So this is funny and exciting and endearing and sarcastic, which are some of my favorite things. Lazlo is a demon on a mission but he makes some choices that show him to really be his own person, not always choosing the most evil option. I loved the voices, too. They were a little over the top, but they were how I imagined they should be and made it easier to follow what was happening with different speakers.
There were some interesting relationships, such as his new friendship with someone fighting a curse, and even somehow a visit to a church. I hope there's more where this came from! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

This book was an awesome read! Such whimsical and fantastic characters as well as a really intriguing plot line!

I have had a hard time deciding how to rate this. The premise was interesting and there were a few points in the book that I enjoyed. The writing seemed to be done really well and was descriptive. However, I found the audiobook hard to get into. It was very slow at the beginning, which made didn't keep me interested at points. Thos caused me to have to constantly change my listening speed.

I'm not sure if I can recommend the book or it's audiobook. Just because my experience with it wasn't the greatest. I will be picking up physical copy of this to give it another chance, since audiobooks for me are hit or miss.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher/author for an advanced listening copy this title for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to listen to the ALC for this novel. I was sold when the synopsis included a cross between The Good Place (hilarious!) and Neil Gaiman's American God's (so good!) The author delivered on that promise, with many laugh out loud scenes. I truly enjoyed the refreshing take on the main character, Lazlo, a very lazy and selfish curse-keeper. It's not every day your main character is depicted this way. It was hard for me to get into the book initially, but Lazlo did redeem himself. The narrator did a fantastic job!

The Witchstone had all the parts to be a book I deeply enjoyed and had as a favorite for a long time, seeing the description of The Good Place meets American Gods had this very high on my list of books I was excited to read. I think in many ways it lived up to that description in its writing, but listening to the audio book version I found myself bored, listening at 2X speed to just try and get through it, and tired of listening to Lazzo complain non-stop about issues caused by his own stupidity.

I found the narrator hard to listen to, a touch drone-ish, and while overall speaking clearly and able to be easily understood the narration was definitely part if what bored me with this novel. To be able to keep my attention I had to speed the narration up as the narrator spoke slowly, meaning by the end I was listing to the novel at almost double speed in places.

As for the novel itself I found the writing to be descriptive, and original, but also very wordy and often taking longer then needed on smaller details that never came back up. The novel overall also had a touch of a pessimistic tone and was stuck on the worst parts of the world, and while that can be expected for a novel about a demon the point the novel seemed to be getting at was a very dark one.\

Overall I wouldn't really recommend this novel out to others and while I am glad to have read it I am gladder to be finished reading it.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

◆ Book Review: The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
◇ Synopsis
The Witchstone is a hilarious, high-stakes fantasy where Laszlo, a lazy eight-hundred-year-old demon and Hell’s worst Curse Keeper, is forced to team up with Maggie Drakeford, a nineteen-year-old curse bearer, to break a family curse in just six days. Their wild adventure takes them across the globe, from Central Park to Zurich, uncovering a secret that could upend Hell itself.
◇ Thoughts
This novel is so much fun! First, let me say—you need this book in your life! The Witchstone is an exciting modern-day fantasy that follows deep, imperfect characters on their quest. It's an easy-to-read, addictive story. I connected with all the characters and found them unique and interesting. The world-building and magic are fresh but resonate with familiar elements. The dialogue is witty and humorous, and the action keeps things moving without ever slowing down. I appreciated that the novel was fun and engaging without forcing social issues, which many novels overdo. This book is the perfect palate cleanser after a hefty read. I loved the characters so much! The Witchstone is one of my favorite reads of 2024, and I highly recommend it!
Special thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy!

After some initial trouble to get into it, I quite enjoyed this playful romp with 800-year old Curse Keeper Laszlo and cursed Drakeford siblings Maggie and Lump. Honestly, any story that crafts clever banter between demons and their frenemy humans will probably have my heart. Like other reviews have mentioned, this story evoked The Good Place vibes in the best way.

The Witchstone is an incredibly fun ride that follows Lazlo, a demon charged with keeping a family curse going to ensure maximum misery and despair for the benefit of the legions of Hell, and the newest generation of the Drakeford family who have been living under the shadow of said curse. When a workplace shakeup puts Lazlo in the lethal crosshairs of a manager who is actually demanding results, Lazlo bends several rules and directly engages with the Drakeford family by promising to help them break the curse, a risky plan that has the potential to quickly turn his numbers around with the abject despair that will result when he pulls the rug on them at the last second. In short order, Maggie and George Drakeford are on a globe spanning quest with a demon to shatter the curse that has plagued them, and Lazlo realizes that things are way more complicated than he originally thought. He'll need to work things out on the fly, wrangle the Drakeford kids into doing his bidding (harder than it seems, with Maggie being quick on the uptake and slow to trust), and pull off what has the makings to be the biggest con of his eternal life.

This was a great audiobook, with a narrator that elevated the material and made it something I found myself making extra time to listen to. Lazlo, Maggie, and George are fun characters who play well off each other, the adventure is incredibly solid, and the conman schtick that Lazlo has got going is wildly endearing for the whole story. This is an audiobook you'll want to have on hand as soon as possible!

In regards to the audiobook narrator. I think he did an incredible job giving personality to each character. It was clear which voice was speaking and I especially enjoyed Laslo’s character.
In regards to the story. I was super intrigued by the setup. I think the 1960s style corporate office was a great choice and I would have liked to hear more about that. However Maggie and Lumps characters were not interesting to me and their adventure of breaking their curse was a bit boring. There was a lot of action but I just didnt resonate with their family’s story.

One of the most pleasure audiobook productions, I had pleasure listening to this year. In addition, the story had a great pacing, memorable characters and stakes high enough go keep me engaged. It felt a little bit like a Supernatural but fun Demon.

This was an interesting and unique read. One thing the author did well was writing the characters, making their motivations quite clear to the reader, providing some good depth to them, and making their personalities strong and engaging. My only real complaint was that I don’t think Maggie’s age was mentioned in the book until much later and she read like she was 11 years old. This was due to her being sheltered so it made sense, but it made me have to readjust some things when her age was finally mentioned.

Something else I enjoyed was the humor and style of the work. It certainly gets crass, absurd, and irreverent, which made for a great combination. The book was hilarious and honestly was a little more heartwarming than I was expecting at times. The world building was interesting, and I enjoyed how much travelling the characters got to do as it meant we got to see even more of the world. While the plot wasn’t that unexpected and it wasn’t hard to know where things were going, the journey and characters kept me hooked throughout.

A quick aside: there was a somewhat graphic/odd on-page sex scene, so keep that in mind if that’s not something you prefer. If you’re interested in magical realism/urban fantasy with irreverent characters and an interesting world, then you should check this one out. My thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am a sucker for the villain! This was a funny, different and very funny (audio)book!
A little too long, but it was very interesting and, I repeat, FUNNY!

Review on IG the 9th of August (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time)

The Witchstone is a thrilling and entertaining blend of dark humor, fantasy, and adventure. The story follows Maggie Drakeford, who is cursed along with her family due to an ancient sin, and Lazlo, a Grade 3 demon with a knack for avoiding his duties. Their unlikely alliance takes them on a wild journey across Europe as they attempt to break the curse. The characters, particularly Lazlo and Maggie, are vividly portrayed and highly engaging, with Lazlo’s lazy yet charming demeanor clashing amusingly with Maggie’s determined skepticism. The fast-paced plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish.

Ramiz Monsef’s narration is a standout, bringing the characters to life with clear and expressive delivery. His performance enhances the story, making it even more enjoyable. The Witchstone is a rollicking adventure filled with humor, action, and a touch of the macabre, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun and captivating audiobook experience.

Laszlo is an 800 year old Curse Keeper. His feckless, lazy existence has finally caught up with him and he is in danger of meeting a gruesome fate unless he completes a mission in the next 6 days. He and the 2 Drakeford children wind up on a quest for the special objects needed to reverse the curse on the Drakeford family.

This book wasn’t as much fun as I hoped. The book was trying very hard to be funny and Laszlo was occasionally amusing. The younger Drakeford child was also sort of cute, but I wasn’t charmed by 19 year old Maggie. For a 6 day mission, this book felt very long and it took me a relatively long time to finish because I didn’t look forward to continuing it. The author was good at describing creepy body transformations and battles with opposing contingents of demons. Maybe I just like my demons to be more demonic and genuinely witty. There is no cliffhanger, but the ending of the book leaves room for a sequel. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

THIS WAS A MASSIVE SURPRISE in all of the best ways. The novel is very epic in scope but manages to make a globetrotting adventure feel very character focused. The main cast is endlessly loveable and the main plot keeps you guessing until the very end.

A fail son nepo-Demon is forced to take charge of a curse he's been mismanaging for years. I won't delve more into the plot as the ride is really worth it. You begin the book thinking it's going to be more strictly comedy focused but it manages to balance comedy, horror, and action exceptionally well.

Easily one of my favourite reads of the year that left me with tears by the end because you just love the main cast so much.

This book was amazing. It was funny, but not goofy, knew when to be serious, what to keep ambiguous and what to show openly. I loved the characters and the world.

I will still write a proper review, once all my exams are done :)

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook to listen to in exchange for a review!
This was a fun book. A little heavy on the schtick but that might have been further exaggerated by the audiobook voice actor, who did a very character-y Laszlo voice. It was exciting, kept me engaged, had interesting if somewhat typical characters, and had plenty of magic and adventure and action and no actual sex (although sensitive readers should be warned there is an attempted sexual assault scene that I believe went further than it needed to go to prove the point) and no super gory violence. It does have Good Omens vibes to it, so if you’re a fan I would recommend giving this a try. The demon who’s actually not all bad and hell being a bunch of bureaucracy things are present in this book. I just love the concept of demons being so intrigued by and won over by humans because of our love and strength and determination and ingenuity and loyalty and everything that makes humanity wonderful. I’m not sure if it would actually work that way, lol, but books like these are kind of a love letter to humans, which I am all for, because we all need reminders of how magnificent we are, even if we consume them in the form of books about demons being won over by humans😉 I would read more books by this author.

Rating 4.5/5 rounded up to 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for allowing me a copy of this audio book in return for an honest review.

Laszlo the demon has spent the last 100 years of his 800-year existence avoiding his job as Curse Keeper to the Drakeford Curse. To the extent that the family no longer realises that the monstrosities all Drakefords grow into are a curse. With a new overseer breathing down his neck, Laszlo has just six days to remedy the situation or he will be destroyed. Thankfully, he has a plan—one that includes dragging the Drakeford kids, 19-year-old Maggie and 12-year-old Lump, along for the ride.

Ramiz Monsef performed wonderfully as the narrator; his sense of comedic timing was spot on. Some of the accents were a bit off, but as this was only evident with minor characters, it wasn’t a problem. The main characters were easy to differentiate between, which was much more important.

What I liked: This was such a well-woven tale, with plenty of heart and comedy. The main characters were all likeable, so much so that I had to keep my fingers crossed that they all came out on top. The plot twisted enough times that even though I had my suspicions on how it would work out, there were still plenty of surprises to keep me interested and nervous that I was wrong. The demon and creature mythology was well-crafted and believable.

What didn’t work for me: Only a small critique—likely due to my impatience to find out what was going on—some of the in-between portions (where little action occurred) could have been cut down to move the story along.

Final Thoughts: A thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy, with witty dialogue and a glorious cast of characters.

Who would enjoy this book: Fans of comedic fantasy, unwitting collaborations tropes, adult/kid team-up tropes, good vs evil, demons with jobs, and family curses.

The Witchstone is a wonderfully witty and heartfelt modern fantasy novel following brave Maggie Drakeford, her heroic little brother, and a suspiciously charming demon as they set out to break a family curse in just six days. The Drakeford family curse has been turning Drakefords into monsters for decades, to the point where none of them have bothered trying to break the curse in way too long. As their Curse Keeper, third level demon Laszlo has been happy to let the curse continue to do its thing while he enjoys the spoils earth has to offer. But then management in hell changes hands and suddenly Laszlo has one hell week to cause some serious human misery or get pulped. Thus, he presents himself to Maggie Drakeford as her savior and guide to breaking the curse that’s destroying her father and creeping up on her. Maggie might not trust Laszlo, but she really wants more than life in a small town that hates her family. So she takes him up on his offer, and they head into the world to find magical items, dodge assassins, and defeat all manner of forces acting against them.

Maggie, her little brother (Lump), and Laszlo are such a fun trio. Laszlo has a serious complex about his demon powers, or lack-there-of, but acts with all the poise of a rich playboy. Maggie is tough as nails after dealing with her horrible neighbors her whole life, but she also wants a chance explore the world without having everything resting on her shoulders. And Lump, he is honestly just all the best parts of an eleven year old first time adventurer - he’s just having a great time. Their dynamic is so funny and perfect. I could read their banter forever.

This novel fills me with the sort of joy that comes from delving deep into another world with characters who feel real and make all the ups and downs of their stories worth reading. I didn’t want it to end, and would be thrilled if there were more books staring these characters. This book gives me The Library of the Unwritten mixed with Ink & Sigil vibes, two of my favorite modern fantasy series out there.

This was book was hilarious!!!

Laszlo, eight-hundred-year-old demon and lazy AF. He cannot be bother to do his job and why should he have to? His daddy is the biggest baddie ever!

He ends up having to go an help a family break their curse or he will be out of a job. The stuff they get up to! He ends up taking Maggie and her little brother to find the items needed to break the curse while a group from hell that want him to fail are hot on their tails.

I did not expect such a well written satire fantasy book but it is what was delivered. I loved the narration! My husband heard me laughing and listened to it after I did and we had a great time chatting about it.

4.5 stars