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Grey Witch #1

Black Spells and Twisted Souls

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Kayla Harlow is an unlucky witch.

A dead boss, a demonic kitty in her bathtub, and a smoking hot detective… If only he wasn’t trying to pin her for the murder.

Between a mysterious fae prince with no sense of modesty or boundaries showing up, having to call a vengeance spirit, and more demons than she ever expected or wanted to meet appearing in her living room, an iced latte spilled all over her new dress is suddenly the least of her worries.

When white magic won’t save her, and black magic will taint her soul, what’s a witch to do?

-Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem-

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2018

922 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read

About the author

Cece Rose

42 books716 followers
Cece Rose is the proud owner of one dog, two cats, two turtles, and one annoying boyfriend.

She hails from Devon in the South-West of England, but dreams of sunny skies and sand between her toes. Although, whenever abroad, she'll moan about the heat and the sand that gets everywhere.

She has largely convinced all who know her that she's a vampire, mainly due to her nocturnal habits and tendency to bite. In reality, it's because her creativity only ever strikes when the sky is dark and the stars are shining. (Plus, it's actually quiet enough to concentrate on writing when everyone else in the world is sleeping.)

Website: www.ceceroseauthor.com
Contact: cece_rose_author@outlook.com

If you want to keep up with everything she's doing, please join her Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/44633...

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5 stars
594 (37%)
4 stars
541 (34%)
3 stars
344 (21%)
2 stars
84 (5%)
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22 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
Profile Image for Mellea.
163 reviews31 followers
September 30, 2018
2.75 Stars - Didn't hate it, didn't love it... just okay. This had the elements of a book I'd typically eat up, but it was slow. I enjoyed the parts with Solas, but never really connected with the MC. I probably won't continue the series.
Profile Image for Mandie.
692 reviews34 followers
February 4, 2019
This was such an awesome read! It was so fun, and extremely entertaining! I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work.
449 reviews62 followers
December 31, 2018
DNF at 80%. I didn’t hate this, but I didn’t feel like spending more time on it, which was problematic because I felt like I was just dragging through this read. The MC was fairly stupid and uninteresting, but I was pushed over the edge when I realized the author had awkwardly withheld some information that didn’t need to be withheld. It wasn’t a major thing, but since I was already somewhat annoyed while reading this, it pushed me too far.

As for the main character, she just wasn’t engaging to me.
1. Apparently she’s cursed to be unlucky and clumsy, but clumsy main characters are fairly popular for some reason, and most characters are unlucky to some degree to keep them realistic and drive events to some extent. This MC did not seem more unlucky or clumsy than any other character. Of course, maybe the Curse of the Gods (book 1: Trickery) series has set the bar high for me for noticeable and unusual clumsiness / bad luck.
2. Also, the MC is a bit TSTL. She summons a demon (with very little attention paid to her conscience’s protests, though she later bemoans that her morality has suffered since summoning the demon), which is frowned upon for moral/legal reasons and its danger, and learns that her grandmother used to summon this demon and once did so to obtain a necklace that she gave to the MC. The demon wants the necklace, and after considering it briefly, the MC agrees. At no point does the MC wonder why her grandmother would bother engaging in an incredibly RISKY and ILLEGAL activity for a NECKLACE. The obvious conclusion is that the necklace is magic and necessary in some way, but the MC is shocked when someone later points out that it is in fact those things. Then the police focus on her for a murder she didn’t commit, and she needs to ask a demon for a major favor so that he can leave her presence. However, she cannot think of anything to ask him for, even as she wanders around thinking that she needs to solve this murder and enlists others to help her do so. ASK. THE DEMON. TO SOLVE. THE MURDER. I’d say that counts as removing a major inconvenience from her life. If this does not work because of Plot™ reasons, I need the MC to at least be intelligent enough to suggest this idea. Maybe she eventually thinks of this, but if so, she still should have thought of this before where I stopped 80% of the way through.

As I said, the information that the author withheld was minor: just the fact of who broke up with whom in Darren and the MC’s relationship. The problem was that, based on how the characters acted, I had totally thought that it was the other way around, and the MC’s behavior became fairly obnoxious in hindsight. I just didn’t see a reason for this information to be kept a secret for so long. It was like the author felt like she needed to have a secret and that was the best she could come up with. The MC’s emotions and responses should have been more realistically fit this situation; maybe that would have even helped this character seem more engaging. This big reveal just put me off and made me even less invested in the relationship than I was before.

I was bugged by a few minor issues as well:
1. The scene with Nemo and Christina in the Rift was weird. The MC just started fangirling over people she had never mentioned before, and they didn’t get brought up again before I dropped the book, so I can only assume that this was a plug for another series. Either way, it felt awkward.
2. The author also switched the verb tense in the narration from time to time, which was distracting.
Profile Image for Al *the semi serial series skipper*.
1,659 reviews850 followers
November 6, 2020
The slowest RH I've ever read and I say that after I've already read book 2. The mystery wasn't that great to make this more enjoyable, the heroine acted obnoxious and had no regards for her safety. It didn't endear her to me. The romance was so slow that the men brought nothing to the table. I thin I'm out for the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Katyana.
1,801 reviews290 followers
August 30, 2019
DNF @ 62%

I just can't. The heroine is utterly brainless and flits from thing to thing like a toddler on a sugar high. She doesn't stand up for herself, she is TSTL, and she is utterly 2-dimensional. She finds out a horrible secret that her family was keeping from her, and literally does not care at all. It doesn't even phase her.

Pass.
Profile Image for Claire Chibi.
605 reviews93 followers
May 13, 2020
Rating: 3.5

Did I cringe a bit reading this book? Yes. But did I have a good time? Absolutely.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews131 followers
Want to read
May 17, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/17/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*.
2,961 reviews1,194 followers
February 20, 2019
This book was ridiculously fun! The humor, main character, hectic storyline, genuine plot that's going creatively in different directions, and again humor made it all sing for me. I don't see how it can be an RH yet, though, and there's pretty much nothing in the romance department here besides some smidging of hints, but the book itself is all sorts of phenomenal fun. Full review to come.
27 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2018
great book

I love it! I love when a book makes you laugh out loud! You should see the looks my husband and son gives me when I do that. I love the characters in this story. Kayla is great.
Profile Image for Rebecca Caillet.
9 reviews
February 14, 2019
Witchy goodness

Unique take on supernatural thriller. Just when you think you have it figured out here comes another plot twist. Stayed up all night reading because I just had to know what happened next!
Profile Image for Renée.
862 reviews134 followers
July 31, 2018
Calling all lovers of witches, shifters, fae, vampires, demons, and more, this is the series for you.
With Kayla on the search to clear her name from a murder she didn’t commit, she encounters an assortment of other supernatural creatures along her journey. As well as using some wonderfully written/crafted spells.
Great twist at the end for the next book.

Also I was reading this the whole time wondering if it’s going to turn into a reverse harem book 🤞🏻
482 reviews7 followers
December 29, 2018
Oooo, I really love this authors works. I think she writes really well and creates stories that just pull me in. She is all about the slow burn romance and those are my favourite kind of romances. Black Spells and Twisted Souls has a witch as it's main character, however there are all sorts of paranormals in this book living in the real world but humans are not aware of them. Kayla, our main character is working in a mundane job with a boss who really shouldn't be a manager! Kayla gets accused of murder and what follows is a humorous and exciting adventure to uncover the truth. Kayla meets some interesting characters along the way and we find out some of the history she has with characters she already knows. There is also a cross over with a few characters from one of the authors other books, Vengeance (a series I really hope she'll carry on) and I liked the way that was added in. As I've mentioned, this is a slow burn romance and a few potential characters are introduced who could possibly be in Kayla' s harem. I'm hoping they'll all be, particularly the demon but the author is not giving anything away. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I really enjoyed book one.
Profile Image for Kassi.
277 reviews
April 27, 2020
What can I say (type?) about BS&TS? Just that the first book of the series was keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, couldn't put it down because it was so interesting! The first paragraph sucked me in and as I kept reading, (much to my embarrassment because some were sleeping) I let out a guffaw when I read the chapter that a certain character(s) from "Vengeance" made an appearance; I was that excited. Overall, I am soooo anticipating the continuance of this series! (Well, that was me fangirling about this book, now let's get now get on with the other aspects of the review, shall we.)
There were some supper minor grammatical issues toward the end such as, a missing letter in the word, for example the h in his and such, but those could be overlooked as the book itself was interesting enough. There were some questions answered, but some were just not that answered like not fully answered just half answered.
(Received an ARC for an honest review)
Edit: I didn't know authors can fix the errors when it's close to the release date, so there's probably not going to be any errors with this book. So, ignore my previous statement about grammatical issues.
Profile Image for Katie.
425 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2019
SPOILERS

Pretty good, light read! I enjoyed the way this writer wrote the characters, scenes, and dialogue as well as her story.
**Spoiler recap**... The story is about a witch who has a slimy boss and after a confrontation between them she goes home and summons a demon to get rid of him without killing him. Turns out the guy is dead so now the demon owes her. She turns him into a cat and can't get him turned back until he pays her back somehow. Meanwhile she meets a fae, rhydeon, who is friends w her ex, darren, and the three of them search for the killer all While a sexy black witch\vampire cop stalks her as she is the main murder suspect.
The story leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger as we still don't know who is the killer for absolute certain. Also, rhydeon seems to have had ulterior motives. I found him to be alluring whilst also wanting to root for Darren and the cop! Will his be an RH? We shall see. So far, no sex but a nice make out session or 2! It is a good book that had me read through the night and has me excited for the next one!
Profile Image for Bella Suarez-Ramirez.
511 reviews5 followers
July 13, 2018
This book... I loved Kay and can’t wait to read the next one in series. The mystery of a killer with humor and magic. What else can you ask to read. :) love the characters and the storyline. How it left you knowing that there more. Lots of questions that I can’t wait to get answered and see where Cece takes it. Totally recommend!

****received ARC for honest review ****
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,796 reviews30 followers
February 11, 2019
Great characters, a little iffy on the plot at the moment but plenty of drama and a little romance. So looks like a slow burn with four potential love interests. Favourite character was Solas, that one is gonna be fun trouble. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Profile Image for Book Addict.
1,563 reviews
July 16, 2018
Well what a surprise this book is! Like always the very talented Cece Rose has written a truly exciting book that captivated my attention from the very first page! Once I started the book I just inhaled it and was unable to put it down! Kayla is a very different FMC, she is interesting, full of bad luck and a lot of the time unsure of herself! Then throw in s bunch of very intriguing guys...Darren: shifter and her ex-BF but they are still pretty much in love with each other, Rhydian: the mysterious Fae who likes to flirt, Kier: the vampire witch detective and then Solas the demon...all so different and all so good for Kayla (hopefully!). This book gives the reader the initial taste of them all while they try and solve a murder with lots of flirting, threats and laughs along the way. I especially loved the connection to the vengeance book...I can’t wait to see more of them together! This book left me wanting more and I cannot wait for book two. Highly recommended!!
Profile Image for Alicia Schultz.
83 reviews4 followers
August 13, 2018
Funny, interesting witch tale

I really loved this book. Excellent tale of witches, demons and fae. I loved the main character, who was a funny, pragmatic heroine who wasn't adverse to rescuing herself when things went awry, and who stuck to her convictions. Irewlly enjoyed the secondary characters, and already I can see that Rhydion and Solas are going to be my favourites. I adore a cheeky, tortured soul and a grumpy demon with a heart of gold.

I'm insta-buying book 2 as soon as it drops.
Profile Image for Kathie.
748 reviews
August 21, 2018
Wow! This book has so much going for it: plot, characters, snarkiness, dialogue, and writing. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Jodie-Leigh.
141 reviews4 followers
August 6, 2018
What a great start to a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this world, reading about Kayla and the antics her and the others get up to throughout the book. The storyline is very captivating, the characters are highly intriguing and the book is written very well.

I look forward to reading more in this series!
7 reviews
August 7, 2018
Best book read yet

If you like Faes, shifters, and witches then this is the series for you. Oh and a murder mystery to go along with it all!
10 reviews
October 23, 2018
Loved it

Sucked me in from page one, can not wait for book 2!!! Highly recommend read, could not put down, read it in a day
Profile Image for Tiera McMillian.
1,160 reviews47 followers
August 21, 2018
This was a short fun read with intrigue and a lot of set up for the continuation of the series. I really like Kayla she is strong, and has a sarcastic wit which endears her to me further, but she is also awkward which makes her a little more real.

Kayla in trying to teach her sleaze ball boss a lesson drunkenly summons a demon to do the dirty work. She specifies she doesn’t want him dead or harmed but just gone from her workplace the demon agrees to her terms in exchange for a necklace passed to her by her grandma. Little does she know she’s giving away the only thing keeping an unlucky curse at bay. Kayla’s boss ends up checked out early and Kayla is the prime suspect and her dealings with the demon make her secretive which cast even more shadows her way, not to mention she’s getting hit with every bit of bad luck that had been blocked for years. Kayla and her friends have to clear her name and Kayla has to find some way to get rid of the demon that has attached itself to her until it’s bargain is done.


So as a series starter this was good. I was a little put off that Kayla upon being told about her unlucky curse didn’t really react as I would expect she just kind of rolled with it and tucked that info away for another day. So many questions were opened up and I’m surprised that Kayla doesn’t seem to want to get to the bottom of anything like who cursed her family and why and how to fix it, and even though Kayla’s name was cleared we still don’t have a murderer. Also what was Rhydians deal, pretending to be human in the office, and popping up all over town everywhere Kayla is? Also it seemed there may be another series brewing about the Vengeances maybe? There was a lot of untold story there I feel. Definitely enough intrigue to keep me reading the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,249 reviews
July 16, 2018
Holy moly!!! This book surprised the crap out of me in the best way possible. It took me a little bit to get into but once I hit the 3rd chapter, I was done for haha. I had to keep making reading it a reward for doing housework/errands so I didn't sit in my house all weekend and read it haha.

I love Kayla and the various side characters in this story! I thought her inner monologue was great and that she was a clutz but not over the top very endearing. I liked the various guys in here, I kept swapping which one was my favorite/hoping that he would be a part of her harem in future books. I loved the surprise tie-in (won't spoil it) but I had to stop myself and look up the other book in my kindle to find the scene haha. I love this word Cece has created and cannot wait for more books in this series and any other series she makes in this world.

I have to say I didn't see the sneaky twist coming at the end haha. I thought he was charming and brutish already but didn't see him being so cunning/sleuthy haha. I think I am gonna root for the 4 main guys all being in her harem. I am interested to see who the murderer really was, cant wait for more clues in the next book. Hopefully we don't have to wait too much longer for Book 2 ❤️. I can already tell I am going to have a nasty book hangover after this one. BTW would totally kill to be in Kaylas shoes and wake up like she did at the one guys place haha. OH and I didn't think this book was going to be as funny as it was!! I loved "Damon" and his commentary and behavior in his "familiar" form haha. Totally go imagine the knocking stuff over and clawing scenes haha. Definitely nailed that behavior 😂
Profile Image for Michelle Fritz PA.
1,357 reviews99 followers
July 14, 2018
One surprising and witty series introduction this was! You've gotta love Kay. She's having it a bit rough and just trying to keep everything together. There are three extremely interesting and entertaining male characters who keep you wondering just who exactly they are. If you love witches and spells gone awry, this should be your next read!! Add in a shifter, a fae and a vampire and you've got one hard to put down story. The plot was beautifully executed and there were plenty of twists and turns you didn't see coming. Ms. Rose is truly gifted. She creates these complex characters who quickly capture your attention. Her attention to even the minute details is stunning in its brilliance.
Profile Image for TipseyBookReviews.
1,440 reviews52 followers
July 15, 2018
Kayla is a white witch who hasn’t really been that great with magic. I like that she doesn’t take the easy way and tries to stick to her beliefs. She has some great guys - Darren, the shifter and sort of ex; Rhydian, the flirty fae; Kier, the sexy vampire/witch detective; and Solas, the demon with attitude. We also get to re-visit Christina and Nemo from Vengeance!

In this story, Kayla is out to solve a murder so she doesn’t end up in the Tombs (magical prison). There is humor, some magic that goes awry, and lots of flirtation. I can’t wait to see the relationships develop and find out what happens next!




Profile Image for Stephanie.
486 reviews26 followers
July 18, 2018
Witches, Shifters, Fae, Vampires Oh my!!!

This book was amazing from beginning to end! Kayla is a great and fun character. I honestly love that she is happy to treat a demon the way she would anyone not giving a crap if she’s pissing him off. Rhydian is so much fun and I wholeheartedly need him and Kayla to get it on, same with Keir, Darren and Solas! Not once during this book did I get bored and want it to hurry along. I NEED to know what happens next with Kayla, the guys and specially with Lizzy. I need to know who the killer is! Not gonna lie, this book left me feeling VERY needy, but in such a good way!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book as your next read! The story is compelling, the work building is great, and the characters are relatable, fun, and SEXY!!!
Profile Image for Shelly Diguer.
566 reviews2 followers
July 15, 2018
Really enjoyed this book 📖 white witch 🧙‍♀️ a vampire 🧛‍♂️ fea 🧝🏻‍♂️and werewolf 🐺 and a pesky demon 👹love ❤️ the twists and turns , the spells that happen through out this book 📖 it’s so well written and kept me entertained and engrossed ..I look forward to next book 📖 to see what happens and what that annoyingly goodlooking fea 🧝🏻‍♂️was up to .. great book by Cece Big thumbs up 👍 and a high five ✋🏻 too 😊
Profile Image for Dharia Scarab.
3,255 reviews8 followers
January 1, 2019
Incomplete series


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.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,157 reviews19 followers
August 28, 2019
Kayla drunkenly summons a demon to solve the problem of her jerk boss. Unfortunately her boss ends up dead and she ends up being investigated for murder. Now the demon is trapped as a cat, a detective and fae prince are following her around and a werewolf ex boyfriend is being a little extra supportive.

This was ok, a little fun and a little silly. Not my favorite but I might read onto the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews

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