The Line (Witching Savannah, book 1) by J.D. Horn
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: The Line (1)
Move over, Sookie Stackhouse—the witches of Savannah are the new talk of the South. Bold, flirty, and with a touch of darkness, debut author J.D. Horn spins a mesmerizing tale of a family of witches . . . and the problem that can arise from being so powerful. As Charlaine Harris’ series winds down—and as Deborah Harkness’ series heats up—Witching Savannah is new contemporary fantasy that will be sure to enchant new readers.
Mercy Taylor, the youngest member of Savannah’s preeminent witching family, was born without the gift of magic. She is accustomed to coming in a distant second to the minutes older, exquisite and gifted twin she adores. Hopelessly in love with her sister’s boyfriend, she goes to a Hoodoo root doctor for a love spell. A spell that will turn her heart to another man, the best friend who has loved her since childhood.
Aunt Ginny, the family’s matriarch, would not approve. But Mercy has more to worry about than a love triangle when Aunt Ginny is brutally murdered. Ginny was the Taylor family’s high commander in the defense of the bewitched line that separates humankind from the demons who once ruled our realm.
A demon invasion looms now that the line is compromised. Worse yet, some within the witching world stand to gain from a demon takeover. Mercy, entangled in the dark magic of her love spell, fighting for her sister’s trust, and hopelessly without magic, must tap the strength born from being an outcast to protect the line she doesn’t feel a part of...
In this riveting contemporary fantasy, Horn delivers the full betrayal, blood, and familial discord of the best of Southern gothic.
Review:
It doesn't seem like too many new Urban Fantasy series are coming out lately. Authors are either expanding beloved series, ending them, or moving into Paranormal Romance and Young/New Adult. So that's why The Line caught my eye. It takes place in Savannah, one of my favorite Urban Fantasy cities next to New Orleans. Then it threw witches into the mix. And if I'm honest witches are my guilty pleasure for Urban Fantasy. True, I'm a hard core werewolves and vampires fan. Deep down witches will always hold a secret place in my heart. Sadly very few things that utilize witches make them believable and well . . . not childish. Or over the top Satan's spawn!!
That's why within a few pages of The Line I was hooked. Ohhhh, so hooked. Mercy Taylor is promptly introduced while giving her Lair's Tour. While it's unclear if she really needs the money, one thing is clear this book is gonna have drama! The main character is from a prominent—filthy rich—family. The Lairs Tour is a job Mercy created where she goes around taking people on tours lying about the city and places. Making up or spinning stories off the top of her head. To be honest I think it's brilliant and I would hands down take that tour! With the rich writing, I felt like I was sweating it up in Savannah and indeed on that tour. After the tour was done I was all to ready to enjoy the rest of Mercy’s life and world.
Boy is The Line all about the drama. Crazy soap opera family drama! One Life to Live and All My Children may be off the air, but The Line finally delivered the fix I've been hungering for! All the character's have some serious issues, and what I'd fondly refer to as zany personalities. From Mercy's crazy as hell head of the house, slushed up aunt, and gay uncle there's plenty of personalities to butt heads. Though the big fail for me was how evil Mercy's sister is, and at no point was there any love on the sister's part towards Mercy to make me feel for the relationship. In that one huge wicked-sister plot point was the books fatal flaw.
Yet, the drama mixed in with all the mysteries, multiple plots, and drama—yes loads of drama—made it all better. Yes. There was plenty of predictable points, but Horn definitely made up for it and pulled a few over my eyes. Now I'm not going to ruin anything and won't dig to much into the plot. However, I will say there are plenty of players here and it kind of made me think of Game of Thrones witches edition. While there wasn't any dramatic deaths, everyone is a player and the succession for the “throne” is on. (OK, I was watching Game of Thrones while I read The Line, so take the comparison with a grain of salt. They both definitely have drama.)
Mercy is a pretty nice character, at times she comes off as a martyr and I wished she'd get her bitch on and smack down on some people! But there in lies the breath of fresh are that The Line brings to the genre. Mercy is a genuine and nice person, one who wants to see the best in people. Even when her own romance is tanked and everyone she knows has betrayed her somehow. The drama, characters, plot, and the magic here is soooooooooooo refreshing. When the last page turned this unearthly glowing happened and I was transported to my happy book place that had been unreachable this year with my book funk. (At least from new titles/authors.) The Line made me feel refreshed and brave to go out and try new authors again! Bravo Horn! Bravo. Take my money.
Sexual Content: Plenty of sexual humor, and some dark themes. The love scene was actually fairly mild.
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!
| Previous book(s) in series: | ||
| Reviewed on BW: | Amazon: | Goodreads: |
| The Line (1) The Source (2) The Void (3) | The Line (1) The Source (2) The Void (3) | The Line (1) The Source (2) The Void (3) |
