Shadows & Spells

by Alice Stone

In a world of bewildering hauntings and paranormal mischief, my inheritance soon becomes my gateway to a magical deadly game in the shadows…

Inheriting my grandmother's old mansion was meant to be a fresh start, but I never imagined my new home would be a haven for all sorts of paranormal creatures. A clumsy werewolf and a fairy that bites? Talk about interesting obligatory roommates.

Hours after I show up to claim my inheritance, one of the vampire tenants is gruesomely incinerated. A reluctant amateur sleuth with magical abilities to see my paranormal roommates, I delve into a spine-chilling investigation, uncovering a sinister plot that’s targeting my grandma’s house. And me.

Time is slipping away, and I must confront malevolent forces and ruthless vampire hunters who are determined to annihilate my new friends, including the handsome, stoic vampire Vincent and my ghost cat companion.

Can I master my new magical abilities, shield my friends, and escape the hunters' clutches? If I don’t unravel the dark enigmas lurking within my newfound inheritance, I may not get out of this one with my life…

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2024

About the author

If you have a thing for magic, animals, and murder, you're in the right place! Keep up with my books here - I'd love to hear what your favorite cozy mystery drink companion is! (hint, mine's coffee with cream)

You can also keep up with my latest releases on my mailing list - https://bookhip.com/LXZFCHP

Reviews

[DianaRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

SHADOW'S AND SPELLS is the first book I’ve read from this author and the first installment in a new paranormal series, A Cozy Haunted House Culinary Mystery, by Alice Stone. A two-hour read, just the perfect length to introduce the interesting and fun characters and set the promise of a delightful series. Salem, Massachusetts is the perfect setting  for a paranormal series like this one. I anticipate fans of this genre will quickly be hooked on this new series.

Katie has inherited her grandmother's old mansion and finds there's more than she expected.  Grandmother had hidden secrets. When Katie arrives, she's welcomed into her new home by a group of tenants she had no idea existed. Oh, and they're not your ordinary tenants; two vampires, a werewolf, witch, and fairy. Let's not forget the non-tenant, a ghost that appears about 10 years old. The responsibility of protecting the lives of these others is now hers. Katie hasn't even unpacked yet when a horrible scream rings out as one of the vampires is killed.

Read to find out how Katie and the others try to stop the paranormal hunters from killing again. 

I would have liked a little more complexity to the story, but thoroughly enjoyed the story any way. Now I'm waiting for the next installment.

I received an ARC of this book and the above  is my voluntary and honest review. 

[Kathleen Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie, young woman inherits a grand old-fashioned mansion in Salem, Massachusetts from a grandmother she barely knew. She is pleasantly surprised when she enters the front door & finds the home is beautifully furnished and well kept. She hears voices & is not pleasantly surprised that there are several residents living in the home!
She learns that her "boarders" are paranormal; she can see them - she is a seer and their protector. Bo is a huge man & a werewolf. Anastasia is a ghost of a young girl that not all her friends can see.
Jane is an older witch who keeps a beautiful herb garden. Natalie, a vampire, is careless & invites strangers home. Moira is a tiny elfin creature, a fairy and Vincentt is a very handsome vampire. Solomon is the ghost of a black cat & accepts Katie.
Katie's first night is ruined when she hears a scream. Natalie has been killed by a hunter & is reduced to ashes. Now Katie's protective concern is necessary. She & Vincent must find the hunters.
The characters are well done, and descriptions of the Mansion & furnishings made me feel I could see them. The secret rooms were a great addition.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie inherits her grandmother’s house but she is in for a few surprises when she gets there. There are others there that normal people can’t see and she discovers she has the same gift her grandmother had. When one of the tenets is discovered murdered during her first night in the house she is determined to find out who did it and with help from the others sets out to do just that.

This was a fun cozy mystery in what is sure to be a new series! I enjoyed these characters and look forward to reading more about them in future books.

If you like to read about paranormal beings in a setting where they help protect themselves from being found as well as having a new “human” around
that also is tasked with fulfilling the role her grandmother had I think you’ll also like this story and the succeeding ones to come!

I recommend it as a fun, quick overview of characters
who will only “grow” on you as the series progresses.

Dive into this new series today and discover characters you’re going to enjoy for some time to come!

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie's company downsized so Katie was out of a job and her boyfriend and she parted ways. Time for a change and as fate has it, she inherits her grandmother's huge mansion in Salem, MA. Great timing. She felt bad she didn't know her grandmother well and that she never visited her grandmother's home. When she went into her new inheritance, she was surprised to find tenants of a special kind and that her grandmother was a seer and could see and communicate with the paranormal people. These tenants paid rent and have been in the house for many years. One particular girl, Anastasia, a teen, was very close to Katie's grandmother and knew a lot about the things Katie needs to learn since she is a seer as well. WOW, this short novella was amazing. You really like the characters and how Katie has taken to her guests. I can't wait for more in this really fun series, what a beginning! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own!

[Becky]

Katie inherits her grandmother's home. She only got to see her grandmother when she came to visit Katie at their home. She had never been to her grandmother's home. She is touring it after driving there and hears voices. She walks in and sees the tenants of the home. Katie finds out that she is seer. What is surprising is supposedly she is the only one who can see them. This part confuses me as one mows the lawn - wouldn't others be able to see him? or think it is weird that the lawn mower is moving around without someone pushing it? So I'm not sure who can and can not be seen by others. Fun storyline otherwise. Good read to find out what is the mystery and how will it be solve? How will the paranormals be able to help? I like the development of the characters. I am an ARC reader. This is my honest review.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always a great treat when you read the first book in a series and know you are going to be hooked. That is the case with Shadow and Spells. What could be better than inheriting a house? And when you get there you discover you have tenants that only you can see? ?They all pay rent and it is up to you to protect these special tenants. The characters have great potential and I can hardly wait to see everything develop. A very fast read because you can't wait to see how everything plays out, I can't wait for the next and hope it is longer so we can get to know everyone better.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie’s left a mansion by her grandma Hallingsworth in Salem, Massachusetts .She gets a surprise when she gets there as there were tenants living there. She meets Anastasia a young girl who her grandmother had befriended. Natalie in the group dies and Katie must find out what who had killed her .Lots of strange things happening to make Katie wonder what was really going on. There are intriguing characters in this book to make it very entertaining. A great read. I am on the ARC team and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[CatMomReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reeled me in from the very first pages and didn't let go until the end. It's a fun, well written paranormal cozy that managed to intelligently introduce a bunch of characters and contain a full mystery in a relatively short novella.

Katie was a breath of fresh air, her paranormal housemates are a hoot and the mystery of the house and the heinous act were all very well done. I completely enjoyed spending an afternoon reading this and hope it's the first of many in the series.

I received an advanced copy from the author and was happy to review.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie has inherited an old mansion in Salem, Massachusetts. She's welcomed into her new home by a group of tenants - which she knew nothing about! She is informed that they are nonhumans, she herself is a seer, and her role is to protect the endangered. And thus we begin to delve into a great story. This one is too short but there's a series that follows. Yeah! I received this story as a member of an ARC team and this is my voluntary and honest review. You know it is a good story when you're ready to read the next story about these characters!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadows and Spells: A Cozy Haunted House Culinary Mystery by Alice Stone is a quick fun read. Katie inherits her grandmother’s mansion, along with other surprises. Katie handled everything much better than I would have, though there certainly are perks. The tenants are an interesting variety of characters and Katie stepped up to help them. I look forward to more visits to Salem!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but excellent story

A short but really entertaining start to what I hope will be a series. Inheriting her late grandmother's house Katie discovers a whole new world of paranormal creatures as tenants. Then one of the vampires is murdered. The story is impossible not to like with great characters, an easy writing style and a good mix of wit and tension. Loved it and I hope there are more. I received a complimentary copy from the Author and then bought a copy as well.

[Sheryl TEGTMEYER · Rating 5 out of 5]

what is a seer?

This is a delightful short story that has everything you could possibly want for entertainment. let me just say so that I don’t give too much away that Katie inherit her grandmother’s house and find out that does not have an empty house like she thought, but a home that has supernatural inhabitant that she can see, though others cannot.
The story is fast paced and well worth reading .

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable book.
I won't go into the blurb but Katie has inherited some gifts that her grandmother had along with her home. Yet, that is not all she got. She has a household of paranormal characters living in her new home and also a murder to solve.
So much going on with an array characters that is sure to keep her on her feet.
The story was short yet packed a punch.
I can honestly say I Loved everything ab0ut this book.

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting mystery that starts with Katie inheriting her grandmother's house upon her demise. When she gets there, she finds there are supernatural tenants living in the house who pay rent! Unfortunately, one of the tenants is killed by 'hunters'. Katie then trues to solve the murder with the help of her new friends. This was an interesting story that was fast-paced with intriguing characters. I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie may not like the way her grandmother's house looks but she's happy to have a roof over her head after losing her job. Entering the house, Katie is looking around when she hears someone say, "Is that her?" and that is how Katie learns that she is special, just like her grandmother. This quick read is funny and heartwarming, ending with a cliffhanger. Bring it on... Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella as the start for a cozy mystery series. I loved the concept of different paranormals living together and looking out for each other. Katie adapts fast to her new abilities in her inherited house. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie arrives at her newly inherited house, a very large house that she thinks looks spooky. When are goes inside all is bright & clean but, she can hear voices! When she follows the sounds she sees some people there & they know she can see them. She is overwhelmed by everything she finds out & then in the night there is a scream & one of the people is dead. Now she has to learn a lot more & quickly. She has help from them all, including a young looking girl who is a ghost & tells here how to get into her Grandmother’s secret places. A very exciting book.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine inheriting a house from your grandmother that has tenants that you were not prepared for. This house has some really different people. Vampires, a werewolf that does yard work, a fairy that likes to change into something else, ghosts people and a cat, and of course a witch that cooks. This was a real change for Katie but she was up for the challenge. Good fun read.

[Cat B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 STARS
This was a fun read. A quick little novella introducing Katie and a host of tenants she inherits along with her grandmother's mansion. I you think witches were all that inhabited Salem, you would be wrong. Fun fun fun.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie inherits her grandmother’s old Mansion . It’s not just any old building , it has tenants of the ghostly , ghoul, vampire kind. Oh and here she finds that she is a seer and has claimed more from this inheritance as her magical abilities strengthen and her amateur sleuth status begins too, she needs to delve into the shadows and rid the mansion of the malevolent nuisance that is incinerating her guests! A mystery is afoot … brilliant , fun reading written very well with great narratives and superb descriptions.
I read an advance copy and I’m leaving my review voluntary and in my own words

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie finds out she is a seer, same as her grandmother and mother. Inheriting her grandmother’s house should have been an easy choice but now she has to decide if she’s up to the challenge. With the help of her paranormal friends she solves her first case. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received an arc and the views and opinions are my own.

[Karen Armes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great fast read. Katie inherits her grandmother's mansion. Its spooky but that doesn't scare Katie. The house comes with tenant that not everyone can see, but Katie can. She has paranormal abilities that she didn't know about. She now has become the protector of the paranormal people that reside in her house . Can she learn all about her abilities in time to help her new friends?

[Nickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are all absolutely amazing and I just fell in love with them. The story was fast pace and always kept me guessing about what was going to happen next. I can't wait to see if there will be more to come for all of them.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new series to add to my favorites list! I loved everyone of the characters, especially Moira! She’s fun and magical! I can’t dive into too much because, well, spoilers! But the way everyone came together to fight the threat was beautiful! Can’t wait for the second book!

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my…this book was FUN! I loved the characters as well as Katie’s tenants. This is such an engaging and delightful story. I want MORE!

[JOAN SALLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this short read. Love paranormal stories and this one did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and quite imaginative. My first time reading a paranormal book.

[Sandy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable quick read paranormal series starter book. Katie's finds several people living in her inherited manor upon her arrival and discovers her grandmother had hidden secrets from her. I liked Katie's character, she was direct and empathetic. Her group of unusual tenants enhanced the story. Looking forward to reading more of Katie's adventures as she learns to use her seer abilities.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wanda Siesicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie inherits her grandmother's old mansion. Which was a big surprise in itself. But, she finds out that she has tenants. No ordinary tenants a vampire, werewolf, witch, fairy and a ghost. How is it even possible that she can see them all? Read this delightful little book and find out.
I can't wait for the next book in this series. It's an easy read and it's a good thing that it's not a huge novel because your going to want to read it in one sitting.

I received a free ARC copy of this book and volunterily offered my honest review.

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series i would love to continue. Katie inherited her grandmother's house and with a life in a bit of havoc she glady moves there to discover that her grandmother had tenants she never heard of in the will....and not mundane tenants but paranormal creatures as her grandmother, like Katie, was in fact a Seer.

It could be a shock but Katie takes it in strike when hunter comes in her house....discovering magic, creatures of myth and so much more Katie must also find some dangerous persons to recover an artifact

i loved to discover this spin on the seers who are "paranormal" we don't see too often , and salomon is a great pet for sure. I would love to learn more about the tena,ts like anastasia and who they met Katie's grandma.

funny easy short read, quite promising beginning for a series