From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the first in a new spellbinding trilogy… crazy. Then she discovers her husband has cheated on her. Again. Now Molly realizes she is a newly awakening witch and a woman pushed over the edge.
Revenge can shape a person…
Josiah Mason is a Powerful witch and the leader of a secret coven with a shared goal: to destroy an ancient enemy who has ruined many lives. Josiah lost years to this man, and his sole focus is revenge. He’s prepared for every contingency—except encountering a beautiful new witch who understands nothing of the immense Power building within her or the attraction she wields over him.
Danger can bring them together…
When divorcing her husband, Molly uncovers a dangerous secret he’s willing to kill to protect. She turns to Josiah for help, and they discover a connection between Molly’s husband and Josiah’s enemy.
As they work together, a spark ignites between them that threatens to become an inferno. But Molly is done compromising herself for any man, and Josiah’s mission is his top priority. And the enemy is cunning, cruel, and drawing ever closer.
As the danger escalates, so does the tension between them. Is a lasting relationship possible? Will either of them live long enough to try?
more
** Spoiler Alert **
Discovery. Empowerment. Coming Into Your Own.
Harrison is an author I enjoy. I like her Elder Race series and American Witch is in the same world. Their were things I loved and things not so much, but the author did enough to keep me engaged and spellbound in the story.
“She was the most dangerous woman he had ever met, and she didn’t yet know a fraction of what she was truly capable of.”
Molly, our awakening witch, is not your typical heroine. She’s in her 40’s which makes her a mature women who knows what she wants and doesn’t want. I like that the author gave us an older heroine. Yet, we soon learn that she gave up who she was to be a wife, socialite, and homemaker for her husband. The perfect wife! Things soon unfold and Molly discovers that her husband has been less then faithful, again. This kicks off a chain of unexpected events; leading her to a man who tests both her patience and resolve.
With Molly I had this sense of self discovery and empowerment. She’s coming into her Power’s, finding her voice and strength, and finally; become who she was meant to be.
“Josiah. But he was too magnetic and powerful in a way she had never known before, both personally and magically. His dark, polished essence frightened as much as it enticed her.”
Our lead and hero is kinda a jerk. He’s out for revenge and will use any means, people or otherwise to complete his goal. He’s focused, he’s determined, and he put his coven together for one purpose only. It took me a while to warm up to Josiah. I liked seeing his focus shift and him finally seeing/discovering that this one event in his life has consumed him, but with Molly coming into his life things change.
The Romance: Molly and Josiah’s romance is bumpy. I did like that Molly stood up for herself and stood up against him. Josiah needs a strong woman.
One thing I could have done without and it’s cliché in my mind, is the surprise baby. I saw it coming, but what made it bearable was that Molly and Josiah handled it as adults. Not hiding the baby or feelings on it.
The other thing that bothered me was that Molly starts having these dreams about a women she is to find. It all starts when her Powers awaken. It wasn’t until 50% in the book that she finally leaves town, but she doesn’t fully commit to looking until 60-70% in the book. It just took to long for her to get her butt in gear on finding this person who might be able to help her.
Secondary Characters: I liked several of the secondary characters, some more then others, but that’s due to what’s happened to them and how they act. I do hope we get to come back into this world and dig deeper into some of the other characters introduced.
The suspense was enticing on who the bad person or persons are that are hunting and hurting people. This evil we briefly meet and realizes it’s bigger then what’s first implied.
Last, the author did a great job giving the reader and characters this feeling of peace, love, and home, but also the knowledge that it’s not over.
Overall, American Witch was an enchanting and alluring read full of magic, action, suspense, and romance.
Rated: 4 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Thea Harrison with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Fabulous book in the Elder Races world, but this one is particularly steamy and the characters incredibly appealing. There are times when I want to smack the heroine, but that’s simply who she is – she’s supposed to be occasionally short-sighted and annoying, and the hero gives as good as he gets.
Great love scenes, epic villain, yum yum yum. I listened to the audiobook with Sophie Eastlake and she does her usual stellar job.
Molly Sullivan has been pushed over the edge by her cheating husband and suddenly all the inexplicable things that has been happening around her: electrical surges, car breakdowns, visions start to make more sense as she realizes that she has power and it is awakening. A powerful witch, Josiah Mason is the leader of a secret coven with a shared goal, to destroy an ancient enemy. He prepared for every contingency – except encountering a beautiful witch with not understanding of the immense Power building inside of her. Uncovering a dangerous secret has someone wanting to Molly dead so she turns to Josiah for help which has a spark igniting between them but with danger escalating will either one of them live long enough to give being in a relationship a try?
This new Elder Race story is an enthralling and empowering read that readers find impossible to put down. The characters are strong, convincing and easily demand attention with the heroine overcoming a lot and finally coming into her own as she learns to control her burgeoning powers and regain the confidence in herself that she lost. The hero has let revenge shape his life and turned him cold which makes this read an emotionally gripping read and readers can’t help but become caught up in the changes that happen to couple throughout this story. The chemistry between Molly and Josiah splendidly electrical and as powerful as the magic flowing through their veins and readers can practically feel the burn as this combustible romance takes off.
The fast paced plot is full of thrilling events that steadily builds suspense throughout the story ensuring that readers don’t want to miss a second of what is happening and unexpected twists ensures that they can’t possibly predict the outcome and an adrenaline pumping magical battle which makes this one magical, thrilling and empowering reading experience.
3.75 stars
“American Witch” by Thea Harrison is the introductory volume in this new trilogy and features newly minted witch, Molly Sullivan, whose powers start manifesting as her personal life is imploding. Josiah Mason, Atlanta DA, has been single-minded in his quest for vengeance and has gathered a coven to help him achieve his goals. Interacting with the nascent witch threatens to change his focus, but is she an opportunity to capitalize on or will she teach him that there is more to life than pursuing someone’s death?
This paranormal romance sets the stage for a new series within the broader world that the Elder Races share with humans. It has the author’s trademark feisty characters and intensely emotional situations, but it isn’t quite as enthralling to me as some of the other stories. Although it is easy to sympathize with the main characters and the horrendous experiences they have overcome, their hot-and-cold interactions are a little forced, especially because Josiah is such an overbearing and opinionated male at first. I love that Molly’s experiences leave her bowed but unbroken and that she finds a way to remain true to herself. Those with triggers should be warned that there are a couple of difficult scenes and a bit of violence throughout the story.
There are multiple levels of relationships that are explored, and I struggled with a couple of developments, especially those that involved betrayal, but I enjoyed seeing Molly grow both emotionally and in her powers. The revelation of the target for Josiah’s wrath was an intriguing twist that I am looking forward to learning more about, and as always, there are delicious word portraits that enrich this world. There hasn’t been a lot of focus on humans with magical powers and I was delighted to discover a new offshoot to the complex world peopled by the Elder Races. Understandably, it is more ponderous to establish the parameters in the first book in a series and I have no doubt that the series will continue to grow on me as it continues. The dangling threads include several secondary characters who I hope get time in the spotlight, and I look forward to learning more about the powers that these folks can manifest.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review
A fascinating story of an awakening witch!
I very much enjoyed the description of the disturbances that manifest as Molly is furious. She is certainly in a fiery state of mind. I love that Molly is smart, keeps herself together enough to take what she needs from the house before she leaves. She makes excellent plans.
As for Josiah, a powerful witch in his own right, I didn’t warm up too quickly. He seemed too focused on the ‘power’ and becoming a political leader. He did grow on me, though. I especially adored her new-found friend Sarah and the people with whom she surrounds herself.
The story is replete with acts of violence, volatile situations, passion, compassion, and romance. The story is mesmerizing!
This is an offshoot of the Elder Races books and Josiah and Molly are amazing characters. I especially love Molly because she’s smart, brave, and refuses to be a victim. She doesn’t lose her brain when bad things happen. Josiah is also a great character and their interactions feel real and there’s no insta-love, but a building of emotions, both good and bad, as the two come to know each other. He’s no white knight and she’s no damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. It’s a lot more complicated characterization than that. Definitely a book to put at the top of your reading pile.
***SPOILER ALERT****
I’m not sure how to start off here. I honestly love Thea Harrison’s writing, her world building and if you look at my past reviews I FREAKING LOVE THE ELDER RACES!!! Dragon Bound is my go to book every time, that being said I felt that this story either pushed too hard, was too hard and I just could not connect. I forced myself to finish. This has not been in the case with her past books.
The premise of the story, is an American human witch that comes into power, while married to an adulterer who verbally and mentally abused her during their marriage. She leaves him, divorces him actually, all while finding out she is now a Witch. She meets Josiah, who is also a powerful witch several centuries old and that’s where the problem started for me. He was so focused on his revenge, that he was downright mean to her and Molly wasn’t any better either. They bickered quite a bit in the beginning but then they were still caught up in so much emotion that they fell in what I call a mating frenzy, yet neither side seem to understand that? I just didn’t feel it enough and I hated how he reacted to her. It was like the connection was there from the beginning but there were oblivious to it, until they were not? Yeah, I didn’t like that one bit. In my honest opinion, though Molly was a strong heroine and she did put Josiah in his place, I still felt like he should have treated her way better. There is a magic fight and the bad guy that Josiah and his coven have been hunting gets away. Josiah gives up the main fight to be with Molly. There is more to story but I feel like I’ve given up more information than I wanted to. It does have an HEA for those two.
Kudos to Sylvie another witch who I absolutely loved, she made the book a bit better, just because she was in it. I pray she gets her own book, her humor was spot on and I love the way her mind thinks. 3.5 stars***
****ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest opinion****
This is one of those books I just wasn’t sure about at the start. I enjoyed it and loved the first chapter then it stalled a little bit for me for a few chapters then I became engrossed again. I loved the last third of the story. I think I struggled to find a connection with both Molly and Josiah. Not for any particular reason either so it’s a hard one to explain. Although it’s set in the Elder Races world it’s a very separate story, you definitely don’t need to have read any other book set in this world but I would definitely recommend it.
Once I settled into the story I really enjoyed it, there’s lots of secondary characters and an interesting plot. It had a very different feel to any other Thea Harrison book I’ve ever read and it didn’t always flow as well as previous stories. I’m definitely not put off at all and will be reading the next story set around these characters.
What to Know:
– 18+
– Part of a series
– Paranormal Romance
– Trigger Warning Scenes for some (domestic violence)
– HEA
Along with being the first book in an all new trilogy, American Witch is also my first Thea Harrison book.
For a number of years, I’ve heard mentions of Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series and seen many recommendations urging readers to read the books but I’d never really felt the urge to read them before – that’s definitely changed now.
When I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of American Witch from the publisher via Netgalley, I didn’t know quite what to expect.
So I dove into reading American Witch without any preconceived notions or expectations and was very pleased with what I learned.
Thea Harrison writes very well.
She knows how to draw a reader into the story and keep them enthralled, turning page after page in an effort to know more.
The characters are charismatic, the scenery vivid and the worldbuilding spectacular.
Admittedly, it did take me a while to warm up to Josiah Mason’s character, in the beginning he was just too cold, calculating and manipulative for my tastes, I didn’t really want to read any of his POV but 1/4 to 1/2 way through the book, that definitely changed as the story unfolded and I learned more about his character and motivations.
The most enjoyable aspect of this book for me is the theme of female empowerment.
Watching Molly’s transformation left me teary-eyed at certain stages and I’ll warn you now that there are some scenes that could be triggers for readers.
Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this new to me author.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next American Witch novel, but while I wait, I’ll have a fun reading Thea Harrison’s fantastic backlist.
Highly Recommended Reading.
Molly was a people pleaser. She did what was expected of her, clicking off everybody else’s boxes but hers. The perfect socialite, seemingly the perfect wife, part-time volunteer and fund-raiser, she works out and keeps a trim figure. Molly is well educated and in her late thirties with a huge beautiful house with no children.
Lately, strange things have been happening. Lights are blinking, she is having strange dreams, she sees lighting around her vision and her car is acting up and breaking down. Then she comes home to find that her husband has cheated on her in her house and even in their bed, leaving the woman’s panties behind. She is overwrought and so over him. She takes off in her car to get away from the house and her car breaks down again, leaving Molly wet from the rain and angry. She drives home and confronts her husband at the dinner party at their home.
She shoves the purple panties in his cocktail glass and argues with him. Her anger explodes the vase in the hallway. She tells him she is done with his cheating and is leaving. Molly has enough presence of mind to clean out the financial papers and the floor safe before leaving.
Up until this moment you realize that this is story about a woman raised to care for others at the expense of herself. Molly is done with that life. She is an awakening witch of immense power. She is not going to live that life anymore. She meets the Atlanta DA, Josiah Mason, who will help her with her powers to control and use them.
This is a good compelling story. Molly is stronger than she knows. She knows what she wants. She is not a helpless woman but she wants more out of life than revenge. She wants peace to find a purpose and fulfilling life. She needs a teacher to help with her magic powers. She wants Josiah but he and his coven have dedicated themselves to revenge and taking down a dangerous witch. I love that Molly did not have to ‘fit’ herself in to Josiah’s life. Can Molly and Josiah find what they need?
American Witch is a real coming to life story for middle aged Molly Sullivan. Her story is complex, harrowing, painful, very real , and as the story wraps up you realize it’s quite beautiful too. The story is about rediscovering yourself, following your own path, setting boundaries for relationships, fighting for what you want and need, and the journey to make it that much sweeter. You’ll either love the complexity of her new love interest or wish she’d find someone calmer. They’re oil and water but all flames when together. Thea Harrison has a way of writing intimate scenes that really pulls your attention and wanting a cold drink afterwards. Daaamn! There are a few areas that I wished were written differently or at the least with more tenderness from Josiah as the story unrolled, but overall I really liked the book!
I am a longtime fan of Thea Harrison’s Elder Races books, and this one does not disappoint! It’s full of drama, angst, love, hate and revenge. It’s one of those books that grabs you with the very first paragraph and does not let go until the very last word. I LOVED IT!!
I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Get writing Ms. Harrison!!!
4.5 STARS
Dragos, Pia and The Elder Races will always have a special place in this reader’s heart. The universe Thea Harrison has created with these stories is vast, complex and still expanding so it goes without saying that I was totally ready for another book set in this world.
I have come to love this author’s female leads that have a quiet strength and an intrinsic kindness yet sass and spunk that I find incredibly endearing. Molly totally fits that bill. She has been a trophy wife for almost two decades when her husband’s last episode of stepping out on her is the final straw in her marriage. Right after she outs the dickwad at a party where she feels anger and an undefined power (that makes an expensive vase crash to the floor), she packs and, to my utter delight, takes EVERYTHING with her that she can find in their safe and leaves.
Unbeknownst to her, the new DA Josiah Mason watches the scene and feels the power radiating from Molly, a power the like he’s never felt before, but it’s raw, untrained and volatile, a complication that may distract him from his end goal – finding an evil, powerful witch who held Josiah captive for years, draining him of his power.
Driven by vengeance but also by a desire to keep his word to his coven he single-mindedly goes after the villain, so a woman like Molly, pure and good at heart is an inconvenience he didn’t see coming. This charismatic man tries to manipulate her but bright and smart Molly totally cuts him down at his knees, every single time. I was so happy that she didn’t let Josiah roll over her like a bulldozer.
“What do people call you?” she asked. “Are you a witch or a warlock?”
He shrugged, finished his beer, and took a second bottle.
“Either or both. Sometimes sorcerer. Occasionally asshole. Personally, I’m not in love with labels.”
Josiah isn’t a likable character in the beginning – or let me rephrase: from Molly’s point of view he isn’t. He is jaded, sneaky, manipulative and runs hot and cold at the best of times but when you get to see his thoughts about this strong woman, his admiration, it’s when the author makes you fall in love with his character. His conflict with his feelings for her and his need to make her safe on one hand and his desire to bring down the man who caused so much grief on the other hand make him a fascinating man. By the end of the story Molly has changed him fundamentally into a softer but not weaker man. Any ambivalence I had in the beginning was erased in the end.
“Molly, Molly, he thought. What a spectacular inconvenience you’ve turned out to be.”
The villain’s name is introduced halfway through the story – if you know a little Russian history you’ll be able to guess it. Only one prominent character just before the Russian Revolution (cue Anastasia, Tsar Nicholas) had the mystic reputation to fit into this story. I’m deliberately vague – if you’re not familiar with the history this may spark your interest. Let me tell you, it’s fascinating.
If I have one quibble it’s that Molly and Josiah don’t have a lot to build on their relationship with them being separated for a long time, so I would have liked to see them getting a little more meat on it after the big showdown. Still, I loved them together because they were the Ying to the other one’s Yang.
“Molly had destroyed his sovereignty of solitude. Laid waste to his cold purpose.”
There is a lot of mystery and suspense along the way that will keep you invested in the story because you really want to see how this all pans out.
AMERICAN WITCH is the perfect example for a sequel series that is set into an existing very much alive universe that still can be read as a standalone. So if you haven’t read this author yet this is your chance! Now I’m totally curious who the next book in this series will be about!
“Goddamn you.” He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed.
“Well, goddamn you,” she told him.
This was a great start to a new series. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it sucked me right in. It did have one small portion of the book that felt a little slow. It’s one of those things that I think was needed to help set up background.
I felt this was a unique take on witches. I’ll let you experience their secrets but I will say that the witches can live a longer life. So our couple Molly and Josiah, are an older couple.
Josiah is a hard man full of the need for revenge. That does get in his way a bit in this book. Molly is coming off a really bad marriage and had every right to be bitter but she wasn’t and I loved that. I really liked her outlook on life and she was just what Josiah needed.
I do feel like we got closure with Josiah and Molly but their isn’t full closure in the book. I won’t spoil but I’ll just say that there is not a huge cliffhanger either. Readers who like standalone books will be satisfied.
I didn’t feel like there were any hints to who would be our next couple in the series. I kind of like that we are left guessing as to what direction the author will take this in. I’ll be ready to read whoever she decides is next!
What a fantastically fun read! I devoured this book—twice! It was a delight to read about a character who is such a smart cookie. And one of the best beginning lines in a novel: “the roaring in her ears was the sound of all the balls she’d been juggling for years that were now crashing at her feet.”
Molly is awakening in many ways: realizing her marriage has been a sham, struggling with the strange events happening within and around her, and experiencing inexplicable intense chemistry with Josiah Mason. But she handles it all with smart choices, reasoned thinking softened by emotion, and takes her own needs off the back burner for the first time in her life. I loved following Molly’s emergence into her new life and was only sorry that the book wasn’t longer. I’m looking forward to more emerging about Molly as the series progresses.
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a totally different take on the Elder Race World. A great start to a new series.Molly is a newly awakened witch. Josiah is a powerful witch out to get revenge.When they come together sparks fly! This is one of the best Paranormal Suspense books I’ve read in a while. Action Packed from beginning to end. Keep them coming Ms Harrison.
4.25 stars–AMERICAN WITCH is the first instalment in Thea Harrison’s contemporary, adult AMERICAN WITCH paranormal romance trilogy set in the world of the Elder Races. This is forty year old, Molly Sullivan and attorney Josiah Mason’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Molly and Josiah) AMERICAN WITCH follows Molly Sullivan in the aftermath of discovering her husband’s latest affair, a discovery that triggered Molly’s latent Powers as a witch. Unable to control the emerging magic, Molly’s Powers are a beacon to the local coven, a coven lead by the new DA, and Powerful witch Josiah Mason. An attack against our heroine leaves Molly battling for her life, a life that is threatened by the man she once loved. Enter Josiah Mason, the man with whom Molly will fall in love but a man who struggles to move on from the past.
Josiah Mason only wants one thing –to end the life of the man who destroyed everything he loved. With his coven hoping for vengeance of their own, Josiah has no time to babysit a fledgling witch, a witch that calls to his heart and his soul. Molly Sullivan, on the run to stay one step ahead of those hunting her down, discovers not everything will go according to plan, and in the end, she is forced to run from the man with whom she is falling in love.
The relationship between Molly and Josiah is one of immediate attraction but Molly is unaware of her burgeoning Powers. Josiah battles between head and heart as it pertains to our story line heroine, a woman who struggles to gain some semblance of the life that is quickly spinning out of control. Molly refuses to be dependant upon Josiah Mason but the palpable sexual attraction is hard to ignore. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to several members of Josiah’s coven including Anson, Henry, Richard and Maria; as well as Sarah, a witch of immense power, her nephew Sam, and the Everwood, California coven of witches.
AMERICAN WITCH is a story of power and control; betrayal and revenge; magic and mayhem. The premise is engaging and enchanting; the characters are colorful and dynamic; the romance is fated and complex. AMERICAN WITCH is an energetic and gripping introductory story from the pen of Thea Harrison.
I have never read a Thea Harrison book, so I had no idea what to expect, which is always a fun way to discover new authors. Even if you come into a world created years ago with no prior knowledge of it and how it worked. Though this is a new series, it may have been easier to get into if the previous books had been read first, it did not seem like a must.
I really enjoyed the story, from start to finish. I loved the characters and their complexities. Their interactions with each other and separately. The way she came into her powers and the adversity she suffered was real and intense. The courage it took to meet it all head on, with the forsite to realise what she would need to make a break for it was incredible to watch unfold. When her powers bring her to the attention of other magical beings she meets that head on to, and stands up for herself and what she needs. Even if it’s the infuriating witch that oozes power and raw masculinity. I loved Josiah and all his quirks and his all consuming need for revenge. His coven was an interesting group of people I would love to see more of in the future. A lot of stories to be told.
All in all, this was a great five star read that took me on a journey of healing, acceptance and above all else, love.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, though I’ve curious to read something by her prior. I’ve heard many good things about her writing. I was so happy to find that they were true and not exaggerated. This book is a wonderfully crafted piece of world-building upon Ms. Harrison’s other Elder Race series (though, thankfully, it isn’t required that you read those to understand this book). The story is one of magical intrigue and light romance. Not so much romance that it deters from the plot or the determination that is the very backbone of the characters, but the perfect balance that is called for in the storyline. The characters, Josiah and Molly, after complex and evolving. They stay true to their basic characters as, I feel, real people would. The plot along with these characters weave this story that is so engrossing that I found myself up until 4am. I just couldn’t put it down. I will definitely be read more from this author and hope there will be more from Molly and her Witch friends in the future
**I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one of the absolute best paranormal romances I have ever read.
Loved the way it began, in the heroine’s ‘normal world’, and gathered speed to take the reader on a twisting, turning roller-coaster ride into a whole new world, existing parallel to ‘normal’.
Hero is sigh-worthy, Heroine strong enough to keep our respect while remaining realistically vulnerable.
Hoping for a sequel??