Magie und Chaos

Starry Hollow Witches #4

by Annabel Chase

Willkommen in Starry Hollow, wo Zauber dazu da sind, gebrochen zu werden.

Ember Rose ist zurück für ein weiteres Rätsel in Starry Hollow. Die ehemalige Einwohnerin aus New Jersey und Nachfahrin der einzigen wahren Hexe erwartet magische Kunstwerke am Balefire Beach für den ersten jährlichen Sandskulpturenwettbewerb – was sie jedoch nicht erwartet, ist eine Leiche. Nun sind sie und Sheriff Nash einem Mörder auf der Spur, während sie versuchen, ihre Gefühle füreinander zu verbergen. Als einer von Embers Zaubersprüchen schiefgeht, hat das ungewollte Folgen, die außer Kontrolle geraten könnten, wenn sie nicht bald zur Vernunft kommt.

Kann Ember das Blatt wenden, bevor die flüchtigen Beweise aus Sand für immer weggespült werden?

Magie & Chaos ist der vierte Band der übernatürlichen Krimireihe Starry Hollow Witches.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Magic, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2017

About the author

Annabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.

Reviews

[Avada Kaddavra]

Wieder sehr humorvoll und unterhaltsam, allerdings hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass Ember etwas verantwortungsbewusster mit den Gefühlen und Absichten gewisser Personen umgehen würde. Irgendwie wirkt sie in Liebesdingen sehr hormongesteuert und wenig ernsthaft. Find ich unfair, man sollte schon mit offenen Karten spielen.

[Krystal]

This book like the other books in this series was very cute, with just the right amount of romance and mystery. I really loved watching the Character Development of Ember, Florian and Granger Nash (The werewolf sheriff). Such a great mystery and crime to solve and I'm excited to see where Granger and Ember go from here. I did feel a little bad about the Alec story line as well as for Linnea when Ember realized about her spell gone wrong.

[Narilka]

Ember and her daughter Marly are enjoying a day at the first ever Starry Hollow Sand Castle tournament when they discover one of the sculptures contains a dead body. Now Ember and Sheriff Nash are on the case to find the killer.

Ember and Sheriff Nash stay attached at the hip for most of this story. This has thrown off the flirty balance I enjoyed in the previous books and seems to be the direction the eventual romance is heading. The mystery itself was a good one and I continue to enjoy Ember's magical education, though it played less of a role in solving the case than it did in causing some character mischief.

[Barbara]

Magic and romance

I enjoyed this but probably would have enjoyed it more had I read the first three books. In the series. I liked Ember and Market and the various love interests. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing. I would definitely read more by Annabel Chase.

[Shiv]

Awww, the story really progressed with Granger and Alec - I do so much like Alec and the relaxed Alec was adorable.

[angie.thereader]

Really enjoying Ember’s character development in this book. It’s a cosy series with some lovely romantic moments. I thought the mystery in this book was quite intriguing and helped to continue to expand this magical universe with different creatures etc. Opposite Alec was so much fun to read, and Marley is an absolute delight!

[Una]

Really a fun series. This one not quite as eventful as the prior three, but still very enjoyable. Lighthearted fun in these dark times.

[Katarina]

Another great read by Annabel Chase. She never lets me down with her stories! This installment had everything going on - a down-to-earth and kick-ass main character, good mystery, learning more about the magical town, and fun developments in the romance department. Can't wait for the next book!

[Amanda]

Cute and Funny

I laughed out loud a few times in this. I felt Ember was more herself than book 3 and I was glad for it. The title definitely fit the theme in this in multiple ways and I really enjoyed it. I might of teared up a time or two as well. I am a bit of a sap.

[Ken Finlay]

'The Starry Hollow Witches' series is very much like absently dipping into a box of chocolates, next thing you know the box is empty and you've finished the book.
While each book is enjoyable there is very little to distinguish each one - a dollop of mystery, a little romance, some funny episodes and a little bit of magic, all wrapped up in a magic town filled with mythical magic creatures.
This time round, a teenager turns up buried in an entry for the first annual Starry Hollow sand sculpture competition. The murder is a little more embedded in the book than some of the previous mysteries Ember has faced.
And, Ember finds that using magic with the best of intentions can sometimes backfire with pleasant and unexpected results.
'Magic & Mayhem' is, as usual, very well written with lots of heart.
The downside is that nothing much happens to advance the series - we're still waiting for details about Ember's family, she's not gotten much further with Granger, and sometimes the magic seems contrived to fit the situation. If anything, the books are too well plotted, ensuring that the story arc can be stretched as thin as needed to prolong the series without having the pesky problem of character or plot development.
If you like fast, easy reads, this series is for you.
P.S. The introduction of a familiar, Raoul (a racoon) through the medium of a short story which no casual reader would have known of, is an oddity at best, a slap in the face at worst.
I'm not in the mood to move on right now, but I can see that my involvement in the series will come to an end fairly soon.

[Svenja]

Ember Rose ist zurück für ein weiteres Rätsel in Starry Hollow. Die ehemalige Einwohnerin aus New Jersey und Nachfahrin der einzigen wahren Hexe erwartet magische Kunstwerke am Balefire Beach für den ersten jährlichen Sandskulpturenwettbewerb – was sie jedoch nicht erwartet, ist eine Leiche. Nun sind sie und Sheriff Nash einem Mörder auf der Spur, während sie versuchen, ihre Gefühle füreinander zu verbergen. Als einer von Embers Zaubersprüchen schiefgeht, hat das ungewollte Folgen, die außer Kontrolle geraten könnten, wenn sie nicht bald zur Vernunft kommt.

Kann Ember das Blatt wenden, bevor die flüchtigen Beweise aus Sand für immer weggespült werden?

Der vierte Band der Reihe konnte mich nicht mehr überzeugen. Zwar bleibt der Schreibstil weiterhin flüssig und das Buch lässt sich grundsätzlich gut lesen, inhaltlich tritt die Geschichte für mich jedoch zu sehr auf der Stelle.

Die Entwicklung der Handlung und der Figuren geht nur sehr langsam voran, sodass kaum neue Impulse oder spannende Wendungen entstehen. Nach mehreren Bänden hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sich vieles wiederholt und keine echte Weiterentwicklung stattfindet.

Aus diesem Grund habe ich die Reihe an dieser Stelle abgebrochen. Für Leser*innen, die das gemütliche Erzähltempo mögen und sich gerne länger in derselben Welt aufhalten, mag die Reihe weiterhin funktionieren. Für mich persönlich fehlte jedoch die nötige Dynamik, um weiter dranzubleiben.

[J Alm]

Book 4 in the Starry Witches series sees sand castles and a sad demise.

Previous books in the series

Book 1 Magic and Murder

Book 2 Magic and Mystery

Book 3 Magic and Mischief


Although each story has a mystery involved, it is resolved in each book so you can read them separately but to fully enjoy the wonderful characters and their developments it is best to start at book 1, but the choice is yours.

Ember needs to cover the sand sculpture competition for the paper she works for. Enjoying meeting other members of Starry Hollow whilst at the very first competition, Ember decides to bring Marley her daughter to see them too.

Unfortunately the visit doesn't go to plan with Marley and Ember finding a dead body that saddens more then just the family.

The investigation into the death has Ember talking to some old and new acquaintances. Things are unclear for a while but made worse by an accident with her wand.

Things start to get resolved nearer the end with some upsetting decision for Ember to cope with.

Another wonderful story that was hard to put down. Hints of humour and fantastic flow within the story, made it a real joy to read. Can't wait for the next story.

[Sarah Leenart]

This is a review for the Starry Hollow Witchs books 1 through 6, as I read them all one ofter the other so feel a series review is in place.

This series had a different feel to the Spellbound books. For a start Starry Hollow takes it's place in the world at large and time has continued to move forwards. The magic appears to be different dependant on the users and has a slightly different feel to it. Ember (like Emma in Spellbound) does arrive though from the human world and finds out she is a witch from a rather special family. There she discovers a matriarchal aunt, cousins, nieces and nephews and a whole cast of weird and wonderful townsfolk, including some rather handsome new suitors. Ember and her daughter discover the delights of a new world, along with solving some murder and mayhem on the side. The world is delightful and I recommend these books highly for a spot of light reading that will surely distract from the day to day of reality. Fun and engaging.

[D K]

A great read! Mystery, Humor, Magic and more!

I’ve read many books by this author, so I was surprised to discover that I hadn’t read this series yet. I absolutely love the FMC, Ember. After living for 28 years as a normal human, she suddenly discovers that she’s a witch and part of a family of witches who live in a supernatural town. She finds herself starting a whole new chapter of her life in Starry Hollow, surrounded by all kinds of supernaturals and a newfound family. Her quirky personality and sarcastic sense of humor are what really set her apart. She has a 10-year-old daughter is absolutely lovable! She’s super smart, and the relationship between the two of them is truly one-of-a-kind. I enjoy stories and characters that have a bit of an edge, so I’m happy to say that this one definitely delivers. Even though it’s a light read, it still has mystery, magic, humor, and plenty more to keep you entertained. Highly Recommended 💜

[Dharia Scarab]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Susan1566]

There is a new tourist attraction in town, a sandcastle competition. Normal competitions are amazing, paranormal ones even more so.
While showing Marley the different sculptures, Ember finds the body of a teenage elf.
When the autopsy finds vampire blood and drugs, the search for the culprit is on.
To make life more difficult, her boss, Alec, is all of a sudden interested in her. She’s not sure what to do.
This book has a good mystery, some new characters, including unicorns, some great interactions between the characters, a confusion of romantic relationships and lots of humour,
These books are fairly short so they are quick reads, not heavy at all, just light and enjoyable.
I’m really enjoying them.

[Megan]

Quick Info
Standalone/Cliffhanger?: Standalone
Part of a Series?: Yes
----------------------------------
Meeting the Characters
Ember Rose
Granger Nash
Frederick Simms
Spencer
Jordy
Grover
Aldo
Bruce
----------------------------------
What happens?
Ember is covering the sand sculpture competition for the paper. She enjoys the first time around so much she brings Marley to take a look unfortunately for them both they come across the body of Grover.
Final thoughts
This book was really fun. I liked the ending it was an interesting twist.
Would I read again?: Yes
Would I read this author again?: Yes

[Amanda Jane]

A sandy tomb..

Florian has jumped into working at the tourism board and created the first sand sculpture competition which it is hoped will become an annual event. While showing Marley the entries Ember stumbles upon the dead body of a teenage elf, Grover.

Grover has traces of two poisons and vampire blood in his system and its going to take quite a bit of investigation with the Sheriff and a few dates with other members of the paranormal community for Ember to dig out the truth. As usual she's going to be in danger herself and with limited magical knowledge have to take a chance on saving herself with an army of minions!!

[Jill DeBellis]

Teenagers and trouble

Ember Rose is an interesting character. Still learning her way around magic and living in a world with paranormals. She is reporting on a sand sculpturing competition and stumbles on the body of a teenager in one of the sculptures. Once again she is involved and do is the sheriff, Granger Nash.
Things are going well until Ember uses a spell and it back fires on her.
Things become very interesting. Check out this story and if you have not read the books, you need to read them.

[Lita]

Ember learns a spell to change a person or thing to their opposite. While at the Sunday family dinner she uses the spell in Wyatt, Linnea's ex to make him behave. It works beautifully but has a side effect of also changing Alec Hale, Ember's stiff, boss. Suddenly he's exuberantly sharing his feelings with Ember and sweeping her off her feet. He's perfect and she's melting in bliss until she realizes what must have happened. She flees and at the first opportunity reverses the spell, freeing Alec even though it breaks her heart.

[Dessa Bergan]

Excellent Read!

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series after recently finding it. This installment tugged at the heartstrings a little more than others have, but I enjoyed the growth that brought to the characters. The author’s ability to create a magical world while still making the characters relatable is impressive. The mystery is interesting and will keep you turning pages. The romance is complicated, but still interesting and a continuing theme from story to story. I would definitely recommend this series!

[James Crawford]

Ember now has a familiar but it's not the usual cat. Florin helped set up a sand castle competition to boost tourism. There are some amazing ones on the beach but there's also a problem.

A dead body. So the story centers around her and the sheriff trying to find out who killed the person and why. A lot of the story centers around her relationships with the sheriff and Alex, her vampire boss at the newspaper. She uses a spell that causes problems.

The story is fairly simple but it's still enjoyable and does help advance the characters.

[Irene]

I like this series they're easy to read, not at all taxing. I gave 5 stars but I feel we've jumped ahead a bit. Annabel said she'd explain about The familiar in the next book but he had a large part in this one and so should have been explained. There were one or two loose ends and I feel I've missed a book, though I haven't. However, it didn't spoil the book. I love the young adult fantasies even though I'm a 65 year old grannie.

[kelly west]

Loving the series!

Problem is I am waiting for the horrible boot to fall. No one gets a perfect life out of a horrible past. It's like too good to be true. Four books in and I know the longer it takes its Gunn a be so bad I am not going to want to read that particular book. I hope it isn't that horrid when the stuff finally hits the fan.
They are each story fun, and interesting. Ms Chase keeps it fun without overwhelming backstory. Well written . Well done.

[Adrienne]

Ember Rose is investigating the death of a high school kid, found dead in a sand sculpture. While her personal life is thrown into chaos when her spell goes wrong. Lessons she learns are heartbreaking but necessary. When using magic make sure you do no harm, a lesson Ember will never forget, when her mistakes hurts one of her friends. And, nothing she can do can make it better. Its a fun read, with characters that are quirky but found in every day life.

[Jeanne Brewer]

Better than the first 3

The witch from Jersey is becoming more and more comfortable in her new home in Starry Hollow. Her relationships are becoming more adult and interesting as she learns more about her family and closest friends. She takes her work with the sheriff seriously and enjoys being in the thick of things - mostly. Missed hearing more about what her delightful daughter is up to.

[Diana Blick]

Nice paranormal mystery

This fourth book in the series finds Ember Rose in a love triangle and square in the midst of another murder investigation. While the mystery isn't too heavy, the world the author has built is fun and Ember's character is developing. I would like a bit of backstory here to help tie the volumes together but so far there really isn't one.

[Amy]

Unicorns are real

I thoroughly enjoy this series!
Ember is a down to earth-tell it how it is-loving witch.
Marley is her sweet, smart, and loving daughter.
The rest of the characters fill out the books nicely.
The love triangle breaks my heart a little, but it will all work out I'm sure. Unfortunately, she can't have both!

[Mary Barrett]

5 🌟

I have been reading an reviewing this series for the past few days. The only thing different I can add is that they make me smile. Well written books holding all of the paranormal characters we have grown up with. I like that even though there are mysteries to solve that the stories are lighthearted and not full of blood and gore.

[Mike Lewis]

Very entertaining series

Very entertaining series with a great cast of characters. A cozy mystery sit in a supernatural town where a newly found which discovers her powers and new family. Follow long as she solves mysteries with that many characters in supernatural creatures. Lots of fun plenty of spell throwing action and entertainment.