Hexslayer

Reread November 2022

So, when I reread the first two books in this series a couple years ago, this book halted me. I knew I loved it (of course I did) but I also didn't really remember anything about it - or why I loved it. And, to be honest, Nick is someone that, after seeing him in the previous book/s, I never thought I'd like enough to have as one of the leads. But, you know, I do. I'm probably always going to b surprised at that, but he turns out surprisingly likeable.

And I do like where Nick and Jamie are at the end of this story. It might not be what was expected, but it works for them.


Original Review

Very lovely sequel that I enjoyed more than I thought I would considering Nick was never a favorite character of mine. (But he is really great in this book. And sounds gorgeous.) Interesting enough, there seems to be a building overarching plot and I'm very curious/excited about a sequel. (Glad I didn't read it for the mystery, because that was definitely the only weak link for me. And kind of obvious, too.)

Review from my blog: https://athousandworldssite.wordpress.com/
Unbonded familiars are being killed, murdered in what looks like a ritual killing, and Nick, an angry horse shifter, does the one thing he swore he never would: bond to a witch. It's all in an effort to investigate the killings, but what he doesn't expect is Jamie, his witch and a genuinely good person.

Nick and Jamie must put away their differences and learn to work together (Nick must learn to trust a witch) if they are to save New York City from a plot to topple it.

I love this series. I've always loved stories that deal with people that aren't quite human and the mistreatment that they can suffer for it. (ESPECIALLY when they come out on top in the end.) People that are more talented than the average and are feared because of that. And that's what the familiars are.

Besides that, you have the familiar/witch bond – which kind of works like soulmates. You have THE perfect match, and while familiars and witches can bond even if they aren't a perfect match, the bond is strong and the duo is more powerful if they are a perfect match. (Considering that this is a romance series, there's no major examples of it, but the bonds can also be simply platonic.) (There's a nice little mention that asexual and aromantic are things in this setting, too.)

Nick is a very compelling character, because he has so much anger and hatred for the witches. Not all of it is for good reason though, and it's a lot of fun seeing him come to terms with the fact that not all witches are the villains he's painted them as.

Jamie is a bit less compelling and doesn't have as much to overcome in the story. What he does have, though, is a prosthetic leg. (And suffering from PTSD, even if they didn't have a name for it.) What's nice about this is how references are made to him having trouble climbing steps and the way people look at him differently than they did before he lost his leg. Jamie is very well adjusted though, and is understanding enough and sweet enough that he balances out Nick wonderfully and they complement each other very well. (And Jamie calling Nick ‘sweetheart' is just made of win.)

Besides what worked well for this story (that whole enemies-to-lovers thing is such fun if done well and I think this book did a good, if understated, job) I love the world that the author has built up. I know a lot of people would argue that there's no such genre, but to me this is a historical urban fantasy. I takes place in a city, it has paranormal elements and it is most definitely a historical. (And this is one of my favorite sub-genres.)

What didn't work so well for me was the mystery. I thought it was obvious who was in on it – even if I didn't know why – and, at one point, I was practically screaming at one of the characters to not trust this person.