Review – Something Witchy This Way Comes by H.P. Mallory

Something Witchy This Way Comes by H. P. Mallory
Format: eBook
Published on 2012
Published by Bantam Books, Random House LLC Genres: Fantasy, FICTION, Paranormal, Romance
Amazon     Goodreads3.5 stars

A witch’s work is never done, and in bestselling author H. P. Mallory’s mesmerizing new novel, Jolie Wilkins finds that the real magic is only just beginning.   For smart and sexy witch Jolie Wilkins, being Queen of the Underworld is a royal pain. Back from a round of time travel, Jolie must now protect her realm from the sinister Lurkers—a powerful breed of half-humans bent on conquering the undead. And if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that the supernatural never go down without a fight.   At least Jolie has her soul mate (andfinallyofficial boyfriend), warlock Rand Balfour, by her side. Honorable, brave, and unbelievably handsome, Rand is everything Jolie wants in a man. So why can’t she forget the dangerously alluring vampire, Sinjin Sinclair? With her private life heating up and a battle boiling over, Jolie sets out to prove that in matters of love and war, the fairer hex has its own set of charms.

My thoughts:

My review:

It’s been almost three years since I read the previous installment in the Jolie Wilkins series, and Something Witchy This Way Comes has been on my Kindle since its release day waiting for me to push it to the top of a long list, so I’m thankful the author chose to recap a bit in the first chapter of the book.  However, I noticed during the recap that the previous books never really left me; I remembered so much that had happened, including my emotions I felt in the previous books toward the events and characters.  With that, I can easily say that this book picks up right where The Witch is Back left off…in a blame-game between Rand, who wants justice for the wrong done to Jolie, Mercedes, the prophetess, Sinjin, the vampire with swagger, and Jolie, the Queen of the Underworld, upon Jolie’s and Sinjin’s return from the past.  In fact, the first chapter has reminded me of just how much I love this series and these characters.

” ‘There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy,’ ” I said, quoting Hamlet, the very words Rand had uttered to me in the first few days of our acquaintance, when I’d doubted the fact that I was a witch.

I went into this book with strong [leftover] emotions already established from the history of these characters. Rand’s inner alpha really comes out in this installment with his jealousy of Sinjin at an all time high and his suspicions of Marcedes’s and Sinjin’s intentions toward Jolie.  The question always has and still surrounds Sinjin as to whether he is capable of love or has any humanistic qualities left in him after living as a vampire for over 600 years.  There is a scene in the first 20% of the book that had my heart breaking for Sinjin….wondering and hoping that he still had a few human qualities left.  I’ve always been Team Rand, but the first part of this book had me leaning toward Team Sinjin….a lot.

Maybe deep down in that icy cave of his heart, he was still truly human and capable of caring about someone else.  Maybe Sinjin Sinclair could feel love?

There is a mystery surrounding Jolie and her role in the Underworld and shocking secrets are everywhere.  Usually, I can speculate and prove my speculations correct about 90% of the time, but there was no anticipation, no speculation, little guessing as to the surprises that I never saw coming.  Secrets are revealed that the previous books never even alluded to, and they are rocking to Jolie’s core.  The huge war with the Lurkers is brewing, and Jolie’s destiny lies in the outcome.  When the final battle happens, THIS was the point in the book that my hands could not put this story down.  Leading up to this point, I was able to walk away and do other things easily, yet I was still entertained.  But, when the battle ensued, I could not be pried away from my Kindle.  Secrets are held and shocking secrets are revealed. At about the 50% mark, things really picked up and the excitement and danger took a front seat.

I love the bond between Rand and Jolie and the romantic moments they shared together.  I’ve always loved Rand and Jolie together, but Sinjin is by far one of my favorite characters, no matter how selfish and seedy he appears.  I’ve always hoped for that redeeming quality in him to shine.  He has charm and charisma with a playful banter that arrests my heart.  Unfortunately, I missed the banter and wit in this installment due to the events that took place in half of the book.  My heart bled for Sinjin a few times when he was present in some of the scenes, which were few.

Jolie has matured and grown in character in this final installment, and she still rules as Queen with her heart.  However, she does make several calls as Queen that has everyone on her panel in agreement, seeing just how much she has matured and fallen into the royal role she once felt intimidated by.  She  continues to ride the fence in her trust of Sinjin.  She knows she loves Rand and is bonded with him, but her time with Sinjin in the past and her feelings for him still haunt her.  Can she trust him?  Can’t she believe him?

“I cannot live without you,” he said simply.  “Yes, it is true that I have dedicated myself to your protection, but that is only because I could never bear to lose you.”

[View post to see spoiler]

All of my favorite characters are back along with a few new characters who’ve opened the door for the spinoff series, The Bryn and Sinjin series, and I’m eager to see how these two supernatural beings who despise each other fare in this newer series.  If you’ve read the synopsis to the first book in the new spinoff series, then you already know who Bryn is, but if you haven’t read it, then I suggest you don’t.  Let this book take you there instead for Jolie’s surprise and the revelation of who Bryn and Jolie really are.  A lot of history and answers to questions I didn’t have until this book are revealed and answered in this book, one part of which is very cliché, but the author even notes that it is cliché.  There is a love story within a love story with regard to Jolie’s true lineage, but only a small snippet of such and not enough to really connect me it.  These books are meant to be read in order, and I do recommend that you work your way through them.  What a wonderful ending to Jolie Wilkins series, which left me happy and satisfied.

✽ ✽ ✽

 My review of The Witch is Back

Series reading order:

Spinoff Series – The Bryn and Sinjin series:

The post Review – Something Witchy This Way Comes by H.P. Mallory appeared first on Romantic Reading Escapes.