Thursday, April 17, 2025

Book Review: The House Witch 2 by Delemhach

 


Goodreads Summary: As a wielder of domestic magic, Finlay Ashowan likes to keep his affairs as neat and orderly as his kitchen. But between his work for the King and Queen of Daxaria and a new (secret) relationship with Lady Annika Jenoure, his life is anything but tidy.
For one thing, if Annika and Fin are to continue their romance, they’ll need to sort out the pesky issue of Fin’s being a commoner—before Annika is forced into a political marriage that interferes with her own carefully laid plans.

For another, pressure is mounting as the war with Troivack draws ever closer. When Fin requests time away from the castle to rest, the King agrees but under a very particular condition: Fin must brave the streets of Austice as a spy, sleuthing out the plans of the Troivackian troops allegedly hidden there.

Further complicating things, Fin’s estranged father is on his way to Daxaria, an unexpected and unappreciated arrival that’s bound to wreak even more havoc in his son’s life.

As Fin forges new friendships and alliances—magical and non-magical alike—he becomes even more enmeshed in courtly intrigues, old feuds, and very personal problems. And the more he tries to clean up the various messes in his life, the more apparent it becomes that his troubles are only just beginning . . .

Goodreads Rating: 4.42 stars with over 13,000 ratings
Genre Listing: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Witches
Goodreads/ Storygraph challenge: 15/30
2025 Reading Challenge: #Read a book by an author using a pseudonym (Find the entire challenge here)


Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of spring. I've been really busy with work, so I haven't been able to post much. I've listened to a few books since my last review, but didn't have a chance to post. I'll talk more about those when I do a challenge update at the end of the month. 

I was surprised that my library had The House Witch volume 2 by Delemhach available on audiobook. I instantly grabbed it because the first book was so sweet and fun. The second book definitely did not disappoint. The story starts right where the first book left off, and it doesn't take long to get reacquainted with the whimsical world that Delemhach has created. 

I liked that Fin seemed much more confident in this book. It's been a while since I read the first book, but I remember him being more reserved. I think he showed a lot of growth. I enjoyed seeing him being more accepted within the castle. Fin and Annika's secret relationship brought a surprising number of opportunities for comedy. Their lack of communication was frustrating, but I suppose it helped progress the story. Got to have some kind of conflict, right?

In addition to the comedic moments, a couple made me tear up because they were so sweet and romantic. Given the mood I've been in recently, this meme felt appropriate. 


Some things that bothered me in the first book were still in the second. Mainly, every other line feels like Fin is called "the redhead." It feels repetitive, and my annoyance slightly distracts me from the story. It's a minor issue, though, and overall the story was delightful. I recommend it to anyone who wants a fun fantasy story with cozy feel-good vibes.




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