from her mistakes, and digs through the secrets to find out who she really is. And, of course, she must make a choice between two charming men. But we have to wait for the sequel to see what happens. I screamed at the cliffhanger and am hopeful I will love the second book even more.

Overall, I consider this book a prequel, and I think the real fun will start in the next books of the series. After reading the delicious and frustrating cliffhanger, I’m looking forward to the sequel. I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 for the high potential and my love for witches!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this year’s most anticipated fantasy read’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is absolutely personal preference, but the voice here just didn't work for me. I wanted it to be a fun, escapist gothic, and I think that probably it will be for most people, but I found a lot of descriptions overwrought, especially her descriptions of men and I just couldn't invest.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book. I was blown away by this book! I am not much into fantasy but this description caught my eye. I am so glad that it did! I loved this story and the characters. The creepy house was a character in itself. I am eagerly awaiting the second in this series to see how Zo wields her new found powers. I am now, officially, a fantasy genre fan! Yay!

I read the Fever series a few years ago and stopped at book 5, and am still not sure what my overall opinion is - it's a very distinct style, and this book, although a totally new series, is a VERY similar style. The writing is so Karen Marie Moning, so if you loved Fever, you will probably love this!

Oddly, the best plot comparison I can think of is the Inheritance Games + Discovery of Witches. That honestly describes it really well. I enjoyed reading about her being in this new small town, and about their previous life.

Karen Marie Moning could write a grocery list for chicken soup and I’m going to be enthralled. Honestly. This book is no different. I’m genuinely mad it’s a series and I have to wait. I love the concept of the House being a little sentient, the occasional snippets from future Zo are a great touch, and the parental vibe that James brings later in the book is just beautiful.
I’m convinced Este is a dark witch.
Devlin is my new book boyfriend.

Round up to.4.5
Having read the entire Fever series, and loving (most of) it, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but eager to get it. I was not disappointed. The men are yummy, the protagonist likable, and the house is a character unto itself. The story has an appropriate cliff-hanger to close book one of the series and wait for #2, even though I won’t be patient about it.

It’s rare that I give a five rating, but definitely rounding up from four. Very happy to see Moning’s imagination and talent in a new series.

This was a much awaited book for me. I was trying to hold off reading it until closer to the fall time before it’s release but I just couldn’t help myself. This book has very strong character development and I loved how it was both plot/storyline and character driven. I loved the backdrop of this book which is Louisiana and I also loved each of the characters, they each brought something to this story. We get my some mystery entwined with many secrets and you will be turning page after page to try and figure out what is going to happen next…honestly my favorite. I sat there unable to stop reading because I just had to keep going! If you love a good book with a gothic feel and a witchy vibe that has you on the edge of your seat with your mind racing wondering if you can figure it all out before the end of the book. . .then this book is for you. I honestly cannot wait until book 2, I am going to be anxiously awaiting for it and anything else that our author puts out!

Pub Date: October 01, 2024

Thank you @netgalley ,@williammorrow and author for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the ARC copy Netgalley. I am a longtime fan of Karen Marie Moning. This book is a great introduction to a new series. Zo has lived a half life. But now she knows her destiny and is ready to become her real self. But we will not find that real self until the next installment.

What if your entire past was based on secrets and lies?
Would living in a bizarre gothic mansion inside a secretive town be worth the rewards?
What if the creatures you thought only existed in imagination were real?

The House at Watch Hill is the heart-racing beginning to the newest trilogy series by the queen of atmospheric fantasy, Karen Marie Moning. Written in the first person point of view, this story allows the reader to not just read, but to feel everything the main character, Zo, is feeling. The first half immerses the reader in portraying plot and illustrative world-building, with essential details that readers want to capture. If you are already a fan of KMM (I see you, rainbow girl), you will want to experience this gothic, spicy masterpiece beginning with her newest series. If you aren't already a fan, buckle up; KMM's writing and characters will captivate you. She's magic at weaving a storyline, making the reader thirst for more. I devoured House at Watch Hill and plan to reread it to seek juicy details I may have missed the first time through.

Thank you so much, Karen Marie Moning, the publisher William Morrow, and NetGalley for the opportunity to begin this epic journey with Zo. I cannot wait for my pre-purchased hardcover to arrive! Five Stars.

When I saw that KMM had a new book series, I jumped at the chance to read it. A fan for many years, I have read almost everything she has written. I eagerly dove straight into this book and was not disappointed. I don't normally read a lot of things about witches, although magic and almost all things paranormal interest me. However, that being said, I enjoyed the heck out of this book.

The suspense of pulling back all of the layers that are the house at Watch Hill had me buzzing. There is just so much to take in with this place. It seems like a miracle but also a type of curse at the same time. So much pressure, yet it hardly takes a whisper to do so much damage.

Everything was really interesting, right from the beginning you get sucked in, just like with the Highlander books. (The Dark Highlander has always been my favorite.) It has the same unbelievable yet believable whimsy of the Fever Series yet, this seems to be darker still. I am happy that there are going to be two more books because frankly, I don't see how anyone could put everything into just one.

This book is the epitome of most people's dreams. You have a rough life, something magical happens that makes you feel like you went through everything for that reason then easy street. But then you find out that easy street has its own set of problems.

How would you feel if you woke up and learned that not are you a different person than what you were meant to be, but also that you had been lied to for most of your life? Even if it is for your own 'good'?

One of my favorite things about this book is that there is a story inside of a story, inside of a story. Everything is multi-faceted. Take nothing at face value because everything either has a back story that is pertinent or someone else has an ulterior motive. The betrayal, the heartache, the coming into your own, all comes together in one giant cataclysmic event. Then boom! Your new world, your new life, starts to shatter. Can it be fixed? Is there a way out of the perceived hell that you're now in? We shall see.

And the lead up until the 'end'? Holy cow, what a ride. I have been thinking about that nonstop since this book ended. It's stuck at the forefront of my mind. What a rush! I cannot wait until the next book. This is why KMM is one of my favorite authors of all time and always will be. I recommend this book and everything else she has written. You will never be disappointed.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Karen Marie Moning for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are honest and are completely my own.

I loved Karen Moning's Fever series...until I didn't. I read 7 out of the 11 books in the series because they had an addicting quality to them, where I couldn't wait to read another chapter. Then Iced happened and it was all gone. I tried to read the book after that but was so completely disappointed that I never read past it.

I was so hopeful for a new Trilogy, wanting to get that same feeling as the early Fever series. You know, where everything is new and discovering these unknown characters that I would eventually fall in love with? That didn't happen.

What I didn't like:
Spoilers
1) Zo was broke, but had second thoughts about the inheritance. What other appealing offers did she have?
2) She was actively practicing witchcraft her entire life but was shocked and in disbelief that she was a witch.
3) She acted bi-polar with her best friend. She was mad at her and then went out clubbing with her, then was mad at her again. It got to be tiresome.
4) She had an actual "Guide to witchcraft" from her best friend and her mother, yet NEVER READ IT!
5) In the 7 days she was at the house, she was surrounded by well meaning witches/vampires, and no one taught her anything, even after she supposedly killed someone in the barn and destroyed the garden and house.
6) Making a big deal out of Kellan and his supernatural powers throughout the book and not expecting him to be the head of a Coven.
7) Major life events were happening to Zo (death of her mother, finding out she had a massive inheritance, discovering she was a witch, having two major attacks on her life, fighting with her best friend) but she couldn't keep her libido in check. She wanted to have sex with almost every male she met including the body guards. When she couldn't find Kellan, any man would do.
8) The foreshadowing was unnecessary. The "Future Zo" was actually anti-climactic to the story since you knew she lived through this experience and would have sex MANY more times with Devlin in the future.
9) Her last name being Grey and the Coven of Gray. Not a big leap there.

I wouldn't recommend this trilogy for the readers who didn't love the Fever books after ICED. Maybe for people new to Karen Moning this might work.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow interesting book about a witch who finds out that she has powers. Gets a house with conditions and meets Kellen and Devin. She likes them both. She gets upset with friend and somehow moves up the witch ladder. Great set up to a series. She seemed to have a stream of thoughts alot. She seems very Mary sue.

Zo Grey hasn’t had much luck in her life. Her mother has moved her from town to town, and she can’t hold down a job due to her mother’s cancer diagnosis. Once her mother passes tragically, Zo finds out she is the sole heir to a fortune of a relative she has never met. The only catch is she has to play by some rules and live in this house in Louisiana for 3 years before she can inherit it. Seeing as Zo has nowhere else to go, she decides to check out the home in Louisiana. While there, she realizes that everything is not what it seems with the town, the house, or the people. People cannot enter the home unless invited. There is a burned wing of the house that has something weird going on. Rufus the owl has to be let in and out. The house has secret passageways and rooms. Literally everyone in town wants to meet her. Zo is completely overwhelmed and doesn’t know who to trust anymore. She doesn’t know who she is or what she is and she looking for answers.

The beginning of this book was great. The middle was a bit boring, as it was mostly world building. Man that ending though….Im ready for the next book!

I absolutely devoured this book and then severely struggled to write this review because I don't want the book to be over. It’s one of those books that causes you to stare at the wall and salivate for the next one!
I should also mention that I absolutely adore Karen Marie Moning’s books, so I knew automatically that this book would be amazing, and I was not disappointed in the slightest! This book was everything I hoped for, and I don’t know how to survive until the second book is out…
This book had me guessing all the way to the end. I was honestly so confused at times trying to figure out what could happen, as Karen is so amazing at creating multiple potential futures that leave you confused and amazed till the very end.
This book follows Zo as she loses her mother and comes to realize her whole world could have been a lie. She’s left navigating a world that has everyone out to get her and with no way to know who is lying to her and who wants to help her. The house which she stands to inherit is dark and foreboding, but so enticing. Will she gain riches, power and prestige or something dark and sinister?
Plus, this book comes with an owl, and I adore animal companions!
So if you love mysteries, witches, vampires and a thousand potentials, then this is the series for you!

Zo and her mother have been bouncing around town to town since Zo can remember. But then her mom gets killed in a house fire that takes everything from Zo. Days later she is contacted by a lawyer in Louisiana saying she has been left an inheritance. When Zo arrives she finds out she is actually the heir to quite a fortune, but in order to inherit it, she must meet several contingencies. And what follows is a story of a close knit town with a lot of secrets.

I was pulled into this story from the start. Lots of mystery, twists and turns. It did feel like it ended really quickly and not enough story happened over the course of this first book, but really looking forward to the next book!

I was given an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley.

Another exceptional book written by KMM. My favorite aspect of Karen's writing is her method of world building. Granted, all of her series fall more into urban fantasy than high fantasy, which gives her a little easier of a path, but I love how we learn the world building along with her FMCs. Instead of large blocks of confusing info dumping, her FMCs enter their respective worlds, knowing very little of the fantasy aspects of their lives, which allows us to put the pieces together at a reasonable speed. If you are confused or overwhelmed by the information that you are receiving, it's because the fmc is as well. This story is no different.

This is a gothic witchy book that takes place around New Orleans, LA. The book grabbed my interest almost immediately and kept it all the way throughout. I will admit that it felt like the week spent in divinity was dragging out, but that's how the fmc was supposedly feeling as well. It did affect my overall interest levels towards the middle of the book, but not enough to stop me from pushing on. I was extremely frustrated with how little she was allowed to know, and all the parameters in place that prevented her education of her power. I was constantly on edge, questioning everybody's motives and analyzing all of the dialogue to decipher what the overarching plot would be. I found myself suspicious of every single person she came into contact with which is probably why I was able to anticipate the twist at the very end.

If the story wasn't enough to keep my wanting more, that ending sure was. I'm chomping at the bit for the next book and this one won't even officially release for another 3.5 months. The wait for book 2 is going to be excruciating.

My one criticism is that, for a book set in such a culturally rich party of the country, I would have liked to have seen it have more of an impact on the story. Majority of the book took place in or around the manor/her gardens, and the few excursions she took were too night clubs in the town. I understood that the premise of this book drove the location, but there were definitely some missed opportunities to show more of the culture.

The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning.

Holy kittens! Holy kittens! Holy KITTENS! Karen Moning is Back!
I've been reading Karen Moning's books for about 20 years now. Her Fever series is one of my all-time favorites. For some reason, I had it in my head that she retired from writing after her last Fever book. But she is back and just as fantastic as ever!
Unlike her previous 2 series that had overlapping worlds, this one appears to be standing on its own, at least so far. No Barrons here... This series has more of a witchy vibe but of course still incorporates some smexy celtic men that Karen is known for writing.
I rarely read a book twice, but I will be reading this one again before book 2 comes out. So much happens. So many details. I flew through it only to want to scream and cry when I got to one of her famous cliffy endings. Five plus stars.

#bookreview #2024 #netgalley #witches #orphan inheritance #spookymansion #celticmen #triangle #spice #fivestars