Hello guys! Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Reads!
Today's book is a debut mix of contemporary setting with paranormal witchcraft related issues, and I was super lucky to win a preorder for it on Nova's blog Out of Time during one of her giveaways (thank you, Nova & Michelle!). It's also been by first buddy read with the awesome Becca of Pivot Book Reviews, but I'm sure it won't be the last! Do check out Becca's review of Hexed on her blog too!
Hexed by Michelle Krys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first moment I heard about Hexed, I was quite intrigued, even if I'm not usually big on stories about witches, so when I a preorder for it in a giveaway, I was rightly chuffed!
Hexed is a good mix of contemporary setting with paranormal aspects of witchcraft, even if we don't get that many answers about the witchcraft world, it is quite different from the usual view of witchcraft. There are no potions or wants, but more using your inner power and using spells only to channel that better.
Indigo, or Indie, our main character is one of those characters that can be a lil polarizing. You might like her with a few reservations and enjoy her growth (even if you feel like shaking her on occasion), or you end up disliking her. I felt that Indie was a character with flaws but ultimately likeable, and I was glad to see her grow into herself and out of her "popular" persona. Sometimes her treatment of Paige, her neighbour and childhood friend or her interactions with Bianca and Devon made me want to shake her, but she always felt like a very real character to me.
Paige was a very sweet girl, one of those genuine good people that don't care much about appearances or what the "in crowd" think and go their own way and I was glad that she was there for Indie, even when she wouldn't deserve it.
Devon and Bianca... they seem to be typically cut "popular" kids, and it might be playing into stereotypes, but I think that with some hints to a barely scratched depth in their characters, they can be realistic enough and fulfill their role. They are who they are, and make no apologies for it, so you don't feel that bad disliking them. And despite how easy it would have been for Indie to be sucked back in into their "popularity" and expectations, I'm glad that she took a stance and kept herself strong.
Bishop... well, Bishop is an interesting character, he's full of snark and mystery but half the time can be an arse, and the other half he seems to be rather stingy when it comes to providing information. He ended up growing on me, but he was someone I felt like smacking in the back of the head on occasion in the first half of the book!
There are two factions in the magical world of Hexed, The Family that are supposed to be the good guys (but sound like the mafia with a name like that) and then The Priory (which sounds like monks, but nope nothing contemplative about them). The Priory are clearly the bad guys, if nothing else cause they seem to kill without remorse and enjoy torture, but The Family seem to be too high and mighty to really qualify as good guys. They fail to intervene properly to protect their own and they seem to have a big disregard for regular, non-magical, humans. I have a feeling there's more to these two groups that what we've learnt so far, and I hope we'll get more answers in the sequel.
The book has a rather good pace, intermixing regular life with witchcraft related elements, with twists, emotional wrecking moments and even a dragon! That might have added half a star to the book right there, dragons are always awesome! If there's a way to add a dragon to a book, always do it! I liked that although Indie was a bit whiney on occasion, she always ended up facing things, fighting to the best of her abilities and not backing down easily at all! Some of the twists I didn't see coming at all, and that ending and epilogue?? Horrible cliffhanger alert! Charmed cannot come out soon enough!
All in all, a great debut well deserving of 3.5 (4 if you count the dragon!).
View all my reviews
Today's book is a debut mix of contemporary setting with paranormal witchcraft related issues, and I was super lucky to win a preorder for it on Nova's blog Out of Time during one of her giveaways (thank you, Nova & Michelle!). It's also been by first buddy read with the awesome Becca of Pivot Book Reviews, but I'm sure it won't be the last! Do check out Becca's review of Hexed on her blog too!
Hexed by Michelle KrysMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first moment I heard about Hexed, I was quite intrigued, even if I'm not usually big on stories about witches, so when I a preorder for it in a giveaway, I was rightly chuffed!
Hexed is a good mix of contemporary setting with paranormal aspects of witchcraft, even if we don't get that many answers about the witchcraft world, it is quite different from the usual view of witchcraft. There are no potions or wants, but more using your inner power and using spells only to channel that better.
Indigo, or Indie, our main character is one of those characters that can be a lil polarizing. You might like her with a few reservations and enjoy her growth (even if you feel like shaking her on occasion), or you end up disliking her. I felt that Indie was a character with flaws but ultimately likeable, and I was glad to see her grow into herself and out of her "popular" persona. Sometimes her treatment of Paige, her neighbour and childhood friend or her interactions with Bianca and Devon made me want to shake her, but she always felt like a very real character to me.
Paige was a very sweet girl, one of those genuine good people that don't care much about appearances or what the "in crowd" think and go their own way and I was glad that she was there for Indie, even when she wouldn't deserve it.
Devon and Bianca... they seem to be typically cut "popular" kids, and it might be playing into stereotypes, but I think that with some hints to a barely scratched depth in their characters, they can be realistic enough and fulfill their role. They are who they are, and make no apologies for it, so you don't feel that bad disliking them. And despite how easy it would have been for Indie to be sucked back in into their "popularity" and expectations, I'm glad that she took a stance and kept herself strong.
Bishop... well, Bishop is an interesting character, he's full of snark and mystery but half the time can be an arse, and the other half he seems to be rather stingy when it comes to providing information. He ended up growing on me, but he was someone I felt like smacking in the back of the head on occasion in the first half of the book!
There are two factions in the magical world of Hexed, The Family that are supposed to be the good guys (but sound like the mafia with a name like that) and then The Priory (which sounds like monks, but nope nothing contemplative about them). The Priory are clearly the bad guys, if nothing else cause they seem to kill without remorse and enjoy torture, but The Family seem to be too high and mighty to really qualify as good guys. They fail to intervene properly to protect their own and they seem to have a big disregard for regular, non-magical, humans. I have a feeling there's more to these two groups that what we've learnt so far, and I hope we'll get more answers in the sequel.
The book has a rather good pace, intermixing regular life with witchcraft related elements, with twists, emotional wrecking moments and even a dragon! That might have added half a star to the book right there, dragons are always awesome! If there's a way to add a dragon to a book, always do it! I liked that although Indie was a bit whiney on occasion, she always ended up facing things, fighting to the best of her abilities and not backing down easily at all! Some of the twists I didn't see coming at all, and that ending and epilogue?? Horrible cliffhanger alert! Charmed cannot come out soon enough!
All in all, a great debut well deserving of 3.5 (4 if you count the dragon!).
View all my reviews
I'm not big on witches either, so I'm relieved to hear that this book is still a worthwhile read in spite of that. I love how you gave bonus points for the dragon! That's totally justified IMO. Hehe I'm not diggin' the cliffhanger ending though... Great review, Phili!
ReplyDeleteDragons deserve their own points, always!! Not a fan of cliffhangers myself either, that's why I always mention them on my reviews!
DeleteThank you Carmel!!
I've read some really mixed reviews on this one Pili, particularly with regard to Indie herself, but I'm so glad you found her likeable overall despite wanting to shake her on occasion:) Witches, for some reason, are never my go-to supernatural entity when I pick up a paranormal book, but I've been wanting to read more books that feature them. I was on the fence on this one, but then you had to go and mention a dragon and I just can't pass up a dragon:)
ReplyDeleteI don't read many books with witches either myself, but this one sounded pretty intriguing and yeah, it had a dragon, so totally worth it! ;)
DeleteI'm so excited to see that you enjoyed this one. Although I do so despise horrible cliffhangers. Going to add the sequel to my TBR pile. :)
ReplyDeleteCliffhangers are the bane of my reader existence! I'm glad that this is a duology so there won't be more cliffhangers to come!
DeleteAmazing review! I'm not a big fan of witches but you make me want to read the book!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll give it a try!
Let me know what you think of it if you read it, Lis!
DeleteGreat review Pili, I haven't heard favourable things about this book especially because of the whining that Indie displays but it was good to see an alternate point of view. The Priory and The Family sound like they'd offer a really interesting premise and glad you ended up enjoying the dragons as well.
ReplyDeleteShe whines, that she does, but some of her whining I get... She gets tortured and bullied and pushed every which way and she doesn't know shit of why during hald the book, so I'd say... she has a certain right to whine!
DeleteHeh, you definitely liked this one more than me. I felt like it was just so cliche as the paranormal romance >.< I mean I liked it, I just didn't LOVE it as much as you seemed to have!
ReplyDeleteI guessed since I don't read as many paranormal romances as of late, it didn't feel as cliched for me?
DeleteI've seen a few negative reviews of this one, so I was already a bit turned off. The witchcraft part was the first strike against this one, then a few negative reviews from bloggy friends. HOWEVER. I am happy that you enjoyed it :D This Bishop guy sounds like someone I would like, our personalities sound similar... I guess on that note, perhaps I would want to punch him all the time ;)
ReplyDeleteFabulous review, Pili!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Hehehehe, he did grow on me! ;)
DeleteThank you!
I always love witches but I'm very critical when it comes to a witch book. It seemed as if you pretty much smacked everyone in the end at one point or another and it's so surprising that you still liked the characters despite being annoyed with them .You totally got me at dragons, too! I have a copy of this and now I'd surely look forward to reading this. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI don't find wanting to smack someone on the head and liking them as characters overall as incompatible. All characters might do something stupid at some point, but if there's progression and improvements, that's what counts. And yeah, dragon!!
DeleteThank you!
Great review sweetie. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed this book :) I'm not sure when I will take the time to read my copy, but hopefully soon ;p But omg. Evil cliffhanger? ACK. Do not want! lol :) Thank you for sharing. <3
ReplyDeleteYeah, evil cliffhanger!! I'd even recommend to wait till book two is out, so you can read them both! ;)
DeleteThank you sweetie!
DRAGONS ARE AWESOME, period. I would've added the half star to the rating as well. *giggles* I'm normally not usually in for a witch based book, except for the Hex Hall trilogy by Rachel Hawkins (which she perfectly mastered), but something about Hexed just captivates me. It could be the amount of positive reviews out there, or I don't know, the cover? Haha. Good pacing is always important to have in a good read. I'm glad that you liked this one!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review and thanks for sharing.
Yep, dragons ARE brilliant! I cannot wait to see what you think of Hexed if/when you read it! Maybe you can get it from the library!
Delete