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Witches Can't Be Collared #1
Witches Can't Be Collared, Vol. 1
IT TAKES A KILLER TO CATCH A KILLERWhen magic spread from the nobility to the masses, crime rates skyrocketed in the Las Lilte Empire. Rogue Macabesta is a detective known for overwhelming magic-wielding perps with his physical strength. After all his hard work putting criminals behind bars, he’s more than ready for the quiet desk-job promotion he’s been promised. However, when he arrives at the top secret Sixth Precinct, he learns he’ll have to work alongside convicted witches to track down a mysterious figure called the Lifetaker, who’s using time magic to kill. The witches may be bound with collars that restrict their power, but the detective’s not sure if they’ll help him solve the case...or compete with the Lifetaker to see who gets rid of him first!
184 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 12, 2025
Rogue is a detective and in a world where practically everyone can use magic his job is deadly. Because of this constant to his mortality all he really wants is to get a nice cushy desk job in management and it finally looks like he may be getting it. One afternoon his boss calls him and lets him know that not only is he getting his desk job, he's going to the head of the 6th Precinct. Unfortunately, there's a catch. The 6th Precinct isn't just any police force; it is compromised of Witches, the deadliest beings on the planet, in exchange for assisting the police these women are given a little more freedom than they normally would. Rogue has zero decision in this assignment either, he either takes it and allows these serial killers to assist him in catching a serial killer or he gets sent off to some remote island for the rest of his career.
This was a lot of fun. Rogue is definitely prejudiced against the witches from the very beginning, which at first seems kind of out of line, I mean yes they are definitley violent but since we never really get to hear what their crimes actually are, it seems wrong of him to dislike them so much. However, by the time we get to the end of book, and when we finally hear what Catherine's crime is his fears and judgement of them see pretty justified. It's not even really the crime though, it's the why of the crime. Each witch seems to have something broken in them, a lack of empathy for their fellow humans that is just unhinged. Catherine's "quirk" I guess for a better term especially was really messed up, it's not that she killed people it's the why and how she did it. I don't want to explain too much because it would be a huge spoiler but needless to say she's extremely messed up in one very specific way.
There seems to be some political side to this as well, which I think will be interesting. There are two Noble Houses that appear to be at each other's throats and they are of course in charge of everything so it'll be interesting to see if this effects the story going forward as it does in this volume. Don't get me wrong serial killing witches tracking down criminals with the police is a fantastic story in it's own right but a little political intrigue never hurt anyone.
World building in this was really well done as well, since it's a series we don't get everything in this volume but enough to get us through at least this volume. The magic system is interesting as well. While it seems to be pretty standard (spells, incantations, the use of sigils, etc.) there seems to be certain spells that are secret and the only people allowed to use them are those of the two Noble Houses. People can also merge or meld with certain spells which I found to be some interesting. It was explained on a pretty surface level on this one and apparently the reason Witches are so powerful is because of this melding, I'm hoping it's explained in a little more detail in the next book.
My only small complaint here is the bad guys motivation. Like I understand what he was trying to do but how he would accomplish it by murdering a bunch of people. I mean this is really a very small complaint. Because bottom line not only was he deranged but he does allow for a glimpse into just how powerful the two Noble Houses are.
I will definitely be continuing this series it's just a fun little detective novel with some super interesting characters!
This was a lot of fun. Rogue is definitely prejudiced against the witches from the very beginning, which at first seems kind of out of line, I mean yes they are definitley violent but since we never really get to hear what their crimes actually are, it seems wrong of him to dislike them so much. However, by the time we get to the end of book, and when we finally hear what Catherine's crime is his fears and judgement of them see pretty justified. It's not even really the crime though, it's the why of the crime. Each witch seems to have something broken in them, a lack of empathy for their fellow humans that is just unhinged. Catherine's "quirk" I guess for a better term especially was really messed up, it's not that she killed people it's the why and how she did it. I don't want to explain too much because it would be a huge spoiler but needless to say she's extremely messed up in one very specific way.
There seems to be some political side to this as well, which I think will be interesting. There are two Noble Houses that appear to be at each other's throats and they are of course in charge of everything so it'll be interesting to see if this effects the story going forward as it does in this volume. Don't get me wrong serial killing witches tracking down criminals with the police is a fantastic story in it's own right but a little political intrigue never hurt anyone.
World building in this was really well done as well, since it's a series we don't get everything in this volume but enough to get us through at least this volume. The magic system is interesting as well. While it seems to be pretty standard (spells, incantations, the use of sigils, etc.) there seems to be certain spells that are secret and the only people allowed to use them are those of the two Noble Houses. People can also merge or meld with certain spells which I found to be some interesting. It was explained on a pretty surface level on this one and apparently the reason Witches are so powerful is because of this melding, I'm hoping it's explained in a little more detail in the next book.
My only small complaint here is the bad guys motivation. Like I understand what he was trying to do but how he would accomplish it by murdering a bunch of people. I mean this is really a very small complaint. Because bottom line not only was he deranged but he does allow for a glimpse into just how powerful the two Noble Houses are.
I will definitely be continuing this series it's just a fun little detective novel with some super interesting characters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
A fun magical detective story with good potential
Picked this one up on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by it. Fantasy series that aren't of the isekai genre are becoming rather rare sights. And seeing a modern magic setting like this is rather refreshing.
The characters are all rather distinct, the conflict was engaging enough, and it didn't feel like it was wasting your time. Probably the best thing was the banter between the main character Rogue and the cover heroine Misteria. But the other witches showcases were all their own distinct case of loony and it was kind of charming seeing the writing make no pretense of the negative elements of their characters. The book went into some surprisingly gruesome territory here and there with the Witches and their disconnect from common humanity.
Where the book falls a little flat is in terms of the general world building and the main character himself. You aren't really given much time to get yourself grounded into this setting before being tossed into the thick of things. And there are little to no details on the main character or why he took up the job of a detective to begin with.
But other than those nitpicks, this was a fun light novel to read and I recommend it for those who want something a little different.
Picked this one up on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by it. Fantasy series that aren't of the isekai genre are becoming rather rare sights. And seeing a modern magic setting like this is rather refreshing.
The characters are all rather distinct, the conflict was engaging enough, and it didn't feel like it was wasting your time. Probably the best thing was the banter between the main character Rogue and the cover heroine Misteria. But the other witches showcases were all their own distinct case of loony and it was kind of charming seeing the writing make no pretense of the negative elements of their characters. The book went into some surprisingly gruesome territory here and there with the Witches and their disconnect from common humanity.
Where the book falls a little flat is in terms of the general world building and the main character himself. You aren't really given much time to get yourself grounded into this setting before being tossed into the thick of things. And there are little to no details on the main character or why he took up the job of a detective to begin with.
But other than those nitpicks, this was a fun light novel to read and I recommend it for those who want something a little different.
April 1, 2026
In a world filled with magical enhanced criminals, Rogue Macabesta is a detective ready for the desk-job promotion he has been promised. However, he has been promoted to the Sixth Precinct, he finds that he is now in charge of a bunch of collared witches who he has to motivate to assist in solving crimes involving the most serious of magical crimes. Currently, he needs to solve the case of the Lifetaker who has been killing folks in bizarre ways. Can he manage to get the witches involved, solve the case, and survive or will he end up as anther dead boss from the Sixth Precinct? It will be interesting to find out what new case may pop up!
April 15, 2026
I did not like this book at all. I felt like someone was telling me the contents of a story, rather than me reading it for myself. No thinking, no stakes, no emotions. Just a bunch of things happening in sequence and you're just there for the ride. I would have given it a one-star, but I do admit the ending was pretty cool, with the way the final battle was resolved and the epilogue.
I think I got around 33% through before I wanted to drop it, but it was my first blind-buy and wanted to read it to the end. Overall not worth your time, there's much better action books out there.
I think I got around 33% through before I wanted to drop it, but it was my first blind-buy and wanted to read it to the end. Overall not worth your time, there's much better action books out there.
March 21, 2026
Battler from Umineko no Naku Koro ni, but instead of solving his family's mass murder, he is instead solving a serial killer who is a witch, from the help of witches
Feat. Kotomine Kirei
It was an okay read. I didn't feel attached to the characters at all. But it could make for a great anime given how action packed it was. Story was fun, but felt basic.
Feat. Kotomine Kirei
It was an okay read. I didn't feel attached to the characters at all. But it could make for a great anime given how action packed it was. Story was fun, but felt basic.
May 5, 2026
The design is cute and the characters even seem interesting, but the writing is very weak. The lack of context in some scenes is bizarre. I honestly felt like I had accidentally skipped pages several times.
September 17, 2025
One of my favorite starts to a series I've read. So much happens in this book and I want to know immediately whats next for Detective Rogue and the witches, especially after that ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews