*Rounded up to 3.5* Many thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the eARC.
Zo Grey (Rhymes with No) and her mother Joanna have been running her entire life. Zo has no time to worry about what is going on in her life as she does nothing but work to put a roof over their heads and food in the pantry. Why? Joanna is dying of cancer and there is no one else to take care of the both of them. Zo has no clue who they are running from, who her father is or anything else about her mother's past because Joanna never told her. She just vaguely let Zo think her father was a bad guy. Then Zo suddenly gets notice of an inheritance from a relative she never heard of and her life is jolted from her bland existence.

I am a big Karen Marie Moning fan and have read almost all of her books and loved most of them. Her Highlander series books can be read as stand-alone stories. Her Fever books build on one another and need to be read in order. I suspect The House at Watch Hill is a building block to a greater story type book as it is labeled a trilogy. When building a new world/society, sometimes the world building and the story can fight with each other as the author settles the reader into that world. That felt like what was happening here especially in the middle portion of the book. The beginning of the story drew me in. The middle kind of got bogged down a bit and the ending finished much stronger than the rest of the book. My biggest complaint about this story is I am not sure who Zo Grey/Campbell is supposed to be. Maybe that is because SHE is not sure who she is supposed to be, but I never got a full grip on her character to decide if I liked her or not. There was a little too many feelings in this book and not as much narrative as I would like. But the ending... Oh the ending... That left me with such a big smile for such a dire cliffhanger. I will read the next book in the trilogy for that alone.

The House at Watch Hill is THE witchy read for me this year. As a Louisiana native, this one hit home, adding elements of our culture correctly. This was such a dark and whimsical read. Even though certain parts were a little slow, I can tell it is setting up for an amazing and eventful series. This was an absolute thrilling introduction to a new series. It had plot twists, spice, swoon worthy Scottish men, and a dash of magic, all wrapped up neatly. Zo Grey is an intriguing main character, having to wrestle with the ghosts of her fragmented past, meanwhile, having to divine what her future holds from the bits and pieces of secrets given to her. I cannot wait to see what else happens in the books to come!

Zo has had a hard time with life. Her mom is battling cancer and not making gains. She is the only caretaker, and no one will give her a job. What is she supposed to do to survive. We are talking bills piling up, no money for rent or food on their table. One day she happens to be in the middle of a job interview when she keels over in immense pain and a fire in her belly. This was the moment her mother died in a tragic house fire and couldn't move to get out. She is destroyed by this, and if things couldn't get any more strange. Zo is summoned to a southern Louisiana town to hear the reading of a family member's will. She didn't have family - she has no idea who this person could be and what they left her. But what does she have to lose? Well...she inherits the estate and billions over a specific amount of time - if she observes all the rules. Well the rules are part of a world she has no idea about becuase her mother has been on the run and kept her hidden her entire life. So many secrets, friendships, foes, and magic quickly become apparent. How can she navigate this world when all she wants to do is explode. She has no idea who she is, what she is, who she can trust, and most importantly what she is supposed to do! A new great series by Karen Moning who creates the best magical worlds full of power struggle, deceipt, and hopefully love!

So, I decided to take a dip into this author's pool with "The House at Watch Hill." I thought I was in for a gothic, witchy rollercoaster from rags to riches, but it turned out to be more like a kiddie slide with a leaky hose.

At first, I was all in, like 'Wow, this is going to be good!' But by the middle, I was mentally pushing a boulder uphill to finish it. The main character's inner monologue was like a time-traveling tourist who got lost on the way to Old England.

And seriously, why was she hesitating about becoming filthy rich? It's not like she had to wrestle dragons or solve quantum physics equations. She just had to abide by some quirky house rules. Talk about first-world problems!

Plus, she had witchy powers on speed dial from page one, but when the official witchy memo arrived, she acted like she'd just seen a unicorn in her cereal. It was like watching someone forget they're wearing pants.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishers for an advanced readers copy so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

This review has been posted on my Goodreads

Thank you for the opportunity to read The House at Watch Hill.
Anne Rice fans come read this book. Major feels of the Mayfair witches.
I truly enjoyed this book

The House at Watch Hill is the first book in a new fantasy series by bestselling author Karen Marie Moning, author of the Highlander and Fever novels.

The open, elaborate, wrought-iron gates on the cover beckoned me to enter and explore what was inside.

Zo Grey, twenty-four, has lost everything and is grieving the unexpected death of her mother when she discovers she is heir to a fortune and large estate. The property, with its massive manor, sits atop Watch Hill and overlooks Divinity, Louisiana, a small town with a rich history. The unexpected endowment comes with some unusual conditions that Zo must meet before the estate is hers.

The story and its characters are complex, the writing style at times poetic. As I read, rich descriptions filled my senses—the scents in the air, what was seen, what was felt beneath one’s feet.

So much happened within the pages I reread the book-twice.

Thank you, Karen Marie Morning, I look forward to the rest ofthis series.


Publisher: William Morrow
Publication date: October 1, 2024

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The story is a slow build to the ending. The intensity hits in just the last few chapters. It ends on a huge cliff hanger. So, if you make it till the end, you will be chomping at the bit to hear about her next chapter in life.

Wow! I am so excited about this new trilogy from Karen Marie Moning. Shortly after losing her mother, Zo Grey finds out that she is the heir to the Cameron mansion and fortune in Divinity in Louisiana. This book sets the background for the trilogy. Why was Zo and her mother always on the run? Is she truly the Cameron Heir? And why are the townspeople so strange?

So many questions, and Moning does a great job of dropping the breadcrumbs while the story develops. This was a page-turner that I couldn't put down. Loved it and can't wait until the next one!

The main character Zo her mother dies before she dies she has cancer and she was living with her just them till her mother dies during a fire. She finds out she is the sole beneficiary to a estate owned by a last living relative Juniper who dies and the whole thing is she needs to stay there for 3 years to get the million dollars and own this big estate.

She goes to divinity on watch hill, meets staff strange characters, some cute guy she falls for. I feel like the love aspect is lacking there isn’t a lot for a regular romance book. The book was very slow to figure out what was the downfall to it what was going on with the secrets in the book.

I don’t understand why her mother told the friend over her that she knew from elementary school the secret that they were all witches and the fact that she was one and so was her best friend. She didn’t know all this time that she was a witch. I would have been mad too!! I wish there was more going on in the house like I thought there was going to be like paranormal but it was more fantasy type with witches and vampires. I didn’t understand the whole light and dark and took a little too long to find out if she was either or. Her mother was royal blood but she was sick because she chose it to suppress her daughter’s magic as a witch. Instead of hiding the secrets I wish she had told her. Over all the book I gave it 4 stars because it was still a good page turner just very slow at knowing what was going on.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me this book for review!

“The House on Watch Hill” by Karen Marie Moning is a supernatural gothic mystery filled with secrets, witches and magic. The story revolves around a grieving young woman who suddenly loses her mother to a house fire. She is desperately lonely and in overwhelming debt. Out of the blue she finds herself to be the heir of a huge inheritance which includes a palatial estate in Divinity Louisiana. In order to claim the inheritance she must reside in the house for three years.
If you are a lover of creepy houses, sexy witches, eerie townsfolk and romance this book should be high on your list. This is going to be a very fun series and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Zo Grey has spent most of her life drifting from place-to-lace, belonging nowhere. Her mother’s sudden death sends Zo’s life spinning, uncertain about the future. She receives news that an unknown relative leaves her an inheritance in Divinity, Louisiana. However, it comes with strict rules and stipulations. Zo must live in the house atop Watch Hill, alone, for three years. The house, along with the town, hold numerous secrets - some better left unknown.

Zo took some time to warm up too. It became easier once I understood why she alternated between bouts of grief and anger. It is never easy to find out a loved one kept you ignorant about who you are and your potential. I commiserate with Zo wanting to find out her roots. So much has been denied her for so long. Zo wanted to find a place where she belonged with people who accept her.

THE HOUSE AT WATCH HILL is the first book in Karen Marie Moning’s urban fantasy trilogy, WATCH HILL TRILOGY. I have always enjoyed the author’s time travel/ highlander romances. Her Fever series, not so much. This trilogy has the same vibe.

However, I like the author’s unique spin on witches and vampires. That aspect kept my interest piqued throughout the book, wanting to learn more. I hope Moning plans to explore the three kinds of witches, especially the grey, in the books to come.

Oh, I also feel this trilogy would make an awesome movie or television series. It is just the feeling I get, especially with the paranormal shows out nowadays.

I want to preface this by saying I’m a massive fan of KMM - Fever series is one of my all-time-favorites. When The House at Watch Hill first got announced, it instantly became one of my most anticipated books, ever. I literally could not wait to read this. (Yes I screamed when I saw I got approved for the ARC!). Having said that, I knew I had to give myself the grace and space to go into THAWH with an open mind and be nonjudgmental, knowing this is a brand new series. I had high expectations, but went into this knowing I may not love this at all….but I’m SO GLAD I did!

Without spoiling anything, everything from the world, characters, mysteries, secrets, etc. will keep you guessing and on your toes. This book grabbed me immediately and did not let go. I was instantly trying to piece things together that I thought would happen, only for this book to prove me wrong so many times. If you’re like me, there’s truly nothing I love more than to think I’ve got it figured out, only to be totally wrong on my theories. Because of that, I cannot wait to reread this, (and I know I’ll reread many times), because I know I’ll catch SO much more than I did the first time around.

Basically this book was everything I hoped it would be AND more. I could not have loved this more than I do. It physically PAINS ME that this isn’t even out for another 4 months, on top of not having a sequel date yet!!!! I need book 2 so bad, it’s not even funny. I would not be surprised at all if this ends up being my top book of 2024.

I’ll end this review with a snippet of KMM herself talking about The House at Watch Hill, because it truly encapsulates this book perfectly: “It's....Gothic, witchy, sexy, fun, a bit terrifying at times, with centuries of Cameron history, and layers upon layers. As it's a trilogy, Book 1 builds the world, plants the clues, defines the stakes, and establishes the characters. Book 2 blows everything to hell and back, and Book 3 does the same, on steroids. My goal is to break your heart, and put it back together again. Several times ;).”

Thank you to NetGalley and to William Morrow for the ARC of The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning.

There is still a fervor for Moning's Fever series, and so I've heard her name a lot, though when I previously attempted that series I was put off pretty early on by the writing style. As it has been well over a decade since she came onto the scene, I felt more comfortable in seeing how her style and storytelling has grown since her beginning. The writing is definitely better than what I encountered previously, but...it just feels like this was a background book, and not an actual story. There are constant hints about what Zo doesn't know, that she must wait days for safes and letters that oddly are just like, one page documents that don't list any contingencies or information. No one actually tries to keep her safe or informed though they keep saying they are and then either tell her to sit in her room and be quiet or hit on her. Her best friend, who is supposed to help and teach her, only seems to give her more doubts and concerns. The book ends on a cliffhanger, but I felt like I don't understand the plot enough to feel anxious about what happens next because no one has been honest with the main character for us to understand what is happening. Is it a love triangle? I don't think so, but I also don't think this is a romance-centric series (romance should definitely be removed from the summary). Is the story about the House at Watch Hill? Because all the worries plaguing Zo seem to come from real people who do not live in the House. - the House seems like the most normal thing in her life Her mom is dead, and while she is heartbroken, she also doesn't seem to even consider a path to justice in that regard, which would probably help her a lot with everything else happening in her life.

It's hard to tell if, as a character, Zo is just so deep in grief she isn't functioning, or so overwhelmed by the changes in her life she isn't functioning, or if she's just not very bright and doesn't recognize the need for critical thinking and self preservation. I don't know what to make of her - she has a lot of emotions, but they shift so often that I don't recognize what is normal for her.

There are also a lot of preludes and italicized chapters from another perspective that I know will mean something in a future book - but in this one it was just more window dressing on a very flimsy plot. There is a lot happening, but I don't know how to link the threads together.

I am interested in what happens next, but I think there needs to be more focus on plot flow and world building, as well as character development, to make this a must read.

What a great book to start a new series. Zo Grey thinks that her luck so about to turn when she is given an opportunity to inherit a fortune. The catch being the ridiculous rules around the house included in said fortune. A house that is definitely not as seems, and 100% has some witchy stuff going on (like taking books and disappearing hallways.) The way the author describes this house and the overall setting of the story, I felt like I was right there and something was going to jump out at me at anymore moment. You aside get an interesting group of side characters. Definitely was slower pace story with just a sprinkle of romance. Similar to Karen Marie Morning other series, I feel this book will definitely pick up the more the story develops. Overall it was really unique, I enjoyed it, and will be anxiously waiting for book 2!

Kind of reminded me of haunting of Hill House. I really enjoyed reading this. There were some twists and turns that I hadn't been expecting. On my reread list for spooky season

I really wanted to like this, but I just didn't. I just couldn't really get in to it at all, it all felt really forced and flat most of the time. I will say that I loved the concept of the book and the descriptions of the house were really fantastic.

The start of another fabulous new series from KMM and I am all in for it!
Zo Grey's mother has just died, not of the cancer that has been dragging her down, but of a sudden and powerful house fire. Reeling from the loss of her mother, the overwhelming medical debt and the aching desperation to find work and stability that has long plagued her Zo is thrown for yet another spin when she is approached about a massive inheritance from a distant relative in Divinity, Louisiana. And in order to claim this inheritance, she must commit to living in the manor on Watch Hill in the town for three years.
After she takes up residence Zo begins to find out the secrets her mother had been keeping from number far greater than she had realized, and are much darker and deeper than she could have guessed - and many of them can be answered in Divinity, but with every answer she finds she only has more and more questions.
Filled with a town full of possessive, sometimes creepy folk, sexy security guards and a brooding groundskeeper, a powerful Koven, and secrets galore, I can not wait to see what is in store in the next book!

The premise of this sounded amazing, but the writing and character work just didn't click for me. (Everything felt a bit purple, and not in a way that I enjoy.) I'm sure many others will adore it, though.

Karen Maire Moning is one of my favorite authors, so I feel eternally grateful to receive an ARC of The House at Watch Hill, And, it did not disappoint, When Zo Grey receives notice that she has inherited a house and fortune, she finds that she has to move to Divinity, Louisiana to fulfill the terms of the inheritance. The mansion is appropriately gothic, with creepy animals and a Scottish groundskeeper. I am very much looking forward to the next book! I know the patrons at my library will love this one.

vibes: urban fantasy, lightly gothic, witchy bloodlines, vampires

Heat Index: 3/10

The Basics:

After the shocking death of her mother, Zo Gray is broke and directionless--until she gets a call from a lawyer realizing that a previously unknown relative left her a massive inheritance in Divinity, Louisiana. Before the house and the money is officially hers, however, she has to live in this intimidating, mysterious home--and put up with the suspicious townspeople--alone for three years. She can hardly say no--and the groundskeeper is quite hot--but Zo can't ignore the odd happenings in the mansion. Like doors that go to nowhere. And what about the secrets surrounding her lineage? They could be more mysterious than she'd possibly imagine..

The Review:

Okay, so first off--for the purposes of my blog, just have to make it clear: this isn't a romance novel. It was categorized as such on NetGalley, and I do (as someone who hasn't read Karen Marie Moning before) believe that the author has a reputation as a romance novelist. But this isn't one. Like, there are romantic setups--potentially more than one. There is sex. And there is more to be seen in the next book, I imagine. As of now, however, this is much more about urban fantasy witchcraft than it is about the love story.

So, while I do think there definitely could've been more development devoted to characters like Devlin and his dynamic with Zo... What was clearly more important to the story was Zo's relationship with her late mother, her dynamic with her friend Este (which I loved) and the mysterious attorney James Balfour.

I really liked Zo as a protagonist--she's not a shrinking violet, but she also isn't this Headstrong Female Protagonist. She's struggled in life, she's looking for safety and security, and she's ready to jump on a good opportunity, even if it's pretty creepy. I relate to that--and I think a lot of people in their twenties and thirties for that matter will relate to that, especially during the tough times we've been going through economically as a nation. Her love for her mother and pain over her loss is palpable--I'm fortunate enough to still have my mom, but it was really visceral and made me a bit emotional. Based on the dedication at the beginning of the novel, this entire story felt deeply personal, and I respect that.

As I said before, this was my first Karen Marie Moning book. I like her writing style--even when the pace of the story isn't super fast, the actual texture and tone is, if that makes sense? It keeps you reading, it keeps you compelled. I do typically enjoy a good bit more romance in a story, but I was by no means bored or frustrated here.

I also really liked the worldbuilding with regard to the witches. It was quite fun, and seemed to me a blend of more recent urban fantasy trends and more Witch Classic stuff. Which worked for me as someone who enjoys Witch Classic. The vampires could have used more explanation and expansion, but based on the ending of this book, I do think that will happen.

The Sex:

I did find this kind of frustration. One of the thing the book establishes early, which I really liked, was that Zo is very unapologetically sexual. She's more sexual than she is romantic, and you don't see that too often, even now, with female leads. There's no shame; it's very sex positive.

But like... the sex scenes are basically just described vaguely in retrospect. I wouldn't call it closed door, but it's pretty close. And because they're described as so mind-blowing, and because sex is actually kind of important to the magic and the story here... I felt a little thrown off. I also know, based on what other people have shown me and discussed about KMM's other books, that this is probably a shift. At least from her notable works. So I was a little let down there.

That said, if you're good with low heat sex scenes, or for that matter just don't care either way, it'll be totally irrelevant. By no means does it damage the book's quality, I just do think there are expectations that should be set and that's what reviews are for!

Overall, this is an entertaining, well-paced read that's perfect for October. If you're into witches, you're going to be pleased--and I definitely want to read more from this author (and the next in the series).

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.