Karen Marie Moning is the author that got me into fantasy books. I was thrilled to see that she was releasing a new book! That being said I am going to reserve judgement on book one of this new series knowing that book one of the fever series very much set up the rest of the story. I loved the spooky feel and the house. I did not instantly care for the love interest but I cannot wait to read more!

As a long-time fan of Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series (which I absolutely adore), I was beyond excited to dive into her new urban fantasy trilogy. After waiting for what felt like forever, The Darkest Flame is finally here—and while it didn't completely blow me away, it left me eager for the next book in the series.

The story centers on 24-year-old Zodeckymira “Zo” Grey, who discovers after her mother’s tragic death in a fire that she’s inherited a grand mansion in Divinity, Louisiana, from a long-lost relative. As she moves into the mansion, she learns that her inheritance comes with some very peculiar stipulations—leading her into a world of magic, witches, vampires, and, of course, danger. The house at Watch Hill and the town of Divinity open up a whole new world to Zo, one that’s far more magical—and far more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

While I found the premise intriguing, one of my main issues with the book was the info-dumping. There were moments where the narrative felt bogged down with a lot of exposition, and while I get that it’s the first book in a new series and the author needed to set the stage, it still made the pacing feel a bit off. I understand the necessity of world-building, but at times, it felt like too much too fast. Some explanations came off as overly convenient, which left me feeling a little disappointed. That said, I’m optimistic that the next books will flesh out this world in a more natural way.

Despite these drawbacks, there were still plenty of things I enjoyed about The Darkest Flame. Zo’s introduction to a hidden world of magic and supernatural beings was fascinating, and I loved seeing her navigate the complexities of this new reality. The presence of two love interests—Kellan and Devlin—added a layer of intrigue. I’m particularly drawn to Kellan, whose mysterious nature leaves me wanting more, especially after a few revelations near the end. And let me just say, Moning’s knack for delivering shocking cliffhangers is still intact—I may have screamed when the book ended on such a jaw-dropping note.

As always, Moning’s writing is top-notch. She has a way of drawing you in with beautiful prose while weaving in suspense and tension. The characters are engaging, and I especially enjoyed the mysterious and sometimes ominous figures Zo encounters, leaving me wondering who truly has her best interests at heart. The house itself was another highlight—Moning makes Watch Hill feel almost alive, like it has a presence of its own (who’s to say it doesn’t?). Plus, the inclusion of Alisdair’s perspective added a strange, eerie dimension to the story that kept me on edge.

In summary, while The Darkest Flame didn’t completely knock my socks off, it set up a compelling world that I’m eager to explore further. The potential for the next books is high, and after that cliffhanger, I need the next installment immediately. If you’re a fan of Moning’s work, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here, and if you’re new to her writing, this is a solid introduction to a world full of magic, mystery, and danger

House of Watch Hill is going to become a favorite series. While written more like a prequel to a series, it sets the stage for the adventure you know Karen Marie Moning will bring. I cannot wait until the next book is here.

Let me preface this by saying I’m a huge KMM fan. I’ve read the Fever series probably 5 times at this point. I would read this woman’s grocery list and tell the world it was pure magic. Having said that, while I *am* a fan of KMM, I wasn’t a fan of The House at Watch Hill.

I liked the basic premise of this book where a woman mysteriously inherits a sprawling manor and loads of money, though conditionally. The conditions play second fiddle to the hows, whos, and the whys of it all though. How is Zo related to the benefactor? How did she know Zo is her genetic relative? Why Zo and why now, after Zo experiences an unimaginable loss? And, most importantly, who is this benefactor, truly? Some of those questions are answered through the course of the story, but with any good trilogy worth its salt, most of the above questions remain unanswered in this first installment, prompting you to thirst for answers in the second book. That’s what’s missing for me — I’m not thirsting for book 2 and after finishing this one, reluctantly, I just simply don’t care what those answers are.

The storyline itself is a lot of fun, but Zo is one of those characters that rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t mean in a Pink Mac kind of way either, I mean in a way where she comes off as being one way but acting a whole different way. I felt for her on many levels, but not enough to get fully immersed in her journey. Also the pacing was slow, and I mean S-L-O-W. Slow pacing works for m e if there’s something interesting in the background that grabs and holds my attention. There wasn’t anything I could grab hold onto to keep my interest with this book, sadly, so it felt like slogging through a mud puddle waiting for a treat at the end that never came.

This could very well be a case of it’s not the book, it’s me. Despite my grievances, I may pick up the second one to see if my feelings change. Maybe. I’m giving this one a solid 3 because there are some interesting parts, but not enough of them to trap me within the story.

I recently finished KMM’s newest series opener, THE HOUSE AT WATCH HILL and I’m so glad I did. The story’s vibes are gorgeous, seductive and filled magic.

The story introduces us to Zo Grey who has recently come into an inheritance, including a huge Gothic mansion, only there’s catch - she must live in it for three years. Alone.

This house is a character in itself with all the gothic, mysterious hidden rooms & doors you could ask for! It’s opulent but it’s hiding something! The townspeople are odd and secretive while the groundskeeper is a sexy, Scotsman.

In true KMM style, the story builds layer by layer, and at its center is the town of Divinity where strange things happen and not everyone is to be trusted.

This was a dark and bewitching read with a slow-burn romance, interesting cast of characters that I want to know more about. I definitely plan on continuing the series.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I have heard so many wonderful things about this author over the years and was excited to finally give one a shot. Unfortunately this particular book did not resonate with me but it was very well written and I am definitely interested in reading her past works in the Darkfever series, which I have heard so many rave reviews of.

This book took me on a delightful nostalgia trip! It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy with all the classic tropes—love triangles, a somewhat vulnerable FMC, and those oh-so-charming, swoon-worthy sidekicks. And honestly? It felt kind of refreshing to revisit these familiar beats, especially after so many years of more complex plots!

That said, I can’t shake the feeling that I already know exactly where the story is headed. With so many books featuring the same setup, I can’t help but feel like I’m one step ahead of the characters. But hey, that’s part of the fun of these tried-and-true formulas, right?

One thing I did love was how Moning brought Watch Hill to life—her descriptions were so vivid, I kept expecting the manor to pop up and demand its own POV chapter! I think that could have really added an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

As for continuing the series? I’m not sure yet! If I’m in the mood for some nostalgic fantasy fun, I could see myself diving back in. But for now, I’ll keep this one on the backburner. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I’m giving this a solid 3 stars.

I really loved this book! At first I was a little annoyed that the one night stand in the beginning was fade to black, but I decided to stick with it because I loved this authors previous books and they were amazing. I'm glad I stuck with it. This was just the right amount of spooky and romance. I give it four stars

This is such a unique paranormal book, I was blown away! This is my first by this author and it will not be my last!

This was different than previous books by Karen Marie Moning I’ve read. It’s high fantasy with a gothic setting, I loved it. Karen always writes strong and relatable female main characters. This was a great blend of genres

I was captivated by the gradual revelation of Divinity—a town cloaked in mystery, accessible only to the invited or the exceptionally powerful. The plot kept me hooked as shadowy secrets and intriguing connections unfolded, seamlessly blending southern occult themes with classic gothic undertones.

By the end, the story left me with more questions than answers, perfectly setting the stage for the sequels. Although a few chapters had moments that made me roll my eyes or left me slightly disappointed, I couldn’t tear myself away. The cliffhanger was both infuriatingly satisfying and left me eager to jump into the next book.

Karen Marie Moning’s The House at Watch Hill lays a compelling foundation for the Watch Hill Trilogy. It follows Zo Grey, a 24-year-old woman who has endured a life of loss and uncertainty. She finds herself in Divinity, Louisiana, after discovering a long-lost family connection that leaves her the heir to a sprawling Gothic mansion steeped in dark secrets. But there’s a catch: to claim the estate and its accompanying fortune, Zo must live there alone for three years.

With its fresh spin on paranormal tropes and a richly atmospheric setting, this book offers a promising start to what could become an engrossing series. I can’t wait to see what the next installment has in store.

What a fantastic story! The plot is unique and gets a tight grip on you and won't let go. My only issue was with the main character, Zo. I do not think I have run across a more unlikable main character in a long time. She was okay at the start and morphed into a raging narcissistic jerk. The cliffhanger ending was cool and the house is a showstopper.

The House at Watch Hill is the first in a new series by Karen Marie Moning. The main character, Zo, stands to inherit millions if she fulfills the terms set forth in the will, which includes a provision of living at Watch House. I really liked the dark spin on this book as well as the elements of witches, vampires, etc. The book definitley had me hooked and left us on a cliffhanger, so now I can't wait for the next to be released! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this! Witches and vampires? Yes, please!

The first installment in a multi-book series is always a little harder for me to get into because of all the world building and laying the groundwork for a strong story. I think the author did a tremendous job of that and that ending left me wishing I didn’t have to wait for the next book!

I will say that I wish the house itself featured a little more malevolently in the story. And I wish we had gotten to know the menacing villagers a bit more thoroughly. And the main character had a lot of inner dialogue that was maybe not always necessary.

But this was a really fun story and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Extensive world building is always really hard for me to stick with but if you power through you usually won’t be disappointed but for this one, I was expecting more. Maybe I’ll give it another try when the next book comes out because I do see potential but it’s going pretty low on my TBR as of right now.

Ugh I really wanted to love this but was a little disappointed. Zoe’s mood switch ups, which are explained, were odd and frustrating. I couldn’t resonate with her. But I will say the last 15% did leave me interested so I may read the next one.

The House at Watch Hill was a great start to an exciting trilogy! A perfect blend of fantasy and romance that left me wanting more.

I was thrilled to see that Karen Marie Moning had a new release coming out. For this reason, I think I set the bar pretty high. So, even though I enjoyed the book and found it to be a well written and creepy book with witches and vampires, it left me wanting just a little more "something." Don't get me wrong....I still really enjoyed it! Like I said, the bar was set high.

This book introduces us to new characters and a new world. It's one where witches - - both good and dark live among us - - as well as cold and warm vampires. The main character is Zo Grey who has recently moved to Louisiana to find out about an inheritance from a mysterious relative she never knew about. From there things start to get a little crazy.

This story contains the right mix of suspense, creepiness, a little romance and some definite mystery. Even though I figured out one of the twists early on, it didn't make it any less clever. This is the first of a series (I believe a trilogy) so we have at least two more books to look forward to. I think there's a great deal of potential to build on these characters and this storyline and think it should be a fun ride.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I had really high hopes for this book because I LOVED Moning's Fever series but unfortunately, I didn't love it. There were so many parallels with Mac's story in the Fever series, right down to the order in which the events happen, that it was hard to ignore. This book felt like a mash-up of the Fever series with the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice (including some weird parallels there, too). I finished the book because I assumed that if you're not a fan of Fever or Mayfair, the story would be really good, but then you get to the end and not a single thread of the story was resolved apart from her learning that she's a witch. All of other plot lines were left on a cliffhanger. I dont have a problem with cliffhangers in a series but no resolution to any part of the plot.

I wont be posting my review publicly in the usual spots (blog, socials, Amazon, Goodreads). I'm truly heartbroken that I didn't enjoy this book. I've read Fever about a thousand times and had super-high hopes for this series.

4.5 stars

Karen Marie Moning has a wonderfully imaginative mind! Every book of hers I read I just love.

The House at Watch Hill is different from her previous series, but I love that. I like this new story and the characters in it. I can’t wait to see which house Zo gravitates towards and all of the characters she will meet. This first book was a great start to the series, bring on the next one!

***Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***