<strong>Big Fat DNF/Early Release Provided Ny NetGalley</strong>

This book was an immense struggle in and from the beginning. In early releases, I tend not to look at reviews, from my desire to read it completely unimpeded by the opinions of others.

At not quite 20% into it, I couldn’t resist though, and I was unable to fight the urge to see if I was the only person feeling this way.
I was completely stumped at the number of 5 star reviews this has received.

I have an intense struggle with not finishing books, especially when I’ve willingly taken on the responsibility to do a pre-review of an unreleased body of work. But this one, whew!

Where do I even begin??
The childish, immature style of writing was beyond horrible.
The "jokes" fell flat, and were definitely on the insensitive scale at times.
There’s not one single character I felt any connection, draw, or even empathy for.
Maggie, the MC heroine, is presumptive, ignorantly rude to her parents, and at times comes across as pompous.
Lazlo, the villainous character of the book, is weak, in more ways than one, he’s appalling, obnoxious, disgusting, and harsh. From the beginning he’s over the top, in an unbelievably exaggeratedly unamusing way.

I just could not complete this, let alone even rate it 1 star. I would have absolutely no audience I would even consider recommending this for. I strongly advise a pass to anyone contemplating picking this up.

Note: I received early access from NetGalley, for this manuscript, and have at my own discretion and opinion, chosen to post a review.

Do you like stories with high stakes and a lot of humor? If so, this is for you. The Witchstone is a standalone urban fantasy where a demon is tasked with increasing his mortal despair ratings in order to save his own skin. In order to achieve this, he has to convince the Drakefords that the curse that turns them into monsters can be broken.

Across Earth and Hell, Neff does a great job of creating characters with a lot of depth and individuality. The pacing is great and you’re in for a fun ride from the first chapter. Even with how humorous it was, there was one scene with some pretty intense body horror that definitely made me squirm, which I haven’t experienced often or recently. Not a knock on the writing at all, just a heads up and example of how visceral the story was.

Even considering some of the heavy themes and squirm-inducing scenes, I think this is a perfect book for some lighthearted fun while still having a complete, interesting story. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good urban fantasy, need a break from long-running series, or just a palate cleanser.

Wow, what a ride! I absolutely loved diving into this book! Laszlo's existential crisis in the depths of demon bureaucracy had me nodding along like an office drone... in hell, of course. And Maggie's determination to break her family's ancient curse added such depth to the story. The blend of lore and magic kept me hooked, and the character development was surprisingly profound. The pacing was spot on, with just the right balance of world-building and action. Plus, the relationships felt genuine and relatable, avoiding common fantasy pitfalls. While I wished for a bit more exploration in certain areas, it didn't detract from the overall experience. Here's hoping this isn't the last we see of Laszlo and company!

I just finished this book, and it was both more and less than I expected. Both of those are good, so don’t get me wrong. As I don’t like spoilers, I’ll try to keep this a little bit vague. Laszlo is a very intriguing character as well as Maggie and Lump. They all are different in their own ways, I quite enjoyed their journeys to who they really are, a couple more surprising than the other. While this dragged a bit in the middle of their adventure to find objects, the beginning and the end just flew by in a very good way. Ending the way this did left me wanting more, and I wasn’t sure I was going to feel that way. A well-written, engaging, fun fantasy story, I really want more. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I'm not entirely sure where to start with this one. I didn't hate but I didn't love it. I read it and generally feel....ambivalent to it?

Once again I was taken in by a good looking cover. So I feel like I should say if you're going in expecting a goat head demon with a margarita, you're going to be left with a goat head demon-sized hole in your wants. I think Lazlo is just blue skinned or something like that. I don't entirely remember despite finishing the book this morning.

Since I've opened with Lazlo not being the goat man on the cover, let's stick with Lazlo. Now, Lazlo is your run of the mill, youngest son being a bit of a disappointment with a high-up father, who learned to be quippy. And some of his quips were quite funny. But some of his character was so middle school bully that I could've strained my eyes rolling them. For example, the dialogue "Is Nerd Power going to save the day?", "When did I become a nerd magnet?" and "You speak English and Nerd. That's plenty." Combined with a scene where Lazlo says "I've lived all over the world and can tell you where to avoid." You're telling me, an 800-year old demon that has lived all over the world doesn't see the value in having wider knowledge and only sees the value in speaking English? There is a scene where he remembers the Black Death which was largely in Europe but also in Asia and parts of Africa, places that notoriously wouldn't speak modern day English.

So you want me to believe this demon doesn't have any other linguistic skills outside of English (ignoring the ordering in Italian), doesn't see the value in having those around with more in depth knowledge (despite using them for clues on this curse quest) and is preoccupied by the idea of 'nerds' despite having experienced major historical events and living all over the world? I'm not convinced. Actually talking of history, I don't entirely see why they named dropped Lucrezia Borgia either, that was weird but more of a blip. Also goes back to his whole issue with 'nerds' cause there was no way some blue-skinned foolish entity of any kind was getting a Borgia. But what do I know.

Lazlo's relationship with Maggie is largely fine. They move from begrudging allies to some semblance of friends as the story goes. But Maggie was just...flat? She's 19, lived her life in the Catskills next to the graves of her ancestors who succumbed to this curse and has nothing to really show for her time on earth. This is reminded to us in one form or another quite a few times. And we know she's a 'country bumpkin', I don't think we needed it reiterated as much as it was. I don't know, there was something about her being a tough cookie with the odds stacked against her and motivated by love for her family and wanting more for herself. And I don't say that is an especially endearing way. She's one of those characters I don't feel like was fully conceptualised and could've done more with.

Lump and Clarence on the other hand were fun characters and played their supporting roles well. They were actually the most fun of the cast. And the scene where they're interacting together was especially fun. I also have to nod to Signora Bellascura. I would read about her 5000 years happily. She was by far the most interesting.

The plot itself was kind of fine if not a bit all over the place. I think we all knew what was going to happen as the story goes on. Especially as it's marketed as having similarities to The Good Place. That said, the introduction of The Society as a bureaucratic hellscape, and the overseerer dressing Lazlo down reminded me of Bob Parr in The Incredibles. I think that also introduced the background and details of the curse in a good way. It worked a lot better than if the author had decided to just put the details in as a description. It also allowed for Clarence to be the fun and neurotic character he was. And I fully believe some key names in social media sites would be meeting with the management of a hellscape bureaucracy, so I appreciated that little scene.

Overall, it was fun in places, had some amusing remarks and dialogue, there were characters and scenes that were genuinely interesting and well written. I do think there were a few places where things could have been improved and, honestly, there are some serious trigger/content warnings needed for parts of this book.

This book was devilish, fun, and hard to put down. It very much reminded me of the old Christopher Moore books with a witty demon with a clever plan. It's rare you find something that feels "new" in terms of content these days, but I really did feel like I was reading something I hadn't before. Lazlo is an excellent morally grey character who you really can't decide which side is on through almost the whole book. The side characters are almost more lovable than the main ones, I would kill for a book about the Signora, Clarence, Dmitri, or any of the other demons.

This book was SO 👏🏻 MUCH 👏🏻 FUN 👏🏻

The quest to break the curse was dark and exciting; all the excitement of an epic fantasy video game. It was so mild and humorous at times that the grotesque and emotional scenes caught me off guard and were super effective. The airplane scene 🤢 Good lord.

I loved the corporate Hell atmosphere. There’s something so funny and accurate about Hell being a corporate office job 🤣 Laszlo was great - so nonchalant, funny and clever, while simultaneously being lazy and kind of an asshole. I’m obsessed with him. Maggie and Lump were great characters, too. A great brother-sister dynamic. Tough as nails. The demons though. THE DEMONS. So cool. Signora Bellascura. Like, gimmie a whole book about this B.

I genuinely hope this is the start of a super fun series. But, if it’s not, that’s okay because this book was brilliant on its own.

Once The Witchstone started, it did not let me go. This book includes the following: A 400 year old family curse, a slacker of a demon supposed to be the Keeper of said curse, a set of siblings determined to break the curse and save their family, a madcap road trip from NY to Europe and back, a wild cast of characters out of folklore and hell, Hell as a Corporation (which makes sense), and a deep dark secret no one saw coming.
The Witchstone was a super fun ride of a book that I will be suggesting to people for years to come. It's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious with just enough danger and unexpected body horror (that curse is gross) to have me staying up late trying to finish just one more chapter. Every character in this novel felt fleshed out and individual, which made me love it all the more.
I did enjoy the wrap up at the end, but I really hope Mr. Neff has a follow up to Witchstone because the world he built feels like there are more stories to tell.

This was such a fun palate-cleanser from some heavier fantasies I've been reading recently. The Witchstone made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions (pretty much every time Laszlo said anything). I loved the idea of demons working in a corporate environment, and how Neff poked fun at corporate culture/bureaucracy. Maggie was a great main character as well; her family's curse was so interesting and I loved the relationship between Maggie and every member of her family, but especially her little brother. For a book that has so much humor, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The Witchstone is an exciting urban fantasy that follows well-fleshed-out, deeply imperfect characters in an easy-to-read and page-turning manner. I adored all of the characters and found them unique and interesting, and set in a super intriguing worldly backdrop. Neff finds the perfect balance between dialogue and exploring the surrounding scene and offers witty dialogue and descriptions that make this book humorous and a fun read.

Favorite Quote: “Nothing is impossible for those with the vision and will to bring it into being.”

Story Synopsis: Lazslo is your average workaday demon. His job as a curse-keeper is cushy. He galavants around New York City, hustling the hustlers, drinking, and carousing with humans. But like all corporate jobs, he can only fly under the radar for so long.

Laszlo gets a new Overseer and is threatened with a demonic death for poor performance. The consummate hustler, Laszlo negotiates his way into getting a week’s reprieve to boost his numbers, and to do so, Laszlo selects an old, lingering curse on the Drakeford family. This generation of Drakefords, however, are spunky and ready to break the curse that’s kept their family from living full lives. After run-ins with kobolds and a jaunt to Europe, Laszlo must decide to help the Drakefords break the curse or become a model employee.

Why does this book beguile? The Witchstone was such a fun book! Laszlo is a very relatable demon, and his connection with Maggie Drakeford is fun and endearing. I enjoyed the three main characters in their own right and appreciate how Neff gave the demons human qualities. If you’re looking for a fun, energetic, urban-fantasy, you’ll enjoy The Witchstone!

"Once upon a time, the Society was the Hierarchy's crown jewel. Atlantis! The Black Plague! The Napoleonic Wars! COVID misinformation! Each the result of clever and enterprising curse management. Those Keepers spread misery on a grand and glorious scale. Which brings us to <i>your</i> curse...:

Man did I enjoy this book! Laszlo is a mid level demon questioning his life in the monotonous and bureaucratic doldrums that appears to be demon kind. He has been skating through his work as a curse keeper, not giving his work much thought. He feels like an office drone questioning his decisions... but you know, in hell.

Maggie is 18 and the eldest daughter of the Drakeford family. The Drakefords have been cursed for centuries and their lives feel quite hopeless. Maggie feels like she can help or change something, but watching her dads health change due to the curse and the start of a change for herself, that all feels quite hopeless.

When Laszlo's work receives a change in management, he is forced to prove his worth. He decides to trick Maggie and her family into thinking they can break the curse, but they only have 7 days.

This book was a lot of fun to read. There is so much lore and magic that you learn about in a world that continues to evolve as the story unfolds. There is tension and some surprisingly deep character work. I didn't expect to be drawn in so much, but I genuinely wanted more when I was done with this. I thought the pacing was solid, I didn't feel bogged down by too much wall of text world building. It felt organic. I also appreciated the growth in the relationships, without falling into some common pitfalls that fantasy/paranormal stories can. The characters are flawed while still feeling relatable and genuine.

There were a couple of pieces here and there that I personally would have liked to have explored more, but nothing that detracted from the story and I genuinely hope this is not the last we hear of Laszlo!

<b>5 Stars easily!</b>

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Thank you to NetGalley and to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff in exchange for an honest review.

When the description of the book noted "the merciless humor of The Good Place" I knew I wanted to try out this story - I loved that show. Neff does not disappoint in this area; there are definite elements of Michael in Laszlo and his actions and interactions are continuously humorous and fun. Neff has created an atmosphere of levity wrapped around a darker tale of curses and demons and it does ring with a nice amount of Gaiman atmosphere/influence.

The story itself flows really well - Laszlo, a third-level demon and a top-level slacker, faces death by crucible if he cannot improve his rankings in making the descendants of the Drakeford Curse more noticeably miserable and hopeless in the next 6 days. Finally forced to be motivated, Laszlo introduces himself to the Drakeford family and sets off with 19-year-old Maggie and her pre-teen brother, Lump in an effort to "break" the curse before time runs out.

The curse itself is a lot to bear. Maggie has begun showing signs of becoming a monster and some of the scenes with the acceleration of the curse are quite gruesome to read. There is true urgency from her perspective, and a true desire to trust this demon when she has met no one in her life before that she can trust. We see determination rise and expand in Maggie throughout the story, as well as a growing confidence in Lump. It's easy to root for them to somehow break the curse, all the while knowing that Laszlo is working against their interests despite the bonds the three form.

As the three journey through New York and Europe, Neff maintains an excellent pace for an adventure: there are highs, lows, laughs and tears, as well as a few surprises that drive the story toward an exciting and unanticipated conclusion.

The elements of magic/urban fantasy are well integrated in the world as we know it. .I especially enjoyed any scenes involving Laszlo's workplace best friend, Clarence the goblin shark, and the usage of Productivity Gators in the workplace. Neff provides an excellent satire of office culture.

I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a few good laughs and a fast-paced story.

Oh, this book is just bananas! In the best way, of course.

Lazlo is an absolute waste of space Curse Keeper who really only has the job because of who is daddy is, but when an Overseer comes a-auditing, Lazlo finds himself in the unenviable position of having to account for himself and prove that he is worth keeping around. Enter Lazlo's plan: find the humans who are cursed by the curse he is supposed to be Keeping, get them to trust him, raise their hopes, then dash them so he can ace his performance review with maximum suffering from the accursed. But the best laid plans of mice and demons rarely go so smoothly and this is no exception. Maggie Drakeford is no one's fool and though she doesn't trust Lazlo, she sees him as an opportunity to save her family and maybe see a bit of the world while she's at it. When her little brother stows away, Lazlo and Maggie have no choice but to take him along on their buddy-heist-quest-adventure. As the clock ticks down on Lazlo's deadline, the Drakefords start to get under his skin in a way that maybe isn't as uncomfortable as it should be. Jaunting through NYC, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Rome, the trio battles otherworldly creatures, make deals with ancient demons, and befriend a priest, all while collecting the items they need to break the curse on the Drakefords.

While Neff touts this as a standalone, I for one dearly hope to see more of Lazlo and the Drakefords in the future! This book is a mix of urban fantasy, buddy comedy, and heist adventure with a side of body horror that is truly much more fun than it sounds. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read The Witchstone early in exchange for a review.

I loved this!! Characters were absolutely fabulous, lots of humor mixed along with some intense and frankly shocking darkness that shakes up the lightness. I hope there will be a follow up novel. I feel like Maggie's story especially is just getting started.

Are you a fan of Pratchett and Gaiman? Yes? Then this is your next read! This well thought out piece of wotk will be quickly added to your favorite list. Following a demon, that you quickly fall for, as he unravels a curse, is packed with fun adventure and humor!

This is a NetGalley review!
Witchstone was a slow burn for me to start but by about the 30% mark you really get into the meat of this book and after that I couldn't put it down.
The characters are decent and the multiple locations keep things moving and this really feels like it happens in a week so the pacing was a success! I could see another book making this a series easy enough, and I'll be in line for it!

Mixing a dash of supernatural mischief with a sprinkle of sardonic wit, 'The Witchstone' is a whirlwind adventure that entangles an unlikely duo in a race against time, blending the charm of urban fantasy with the thrill of a caper.

Laszlo, our demon protagonist, would rather be anywhere but at his day job as Hell's most lackadaisical Curse Keeper. You can think of him as your least favorite coworker, but with more fire and brimstone. Meanwhile, Maggie Drakeford, our young Curse Bearer, brings a dose of reality to the curse-laden fantasy, though she takes her time coming out of her narrative shell.

The Witchstone is a fun and very enjoyable read, but what is perhaps most interesting about it is not the story that it is, but the story that it could have been. It's incredibly easy to imagine the bones of this story being assembled into something completely different than its current incarnation, which, at its essence is mostly a caper of sorts. It could have just as easily been heavily focused on Laszlo and his job as a Curse Keeper resulting in a satire of Corporate America. It also could have been more focused as a quest from Maggie's perspective and her family's struggle with the curse. This isn't to say it would have been better served as something other than what it is, but as I reflect back, I can't help but wonder what those versions would have looked like. It's a credit to the author that the foundation is so solid that the story seemingly could have been taken in a number of directions with relative ease.

If I had one minor quibble, it would be with the character development, especially for Maggie. Towards the end, we get to see real glimpses of a standout character, but she never quite breaks through. Still, the book remains a delightful and quick romp through a world where managing curses is just another day at the office.


Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where humorous fantasy is popular.

If you’re looking for a paranormal/fantasy adventure involving demons, curses, and a bit of magic this is a great book for you! Overall, I rated this book a 3.75/5 stars.

Laszlo is an eight-hundred year old nepo baby demon who has been just getting by for a while. He’d rather do anything but work, until his existence is threatened by his new boss. That’s where Maggie Drakeford and the Drakeford family comes in. Maggie’s life is hell on earth, but with a shot to save her family and herself, she has to trust a literal demon. Thus ensues an international adventure that reveals more about the demon and magical world.

The adventure to unravel the family curse for me really picked up mid-way through the book and snared my attention. The author did a great job making this job achievable yet difficult, and kept introducing interesting ways to complete each step. The scenes felt descriptive and clever, and kept the reader thinking “okay, what comes next.” I think some of the best scenes came when the main characters were actively in the midst of attaining either information or an item rather than in the build-up towards attainment. The ending was surprising, and in a lot of ways packed a punch to both affirm and subvert readers expectations. The settings all felt real and interesting, making the way the author describes each place or situation come to life in your head.

The two pieces that I wish were different and contributed to this as a non 5 star read for me was the pace and the development of the characters emotionally. The pace is fast, and the description means it when it says break-neck pace. That’s all well and good, but for me what I could have used was some moments of peace in between. It didn’t feel like we got a break to figure out how anybody truly felt about what just happened. There was also A LOT for the characters to accomplish and put into the story. I think if we had one or two less things the characters needed to do/happened with two or so moments for the characters to be a bit reflective on their journey and let the story breath a little bit would have been a better story for me. Additionally, I think this would have led to the emotional character development I craved from the characters. I felt like we saw the surface of the characters emotions during certain scenes mid-to-end of the book, but we didn’t get the opportunity to really dive into what that meant or how it contributed to different actions/choices the characters made later. The situations the characters entered gave plenty of opportunity to reflect and be more impactful than they were, and I think that would have pushed the story over the edge for me. However, I will add that this book is advertised as break-neck pace, so the description does a good job telling the reader exactly what they’re getting into.

Again, an overall enjoyable fantasy adventure book! Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.