Hex-A-Gone

by Michele Emmy, Lauren Curtis (illustrator)

If two wrongs don’t make a right, then how many does it take?Magical creatures don’t break rules. If they do, their magic drains away like water from a cracked cup. Thalia Gold learned that lesson the hard way. Orphaned at twelve years old by her own inability to resist temptation, she lost her family, her community, and her budding magical powers.Five years later, when Great Aunt-Sally offers Thalia a job clerking in her shabby magic shop, Hex-A-Gone, Thalia is determined to turn her life around. Too bad she starts her tenure by impulsively signing a cursed contract, putting the entire Charmed Community under threat. Frantic to set things right, Thalia scrambles to terminate the contract. Turns out what happened to Thalia’s family wasn’t an accident—and someone—or something—cunning, powerful, and unscrupulous is determined to terminate her.Aided by former Middle Spell classmates and an assortment of unpredictable artifacts, Thalia races for answers. But each new revelation only adds to her danger. And time is running out.Hex-A-Gone is the first in this magical series and was a finalist in the RMFW Colorado Gold contest. In addition to fantasy, Michele Emmy writes science fiction and has been published in many magazines and journals.

296 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2024

About the author

Empty-nester Michele Emmy lives in Colorado with her husband of 35 years. They have two grown children and one baby grandson, but are sadly out of pets at the moment. A former marine biology major, Michele remembers the resident octopus disappearing for days at a time, to be found skulking in a nearby tank.

A Clarion graduate and Colorado Gold fantasy award winner, Michele deals with the constant images and phrases popping into her head by grabbing her laptop and tapping them onto the page, where they belong. When not wrestling with imaginary creatures, she can be found messing with her five Instant Pots.

Reviews

[L.V. Ditchkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hex-Gone is a spellbinding romp through a richly imagined magical world that will captivate fans of immersive fairytales like Nethercott’s Thistlefoot and the page-turning energy of early Harry Potter adventures. At the heart of the story is Thalia, a sharp-witted, self-deprecating mortal who may lack magical powers—but more than makes up for it with grit, heart, and a talent for getting into (and out of) serious trouble.

Thalia’s journey begins with a single, disastrous mistake—one that threatens to land her beloved Aunt Sally in prison and tip the delicate balance of power in the magical realm. What follows is a wild, high-stakes adventure filled with cunning monsters, magical mishaps, and the legendary Baba Yaga herself. Along the way, Thalia is aided by a delightfully quirky animated laundry bag and two enigmatic classmates whose motives may not be as pure as they seem.

Brimming with charm, tension, and unexpected twists, Hex-Gone is both a heartfelt coming-of-age tale and a riotous magical thrill ride you won’t want to put down.

[Julie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Potter Lite with a little something for everyone: quests, dragons, magic spells, enchanted creatures, shape-shifters, neophyte and seasoned wizards, and the timeless struggle between good and evil. Punctuated with pun-tastic humor, this coming-of-age adventure is engaging and entertaining!

[Stephanie Piscitelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, felt a little too juvenile at points, but overall had a good message. Definitely will be reading the next one.

[Winnie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michele Emmy weaves an enchanting tale of magic, redemption, and danger that will captivate fans of fantasy from the very first page. The clock is ticking as Thalia races to find a way out of a cursed contract, only to discover that a powerful, shadowy force is determined to stop her—permanently.

Thalia’s journey from guilt-ridden outcast to determined heroine is as relatable as it is thrilling, and the vibrant world of magical creatures and curses will keep readers enthralled. This is a fresh take on magical rules and consequences, paired with rich character development, makes this book stand out in the fantasy genre.