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Legacy Witches #1
Legacy Witches
Coming from a long line of murderous witches hasn't exactly been sunshine and rainbows for Vianna Roots. When she inherits the family's haunted house after her mother dies, she decides flipping the rundown dump is her smartest move—but the ghosts that haunt her have a different plan.
When Vianna finds the ghost of her childhood friend Nancy, she's drawn into the mystery surrounding her friend's death. Her meddling attracts the attention of the oldest coven in Salem. In order to get her out of town, they make an offer on the house, but Vianna hesitates. She's no longer sure she wants to abandon the demon familiar who possesses her home, the transgender outcast witch—who may just be the best friend she never knew she needed—and her high school crush, who now wants her in his life.
Vianna must find a way to solve the case of her murdered friend, stay out of the hands of the most powerful coven in Salem, and face the past she's so desperately tried to run away from.
When Vianna finds the ghost of her childhood friend Nancy, she's drawn into the mystery surrounding her friend's death. Her meddling attracts the attention of the oldest coven in Salem. In order to get her out of town, they make an offer on the house, but Vianna hesitates. She's no longer sure she wants to abandon the demon familiar who possesses her home, the transgender outcast witch—who may just be the best friend she never knew she needed—and her high school crush, who now wants her in his life.
Vianna must find a way to solve the case of her murdered friend, stay out of the hands of the most powerful coven in Salem, and face the past she's so desperately tried to run away from.
292 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2022
18 people are currently reading
21679 people want to read
About the author
Cass Kay
2 books180 followersCass started her writing career as a journalist in college who moonlighted as an actress. Now at home with her husband, two sons, and two dogs, she’s discovered that fiction novel writing combines her love of the written word with her love of creating compelling characters.
Follow Cass here:
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/casskaywrites
Follow Cass here:
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/casskaywrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 31, 2024
3.5⭐
Genre ~ ghost suspense
Series ~ Legacy Witches #1
Setting ~ Salem
Publication date ~ October 11, 2022
Est Page Count ~ 287
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ paranormal, haunted house, witches, ghosts, graphic violence, assault, murder, animal death, transgender character
I haven't read too many books about witches as it's not my typical genre, but I was delighted that Cass reached out and asked me to read her debut book.
Vianna fled Salem 10 years ago, but has returned to bury her mother. She comes from a long line of witches and has the ability to see ghosts. I think it would be fun to be able to see ghosts, but I could also see how it could get bothersome. Some of the ghosts seemed very realistic, especially with all the beetles.
There was a little mystery about Nancy that I was eager to see how it would play out. Many of the witches are not likable, but Vianna held her own and fought back when necessary. I really enjoyed Vianna and Dee's friendship.
Overall, a solid debut that had a slow start for me, but I found to be well written, researched and very descriptive. I think this book would definitely appeal to those that normally enjoy this genre. Perfect for spooky season reading. I liked reading Cass's note about how the book came about.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ ghost suspense
Series ~ Legacy Witches #1
Setting ~ Salem
Publication date ~ October 11, 2022
Est Page Count ~ 287
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ paranormal, haunted house, witches, ghosts, graphic violence, assault, murder, animal death, transgender character
I haven't read too many books about witches as it's not my typical genre, but I was delighted that Cass reached out and asked me to read her debut book.
Vianna fled Salem 10 years ago, but has returned to bury her mother. She comes from a long line of witches and has the ability to see ghosts. I think it would be fun to be able to see ghosts, but I could also see how it could get bothersome. Some of the ghosts seemed very realistic, especially with all the beetles.
There was a little mystery about Nancy that I was eager to see how it would play out. Many of the witches are not likable, but Vianna held her own and fought back when necessary. I really enjoyed Vianna and Dee's friendship.
Overall, a solid debut that had a slow start for me, but I found to be well written, researched and very descriptive. I think this book would definitely appeal to those that normally enjoy this genre. Perfect for spooky season reading. I liked reading Cass's note about how the book came about.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
December 3, 2022
Yayy… The bubble of happiness when you begin reading a book with zero expectations and find yourself utterly captivated cannot be easily described in words. Cass Kay’s Legacy Witches was one such book. Witches were in the title and I was hooked. But Cass Kay’s Salem Witches has something different to offer with the covens living in quiet harmony with other humans but playing a strong role in the machinations of the politics in the country.
Vianna Roots as the main protagonist was a character to root for. In addition to being a member of the murderous witch family, she is also able to see ghosts and I loved how the author described her struggle to remain sane with that ability. Though some of the scenes in the book had me laughing out loud with the ancestral grandmothers playing havoc around her, it was lovely to read how her perception changes from complete hatred where she just wants to sell her family home and run away from Salem to one of acceptance of the house and its resident familiar.
Her relationship with Dee was another highlighting factor in the novel, the friendship that forms between them and the warmth of it was brilliantly conveyed. The mystery of her best friend’s death Nancy in her house and Vianna's investigation that leads her to an all-out war with the coven made for some compelling read, especially with a demon house familiar who has his own tricks up his sleeve.
I appreciate the fact that at least for book # 1 the author has decided to show Vianna’s character growth and her acceptance of her legacy without any romance adding to the plot, there was something genuinely fresh about the friendship explored between Vianna and Dee, and seeing the subtle presence of Officer Grayson and a long time best friend introduced I can’t wait to see what adventure is in store for Vianna in the future.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Vianna Roots as the main protagonist was a character to root for. In addition to being a member of the murderous witch family, she is also able to see ghosts and I loved how the author described her struggle to remain sane with that ability. Though some of the scenes in the book had me laughing out loud with the ancestral grandmothers playing havoc around her, it was lovely to read how her perception changes from complete hatred where she just wants to sell her family home and run away from Salem to one of acceptance of the house and its resident familiar.
Her relationship with Dee was another highlighting factor in the novel, the friendship that forms between them and the warmth of it was brilliantly conveyed. The mystery of her best friend’s death Nancy in her house and Vianna's investigation that leads her to an all-out war with the coven made for some compelling read, especially with a demon house familiar who has his own tricks up his sleeve.
I appreciate the fact that at least for book # 1 the author has decided to show Vianna’s character growth and her acceptance of her legacy without any romance adding to the plot, there was something genuinely fresh about the friendship explored between Vianna and Dee, and seeing the subtle presence of Officer Grayson and a long time best friend introduced I can’t wait to see what adventure is in store for Vianna in the future.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
December 24, 2022
"Hex bags and voodoo dolls, and that was from within the safety of her [own] demon-possessed house. What would happen if she tried to go into town?" loc1672 Kindle ebook
Thank you to Cass Kay and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC to read of this book.
"Witch fiction" is a new genre for me, but one of the things that I do really love about it is in plenty of supply here in Cass Kay's LEGACY WITCHES and that's the emphasis on family-- born or found. For that matter, the end of this book is the freaking best, and the form is nice too in the way it sort of opposes the beginning not just in position but in tone, outlook, and of course this important subject to witchcraft. Family.
I had a difficult time at first finding my way, but once I did, this was an easy story to enjoy. This is such a witchy book! Herbs, Spells, Lore! My favorite scene is the one in which the ghost Csada attacks the fmc Vianna with a voodoo doll-- disconcerting and darkly funny all at once!
Rating 📍📍📍📍.5 / 5 voodoo doll pins
Recommend? Yes!
Finished December 2022
Read this if you like:
🧙 Witches
✨️ Magic
🧛♀️ Urban fantasy
👩👩👧👧 Family drama
👩🎤 Strong female characters
🧗♀️ Good character devolopment
Thank you to Cass Kay and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC to read of this book.
"Witch fiction" is a new genre for me, but one of the things that I do really love about it is in plenty of supply here in Cass Kay's LEGACY WITCHES and that's the emphasis on family-- born or found. For that matter, the end of this book is the freaking best, and the form is nice too in the way it sort of opposes the beginning not just in position but in tone, outlook, and of course this important subject to witchcraft. Family.
I had a difficult time at first finding my way, but once I did, this was an easy story to enjoy. This is such a witchy book! Herbs, Spells, Lore! My favorite scene is the one in which the ghost Csada attacks the fmc Vianna with a voodoo doll-- disconcerting and darkly funny all at once!
Rating 📍📍📍📍.5 / 5 voodoo doll pins
Recommend? Yes!
Finished December 2022
Read this if you like:
🧙 Witches
✨️ Magic
🧛♀️ Urban fantasy
👩👩👧👧 Family drama
👩🎤 Strong female characters
🧗♀️ Good character devolopment
August 24, 2022
I received an ARC of Legacy Witches in exchange for an honest review. Read the full review at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
The market on urban fantasy and witchy protagonists is arguably glutted these days. Witches are cutesy, they’re sexy, they’re demon huntresses and vampire lovers and all sorts of fun combinations of back-cover blurb buzzwords, but something that truly sets Cass Kay’s Legacy Witches above the rest for me is that her witches are DARK.
Vienna Roots’ ancestors and peers deal in moldering corpses, gruesome deaths, and necromantic rites as a matter of course, and while Vienna herself shies away from the murder edges of magic, Kay seems to revel in the gory details. As something of a connoisseur of gory details, thank you PhD in Frankenstein, I appreciate the unflinching approach to maggots and skeletons and what a pain in the butt it is to rob a grave on a rainy night.
I appreciate that Kay doesn’t try to redeem the terrible things that the Roots witches have done in the past, and the lengths they will go to to protect their own.
A story of generations, and rewriting the scripts of eras come and gone, Legacy Witches is more than just one more urban fantasy with a witchy protagonist. This is a novel with heart, a story about growth, and acceptance, and magic far darker than most authors in the genre dare dabble in from a writer who obviously knows her craft. In a market that has long been saturated by the cozy, the sexy, and the action-y, and the overly romantic, Legacy Witches dares to be something different, and as a reader, I appreciate that too.
The market on urban fantasy and witchy protagonists is arguably glutted these days. Witches are cutesy, they’re sexy, they’re demon huntresses and vampire lovers and all sorts of fun combinations of back-cover blurb buzzwords, but something that truly sets Cass Kay’s Legacy Witches above the rest for me is that her witches are DARK.
Vienna Roots’ ancestors and peers deal in moldering corpses, gruesome deaths, and necromantic rites as a matter of course, and while Vienna herself shies away from the murder edges of magic, Kay seems to revel in the gory details. As something of a connoisseur of gory details, thank you PhD in Frankenstein, I appreciate the unflinching approach to maggots and skeletons and what a pain in the butt it is to rob a grave on a rainy night.
I appreciate that Kay doesn’t try to redeem the terrible things that the Roots witches have done in the past, and the lengths they will go to to protect their own.
A story of generations, and rewriting the scripts of eras come and gone, Legacy Witches is more than just one more urban fantasy with a witchy protagonist. This is a novel with heart, a story about growth, and acceptance, and magic far darker than most authors in the genre dare dabble in from a writer who obviously knows her craft. In a market that has long been saturated by the cozy, the sexy, and the action-y, and the overly romantic, Legacy Witches dares to be something different, and as a reader, I appreciate that too.
October 10, 2022
Our main character Vianna Roots comes from a long line of murderous witches. This has not made her life easy and she distanced herself with that town and the witches.
However after her mother dies, she inherits the family’s haunted house. She decides to temporarily move in and see if she can maybe sell the house.
When she goes back she is the talk of all the witches that are not on her side. She is seen as an outsider and does not get a warm welcome.
But Vianna gets wrapped up in the mystery of her best friend’s death and decides to stick around and dig deeper.
Vianna was such an interesting and vivid character. I loved to see her analyze all the situations and learning from her family while trying to solve a murder mystery.
The book definitely has a very good atmosphere perfect for a spooky season and it makes the town feel so real. It will be perfect for people that love a good witch story.
At its core, it is a story of what it means to be a family, how generational legacies define us, and of simple friendship between two women.
You will find witchcraft, ghosts, dangerous situations, a murder mystery and so much more.
Perfect for: People that love a classic coven story but filled with other supernatural elements and a murder mystery.
However after her mother dies, she inherits the family’s haunted house. She decides to temporarily move in and see if she can maybe sell the house.
When she goes back she is the talk of all the witches that are not on her side. She is seen as an outsider and does not get a warm welcome.
But Vianna gets wrapped up in the mystery of her best friend’s death and decides to stick around and dig deeper.
Vianna was such an interesting and vivid character. I loved to see her analyze all the situations and learning from her family while trying to solve a murder mystery.
The book definitely has a very good atmosphere perfect for a spooky season and it makes the town feel so real. It will be perfect for people that love a good witch story.
At its core, it is a story of what it means to be a family, how generational legacies define us, and of simple friendship between two women.
You will find witchcraft, ghosts, dangerous situations, a murder mystery and so much more.
Perfect for: People that love a classic coven story but filled with other supernatural elements and a murder mystery.
June 30, 2022
Favorite character: Vianna / Dee
Words that come to my mind: cruel / eerie / unsettling
Favorite quote: Maybe survival meant focusing on what she could do instead of the worst that could happen
After the death of her mother, Vianna Roots is left with no other choice but to return to Salem, her hometown from which she fled ten years ago, to attend her funeral. Vianna's return brings up her past, she was desperate to leave behind, building up a life of her own in Boston. But as the last legacy witch in the Roots family line, she now inherits the family's haunted house and has to face the Blood Coven, she never joined for a good reason.
As a solitary witch, a witch without a coven, and as an outcast looked down to by the other witches, Vianna's plan is simple: Sell the house and leave Salem as soon as possible.
Her plan quickly falls apart when she discovers that the house is haunted by the ghost of her childhood best friend, apparently murdered by Vianna's mother, and no one seems to know or care about it.
Vianna feels she owes it to her former best friend to find out what happened to her and starts to snoop around, what earns her even more attention from the Blood Coven.
The Coven wants to make sure Vianna leave Salem as quickly as possible and they make an offer on her house, but after starting to bond with the demon familiar who possesses her house, finding a new friend and the attention from her former crush, Vianna is no longer sure if that's what she wants.
Legacy Witches has so much to offer! Covens, ghosts, demons, hoodoo, murder, friendship and the struggle with finding your own path. Vianna is a very reliable main character who wants to do the right thing by staying away from the murderous Blood Coven and who struggles with her conscience when she is nonetheless drawn into the witches world, which she was determined to avoid.
I loved the friendship Vianna builds with Dee, another solitary witch, outcasted for being transgender. She was amazing and I loved she parts of the book with her in it.
In the middle of the book I was a bit overwhelmed (like Vianna) because so many different things happened, but after I finished the book I discovered there's going to be a second one, so it makes perfect sense that not everything gets cleared up during the first book.
It would have been helpful to know that this is a series beforehand, because I was worried about not getting enough information about parts of the book that interested me more, such as the hoodoo part and the relationships between the police and the covens.
I will definitely read the next book and if you like witches, Legacy Witches is a great self-published book to read and support! It will be released on October 11, 2022. I think it's actually my favorite book of June 2022, and not far away from 5 stars!
Words that come to my mind: cruel / eerie / unsettling
Favorite quote: Maybe survival meant focusing on what she could do instead of the worst that could happen
After the death of her mother, Vianna Roots is left with no other choice but to return to Salem, her hometown from which she fled ten years ago, to attend her funeral. Vianna's return brings up her past, she was desperate to leave behind, building up a life of her own in Boston. But as the last legacy witch in the Roots family line, she now inherits the family's haunted house and has to face the Blood Coven, she never joined for a good reason.
As a solitary witch, a witch without a coven, and as an outcast looked down to by the other witches, Vianna's plan is simple: Sell the house and leave Salem as soon as possible.
Her plan quickly falls apart when she discovers that the house is haunted by the ghost of her childhood best friend, apparently murdered by Vianna's mother, and no one seems to know or care about it.
Vianna feels she owes it to her former best friend to find out what happened to her and starts to snoop around, what earns her even more attention from the Blood Coven.
The Coven wants to make sure Vianna leave Salem as quickly as possible and they make an offer on her house, but after starting to bond with the demon familiar who possesses her house, finding a new friend and the attention from her former crush, Vianna is no longer sure if that's what she wants.
Legacy Witches has so much to offer! Covens, ghosts, demons, hoodoo, murder, friendship and the struggle with finding your own path. Vianna is a very reliable main character who wants to do the right thing by staying away from the murderous Blood Coven and who struggles with her conscience when she is nonetheless drawn into the witches world, which she was determined to avoid.
I loved the friendship Vianna builds with Dee, another solitary witch, outcasted for being transgender. She was amazing and I loved she parts of the book with her in it.
In the middle of the book I was a bit overwhelmed (like Vianna) because so many different things happened, but after I finished the book I discovered there's going to be a second one, so it makes perfect sense that not everything gets cleared up during the first book.
It would have been helpful to know that this is a series beforehand, because I was worried about not getting enough information about parts of the book that interested me more, such as the hoodoo part and the relationships between the police and the covens.
I will definitely read the next book and if you like witches, Legacy Witches is a great self-published book to read and support! It will be released on October 11, 2022. I think it's actually my favorite book of June 2022, and not far away from 5 stars!
November 21, 2022
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this first in a series fiction about hostile witch families in Salem, contending for territory and power. Vianna returns to her home after her mother’s death determined to flip her house — but discovers that her former best friend haunts her house and apparently met a grisly end there. She needs answers and needs to sell the house, but wouldn’t you know it? Obstacles magically arise from every quarter. I enjoyed this fast-paced story of Vianna literally and figuratively facing her demons and would absolutely read the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of a digital arc from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of a digital arc from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.
December 29, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Cass Kay for the eARC.
Honestly, I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. The story has some seriously great aspects: a demon-bound house, legacy witches, ancestral ghosts, and more. There were also some great characters: the aforementioned ghosts, Dee. And characters you loved to hate.
My main issue with this book (and it was a pretty big one) was the main character. She was a mess, which the author enjoyed reminding us about every other page. If there's a seam in the sidewalk, she would trip over it, slam into a guy with hot coffee, soil the last clean shirt she owns, and run headlong into a street sign. Supposedly she's also a free thinker and blazes her own trail, but she remarkably gets roped into doing many things she doesn't want to. And she drinks a lot of moonshine for someone targeted by coven witches. Witches want to kill me? No problem, let's drink.
Vianna is supposed to come from a line of awesomely powerful witches, but she never seems to show us any magic. All her battles are fought by other people (including those who don't like her and randomly never show their faces again). So, we're told she has these extraordinary witchy powers, but where's the proof?
So many characters are thrown away because they barely exist in this book: Tuck, Grayson, and Csada. I was disappointed not to see more of them.
Overall, it was a fine read, but it could be much more. And the main character could annoy me less.
Honestly, I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. The story has some seriously great aspects: a demon-bound house, legacy witches, ancestral ghosts, and more. There were also some great characters: the aforementioned ghosts, Dee. And characters you loved to hate.
My main issue with this book (and it was a pretty big one) was the main character. She was a mess, which the author enjoyed reminding us about every other page. If there's a seam in the sidewalk, she would trip over it, slam into a guy with hot coffee, soil the last clean shirt she owns, and run headlong into a street sign. Supposedly she's also a free thinker and blazes her own trail, but she remarkably gets roped into doing many things she doesn't want to. And she drinks a lot of moonshine for someone targeted by coven witches. Witches want to kill me? No problem, let's drink.
Vianna is supposed to come from a line of awesomely powerful witches, but she never seems to show us any magic. All her battles are fought by other people (including those who don't like her and randomly never show their faces again). So, we're told she has these extraordinary witchy powers, but where's the proof?
So many characters are thrown away because they barely exist in this book: Tuck, Grayson, and Csada. I was disappointed not to see more of them.
Overall, it was a fine read, but it could be much more. And the main character could annoy me less.
August 12, 2022
When Vianna Roots mother dies she has to do the one thing that she’s avoided doing for 10 years—going home. What should be a simple trip home for a funeral of course couldn’t be easy when you’re a legacy member of a coven of witches in Salem. Vianna now has to contend with covens of witches she never wanted to be a part of who just might want her dead, the ghost of her twelfth great grandmother who does not approve of these modern witches, a demon house that loves to play tricks on her, and the potential murder of her childhood friend.
This book was a wild ride! I never quite could tell what was going to happen but I loved every step of the way. Vianna is such a lovely awkward heroine who you find yourself wanting to fight alongside if needed. There are so many great side characters (I’m looking at your Dee!) that help fill out this magic world of murder and mystery. A perfect spooky, witchy read for Halloween.
This book was a wild ride! I never quite could tell what was going to happen but I loved every step of the way. Vianna is such a lovely awkward heroine who you find yourself wanting to fight alongside if needed. There are so many great side characters (I’m looking at your Dee!) that help fill out this magic world of murder and mystery. A perfect spooky, witchy read for Halloween.
August 16, 2022
Wow, this book delivered!
I came for the cover and stayed for the story. Always a sucker for a witchy novel, this one was decently paced to keep me turning those pages without skimping on character development and descriptions of the world.
For her debut novel, Cass Kay has done remarkably well, and to find out that she's drawn her inspiration from her own ancestors makes it more meaningful.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed the underlying themes I've picked up on of not being a blind follower, being the change you want to see and journeys of self discovery.
I'll be eager to be able to add a physical copy of this to my shelf and see where future books take Vianna next!
Thanks to Ingrams Park and Net Galley for this ARC. This is my honest, unbiased review.
I came for the cover and stayed for the story. Always a sucker for a witchy novel, this one was decently paced to keep me turning those pages without skimping on character development and descriptions of the world.
For her debut novel, Cass Kay has done remarkably well, and to find out that she's drawn her inspiration from her own ancestors makes it more meaningful.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed the underlying themes I've picked up on of not being a blind follower, being the change you want to see and journeys of self discovery.
I'll be eager to be able to add a physical copy of this to my shelf and see where future books take Vianna next!
Thanks to Ingrams Park and Net Galley for this ARC. This is my honest, unbiased review.
September 23, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Vianna is from a long line of witches, but she’s special, because she can see ghosts. As a teenager, she ran away from home to flee her overbearing mother. After returning to her hometown of Salem for her mother’s funeral, she discovers that her childhood friend is dead. Things pretty much go downhill for her from then.
There is a lot of description in this book, so if you like the plot to kick off right away, maybe pass take a pass on this one. Once the story gets started, it does tell an interesting story. The world building is excellent. There are characters I loved to hate, and one character that I just loved.
Just a warning, there is a bit of cruelty to an animal and a description of a dead cat.
Vianna is from a long line of witches, but she’s special, because she can see ghosts. As a teenager, she ran away from home to flee her overbearing mother. After returning to her hometown of Salem for her mother’s funeral, she discovers that her childhood friend is dead. Things pretty much go downhill for her from then.
There is a lot of description in this book, so if you like the plot to kick off right away, maybe pass take a pass on this one. Once the story gets started, it does tell an interesting story. The world building is excellent. There are characters I loved to hate, and one character that I just loved.
Just a warning, there is a bit of cruelty to an animal and a description of a dead cat.
October 27, 2022
If I could give this 10 stars I would. Hands down the best book I’ve read this year.
I’m all about witch stories but sometimes they get a little stale. This one was 100% FRESH.
Vienna, our main character, is back in her hometown of Salem after running away from her legacy there 10 years prior. She returns for her mothers burial only to find absolutely nothing has changed. Shunned by the other covens and unsure of what she wants to do with the family familiar, she faces some hard decisions.
Jam-packed with curses, hoodoo, hexing and some seriously snarky witches this book literally has it all if you’re a fan of the witchy genre!
This was an amazing debut novel and I can not wait for the second book!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley to review.
I’m all about witch stories but sometimes they get a little stale. This one was 100% FRESH.
Vienna, our main character, is back in her hometown of Salem after running away from her legacy there 10 years prior. She returns for her mothers burial only to find absolutely nothing has changed. Shunned by the other covens and unsure of what she wants to do with the family familiar, she faces some hard decisions.
Jam-packed with curses, hoodoo, hexing and some seriously snarky witches this book literally has it all if you’re a fan of the witchy genre!
This was an amazing debut novel and I can not wait for the second book!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley to review.
August 25, 2022
Legacy Witches is full of lore, haunting ghosts, danger, mayhem, creative spellwork, and a few twists and turns!
I love when an author takes the world we live in and give it a fictional twist that makes you believe it just might be possible and this book certainly deliveres. From start to finish it's a page-turner, I got sucked in and didn't want to stop reading. There's just enough backstory for the main character to give her depth and it's parsed into the story in such an artful way that it's not like getting a history lesson but just seems like a natural flow of accumulated knowledge. By the end of the book you want to know more and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
I love when an author takes the world we live in and give it a fictional twist that makes you believe it just might be possible and this book certainly deliveres. From start to finish it's a page-turner, I got sucked in and didn't want to stop reading. There's just enough backstory for the main character to give her depth and it's parsed into the story in such an artful way that it's not like getting a history lesson but just seems like a natural flow of accumulated knowledge. By the end of the book you want to know more and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
July 11, 2022
It's not just another book about Salem witches. This story was inspired from the author's own ancestors who appear in the book as real witches from the Salem witch trials.
The first line grabbed me in its initial horror. Then the story became everything I wanted in a daunting tale of haunted houses, witches, and everything else in between.
For readers bored of ‘good’ witches. This is definitely a hard-to-put-down book. I'll be waiting for more.
The first line grabbed me in its initial horror. Then the story became everything I wanted in a daunting tale of haunted houses, witches, and everything else in between.
For readers bored of ‘good’ witches. This is definitely a hard-to-put-down book. I'll be waiting for more.
January 1, 2023
I received this book as a free ARC from Netgalley. Viannah is next in line to inherit her mother’s ancestral legacy magic after her mother dies. This was very similar to many books I’ve read that play on the history of the Salem witch trials. I found myself quite bored up until the final fight scene. My biggest criticism is that this reads like a YA novel, yet it isn’t marketed as such, I think the readership would benefit from more clarity there.
July 19, 2022
Witches, history, mystery, action and adventure!
I absolutely loved this book. I ripped through it in days, and cannot wait for more. A fantasy, quick-paced, magic-rich, insanely readable romp with amazing characters. Couldn't get enough of Dee and I want all the Grayson.
If you love magic, small town, character growth and mystery, this is a sure winner.
I absolutely loved this book. I ripped through it in days, and cannot wait for more. A fantasy, quick-paced, magic-rich, insanely readable romp with amazing characters. Couldn't get enough of Dee and I want all the Grayson.
If you love magic, small town, character growth and mystery, this is a sure winner.
March 9, 2023
Witches ✅ seeing ghosts ✅ running from your legacy to be dragged back in ✅ a demon familiar that is hosted by your house ✅ this book was absolutely fantastic. I loved the growth that the main character had in this, facing her fears and doing what she thought is right rather than easy. I can’t wait to read more! Also: there’s a trans rep in this book, and I’m pretty sure she’s my favorite character. She’s the bees knees.
Vianna ran from Salem and everything that came with being a Legacy Witch a decade ago. Her mother died, and she’s back to lay her to rest and get the estate figured out. Only the ghost of her childhood best friend is now residing in her bathroom. She vows to figure out what happened, and the dominoes start tipping, revealing an ugly underbelly of the Salem witches.
Vianna ran from Salem and everything that came with being a Legacy Witch a decade ago. Her mother died, and she’s back to lay her to rest and get the estate figured out. Only the ghost of her childhood best friend is now residing in her bathroom. She vows to figure out what happened, and the dominoes start tipping, revealing an ugly underbelly of the Salem witches.
September 30, 2022
“No one could escape their family forever. That was truer for her than most, since she was the only one in her family who could see the dead. A gift she’d give anything to give back. Thanks, but no thanks.”
Vianna Roots comes from a long line of powerful witches. She left Salem ten years before, hoping to leave her upbringing behind her but after her mother passes away she reluctantly returns to the family home. The house itself is haunted and Vianna is distressed to see that one of the ghosts is her childhood best friend. The other covens in town would like Vianna to sell the family home and leave town, their actions becoming more and more violent. The harder they push, the deeper she digs in, determined to uncover what happened to her friend.
Legacy Witches turned out to be everything I look for in paranormal/urban fantasy: great characters and world building, lots of lore that I was unfamiliar with, and a strong storyline. Vianna was so uninterested in returning to Salem and the author did a good job of gradually hooking her in, introducing some fascinating side characters (that I hope we’ll see more of). Her ancestors and the house itself play major roles here, too. A big thank you to Cass Kay for sending me her book. I’m hoping she’s working hard on a follow up, hint hint!
Vianna Roots comes from a long line of powerful witches. She left Salem ten years before, hoping to leave her upbringing behind her but after her mother passes away she reluctantly returns to the family home. The house itself is haunted and Vianna is distressed to see that one of the ghosts is her childhood best friend. The other covens in town would like Vianna to sell the family home and leave town, their actions becoming more and more violent. The harder they push, the deeper she digs in, determined to uncover what happened to her friend.
Legacy Witches turned out to be everything I look for in paranormal/urban fantasy: great characters and world building, lots of lore that I was unfamiliar with, and a strong storyline. Vianna was so uninterested in returning to Salem and the author did a good job of gradually hooking her in, introducing some fascinating side characters (that I hope we’ll see more of). Her ancestors and the house itself play major roles here, too. A big thank you to Cass Kay for sending me her book. I’m hoping she’s working hard on a follow up, hint hint!
August 17, 2022
[tw: death, violence, gore]
“leaves rustled in the tree where grandma susannah hung. the hem of her peasant dress swayed with her legs as she swung backward, then forward, making the branch bow before the tip of her pointed boot hit the trunk.”
barely two sentences into the book & i have already lost myself in it. how a story begins in such creepily-captivating way, i have no idea. but if these two lines aren’t enough to prove my point, the book further plays with centuries-old covens, small-town grandma ghosts, and one secret murder—legacy witches is //that// easy, horror read i’ve been looking for & probably one of my best, thus far.
the story gives us a rebellious, runaway witch in the person of vianna roots who refuses to be part of a coven which her mother, grandmother, & her lady ancestors have been founders of. but then, her mother dies which eventually, forced her to go back to salem for funeral arrangements as well as the settlement of the estate ( mainly consisting of an eyesore for a garden that badly needed weeding & a demon-possessed, dilapidated haunted house that has been passed on from one roots witch to another like a precious family heirloom).
the pacing of the story was good & the banters between legacy witches were full-on rainstorms but, i especially fell in love with sandeen—the trans daughter of the coven librarian who loves her sugar treats & has the level of loyalty+wit+fashion anyone would want from a best friend/partner.
i also liked that you can feel from how the events panned out that there are more stories to be told (i.e, probably future interactions with officer grayson & vianna’s childhood best friend, tucker, charles’/barton twins’ revenge, mother’s ghost, etc.) & how such red herrings somehow made me feel giddy for the books that will follow.
thank you netgalley and ingram spark for sending this e-book arc for review consideration. legacy witches will be out on october 11, 2022.
“leaves rustled in the tree where grandma susannah hung. the hem of her peasant dress swayed with her legs as she swung backward, then forward, making the branch bow before the tip of her pointed boot hit the trunk.”
barely two sentences into the book & i have already lost myself in it. how a story begins in such creepily-captivating way, i have no idea. but if these two lines aren’t enough to prove my point, the book further plays with centuries-old covens, small-town grandma ghosts, and one secret murder—legacy witches is //that// easy, horror read i’ve been looking for & probably one of my best, thus far.
the story gives us a rebellious, runaway witch in the person of vianna roots who refuses to be part of a coven which her mother, grandmother, & her lady ancestors have been founders of. but then, her mother dies which eventually, forced her to go back to salem for funeral arrangements as well as the settlement of the estate ( mainly consisting of an eyesore for a garden that badly needed weeding & a demon-possessed, dilapidated haunted house that has been passed on from one roots witch to another like a precious family heirloom).
the pacing of the story was good & the banters between legacy witches were full-on rainstorms but, i especially fell in love with sandeen—the trans daughter of the coven librarian who loves her sugar treats & has the level of loyalty+wit+fashion anyone would want from a best friend/partner.
i also liked that you can feel from how the events panned out that there are more stories to be told (i.e, probably future interactions with officer grayson & vianna’s childhood best friend, tucker, charles’/barton twins’ revenge, mother’s ghost, etc.) & how such red herrings somehow made me feel giddy for the books that will follow.
thank you netgalley and ingram spark for sending this e-book arc for review consideration. legacy witches will be out on october 11, 2022.
October 11, 2022
This book, you all! This book right here.
Legacy Witches is an amazing dark urban fantasy/magical realism that is utterly perfect for fans of dark witches, coven politics, found family, small town antics, and incredibly researched details that bring the witchy world to life.
It starts with Vianna Roots coming home to bury her mother and sell the family house, which is haunted by her dead ancestors and possessed by a demon. But she finds out her childhood friend was murdered in the house and before she can get away from Salem and the witch world she ran from, she has to know what happened. An array of incredible side characters join the journey as Vi tests the dangerous coven system at every turn.
This first book in the series sets the stage for what is sure to be one hell of a series. I cannot wait for more!
Legacy Witches is an amazing dark urban fantasy/magical realism that is utterly perfect for fans of dark witches, coven politics, found family, small town antics, and incredibly researched details that bring the witchy world to life.
It starts with Vianna Roots coming home to bury her mother and sell the family house, which is haunted by her dead ancestors and possessed by a demon. But she finds out her childhood friend was murdered in the house and before she can get away from Salem and the witch world she ran from, she has to know what happened. An array of incredible side characters join the journey as Vi tests the dangerous coven system at every turn.
This first book in the series sets the stage for what is sure to be one hell of a series. I cannot wait for more!
October 15, 2022
Wow. 10 out of 10. This was a beautiful book to get me into the spooky season and I’m enchanted by the characters and by Salem. The writing flowed effortlessly and I found myself staying up all night to keep reading one more chapter. The story of the Roots family had me captivated and I cannot wait for book two. I was an ARC Reader through Net Galley and I 100% will be purchasing my own copy so I can reread it again.
September 7, 2022
Vianna Roots is a reluctant witch from a Salem family with a long history of witchcraft. She also sees the dead which is not a normal characteristic of a witch. She never fit in—either with the town or her family and had a bad relationship with her mother. As soon as she was able, she escaped in the middle of the night and had no intention of ever returning to her childhood home.
Fate had other plans for Vianna. Her mother died and she had to return home to take part in the ritual of the burial of her mother. But Vianna has other plans than performing the ritual as it is supposed to go. She wants to tie her mother to the grave so she can’t come back and harass her like her other dead relatives do—especially her grandmother Susannah.
When Vianna arrives in Salem, she has an accident in her old truck with, of all things, a local policeman. Then, when she gets to the house she inherited and can’t wait to sell off, the house won’t let her in and things continue to go downhill for her from there.
She doesn’t want to wear witch robes to the cemetery and chooses a red dress from her mother’s closet which turns out to be the dress her mother wore when she was initiated into her role as a witch. Something Vianna is determined not to let happen to herself.
At the cemetery, we meet a number of other characters who all have distinct personalities and who do not much care for the rebel Vianna. The scene is set for more drama in her life.
Vianna ties her mother to her grave and once she returns home, she starts to clear out some of the old things lying around. In searching a drawer, she finds a rotting hand. A vision of a woman reliving her death in the bathroom shows her where the hand originated. And now Vianna is on a quest to help this spirit to rest—a spirit she happens to know quite well. But she doesn’t plan to embrace her legacy as a witch. She is going to solve this issue with this spirit and sell the house and leave again as soon as she can.
Along the way to her goal, Vianna goes on a date with a man she had a crush on in high school. She finds, not only is he weird and possessive, but his mother has issues, too. He’s persistent and annoying. She’s mystified about why he’s suddenly attracted to her. Old school mates wreak havoc in her life, and, when danger arises, she even has to head back to the cemetery to dig up another ancestor and get a bone from her—not because she wants to embrace her legacy, but because it’s necessary to do so.
The cemetery caretaker is someone she knew in the past who is not welcome in the witching community either and they strike up a friendship. I loved their relationship. It was nice to have someone that the heroine could rely on and who was a great character. She offered some relief from the gloomy atmosphere and danger the heroine was in.
This book was delightful to read. A lot of great action, a mystery about some paintings and a dead girl in the bathroom as well as the friendship that arises between two people who don’t fit in makes for a great story. The author also gives us fans of the macabre and light horror a lot of great, descriptive scenes. This is no white witch, light comedy type story that glosses over some of the darker sides of the craft. I quite enjoyed the change of pace from those type stories.
I recommend this one as it is chockful of great scenes, some humor and a compelling story, not least of which is how misfits can find their place and make the home/family they need.
Fate had other plans for Vianna. Her mother died and she had to return home to take part in the ritual of the burial of her mother. But Vianna has other plans than performing the ritual as it is supposed to go. She wants to tie her mother to the grave so she can’t come back and harass her like her other dead relatives do—especially her grandmother Susannah.
When Vianna arrives in Salem, she has an accident in her old truck with, of all things, a local policeman. Then, when she gets to the house she inherited and can’t wait to sell off, the house won’t let her in and things continue to go downhill for her from there.
She doesn’t want to wear witch robes to the cemetery and chooses a red dress from her mother’s closet which turns out to be the dress her mother wore when she was initiated into her role as a witch. Something Vianna is determined not to let happen to herself.
At the cemetery, we meet a number of other characters who all have distinct personalities and who do not much care for the rebel Vianna. The scene is set for more drama in her life.
Vianna ties her mother to her grave and once she returns home, she starts to clear out some of the old things lying around. In searching a drawer, she finds a rotting hand. A vision of a woman reliving her death in the bathroom shows her where the hand originated. And now Vianna is on a quest to help this spirit to rest—a spirit she happens to know quite well. But she doesn’t plan to embrace her legacy as a witch. She is going to solve this issue with this spirit and sell the house and leave again as soon as she can.
Along the way to her goal, Vianna goes on a date with a man she had a crush on in high school. She finds, not only is he weird and possessive, but his mother has issues, too. He’s persistent and annoying. She’s mystified about why he’s suddenly attracted to her. Old school mates wreak havoc in her life, and, when danger arises, she even has to head back to the cemetery to dig up another ancestor and get a bone from her—not because she wants to embrace her legacy, but because it’s necessary to do so.
The cemetery caretaker is someone she knew in the past who is not welcome in the witching community either and they strike up a friendship. I loved their relationship. It was nice to have someone that the heroine could rely on and who was a great character. She offered some relief from the gloomy atmosphere and danger the heroine was in.
This book was delightful to read. A lot of great action, a mystery about some paintings and a dead girl in the bathroom as well as the friendship that arises between two people who don’t fit in makes for a great story. The author also gives us fans of the macabre and light horror a lot of great, descriptive scenes. This is no white witch, light comedy type story that glosses over some of the darker sides of the craft. I quite enjoyed the change of pace from those type stories.
I recommend this one as it is chockful of great scenes, some humor and a compelling story, not least of which is how misfits can find their place and make the home/family they need.
September 5, 2022
“Legacy Witches” by Cass Kay opens with Vianna Roots staring at her childhood home, creating an air of intrigue for the reader regarding her obvious history with the home and surroundings. Vianna is home to bury her mother and nothing more, as she’d love nothing less than to leave the home and town for which she possesses less than fond memories. Vianna is a legacy witch with a hefty expectation on her shoulders of carrying on the family line after her mother’s death. This includes bonding with the family familiar and utilizing past ancestors. When she catches the eye of an old classmate, she feels both enthralled and confused as she realizes the extent to which she’s grown while on her own over the last ten years. When Vianna uncovers a mystery related to the status of a missing childhood friend, she struggles to beat the odds of convincing the majority coven, who are misinformed, and prepares for battle as a consequence.
“Legacy Witches” is a mixture of coming of age and standing up for what is right in the face of pressure and tradition. Several themes present themselves and show the polarity they work against—acceptance versus rejection in personal character, presentation, and family lineage, “old-age” versus “new-age” with behaviors and cognitive reasoning, and dependence versus independence within self and outwardly toward others.
“Legacy Witches” is the first in the “Legacy” series and this reviewer highly anticipates the next volume if it continues to follow similar themes and characters. The story shows a different view of witches in other ways than they are portrayed in media; being a witch isn’t just warts, cauldrons, flying broomsticks, and black cats, but rather a more in-depth look at them as being both everyday citizens of the town of Salem, and their private personas that spotlight their rituals and rules of law and order, depending on the clan/tribe/last name with which they associate.
Through “Legacy Witches” Kay allows the reader to accompany Vianna on her personal journey which leads to more extensive changes in and around herself. At the beginning of the story, there is a trigger warning that is a good head’s up to readers that Kay doesn’t shy from mentioning ways that “witches” have died in the past from witch hunts and trials as real happenings in the story. The story is best suited for mature audiences as it refers to physical assault, murder, drug use, sexuality, and violence, and contains some less-than-child-friendly language.
“Legacy Witches” had me hooked from page one – so good! Highly recommended 5-star review.
“Legacy Witches” is a mixture of coming of age and standing up for what is right in the face of pressure and tradition. Several themes present themselves and show the polarity they work against—acceptance versus rejection in personal character, presentation, and family lineage, “old-age” versus “new-age” with behaviors and cognitive reasoning, and dependence versus independence within self and outwardly toward others.
“Legacy Witches” is the first in the “Legacy” series and this reviewer highly anticipates the next volume if it continues to follow similar themes and characters. The story shows a different view of witches in other ways than they are portrayed in media; being a witch isn’t just warts, cauldrons, flying broomsticks, and black cats, but rather a more in-depth look at them as being both everyday citizens of the town of Salem, and their private personas that spotlight their rituals and rules of law and order, depending on the clan/tribe/last name with which they associate.
Through “Legacy Witches” Kay allows the reader to accompany Vianna on her personal journey which leads to more extensive changes in and around herself. At the beginning of the story, there is a trigger warning that is a good head’s up to readers that Kay doesn’t shy from mentioning ways that “witches” have died in the past from witch hunts and trials as real happenings in the story. The story is best suited for mature audiences as it refers to physical assault, murder, drug use, sexuality, and violence, and contains some less-than-child-friendly language.
“Legacy Witches” had me hooked from page one – so good! Highly recommended 5-star review.
October 8, 2022
Woe be to the witch who doesn’t join a coven in Salem, especially if she’s a legacy witch, as Vianna Roots knows firsthand. She fled her mother and murderous coven just days before her initiation and only returned to her historic home ten years later to (finally) bury her mother. Her intent is to get through the funeral, sell the ancestral home to the first acceptable bidder (complete with embedded demon familiar) and skedaddle back to Boston. But of course, nothing is that easy.
Before the funeral is over, her ancestors have given her the mantle of the Roots witches. A responsibility Vianna most definitely doesn’t want. But something is wickedly wrong in Salem. The coven witches all seem to be kowtowing to a first-generation witch, Vianna’s highschool crush keeps sniffing around for no explicable reason, and her childhood best friend is now a ghost in her house. Vianna may have to embrace her legacy if she wants to go up against the coven and find out why her friend was murdered, but she’s going to do it her way.
These are the witches that give witches a bad name. There’s no Glenda the Good Witch in this book, at least not among the coven witches. And I loved it! This was a magick structure I hadn’t really seen before - where the coven peddles in hexes and murder for hire and all of the white magick belongs to the hoodoo practitioners. I did scratch my head a bit at how the coven witches stayed in business - it seemed someone would have caught on long ago at the number of people who went “missing,” but no matter. It’s fiction and gave Vianna something monstrous to fight against.
Vianna’s character reminded me a lot of a Kelley Armstrong heroine. Gutsy, stubborn and not willing to bend to anyone else’s will. Dee was a ray of sunshine, never blinking as Vianna broke the rules right, left and center. And Shuck - possibly the most unique familiar to date. I mean, really, how did the author come up with that?
I hope this is the first in a series, since there’s plenty of potential for Vianna to leave her mark in Salem. Given how it ended, my assumption is that there’s a book #2 coming. Which I will happily read and review.
A very solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing the ARC. I’ve left my review honestly and voluntarily.
Before the funeral is over, her ancestors have given her the mantle of the Roots witches. A responsibility Vianna most definitely doesn’t want. But something is wickedly wrong in Salem. The coven witches all seem to be kowtowing to a first-generation witch, Vianna’s highschool crush keeps sniffing around for no explicable reason, and her childhood best friend is now a ghost in her house. Vianna may have to embrace her legacy if she wants to go up against the coven and find out why her friend was murdered, but she’s going to do it her way.
These are the witches that give witches a bad name. There’s no Glenda the Good Witch in this book, at least not among the coven witches. And I loved it! This was a magick structure I hadn’t really seen before - where the coven peddles in hexes and murder for hire and all of the white magick belongs to the hoodoo practitioners. I did scratch my head a bit at how the coven witches stayed in business - it seemed someone would have caught on long ago at the number of people who went “missing,” but no matter. It’s fiction and gave Vianna something monstrous to fight against.
Vianna’s character reminded me a lot of a Kelley Armstrong heroine. Gutsy, stubborn and not willing to bend to anyone else’s will. Dee was a ray of sunshine, never blinking as Vianna broke the rules right, left and center. And Shuck - possibly the most unique familiar to date. I mean, really, how did the author come up with that?
I hope this is the first in a series, since there’s plenty of potential for Vianna to leave her mark in Salem. Given how it ended, my assumption is that there’s a book #2 coming. Which I will happily read and review.
A very solid 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing the ARC. I’ve left my review honestly and voluntarily.
September 30, 2022
The cover caught my eye first, and when I read the synopsis I knew this would be the perfect book for the spooky season! It has everything you could possibly want in a witchy supernatural book. It takes place in Salem, which after reading this book has jumped to the top place I want to visit next October. There are witches good ones, but really mostly bad who have no problem trying to Hex, or kill whatever problems they might have. A demon-possessed house name Shuck is now one of my new favorite things. I would be just like Dee, thinking that it was endlessly fascinating that the house steals stuff, growls when it's upset, purrs when its happy and while the ghosts living out their death loops might put me off a bit, I have fallen in love with Shuck.
Vianna is doing the best she can, she has come home for her mom's funeral, and she plans to get out of Salem as soon as possible. If only her best friend wasn't haunting her bathroom, and the other witches in her old coven weren't trying to get her house and kick her out of town. So she needs to figure out what happened to her friend before she leaves and while doing that uncovers a huge thing going down in the witch community, That someone definitely doesn't want to come out. Oh and survive the Hoodoo guy who also wants the house. We have no idea how she is going to survive all these people trying to kill her. Thankfully she is resourceful and has made a new friend Dee who thinks the whole seeing ghosts and demon house is pretty cool and doesn't scare easily.
I love Vianna, Dee, Shuck, and even a couple of the grandmas that are haunting the house (they are mean but funny) I will definitely be buying a copy of this book, and I'm really excited to read more in this series!!!
Vianna is doing the best she can, she has come home for her mom's funeral, and she plans to get out of Salem as soon as possible. If only her best friend wasn't haunting her bathroom, and the other witches in her old coven weren't trying to get her house and kick her out of town. So she needs to figure out what happened to her friend before she leaves and while doing that uncovers a huge thing going down in the witch community, That someone definitely doesn't want to come out. Oh and survive the Hoodoo guy who also wants the house. We have no idea how she is going to survive all these people trying to kill her. Thankfully she is resourceful and has made a new friend Dee who thinks the whole seeing ghosts and demon house is pretty cool and doesn't scare easily.
I love Vianna, Dee, Shuck, and even a couple of the grandmas that are haunting the house (they are mean but funny) I will definitely be buying a copy of this book, and I'm really excited to read more in this series!!!
August 14, 2022
4.5 stars
The only thing I didn’t thoroughly enjoy was I felt it was a slow burn for most of the book until the end. I’m more of a page turner type of reader so I struggled a little. With that being said, I loved this book so much. First of all, props to Cass Kay for self publishing this book. Thank you. Second, not only did I love the more dark/realistic side of witchcraft but when I found out it was based on her ancestry I loved it even more.
The characters she created we’re so realistic that you either loathed them entirely or we’re rooting for their success. No one blurred into the background. I was on my toes guessing the whole time what direction the storyline would go down. Like Vie, I trusted no one. Unlike Vie, I would’ve woken up and chosen violence every day to deal with Charles and anyone who came after me.
I cannot wait to read the next book!
Thank you Cass Kay for not only writing a dark witchy book in time for Halloween (Samhain ;)) but for also allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC via Netgalley.
The only thing I didn’t thoroughly enjoy was I felt it was a slow burn for most of the book until the end. I’m more of a page turner type of reader so I struggled a little. With that being said, I loved this book so much. First of all, props to Cass Kay for self publishing this book. Thank you. Second, not only did I love the more dark/realistic side of witchcraft but when I found out it was based on her ancestry I loved it even more.
The characters she created we’re so realistic that you either loathed them entirely or we’re rooting for their success. No one blurred into the background. I was on my toes guessing the whole time what direction the storyline would go down. Like Vie, I trusted no one. Unlike Vie, I would’ve woken up and chosen violence every day to deal with Charles and anyone who came after me.
I cannot wait to read the next book!
Thank you Cass Kay for not only writing a dark witchy book in time for Halloween (Samhain ;)) but for also allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC via Netgalley.
January 9, 2023
Murderous witches, spells and my favorite city in the world, Salem? COUNT ME IN! I've always enjoyed Witchy books and had high expectations going into this one and it did not disappoint. The author is descriptive but not in a way where you get irritated, you can literally put yourself in the world and envision what she's trying to get across to the readers. There are 2 instances of animal death, one including a dog which typically pisses me off because it's usually added for shock value but it fits with the era. Some will say it's predictable and yes maybe because it is a series so going in I knew that Vianna wasn't going anywhere. I absolutely enjoyed this story and am so excited for the next book to come out. Thank you to #netgalley and Cass Kay for the advanced copy (sorry it took so long to read but #life) #LegacyWitches is a book you should add to your TBR if you enjoy Witchy books
October 6, 2022
Vianna thought she escaped her legacy witch roots ten years ago when she ran away from Salem, leaving behind her wicked mother and the evil Original Blood Coven. But when her mothers dies, Vianna returns to Salem to make sure her mother’s ghost stays in its grave. Vianna decides to stay just long enough to figure out what happened to her childhood friend and prepare her house for sale, but she finds herself in the middle of some nasty coven business.
Legacy Witches is the perfect book to get you ready for the Halloween season. The urban fantasy story with a touch of paranormal horror is engrossing and dark, yet leaves a touch of hope in my soul. I’m not a fan of horror, and this book isn’t horror, but it’s not fluffy either. The setting and storytelling reminds me a lot of CW’s paranormal version of Nancy Drew (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10313176/), bringing horrifying ghosts and paranormal activity together with an engaging mystery.
Vianna is a complicated heroine who just wants to forsake her legacy as a witch from a generations-old, powerful coven and family. She goes against the grain, denying the passion to kill and amass power, instead she wants to heal. Yet in order to protect herself and friends, she must take on the mantle of the Root family’s power. She is conflicted, and I love how Vianna finds balance in her own way.
Not only is Vianna an amazing character, but the world is interesting and exciting. The story is filled with intricate details which help set the scene and mood. I like that the author doesn’t overbuild her world, instead she allows readers experience things as Vianna does. I love how Vianna asks herself good questions and probes the facts as she tries to puzzle out what’s going. I want to know more about the world and what is happening because the story is written so well.
The plot is well thought out and leaves room for future stories. The author balances world-building and storytelling with expertise. While some of the characters are molded by stereotypes, they serve their purpose to further the plot. Additionally, there are some amazing supporting characters in Dee, Grandma Susannah, and Shuck.
In the end, Legacy Witches is a fabulous story and the start of what promises to be an entertaining series. While the timing of the story is perfect match for the crisp autumn air and upcoming Halloween season, I hope I don’t have to wait a year for the second book!
My Rating: A
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by the author
Legacy Witches is the perfect book to get you ready for the Halloween season. The urban fantasy story with a touch of paranormal horror is engrossing and dark, yet leaves a touch of hope in my soul. I’m not a fan of horror, and this book isn’t horror, but it’s not fluffy either. The setting and storytelling reminds me a lot of CW’s paranormal version of Nancy Drew (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10313176/), bringing horrifying ghosts and paranormal activity together with an engaging mystery.
Vianna is a complicated heroine who just wants to forsake her legacy as a witch from a generations-old, powerful coven and family. She goes against the grain, denying the passion to kill and amass power, instead she wants to heal. Yet in order to protect herself and friends, she must take on the mantle of the Root family’s power. She is conflicted, and I love how Vianna finds balance in her own way.
Not only is Vianna an amazing character, but the world is interesting and exciting. The story is filled with intricate details which help set the scene and mood. I like that the author doesn’t overbuild her world, instead she allows readers experience things as Vianna does. I love how Vianna asks herself good questions and probes the facts as she tries to puzzle out what’s going. I want to know more about the world and what is happening because the story is written so well.
The plot is well thought out and leaves room for future stories. The author balances world-building and storytelling with expertise. While some of the characters are molded by stereotypes, they serve their purpose to further the plot. Additionally, there are some amazing supporting characters in Dee, Grandma Susannah, and Shuck.
In the end, Legacy Witches is a fabulous story and the start of what promises to be an entertaining series. While the timing of the story is perfect match for the crisp autumn air and upcoming Halloween season, I hope I don’t have to wait a year for the second book!
My Rating: A
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by the author
September 27, 2022
I really enjoy reading books like this one. The story is so well developed and the characters are so well thought out that one can envision getting to know them. Vianna is such an interesting person. She begins as an insecure witch, not wanting to take her place as new head witch; to a completely capable witch that takes on another powerful witch. Throw in a demon familiar, a protagonist that can see ghosts and you have one heck of a fun read.
October 29, 2022
Thanks to the author and Netgalley to let me read this ARC in exange for my honest review.
I found the book very original and I never read nothing like that .
A book about friendship, growth, acceptance, family legacy, witches, murder , mistery, covens and a lot more !
I loved all Dee's moments <3
The only cons was the slow development.
This book is perfect for the Spooky Season *.*
I found the book very original and I never read nothing like that .
A book about friendship, growth, acceptance, family legacy, witches, murder , mistery, covens and a lot more !
I loved all Dee's moments <3
The only cons was the slow development.
This book is perfect for the Spooky Season *.*
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