I cannot get over how much I loved this book. This book had me literally laughing out loud so many times. I obviously loved Laszlo the most with his personality and charm. Laszlo is one of those characters that had me constantly thinking "I really shouldn't love him as much as I do", but love him I did. He reminded me of my favorite video game villain Handsome Jack from the Borderland games. I think the reader had a hand in making me think this. I hope the author takes advantage of leaving a way back in to continue the story, but if it is left as a stand alone, it is an amazing one. I also hope he continues to write adult fiction.

The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff was pitched as The Good Place meets Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. While I do appreciate the similarities of the comparison, this novel largely reminds me of the hit television show Lucifer crossed with Supernatural as well.

Henry H. Neff has a wonderful voice within this body of work. His characters are vibrant, tangible, and grasp the readers with their complex flaws. Lazlo’s character felt so real within the opening pages because who wouldn’t want to slack off at their corporate job and fuck around? I kept envisioning Lazlo as this trust fund baby in the beginning and I couldn’t help myself from laughing. I wanted to take that man out for a drink because being a demon doesn’t seem so easy. In addition, A large part of my brain kept envisioning Supernatural sassy Crowly as Laszlo…in the best of ways.

My review is based on receiving the audiobook, however, I cannot wait to get the physical copy. I am not a fan of audiobooks however the narrator seems to fit the character of Lazlo very well and made me love this body of work. The Witchstone was plotted beautifully. I found myself multiple times trying to stay up late into the night to figure out what happened next.

Overall, I am pleased with The Witchstone. It feels so fresh in a market where everything seems to be redundantly written. Pick up this book if you’re looking for a funny, supernatural delight. I cannot wait to see what Henry H. Neff brings us next. Good job everyone!

What an entertaining and humorous read with high stakes and lovable characters by Henry H. Neff. I found myself engrossed in their adventure, rooting for Maggie and Lump, and even caring about what happens to a Demon. You’ll be uncovering centuries old secrets and chasing after artifacts through Europe. I would suggest this to the fans of The Good Place and Good Omens.

Hell has an office! Imagine a modern day Hell with cubicles and paperwork. It’s real. And it’s being audited. What does that mean for an 800 year old lazy Demon? Heaps of trouble from up top. The Ancient and Infernal Society of Curse Keepers is undergoing major changes and Laszlo is given 6 days to prove his competence.

A clever and powerful witch cursed Maggie’s family. If the descendants don’t complete the witch’s spell in time - they turn into monsters. There hasn’t been any hope of lifting this curse in generations. Loneliness, desperation, and anger have taken over their household when Laszlo appears on their doorstep.

With a somewhat similar goal in mind, a mischievous Demon and a courageous human unwillingly embark on a world class adventure through New York, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Italy and I’m here for all of it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an audiobook ahead of the publishing date. The narrator, Ramiz Monzef, did an amazing job!

I did not expect this book to be as funny as it was! The Witchstone by Henry Neff was a great blend of humor and fantasy. Laszlo is a really old demon who is in charge of keeping the Drakeford Curse, but it isn't as fun as partying on the beach. Laszlo is told that he needs to shape up in six days or... be returned to the Primordial Ooze! (see, funny?!?) Maggie Drakeford's family is cursed and she and her brother are skeptical of Laszlo's plan to help them break the curse.

It read a little slow at times, and I definitely wanted more development of Maggie's character. But, the twists were good and Laszlo and the other demons were hilarious!

This book was expertly narrated by Ramiz Monsef - great vocalization and pace, even with different characters.

The marketing invoking Good Omens isn't far off on this one. In some ways this is more coherent with better pacing. The cast of characters more personable and the narrative more straightforward. Laszlo as a protagonist is at first glance the kind of inept and unlikable that is often endearingly hilarious, and the Drakeford siblings are sweet and ill-fated. But as the story chugs along, something about Laszlo seems persistently unempathetic and the Drakeford curse is horribly menacing to the point of forcing the reader to sit through multiple attempted sexual assault in service of said curse. That element is so jarring and uncomfortable, it often broke the playful and whimsical tone of the overall narrative. The redemption pivot and the righteous stand towards the end came too little too late. In this sense, the omniscient voice of Good Omens could have been useful to keep the reader engaged with an observational voice. As it stands, Laszlo seemed irredeemable for too long, Maggie and most of the Drakefords seeming self-pitying, with a side of institutional religion. That said, overall, it is largely a fun romp with personable cast of characters, made particularly gripping because of a fantastic narrator.

There was no arm-twisting required to entice me to read this book, which is being compared to The Good Place television series and Neil Gaiman's American Gods. As should be expected from those comparisons, I was immersed into a gross, gory, funny, dark, action-packed, wild trip, with just a touch of social and religious commentary thrown in for good measure.

Demon Laszlo and Curse Bearer Maggie are the main characters, with considerable support from Maggie's much younger brother, George (also known as Lump); a variety of other demons, including Clarence; a Catholic priest; and a motley crew of others.

Additional notes from the publisher include the fact that the author is a former history teacher who has written and illustrated six acclaimed fantasy books for children. The Witchstone is his first novel for adults. Lucky us! Narrator Ramiz Monsef is an actor and playwright with onstage credits as a member of Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s acting company, in New York, and in other regional productions. I thought Monsef handled voices for all genders and ages, humans and demons, fabulously. Based on this book, I will gladly read Neff's work again—regardless of target audience—and read other books narrated by Monsef.

I got 35% into this and decided to DNF. The writing style reminded me of Stephen King and Keith Rosson, so fans of these authors may enjoy this book! It felt like an odd hybrid of adult and YA because it had strong language, yet the main characters we’re with are younger. I didn’t anticipate my reading experience getting any better which is why I decided to DNF.

The narrator is fantastic. I was able to differentiate between characters and that made this book completely come alive. I was lucky enough to be able to read and listen to the audio version of this and neither disappoints. Fantasy is not a genre that I normally read. As a matter of fact, I barely dip my toes in it. But this was so real and the places and things that the demons do are in current, actual locations. The characters have depth and feelings and the emotions they expressed made them come alive. How can one laugh at and become a fan of a demon such as Lazslo? I have no idea. But I do know there is comedy and true laugh out loud moments. There is suspense and mystery. There is a generational curse and plenty of magic and this should be added to your summer TBR as fast as possible.

How is a book about a generational curse and demons so funny?! I loved it from beginning to end.
Laszlo is an endearing asshole— I shouldn’t be able to love a demon. Somehow Maggie feels super relatable even though she’s a 19 year old who is literally turning into a monster. And Lump. My dear sweet Lump. I wanted to jump into the book to hug and protect him. I love that kid.

This narrator is fantastic! He had very distinct voices for these characters. I was literally laughing out loud whenever Clarence was speaking.
I finished this book last week and I'm still thinking about multiple times a day.

4.75/5 ⭐️
Narration: 5/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the opportunity to review this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

General tropes/themes:
- Magical realism
- Humor
- Suspense

I decided to listen to this book while moving to a new state. It absolutely transported me. The narration was fantastic, and I loved the depth of characters and the emotions expressed. I laughed. And then I laughed some more. This book had me feeling all of the emotions (shock included). There is suspense. There is mystery. There is betrayal. Overall, it was a lovely read and I would absolutely recommend it.

The only thing I would say is that it starts slow, and there are a couple parts that seemed drawn out, so it received a 4.75/5 stars over a 5/5 stars. But that is the only critique I would have for it.

Honestly, this is a fun and refreshing read and I very much enjoyed it.

The Witchstone is a fantastic book that should definitely be on your TBR list. This book has lots of humor, magic, and adventure which makes it a perfect Summer read. I guarantee that you’ll fall in love with these characters.

The Witchstone follows Laszlo, a demon and lackluster Curse Keeper. He’d rather spend his time doing the finer things in life, than maintain the Drakeford Curse. When his department gets new management though, he’s given an ultimatum to increase the pain and suffering of the Drakeford family, or he will be melted down and have to start his life over. He’s happy with his life, so he figures there’s no time like the present to go visit the Drakeford family and cause some trouble.

The story also follows Maggie Drakeford. Being a Drakeford means she’s doomed to become a grotesque monster. With each generation of the curse, the symptoms start sooner and sooner. Maggie is only nineteen and she’s starting to grow some tentacles on a patch of her arm. When Laszlo arrives and explains he’s her family’s Curse Keeper and that he wants to help them break the curse, she jumps at the chance to end her family’s suffering. Especially since her little brother will one day fall victim to it. Maggie agrees to help Laszlo break the curse and the two set off on a whirlwind adventure to find the ingredients needed to break the curse once and for all. However they face a small wrench in their plans when Maggie’s little brother, Lump, tags along.

The trio then begins their task of finding the items needed to break the curse. This is where the book shines. The tasks put the three in some very interesting predicaments. The Drakeford’s and Laszlo have to work together to survive against assassins, monsters and more. However, Laszlo seems to have his own agenda and Maggie will have to determine if she can really trust the demon to help her and her family.

Maggie and Lump are my favorite characters in this book. Maggie is a strong female lead, and Lump is just adorable as can be. Laszlo is a funny demon, but his demeanor and attitude leave him not as charming as he thinks he is. This was just such a fun read. After the ending I really hope the author returns to this world, because I would love some further adventures of the Drakefords and Laszlo.

4.5/5

This book was such an enjoyable experience. The storyline was whimsical, humorous and horrifying, and I had such a great time reading it. I loved our morally grey protagonist, Laszlo. 

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I REALLY enjoyed The Witchstone! This book is smart, witty, funny, and fast paced. The story follows Laszlo, a demon, and Maggie, a girl from a cursed family in upstate New York as they try to break this familial curse.... with very different motivations. I found the characters to be amazingly vivid, and I absolutely adored Lump, the younger brother who made me laugh out loud more than once. The Witchstone is a great pick for a reader who's looking for magical realism and can appreciate a bit of snark!

I'm so grateful to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audio ARC! The narration on this book took the story from great to AMAZING! The voices for characters of all dialects and accents were so engaging and spectacularly done! I'd highly recommend that someone read The Witchstone as an audiobook.

Ahhhhhh!!! The narrator was Perfection. Utter perfection. I have already reviewed the arc of this book so this is my review of the audiobook.

He had this cadence to his voice that was soothing and emotive. He added such a depth to the story that it felt almost bardic in its delivery. Superb.

I absolutely devoured every word of this book. A fast-paced, semi-workppace, buddy comedy between Lazlo, a demon who works as a curse keeper in literal corporate Hell, and his 2 curse bearers, siblings Maggie and Lump Drakeford.

This book takes the reader on a whirlwind of adventure. From Lazlos 'career (and life) being threatened to an impromptu night in a small Italian church to escape an assassin, I truly never knew what to expect next in the best possible way.
Lazlo is a fantastic mix of generic demon TM and Jim Halpert, if I had to pin him down. Sarcastic, sassy, a little stupid, and has anyone told him he looks like Paul Newman?

The banter between Lazlo and Maggie had me constantly giggling and laughing out loud. Seeing how Henry H. Neff managed to create a fully functional corporate concept for hell, hijinks and shenanigans included, had my imagination constantly turned up to 10. The productivity alligators *chefs kiss*. I'd read a million books set in this world.

And let's not forget about the quest to break the curse! It was like a favorite dungeons and dragons campaign brought to life. Adventure, action, magic items, high stakes theivery, Nat 1 rolls causing all the problems 😂, and several lucky moments intentionally planned by Lazlo!

I truly found myself rooting for this misfit team to come out on top. And when it finally came time to break the curse, I had to binge the end because I couldn't put it down.

I truly hope there is another book in this world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending me the audiobook early to review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

A really crazy and fun read.

I listened to the audiobook which was very well read by Ramiz Monsef. He had a great delivery, didn't put on radically different voices but the delineation between characters was clear. No melodrama which was excellent for me. My one tiny criticism is that Elizabeth Drakeford did sound a little like Bill Murray putting on a silly voice - but she's barely in it. I really enjoyed the reading.

Maggie Drakeford and her family are cursed. The curse goes back to the 16th century when her ancestor burned a witch. It condemns Maggie's family to a horrible death as they become responsible for the sins of others condemning their bodies to turn into sludgy messes - a fate that has already befallen her father and now is coming straight for Maggie.

Lazlo is a Grade 3 demon and he's also the son of Baalzebul, one of the most powerful lords of evil. Needless to say every family has to have a hopeless, lazy playboy content to wander through their long lives - that's pretty much Lazlo. However he's also the Keeper of Maggie's curse which means he's supposed to be striking constant despair into the family but instead he's gambling, fooling around with the ladies and generally messing with humans. Daddy has finally had enough. Lazlo is given 6 days to mend his ways or he's going to be melted down into the primeval ooze.

Of course Lazlo isn't going to admit to Maggie what his real plans are - he's going to tell her he wants her to break the curse, raising her hopes only to dash them to oblivion. His stock will sky rocket and he'll be promoted with any luck. Who cares what happens to the Drakefords after that.

Sadly for Lazlo he hasn't counted on Maggie being quite so skeptical or her little brother, George, being quite so resourceful or smart. What happens next is an absolutely bonkers race across Europe to find the answer to kill the curse. With Maggie's curse increasing in strength, Lazlo's inherent cowardice and a whole bunch of people determined to stop them all it's going to be a wild ride.

And it is. The action is pretty much non-stop. The characters are well developed throughout the book and are all (even Lazlo) very likeable. Having a demonic curse as the premise for the book gives you licence to write almost anything and some of the adventures are absolutely nuts. But it is amusing all the same and I enjoyed it almost to the end.

The bit that got the last star knocked off was the overly drawn out end of the book where there is an explanation of the entire curse despite the fact that it had come piecemeal throughout the book. I'm afraid it drove me a bit batty since time was a factor and I had to wade through a very long explanation (taking way more time than I thought the family had left) until we got to a breakneck speed ending.

Still, I would recommend it if you like slightly off the wall adventures with some great (but often immoral) characters.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing Audio for the advance review copy.

Absolutely loved this narrator! Very distinct characters and perfect pacing. They had excellent material to work with and everything was so vivid. I will definitely be buying the book and listen to the audio again. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy.

Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman - fantasy in the “real world,” very similar dry humor writing style, and memorable cast of characters. The tagalong little brother is named Lump, of all things. A fun and entertaining listen. Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Neff, and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this audiobook!

I wanted to like this but after dragging reading the ebook, I thought maybe the audiobook would be a better fit. I did like the narrator but the story still just didn't work for me. I dnfed it at 10%

I really enjoyed this adventure to break a family's longtime curse. The human family works with the demon in charge of their curse to stop all of its horrendous aspects. Even though the audiobook was almost 18 hours, it didn't feel like it was that long at all. The story was well-paced and never dragged. The characters were very interesting and there was lots of humor throughout the book. It was like an epic fantasy with a quest (which I usually don't like), but being set in modern times made a huge difference to me.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.