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Hawthorne and Hedge
What would you do if a mysterious woman with a fatal stab wound found her way to your Victorian home one dark and stormy night? Would you turn her away, not wanting stains on your freshly waxed floors? Or would you make her sign a magical ledger that will tie her soul to the house for all eternity?
The latter is exactly what Daphne and Sebastian, owning partners of the Hawthorne and Hedge Boarding House, did to save the spirit of Olivia. They could not have her become a vengeful ghoul trapped between worlds, as it would not bode well for business. They failed to mention to her, however, that she is dead.
In a struggle to reclaim who she was and what she will become, Olivia must find her own way through a web of lies, lust, and demonic impulses. No one is spared from from the eventual bloodshed: not the regal Egyptian emissaries, the gold-digging temptress, the coven of witches, nor the dashing young archaeologist. Will divine intervention be enough to help Olivia overthrow the chaos erupting around her, or will it consume her completely?
The latter is exactly what Daphne and Sebastian, owning partners of the Hawthorne and Hedge Boarding House, did to save the spirit of Olivia. They could not have her become a vengeful ghoul trapped between worlds, as it would not bode well for business. They failed to mention to her, however, that she is dead.
In a struggle to reclaim who she was and what she will become, Olivia must find her own way through a web of lies, lust, and demonic impulses. No one is spared from from the eventual bloodshed: not the regal Egyptian emissaries, the gold-digging temptress, the coven of witches, nor the dashing young archaeologist. Will divine intervention be enough to help Olivia overthrow the chaos erupting around her, or will it consume her completely?
583 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2019
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 8, 2019
A New Favorite
Right from the beginning, I absolutely loved this book. The characters, descriptions, intrigue and magic were all expertly executed. I've mentioned before how I tend to predict things easily, yet the way Woods' plot unfolds constantly kept me on my toes. I could see the Hawthorne and all of its residents so clearly, and I fell in love with Olivia as she went through so much growth and change. And I'm simply Dying for the next one.
Right from the beginning, I absolutely loved this book. The characters, descriptions, intrigue and magic were all expertly executed. I've mentioned before how I tend to predict things easily, yet the way Woods' plot unfolds constantly kept me on my toes. I could see the Hawthorne and all of its residents so clearly, and I fell in love with Olivia as she went through so much growth and change. And I'm simply Dying for the next one.
December 8, 2019
This book is, in every sense of the word, beautiful: the characters, the relationships, the prose, the worldbuilding, the magic, the tension... the list goes on. Anyone who loves Gothic or historical literature (witches and ghosts and vampires, oh my) NEEDS the Hawthorne in their lives. H&H is the start of what is guaranteed to be a fantastic series by Lauren Woods.
P.S. Sebastian and Daphne are friendship goals.
P.S. Sebastian and Daphne are friendship goals.
March 4, 2020
A sumptuous story, skillfully written! I recommend this story for lovers of gothic style fantasy, full of characters who will endear themselves to you. The pace is steady, the plot full of twists and turns, but the writing itself—Lauren Woods is an impressive writer for sure.
January 9, 2020
I don’t even know how to begin describing this book because there are so many amazing elements. It kinda felt like a slightly more modern Jane Austen novel with magic?? Gothic Victorian aesthetic and witches and ghosts and Egyptian mythology?!
ANYWAY, no spoilers, but I’m still recovering from the bloody ending of this book (SO much blood). Despite all the blood and darkness, this book was so fun! I love how the author blended horror and humor so seamlessly.
And THE CHARACTERS! I loved Daphne and Sebastian immediately; their friendship is literally perfect. I will sacrifice my soul if it means they both can live our the rest of their days in peace. Olivia, the third main character, had such a nice arc throughout the book, and her relationship with Sebastian…well, I’m typically more of a slow burn fan, but something about their soul-mate type bond was so pure and sweet and I love them both so much as separate characters that after only like 3 interactions I was like GET MARRIED ALREADY.
I will add, this book is written in third person omniscient, which isn’t a very common POV and its tricky to write, but the author executed it perfectly! I was never confused and I can’t imagine the story being written any other way.
To sum up my messy thoughts, read this book if you’re in the mood for a funny, bloody, Gothic tale about a dead girl and a magical boarding house and Egyptian gods/goddesses (because we’ve all had that specific mood).
ANYWAY, no spoilers, but I’m still recovering from the bloody ending of this book (SO much blood). Despite all the blood and darkness, this book was so fun! I love how the author blended horror and humor so seamlessly.
And THE CHARACTERS! I loved Daphne and Sebastian immediately; their friendship is literally perfect. I will sacrifice my soul if it means they both can live our the rest of their days in peace. Olivia, the third main character, had such a nice arc throughout the book, and her relationship with Sebastian…well, I’m typically more of a slow burn fan, but something about their soul-mate type bond was so pure and sweet and I love them both so much as separate characters that after only like 3 interactions I was like GET MARRIED ALREADY.
I will add, this book is written in third person omniscient, which isn’t a very common POV and its tricky to write, but the author executed it perfectly! I was never confused and I can’t imagine the story being written any other way.
To sum up my messy thoughts, read this book if you’re in the mood for a funny, bloody, Gothic tale about a dead girl and a magical boarding house and Egyptian gods/goddesses (because we’ve all had that specific mood).
December 6, 2020
I was absolutely honored to read one of the first drafts of Hawthorn and Hedge as a beta reader earlier this year, and holy bananas, is this story one you don’t want to miss!! Gripping, intense, and captivating, I guarantee you will have no issues falling in love with the Hawthorn from the first page! Daphne and Sebastian’s banter is witty and flawless, and the way the Coven interacts with one another and theirs around them is spectacular!! Lauren really has a way with words and world building, and I can’t wait for the next installment of this series!! Take my word for it. If you like the sound of spooky, Victorian fantasy with a splash of Egyptian mythology, you DO NOT want to miss this one!!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews