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Warlock #1
Warlock: Book 1
On my eighteenth birthday, I got kicked out of my home, mugged in an alley, and killed a guy with my mind ... then things got weird.
I expected aging out of the foster care system to be hard. I wasn't expecting it to include finding out I was a Warlock, destined to be hunted by the most powerful Witch Families so they could bind me to a coven of thirteen witches and spend the rest of my life "harvesting mana". Add to that a set of magical resonants that made me an even bigger target to some of those Witch Families, some of which would rather kill me than let a rival get me.
How's a warlock supposed to stay alive and free? Simple - just go to Witch College, find thirteen witches willing to be bound to you forever in your own coven, and learn enough magic to fend off the most powerful Witch Families in the world.
Warlock contains unconventional relationships and multiple bondings between the main character and witches.
I expected aging out of the foster care system to be hard. I wasn't expecting it to include finding out I was a Warlock, destined to be hunted by the most powerful Witch Families so they could bind me to a coven of thirteen witches and spend the rest of my life "harvesting mana". Add to that a set of magical resonants that made me an even bigger target to some of those Witch Families, some of which would rather kill me than let a rival get me.
How's a warlock supposed to stay alive and free? Simple - just go to Witch College, find thirteen witches willing to be bound to you forever in your own coven, and learn enough magic to fend off the most powerful Witch Families in the world.
Warlock contains unconventional relationships and multiple bondings between the main character and witches.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2024
1053 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
October 13, 2024
This book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, catching me off guard somewhat with it's setup. The MC ages out of foster care, and one his first day, someone tries to mug him. He fights the guy off, but something weird happens, with the bad guy bashing his head into the wall repeatedly as the MC passes out. He wakes up in a nice home, with a hot 30-something taking care of him. She identifies him as a warlock, and from there, he's off to magic school. A school with 450 18+ girls, and no men. Harem, easy mode, right? Wrong.
The MC has secrets he has to maintain, and as part of maintaining those secrets, he's somewhat socially limited. He has a female roommate, who's a lesbian, and a few friends, but other than that, he's not very social. He's got morals, and cares about how the women view him, whereas someone raised by a magical family would be much more callous.
There is only one harem member by the end of the book, the lesbian roommate of all people. In a way, it actually makes sense. This isn't the whole "It would be so hot to nail a lesbian" trope so common in some fiction genres. There's actual thought put into this by both the MC and the woman. And yes, there are other potential ones lined up, but nothing is assured.
There was some interesting turns the book took. From a small murder mystery, to your typical bullying B.S., to other dramas the MC has to navigate. They all came together very well in this novel.
I look forward to book 2.
The MC has secrets he has to maintain, and as part of maintaining those secrets, he's somewhat socially limited. He has a female roommate, who's a lesbian, and a few friends, but other than that, he's not very social. He's got morals, and cares about how the women view him, whereas someone raised by a magical family would be much more callous.
There is only one harem member by the end of the book, the lesbian roommate of all people. In a way, it actually makes sense. This isn't the whole "It would be so hot to nail a lesbian" trope so common in some fiction genres. There's actual thought put into this by both the MC and the woman. And yes, there are other potential ones lined up, but nothing is assured.
There was some interesting turns the book took. From a small murder mystery, to your typical bullying B.S., to other dramas the MC has to navigate. They all came together very well in this novel.
I look forward to book 2.
October 4, 2024
Good story and it takes you through it slowly so you and the MC can learn about the new life. Looking forward to the next book.
May 18, 2025
Surprisingly Wholesome
This surpassed all of my expectations and then some. What a great story! It's listed as a harem, but it's not really. The plot is engaging and the characters are interesting. I couldn't put it down. There was way less smut than in a lot of romance that's totally geared towards women. I'd say this story would appeal more to men but I think plenty of women would enjoy it too. It would probably annoy lesbians.
This surpassed all of my expectations and then some. What a great story! It's listed as a harem, but it's not really. The plot is engaging and the characters are interesting. I couldn't put it down. There was way less smut than in a lot of romance that's totally geared towards women. I'd say this story would appeal more to men but I think plenty of women would enjoy it too. It would probably annoy lesbians.
November 7, 2024
It’s unfortunate that the way they chose to keep the plot going was to make him comically unobservant and unable to put two things together. I found that hard to read. And I’m not sure I was supposed to find his teacher bending over in tight clothing all the time funny, but it felt like a Benny Hill sketch. “I’ll just practice me stretches, ooh-er.” *sound like somebody pinging a plastic ruler*
October 5, 2024
Wow
Excellent from start to finish. The story flowed well and kept me interested throughout. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Excellent from start to finish. The story flowed well and kept me interested throughout. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
October 1, 2024
A great start!
A great start to a new series. I enjoyed this quite a bit. Great characters and good storytelling.
Next book please!
A great start to a new series. I enjoyed this quite a bit. Great characters and good storytelling.
Next book please!
October 2, 2024
Samantha, Noah's roommate, is a lesbian.
Samantha, Noah's roommate, is a lesbian.
This violates my Christian beliefs.
I will no longer read any works by this author.
Samantha, Noah's roommate, is a lesbian.
This violates my Christian beliefs.
I will no longer read any works by this author.
February 26, 2025
"Warlock," by Daniel Kensington, published in 2024, is the 1st installment in series of the same name, narrated by Lewis Alexander and Rozelyn Rader. Clocking in at over 13 hours, this urban fantasy tale blends magic, intrigue, and a dash of harem-lit spice into an engaging narrative that hooks you from the opening scene. Kensington crafts a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly inventive, while the dual narration brings the characters to life with distinct energy and depth.
The story follows an unnamed protagonist who, on his eighteenth birthday, faces a brutal initiation into adulthood: kicked out of his foster home, mugged in an alley, and accidentally killing someone with his mind. This chaotic sequence sets the stage for his discovery that he’s a Warlock—a rare magical being hunted by powerful Witch Families eager to bind him to a coven of thirteen witches for "mana harvesting." The stakes escalate when he learns he possesses magical resonants, artifacts that amplify his value and danger, making him a target for both recruitment and elimination. His journey to Witch College, where he must assemble his own coven and master magic to survive, unfolds with a mix of tension, humor, and unexpected camaraderie.
Kensington’s writing shines in its character development and world-building. The protagonist is a relatable everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances, his bewilderment and resilience anchoring the story. The supporting cast—witches with distinct personalities, from fierce allies to cunning rivals—adds layers to the narrative. The magical system, while trope-laden with its school setting and coven dynamics, is elevated by creative twists, like the resonants and the political machinations of the Witch Families. The pacing is tight, balancing action with quieter moments of connection, though the harem-lit elements occasionally feel shoehorned in, albeit handled with more restraint and realism than is typical for the genre.
The narration by Lewis Alexander and Rozelyn Rader is a standout feature. Alexander’s gravelly, grounded tone perfectly captures the protagonist’s raw emotion and determination, while Rader’s versatile performance brings the female characters to life with nuance—each voice distinct yet cohesive. Their chemistry enhances the dialogue-heavy scenes, making the audiobook a dynamic listen.
Highlights include the protagonist’s first magical encounter, a visceral blend of panic and power, and the vivid depiction of Witch College, a crucible of alliances and rivalries. The subplot involving a mysterious bully and a magical sport adds familiar yet engaging stakes, hinting at larger secrets to unravel in future books. Without spoiling the climax, I’ll say it leaves you eager for the next installment, with plenty of threads left tantalizingly loose.
"Warlock" is a compelling start to a series that promises more magical chaos and character growth, making it a must-listen for fans of urban fantasy with a twist. Kensington, Alexander, and Rader have conjured something special here, and undeniably enchanting.
The story follows an unnamed protagonist who, on his eighteenth birthday, faces a brutal initiation into adulthood: kicked out of his foster home, mugged in an alley, and accidentally killing someone with his mind. This chaotic sequence sets the stage for his discovery that he’s a Warlock—a rare magical being hunted by powerful Witch Families eager to bind him to a coven of thirteen witches for "mana harvesting." The stakes escalate when he learns he possesses magical resonants, artifacts that amplify his value and danger, making him a target for both recruitment and elimination. His journey to Witch College, where he must assemble his own coven and master magic to survive, unfolds with a mix of tension, humor, and unexpected camaraderie.
Kensington’s writing shines in its character development and world-building. The protagonist is a relatable everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances, his bewilderment and resilience anchoring the story. The supporting cast—witches with distinct personalities, from fierce allies to cunning rivals—adds layers to the narrative. The magical system, while trope-laden with its school setting and coven dynamics, is elevated by creative twists, like the resonants and the political machinations of the Witch Families. The pacing is tight, balancing action with quieter moments of connection, though the harem-lit elements occasionally feel shoehorned in, albeit handled with more restraint and realism than is typical for the genre.
The narration by Lewis Alexander and Rozelyn Rader is a standout feature. Alexander’s gravelly, grounded tone perfectly captures the protagonist’s raw emotion and determination, while Rader’s versatile performance brings the female characters to life with nuance—each voice distinct yet cohesive. Their chemistry enhances the dialogue-heavy scenes, making the audiobook a dynamic listen.
Highlights include the protagonist’s first magical encounter, a visceral blend of panic and power, and the vivid depiction of Witch College, a crucible of alliances and rivalries. The subplot involving a mysterious bully and a magical sport adds familiar yet engaging stakes, hinting at larger secrets to unravel in future books. Without spoiling the climax, I’ll say it leaves you eager for the next installment, with plenty of threads left tantalizingly loose.
"Warlock" is a compelling start to a series that promises more magical chaos and character growth, making it a must-listen for fans of urban fantasy with a twist. Kensington, Alexander, and Rader have conjured something special here, and undeniably enchanting.
October 5, 2024
A very interesting start
I very much enjoyed the book and thought the story was really well handled. I found the main character relatable and fun to read and the rest of the main and supporting cast is fantastic as well. I thought the story did a pretty good job of handling a few subjects that might otherwise have been awkward or unreadable.
On top of that the story takes lots of witty pokes at the magical school story and magical setting overall. I got a good chuckle out of several scenes and even got rather emotional over multiple scenes l, especially a climactic event in the middle of the story.
My only real issue has less to do with this book and more to do with possible future installments, tied up in my own issues. The book has a definite lean towards BDSM subjects and the author states in the note at the end that future books will have more of it. My major hope is that the author will continue to do an excellent job of showing enthusiastic consent for such things, which will hopefully let me continue to enjoy the story and characters. It's handled really well here so far but I've had this sort of thing take a turn for the uncomfortable before.
Regardless of my own personal issues though, this first book is an outstanding start and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.
I very much enjoyed the book and thought the story was really well handled. I found the main character relatable and fun to read and the rest of the main and supporting cast is fantastic as well. I thought the story did a pretty good job of handling a few subjects that might otherwise have been awkward or unreadable.
On top of that the story takes lots of witty pokes at the magical school story and magical setting overall. I got a good chuckle out of several scenes and even got rather emotional over multiple scenes l, especially a climactic event in the middle of the story.
My only real issue has less to do with this book and more to do with possible future installments, tied up in my own issues. The book has a definite lean towards BDSM subjects and the author states in the note at the end that future books will have more of it. My major hope is that the author will continue to do an excellent job of showing enthusiastic consent for such things, which will hopefully let me continue to enjoy the story and characters. It's handled really well here so far but I've had this sort of thing take a turn for the uncomfortable before.
Regardless of my own personal issues though, this first book is an outstanding start and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.
July 10, 2025
How in the world is this so highly rated?
Featuring a zero dimensional main character who thinks with his cock and has too much to say considering he knows nothing, constant worthless thought commentary that never lets the mood of the book deviate from anything other than utterly casual, bad Harry Potter jokes that were old before they were even written, and vocabulary you'd expect of a pet dog.
It also utterly annoys me how in books these days relationships are like: meet someone -> good conversation -> they are now your best friend/girlfriend! Meet someone -> bad conversation -> hello antagonist! Makes me question, have these writers ever gone out and experienced life?
Its a shame because underneath the useless fluff (and there's a lot of that), this has a tiny wireframe skeleton of a good story, but the constant casual mood, brainless main character, bad jokes and lack of any real drive or danger make this a sinker.
Featuring a zero dimensional main character who thinks with his cock and has too much to say considering he knows nothing, constant worthless thought commentary that never lets the mood of the book deviate from anything other than utterly casual, bad Harry Potter jokes that were old before they were even written, and vocabulary you'd expect of a pet dog.
It also utterly annoys me how in books these days relationships are like: meet someone -> good conversation -> they are now your best friend/girlfriend! Meet someone -> bad conversation -> hello antagonist! Makes me question, have these writers ever gone out and experienced life?
Its a shame because underneath the useless fluff (and there's a lot of that), this has a tiny wireframe skeleton of a good story, but the constant casual mood, brainless main character, bad jokes and lack of any real drive or danger make this a sinker.
March 12, 2025
I kinda feel like the author sabotaged his own book...
The problem is I had to force myself to finish the book. Not because of the plot, I wish the plot was worse so I could just toss it because the author apparently doesn't remember being 18 yo or a guy because the completely awkward and cliche way the MC is written is beyond cringe!
I was waiting for the lesbian to decide she was marking him and just peg him, then call make him sit in the corner and cry while she got the quiet one to come over.
The way his arousal is written mid convo like he's creeping out on the females and panting like a dog would have made some sense if he wasn't also a huge cuck about everything else as well. He comes off as a greasy loser that would say he's a male feminist while his inner thoughts are closer to that weird uncle.
The problem is I had to force myself to finish the book. Not because of the plot, I wish the plot was worse so I could just toss it because the author apparently doesn't remember being 18 yo or a guy because the completely awkward and cliche way the MC is written is beyond cringe!
I was waiting for the lesbian to decide she was marking him and just peg him, then call make him sit in the corner and cry while she got the quiet one to come over.
The way his arousal is written mid convo like he's creeping out on the females and panting like a dog would have made some sense if he wasn't also a huge cuck about everything else as well. He comes off as a greasy loser that would say he's a male feminist while his inner thoughts are closer to that weird uncle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
I didn’t pay attention to the fact most of these reviews are from men. (No shade, everyone likes to read different things)
I DNF on chapter 17
Don’t let the cover fool you like it did me. It’s a male main character who is 18 years old surrounded by women. Let me say this again, you will be stuck in the head of an 18 year old man who is in a school of female witches….
The whole book (up to where I DNF) seems to be focused on the female characters boobs and tight clothes.
It does seem to be interesting enough if you can ignore that aspect, however, after reading some of the lower reviews I can tell it doesn’t get any better and I know that isn’t something I want to read.
I DNF on chapter 17
Don’t let the cover fool you like it did me. It’s a male main character who is 18 years old surrounded by women. Let me say this again, you will be stuck in the head of an 18 year old man who is in a school of female witches….
The whole book (up to where I DNF) seems to be focused on the female characters boobs and tight clothes.
It does seem to be interesting enough if you can ignore that aspect, however, after reading some of the lower reviews I can tell it doesn’t get any better and I know that isn’t something I want to read.
October 2, 2024
Really, Really like it
This is really good start to finish. I like the premise and how it was handled. My only concern is that the first woman in the coven/harem is a lesbian who we know for a fact has not been able to reach above a level of platonic love with the MC. They are so cute together, and she lusts for the MC, but she doesn't have any romantic love for him. This may be a thing that gets resolved in future books, but I'm not seeing how, as she said she is and always has been a lesbian.
This is really good start to finish. I like the premise and how it was handled. My only concern is that the first woman in the coven/harem is a lesbian who we know for a fact has not been able to reach above a level of platonic love with the MC. They are so cute together, and she lusts for the MC, but she doesn't have any romantic love for him. This may be a thing that gets resolved in future books, but I'm not seeing how, as she said she is and always has been a lesbian.
October 1, 2024
5 star investment
So ever wondered what’d happen if Harry Potter was born has a CHAD and every possible fandom ship was on this is what you’d get.
So ever wondered what’d happen if Harry Potter was born has a CHAD and every possible fandom ship was on this is what you’d get.
February 23, 2025
Just when I had completely lost faith in this sub-genre of novels, this book comes along and shows that there might just be some hope yet.
From a position of impartiality, there's nothing groundbreaking about this story. It's not a story with a unique magic system, nor a fresh take on the coming-of-age urban fantasy trope, nor does it offer anything exceptional in the harem subgenre. What it is, though, is a book that puts in the work to tell a good story first and foremost, which sadly is a quality that is lacking in this sub-genre.
The result is that the harem element of the story (something that many readers of this genre might be here for) is actually underplayed significantly in this book. Instead, the story focuses on setting up the larger series, laying the groundwork for a quality story, and sacrificing the speedy entry into a harem situation in favour of setting up an intriguing plot and well-developed characters.
Personally, I think this is a good thing. I read books to experience good stories first and foremost, and I like that the harem element in this book is relegated to a supporting element rather than the sole focus. Outside of the romance genre and porn, a harem storyline doesn't have enough going for it to carry a novel, let alone a series. However, when added as a supporting element, it can elevate a story for the right audience, so long as that story is already good in the first place.
In summary, rather than a story that exists as a thin framework to justify a harem storyline, this is a story that can stand on its own with a harem storyline added on for extra flavour. And the interesting thing is, it's not even that extraordinary of a story. It's almost more slice-of-life storytelling than anything grander in scope, proving that we're not asking for much from these stories so long as the authors remember that they are telling a story first and foremost, not just trying to sell poorly written pornographic material.
All that being said, there are some flaws here. The protagonist's transition from his old life to the new life happens pretty fast, as does the development of a lot of the relationships in this book. For example, most of the relationships we see in this book have existed for less than a few weeks, or months at the very most, and they are presented to the reader like these are intense and meaningful relationships that will stand the test of time and are beyond any point of doubt.
Also, I get the impression that the author is writing without much of a plan, as a few elements are set up only to be forgotten about for a long time and then brought back in almost as an afterthought later.
Those flaws are only minor, though, and I really enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to seeing what comes next in this series. Hopefully, it can maintain this quality going forward.
From a position of impartiality, there's nothing groundbreaking about this story. It's not a story with a unique magic system, nor a fresh take on the coming-of-age urban fantasy trope, nor does it offer anything exceptional in the harem subgenre. What it is, though, is a book that puts in the work to tell a good story first and foremost, which sadly is a quality that is lacking in this sub-genre.
The result is that the harem element of the story (something that many readers of this genre might be here for) is actually underplayed significantly in this book. Instead, the story focuses on setting up the larger series, laying the groundwork for a quality story, and sacrificing the speedy entry into a harem situation in favour of setting up an intriguing plot and well-developed characters.
Personally, I think this is a good thing. I read books to experience good stories first and foremost, and I like that the harem element in this book is relegated to a supporting element rather than the sole focus. Outside of the romance genre and porn, a harem storyline doesn't have enough going for it to carry a novel, let alone a series. However, when added as a supporting element, it can elevate a story for the right audience, so long as that story is already good in the first place.
In summary, rather than a story that exists as a thin framework to justify a harem storyline, this is a story that can stand on its own with a harem storyline added on for extra flavour. And the interesting thing is, it's not even that extraordinary of a story. It's almost more slice-of-life storytelling than anything grander in scope, proving that we're not asking for much from these stories so long as the authors remember that they are telling a story first and foremost, not just trying to sell poorly written pornographic material.
All that being said, there are some flaws here. The protagonist's transition from his old life to the new life happens pretty fast, as does the development of a lot of the relationships in this book. For example, most of the relationships we see in this book have existed for less than a few weeks, or months at the very most, and they are presented to the reader like these are intense and meaningful relationships that will stand the test of time and are beyond any point of doubt.
Also, I get the impression that the author is writing without much of a plan, as a few elements are set up only to be forgotten about for a long time and then brought back in almost as an afterthought later.
Those flaws are only minor, though, and I really enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to seeing what comes next in this series. Hopefully, it can maintain this quality going forward.
November 3, 2024
Harem coven in progress
I read write ups for a couple different books before picking up this one-- and I got a pit confused. I guess it was one of the other books I was looking at that had a MC with eyes for only one girl. So I picked this up thinking it was an action adventure with a unique take on magic. And it is-- but while the first half of the book has a little bit more attention paid to boobs than I felt necessary (not being a teenage boy), there are scenes later in the book that are much more "erotica" than "adventure story." This is highly likely to continue, given the author's premise concerning the flow of magic within covens and the expectation that a warlock will be of service to all13 witches. The required magical bonds are associated with what BDSM folks would call "power exchange". A topic very much of interest to the characters is who initiates the bond (the warlock or the witch) as this indicates who will be in control of the magical bond.
The world and characters feel realistic and natural. The minor characters vary in depth, but no one is a caricature or lacking in dimension. If there weren't interesting characters and multiple, deftly woven plot strands, I'd have ditched this book as soon as I saw the direction the magic system was going. As is, I will probably give the next book a try. Whether I keep reading will depend on whether the characters and story maintain enough prominence that I can kind of gloss over the sex/erotic side of things.
I'm honestly a bit bummed about that. I get that sharing magic is intimate, but I don't see why that has to result in lust/sex. Genuine friendship and trust have some serious depths of intimacy that many sexual relationships never achieve. I would be a lot more interested in watching the relationship dynamics if this ended up moving towards a tight-knit found family than magic-based polygamy.
I read write ups for a couple different books before picking up this one-- and I got a pit confused. I guess it was one of the other books I was looking at that had a MC with eyes for only one girl. So I picked this up thinking it was an action adventure with a unique take on magic. And it is-- but while the first half of the book has a little bit more attention paid to boobs than I felt necessary (not being a teenage boy), there are scenes later in the book that are much more "erotica" than "adventure story." This is highly likely to continue, given the author's premise concerning the flow of magic within covens and the expectation that a warlock will be of service to all13 witches. The required magical bonds are associated with what BDSM folks would call "power exchange". A topic very much of interest to the characters is who initiates the bond (the warlock or the witch) as this indicates who will be in control of the magical bond.
The world and characters feel realistic and natural. The minor characters vary in depth, but no one is a caricature or lacking in dimension. If there weren't interesting characters and multiple, deftly woven plot strands, I'd have ditched this book as soon as I saw the direction the magic system was going. As is, I will probably give the next book a try. Whether I keep reading will depend on whether the characters and story maintain enough prominence that I can kind of gloss over the sex/erotic side of things.
I'm honestly a bit bummed about that. I get that sharing magic is intimate, but I don't see why that has to result in lust/sex. Genuine friendship and trust have some serious depths of intimacy that many sexual relationships never achieve. I would be a lot more interested in watching the relationship dynamics if this ended up moving towards a tight-knit found family than magic-based polygamy.
January 10, 2025
Fits for the character
Honestly, I have one main problem with this and causes others. Hes 18 and it ends up feeling like an 18 year olds fantasy at times. I like the magic system. It seems a unique idea. I don't mind the harem aspect or the use of sex. Now I know the character is 18 and the language will reflect that. Not liking it is my personal issue. Yet, when the lesbian is all, let me hop on cause I need a warlock, I am not a fan. It seems more fantasy fulfilment of guys thinking they can change a lesbian. There were some discussion between the characters that made it somewhat better. Although I wish it hadnt been a thing to begin with. I do want to finish the series and hope to say I feel better about this in the next one. As far as Smut it's light yet the author says there will be more in future.
Honestly, I have one main problem with this and causes others. Hes 18 and it ends up feeling like an 18 year olds fantasy at times. I like the magic system. It seems a unique idea. I don't mind the harem aspect or the use of sex. Now I know the character is 18 and the language will reflect that. Not liking it is my personal issue. Yet, when the lesbian is all, let me hop on cause I need a warlock, I am not a fan. It seems more fantasy fulfilment of guys thinking they can change a lesbian. There were some discussion between the characters that made it somewhat better. Although I wish it hadnt been a thing to begin with. I do want to finish the series and hope to say I feel better about this in the next one. As far as Smut it's light yet the author says there will be more in future.
October 15, 2024
Good Story; Not Harem
I liked the story, the history and mechanics, and the differentiation between characters. I do not like the insistence of non-hetero harem members. The book was good enough that I finished it in the hopes that she might become dedicated romantically to the protagonist, but the protagonist emphasizes at the very end getting other harem members on the basis that they can love the lesbian back. This isn't a harem at that point. It's a polyamorous relationship that just happens to have a single male, because they have to for the magic system to work.
I liked the story, the history and mechanics, and the differentiation between characters. I do not like the insistence of non-hetero harem members. The book was good enough that I finished it in the hopes that she might become dedicated romantically to the protagonist, but the protagonist emphasizes at the very end getting other harem members on the basis that they can love the lesbian back. This isn't a harem at that point. It's a polyamorous relationship that just happens to have a single male, because they have to for the magic system to work.
December 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next. Despite what you'd expect for a book centred around a guy that needs to build up a harem of 12 women, it's doesn't dive into it too quickly like so many books in this genre do. The ones I like to summarize as 'I love you so much we should get married, by the way what's you're name again?'. In fact, the harem doesn't start until near the end of the book, and while we're fairly confident of the next member and have suspicions of a few others, it definitely takes it's time enough to build up a proper relationship between the MC and his potential partners. That said, I do hope it doesn't go the way Dragon's Justice went when he does end up with a full harem, with it being unmanageable.
The characters had personality and the world building is good, with the setting slowly becoming clearer as the MC learns about it. The other thing to note is that has a bit of a slice-of-life feel at times, especially with the school parts. I never found it boring, but it never really moved fast either. That's not a bad thing (for me anyway), but something to be aware of.
The characters had personality and the world building is good, with the setting slowly becoming clearer as the MC learns about it. The other thing to note is that has a bit of a slice-of-life feel at times, especially with the school parts. I never found it boring, but it never really moved fast either. That's not a bad thing (for me anyway), but something to be aware of.
August 2, 2025
Really enjoyed the comedic one liners. What fell short was the amount of satisfying answers given despite it only being a book 1. I also felt i’d seen a lot of this before in other books and other mediums. Enjoyed parts, probably won’t continue the series.
June 16, 2025
odd
Started ok but turned dull and bogged down with school and forgotten plot lines and a weird femdom feel. No thanks.
Started ok but turned dull and bogged down with school and forgotten plot lines and a weird femdom feel. No thanks.
October 8, 2025
I remember really liking this book when it first came out, but I hadn't kept up with the series because the harem genre hasn't interested me lately. There's just so much garbage to sift through, and when you do find one that's actually good, it often fizzles out after a few books and turns into generic slop. I saw that two more books were out and available in audiobook format, so I decided to reread the series since I remembered enjoying the first book.
While the writing is still much better than most books in this genre, I didn't like it nearly as much on my second read. I wish the main character were a bit older because I can't even get annoyed that he acts like a dumb 18-year-old, because he literally is one. However, his whining and lack of tact grated on me a lot more than I remember. The author also plays on the "dense guy" trope too much to feel believable, as if they've read too many terrible Japanese high school mangas where the main characters are tungsten level dense.
The thing that annoyed me more than the main character's immaturity was that the author just doesn't seem to like his own main character. The protagonist is obsessed with family since he's an orphan, yet the author makes the first witch in his coven a lesbian who finds his penis gross and can never love him. (Spoiler: she ends up loving him in book two and is obsessed with having sex with him, but is still considered a lesbian?) The second witch is someone he can't stand, and she can't stand him. It's just too much, he's in a society with very few men, where both men and women are treated poorly, and after getting past their families' brainwashing, they would love nothing more than to be part of something that isn't just a transactional exchange for power. Yet he chooses a lesbian and a bully who hates him as his first two "wives". It just made me roll my eyes too hard to want to read book three. Also, the smutty parts aren't that hot, but that's to be expected; If I want good smut, I'll just read a romance novel, because female authors write WAYYY better sex scenes.
So, overall, it's a 3/5 for book one and a 2.5/5 for book two
While the writing is still much better than most books in this genre, I didn't like it nearly as much on my second read. I wish the main character were a bit older because I can't even get annoyed that he acts like a dumb 18-year-old, because he literally is one. However, his whining and lack of tact grated on me a lot more than I remember. The author also plays on the "dense guy" trope too much to feel believable, as if they've read too many terrible Japanese high school mangas where the main characters are tungsten level dense.
The thing that annoyed me more than the main character's immaturity was that the author just doesn't seem to like his own main character. The protagonist is obsessed with family since he's an orphan, yet the author makes the first witch in his coven a lesbian who finds his penis gross and can never love him. (Spoiler: she ends up loving him in book two and is obsessed with having sex with him, but is still considered a lesbian?) The second witch is someone he can't stand, and she can't stand him. It's just too much, he's in a society with very few men, where both men and women are treated poorly, and after getting past their families' brainwashing, they would love nothing more than to be part of something that isn't just a transactional exchange for power. Yet he chooses a lesbian and a bully who hates him as his first two "wives". It just made me roll my eyes too hard to want to read book three. Also, the smutty parts aren't that hot, but that's to be expected; If I want good smut, I'll just read a romance novel, because female authors write WAYYY better sex scenes.
So, overall, it's a 3/5 for book one and a 2.5/5 for book two
December 30, 2024
on the fence
I’m on the line of whether I like it or not. Storyline was good but but the MC is kind of a wimp. I’m all for the MC being a good guy at heart and a respectful kind of man. I can relate to his backstory especially being a foster kid myself… but he’s a warlock with three resonants.. kind of a big deal. Smut wasn’t there except at the end, which is weird cause apparently families were supposed to be throwing themselves at him for his status, but only one really did. I mean dude was in an all woman school and couldn’t get an HJ even.
I’ll more than likely read the next book and I’ll decide if this series is down my alley or not.
I’m on the line of whether I like it or not. Storyline was good but but the MC is kind of a wimp. I’m all for the MC being a good guy at heart and a respectful kind of man. I can relate to his backstory especially being a foster kid myself… but he’s a warlock with three resonants.. kind of a big deal. Smut wasn’t there except at the end, which is weird cause apparently families were supposed to be throwing themselves at him for his status, but only one really did. I mean dude was in an all woman school and couldn’t get an HJ even.
I’ll more than likely read the next book and I’ll decide if this series is down my alley or not.
December 12, 2024
4.5 stars. Well done, if not 100% in my strikezone story-wise. It is however a good example of the "guy with magic comes of age and is shipped off to an all-girls' magic school" trope, and it held my attention. I do find the MC to be pretty "modern" in seeking consent in triplicate for everything involving touching a girl, but I guess just one "yes" isn't enough these days.
That said, he is 18 and well outside his lived experience before coming behind the veil, so I see this as baseline for his character development. I do look forward to book 2 being a bit less school intensive, so we'll see what we get.
That said, he is 18 and well outside his lived experience before coming behind the veil, so I see this as baseline for his character development. I do look forward to book 2 being a bit less school intensive, so we'll see what we get.
November 25, 2025
Noah, an eighteen-year-old foster child, learns that he has magical powers. He is packed off to a magical academy, Willowmere College, where he is the only warlock among 450 student witches. The author, Daniel Kensington, uses the scenario to create tensions between the clueless warlock (contemptuously referred to as “that feral”) and the other students, who have all been raised from birth to understand the ABCs of witchcraft. Part of the reading pleasure is that this isn’t Harry Potter redux. On the contrary, the author has fun with Noah’s expectations of using a hidden platform at the train station to ride to school, of whizzing around on a broom, and of brewing potions in a dank castle-like setting.
There are several things I enjoyed about this first part of the series, which is projected to cover the four years that Noah is slated to spend at Willowmere. The background of some of the main characters is gradually filled in and their individual personalities developed. As Noah starts what would seem to be an extended project of assembling his coven of thirteen witches, he finds that he has to deal with complex interpersonal relationships, compounded by his lack of familiarity with how a coven works.
The author’s worldbuilding is well thought out. He has started to sketch out the history of witches and of their uneasy and at times painful interaction with the mundane world. More intrigue is provided by different families of witches who variously compete and cooperate with one another. The author also provides an interesting system of magic based on “resonants,” the nature and number (one through three) of which vary from witch to witch. Affinities, and the marking of witches, also enter the dynamics of witchcraft. The main purpose of covens is said to be to “harvest mana,” which enhances their powers. To cap things off, the author has Noah interacting with the four facets of a goddess, who individually and collectively are not as almighty as what one would expect of divine beings
.
The action in the book starts with Noah coming of age and, sparked off by an attempted mugging, discovering his warlock identity. Much of the rest of the book has Noah trying to find his place in a magical world, where the immediate tension generally doesn’t come from evil magic, but from the social dynamics created by outcasts confronting bullies, and from the sexual tension of young Noah trying to fit into the world of women on campus. More dangerous tensions arise from a potion gone wrong, and from interactions that take place off campus.
The writing is excellent (other than the author’s minor but repeated grammatical error in writing for example “you and I” and not "you and me," when the two are the object, not the subject of the sentence. Note to self: delete the “you and …” and see if the sentence sounds right with just the “I”).
For me, the most enjoyable part of the book is the humor, which is thrown in at unexpected times to break the tension. Most of the humor comes from snarky comments by Noah’s young friend Morgan, but also he is given several good zingers when he tosses shade at the bullies on campus.
Looking forward to reading the forthcoming parts.
There are several things I enjoyed about this first part of the series, which is projected to cover the four years that Noah is slated to spend at Willowmere. The background of some of the main characters is gradually filled in and their individual personalities developed. As Noah starts what would seem to be an extended project of assembling his coven of thirteen witches, he finds that he has to deal with complex interpersonal relationships, compounded by his lack of familiarity with how a coven works.
The author’s worldbuilding is well thought out. He has started to sketch out the history of witches and of their uneasy and at times painful interaction with the mundane world. More intrigue is provided by different families of witches who variously compete and cooperate with one another. The author also provides an interesting system of magic based on “resonants,” the nature and number (one through three) of which vary from witch to witch. Affinities, and the marking of witches, also enter the dynamics of witchcraft. The main purpose of covens is said to be to “harvest mana,” which enhances their powers. To cap things off, the author has Noah interacting with the four facets of a goddess, who individually and collectively are not as almighty as what one would expect of divine beings
.
The action in the book starts with Noah coming of age and, sparked off by an attempted mugging, discovering his warlock identity. Much of the rest of the book has Noah trying to find his place in a magical world, where the immediate tension generally doesn’t come from evil magic, but from the social dynamics created by outcasts confronting bullies, and from the sexual tension of young Noah trying to fit into the world of women on campus. More dangerous tensions arise from a potion gone wrong, and from interactions that take place off campus.
The writing is excellent (other than the author’s minor but repeated grammatical error in writing for example “you and I” and not "you and me," when the two are the object, not the subject of the sentence. Note to self: delete the “you and …” and see if the sentence sounds right with just the “I”).
For me, the most enjoyable part of the book is the humor, which is thrown in at unexpected times to break the tension. Most of the humor comes from snarky comments by Noah’s young friend Morgan, but also he is given several good zingers when he tosses shade at the bullies on campus.
Looking forward to reading the forthcoming parts.
Read
May 23, 2025I enjoyed the book, apart from some caveats, and am excited to read the following one. The story flowed well, and I didn't experience it standing still or being dragged along. The characters were memorable and likable. The plot barely exists, making the story more of a "Slice of Life" where you focus on the characters, settings, and worldbuilding.
There are a few elements where the story fails:
1. The protagonist is presented as too dumb for the supposed benefit of the reader. It's as if the author thought very little about the reader's capacity to understand nuance and clear connections in the story, forcing the protagonist to ask questions repeatedly and assuming they couldn't understand anything from context in the story. This made him look dumb, more than a person who lacks information about the world he is in.
2. There is way too much exposition at the start of the book. It would have been fine if it were to have been spread over various conversations and locations, but the author focused on one long, and sometimes a bit tedious, conversation that exposits information not yet relevant to the story. The protagonist doesn't see or experience events, and then another character explains their meaning after a context is established. The latter part does happen later, but as mentioned above, only for mostly self-explanatory names, events, and places.
There are a few elements where the story fails:
1. The protagonist is presented as too dumb for the supposed benefit of the reader. It's as if the author thought very little about the reader's capacity to understand nuance and clear connections in the story, forcing the protagonist to ask questions repeatedly and assuming they couldn't understand anything from context in the story. This made him look dumb, more than a person who lacks information about the world he is in.
2. There is way too much exposition at the start of the book. It would have been fine if it were to have been spread over various conversations and locations, but the author focused on one long, and sometimes a bit tedious, conversation that exposits information not yet relevant to the story. The protagonist doesn't see or experience events, and then another character explains their meaning after a context is established. The latter part does happen later, but as mentioned above, only for mostly self-explanatory names, events, and places.
December 28, 2024
Noah has had a difficult life. He was abandoned as an infant at a fire station, grew up in foster care, and while the foster family wasn't abusive or mean, he was just one of several kids they were raising, with not a lot of time or attention to any of them. The only real good parts of his life have been his best friend Morgan and a wandering neighborhood cat called Felicity. Noah turns 18 as the book starts, and thus ages out of foster care and has to leave the only home he's known.
He has a plan, this isn't a surprise to him. But aside from not wanting to leave Morgan behind (she won't age out for another six months), his plan smacks into the realities of trying to make your way in the world when you're young, alone, and broke. After a mugging goes weird, he meets Mel, an older woman who takes him in. At first, he has a lot of suspicions, but the reality is even stranger than he thought. Noah is a warlock in a world where witches vastly outnumber warlocks, and there's an entire world he's grown up ignorant of.
Mel teaches him some of what he's missed, and he is enrolled at Willowmere, a college for young witches. Little goes as planned, including from day one when he meets his roommate, Samantha (he's the only guy there), an out lesbian young witch. The two become close friends, and Noah deals with the biases against warlocks from all the young women. A lot of tropes come into play here, like going to a special school to learn your powers, confronting the popular but mean clique, befriending the outcasts, but they're all written really well.
Noah keeps realizing how much he doesn't know, even as he makes new friends and starts to learn about the hidden world he's now part of. Along the way he has to deal with secrets being uncovered, an ugly murder, Sam's near-constant teasing, and becoming the object of several different plots.
This is a very sexual book, and there's a rather graphic sex scene near the end. If that bothers you, don't read it. Personally, I thought this was really well written. I don't give out 5 stars often, but I really enjoyed this story and the characterizations along the way.
The only thing I have some reservations about is some things that happen with Sam near the end. I can't really say much without some serious spoilers, but I'm not wholly sure how I feel about some of this, even with the justifications given in the story.
It was still a highly enjoyable read if you like magic and sex, which I do.
He has a plan, this isn't a surprise to him. But aside from not wanting to leave Morgan behind (she won't age out for another six months), his plan smacks into the realities of trying to make your way in the world when you're young, alone, and broke. After a mugging goes weird, he meets Mel, an older woman who takes him in. At first, he has a lot of suspicions, but the reality is even stranger than he thought. Noah is a warlock in a world where witches vastly outnumber warlocks, and there's an entire world he's grown up ignorant of.
Mel teaches him some of what he's missed, and he is enrolled at Willowmere, a college for young witches. Little goes as planned, including from day one when he meets his roommate, Samantha (he's the only guy there), an out lesbian young witch. The two become close friends, and Noah deals with the biases against warlocks from all the young women. A lot of tropes come into play here, like going to a special school to learn your powers, confronting the popular but mean clique, befriending the outcasts, but they're all written really well.
Noah keeps realizing how much he doesn't know, even as he makes new friends and starts to learn about the hidden world he's now part of. Along the way he has to deal with secrets being uncovered, an ugly murder, Sam's near-constant teasing, and becoming the object of several different plots.
This is a very sexual book, and there's a rather graphic sex scene near the end. If that bothers you, don't read it. Personally, I thought this was really well written. I don't give out 5 stars often, but I really enjoyed this story and the characterizations along the way.
The only thing I have some reservations about is some things that happen with Sam near the end. I can't really say much without some serious spoilers, but I'm not wholly sure how I feel about some of this, even with the justifications given in the story.
It was still a highly enjoyable read if you like magic and sex, which I do.
January 11, 2025
Rating 4.0 stars
This is going to be a weird review, because this book was exactly what I thought it would be, but at the same time... not. Guy turns 18 and gets kicked out of foster care. Hr finds out he is a warlock which is extremely rare. He also has 3 resonances which is even rarer. In the witch world there are 13 witches to one warlock. The witches make the mana, and the warlock refines the mana and returns it to the witches (guess how that happens?). Yep, through sex. There is this whole thing about control in this book. Rich families will want him to join and control him. The warlock marks the witches and controls them. Then, either the high priest will mark the warlock or he will mark her to retain control. ( most warlocks are controlled). He doesn't want that like so his only option is to get strong enough and get his own coven so he can protect himself. The magic is kind of weird. He has 3 resonances. Lust, pain, and control. (still not completely sure how the magic works). He then gets enrolled in witch school. He is the only man in a group of 450 women at the school. He is told over and over again that the witches will want something from him. The families will want him and he will need to be careful. He is also told that he will need to have sex with 13 witches to form his coven. He will need to learn magic to get stronger. Okay, so now I would expect the rest of the book would be him fighting off all the women in the school, finding ones he really likes and having sex with them and learning and shit ton of magic. Yeah, no. That didn't happen Overall, it was a slow burn but I did enjoy it so I will be picking up the next book.
This is going to be a weird review, because this book was exactly what I thought it would be, but at the same time... not. Guy turns 18 and gets kicked out of foster care. Hr finds out he is a warlock which is extremely rare. He also has 3 resonances which is even rarer. In the witch world there are 13 witches to one warlock. The witches make the mana, and the warlock refines the mana and returns it to the witches (guess how that happens?). Yep, through sex. There is this whole thing about control in this book. Rich families will want him to join and control him. The warlock marks the witches and controls them. Then, either the high priest will mark the warlock or he will mark her to retain control. ( most warlocks are controlled). He doesn't want that like so his only option is to get strong enough and get his own coven so he can protect himself. The magic is kind of weird. He has 3 resonances. Lust, pain, and control. (still not completely sure how the magic works). He then gets enrolled in witch school. He is the only man in a group of 450 women at the school. He is told over and over again that the witches will want something from him. The families will want him and he will need to be careful. He is also told that he will need to have sex with 13 witches to form his coven. He will need to learn magic to get stronger. Okay, so now I would expect the rest of the book would be him fighting off all the women in the school, finding ones he really likes and having sex with them and learning and shit ton of magic. Yeah, no. That didn't happen Overall, it was a slow burn but I did enjoy it so I will be picking up the next book.
January 3, 2025
The premise of this book feels calculated to be as dumb and cliche as possible. An orphan, with no knowledge of his past, discovers magic is real, he has magic powers, and he now has to go to magic college. Oh, and collect a harem of hot witches for Plot Reasons. The book blurb doesn't pull any punches; it spells out just how cringe inducing the premise will be, and the book delivers.
However, while this *could* have just been an excuse to deliver some over-sexualised Harry Potter fanfiction with the serial numbers filed off, it's anything but. It's honestly...
...great? I feel weird saying it because again, just go back and read the book blurb, but the writing is top notch, the world, once you get passed the one central conceit is interesting and plausible, the characters are fleshed out, the protagonists are likeable, the antagonists have goals and motivations, character experience growth, the romance subplot is slow burn but exceedingly warmhearted, the magic system is fairly original and has a good amount of consistency, plot twists are foreshadowed when appropriate...
The comparisons to Harry Potter (and it's many, many, many imitators) are obvious, and the author lampshades it a few times with some jokes about eg, taking a train to get to the school, but the story owes little or nothing to Rowling's books, and in some key areas easily surpasses her skill.)
If you can't overcome the fact this is, again, a story about an orphan who discovers he has magic powers and , then the quality isn't going to make it up to you. But if you accept that some cliches are cliches because they serve as ready-made frameworks for a good yarn, then you should really check this book out because it's a *very* good story indeed.
My two complaints are:
* As I write this, book 2 isn't out yet, and I *really* want more.
* Book 1 ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Not in a bad way; nobody is kidnapped or in danger of dying or anything, but
However, while this *could* have just been an excuse to deliver some over-sexualised Harry Potter fanfiction with the serial numbers filed off, it's anything but. It's honestly...
...great? I feel weird saying it because again, just go back and read the book blurb, but the writing is top notch, the world, once you get passed the one central conceit is interesting and plausible, the characters are fleshed out, the protagonists are likeable, the antagonists have goals and motivations, character experience growth, the romance subplot is slow burn but exceedingly warmhearted, the magic system is fairly original and has a good amount of consistency, plot twists are foreshadowed when appropriate...
The comparisons to Harry Potter (and it's many, many, many imitators) are obvious, and the author lampshades it a few times with some jokes about eg, taking a train to get to the school, but the story owes little or nothing to Rowling's books, and in some key areas easily surpasses her skill.)
If you can't overcome the fact this is, again, a story about an orphan who discovers he has magic powers and , then the quality isn't going to make it up to you. But if you accept that some cliches are cliches because they serve as ready-made frameworks for a good yarn, then you should really check this book out because it's a *very* good story indeed.
My two complaints are:
* As I write this, book 2 isn't out yet, and I *really* want more.
* Book 1 ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Not in a bad way; nobody is kidnapped or in danger of dying or anything, but
November 15, 2024
An excellent coming of age story at a mage academy
The MC is a orphan who grew up in foster care. When he aged out, his first day was very difficult because his social workers failed to prepare him, even with something as basic as a valid id, which he needed to even get into a shelter or seek a jobless. That's when he got mugged and found out that he could channel mana.
The story was well written and quite intriguing. I laughed out loud at some of the snark, inuendo and teens being teens. I enjoyed the "young mistress" being a mean girl for no good reason, though we still havent found out why she's such a douche. She also hasn't turned into a tsundre, nor received the beat down she apparently deserves. As other reviews pointed out, the intimacy added to and supported the narrative, rather than just being an excuse to fill up pages with lit-porn. These positive comments in the reviews were what encouraged me to strongly consider this story.
I look forward the the next and future installments.
The MC is a orphan who grew up in foster care. When he aged out, his first day was very difficult because his social workers failed to prepare him, even with something as basic as a valid id, which he needed to even get into a shelter or seek a jobless. That's when he got mugged and found out that he could channel mana.
The story was well written and quite intriguing. I laughed out loud at some of the snark, inuendo and teens being teens. I enjoyed the "young mistress" being a mean girl for no good reason, though we still havent found out why she's such a douche. She also hasn't turned into a tsundre, nor received the beat down she apparently deserves. As other reviews pointed out, the intimacy added to and supported the narrative, rather than just being an excuse to fill up pages with lit-porn. These positive comments in the reviews were what encouraged me to strongly consider this story.
I look forward the the next and future installments.
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