The Killing Spell

by Shay Kauwe

In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name.

Kea Petrova is dealing with more than her fair share of trouble.

At just twenty-five years old, she’s the youngest of five Hawaiian clan leaders living on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles. Nearly 200 years ago, when a catastrophic flood submerged the Hawaiian islands and unleashed magic into the world, these clans forged a treaty with the city, establishing a new Hawaiian homeland. But that treaty is about to expire.

Kea struggles to keep her small clan afloat, scraping together rent each month through odd jobs and selling her own crafted Hawaiian language spells. While her talent for language magic is her saving grace, she feels like a shadow of those who came before her. Just when she thinks things can’t get any more complicated, the murder of Angelo Reyes—LA’s most prominent Filipino activist—turns her world upside-down.

Angelo was killed by a death spell—something that, due to the properties of each school of language magic, can only exist in Hawaiian. With independent spellsmithing being technically illegal, Kea quickly becomes the prime suspect, known for her spellwork on the Homestead. To clear her name, she must unravel the mystery behind Angelo’s murder and confront LA’s most powerful (and dangerous) players, each wielding their own type of magic. The clock is ticking—can Kea save herself, her clan, and the Homestead before it’s too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Indigenous, Adult, Mystery Thriller, Paranormal, Fiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Shay Kaleoʻoluhoʻiloliokawaipāhe Kauwe is a kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) author from the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. She grew up on the Homestead in Waimānalo but moved to Russia because she fell in love with a boy. Her and the boy now live in Honolulu with their poi dog, Iris.

Shay holds an M.Ed in Education and taught English, ESL, and Literacy for nearly a decade.

Reviews

[Rebecca Roanhorse]

An absolutely fantastic debut. The Killing Spell is an urban fantasy set in a near-futures Los Angeles that manages to balance humor, romance, and adventure with a murder mystery, all driven by language magic. It also manages to be a thoughtful exploration of the consequences of colonization and the choices the colonized are forced to make in order to survive. I tore through it in two days and loved every second.

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

SIGHHHHH.

I’m going to give up on requesting ARCs, I swear. THE KILLING SPELL attracted me because it combined so many topics I am a nerd for–linguistic politics and social power–with a genre I have long adored (urban fantasy). Unfortunately, I felt like it suffered from a lot of debut author issues with world-building and characterization.

There are many features of TKS that, at first glance, make me excited to recommend to any fan of Ilona Andrews, particularly their Hidden Legacy series. Kea is the breadwinner for her ragtag large family; magical abilities dictate social and political hierarchies in the world; and the MC is unwillingly dragged into magical city politics.

As someone who’s worked in language education my whole career, I was really excited to read about the concept of language magic. Sadly, the magic system of TKS remained at a surface level. There’s a fairly simplistic hierarchy of languages broadly classified as “classical” languages–such as Latin, French, Spanish, etc.–and “emergent” ones, e.g. Chinese and Japanese. Part of the conflict is between classical “purists” and those who champion more inclusivity and openness in designating languages as official magical ones.

Which is very interesting, but because this concept is not extrapolated further into things such as social dynamics, Board politics, and so on, I’m left wondering if the difference between the two groups of languages is just… racism? Odd because, you know, Chinese is one of the oldest continuously used languages in the world. The book also doesn’t give any insight into how other, non-official languages are ranked compared with one another, and why. If you’re going to make an urban fantasy world, I need to believe that the author has thought through the effects of that magic system into every aspect of life.

This haziness around the significance of different language systems applies also to Kea’s language, Hawaiian. Which is really unfortunate because, you know, the whole book revolves around the significance of Hawaiian. One of the most salient features about Hawaiian in TKS is that it is not a written language, and thus cannot have as much magical importance. Or something like that. The problem is, the book doesn’t convincingly show why it is so magically significant when a spell is written down as opposed to when it is spoken. In the story, written and spoken spells seem to both have similar effects. There’s also the added confusion that Kea is apparently not a consistent magical user, and so her spells often backfire. However, it is unclear whether her misfiring spells are the result of Hawaiian’s oral tradition, or because of her own self-doubt, the latter of which is a key feature in the story.

TKS opens with two high-drama scenes. This didn’t work for me, as the scenes felt more like they were placed there to grab readers’ attention and less to set up relevant information for the rest of the story. In the first scene, Kea battles a magical creature that has come onto their property because the youngest member of her family disrupted some wards. My issue with this opening scene is that battling magical creatures is not a significant feature of this magical world–it barely comes up again elsewhere in the book–and it sets up expectations about Kea’s family dynamics in a way that, again, isn’t relevant to the story. In this scene we are introduced to Kea’s large family, but, in addition to having very little on-page time, any time any family member is on the page, they don’t say or do anything that makes them particularly memorable. Readers are told that Kea carries heavy responsibility for the well-being of her family, but in the book she spends so little time with them, and the time we see them spending together is so mundane, that we aren’t really convinced by this aspect of Kea’s internal motivations.

The second scene is even more ridiculous, featuring a flying forest magic fight between Kea and members of her landlord’s family, and then Kea returns from the fight to find that someone has stolen the hard-won groceries from her car. Again, this scene was unnecessary. First, this kind of magic-on-magic fighting is not a staple of this magical LA; similar encounters never happen again, except in one final scene. Second, Kea’s family’s financial insecurity is made out to be a big thing at the beginning, but is kind of forgotten about in subsequent scenes.

Characterization was the other major letdown. Everyone felt one-note, with the author kind of force-telling us about how we’re supposed to feel about them, and not letting that readerly connection happen organically through how the characters talk or act. I felt this especially with Sora, Kea’s love interest. He is introduced as this hot, badass, scarily powerful spell-wielder and new member of the Board, but he spends most of his on-page time from the get-go finding excuses to touch Kea. His favorite thing to do is to reach under her chin to tilt her face up so she can look at him, then to deny vehemently that he has any feelings for her. Sorry, but I’m not convinced of their romantic development or individual character development, not when he starts off and continues like this.

There’s a good story in here somewhere. Unfortunately, it is lost amongst distracting and irrelevant scenes, while the truly interesting aspect of the book–the magic system–is underdeveloped.

[Sara. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up. Ah, thought I'd love this one, because I go feral for a language-based magic system. For all the things that didn't work for me though, I'll say it's a quick and breezy read. The murder mystery aspect was intriguing enough to get me to keep turning the pages.

The strength of TKS has got to be the absolutely fascinating world where magic is utilized through spells cast in different languages. Every time we learn more about the languages used for magic is a highlight. I'm so intrigued by spellsmithing, which is essentially creating spells according to the language's respective grammar rules, limitations, and staying true to the culture it's rooted to. Given the sociopolitics revolving around language use in general, of course there are themes that I generally enjoy reading about: anticolonialism, racial inequalities, erosion of cultural identity, reclaiming & preserving one's heritage, exploitation of the vulnerable.

Kea is a strong POV character for me to follow. I empathise with her so much as an oldest daughter having to shoulder the burden of taking care of the rest of her family, while juggling her personal journey of getting in touch with her roots that ultimately make her a stronger spellsmith. She does well enough for someone who isn't formally a detective, but the investigative storyline itself could've been more engaging. For one, there's pages wasted on her having to learn to dance just to infiltrate a gala to interrogate a suspect, which she didn't even end up doing! Felt like merely an excuse for Forced Proximity with her love interest Sora. Speaking of whom-

Shockingly (not), I didn't care for the romance. Love to see an interracial couple with no white person involved, but the development was way too rushed. We also barely know anything about Sora other than he's Japanese, Broody & All Serious Business. Why does he even emotionally connect with Kea, aside from her being a decent person to work with. Personally I'd sacrifice the romance to better flesh out the magic system, the actual investigation, and the sadly underdeveloped Hawaiian clans.

Magical creatures (magi) also exist but remove them and nothing really changes??

Overall a decent debut with strong concepts & ideas saddled with a Just Okay execution. I would absolutely be down for another story set in this world though! The language magic is just too good to be kept to one novel.

[Lori]

Native Hawaiian/Pacific adult fantasy book. Sign me up! I'm so excited for this

[Zana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to really like this novel because the premise sounded super cool, but the execution was just okay.

Initially, I thought that this was going to be a post-apocalyptic novel (a destroyed homeland unleashing magic into the world? Very end times), but the vibes were just contemporary urban fantasy. We don't get to see the world pre-magic or experience the transition, so magic was just a fact of life for folks who are licensed to spellsmith (or doing it illegally) and the people who benefit (or not) from the spells.

My favorite part of the story was getting to meet Kea's clan. You're introduced to her family and her clan right in the first chapter within a cute action scene where they're trying to fight off a magical creature who broke past their wards. It was a really promising beginning. A mixture of fun and serious.

I loved the mixed Native Hawaiian and Russian rep. It was very unique and the linguistic and cultural blending was one of my favorite parts. I loved the clan's close-knit ties, including Kea's relationships to her family and clan members. The struggle to lead her little clan and be their voice among the much larger clans on the Homestead was enjoyable to read about.

Unfortunately, the book lost me after all of that. The tone ended up being very older YA, meaning that the worldbuilding was just detailed enough to satisfy the reader. Kea's character arc was also very YA coded. Without going into spoilers, her plot armor became a deus ex machina. All of the story beats took predictable turns. There weren't really any shocking revelations or plot twists if you're well-read in this genre.

The whole spellsmithing thing wasn't all that exciting in the end. It wasn't really utilized as much as I thought it would've been. There was more talking about it and its effects, rather than performing magic.

I think the part that really sealed the older YA vibes deal for me was Kea realizing that different ways and different types of thinking and doing don't have to be hierarchical or better than the other. (But then again, we have people in charge who strictly think in absolutes, so this is on me for thinking that people should know better.)

She also mentioned that, “Academia taught us that there was no value to these unscientific beliefs” re: Native Hawaiian storytelling, myths, traditions, etc. Maybe if you don't study social sciences, languages, the arts, etc.? Since Kea had no formal education or training, the anti-formal learning vibe here was off-putting.

Anyway, this book wasn't all that memorable for me, unfortunately. I just wish that the tone was more adult and matched the seriousness of the premise.

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[BookishlySonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book instantly transported me back to the early-2000s era of urban fantasy that I absolutely fell in love with; the kind of story that balances quippy humor, gritty magic, and a heroine you can’t help but cheer for. The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe nails that nostalgic vibe while still feeling fresh and relevant.

At the center of the story is Kea, a sharp-tongued, magic-wielding protagonist navigating a world where language is not only communication but also power, status, and control. Magic is regulated through written language, with Romance languages dominating as the “elite” standard, and newer inclusions like Mandarin and Arabic only grudgingly accepted into legitimacy. Meanwhile, languages like Tagalog are dismissed as inferior, barred from full participation in magical systems.

And then there’s Hawaiian, Kea’s connection, and the most marginalized of all. Because it is traditionally unwritten in this world, its magic is considered unstable, illegitimate, and dangerous. In a society that equates writing with authority (echoing real-world histories where literacy itself was a gatekeeping tool), Hawaiian magic is pushed to the absolute fringes.

When a dangerous Hawaiian spell sets off a chain reaction of political consequences, Kea is pulled into a conflict that forces her to confront both the rigid structures of regulated magic and her own place within them. What begins as a single crisis quickly spirals into a deeper mystery involving colonialism, systemic control, cultural erasure, and long-standing power imbalances embedded within the very language of magic itself.

The pacing is fast and addictive, carrying you through a layered plot full of tension, action, and sharp humor. Kea is an absolute standout! She’s witty, self-aware, and deeply compelling, with a voice that makes even the heaviest moments feel engaging. She’s easy to root for, especially as the stakes grow more personal and the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred.

Overall, this is a wildly enjoyable read that delivers both nostalgic urban fantasy vibes and something much more thoughtful beneath the surface. Fast-paced, emotionally grounded, and thematically rich, it’s absolutely worth picking up.

[Andrea Beatriz Arango]

This was such a cool read!

The (magical dystopian) dynamics between the Hawaiian Homestead and Los Angeles really hit close to home for me as a Puerto Rican living on the archipielago, and the language-based magic system was incredibly complex and fascinating. I truly would read more books set in this world ‼️.

Seriously, though, THE KILLING SPELL comes out April 14, and to my knowledge it's the first trad published fantasy by an indigenous Hawaiian author 🥹❤️. So go support Shay with a pre-order or library request! Especially if you like your fantasies smart & nerdy w/ a swoony dash of romance. And especially especially if you're into linguistics and are not a language purist 👀.

Okay, that's my spiel! Go read it so we can chat about it, please!!

[ColleenIsBooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Kea who is the leader of her family at only 25 years old in a world where Hawai'i has a 200-year lease on land in California ending soon and needing to be renegotiated (the islands were essentially demolished in an environmental disaster 200 years ago). So tensions are high between the clans of Hawai'i and the leaders of LA, the governmental capital in this world that is run on language magic. Kea's family is struggling as there are monsters roaming around, they do not have a family spell and therefore no say in the new lease, as well as owing a lot of money in mortgage to more affluent Hawaiian clan. As if this isn't enough to concern us, Kea is also roped into an investigation of the death of a board member in LA that appears to have been done with a spell in Hawaiian, working with a guy she does not like, Sora.
I felt that the language-based magic was an interesting concept and I liked that Kea wasn't immediately the best at it. Unfortunately, the book felt a little disjointed at times as we hopped from scene to scene, but it evened out a lot more towards the middle to end of the book. I, personally, did not care about the romance at all. I didn't really feel the chemistry between them at any point. A friendship would have worked just as well.
Overall, I think this book was a really interesting concept. It is also only around 300 pages and, to my knowledge, a standalone. So if you are looking for a shorter fantasy with an interesting world and magic system, check this one out. 3.5 Stars.

*Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Thanks as well to Ariel for buddy reading with me :) *

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a post climate crisis re-imagined Hawaii and LA this urban fantasy has a magic system that revolves around language. Ohana, unexpected romance, and a murder to solve are all key factors in this story.

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loveeee the worldbuilding concept here and would love for this to be a series!! For meee I was less interested in the romance part of this romantasy but that's OK!! I think this could be a good pick for older teens too--it's not ~too spicy~ but it is cool and pretty fast-paced.

[Lexa Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

" He was the ocean's rage and peace, bottled up and coated in red paint. If I leaned closer, he'd sweep me away. And if I kissed him, I'd surely drown."
- The Killing Spell, by Shay Kauwe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|| 🫑

Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Killing Spell, by @shaykauwe. When I first read the synopsis for this book, I immediately knew this was going to be a clever book and I was not disappointed. Rooted in Hawaiian culture with a deeply complex magic system built around language and etymology, The Killing Spell is about cultural identity, resilience, and justice in the face of adversity. Set in an urban fantasy setting in the not too distant future where flooding has destroyed Hawaiian islands, it is also a great murder mystery with a side helping of romance and delicious banter that breaks up what could otherwise be quite heavy subject matter. I really liked Kea and Sora as FMC and MMC respectively, and although I am someone who normally prefers books more heavy on the romance, the murder mystery plot interspersed with magic kept me fully entertained and invested throughout. I enjoyed the politics as well as the side characters, Kea's family, and - of course- Fiona the chicken.
The ending wrapped everything up really well without being predictable and left me feeling genuinely satisfied. It gave answers without spoon-feeding them, and still left enough emotional weight behind to make the story linger.
This is such a smart, layered read. It has magic, murder, politics, cultural depth, sharp banter, and a chicken with main character energy. What more could you want?
Thank you to @bookramblerpr, @solarisbooks and @shaykauwe for having me on the tour and sending me a gifted copy.

[Thelatebooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just the Hawaiian fantasy debut you’ve been wanting, but the one you NEED. This story has world building, linguistics, whodunit, and my favorite — banter between the main characters! Eeeeek! *blushing*.

If you’re looking for an easy and fun introduction to Hawaiian, the people, the beliefs and the mana that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi holds, this is an excellent start.

Excited to read more from this author!

Mahalo to SagaPress for the ARC of this. This review is completely of my own choice.

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely lives up to the incredible premise. I read the blurb on NetGalley and immediately requested it because of the language based magic system. That part was every bit as cool as I thought it would be, but it was just one piece of this book that I absolutely loved.

The worldbuilding beyond the magic system is really interesting - LA is ruled by a Board with members from clans that specialize in specific languages. Kea, the main character, lives outside LA on the Homestead, a diasporic Hawaiian community after a flood swallowed the islands. There are politics in the Homestead and in LA, and the power games in both were super interesting.

Kea was a great main character and her relationships all felt fleshed out and real. Her family was hilarious, and the other side characters were each interesting in their own way even if it was a love-to-hate-them kind of thing (ahem, Charles).

I can’t wait to read this book in print!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute love letter to languages, especially, of course Hawaiian, but also Russian, other Polynesian languages, and so so many others. There was so much care that went into this book, it felt like it's own Smithing. The characters were so wonderful! and the climax made me cheer out loud! Will definitely recommend this one

[Maria reads SFF]

I decided to DNF at 80 pages
A decent debut, but it did not captivated me.
I appreciated the parts about language and culture.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This is an ARC Review)

“The Killing Spell” has an absolutely gorgeous concept and it’s exciting to see fantasy rooted in indigenous culture.

I loved the magic system, there were very clear descriptions in the book and I loved the writing of Kea as the quintessential eldest daughter. The weight of her family sits on her shoulders and there are real stakes that add to that burden. Also, the slow burn chemistry between Kea and Sora is palpable and each scene featuring the two of them is electric.

I had expected this novel to be more along the lines of a typical fantasy but was pleasantly surprised at it leaning more into urban fantasy. It sort of give me a “Ruiner” meets “Red City” vibe.

The commentary on cultural erasure and neocolonialism was both relevant and heartfelt.

The only critiques I have are that the pacing felt a bit too slow. As this is a mystery, we need time to develop the problem at hand but I felt there weren’t many moments that give you that rollercoaster sense of dread.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this read and I want to see more stories like this. Shay Kauwe has a lot of potential and I’m excited to see what she does in the future

[olive ⭒˚.⋆ ⚔ .ᐟ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very fond of, and therefore Decidedly Predisposed to liking, so many elements of this book. The murder mystery, the begrudging allies, the chaotic family (criminally underutilized, however; in this hallowed Chili's we must lament), the refreshing magic system, the urban fantasy setting, Hawaiian mythology, culture, and 'ōlelo!!! The premise was there, and I honestly wish that we had more pages to develop all of these ideas further. They're such promising concepts, and the framework is certainly there to make a really rich story in so very many ways, but perhaps the story was trying to juggle too many things at once, because some of the book feels confined in a too-narrow and straight-forward space. There's no room to flesh out the delectable elements further, to dig your heels into where the story stands firm, and to press a palm to where the depth of it aches.

The exploration of colonization and the way it bleeds our humanity with desperation was well handled, in my opinion, with it appearing early on and only compounding as the story progressed. I feel as though we should have had more conversation with Basilio to really understand his viewpoint and, earlier on, make judgements as to where it would lead. I also felt, through the whole of the book, that we were going to get a deeper flashback to the Palakiko's, to really ground the stakes, the fears, and the lived reality, and we simply never did. In general, I feel like the majority of the book was skimming the surface of the story, and it didn't leave much time for suspicions to marinate, red herrings to really mature, and the reader drink deep in the mystery, the implications, and the heft of it all. It felt less like a mystery laden with consequence and grief and more like watching a self contained episode of a procedural show, if that makes sense. I felt more of a passive viewer than someone capable of solving the mystery on my own, and more of a "headline of the week" rather than a grounding connection to the tragedy: there weren't enough clues or details for me to pick up on to put together my own case, and there wasn't enough rumination and stagnation to let things scar.

The fact that, 100 pages into the novel, I guessed the answer to the mystery because I was disenchanted by some of the conventions of the plot, and it never got more convoluted (or even attempted to hint at my guess being true or false ever again) is a bit of a misstep, to me. I am not very good at guessing. The mystery should have been a bit more ✧ *･ﾟmysterious ･ﾟ*:✧; intriguing. The fact that we address the very real heartache of characters in ways often offhand or careless feels less like a character choice for Kea and more of an oversight.

I was, as I sort of said earlier, very pleased with the core themes of the book. I like it's look at colonization, I appreciate the (meta?)narrative regarding language and power (specifically of the stripping away of it, when giving your clans mana o ka mo'okū'auhau to LA; the way that regulation threatens the voice of the people and the magic inherent in their autonomy and personhood), I find the Homestead/LA divide to be a familiar warp of a very old tale, and I also enjoyed the progression of Kea's belief and pride in her community and mo'olelo. I also found a great many small things to connect to - like the throw-away comment of Sicilia looking much like Kea in all but coloring, but others not really seeing/agreeing with that assessment - as someone mixed and living on the mainland, moments like that helped me reach the characters in important ways (I know diaspora would be the technical term but does anyone actually call it the Hawaiian diaspora?).

I found much of Kea's story relatable, and I enjoyed all the characters for what they were, but I was wanting just a bit more from them, in general. I wanted to really know the characters so their fates had more weight to them, but Kea's first-person point of view, while punchy and direct, a strong representation of her character (and a nice pacemaker during the action set pieces) left much to the void, rather than the imagination. I also think that in general, the book could have been elevated with a different, or perhaps more flowered point of view, as we would be able to explore more of the worldbuilding, the magic system, and the characters if there was a little more flourish.

However! All that being said! I would adore stepping back into this world again; I think Makani needs a story of his own - give a wayward and grieving cousin some light to shine. I want he and Newt to make a dangerous duo; two cousins against the might of LA... it's everything the people could ever want. Sora as the disapproving but complicit enabler, Kea as the exasperated but fond hand of law... Do you see what I am seeing. I want loser cousin shenanigans filled with hacking and telepathy, and I want them specifically to be MENACES to Charles Lam, jeopardizing his good standing for absolutely no reason at all, except not-so-divine comeuppance.

Also, speaking of Sora, I suppose I should take the time to formally apologize for suspecting him for the large part of this novel, I was waiting for the typical, poorly-timed miscommunication leading to an eleventh-hour revelation that would make things right; I should have known that Sora of all people would think that trope stupid and refuse to do anything of the sort. Forgive me, king, I should have known you to be more stubborn than narrative vices.

A comfortable 3.5 stars! I breezed through the book, I was treated well, and I can't wait to see what Shay Kauwe offers, next! I will certainly be tuning in if she has more on the ever-distant horizon.

[Siavahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

27% in, and I’m out. I spent a week feeling guilty for not enjoying it, made myself read another chapter, and am convinced that I just don’t care where this is going. Absolutely no part of this is interesting or fun for me.

It’s not objectively bad! But the language magic doesn’t make this feel any different from your typical urban fantasy. The prose and vibe/feel of it all is very generic; the first-person narration isn’t very descriptive or beautiful, it’s plain and blunt and weighted heavily towards telling-not-showing; the worldbuilding is very minimal and simple (there is no obvious connection between each language and the kind of magic it’s best suited to, for example, and no attempt at explaining the connection); Kea is the kind of heroine we’ve seen a thousand times before, with nothing about her personality or interests standing out in any way. The only unique thing is the magic, and in practice it might as well be any magic-words magic system. (I think some of this is my own unfamiliarity with Hawaiian, and the author’s inability to really make me comprehend how the language works and what it feels like? Because in terms of reading experience, the book is basically just telling me spells as they come up, there’s nothing for me to feel or appreciate or put together on my own. The only comparison I can think of is something like Suzette Haden Elgin’s Native Tongue trilogy, which did a much better job at making me understand, at least emotionally, a language I don’t speak.)

Kea is inexplicably responsible for her entire clan despite there being older family members available. I hate this trope/setup and am extremely tired of it. Her family is very poor, and she is the sole breadwinner, which is portrayed as believably stressful and awful. What confuses me is that the kids in the house seem unaware of the family’s situation? The book opens with one child getting all the family chickens killed by breaking the ward that protects them – for the dozenth time, after many previous warnings. The kid is unrepentant, and when Kea yells at him, Kea is the one her grandmother says has to apologise. Even though the kid is objectively in the wrong, said horrible things to Kea, and has gotten the family’s protein source killed. What even. I hated that scene so much!

(They never make the kid apologise, even. WHAT.)(He sort of apologises for saying he wanted Kea to be the one who died, but he doesn’t apologise for, you know, getting the chickens killed. Despite knowing full well he wasn’t allowed to break the ward he did.)

Casual worldbuilding details make no sense – at one point we learn that wards only work if the people within the wards want everyone inside to be safe. The whole of LA is warded, and a whole lot of the plot revolves around this. But if the ward needs the people inside it to be unified, why on earth does the Board and the rest of the city government not work so much harder at preventing…I can’t think of the word, dis-unity? There all these factions, all these political feuds, clans who hate each other, voting blocs; shouldn’t it all be weakening the ward? Is it possible to have something as big as a city be the kind of unified the ward requires? One way or another, this doesn’t work.

I was hoping for something that stood out, that was different and unique and beautiful. This doesn’t seem to be that. It’s your typical urban fantasy with a scrappy underdog forced to investigate things. The language magic is really unclear to me, and there’s no sense of wonder. There’s potential for the way magic is tied to culture and heritage in this setting to be something really powerful and meaningful, but for me it was falling flat. It’s perfectly fine, but it’s not what I was here for.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This debut novel from Shay Klauwe asks a lot of interesting questions. What would you sacrifice for safety? What does your heritage mean to you? Who gets to decide if your culture is "worthy"? How do you fight back against a world that seems like it's trying to erase you?

Nearly 200 years ago, a catastrophic flood submerged the Hawaiian islands and unleashed magic into the world, forcing the remaining Hawaiian clans to enter into a treaty with Los Angeles to establish a new Hawaiian homeland. In the current day, Kea Petrova is the somewhat reluctant head of her small clan, who live on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles. Her family is struggling to make ends meet and even the more wealthy clans on the Homestead face the constant threat of raids from the city. When a prominent LA activist is murdered by a Hawaiian killing spell, the city Board threatens to to invade the Homestead and force them to surrender their magic. In order to save her home, Kea is forced to investigate the city's most powerful people and find out who the murderer is before it's too late.

THINGS I ENJOYED:
* Kea's character. She's so passionate about her heritage, her home, and her family, which I loved. She can be a little uneven and often came off younger than she is, but her growth and journey were fun to read.
* The magic system. I found this so fascinating and I wanted a deep dive into the interplay of language and magic. If Klauwe ever wants to write a little companion book focusing on that, I am here for it.
* The themes of reclaiming and preserving culture and heritage, especially language. I'm Filipina and within the past few years, I've been thinking a lot about what that means. The Philippines was under colonial rule for so long. My last name is Spanish, but I'm definitely not Spanish. Who were we before then and who would we have been had it not been for colonialism? What does it mean to be Filipina, especially in this day and age? So as these thoughts have been percolating in my brain, I really enjoyed reading about these themes in this book, especially the pushback against what is considered "beautiful" and desirable. (Spoiler alert: why is it so often Eurocentric? Hm.)
* Along those lines, I thought this book did a good job highlighting the dangers of blind acquiescence to those in power in exchange for "safety." Because what does that even mean? Is assimilation safety? The idea that proximity to whiteness can protect you is something that gets challenged here, albeit not in too much depth.

THINGS I WAS MEH ABOUT:
* The romance was okay. I liked Sora's character, but it took me too long to realize he was the love interest and the relationship moved faster than the attention given to it. Fortunately, it didn't really take center stage, so I wasn't too bothered by it.
* The "mystery" wasn't so much a mystery. The villains are exactly who you think they are. I thought we'd be getting more magical confrontations or more action related to the Board, but that didn't quite play out.
* The pacing felt off to me. It took awhile to get going and then it moved really fast. Things that I thought we'd get more of (political intrigue, romance, side characters) kind of got skimmed over.
* Sooooo . . . we're just gonna let Keanu off the hook for robbing our girl and being a general tool? Like he didn't even apologize!

Overall, a solid YA debut. This is the kind of story I could see translating well to the screen and one that I might even consider on audiobook (as someone who really struggles with audiobooks), simply because of the language aspect.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jade Kaawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

language is magic

| young adult fiction | urban paranormal | language as magic | forced proximity | mystery | young adult dystopian | choosen one | netgally | mythology | arc | culture | Hawaiian | ʻŌlelo Hawai'i |

I am incredibly grateful to have received an advanced readers' copy of The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe as someone of Native Hawaiian descent and ancestry. This novel brings a one-of-a-kind perspective to dystopian fiction through a cultural and historical lens rooted in Hawaiian culture and history. Many parts of this story felt deeply intimate to me, as they cloak the real struggles and narratives of Native Hawaiians within a mostly fictional framework that still speaks truthfully to our history, cultural identity, and experiences.

Although this book is marketed as adult fantasy, it reads much more like a paranormal young adult novel. The world is dystopian and closely mirrors our own, with the addition of magic. Personally, I associate fantasy with more expansive world-building and a deeply developed magic system. While magic and magical creatures are present here, the system itself doesn’t quite reach the complexity typically expected of adult fantasy.

Marketing aside, I truly enjoyed the story. As a fan of young adult and dystopian fiction, this is something I would have picked up regardless. What truly sets it apart is the authenticity. Having a Native Hawaiian author write a story rooted in Hawaiian mysticism, legend, and lived experience adds a layer of depth that feels unique and incredibly meaningful. Because I grew up in a home where ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was spoken, and where Hawaiian Pidgin was my primary form of English until I left for university, I found the language and cultural nuances easy to understand and deeply resonant.
However, I do think readers unfamiliar with the language and cultural context may struggle. There aren’t always enough contextual clues to fully grasp certain terms or concepts. Including a glossary or index would not only improve accessibility but also serve as an educational resource, primarily because ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is now a recognized language that remains incredibly underrepresented outside of Hawaiʻi.

One aspect I wish had been explored further is the world-building. I would have loved more background on how this dystopian version of Los Angeles came to include a Hawaiian homeland, and how language-based magic became so central to society. Was it always present, or did it emerge at a certain point in history? More context here could have benefited not only the story but its marketing and classification as an adult fantasy.

The diversity and representation in this story are exceptional and reflective of the real Hawaiʻi. The legacy of colonization, diaspora, and cultural blending is woven throughout the narrative in a way that exemplifies authenticity and impact. There are so many parallels to real life that, for me, made the story feel like home. While some themes and messages may be missed by readers without that cultural background, they resonated deeply with my own experiences growing up.

I truly hope this book finds success and reaches a wide audience. Our language was nearly lost, and the inspiration behind this story feels intentional and incredibly meaningful. This story proves to be more than just a dystopian novel; it’s a direct reflection of resilience, identity, and cultural survival.

happy reading, friends xx

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Saga Press for an advance copy of this new speclative fiction novel about magic, diaspora, being young, growing old before one's time, and the evil in people's hearts, even when their faces are smiling.

People like to make fun of the statement that the pen is mightier than the sword. How sharp is that pen, what caliber is it. And yet more swords have been raised, more bullets fired over stirring words that call for war, or that defame a race, or gender. Look throughout history and many of the great massacres started with say the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Uncle Tom's Cabin did more to further the idea of abolition than any raids in Kansas. Words have power, as we see today with the rise of fascism all over the world. Words strike us deep, tell us what we want to hear and believe, and make us want to kill. Words in this novel literally kill, and in a world where magic is commonplace, this is not a good thing. And can lead to a lot worse. The Killing Spell is the debut novel by Shay Kauwe about a young woman, the clan she tries to lead, the problems that she deals with, and the crime that is blamed for, words that kill.

Kea Petrova is the youngest person to be clan leader, and is finding it hard to keep up. At 26 Kea must hustle to keep food on the table, pay for rent, and keep her people from the troubles they face. Native Hawaiians they find themselves living outside of Los Angleses as their island home was destroyed years before but tidal waves. This destruction unleashed magic on the world, also, changing the way the world runs, and making things hard for Kea and her people. Kea has a skill in creating language magic, able to change and from words to do small things, even big things, that are unregulated by the accords that control magic. Kea trades these skills to get by, something that is known, but ignored by most of those in power. Until a Filipino activist is murdered by a spell, something that can only be caused by Hawaiian magic, making Kea the main suspect. Alone, with only her wits and clan to survive Kea must proble the world she has tried to ignore for so long. A world of secrets worth killing for, and Kea might be next.

For a debut book this is a really strong story. Kauwe has created both a world, and a series of magic systems that are not only unique, but make sense. The story starts quickly and keeps moving, revealing the world and what is happening easily as the reader needs it. Kea seems a little younger sometimes than 26, but that makes sense as responsibility was pushed on her early, without people to learn from, or a childhood to have. Kauwe shares much about Kea's world, her past, her people, and mythologies. What I really liked was the merging of languages to create spells, to create in some way a better world. The ideas are really good, and fun. And again make sense. The plot is strong, and really keeps on moving pages. One of the strongest fantasy books I have read this year, and an author I would like to see a lot more of.

[Josie-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killing Spell follows Kea Petrova, the youngest head of five Hawaiian clan leaders living on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles, when she is thrown into a quest to find out who killed LA's most prominent Filipino activist Angelo Reyes with a Hawaiian death spell. This book is a standalone.

This book provided an engaging blend of fantasy and mystery that I enjoyed. The plot was interesting, and I appreciated the magical elements intertwined with the crime-solving aspects. I did find myself wishing for more action throughout the book as the few that were included I found quite enjoyable. The only question I had was that several people needed to be investigated and I feel like we only dwelt on a couple so I would've enjoyed it more if we had gone into more depth with that as it was one of the main plot points.

The characters were well-written and distinct, each had their own background and I liked how they all intertwined with their specific language magic. I didn't fully connect with any characters particularly on an emotional level but I did enjoy learning about their histories and motivations. The romance between two of the characters and was a subtle slow burn, I did enjoy the dynamic between the two leads and I thought that they worked well together.

The writing style was easy to read making the story easy to follow. The inclusion of multiple languages added depth and ignited my interest in the magic system, but I did occasionally struggle with reading some of the words (trying to spell it out myself) which did lead to stumbling and coming out of the story. This was simply because they were unfamiliar to me. They were still a delightful contribution to the world despite my personal issues.

For a book of this length, the pacing was slower than expected. The plot was interesting but the momentum occasionally lagged and I found myself wishing for the story to move forward more quickly.

The world building was one of the strongest aspects of the book. The magic system was by far one of my favourite elements and I loved the overall concept. That being said, I did want to know more about each of the clans (hence why a little more in-depth investigation into some of the characters would have been great) both in LA and in The Homestead.

I found the overall ending quite satisfying. There was a twist/big reveal towards the end which I didn't guess but I didn't find it shocking/predictable. It just made sense.

Overall, this is a book I'd recommend to readers who enjoy a dystopian fantasy with an interesting magical system and great world building.

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killing Spell will no doubt find an adoring group of fans. And I would specifically recommend it to fantasy romance lovers (little-no spice) that enjoy a very digestible read, strong main character, strong social themes, and a low fantasy world. The writing is utilitarian and plain. It does feel very YA in writing, plot, and pacing. I appreciate the thought put into the themes and find many aspects reminiscent of Babel but handled with much less precision. The logic of the magic and world building lacked depth and did not feel particularly well thought out.

There is no logic to why the governing body has focused on western/European languages despite that being a minority of the population and I would generally suggest that magicians want as much power as possible, which makes it odd that they would cut out a whole host of languages that could yield powerful magic. Additionally, the book is very America-centric while I would expect different continents to have their own magic governing bodies because they are huge areas of land with billions of people. But this is never considered or discussed.

Unfortunately I think the more traditional/"serious" fantasy crowd will be disappointed and I wish the editing was more strict.

The magic system appears to pretend that it is a "hard magic system" with strict rules but it really delivers a "soft magic system" where words just have to fit together for inexplicable reasons. I don't mind that our main character can break these rules, it is just the disconnect between the way the magic is discussed and what it actually delivers that is frustrating. Additionally, spells stop working if written down but only for the language that does not have a written component. This seems backwards and specifically chosen to benefit the narrative, but I am willing to suspend my belief.

Other critiques are small but quickly add up/add annoyance and make me wish this book had more careful editing.
One character is surprised by how a poisoning works, then immediately pulls out the relevant evidence. Why would they keep that if they didn't know it was important?
Some of the world building is confusing and comes too late, for example if we are actually in Hawaii or LA.
At one point they drive away in a car after giving the keys to someone else so they can leave in the car.
Saying the car jerked forward and she hit the seat belt, when you would actually be sent back into the seat if a car jerked forward.
Referencing a "biblical" mixture of gods and angels then referencing Atlas when (1) monotheism (i.e. having one God) is a key theme of the bible and (2) Atlas is a Greek myth, not biblical reference.

Thank you for the ARC from Saga Press!

[Robert Goodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magic in books and fairy tales has often been associated with the spoken word. The interesting spin on this idea that has emerged recently is in considering the relationship between language and real world power. RF Kuang explored this to great effect in her historical fantasy Babel. And now Hay Kauwe attempts something similar in her futuristic fantasy novel The Killing Spell.

In The Killing Spell the islands of Hawaii have been decimated by and event known as The Flood which also somehow released magic into the world. It is the future and the remnants of the Hawaiian population now live in an area known as The Homestead, outside the protective boundaries of Los Angeles. In this new world, different languages wielded effectively can produce different types of magic. However, only those representing accepted languages are accepted into the ruling council in Los Angeles. Hawaiian is not one of those languages but is a language of some power.

Kea is a clan leader in the Homestead but is struggling with debt and being accepted by other clans. She is also trying to get a handle on her own language magic. When a Hawaiian spell is used to kill a prominent Filipino politician in LA, Kea is brought in by the ruling magical council to help them find the killer. Only the clock is ticking and if she cannot identify the culprit the Homestead is likely to be destroyed.

The Killing Spell tries to be urban fantasy with the lot – a murder mystery, a hint of romance and some interesting world building. And it is anchored by a messy but engaging main character. Kea and her energy leap off the page and while her journey is a fairly well trodden one, Kauwe at least makes her successes feel earned.

The refreshing aspect of The Killing Spell is its focus on Hawaiian culture and language. Kauwe finds a way to explore the relationship between Hawaiian culture and mainstream American culture, and make some valid and relevant points about colonialism and cultural imperialism in a fantasy setting. This book continues to expand out the fantasy offering coming out of North America from first peoples – authors like Rebecca Roanhorse, Stephen Graham Jones and Jessica Johns.

In the end though, The Killing Spell comes up a slightly less than the sum of its parts. The murder mystery element, while driving the plot along, really does not make much sense when the final reveals are made. The world building around the language magic system was interesting but begged so many questions, particularly about the use of magic by nonregistered languages.

But this is a debut novel with some room for Kauwe to either continue the story or do something completely different. Either way, it will be interesting the see what she delivers next.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am 70% through and I’ll come back to fully review but I have a strong feeling I will love this book!

REVIEW BELOW!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 /5

In language there is life, in language there is death.

The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe is a strong and compelling debut fantasy that blends a futuristic setting with rich cultural elements and elements of mystery. As soon as I saw linguistic magic, I immediately thought of Babel by RF Kuang, which is another book I thoroughly enjoyed.

Set in a reimagined Los Angeles, 200 years after a catastrophic flood wiped out what we know as Hawai‘i, the story follows Kea, the youngest of five Hawaiian clan heads living on Homestead. She’s doing everything she can to keep her clan afloat by taking on odd jobs, navigating tensions with rival clans, and using/understanding her magic. Another layer of complexity is added when she’s recruited to help solve a mysterious murder.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is its accessibility. The prose is smooth and engaging, making it an incredibly quick read (I finished it in two days). I especially appreciated the cultural representation like learning about ʻŌlelo Hawaiian language and seeing Filipinos mentioned in the story made the experience feel even more meaningful and personal. The romance is also a highlight for me; it’s a slowish burn without any spice, which I personally prefer, and it adds emotional depth without overshadowing the plot. Like seriously, nothing insane happens romantically but Kauwe captures noticing the little things which is what made the romance romance-y for me.

Beyond the story and plot, the book also explores of colonization by recognizing what is and what isn't an official language, reclamation of land and your cultural ties, and the difficult situations that marginalized communities are presented with and the choices they need to make to survive.

At just under 300 pages, the pacing is understandably quick and streamlined, but this is one of those books I easily could have read an additional 100–200 pages of to fully immerse myself in the world. I would have loved to see a more developed magic system, deeper lore surrounding the magical creatures, more background on characters, and more world-building for it to feel 200 years into the future.

Overall, The Killing Spell has compelling themes, engaging characters, and meaningful representation. I enjoyed this book and had a fun time and I’m excited to see what Shay Kauwe writes next.

Thank you to Saga Press and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Harley Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★: LANGUAGE AS LAND. MEMORY AS MAGIC. RESISTANCE AS SURVIVAL. ❤️ I went into The Killing Spell expecting something unique, and boy did Shay Kauwe deliver! Beyond distinctiveness, I got something far more grounded—and far more extraordinary: a story about what it costs to hold onto your language, your land, and your people when the world is built to take all three from you.

At its core, this isn’t just “language magic.” It’s a reminder that language is lineage. It carries the weight of ancestors, the authority of elders, and the right to exist on your own terms. Watching Kea navigate a system that ranks languages—and by extension, cultures—felt uncomfortably familiar in the best way. This book doesn’t just gesture at colonial power structures; it shows how they seep into everything, even something as intimate as the words you’re allowed to speak.

What hit hardest for me was the tension between survival and integrity. The Homestead isn’t just a setting—it’s a pressure cooker. You can assimilate for safety, or you can resist and risk everything. There’s no clean answer, and the book doesn’t pretend there is. That ambiguity felt honest.

The climate refugee backdrop adds another layer that lingers. This isn’t a distant dystopia—it’s a plausible future where displacement has already happened, and people are still expected to prove they deserve space. The connection to land isn’t treated as symbolic; it’s survival, identity, and inheritance all at once.

And then there are the quieter strengths:
🌴 The presence of elders as knowledge-keepers—not decorative, but foundational.
🌴 The idea that history isn’t past—it’s active, shaping every decision.
🌴 The insistence that culture isn’t fragile—it adapts, but it doesn’t disappear.

I also appreciated that the humor felt like pure indigenous wit—something I’d expect to hear from my funniest cousins. The romance doesn’t overshadow the story; it humanizes it.

If there’s one thing this book does exceptionally well, it’s this: it reframes power. Not as who controls institutions, but as who remembers, who speaks, and who refuses to let their language die. 🤜🏽💥

That’s the kind of magic that lasts.

And the narrator, Barrie Kealoha, was PERFECT. She is a native Hawaiian multilingual singer, actor, and voiceover artist located on O’ahu. Representation matters, and Kauwe’s people did it right.

Published 5 days ago on 4/14/26, this book currently has a 4.27-star average by 90 GR peeps.

[Mystie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever someone describes their book as similar to Ilona Andrews’ Urban Fantasy stories, I get skeptical.

The Killing Spell, though, made me eat my skepticism page by page until I was forced to banish it from my mind. And I am telling you now, if you loved the Hidden Legacy series, or Kate Daniel’s series, or Nalini Singh’s urban fiction series… THIS IS YOUR NEXT FAVORITE READ!!!!!

I swear!

First of all, come through new lore! Shay Kauwe takes us into the world of Hawaiian folklore. In between the book drama, we got all of these fascinating stories of how the original people came about. We learned about where mana/magic lives. Then there was the explanation of the sacred connection to the land and why that relationship was vital. I mean, it was really a whole new world for me. I enjoyed every second of reading it all.

Then, the book is really a murder mystery! That mystery was a little predictable for me, but the WHY of the murder was where all the sauce was, in my opinion. It was juicy. It was complicated. It was colonizers that needed boot to a$$! And most of all, it was the type of reading that I happily surrendered sleep for. She fleshed out the story and gave us insight, monsters, and a real feel for life and what happens when we surrender too much of our power.

We had a found family that I think the author wrote about in a way to torture me… personally. Just like Ilona Andrews does, as well as Nalini Singh. Shay Kauwe has joined their ranks. Because HOW can you create all of that love and endearing personalities, and I have to leave them when the book is over? Why would you do that? Cruel!

Sigh… this better be a series. At least Ilona and Nalini gave us multiple series. Sniff! (I’m watching you, Shay!)

Did I mention the slow burn, enemies to lovers part? Heh! Delish!

And I mean the MMC and the tension, both of them are DELISH!

As for the FMC, Kea. She is the heart and soul of this book. A firstborn daughter, with so much responsibility. Kea tries her best to do what is right. But those hits just keep coming! You will have to read the book to find out how she makes it through, if she makes it through... ;)

This is a beautiful, audacious, heart-melting story.

Shay Kauwe, you are a new auto-buy author for me. I will support and champion anything you write because your writing is soul-filling.

I want more, and I cannot wait to greedily consume anything else this author will write for us, her readers!

Thank you NetGalley, Solaris S&S Saga Press for sharing this arc in return for an honest review.

[Rebecca Reed White · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

The Killing Spell was a wonderful debut novel! The story is set in a post-catastrophic world in which a flood has covered the Hawaiian islands, forcing a tenuous treaty between the clans and LA for a new Hawaiian Homeland. The flood also triggered the release of language-based magic, which complicates things further, as only certain approved languages are authorized for magic use. We follow 25-year-old Kea, who must solve a murder or risk the destruction of the Homestead, while also keeping her own clan afloat.

This was a powerful read despite its short length. It is clear through the writing that Hawaiian culture is near and dear to the author’s heart, and the book flourished with that influence in a way that made it approachable for readers who may not be as familiar. I appreciated that not only do we see the positive aspects of their society, but also the darker realities involving raids and inter-clan conflicts.

The language-based magic system was unique and well-constructed, and it was especially cool that each language had its own magical nature and quirks. The magic was also woven into the Hawaiian clan culture, as each prominent clan was required to have a family spell that could significantly contribute to the land in order to be represented on the council. This not only becomes a way to show Kea’s character progression as she works to create a family spell to replace the one that was lost, but also represents the loss of culture required to assimilate with LA, as clans are required to give theirs up to show their loyalty.

Kea reminded me a lot of Nani from Lilo & Stitch, both in personality and in the responsibilities she carries for her family. Kea has a lot of spunk and often finds herself in trouble (via her unpredictable magic or her mouth), but at the end of the day she makes many sacrifices for her family. The dynamic within the Petrova clan felt authentic, and I enjoyed seeing their squabbling and antics play out, as they truly felt like a family.

The weakest part of the story was the romance, though that is also due to there not being much time to develop that deep of a connection in under 300 pages. I was also able to guess who the killer was pretty early on, though it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I highly recommend that readers give this debut urban fantasy a chance! I look forward to seeing what Shay Kauwe has in store in the future. Thanks to Saga Press for access to the eARC via NetGalley!

[Tabitha Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing Spell is the kind of fantasy that pulls you in straight away and then refuses to let go. From the very first pages, it feels like stepping into a world that is both lyrical and dangerous, where language itself carries weight, history, and power in a way that feels fresh and deeply imaginative.

One of the most compelling aspects is the concept of place-based language. Words aren’t just tools here; they are living forces infused with magic shaped by the ʻāina, rich culture, and identity. That idea alone would be enough to carry the story, but Kauwe goes further, weaving it seamlessly into the characters’ struggles and the broader social structure. The hierarchical system is sharply drawn and the tension between those who uphold it and those who resist it gives the story an ever-present intensity.

Kea’s journey is especially satisfying. Watching her carve out her own place in a treacherous homestead and defend her family and land against an even less forgiving city is incredible. Her story is inspiring and it leaves the door open for countless conversations about how power and privilege show up in the everyday world. There’s a quiet resilience to her that builds over time, making every small victory feel earned. The themes of proving oneself and stepping up as a hero and leader show themselves in a way that feels genuine rather than forced. Life is hard, and Kea’s struggles make it her victories feel more real and earned.

The romance is another highlight, developing with a natural rhythm that never overshadows the larger story but instead deepens it. It adds warmth without softening the stakes. I love a story where the focus is the strong woman’s journey and the romance is side note.

Perhaps most impressive is how The Killing Spell balances feeling complete while clearly laying the groundwork for more to come. I can't wait to read the next book and learn more about this incredible world of languages!

In short, this is a beautifully constructed fantasy with heart, intelligence, and a unique voice. If you’re drawn to rich worldbuilding, meaningful character journeys, and stories that explore power, both personal and societal, this one is absolutely worth your time.

[Ebbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

So apparently this is more of an urban fantasy than anything else, which is a genre I’m not super familiar with, but I’ve always associated with long-running series that are very monster/murder-of-the-week/police procedural adjacent. But maybe there are a bunch of standalone urban fantasies that have big stakes right out the gate. Unfortunately, I think the very interesting worldbuilding/setting kind of ends up fighting against the actual plot.

We’ve got Kea, struggling to manage as the head of her family with barely enough money to get by, responsible for her sibling and orphaned young cousin who isn’t coping well with his grief, set in a Southern California 200+ years after massive flooding straight up drowned Hawaii. Magic and monsters are a normal fact of life now, with most of the monsters coming out of the ocean, making the coast a very dangerous place to live. There is so much meat on those bones, even without getting into how Kea wants to become a leader in her community, but is basically laughed out of the room due to her circumstances, and how that drives her. But obviously that in itself does not a plot make.

Meanwhile, the actual plot of the book is Kea kicking around in LA for weeks on end investigating a murder, and getting into one-after-another situations of peril. None of it has anything to do with all the interesting things from the beginning. The only connection it has to her family is that her community will be blamed for the murder if she doesn’t find the real culprit.

I can see why the murder mystery took priority, even if I was more interested in everything else, but it ended up making me constantly going “girl, your family!” We don’t hear from them for huge chunks of the book, and it’s nbd for the head of the family to just be never home, after we spent a lot of time agonizing over rent and groceries and the loss of their chickens at the beginning.

I wish I had loved this, but I’m still interested in checking out whatever Kauwe’s does next, because there was a lot of potential here.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.