Inborn Magic

Hidden Coven #1

by Kim McDougall

It should have been a simple spell…
Light into heat, heat into flame.
How did it all go so wrong?
Paralyzed … magic drained … Bobbi lies wondering …
Only the Mistress of the Hidden Coven can save her, but Quinn doesn’t want to let a stranger past the coven wards. It’s his job to keep strangers out. Especially when a demon is hell-bent on stealing their most precious resource—magic.
Can Quinn lower his shields enough to let Bobbi in?
Can Bobbi trust these witches to help her tame the wild magic inside her?
No one can stand alone against the coming darkness.
No witch can hide any longer.
Inborn Magic, Book 1 of the Hidden Coven series. You’ll love this sizzling paranormal suspense because of its quirky characters and action-packed story.

Genres: Paranormal, Novella, Mystery, Magic

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2017

About the author

If Kim McDougall could have one magical superpower, it would be to talk to animals. Or maybe to shift into animal form. Definitely, fantastical critters and magic often feature in her stories. So until she can change into a Griffin and fly away, she writes dark paranormal action and romance tales. Kim is also passionate about fiber art, photography, children’s literacy, rescue animals, nature, and genre-bending fiction. She also writes for children under pen name Kim Chatel.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Inborn Magic: Hidden Coven Series book 1 by Kim McDougall, Bobbi Cole’s first attempt at casting a spell results in her being paralyzed, helpless. Apparently, the only people who can help her is mysterious sexy Quinn and a coven of witches hidden from the world in a secret coven.
Quinn is a stern mysterious man with experience in magic. He doesn’t trust easily and ever since meeting the novice Bobbi, he worked hard to guard his heart and his knowledge of magic from her. But when a demon threatens the hidden coven, it may take more than him to save them all.
The author did a wonderful job with descriptive detail when writing this story and kept the reader hooked from beginning to end. I really loved how headstrong the author made the leading female character and how she persevered through different challenges in the book.
The only thing I could say against this book is how short it was due to being a wonderful read.

Five Shooting Stars

[Taliesin Govannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply magickal!

This was the last book I've read in 2021 and I have finished off the year on a fantastic note! Inborn Magic is a stripped down, fast-paced story that will leave you wanting more. The world building is amazingly concise, with just enough revealed to give the reader a taste without resorting to exposition dumping.

This is truly the kind of book that makes me want to go on to the second book in the series right away... and I just might! Five stars!

[Susan Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when I find all the ingredients of a great read: compelling plot, believable and likeable characters, tight, active writing, humour and tension. Inborn Magic is a fantasy set in our world, but one that resonates with real magic. Bobbi is a feisty heroine thrust into a coven of witches and desperately trying not to become too involved with Quinn, a hero who has his own special magic. It's a toe-tingling adventure, quick to read, but I found myself wondering what will happen in Book 2!

[Wendy King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about a girl who almost kills herself when she tries to do a magic spell. She is rescued by some witches who heal her and teach her to control her magic. She then lives a live of adventure and danger, with travel to another world to rescue her own.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice quick read.

I can't wait to get the next book. Just what I needed to break the self-isolation monotony. I am excited to see the characters develop.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not have typically chosen this genre. I enjoyed this book. It was fun, fast paced the characters are engaging and leave me wanting to know them more. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Terri Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The author proves she is not intimidated by the shortness of the novella. She does a great job developing her story and creating fully rounded characters. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the type of book I usually gravitate towards but I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised and how it took me in. I could not put it down till I finished the story! Can't wait for the next!

[Tina Beauchamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Kim McDougall's new book Inborn Magic. It is a very solid read with a lovely sense of humour. If you like magic and witches, you'll love this book.

[Lene Blackthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.
Good start into the series, with the magic getting out of hand immediately, a promising plot development, interesting characters - but little space to really develop them. Bobbi attempts a simple spell (or should be simple) from an old grimoire, but ends up drained, with fire out of control, and taken into the Hidden Coven with no contact to the outside world. Her magic also seems to be different than the magic of the other witches, and with trial and error, Bobbi is discovering how much.. right until a demonic attack.
The whole setup holds a lot of promise, with the classic good vs evil twisted a bit differently, and the cast of characters is variable so every reader can pick a favorite- but as said, there is more focus on plot and less of character development, so I was lacking a little more depth. Anyway, a promising start to a series.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 1 in a new paranormal series, Hidden Coven. The author develops the characters quickly because this is more of a novella than a full length book. It should have been a simple spell…
Light into heat, heat into flame.
How did it all go so wrong?
Paralyzed … magic drained … Bobbi lies wondering …
Only the Mistress of the Hidden Coven can save her, but Quinn doesn’t want to let a stranger past the coven wards. It’s his job to keep strangers out. Especially when a demon is hell-bent on stealing their most precious resource—magic.
I had a little difficulty getting into the story but I realized that I was sorry the story ended so quickly. Will look for book 2. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

At only 100 pages, this just serves to whet your appetite for what is to come.

Barbara, Bobbi, fancies herself a witch. Armed with an old grimoire, a crystal, salt, and a candle, she goes outside to set fire to the candle magically. Instead, she ends up going into spell-lock, a kind of magical paralysis.

A brother and sister show up to help her, drawn by the magical aura she emitted, and bring her back to the Hidden Covenant. Barbara gets a crash course on what life is like for these witches and who - or what - is threatening their existence.

I did like the two main branches of magic and I’m sure the next books will get more into the specialities, prophecies, and Koro mentioned in this book. I’ll be picking up book 2 for sure.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bobbi was a young, amateur witch. She practices and practices, but doesn’t seem to be getting any better. During a spell, something goes wrong and she loses a great deal of magic. It was a stranger that had to “unlock” her. In an effort to ditch her saviors, Bobbi somehow lands in some kind of time portal. I’m not really sure what happened here, but she seems lost and disoriented.

This sounded like an interesting story about witches and secret covens, but I sort of found it hard to follow. Like Bobbi, I felt lost. Story was insightful and well-versed for the most part, but some of the language was a little odd. I guess I just didn’t get into this witchy tale as much I’d wanted to.

[Aighmi* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces an excellent hidden-in-plain-sight magical community, both in the sense of the magical hiding within the mundane world and that of the hidden coven itself. I really like the protagonist, who throws herself into danger to protect people she barely knows and has a deep love for animals. The other characters have lots of potential & I am looking forward to learning more about them in the next books. This book does stand alone, but leaves me with enough questions to make me look forward to starting the next. Definitely recommend for fans of fantasy, urban fantasy, and magic!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting start for a series with the MC fumbling a bit as she explores her new powers without the help of a mentor and then finds a mentor who is rather ambivalent about mentoring.

Although it was my pleasure to receive this free book from the author, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.

[Heather Hayllar]

Inborn Magic, Hidden Coven 1# is so well written it is very hard to stop reading about Bobbi and Quinn. Bobbi wants and needs to train her magic, but is turned back at every corner.
The Coven is under a ward that keeps danger out until a wraith or many invade .
Wonderful tale telling from Kim McDougall.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobbi thinks that she may be a witch - strange things happen around her when she wishes strongly. When she nearly "chokes" her ex-boyfriend, she decides that she should learn about being a witch.

Enjoyable story with characters that draw you in.

[Colin Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story, good characterisations, looking for ward to the next in the series (Soothed by Magic) and if that’s as good then the whole serie#!

[Paula Elofson-Gardine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Great story reads well with good fluidity. Shame it seemed too short. I liked the premise and characters, so of course I recommend it.

[JW USA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part 1

This is lacking substance and depth. Really short. A weird mix of too much plot and no character development plus no clear narrative arc.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute, but it isn't a full book and it just stops mid-scene.

[Catherine Nightlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This is a great story that will keep your interest all the way through and have you wanting more. A must read!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally love Kim McDougall's work, but I just couldn't get into this one. Perhaps I will try again later with a different result.

[Erin Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

This book has a good starting plot. It has enough intrigue, mystery and explanation to hook you right in to the story.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast and exciting ride

I’m so glad to have found this new series by Kim McDougall. Her stories are immersive and fun and hard to put down.

[Kaija Rayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I'm a witch and the 'witchcraft' in this was utterly ridiculous. I couldn't get through the first 10 pages.

[E. R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

I found this series through the Valkyrie Bestiary series and am glad I did. I will definitely continue to read more of this author.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovering her magic is almost fatal for a young lady. Purchased this edition on November 16, 2023, from Amazon for free.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it!

It's a different take on a witchy story. I got a different vibe from this story. I believe that you'll like it too.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting world and characters. But really, really short. So short I don’t feel like you actually get to the meat of the story. The entire series is about as long as 1 book.