Witchbane: Volume 1

Morgan Brice lays the groundwork for a spectacular series in Witchbane. A fast-moving thriller with tons of magic, mystery, and steamy romance - it starts with a bang and never lets up. Even better, as an audiobook, Kale Williams adds intensity with his emotional performance and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here! Fans of the TV show Supernatural are going to love this series. We get the best of both worlds with paranormal mysteries plus a crazy hot romance. There’s great chemistry between the main characters, and what starts as sizzling lust only gets hotter as their connection grows. Morgan Brice writes some riveting descriptions in this story, and starts with a grisly murder scene which rivals some of the best horror I’ve read. I’m not spoiling anything by warning you of what the blurb describes as Seth’s brother’s “gruesome murder” - it’s not for the faint of heart. Between the supernatural events surrounding the murder, followed shortly by his parents’ fatal car crash and the destruction of his family home, Seth knows this is more than a run of bad luck. When he uncovers what a group of witch-disciples have been doing for the past hundred years, Seth is out for vengeance! The trail to the next victim leads Seth to Richmond, Virginia where Evan is working as a bartender. Seth stops in for a meal, and when they make a date, he’s got no idea Evan is the next victim. Although neither man is looking to dive into a relationship, the lovin' is spectacular... and Evan does need a bodyguard, right? I enjoy the way Morgan Brice writes the dual points-of-view, allowing some of the scenes to be retold from both characters. Seeing how each man reacts to the same situation, and how it impacts their actions, really helps to get to know them. These are two hot-headed alpha males and I see moments filled with lots of make-up lovin' in their futures. Looking at where this series can go, I’m anxious to uncover the mystery behind Seth’s parents’ deaths, I want to know more about Evan’s stalker, and I’m hoping we’ll learn the history of the witch-disciples. The main thing nagging at me after listening to Witchbane? I’ve just got to watch that bodyguard movie!

This story is another one of the increasingly more common urban fantasy series that sets a team on a quest to hunt monsters that are harming unsuspecting folks. The characters are engaging, the setting is decent, the plot has some interesting developments, and the romance is steamy. I would like to see some more vivid descriptions of scenery, monsters, and fights. One of the perks of writing urban fantasy stories is the opportunity to show the reader something new or unique. This is just the first book so I hope the author takes advantage of this opportunity more in the rest of the series because I like the descriptions of regular urban settings. Kale Williams adds some flavor to the story with his narration, and I look forward t listening to the entire series.