Weapon

by H.M. Hodgson

Bound by magic. Hunted by danger. One kiss away from destruction.
Vella Knight knows two one, Ellaine—the witch who raised her and rules the Council with a spiked iron wand—is pure evil. And two, if Vella wants to save her sister, she’d better hide her secrets, train hard in her newfound magic, and find an ancient set of bone runes before Ellaine does.

And Vella isn't the only one on the hunt.

Enter Matthias enemy-with-benefits turned emotionally-complicated-ally. Vella walked away from him weeks ago, but now he’s back—stuck to her side like magical duct tape. His excuse? He needs the runes to recover his coven’s stolen grimoires and end Ellaine’s reign. The other reason? His dangerously unstable power is bonded to Vella’s, and if Ellaine finds out, she’ll obliterate them both.

Now, the two must fake indifference while following an international hunt for clues to the lost runes, dodging enemies, and trying not to explode—literally. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to pretend their bond is just magical.

As their attachment deepens, the stakes skyrocket. If Vella can’t harness her bone magic, if she and Matthias can’t stabilize their connection, if their secrets are discovered, Ellaine might get her hands on the runes. And trust Vella on that woman can never be allowed near ultimate power.

Love. Lies. Explosive magic. And two witches who will burn it all down to save the people they love.

Author
For the wellbeing of my readers, I'd like to advise of the following elements contained in the parental death (off page but recalled), graphic violence, blackmail, murder, poisoning, manipulation, forced compound living (mentioned), family violence, genocide (referred to), zombies, gore, death, theft, experimentation (Elixir potions), explicit sex scenes and mature language

464 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2025

About the author

Be sure to follow HM Hodgson on BookBub for the latest on sales and releases https://bit.ly/BookBubHMHodgson

HM Hodgson is an award-winning paranormal and fantasy romance author from Brisbane, Australia.

She writes about wicked romance (steamy scenes a must!), intrigue and magic. Magic that moves worlds and takes her to another place.

Keep in touch with HM Hodgson at:

https://linktr.ee/hmhodgson

Reviews

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book, Weapon, didn’t disappoint and had me kicking my feet wanting more. I am soo fully obsessed with this series and can’t wait for more. I love how Vella and Matthias interact in their relationship. The cliffhanger on this book is major!! I love this series and is one of my favorite new series!

[Danni Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weapon
Witch Wars Book Two
By HM Hodgson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶


✨️ Forced Proximity
🔮 Fake not dating
✨️ Witchcraft
🔮 Political Intrigue
✨️ Treasure hunt & heists
🔮 Touch her and be annihil@ted
✨️ Trauma recovery
🔮 Spontaneous O's
✨️ Witches, vampires & Magical creatures


The way I squealed when I was added to the arc chat for this book after commenting on a post about literal hours beforehand thinking I may have missed out (which would have been perfectly okay I 100% would have been buying it anyway) should have had me being checked on to make sure I wasn't being @ttacked by a dark one. Not even kidding, what an absolutely incredible birthday present 😍

Vella and Matt are back and fighting for justice in this second instalment of Witch Wars with more secrets being unravelled.

Vella the bone wielder learns to get a grip (🤣) on more of her powers with Brianna teaching her, and Matt well they uncover some incredible information about him as well.

But amongst all of that they are still trying to find the hidden relics Vella's ev¡l aunt E is trying to hunt down so that she can wipe out the Mors Dicen among others, so it's a race to the end across the globe with some amazing real-world locations as always 😉
And we cannot forget the bond sending both Vella's and Matt's powers loco because it hasn't fully sealed after their fun at Stonehenge in book one.

So will they manage to find the hidden bones of Vella's ancestors before it's too late, and what happens if they cannot get their bond to seal?

As always I will dream about this book until the next 😍

HM you have a way of writing that brings your work to life!

Weapon: Witch Wars releases October 30th (today if you are here in Australia 😍)
😘🖤

#forcedproximity #Witchcraft #paranormalromance #bookreview #booktokfyp

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and the middle story in a contemporary paranormal romance trilogy, requiring both that the reader have read the first story and be willing to accept a deep cliffhanger to the last! The lead characters continue to be Vella and Matthias, female and male witches from different covens, supposedly opposed to each other, with a complex, fast-paced, detailed plot that involves many secondary characters and significant plot twists. I admit that I struggle with the middle story in a trilogy, and the cliffhanger for this story is very steep, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. It definitely left me anticipating the third story because I desperately want to see the characters win AND get a happy ending!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Naiomi Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Weapon has not disappointed. I am loving Vella and Matt even more.

Another well written book by Heather I felt like I was there going through the twists and trials with everyone.

The cliffhanger has me stopping and wanting to read book 3 already as I NEED to know what happens next.

The twists along with all the favourites returning and finding out more about Vella and Matt have me wanting to read so much more in this world .

Witches 🧙‍♀️
Druids
Gods
Speaking Artifacts
Vampires 🧛🏻‍♂️
Magical 🔮
Spicy

What more could you want.

[Jacqueline Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

H.M. Hodgson has always excelled at pacing and tension. But this. is. next. level.
I raced through the pages. At times I had to force myself to slow down, to enjoy her exquisite way with words.
Being book 2 in the series, Weapon delivers on the promises made by Wrath. I was already in love with Vella and Matt, and their character development in Weapon only deepened my connection as a reader.
H.M. expertly weaves the storyline and delivers on the (spicy!) romance and the adventure and intrigue... I can't WAIT for book 3!

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I..wtf. I NEED MORE. I was hooked from the first and was grateful to receive an ARC for this. It's like crack for me, the writing is amazing, the characters jumped out at me, the lore and history (ceramic and all) has been amazing to get sucked into this world. E can suck it. I cannot waaaaait for her to get what's coming and Derrick?! I'm coming for you 😈

I genuinely cannot wait for the next installment in this series like asap 😂

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[caitys.booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025:

"While I’d been drowning out the rest of the world, the rest of the world had been drowning."

This book was so unexpectedly emotional - I found myself up late at night, reading and quietly sobbing, while the characters faced their own ordeals and emotional crises.
Weapon has such an incredible build up of angst - with Matthias and Vella slow burning their way to some truly incredible revelations.

This book has the best of everything - humour, spice and a treasure hunt that is sure to change the course of history.
I loved every moment - waiting on the edge of my seat, not quite sure who to trust, but spurring on our main characters in finally realising what they really want for themselves.
The ending will leave you hanging in the best of ways - there's no telling where the story will go next, but one thing is for sure...

"Vengeance was one step closer."

[scribsbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh…hell no…HELL NO! That cliffhanger ending, despite not being surprising, is still agonizing! Vella and Matthias’s story continues in Weapon but there is so much more at stake now. The story picks up right where Wrath: Witch Wars ends and both Vella and Matthias are trying to deal with the aftermath of their choices. Vella has a lot of growing when it comes to her abilities but also when it comes to her various relationships especially the one with herself. On the other hand, Matthias is solidly cementing himself as a top tier MMC. Supportive without being overbearing and calling Vella out as needed, the man is unafraid to fight for her and for himself.

With a returning cast of characters and the introduction of a few new powers and characters, this is a heart pounding sequel.

Thank you so much to Smutcartel PA and HM Hodgson for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Printessan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could immediately feel that the pace was higher than in the first book. Things are happening all the time, and Vella barely gets a chance to breathe. I like how she keeps fighting, even when everything feels like crap and all she really wants is to protect her sister. That made me root for her even more.
Her relationship with Matthias… it’s definitely not simple. There’s so much left unsaid, so many emotions between the lines and a constant pull that’s both frustrating and captivating. It’s exactly the kind of romance I love. Not perfect, but so charged you can almost feel it in your stomach.

And the cliffhanger.....I can’t wait to read book 3

This review is voluntary.

Thank you so much HM and BookSirens for letting me be a part of the team.🌺❤️

[Annie (Houseofbooksandboardgames) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐, rounded up

I continue to be fully obsessed with this series. I love a well done heist and treasure hunt, which Hodgson once again delivered. I also really enjoyed learning more about each of the magic factions.

Matthias and Vella are so much fun. Their relationship is a little chaotic but it works and I appreciate the effort each of them has to make to heal themselves for each other.

I am eagerly awaiting book three and would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun paranormal romance.

Thanks so much to H.M. Hodgson for the ARC!

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book as soon as I got my hands on this one. Like I couldn’t delay any more. H.M. Hodgson delivered more then we imagined. Gosh she’s always best with tension filled books 🙈. I was hooked to this book from the staring. It’ll keep you one edge that what’s gonna happen next and how will it turn out. I just couldn’t put this book down without finishing it. I literally devoured this book. I just can’t wait for the 3rd book now 😍😍

[Lauren Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so ready for this book! The first book, Wrath, had me hooked but Weapon held me captive. Prepare for a whirlwind of action, secrets, and slow burn tension. Even though it moves fast, the pacing is perfect for the storyline. The romance is well-balanced with the plot. I love the dynamic that is Vella and Matthias. Their entertaining banter and electric connection make this book such a page-turner. I can’t wait for the next book!

Check it out if you like paranormal romance with witches, high-stakes heists and spice!


Thank you so much HM Hodgson for the eARC!

[Hayleigh Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely phenomenal read and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves a good dark fantasy with twists and turns. I do recommend reading book one just to get the full experience, but otherwise absolutely superb.
The connect between Vella and mat is unreal and it had me clenching my own hands as I read!!!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book!!! Hm hodgson had me hanging on every word. I couldnt put it down. So good. I love the angst and tension between the 2 main characters and how they fell apart without eachother. So good excited to see whats next!!
Love love love this book

[Bridget Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to the book for a while! Definitely worth the wait! So many twists and turns keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat while reading. Vella and Matt are great MCs and the side characters are wonderful too. I love magic, so this book is a hit for me!

[Lisa Sparkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im very keen to see what happens in book three!!!!!