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Witch’s Path #1
Witch for Hire
Most witches don’t work for police departments, but Michelle isn’t your average witch. She’s clanless, looking for a warlock who isn’t offended by her lack of family connections, and in danger of losing her job if she can’t find the escaped trolls before they start eating the local residents.
Trolls, angry police, and misbehaving spells are the least of her problems. Statues attacking homeowners might be problematic for your average witch, but to Michelle it’s another day at the office. Her real concern is the wizard suddenly interested in dating her and an old elf set on pestering her. When her happy family is rocked by a long kept secret her stable life falls apart faster than she can pick up the pieces.
And she still hasn’t found those trolls.
Trolls, angry police, and misbehaving spells are the least of her problems. Statues attacking homeowners might be problematic for your average witch, but to Michelle it’s another day at the office. Her real concern is the wizard suddenly interested in dating her and an old elf set on pestering her. When her happy family is rocked by a long kept secret her stable life falls apart faster than she can pick up the pieces.
And she still hasn’t found those trolls.
258 pages, ebook
First published January 11, 2014
1157 people are currently reading
2011 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
February 13, 2015
Couldn't get past the writing style
This book had all the elements of a potentially great story but the writing made it fall flat.
Cons
1) Less than 300 pages in and I'm bored wondering why I've read so many pages. You learn very little of the main character except that she likes tea, doesn't like fast food, and wishes her commutes were shorter.
2) The conversations are stilted and awkward and disjointed.
3) She continues to ask and dream about Elron (the other voice/perspective in the book) but you have no idea why - they've had very little interaction up to this point.
4) The world development is more told not shown. In fact, most of the book is this way.
Pros
If I had found any I would still be reading this book
This book had all the elements of a potentially great story but the writing made it fall flat.
Cons
1) Less than 300 pages in and I'm bored wondering why I've read so many pages. You learn very little of the main character except that she likes tea, doesn't like fast food, and wishes her commutes were shorter.
2) The conversations are stilted and awkward and disjointed.
3) She continues to ask and dream about Elron (the other voice/perspective in the book) but you have no idea why - they've had very little interaction up to this point.
4) The world development is more told not shown. In fact, most of the book is this way.
Pros
If I had found any I would still be reading this book
January 5, 2022
Witch for Hire is book one in the Witch’s Path series by N.E. Conneely.
Michelle is our lead. I enjoyed her. She’s independent, has a nice sense of direction and is magical. The side characters are well developed and enjoyable. There is a lot going on in this book and at times it felt a bit much, but by the end you see some things are connected or might be. The story flows well and the author moves the story along.
This was a nice start to the series. It’s got a great premise, amazing world building, great characters, and nonstop action. I enjoyed Witch for Hire and want to read on in the series to see what’s nest and where things go.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
Michelle is our lead. I enjoyed her. She’s independent, has a nice sense of direction and is magical. The side characters are well developed and enjoyable. There is a lot going on in this book and at times it felt a bit much, but by the end you see some things are connected or might be. The story flows well and the author moves the story along.
This was a nice start to the series. It’s got a great premise, amazing world building, great characters, and nonstop action. I enjoyed Witch for Hire and want to read on in the series to see what’s nest and where things go.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
February 25, 2015
Not what I expected
The book was not what I expected, but in a good way. I thought it was going to be just another witch helps police solve mysteries story. The idea of a story set in a world where magic and non magic creatures live together is an interesting one, I am officially intrigued. There were a few weak spots, not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book, but a few. It was hard to keep track of some of the characters names, I believe it was Jerry and Jones. I'm pretty sure they are different characters, but not positive. The way Michelle constructs her magic is unusual, but then again her world is unusual. I think I will grasp that better after I read the other books, which I fully intend to do. The bits with Elton seemed out of place at first, I think because he is so formal, but by the end it all comes together. If the world building continues on like this, I believe this series shows a lot of promise and my few nitpicks will work themselves out over time. I look forward to more work by this author, whether she is building this world or another.
The book was not what I expected, but in a good way. I thought it was going to be just another witch helps police solve mysteries story. The idea of a story set in a world where magic and non magic creatures live together is an interesting one, I am officially intrigued. There were a few weak spots, not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book, but a few. It was hard to keep track of some of the characters names, I believe it was Jerry and Jones. I'm pretty sure they are different characters, but not positive. The way Michelle constructs her magic is unusual, but then again her world is unusual. I think I will grasp that better after I read the other books, which I fully intend to do. The bits with Elton seemed out of place at first, I think because he is so formal, but by the end it all comes together. If the world building continues on like this, I believe this series shows a lot of promise and my few nitpicks will work themselves out over time. I look forward to more work by this author, whether she is building this world or another.
May 21, 2019
This book is the perfect example of why writing doesn't make a writer, even taking talent out of the equation.
This is the difference between a flat tire and Earth, we are talking about depth, colors, nuances. All things this book sorely lacks, together with characterization.
Nothing makes sense and some things are totally lacking. A few other things were utterly WTH moments either baffling or nail on chalkboard bad (all the interaction between the heroine and her neighbor who moreover gets a useless pov and you wonder why he is in the story at all).
The nail on the board was pretty intense and unfortunately common.
At 0.99 I say go for it, but at full price (5$) no way
It's sexy as a platic sex doll.
This is the difference between a flat tire and Earth, we are talking about depth, colors, nuances. All things this book sorely lacks, together with characterization.
Nothing makes sense and some things are totally lacking. A few other things were utterly WTH moments either baffling or nail on chalkboard bad (all the interaction between the heroine and her neighbor who moreover gets a useless pov and you wonder why he is in the story at all).
The nail on the board was pretty intense and unfortunately common.
At 0.99 I say go for it, but at full price (5$) no way
It's sexy as a platic sex doll.
April 13, 2017
A quirky hilarious paranormal mystery. Michelle, covenless and looking for love, works for the police and uses her magical abilities to help solve crimes. Sounds simple enough but Michelle's life is anything but simple.
I really enjoyed this light, wicca mystery. Michelle is a riot (think Bridget Jones) and what she has to deal with kept me in stitches. The plot stuttered in a couple of places but overall was easy to follow. I can't wait to read more!
My Rating: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this light, wicca mystery. Michelle is a riot (think Bridget Jones) and what she has to deal with kept me in stitches. The plot stuttered in a couple of places but overall was easy to follow. I can't wait to read more!
My Rating: 4 stars
June 15, 2019
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. It wasn't bad per se, but it's not good either. Its just kind of blah. The characters were ok but they weren't anything special. The story was slow, much slower than what I usually enjoy. One of the problems I had was that there was to much about big changes in the main characters personal life. That's fine in later books in a series, but in the first series these big changes don't have the impact that I think that the author was going for. The only good thing I found was that the author was very good at imagining and describing the newer magic aspects of the book. Other than that there wasn't anything that really stood out about the book.
May 14, 2015
(I received a free audible copy in exchange for an honest review.)
3.5 stars
Jeff Hays does a spectacular job with the narration. I actually had to keep going back to find his name and remind myself that this was a person with extraordinary range. While he’s not up there with Patrick Mclean’s voices, Mr. Hays does a fantastic job of differentiating who’s who when listening.
The story itself is extremely intriguing and I would definitely be interested in listening to a sequel just to see if the world becomes a little more detailed. It feels as if we’re dropped in the middle of a world and just have to accept the reality without much explained. Yes, there is a bit of extrapolation sprinkled among the spell work and introductions. While feeling as if I needed more, and expecting it just around the corner, the lack of dimension does not detract from the characterization. Elron has the depth, the history, the emotion. Michelle…focused on her job, her spell casting, her life, brushes everything else under the rug and simply keeps going, and searching for that elusive good night’s sleep.
The world is a mix between police procedural and a world where magic and magical beings exist. Race differentiation is more complicated than simple skin color and humans in general seem to be the minority and handicapped. I like the multitude of reactions the characters have with each other, some tolerant, some racist, some simply existing as they are. Michelle is the liberal pacifist with an eye toward not only seeming tolerant, but keeping everyone around her happy for the connections she might need in the future. She seems as if she’s trying too hard to be politically correct. This is a minor point in her character as she is extremely focused on herself.
There definitely could have been more conflict with her parents rather than such unusual understanding. But then, Michelle is not the average angsty teenager. Rather, she’s a woman who knows who she is and how she fits in the world.
3.5 stars
Jeff Hays does a spectacular job with the narration. I actually had to keep going back to find his name and remind myself that this was a person with extraordinary range. While he’s not up there with Patrick Mclean’s voices, Mr. Hays does a fantastic job of differentiating who’s who when listening.
The story itself is extremely intriguing and I would definitely be interested in listening to a sequel just to see if the world becomes a little more detailed. It feels as if we’re dropped in the middle of a world and just have to accept the reality without much explained. Yes, there is a bit of extrapolation sprinkled among the spell work and introductions. While feeling as if I needed more, and expecting it just around the corner, the lack of dimension does not detract from the characterization. Elron has the depth, the history, the emotion. Michelle…focused on her job, her spell casting, her life, brushes everything else under the rug and simply keeps going, and searching for that elusive good night’s sleep.
The world is a mix between police procedural and a world where magic and magical beings exist. Race differentiation is more complicated than simple skin color and humans in general seem to be the minority and handicapped. I like the multitude of reactions the characters have with each other, some tolerant, some racist, some simply existing as they are. Michelle is the liberal pacifist with an eye toward not only seeming tolerant, but keeping everyone around her happy for the connections she might need in the future. She seems as if she’s trying too hard to be politically correct. This is a minor point in her character as she is extremely focused on herself.
There definitely could have been more conflict with her parents rather than such unusual understanding. But then, Michelle is not the average angsty teenager. Rather, she’s a woman who knows who she is and how she fits in the world.
February 4, 2020
WHAT. She suddenly discovers the identity of her absent father, and he immediately gets upgraded to 'Dad'?!?!? And he and her mom are all, 'Noooooo, we can't tell you the reason for all the cloak and dagger business around you and us,' and she's like 'Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Don't tell me. Cool. Love you, Dad!' That's just wildly unrealistic. Like, humans don't do that. Ugh.
May 31, 2015
Fabulous
It's incredibly rare for me to finish a book these days, especially with my hectic lifestyle, but this book managed to capture me. It's well written, comical and has a unique plot that kept me coming back.
It's incredibly rare for me to finish a book these days, especially with my hectic lifestyle, but this book managed to capture me. It's well written, comical and has a unique plot that kept me coming back.
February 2, 2018
Original review: https://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/2...
A 3.5* review. I received this book via an audiobook as a promotion for doing a blog tour. That being said, an audiobook can definitely influence my perception on the book as a whole.
When I first started this book, the narrator had a very grating voice which was not a good start for me. It was this weird, awkward falsetto that really annoyed me to no end. The main character is female yet for some reason, the narrator was male who tried way too hard to sound feminine but failed miserably. It took quite a while for me to finally get somewhat used to that voice before I could really enjoy the book.
However, once I managed to put that aside, I started to get into the plot and the characters. I found myself enjoying the story immensely. I liked learning about Michelle and seeing how she goes about to solving all of these problems from the police. The other character, Elron, is also a favorite of mine. The squabbles that he and Michelle goes through are hilarious and entertaining but at this point, there aren’t too many interactions between the two. However, you can definitely tell that there is tension, the good kind, between them.
What I enjoy most about the book is all of the magical creatures involved. There are elves, demons, unicorns, gargoyles, etc. and I love books like these where there is a plethora of various creatures. And with Michelle’s work as a consultant for the police, she gets right in the middle of various issues and for this book, it mostly focused on trolls.
At this point, I have finished the first three books and I have to say that the first one is probably the least interesting just because there is a lot of buildup with the characters and plot. That’s not saying that the first book isn’t entertaining on its own but out of the three, I would consider this book as mostly meant for world-building.
Overall, I did find this book an interesting read and I can’t wait to find out what the rest of the series has in store for Michelle (and Elron, hopefully).
A 3.5* review. I received this book via an audiobook as a promotion for doing a blog tour. That being said, an audiobook can definitely influence my perception on the book as a whole.
When I first started this book, the narrator had a very grating voice which was not a good start for me. It was this weird, awkward falsetto that really annoyed me to no end. The main character is female yet for some reason, the narrator was male who tried way too hard to sound feminine but failed miserably. It took quite a while for me to finally get somewhat used to that voice before I could really enjoy the book.
However, once I managed to put that aside, I started to get into the plot and the characters. I found myself enjoying the story immensely. I liked learning about Michelle and seeing how she goes about to solving all of these problems from the police. The other character, Elron, is also a favorite of mine. The squabbles that he and Michelle goes through are hilarious and entertaining but at this point, there aren’t too many interactions between the two. However, you can definitely tell that there is tension, the good kind, between them.
What I enjoy most about the book is all of the magical creatures involved. There are elves, demons, unicorns, gargoyles, etc. and I love books like these where there is a plethora of various creatures. And with Michelle’s work as a consultant for the police, she gets right in the middle of various issues and for this book, it mostly focused on trolls.
At this point, I have finished the first three books and I have to say that the first one is probably the least interesting just because there is a lot of buildup with the characters and plot. That’s not saying that the first book isn’t entertaining on its own but out of the three, I would consider this book as mostly meant for world-building.
Overall, I did find this book an interesting read and I can’t wait to find out what the rest of the series has in store for Michelle (and Elron, hopefully).
January 25, 2018
I received this book as part of a book tour.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the first book in this series, specifically because it didn't take a long time setting up the story. I love when I can just jump right in and take off. There was no need for a ton of world building because our author assumes we already understand what paranormal creatures are. I appreciated that quite a bit.
The book is mostly from the POV of our witchy lady, Michelle, and we see her talents and skills with assisting the police department with supernatural cases. However, there are some instances of POV shift, where the narrator shifts to a nonessential character, the Elf. I'm kind of confused about his purpose but am assuming he will play a larger role in the series as a whole. It just seemed strange for the first book to hear from him so intermittently and not have him be a major player in the plot. There was also one kind of strange POV shift to the essence of nature narrating what was happening in one epic scene. That was a unique POV shift.
The plot is interesting and keeps moving with an investigation of missing Trolls and the trafficking of various creatures - like a mermaid! - but I can't say I really understood the villain's motivation. Michelle got herself in a very dangerous situation when she finally confronted the villain responsible for the troll situation, but it felt like the explanation came too quickly.
The audiobook narrator did a wonderful job with all the voices and accents. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of his voice for our main character, being that she's female, but the other voices were great. I'm sure his main character voice will grow on me over the series.
Overall this was a great first book, quick and enjoyable, just how I like my paranormal adventures.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the first book in this series, specifically because it didn't take a long time setting up the story. I love when I can just jump right in and take off. There was no need for a ton of world building because our author assumes we already understand what paranormal creatures are. I appreciated that quite a bit.
The book is mostly from the POV of our witchy lady, Michelle, and we see her talents and skills with assisting the police department with supernatural cases. However, there are some instances of POV shift, where the narrator shifts to a nonessential character, the Elf. I'm kind of confused about his purpose but am assuming he will play a larger role in the series as a whole. It just seemed strange for the first book to hear from him so intermittently and not have him be a major player in the plot. There was also one kind of strange POV shift to the essence of nature narrating what was happening in one epic scene. That was a unique POV shift.
The plot is interesting and keeps moving with an investigation of missing Trolls and the trafficking of various creatures - like a mermaid! - but I can't say I really understood the villain's motivation. Michelle got herself in a very dangerous situation when she finally confronted the villain responsible for the troll situation, but it felt like the explanation came too quickly.
The audiobook narrator did a wonderful job with all the voices and accents. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of his voice for our main character, being that she's female, but the other voices were great. I'm sure his main character voice will grow on me over the series.
Overall this was a great first book, quick and enjoyable, just how I like my paranormal adventures.
January 20, 2023
The heroine is a young witch who works on contract for various Atlanta area police departments, doing magical things they don't have the personnel to do. Sometimes she de-magics household items like spelled toasters or teapots that bite or dribble. Sometimes she looks at crime scenes to see if magic was involved in the crime. And while she's trying to establish her business, she's dealing with her mother, meeting with girlfriends, thinking about dating and doing all the other things a young witch out on her own does. The main case she is working on during this story involves a bunch of trolls (they eat people) who have escaped from their confinement after an explosion and are proving difficult to locate, much less recapture. Plus a different police department is dealing with traffickers in magical creatures, whether intelligent, and thus people, or not. She's having trouble keeping up with her work, not to mention all the stuff going on in her life. It's a fun, interesting story, smoothly written (though Conneely has a bit of a problem with repetition) and easy to read. I liked it. Good read.
January 11, 2018
STORY 3.5 Stars PERFORMANCE 4 Stars
I love reading /listening to urban fantasy stories. Witch for Hire is my intro to N.E. Conneely. I am thrilled with the concept of the story since it combines witches, suspense, and mystery. However, I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and there were a lot of them to keep up with. This is the main drawback I have with this story. Some of the secondary characters seemed unnecessary. For example, there were new dinner guests at the B&B each night which contributed nothing to the storyline. It came off as just filler.
Now aside from that, I did enjoy the MC. Michelle Oaks is developed and becoming more complex as the story progresses. I am interested in her past and the secrets it holds. I like that Michelle works with the cops to solve crimes involving magic and supernatural creatures. This aspect puts a unique twist on the story.
I definitely plan to listen to the next audiobook in this series. I need to know more about Michelle's past and I am hoping the story itself become more cohesive.
The narrator did a great job with the story and the characters. I enjoyed her adaptation of Michelle. This certainly aided in keeping my interest up.
I love reading /listening to urban fantasy stories. Witch for Hire is my intro to N.E. Conneely. I am thrilled with the concept of the story since it combines witches, suspense, and mystery. However, I felt like the characters were underdeveloped and there were a lot of them to keep up with. This is the main drawback I have with this story. Some of the secondary characters seemed unnecessary. For example, there were new dinner guests at the B&B each night which contributed nothing to the storyline. It came off as just filler.
Now aside from that, I did enjoy the MC. Michelle Oaks is developed and becoming more complex as the story progresses. I am interested in her past and the secrets it holds. I like that Michelle works with the cops to solve crimes involving magic and supernatural creatures. This aspect puts a unique twist on the story.
I definitely plan to listen to the next audiobook in this series. I need to know more about Michelle's past and I am hoping the story itself become more cohesive.
The narrator did a great job with the story and the characters. I enjoyed her adaptation of Michelle. This certainly aided in keeping my interest up.
July 27, 2024
Fun Story But Couldn't Connect With The Writing
This one is a hard one for me to rate. I really enjoyed the plot and world but the writing made it hard for me to stay engaged. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. Also, I wouldn't know how a character felt until it was said. For example, if a character is angry usually this is shown through body language, facial expressions, words and tone. If these types of descriptors were used, I didn't pick up on them and was often confused when their feelings were eventually stated. I am, however, intrigued about the mystery surrounding the main character. I am unsure if I will continue with the series.
This one is a hard one for me to rate. I really enjoyed the plot and world but the writing made it hard for me to stay engaged. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. Also, I wouldn't know how a character felt until it was said. For example, if a character is angry usually this is shown through body language, facial expressions, words and tone. If these types of descriptors were used, I didn't pick up on them and was often confused when their feelings were eventually stated. I am, however, intrigued about the mystery surrounding the main character. I am unsure if I will continue with the series.
April 26, 2025
I found "Witch for Hire" by NE Conneely to be fun, fast read. The author leans heavily into urban fantasy conventions, but executes some interesting and compelling twists to keep it fresh.
The protagonist is well-depicted and consistent throughout. The dialogue is strong as is the speed and continuity of plot.
While the fundamentals of the novel were nothing I've not read before, the overall "look and feel" was similar to a "cozy" mystery but set in a different subgenre - which I thought was pretty cool.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.
The protagonist is well-depicted and consistent throughout. The dialogue is strong as is the speed and continuity of plot.
While the fundamentals of the novel were nothing I've not read before, the overall "look and feel" was similar to a "cozy" mystery but set in a different subgenre - which I thought was pretty cool.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.
April 1, 2019
Overall, good story and good world building. I like the protagonist, she's sympathetic and (mostly) smart. The main storyline is resolved, but there are some dangling plots (deliberately, as this is first in a series).
There are some POV changes, but they are clearly posted, so it's not confusing. A couple times you get the same event in two versions, although not much overlap.
It has some weaknesses, but since this seems to be the author's first published book, I'm willing to cut some slack. It's good enough I'll be getting the next book.
There are some POV changes, but they are clearly posted, so it's not confusing. A couple times you get the same event in two versions, although not much overlap.
It has some weaknesses, but since this seems to be the author's first published book, I'm willing to cut some slack. It's good enough I'll be getting the next book.
December 9, 2021
Great book that stays on the mystery while adding eloquent details about the fae. Readers of any age can enjoy it. It's not tame by any means, but I would feel comfortable recommending it to a younger person
June 27, 2015
I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars. This is a first book and at the beginning there was lots of building done. The world is solid. Michelle feels the effects of using magic when she gets to the point of over spelling.
Hmm. I'm impressed. Nice beginning that made me smile but then slowed as we got to see into Michelle's history and surroundings, even Elron's too. But when the story took off with the cases she's running between...the magic she crafts to help the police with, I was taken away with the story as she tried her hardest to track trolls and work tips for other troubles in the areas around her. There are hints of troubles and promises that could be used in future books. I find that I'm curious to read/listen to those stories.
This world is magic filled and all know of the magic and magical "people" that are present in it.
I listened to the audio book and was pleasantly surprised at the various voices the narrator did. Female and male, all sounding different to differentiate between different people (magical or not).
****FULL REVIEW****
At her home, and a bed and breakfast run by a brownie couple, Michelle learns a tip that there is someone experimenting with the magical beings of the world. This could explain why Michelle received the three AM phone call from the sheriff's office and had to capture the strange chihuahua type creatures fling around the mayor's house. Michelle sees banners for a group publicly demanding that the trolls need to be free. Trolls that are known for eating all living things.There are even spelled household items that were sold at a family yard sale around causing troubles among people. All this and the frustrating attraction Michelle feels for a beautiful elf staying at the bed and breakfast has her reflecting on questions in her own life. Elron is also struggling with his own life traumas and feels a draw to the young witch.
I listened to this book and was pleasantly surprised with all the voices! I am impressed with the variety of voices to go with each character here. I'm thinking Jeff, the narrator, used a system to modify his voices for different tones and pitch for each character. And I highly approve! Female and male, all sounding different to differentiate between different people (magical or not). This made it fun to listen to.
Hmm. I'm impressed. Nice, quick beginning that had me smiling but then slowed as we got to see into Michelle's history and surroundings, even Elron's too. But when I started to think it was to much into personal life, the story took off with the cases she's running between...the magic she crafts to help the police with, I was taken away with the story as she tried her hardest to track trolls and work tips for other troubles in the areas around her. There are hints of troubles and promises that could be used in future books. I find that I'm curious to read/listen to those stories.
This world is magic filled and all know of the magic and magical "people" that are present in it. There are so many magical beings here. From fey to elves, witches, vampires, brownies, unicorns, dwarfs, and oh so many more.
Michelle lives at a brownies bed and breakfast. It's interesting all the beings that pass through and stay here as it's close to wooded lands and peaceful area. But with others passing through it's a nice way to meet different beings and being a kind home, get tips of things in the supernatural world.
The chapters are primarily divided between two character's POV's. Michelle and Elron. Most of the story is Michelle's POV with short chapters from Elron's POV. Elron is an 1500 year old elf recently trying to find his way in the world again. Though he's not part of the investigations that Michelle works on. He's more a view of a potential suitor and one that wants to see her safe. Michelle is a clanless witch, which is a hidden secret by her mother and the father she's never meet. They were worried that she would be in great danger from the clans. Or something more? I'm looking forward to learning what they are hiding her from and why. She works in different counties for the police helping on different cases with her knowledge of the magical world and how to help solve problems and mysteries with spells.
I found I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next stories to come. There are many things that could happen in a magical world this big. And I'm curious as to her father and the deal with the clans. Also that nice young man she had coffee with. I'm thinking that this book has given us the ground work for the world and the stories will take off from here.
Hmm. I'm impressed. Nice beginning that made me smile but then slowed as we got to see into Michelle's history and surroundings, even Elron's too. But when the story took off with the cases she's running between...the magic she crafts to help the police with, I was taken away with the story as she tried her hardest to track trolls and work tips for other troubles in the areas around her. There are hints of troubles and promises that could be used in future books. I find that I'm curious to read/listen to those stories.
This world is magic filled and all know of the magic and magical "people" that are present in it.
I listened to the audio book and was pleasantly surprised at the various voices the narrator did. Female and male, all sounding different to differentiate between different people (magical or not).
****FULL REVIEW****
At her home, and a bed and breakfast run by a brownie couple, Michelle learns a tip that there is someone experimenting with the magical beings of the world. This could explain why Michelle received the three AM phone call from the sheriff's office and had to capture the strange chihuahua type creatures fling around the mayor's house. Michelle sees banners for a group publicly demanding that the trolls need to be free. Trolls that are known for eating all living things.There are even spelled household items that were sold at a family yard sale around causing troubles among people. All this and the frustrating attraction Michelle feels for a beautiful elf staying at the bed and breakfast has her reflecting on questions in her own life. Elron is also struggling with his own life traumas and feels a draw to the young witch.
I listened to this book and was pleasantly surprised with all the voices! I am impressed with the variety of voices to go with each character here. I'm thinking Jeff, the narrator, used a system to modify his voices for different tones and pitch for each character. And I highly approve! Female and male, all sounding different to differentiate between different people (magical or not). This made it fun to listen to.
Hmm. I'm impressed. Nice, quick beginning that had me smiling but then slowed as we got to see into Michelle's history and surroundings, even Elron's too. But when I started to think it was to much into personal life, the story took off with the cases she's running between...the magic she crafts to help the police with, I was taken away with the story as she tried her hardest to track trolls and work tips for other troubles in the areas around her. There are hints of troubles and promises that could be used in future books. I find that I'm curious to read/listen to those stories.
This world is magic filled and all know of the magic and magical "people" that are present in it. There are so many magical beings here. From fey to elves, witches, vampires, brownies, unicorns, dwarfs, and oh so many more.
Michelle lives at a brownies bed and breakfast. It's interesting all the beings that pass through and stay here as it's close to wooded lands and peaceful area. But with others passing through it's a nice way to meet different beings and being a kind home, get tips of things in the supernatural world.
The chapters are primarily divided between two character's POV's. Michelle and Elron. Most of the story is Michelle's POV with short chapters from Elron's POV. Elron is an 1500 year old elf recently trying to find his way in the world again. Though he's not part of the investigations that Michelle works on. He's more a view of a potential suitor and one that wants to see her safe. Michelle is a clanless witch, which is a hidden secret by her mother and the father she's never meet. They were worried that she would be in great danger from the clans. Or something more? I'm looking forward to learning what they are hiding her from and why. She works in different counties for the police helping on different cases with her knowledge of the magical world and how to help solve problems and mysteries with spells.
I found I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next stories to come. There are many things that could happen in a magical world this big. And I'm curious as to her father and the deal with the clans. Also that nice young man she had coffee with. I'm thinking that this book has given us the ground work for the world and the stories will take off from here.
July 30, 2017
I am the kind of listener who tries to finish everything she starts, but I could not do that with this book. I will try to explain so that you will know whether or not the difficulties I had will affect you or not.
STORY
The story is one we’ve seen before, and it’s a fairly good one. The witch works with the police to solve crimes. Her skill set is exactly what is needed with cases that involve magic in a world that has open magic beside mundane humans. In fact, in this world, it’s humans who are the weaker species dominated by all the magical ones.
The heroine, Michelle Oakes, is a busy witch. She barely has time for friends and family. Sometimes she wishes for a love life, and the elf she met at her boarding house could become something if his very presence would stop bothering her. So, yes, there are romantic undertones, but this reads mostly as a magical procedural.
NARRATION
The narrator’s command of voices is very good. Jeff Hays has distinctive voices for all his characters. Michelle is so authentically feminine sounding that at first I thought this audio had separate male and female narrators. Some of his male voices remind me of Luke Daniels, who is one of my favorite narrators of all time.
PRODUCTION
This, unfortunately, is where they lost me. As good as the narrator or writing might be, I could not stand listening to this audio. There are entire passages where Michelle’s voice is at one loudness level, and you can barely hear what the other characters are saying. When you can hear it, it’s good. It’s not Jeff’s performance that’s the problem. It’s that you can’t hear it consistently. At first, I thought everyone was on the phone with Michelle because it took that tinny far-away sound.
I got nearly to the halfway point with no change in the sound leveling. I made myself stop and do a mental/auditory palate cleanse. I listened to two separate books thinking it would help. When I started back to this one again, there were still the same problems that made me not enjoy it. Had I actually paid for this audio, I would have immediately returned it to Audible for a refund.
LAST THOUGHTS
While I am a voracious listener of audios, this may be one of those stories that is simply better as an ebook. Paranormal procedurals can be quick fun.
The narrator is skilled and very capable, but that is buried under a very bad production. Listen at your own risk.
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.
STORY
The story is one we’ve seen before, and it’s a fairly good one. The witch works with the police to solve crimes. Her skill set is exactly what is needed with cases that involve magic in a world that has open magic beside mundane humans. In fact, in this world, it’s humans who are the weaker species dominated by all the magical ones.
The heroine, Michelle Oakes, is a busy witch. She barely has time for friends and family. Sometimes she wishes for a love life, and the elf she met at her boarding house could become something if his very presence would stop bothering her. So, yes, there are romantic undertones, but this reads mostly as a magical procedural.
NARRATION
The narrator’s command of voices is very good. Jeff Hays has distinctive voices for all his characters. Michelle is so authentically feminine sounding that at first I thought this audio had separate male and female narrators. Some of his male voices remind me of Luke Daniels, who is one of my favorite narrators of all time.
PRODUCTION
This, unfortunately, is where they lost me. As good as the narrator or writing might be, I could not stand listening to this audio. There are entire passages where Michelle’s voice is at one loudness level, and you can barely hear what the other characters are saying. When you can hear it, it’s good. It’s not Jeff’s performance that’s the problem. It’s that you can’t hear it consistently. At first, I thought everyone was on the phone with Michelle because it took that tinny far-away sound.
I got nearly to the halfway point with no change in the sound leveling. I made myself stop and do a mental/auditory palate cleanse. I listened to two separate books thinking it would help. When I started back to this one again, there were still the same problems that made me not enjoy it. Had I actually paid for this audio, I would have immediately returned it to Audible for a refund.
LAST THOUGHTS
While I am a voracious listener of audios, this may be one of those stories that is simply better as an ebook. Paranormal procedurals can be quick fun.
The narrator is skilled and very capable, but that is buried under a very bad production. Listen at your own risk.
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2015
There is a lot to like about this book! Really interesting would that lays overtop of our current world. It is an Urban Fantasy that weaves magic into our modern world. I thoroughly enjoyed the charterers and intrigue. This is like a police procedural mixed with a fantasy theme. It keeps things moving along at a steady pace. If you do not compare this book to others in the genre, you will find it much more enjoyable.
Michelle is a terrific heroine. She has plenty of spunk and sass! I loved seeing her grow and use her powers against the bad guys! While her backstory is murky, you gets hints along the way. Most of the book is from her POV, which is engaging and endearing.
Elron is a nice foil to Michelle. He is a very old elf who also has a murky backstory. He is a bit slower and less endearing, he does manage to warm you after time. As a hero, he lacks passion, but I have hope. He is the other POV that will guide you through the story.
The action of the story is very interesting, I personally enjoyed the police cases. Great use of intrigue to move things along. I could have used a bit more action, but it does move things along steadily. Lots of supporting cast that keeps things captivating. I found myself eager to see what would happen with all these cases and how they would all play out.
There are hints of romance, but it is all clean and free of smexy details.
I have mixed feeling about the narration by Jeff Hayes. He is a new voice to my ears. At first, I thought I was listening to a woman and man reading, but it turns out they are both him. Kudos on that! There are a few production issues, which may actually be the style the narrator was attempting. The male voices sounded like they came from a tunnel at times. The other issue I had was the pace, I had to bump it up to double speed because the regular speed was torture. It also sounded very strange, not as feminine as when it was sped up. Once it was at the quicker pace, it was a great listen. I am interested in hearing more of him, wonder what he would do with a male lead all the time.
This wasn't a perfect book, but it was entertaining. A very good sign is that I grabbed the next book in the series right away. I am definitely draw into the series and want to see where things are headed. I am hoping for more action and some answers to questions left open.
Michelle is a terrific heroine. She has plenty of spunk and sass! I loved seeing her grow and use her powers against the bad guys! While her backstory is murky, you gets hints along the way. Most of the book is from her POV, which is engaging and endearing.
Elron is a nice foil to Michelle. He is a very old elf who also has a murky backstory. He is a bit slower and less endearing, he does manage to warm you after time. As a hero, he lacks passion, but I have hope. He is the other POV that will guide you through the story.
The action of the story is very interesting, I personally enjoyed the police cases. Great use of intrigue to move things along. I could have used a bit more action, but it does move things along steadily. Lots of supporting cast that keeps things captivating. I found myself eager to see what would happen with all these cases and how they would all play out.
There are hints of romance, but it is all clean and free of smexy details.
I have mixed feeling about the narration by Jeff Hayes. He is a new voice to my ears. At first, I thought I was listening to a woman and man reading, but it turns out they are both him. Kudos on that! There are a few production issues, which may actually be the style the narrator was attempting. The male voices sounded like they came from a tunnel at times. The other issue I had was the pace, I had to bump it up to double speed because the regular speed was torture. It also sounded very strange, not as feminine as when it was sped up. Once it was at the quicker pace, it was a great listen. I am interested in hearing more of him, wonder what he would do with a male lead all the time.
This wasn't a perfect book, but it was entertaining. A very good sign is that I grabbed the next book in the series right away. I am definitely draw into the series and want to see where things are headed. I am hoping for more action and some answers to questions left open.
May 13, 2015
I received this book for free from Jeff Hayes, the narrator, in return for an honest review, so her goes. I was completely blown away by this book. It was a great read! The setting is a twist on our world, where magical types like Witches, Elves, Dwarves, Dragons etc. have been in charge forever, while vanilla humans were kept as slaves until 300 years ago. The current President of the US is a dragon, and is dealing with the idea of reparations to humans, basically a twist on our society. The story takes place in Georgia, where the main character, Michelle, is a witch with no clan affiliation, who has a consulting business helping different police departments solve magical crimes. She lives in a boarding house run by Brownies, and is trying to live a normal, busy life. She is contacted by local police to help with a case of Trolls escaped off their preserve, a danger, since Trolls eat people. Making matters worse is a group of humans who are helping them to evade capture, thinking they can be rehabilitated. She deals with other cases as well, all while dealing with office politics, a suddenly confusing personal life, and some personal revelations about her parentage. Will she be able to find the Trolls, and stop whoever is behind it? Read it to find out, it is very much worth the time. I would recommend this to fans of Simon R. Green's and Mike Resnick's brand of urban fantasy, as well as fans of Patricia Briggs. As far as the Narrator, Jeff Hayes just shot into my top ten narrators. I actually thought the main narrative, done in the first person of Michelle, was being voiced by a woman. Instead, it was Jeff Hayes, who did multiple women and mens voices in several registers and accents, each voice distinct. Some of the best voice work I've heard in 500+ audiobooks. I can't wait for the next installment. This is an author to watch!
June 17, 2015
I listened to the Audible version of this book. I had a hard time getting into this story at first, but the further I got into the story, the better I liked it. The characters were definitely interesting and believable. The only problem I had was why did Michelle dislike Elron so much; he didn't seem all that annoying to me. Anyway, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
As for the narration, Jeff Hays does a great job with different voices for all the characters. I had to double check to see if there wasn't another narrator listed as the voice for Michelle really did sound female, even if I didn't care for "her" voice that much.
I did receive a free Audible copy of this book from Jeff Hays for an honest review.
As for the narration, Jeff Hays does a great job with different voices for all the characters. I had to double check to see if there wasn't another narrator listed as the voice for Michelle really did sound female, even if I didn't care for "her" voice that much.
I did receive a free Audible copy of this book from Jeff Hays for an honest review.
March 7, 2016
7.3.2016 - 3*
Když čtu v angličtině, příliš nevnímám styl psaní, jsem spíše jako houba, která jde po nápadech, vtipu, sympatických charakterech. Především u ubranek, jsou pro mě jednoduše způsobem, jak vypnout mozek.
Witch for Hire by se mi nejspíše zatraceně líbila, kdyby nebyla tak jednoduchá, naivní a, především, vážně si většinou příliš nevšímám stylu psaní a nevím, jestli to bylo recenzí, kterou jsem předtím četla a ta to vypíchla, nebo to tak prostě je, ale i mně ten styl psaní nesedl. Gramaticky ne vždy správně a... čtení neplynulo tak, jak by mělo.
Mimo to je to ale sympatický příběh, který drží děj, je nápaditý, celkem si držel mou pozornost a je tam trocha tajemství, která lákají k dalíšm dílům. Hrdinka byla fajn a ráda jsem o ní četla. Nejspíše se k dalšímu dílu jednou dostanu.
Když čtu v angličtině, příliš nevnímám styl psaní, jsem spíše jako houba, která jde po nápadech, vtipu, sympatických charakterech. Především u ubranek, jsou pro mě jednoduše způsobem, jak vypnout mozek.
Witch for Hire by se mi nejspíše zatraceně líbila, kdyby nebyla tak jednoduchá, naivní a, především, vážně si většinou příliš nevšímám stylu psaní a nevím, jestli to bylo recenzí, kterou jsem předtím četla a ta to vypíchla, nebo to tak prostě je, ale i mně ten styl psaní nesedl. Gramaticky ne vždy správně a... čtení neplynulo tak, jak by mělo.
Mimo to je to ale sympatický příběh, který drží děj, je nápaditý, celkem si držel mou pozornost a je tam trocha tajemství, která lákají k dalíšm dílům. Hrdinka byla fajn a ráda jsem o ní četla. Nejspíše se k dalšímu dílu jednou dostanu.
January 8, 2015
Interesting possibilities
The basic premise is the that Michelle hires out to local law enforcement thing help them deal with magically entities. In this world the humans are the minority and we're enslaved by the magical entities. I like the premise, it is n o t a flashy fantasy world, and Michelle is an interesting character. I am not sure about Elton, the male elf, and his place in the story. It is very jarring during the story and the separate chapters do not tie into each other. However I am willing th buy the next book to see what happens. Overall a good cozy mystery.
The basic premise is the that Michelle hires out to local law enforcement thing help them deal with magically entities. In this world the humans are the minority and we're enslaved by the magical entities. I like the premise, it is n o t a flashy fantasy world, and Michelle is an interesting character. I am not sure about Elton, the male elf, and his place in the story. It is very jarring during the story and the separate chapters do not tie into each other. However I am willing th buy the next book to see what happens. Overall a good cozy mystery.
May 26, 2015
There is a lot to like...
Very good book, my only criticism would be the numerous repeats of the same information in the first quarter of the book. Those mainly dealt with how magic was used. The characterisation was very nicely done. Each character felt like they had different personalities.
You get a few different points of views, yet the main one is a witch named Michelle. She works for various police agencies and ultimately get sucked into one heck of a case. There are witches, brownies, elves, trolls, satyr, centaurs, vampires, unicorns......and more in this book. I will continue to read this series.
Very good book, my only criticism would be the numerous repeats of the same information in the first quarter of the book. Those mainly dealt with how magic was used. The characterisation was very nicely done. Each character felt like they had different personalities.
You get a few different points of views, yet the main one is a witch named Michelle. She works for various police agencies and ultimately get sucked into one heck of a case. There are witches, brownies, elves, trolls, satyr, centaurs, vampires, unicorns......and more in this book. I will continue to read this series.
October 16, 2016
Witches, Warlocks, and Brownies, Oh My..
Ok, I really liked the female lead, Michelle, she is smart and fearless.
She is also a Police Consultant, and her most recent job is to track down a few recently freed Trolls.
This book has a bit of everything, including trolls, illegal magical creatures, and a bit of Romance.
The author has created an interesting world and an overall good read.
Jeff Hays did really well with the different character's voice, tone and pitch.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
March 27, 2014
I'm not sure a three or four star is in order. Here's the thing. There are problems for me with the writing. A lot of things happen quickly, the stuff about her dad and mom lacks depth and so do a lot of her reactions and some of the plot foundations. There were also a lot of spelling errors and name reference errors.
That said, I really enjoy the characters overall, I thought the plot was fun and fast, and I got caught up in the story. So flawed, yes. Fun story, also yes. And I'll want to read the sequel when it comes out.
That said, I really enjoy the characters overall, I thought the plot was fun and fast, and I got caught up in the story. So flawed, yes. Fun story, also yes. And I'll want to read the sequel when it comes out.
June 22, 2024
I grabbed the book on a whim, not expecting to like it much. I definitely liked it though.
It is set in a modern day Earth, but one where the supernatural world is real and have always been a part of society.
Most witches in this reality live in clans. The lead character, Michelle, is a lone clanless witch that runs a consulting business that helps the police when the situation has magic is more than they can handle.
You learn more about the world as the book goes along and Michelle goes on various cases with the police.
It is set in a modern day Earth, but one where the supernatural world is real and have always been a part of society.
Most witches in this reality live in clans. The lead character, Michelle, is a lone clanless witch that runs a consulting business that helps the police when the situation has magic is more than they can handle.
You learn more about the world as the book goes along and Michelle goes on various cases with the police.
August 30, 2016
I really enjoyed the parts that focused on the main character, Michelle. As far as world-building goes, it's a pretty solid go, and I liked reading about the way magic worked here and the ... political? relationships. I could have done without... pretty much anything to do with the elf character, and hints at a prophecy, so I may not continue because I'm certain these will become the main focus.
July 5, 2016
Great urban fantasy!
This is a great urban fantasy that really held my attention. I like the heroine, she's strong and has a good heart. The world is very real with a splash of paranormal and I think that's what makes it so believable. Elron is a different sort of character but the author portrays him just right. A great start to what I hope is a fantastic series!
This is a great urban fantasy that really held my attention. I like the heroine, she's strong and has a good heart. The world is very real with a splash of paranormal and I think that's what makes it so believable. Elron is a different sort of character but the author portrays him just right. A great start to what I hope is a fantastic series!
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