A town terrorized by magic hunters. An impending marriage to my greatest enemy. An executioner with my name in his ledger.
Life in small-town Redbud should not be this complicated. Yet inciting a rebellion under the Stag Man’s very nose, convincing him I’m a naïve bimbo still enspelled by his memory-altering curse, and charging the filigree key with primal magic is proving to be just that. Insanely complicated.
Lucky for Sawyer and me, we’ve got some new allies including a feral sourdough starter, a wight, and one gluttonous snail to help kick all the butts, eat all the carbs, and unlock that fae portal before the Unseelie demon’s deadline.
And free my beloved lumbersnack.
I’m coming for you, bear claw.
Scroll up and click “Buy Now” or “Read for Free” (Kindle Unlimited) if you like cottagecore with an edge, cozy vibes, slow-burn forbidden romance, sassy sidekicks, demonic baddies, found family, women who become all they can be, and a fae king.
I am very much along for the ride of the Homesteader Hearth Witch series, but this one was not it.
The constant threat of physical hurt and and rape really soured things for me, as did the constant mental and emotional attacks. The lack of Meadow’s merry band of friends, her family, her day to day life really showed, and not in a good way.
Also, this book could have been a lot shorter without it “damaging” the story. It feels to me as if the soul of the series is getting lost.
The most surprising moments for me, in a negative way, was the way one of the female baddies was portrayed to be promiscuous and a whore. Why is that trait used to show how bad and terrible and “not worthy” she is? Why are none of the male baddies promiscuous? God forbid a girl has a hobby! I write this last line as a somewhat joke, but I had expected better and felt a lot of disappointment.
Three stars, adjusted to two because of the very unnecessary slut shaming. Do better.
With her upcoming nuptials to the Stagman, Meadow has her work cut out for her! With Ossian instilling her memory and demanding she charge the filigree key 🔑, Meadow has some complications to sort through.
This installment of the series was beyond descriptive and absolutely brought the pages to life! Waiting with batedbreath to find out what would happen, it was hard to put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen to Meadow and the entire gang (woodland creature collabrotive!)
The extent Meadow went to to keep everyone as safe as she could was heartwarming. Charge up your crystals 💎 and grab your best snail 🐌 for this adventure and one crazy wedding party 🎂 I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to find out what comes next!
Thank you to author, Kat Healy , and BookSprout for the opportunity to read this book. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
This author and this series…incredible! If you enjoy immersion into a well thought out world with a fun pace, perfect characters and dialogue, then you absolutely need this series.
The imagery is somehow perfectly brought to life. Not exhaustive or overly done. I almost believe this world exists!
Characters, oh how I adore every. single. one…but one, of course! I don’t know how this author does it, but you “feel” the friendship, the love, the people and their hearts. And yes, even when you wanna punch the bad guy! It’s pulled out of you.
A fabulous story through and through! Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Misty or Meadow is free from the Stag Lord’s memory spell but has to follow through on all her promises including maybe the one to wed and be bedded by him.
This story has much more of the cozy community that I loved in the first few books but the continuous threat of rape or sexual assault just took so much joy away from me.
This second-to-last book, of Kat Healy's awesome Homesteader Hearth Witch series, more than lived up to its promise, and to my many expectations, after reading the previous seven books!
In this, Book Eight: 'The Filigree Key', Meadow has a huge task ahead of her, learning to overcome the four primal elements of Earth, Fire, Water, and Air.
The Fae King of the Wild Beasts, Ossian, needs her to do this, in order to gain mastery over the Filigree Key, which will open the Portal that will lead him back to Elfhame, and the destruction of his brother, Callum.
Ossian had gained power over Meadow, via a bargain they had struck, and by vile trickery.
But Meadow, despite Ossian's arrogance, is far stronger than he believes her to be, and so, with the help of everyone in the Town of Redbud, plus her close friends, the cats Ame, and in particular, Sawyer, along with the Ladies of her Crafting Circle, Daphne the part Druid, , Shari, a very vulnerable Crochet artist, and Flora, a Garden Gnome, Meadow is determined to do everything possible to fulfill that bargain.
Because the life of her Lumbersnack, Arthur, is at stake, along with her Brother, and all of her Family, and Friends!
This book was totally awesome, bringing together all the strands that make up Meadow's life, and weaving them together into a rope that is strong enough, and long enough, to help Meadow do everything necessary, no matter how sickening it might be for her, to get those things done, inmorder to save the ones she loves.
I've loved reading this story so much, and am impatient to get my hands on the final book of this series, which is Book 9: 'Twisting Twilight' which, we've been told by the author, herself, should be released sometime this summer! Yay!
I'll probably reread the whole series all over again, before reading the final book, as I've found it so much more fun that way but, in the meantime, I'll be going back to the book written that takes place in the same timeline, but is a story about Meadow's Cousin, called: 'A Wolf For Winter'!
Once I've finished that, I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know what I think of it!
Jaw has dropped. The Filigree Key has a whole lot going on. Meadow is the queen of multitasking and planning. Honestly this book gave me anxiety. Trapped under Ossian's influence Meadow has to not only rescue herself but also the lives of all of her friends, family, and townsfolk who have all fallen under his spell. All whilst growing her magic to charge the key to enter the portal to save her brother. But nothing is ever that 'simple' oh and did I mention she is under a deadline? This book was incredible. Such a perilous mission all in this book alone kept me flipping pages. I was enthralled with Meadows growth through this entire series and this book was a huge example to just how much our girl has had to change and adapt as the story progresses. I am obsessed with how much of a badass this primal witch she has become! She has always been intelligent, and quick to solve problems, but now mix that with the elemental powers she has to learn to control and she is seriously unstoppable. I honestly feel like she doesn't even understand her own strength yet. I have so many questions like that ending! Talk about CLIFF HANGERS!! Dang, stab me in the heart with Faebane! I can NOT wait for the next book! I need to know! What happened to our Lumbersnack? Did Llewellyn succeed at freeing the captives? What about the rest of Meadow's family? What's to come of our Cider witch? GAHHH This will be a rough book hangover!
This is the eighth and penultimate book in the series.
There is a LOT going on in this book. Damn. Meadow is up against deadlines. She is learning to control the elements, plotting to defeat the powerful fae who plans to wed her and then kill her after she gets his access to the Faery he was exiled from, trying to free her love,...
So there are a lot of moving parts. To a certain extent, I miss the sedate pace in the start of the series -- nothing is sedate in this book.
Meadow is wonderful. Sawyer is absolutely wonderful. All of the characters shine. Meadow's blood family has been effectively sidelined by Ossian, but will presumably be in full force next book.
Anyways, great stuff. Great plots, great action. I especially loved the interactions with each element. Meadow is no longer a quiet cider witch or even a green witch. She is a primal witch and her power is amazing when she manifests it.
Dang! The last book in this series won't be out until December. This is the ultimate cliffhanger!
The story is still very good. However, it looks like the author is just trying to add a lot of action to stretch out the number of books in the series.
Amazon synopsis: A town terrorized by magic hunters. An impending marriage to my greatest enemy. An executioner with my name in his ledger.
Life in small-town Redbud should not be this complicated. Yet inciting a rebellion under the Stag Man’s very nose, convincing him I’m a naïve bimbo still enspelled by his memory-altering curse, and charging the filigree key with primal magic is proving to be just that. Insanely complicated.
Lucky for Sawyer and me, we’ve got some new allies including a feral sourdough starter, a wight, and one gluttonous snail to help kick all the butts, eat all the carbs, and unlock that fae portal before the Unseelie demon’s deadline.
This book is pure chaotic magic, and I’m OBSESSED.
Y’all. I don’t even have words for how much I loved this. From the first page, I was in. Small-town rebellion? Check. Feral sourdough starter? Yep. A gluttonous snail, a wight, and a cursed heroine pretending to be a clueless bimbo? SIGN. ME. UP.
The voice is hilarious and so relatable—I felt like I was tagging along with a slightly unhinged bestie on a magical mission to save her lumbersnack (and yes, I’d 100% storm the fae realm for that man too). The world is wild and weird in the best way, and somehow, the author made me care deeply about bread, curses, and rebellion all at once.
This book is clever, chaotic, and full of heart. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, highlighted like crazy, and finished it way too fast. I need the next one ASAP because I am NOT done with this crew. Bear claw, I’m coming with ya
What an amazing continuation of this story! Kat is incredibly masterful in her nuanced word choices and character development. Having Meadow balance out maneuvering her enemy while keeping him in the dark about the fact that she remembers all the things he’s been trying to make her forget is just an awesome nail biting adventure. The beautiful bond with her friends and the side characters continue to be present in the book. As is her relationship with her true mate, currently torn apart and trying to overcome their battles on their own but still drawn together. I can’t wait for the final book. This series has now become one of my favorites of all time and I look forward to when I can buy her books from somewhere else than Amazon so I can read them over and over again.
I really hate when an author drags a story on and on through several books unless each one could be a stand alone. This story is not and each ends on what is basically a cliffhanger. I'm angry. After 8 books, the story should be finished, but it isn't. Now I'm in the position of either giving up on the series or waiting until the next book is released. It's a good story. I've been enjoying it very much. But I might be done with the whole thing.
Note to the author: I've been riveted by stories in the past only to lose interest after so long. I don't think I'm alone. I strongly recommend you wrap this up with the next book before you lose readers, because no matter how good a story is, people get tired of being strung along.
I wasn’t sure I would make it through the first book when I started as I found the writing to be very repetitive and clunky. Though things improved as the series went on and by the end of the first book I was too invested in the Rosebud Crafting Circle, I had to continue.
On the whole the books are an easy read, very cosy and not much of a challenge brain wise, which we all need sometimes. Though like most readers I am not a fan of the novella form factor, it really doesn’t feel like I get enough bang for my buck, but me enjoyment of the series outweighed my wallet concerns.
The world building Miss Kat has done in this series is nothing short of incredible you can see it in your minds eye just like a movie it’s so detailed I simply adore meadow she’s sassy tenacious and all round bad ass ! This instalment Had me on the edge of my seat oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one. Auurghhhhh the ending ! Definitely 10/10 recommend I honestly can’t recommend this book enough!
this was a strong eighth entry in the Homesteader Hearth Witch series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous seven entries. I loved this as a entry in this world and how it told the romance going on through this. Kat Healy has a strong writing style and I enjoyed getting into these characters. It left me wanting to read more from Kat Healy and this world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I stumbled upon this series by fate and it has been one of my favorite series I have read so far! I finished A Beastly Court not knowing this book wasn’t out yet and I waited anxiously for weeks! It did not disappoint! Meadow is now my favorite female main character and now I cannot wait for what comes next but I also don't want the series to end. I will definitely be rereading this series for years to come!
I love Kat Healy's Homesteader Hearth Witch books. Although this one felt a bit darker, all my favorite characters were there, just in a unique form. Healy serves up plenty of excitement. Among my favorites were Melodie's attempts to conquer the four elements of the Filigree Key. Since I believed this to be the last book in the series, the cliffhanger ending disappointed me, but that won't stop me from reading her next book, which I believe begins a new series.
This series is so good!!! The Filigree Key had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I read it in one sitting because I just had to get to the end hoping to see the Stagman’s loss. Meadow continues to be clever and lean on her friends always managing to find a way to protect everyone. The ending had me hollering because I just can’t wait until the next book! Looking forward to Meadow and Bear Claw in the next one
The Filigree Key Book 8 in the Homesteader Hearth Witch series by Kat Healy is a great addition to the series. Well-developed characters and story line, fast paced and full of intrigue, it grabbed my attention from start to finish. I can't wait for the next book!! Highly recommend!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
How can a book end with SUCH a cliffhanger!!! I cannot wait to read the final book in this series this summer! I absolutely loved the hilarious banter from Flora! I can't even remember how many times I highlighted her funny quotes! It was a wild ride of a book, but I so happy with the progression of the storyline!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Huge praise for the Homesteader Hearth Witch series! This book really took us deep into fantasy lore and the magic system of this world and I am HERE for it. Our FMC is clever, cheeky, and kind, and I am rooting for her! But all of our characters had so much depth in this book, I cannot wait to see how the series comes to a close in book nine!
This book like the rest of the series is packed with so much. You get hooked by the plot and are rooting for Meadow and her gang (especially Arthur) all the way through.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have never in my life felt more stabby at the end of a book than I have with this one. I waited months and months for this book to come out and I finally had a chance to sit down curl up and read it and I'm stabby.
Favorite power in friends coming together love. Can’t wait for next in series, next visit with friends from Redbud. Preordered Twisting Twilight. Love, love the series.
I chose this rating as this book is really good. I love how the characters seems to blend their skills and work so well together when needed. The author makes you feel like your in the scene.
When I started this series, I liked the books because they were short. I do still like the story, and I like all the pieces that were weaved into the story to get to the ending. It’s just very drawn out. I’m excited for the next book!
I just happened upon this series and was not disappointed. The characters are lovable and the Cider Witch is so fun watching this character develop. Can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend this series!
HOW are you going to go and end it like that, but I've got to wait like 6 months for the next book?! This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout it, and I can't wait to see what the next book brings... Just wish it was out already. 😂
So so good! Full of suspense and adventure! I love the promise of what's to come for all the characters, but especially the butt kicking of the century for Ossian (hopefully, he def deserves it). I truly think this is so well written! my only complaint is that the next book isn't ready yet!