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To Have and to Hex
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26
Some legacies are written in flame. Others in prophecy.
Astrid is a powerful fire witch with a rebellious streak and a loyal wolf by her side. She’s tangled in an awkward love triangle with Killian, a time-walking warlock and Michael, a no-nonsense human constable—two men bound by secrets, loyalty, and the same impossible woman. Together, they’ve built a fragile peace in the magical town of Dracht—and raised two very different Tyra, a flame-born prodigy who commands fire like breath… and Nyla, the quiet one. The powerless one.
Or so they believed.
When Nyla unexpectedly bonds with an earthworm familiar, her dormant magic awakens with a vengeance. A chilling prophecy spills from her lips, foretelling the unraveling of the world her parents fought so hard to build.
As the prophecy comes to fruition and unknown powers stir, Astrid must face ghosts of her past. While Tyra fights to control her fire and dragon familiar, Nyla is forced to embrace a power far stranger than anyone imagined and step into a destiny no one prepared her for. With the entire town’s fate teetering on a cliff, the future of magic itself will hinge on one impossible Sometimes the weakest spark is the one that burns fate to ash.
When fire dims and the stars go black… Can one tiny witch wriggle fate back on course?
Astrid is a powerful fire witch with a rebellious streak and a loyal wolf by her side. She’s tangled in an awkward love triangle with Killian, a time-walking warlock and Michael, a no-nonsense human constable—two men bound by secrets, loyalty, and the same impossible woman. Together, they’ve built a fragile peace in the magical town of Dracht—and raised two very different Tyra, a flame-born prodigy who commands fire like breath… and Nyla, the quiet one. The powerless one.
Or so they believed.
When Nyla unexpectedly bonds with an earthworm familiar, her dormant magic awakens with a vengeance. A chilling prophecy spills from her lips, foretelling the unraveling of the world her parents fought so hard to build.
As the prophecy comes to fruition and unknown powers stir, Astrid must face ghosts of her past. While Tyra fights to control her fire and dragon familiar, Nyla is forced to embrace a power far stranger than anyone imagined and step into a destiny no one prepared her for. With the entire town’s fate teetering on a cliff, the future of magic itself will hinge on one impossible Sometimes the weakest spark is the one that burns fate to ash.
When fire dims and the stars go black… Can one tiny witch wriggle fate back on course?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 6, 2026
I devoured this book! But are we surprised? I think I have devoured everything Catie O'Neill has ever written. If she writes it, I'm going to read it.
Set in the future following the events of book one, To Have and To Hex follows not just Astrid, Michael, and Killian but also their two girls - Nyla and Tyra. Night and day, the teenage sisters share a certain bond that cannot be broken despite their many differences. They may had arguments and fight, but they are always there for each other. As someone with a sister I fight with but would commit crimes for, their dynamic feels incredibly believable. I loved watching the two of them grow into themselves and their magic.
Speaking of Nyla and Tyra - can we take a moment to appreciate their familiars? I thought a giant dragon familiar was the best thing possible until I met Noodle. Noodle is the best! He has got to be the most ridiculous and underrated familiar of all time. I laughed so hard!
The character growth is strong in this installment. Not just from the girls, but from Michael. Killian has always been all in when it comes to the throuple situation, but Michael of the Straight-and-Narrow comes to terms much more slowly. As much as he adores Astrid and the children, he just kind of puts up with Killian. Seeing the two men put their differences aside and connect is so satisfying. Astrid had it right when she looked at the cinnamon roll constable and the powerful magic daddy and said to herself, “I want both.” Same, girl.
I have just one complaint. There are all these vivid descriptions of all this mouth-watering food, but I have no recipes. I need an appendix, or perhaps a separate cook book? I can see it now, "Meals and Magic: Foods from the World of Dracht." I only partially kid, because I would honestly devour every dish in this book series given the opportunity. Don’t read on an empty stomach!
I really enjoyed revisiting the world of Dracht, and I cannot wait until the next book! Thank you, Catie, for the opportunity to ARC read for you! All thoughts are my own.
Set in the future following the events of book one, To Have and To Hex follows not just Astrid, Michael, and Killian but also their two girls - Nyla and Tyra. Night and day, the teenage sisters share a certain bond that cannot be broken despite their many differences. They may had arguments and fight, but they are always there for each other. As someone with a sister I fight with but would commit crimes for, their dynamic feels incredibly believable. I loved watching the two of them grow into themselves and their magic.
Speaking of Nyla and Tyra - can we take a moment to appreciate their familiars? I thought a giant dragon familiar was the best thing possible until I met Noodle. Noodle is the best! He has got to be the most ridiculous and underrated familiar of all time. I laughed so hard!
The character growth is strong in this installment. Not just from the girls, but from Michael. Killian has always been all in when it comes to the throuple situation, but Michael of the Straight-and-Narrow comes to terms much more slowly. As much as he adores Astrid and the children, he just kind of puts up with Killian. Seeing the two men put their differences aside and connect is so satisfying. Astrid had it right when she looked at the cinnamon roll constable and the powerful magic daddy and said to herself, “I want both.” Same, girl.
I have just one complaint. There are all these vivid descriptions of all this mouth-watering food, but I have no recipes. I need an appendix, or perhaps a separate cook book? I can see it now, "Meals and Magic: Foods from the World of Dracht." I only partially kid, because I would honestly devour every dish in this book series given the opportunity. Don’t read on an empty stomach!
I really enjoyed revisiting the world of Dracht, and I cannot wait until the next book! Thank you, Catie, for the opportunity to ARC read for you! All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
To Have and to Hex is the second book in the Hearts Bound by Dust series, and I loved it.
The scene-setting and writing were great; once again, I could picture everything vividly in my mind. I loved the characters just as much as in the first book, and now we have two new ones to fall in love with—Nyla and Tyra, the daughters of Astrid, Michael, and Killian. You get to see them grow up throughout the story and learn how to control their own magic.
There is a prophecy that will affect the entire town, even the humans. The magic is going wild and becoming increasingly out of control. Along the way, there are some lovely reunions, a couple of unexpected reveals, and one or two betrayals.
But who is behind the magic spiraling out of control? Of course, you’ll have to read the book to find out—but I hope you’ll be just as surprised as I was.
I’m really looking forward to book three in the series and wondering if a particular character who appears here will have a bigger role to play next time.
Thank you, Catie, for the ARC opportunity once again—another book I truly enjoyed.
The scene-setting and writing were great; once again, I could picture everything vividly in my mind. I loved the characters just as much as in the first book, and now we have two new ones to fall in love with—Nyla and Tyra, the daughters of Astrid, Michael, and Killian. You get to see them grow up throughout the story and learn how to control their own magic.
There is a prophecy that will affect the entire town, even the humans. The magic is going wild and becoming increasingly out of control. Along the way, there are some lovely reunions, a couple of unexpected reveals, and one or two betrayals.
But who is behind the magic spiraling out of control? Of course, you’ll have to read the book to find out—but I hope you’ll be just as surprised as I was.
I’m really looking forward to book three in the series and wondering if a particular character who appears here will have a bigger role to play next time.
Thank you, Catie, for the ARC opportunity once again—another book I truly enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hex is a thrilling sequel in this witchy trilogy that builds and builds in all the right ways. In Round 2 we get still more romantic drama, a high-stakes mystery, and a cast of characters that expertly worm their ways into your heart (IYKYK). With this addition, the world feels richer and the magic more alive.
10/10 recommend for anyone who wondered what a high-stakes YA "save the world" fantasy would be like if the teens' parents weren't completely hapless
10/10 recommend for anyone who wondered what a high-stakes YA "save the world" fantasy would be like if the teens' parents weren't completely hapless
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved everything about this book. Seeing the girls grow and learn about their powers. A prophecy that is going to affect the whole town magical or human alike. Magic going crazy and some reunions, reveals and betrayals along the way. I am looking forward to what's next for Astrid and family. Thanks Catie for letting me read your stories early.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews