The Witchstone

Mixing a dash of supernatural mischief with a sprinkle of sardonic wit, ‘The Witchstone' is a whirlwind adventure that entangles an unlikely duo in a race against time, blending the charm of urban fantasy with the thrill of a caper.

Laszlo, our demon protagonist, would rather be anywhere but at his day job as Hell's most lackadaisical Curse Keeper. You can think of him as your least favorite coworker, but with more fire and brimstone. Meanwhile, Maggie Drakeford, our young Curse Bearer, brings a dose of reality to the curse-laden fantasy, though she takes her time coming out of her narrative shell.

The Witchstone is a fun and very enjoyable read, but what is perhaps most interesting about it is not the story that it is, but the story that it could have been. It's incredibly easy to imagine the bones of this story being assembled into something completely different than its current incarnation, which, at its essence is mostly a caper of sorts. It could have just as easily been heavily focused on Laszlo and his job as a Curse Keeper resulting in a satire of Corporate America. It also could have been more focused as a quest from Maggie's perspective and her family's struggle with the curse. This isn't to say it would have been better served as something other than what it is, but as I reflect back, I can't help but wonder what those versions would have looked like. It's a credit to the author that the foundation is so solid that the story seemingly could have been taken in a number of directions with relative ease.

If I had one minor quibble, it would be with the character development, especially for Maggie. Towards the end, we get to see real glimpses of a standout character, but she never quite breaks through. Still, the book remains a delightful and quick romp through a world where managing curses is just another day at the office.


Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.

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