Going off the blurb, I thought this book would have been a bit different. I was expecting something more eerie and sinister, possibly with more paranormal activity. This book did not give what I expected it to, however ,what it did give not disappoint! The entire read is suspenseful and I did not want to put this book down!  Karen Marie Moning has such a way of writing, one that will grasp hold of you and suck you in completely. This book is exciting and suspenseful, and the cliffhanger at the end has me already for the next book in this trilogy!
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Karen Marie Moning for this captivating ARC!

I was hopeful that The House at Watch Hill would be something far better than it is. I have not read any of the previous Karen Marie Moning's previous novels, but the premise of The House at Watch Hill suggested something that was not present in the novel--a likable protagonist on whom the author could hang a new series upon.

What didn't work for me: 1) a man-crazy, sex-as-exercise indiscriminate protagonist; temper tantrums that would be expected of a child, not an adult; 2) clinches and plot points lifted from other novels that focus on witches, vampires, and the dangers of magic; 3) clubbing behavior that bordered on irresponsible (she cannot live in luxury for 7 days?); 4) SPOILER--the death of the sole likable character, which was unnecessary and pointless; 5)I thoroughly dislike cliffhangers. If a novel is good, I will read the sequels, but please so not manipulate me into reading the subsequent books.

I really wanted to like The House at Watch Hill. The premise sounded good, but truthfully, the execution was disappointing. The protagonist, Zo, is an incredibly unlikeable, whiney, child-like character. It was hard to care about her. The novel, itself, read more like a 370 page prologue to the real novel, which began in the last 10 pages. I hope Moning will pick up the pace in the second novel and find a way to make Zo more of a heroine and less like a pain.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. The comments including herein, are my honest thoughts about The House at Watch Hill.

The perfect read for spooky season! This series has me hooked and I'm already waiting for the next book.

Zo finds her world upside down when in the span of a few days, her mother perishes in a mysterious fire and she finds out she is the sole living heir to a large estate. She travels to Watch Hill, Louisiana to see the house and decide her next move. But as soon as she arrives, she starts to notice strange things about the house and those around her. Zo faces a series of challenges to discover who she really is and why she has been brought to Watch Hill in the first place.

I loved the characters and mysterious setting. Each new revelation kept me guessing. Looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of KMM for years. I first read her Fever series and loved them.

It's been a while since I've picked up a book from her so I was really excited to read this one, especially since the description led me to believe we would have some supernatural/witchy/vampirey/etc vibes. Which I am all about, especially from KMM.

But this book didn't deliver what I wanted.

Yes, there are witches. Yes there are vampires. But there's....not plot?

Everything happens in the last couple of chapters, and that part is interesting, but up until then it's a whole lot of...nothing?

We don't really get any answers, which is incredibly frustrating, and I get that Zo also doesn't have any answers, but surely someone should start TALKING. Why did it have to be so drawn out?

There's a random male POV which seemed interesting at the start but I don't really think it was leveraged as well as it could have been.

A little disappointed to be honest. But it does make me want to go back and re-read all of the Fever series so, that's something.

I am a huge KMM Fever Series fan and have been having withdrawals ever since the Fever Series ended!! Since #TheHouseatWatchHill is a whole new world and the first book of a new trilogy I was a little worried if it would meet my expectations. NO NEED TO WORRY!! KMM has done it again!! Being the first book of a trilogy there is a lot of world building and character development so at times it may seem a little slow, but this book drew me in immediately and sets the stage beautifully for book 2 where I'm sure there will be much more plot action. I was so drawn into this world that since finishing it I am having a hard time reading anything else because my mind is still in Divinity with Zo and can't wait to see what happens in book 2!! Thank you so much #NetGalley for the ARC!!

This was my first KMM book so I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into…frustrated is what I was getting into. Frustrated in the very best way though. This book felt like the prequel to a series. We got mostly world building but things were still super vague in places that I still have questions…lots of questions. In terms of romance I wouldn’t really say this had any real romance. There are men in the book and Zo does hook up with a man when she first arrives in Divinity, but romance and spice are definitely not the focus of the book.

I absolutely loved the creepy, spooky atmosphere that KMM brought to this story. I’ve never visited Louisiana (just driven through the state) but it seems like the perfect location for a story like this. This book reminded me a bit of Salem’s Lot, a bit of The Skeleton Key, and like a few other movies and miniseries I love. As frustrating as it was for me to not have all the answers about the house/town/people I was definitely hooked from the very beginning. I’m not sure if this series is connected in any way to her other series, but I have those lined up and ready to go once my TBR clears out a bit.

I have a feeling book 2 in this series will pick up a lot more now that a lot of the world building has been established and I can’t wait to read it!

Oh my! What an amazing book 1!
It's the first of a Trilogy. A story in three books, so yes that means cliffhangers! KMM has a talent of writing substories within, weaving them throughout investing the reader in them and puzzling how they all connect...because somewhere in this Trilogy they will!

I'm invested in how Alisdair and his lore of the Cailleach; the white, dark and gray Royal Houses and those from them; Zo, her lineage, the town of Divinity, and that gothic witchy House on Watch Hill all connect! I love the perception we've been given of all the characters through Zo's POV as she learns about herself and those around her as her world is turned upside down and she struggles to sort it all out...great world building and lore...

My jaw is still agape after reading this world building contemporary gothic that has this reader and Zo, the heroine, wondering who are good guys or bad guys, from new acquaintances, to those she grew up with, to the very house and lineage she just might belong to…Zo's growth is forced upon her and shows her strength as she begins to come into her own even though she has no idea what its supposed to be. Who is deceiving, who is acting in her best interest or theirs!? Having to take a leap of faith in who to trust and what direction her life is supposed to take when turned upside down… does she finally get everything she desired or is it a lure into everything she should run from? There’s light-hearted and heart-rending moments…and goosebumps at ghostly entities warnings and discoveries within the house at the center of it all...

And the Cliffhanger! OMG I need the next book! I need to know who to trust, Are certain characters good bad or...that shade of gray!?

3.75 stars. The House at Watch Hill is the first book in the Watch Hill trilogy. This was an intriguing beginning to a new series by Karen Marie Moning. It is set in a mysterious new world with witchy elements and it felt completely different than anything I've read by this author before. I can't give away too much of the plot and because there is still not a ton known. The story is very mysterious and parts are revealed slowly leaving you still guessing by the end. This book reminded me of Ann Rice in some ways, with it's witchy, mysterious atmosphere. It was slow to start but got better towards the end. The story drew me in but I wanted more revealed quicker. There isn't much romance here but I am hopeful that will develop more in the next book. I didn't feel love or chemistry developing with any of the men in the book so far, but I have a feeling the hero hasn't been introduced yet. Still, I liked the book ultimately, even though for a bit, I wasn't sure if I was going to end up enjoying it. The heroine, Zo, is kind of a mess at times in learning to deal with her emotions, but I liked her. I am very curious to see where this series goes. I liked Zo's intriguing town, along with the mystery and witchy elements. I am looking forward to the next book and I hope to find out much more about Zo and the series storyline then.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Watch Hill Trilogy. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I was going to give this 3 stars, but then I started writing the review and realized that I didn't really like anything about this book. This is a very Karen Marie Moning type of book; it's a very sexually charged paranormal mystery that really rides on sexual tension and predictable mystery to move the story forward. I really enjoyed the first five or so books of Moning's Fever series (I gave up on that series when Dani was introduced) but haven't read any other books by her since then. This book reminded me why I stopped reading books by Moning.

This follows the story of Zo, who is in her mid 20's, struggling to pay for her mother's cancer treatments, and finds herself suddenly orphaned. Shortly after this, she gets a call that she's inherited a giant spooky manor. This whole story felt like an intro to the series, basically getting Zo to this community and finding out why she was brought there.

The storyline here is pretty typical and predictable. Strangely it reminds me a bit of K.F. Breene's Leveling Up series but wasn't nearly as fun, intriguing, or well thought out. I kept expecting something more from the house, and Zo's powers are never well explained. I was also disappointed when the story went exactly how I thought it was going to go.

The way Zo goes from responsible, struggling daughter to sudden predatory sex fiend was just weird. The story does spend quite a bit of time trying to explain this but it just seemed odd and disrespectful both to Zo and to the men she targets. All of the characters in this book are using each other and had ulterior motives. This left a bad taste in my mouth and had a very late 90's early 2000's UF feel to the story.

Strangely, despite all the build-up to the sex scenes, they end up being mostly glossed over. Very much like "we had fun all night and then I couldn't walk the next morning". If youare going to spend that much time building up to a sex scene I at least expect to read a sex scene at some point.

This also ends on a huge cliffhanger, which I hate. I always feel like that is the author admitting their story and writing aren't enough to keep the reader coming back, so they have to bait the reader. In this case, the clilff-hanger is a man that appears that we spent a couple of pages with early on in the book...why do I care? Despite the supposed huge cliffhanger here, I have zero interest in continuing this series.

My Summary (2/5): Overall I finished this but kept hoping it would get better. I didn't enjoy the characters here, there was very little actual world-building, the magic isn't explained, and the mystery isn't all that mysterious. I have no interest in continuing this series and realized that this is similar to Moning's writing in her "Dani" days. I won't be picking up more Moning books any time soon.

I have been waiting for this book for a while now. This is the first book in this new trilogy so at times can seem a bit slow, but I am excited to see more of how all the characters develop! This can be dark so make sure to check triggers warning. But it is a great start!

I was introduced to KMM’s Fever series earlier this year and loved it. So when I saw The House at Watch Hill on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Thank you William Morrow for the opportunity to read this story early!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s the first in a trilogy so a lot of this book is introducing the characters and town. I liked the way KMM slowly introduces everything so there’s no huge info dump. Instead, the reader is left with a lot of unanswered questions. Just when you think you’re getting answers, you end up with more questions. I loved trying to guess what was going on and who Zo should/shouldn’t trust.

This book is a perfect fall read! There’s a mysterious town, gothic mansion, and several supernatural creatures. This is a book I could reread to pick up on clues I missed the first time. The cliffhanger has me anxiously awaiting book 2. I have so many questions I need answers to! I’m definitely looking forward to discovering what KMM has in store for these characters next!

As soon as I found out this author was releasing a new series, I added it to my TBR list. Karen Marie Moning is an author I’ve loved, from her old school romances to her more urban fantasy like Fever series. And while I kind of quit the Fever series as it evolved from a MacKayla to a Dani storyline (the last book I read in the series was Iced), I’m still weak when it comes to her storytelling abilities.

This is a book about witches. After her mother dies Zo Grey is surprised when she gets a call from a lawyer in Divinity, Louisiana with the news that she is the sole beneficiary of a grand estate, left to her by Juniper Cameron, a distant relative. With nothing left to lose she heads out to meet him and learn the terms of the will. When she arrives, she discovers she has inherited a huge house, and a rather large inheritance. The only catch is that according to the will she must live in the house alone, for three years, before the money or the house truly belong to her.

This is one of those books that if you’ve read the author’s previous works, you kind of know what to expect, yet are intrigued by the cast of characters and their motives. I found the world-building to be compelling, and despite some irritations with the main character, was all in as she discovers her birthright and the reasons why her mother kept them from her for the whole of her life. Zo enters this world with no expectations, but quickly realizes that she is indeed a member of a powerful coven, and her dormant powers are slowly beginning to surface.

The surrounding town is full of questionable, interesting characters and it’s hard to determine both their loyalty to the previous matriarch or their motives. Zo is taken with the seductive groundskeeper but is still haunted by Kellan, the man who she spent a sexy night with during her trip to Louisiana. As she explores the house, full of locked rooms and deserted hallways, she slowly begins to learn of her heritage with the help of letters from Juniper given to her by James Balfour, Juniper’s lawyer. She can’t help but wonder why her mother ran from the family, and why she kept her daughter in the dark for so long.

The overall feeling of the novel is dark and ominous, and it did remind me a little of the Fever series. I expected the cliffhanger but was still exasperated at the ending. I know something big is coming and I absolutely will be reading the next book in the series. Karen Marie Moning’s writing is just as addictive as ever, and I’m all in on this new series.

Final grade- B

I really enjoyed this! A emotionally lost woman and a haunted house? Count me in. We meet Zo at a low point in life, broke and unhappy, having recently lost her mother. Soon she learns she’s inherited an estate from a long lost relative- in the sum of millions of dollars and a gigantic mansion. There are strange conditions to actually closing the inheritance, so Zo moves to the mansion to fulfill her commitment. There she finds out more about her family’s past, herself, and the mysterious relative. I really Liked Zo and want to continue with the series, however I wish It was a little scarier/creepier and less focused on romance/sex. The sex scenes were blah and I could’ve Done without them.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad KMM is back with a new series! I requested it without even reading the blurb, as I am sure many fans did as well.

This is a solid first book in the series, but I would have liked more information on the 'big bad' before the cliffhanger ending. The gothic and mysterious elements were present along with KMM's easily binged writing style.

I will still eagerly read the next book and recommend this to my friends.

Eerie and unsettling, with brilliant storytelling.

I am a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning and I was SO EXCITED to see she has a new series coming out. And I was not at all disappointed.

Karen writes true urban fantasy, the type that ruled the day in the early 2000's, so don't go expecting romantasy if you pick this up. This is where we are introduced to the world through a tragic event in the heroine's life and then we get thrust into this fantasy world right along with her. A potential love interest is introduced but it is light in this first book.

I loved the dark atmospheric setting of Watch house, I loved our main character and seeing how much she had gone through and how close she was to finding a way to ease her troubles. And I loved the mystery that is threaded through every page.

Compelling, haunting, unputdownable. I loved it.

Inreceuved an ARC for review.

This was an extremely well-written, entertaining book. It was fascinating, atmospheric, suspenseful, steamy, fun and I didn't want to put it down. It is the first in a trilogy and the ending had me wanting to read the next book immediately. I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series as well as other books by this author.

I absolutely love Karen Marie Moning’s books! I was so excited when she announced The House at Watch Hill as I have read most of her books and she is one of my favorite authors!

This is the perfect spooky season read with its witchy creepy vibes! After the death of her mother, Zo is summoned to Divinity Louisiana where she finds out that she has inherited a house and money from an estranged relative that she has never met. There are stipulations to the inheritance though including having to live in the House at Watch Hill for 3 years.

It took me a bit to get into the story as I found it hard to connect with the FMC. Zo was also constantly thinking about sleeping with men and the second she saw a man would think about sleeping with them. I found this really hard to connect with as at time she would seem pretty immature.

Thank you Net Galley and Willam Morrow for the advanced readers copy!

4.5 Stars
The House at Watch Hill is the first book in a new fantasy series following grief stricken Zo Grey who inherits a large fortune and a Gothic mansion in Divinity, Louisiana that’s full of ominous secrets.

This was a captivating and atmospheric read filled with mystery, magic, rich world-building and a small hint of romance.
I absolutely LOVED it. Reading this also reminded me why I love KMM’s writing (and that I still need to finish the Fever series).

Zo was an amazing lead. She’s strong, fierce and determined to embrace this new chance at life she’s been given.
After losing everything and finding out she’s a witch who’s been lied to her whole life, it’s no surprise she’s a bit…volatile at the moment.
I loved the haunting yet beautiful mansion and I’m looking forward to learning more of the secrets housed within its walls.

I still have SO MANY questions which I'm okay with considering this is only the beginning. KMM did a phenomenal job setting up the world and ensuring we’re invested in Zo’s story.
This is a bit of a slow burn but trust me, it’s completely worth it because THAT ENDING. The wait for the next book is going to suck because I need to know what happens next!

This is a must read if you enjoy fantasy with magic, danger, mystery and a dash of romance!

So if there’s something you didn’t know about me, I love haunted house stories and this is exactly that. We follow a woman who inherits a large fortune and a gothic mansion in Louisiana so another southern gothic horror, after her mother passes away. Of course the house is ominous as hell and full of secrets. Now this is actually the first book to a trilogy which is rare to see in horror so that’s interesting and I'm not mad about it. I loved this so I can't wait for more.

The House at Watch Hill is book 1 in Karen Marie Moning’s new trilogy. It follows Zo Grey, a twenty-four year old woman who has done her best with the life she has been dealt. She works numerous jobs as her mom battles cancer. When tragedy strikes, and her mom passes suddenly, she is at a loss. Then she receives notice that she has been left a sizeable inheritance, but she must appear in person to learn the details. With nobody to stay for and no home to speak of, Zo travels to Divinity, Louisiana. To receive the sizeable monetary fortune, properties, and other items, Zo must reside in the dark, forbidding house on the hill which looms over the town of Divinity for three years.

After the continual cycle of moving from place to place during her twenty-four years, Zo now has the chance to put down roots and have a home. Strange happenings while she’s there sent some apprehension down her spine, but Zo remains steadfast in exploring the house, despite doors that won’t open and hidden passages that do. Along with the rule about living in the house for three years, she has several contingencies that need to be met. Zo is powerful and there are motions in play that both her, and the reader, are left in the dark about in this book. Some things are revealed, Zo’s powers are manifesting, but who or what is behind it all? Protected while inside the house, she still has encounters that make her question the reality she is living.

There are several interesting characters who are introduced in this story. The mysterious and sexy Kellan, her best friend Este, the handsome estate worker Devlin, and a Stygian owl named Rufus all add to the allure of this book. There is also Alisdair…who remains hidden, even though he’s heard from six times in this book.

Moning has again woven her magic with the tale of Zo and the Cailleach, while dropping hints about what may or may not be. I admit to being hooked already and needing to know what happens next, especially with that ONE name that readers of the Highlander and Fever series will recognize. Moning is a true storyteller who can spin a tale that has you walking along in the footsteps of the main character, feeling the cold air on your neck, hearing all the bumps in the night, all while keeping you on the edge of suspense just waiting to find out what happens next.

I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait for book 2 to get released after being engrossed in Divinity and its people, not to mention needing to know what happens with the cliffhanger at the end of this book.

It is important to note that this story is a world building book. I can’t even say there is a slow burn, because nothing is set at all with Zo and any of the male characters. If you are used to Moning’s way of telling her tales, you will understand this ahead of time. This is NOT the Fever series, you need to go in without having the expectation of it being that epic, otherwise you will be disappointed. I believe this series will stand on its own when it is complete, so I am going to wait until the last page of the trilogy before I fully reflect on it. If you are new to her, you may want to wait until the trilogy is complete before you begin reading.

Well, done, Moning! Well, done.