This was my first KMM book and I’m not sure I was as into the writing as I thought I would be. There were lots of $100 words being used but also be used repetitively. There was some interesting wording choices as well that felt out of place, almost like Britishisms being used for an American MC and a story taking place in America.

There are also asides from “Future Zo” which only made things more confusing because it hints at bad stuff to come that doesn’t really show up in this book. The pacing was super slow up until the very last 20 pages when it was lightning fast and then just ends. With what was supposed to be this big cliffhanger but I saw it coming from a mile away.

I’ll probably continue the series but only through the library or KU. I also probably won’t try any of KMM’s other books.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I want to begin this review by saying I am a huge Karen Marie Moning fan. I have loved her work since I randomly grabbed one of her books instead of the Karen Monk book I thought I was grabbing. This is a brand new series from Karen about one of my favorite topics, witches.

The story is about a young woman by the name of Zo Grey. She is a 24 year old who is the sole caretaker of her mother who is fighting cancer. One day after coming home from a job interview at a diner she finds her apartment building engulfed in flames. She loses her mother and everything that she owns in a short few minutes. A short time later she is notified that she is the sole beneficiary of a long lost relative by the name of Juniper Cameron, who she has never met before. Zo travels to Divinity, Louisiana to find she has inherited a house known as Watch Hill House. It is an amazing house with waterfall, pool, secret passage, and more room than Zo knows what to do with. I so want to live there the way Karen described it.

While she is there she discovers that she is also going to get an allowance every month and for every year she stays she will be paid 1 Million Dollars (insert Doctor Evil pinky to lip move here). If she stays 3 years she will get the rest of Juniper's fortune which is over 140 Million dollars. Of course this does not come without stipulations. She cannot have anyone live with her during those three years. Guests can't stay more than two nights.

As time goes on Zo learns that everything isn't quite as it seems. She begins to discover that she has magical powers and that her mother was keeping secrets about both of their true identities. Which leads to a whole new set of problems for Zo when she has to decide if she wants to embrace these abilities and claim her rightful spot and reign in Juniper's place.. I'll stop here with the plot because there is a lot more that happens and a lot more questions that are brought up in the story that you need to read to find out.

Over all, I really enjoyed this book. Yes, I am left with more questions than answers but OMG this was a great ride. It's a little slow to build up at first but dang is it good. I cannot wait to see where Karen is going to go with this story.

I used to be a big fan of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. The summary of the House at Watch Hill sounded like it would be another instant hit for me, however, I found it lacking. I didn't like the main character. in fact, I found her annoying. I find it hard to believe that she was some meek little mouse who did everything to turn into a crazy lady. I want to know what happens, so I'll read the next book but it isn't something that I can't live without or will probably remember.

I am a years long KMM fan and when this book was announced, I immediately reached out to help with coverage. I love a gothic house. I love a creepy town. I love a strong woman's story and a heat filled romance. This book should have checked every single box. What I actually got was a book with no romance. Yes, it's the start of a trilogy so there is some set up involved. But at 55% I texted a friend and said "there's no hero". At 75% I texted the same friend and said "there's no love interest in this book and I am now rage reading it". The entire book was focused on Zo as she learns about her inheritance, uncovers what that means and also as she whines and complains and rages through the book while waiting 7 days for answers. She thinks a lot about sex but anything that happens is behind closed doors and those moments are at the very beginning and very end. It's set up to be great but was just so disappointing. I loved the idea but the execution was not for me.

I thought The House at Watch Hill started out strong, and while I really wanted to like this one, after a while, it felt really repetitive and predictable. I had a hard time connecting with Zo's character, and the only characters I really found likeable were Mr. Balfour and his wife.

The book was 384 pages of a plot that was mostly just a bunch of setup that didn't go much of anywhere yet, but I was still invested enough that I will likely pick up Book Two to see where the story goes.

Warning: There is a LOT of talk about sex. Like, the main character basically wants to sleep with any male that crosses her path (with the exception of good old Mr. Balfour), and she talks about it ad nauseam. The actual spicy scenes, however, are mostly closed-door or not described in very vivid detail.

I have a hard time with a main character that I don't like and I took an instant dislike to Zo (as in no). I can't say I like anything about her, but I kept reading because I was totally engaged in the story. It's a great story and a great world that's been created but Zo is just NO for me. I don't like the way she interacts with people, doesn't listen to advice, seriously doesn't listen to people who know more than her and I'm totally ok if she doesn't get her inheritance. That being said, I need the next book, I haven't stopped thinking about this book, which makes it a really, really good book, it got under my skin. I'm a librarian, I read tons of books, this one got me.

I devoured this book! I love this author anyways. She wrote one of my favorite series. I knew the book was gonna be good, but this is super good! Creepy, and mysterious! I will be waiting anxiously for the next book!

This eerie Paranormal Romance is book 1 in a new series. The romance is not set in stone, as Zo is sowing her wild oats to say. The book does have a few spicy scenes, they are detailed mildly.
The book moves at a steady pace following Zo after a tragic loss. While in mourning Zo gets called about an inheritance. While navigating the terms of whats been left behind for her she learns that there is so much more than meets the eye. Zo is resilient, doing whatever it takes to survive. The other characters are fantastic as we learn little bits about them as the book goes on. This leaves them all very mysterious. The majority of the book takes place in a small town, that Zo knew nothing of prior. Just like the characters we are given little bits to savor as the story builds. This makes the story mysteriously addictive.

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.