Hexen's Cross Review

Title: Hexen's Cross
Author: J. Kowallis
Series: Hexen's Cross #1
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Publication Date: 01 May 2018
Source: Author
Format: eBook
Pages: 396
Rating: 4 Stars
Reading Timeline: 05 May 2018 - 09 May 2018










Goodreads Synopsis:

The magic calls her. 
A prophecy binds her. The ancestors guide her. 



Dr. Taran Grim, a young professor of occult studies, knows the written history of witches better than anyone in her field. And she should. She’s one of them. 




After a mysterious stranger arrives at her office inquiring about the mythical staff of Woden, Taran’s curiosity reveals a millennia-old prophesy directly tied to her. The answers wait in Bryden, England and the only person who can help her gain access to the hidden valley is the descendant of Ruhmactir, and a member of the shape-shifting Geri clan: Collens “Coll” Donovan. 




But the Donovans have secrets of their own, and Taran’s underdeveloped magic is wreaking strange havoc on her life. If she can’t manage her magic and strike a truce with Coll, they’ll fail to prevent the prophesied event known as Deireanhexe: the end of the hexen race.



Book Review:
Pre-reading Thoughts:

I have J. Kowallis' other books and I figured that due to the fact that this one was coming out soon, I would request an ARC. I was so happy to hear that I was approved for one. I absolutely love the concept of this book and I am down for some prophecies and possible love interests.

Thank you so much to the author, J. Kowallis, for providing me with a copy of this book. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this book for free. Please note that this does not affect my opinions in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

I quite enjoyed the simplicity in the writing. I thought that it worked well with the story and it really made the reader use their imagination. The Hexen language really added a strong sense of not originality but authenticity. The spells were simple and yet they sounded really interesting. The dialogue was rally good and most definitely highly entertaining.

Plot Thoughts:

I thought that the plot overall was really interesting and well planned. The book was so well paced that I sped through it quite quickly despite its length.The author did a good job of introducing the readers to the history of the Hexen. I also love how we got to see opposites. Coll was well trained in the practice of his magic but Taran was not. I also just really enjoyed how everything was fleshed out well. There were a couple of heavy moments they were done really well. 

Character Thoughts:

I enjoyed the characters. Taran sounded a bit whiney sometimes but I think that came with the territory of having to save her entire race. I thought that she was a strong character and her love for academia is truly inspiring. Coll was not quite the brooding love interest that everyone expects. I liked him as a character but sometimes I felt as though he overreacted a little bit.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was a great start to a new series by J. Kowallis. I think that she is clearly a practiced writer and knows her way around words. The writing was good and simple. The plot consumed my attention and was well planned. Nothing felt too rushed or awkward. The characters were well developed but sometimes there was too much of a focus on a certain characteristic. AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE ENDING IS JUST!!!!!!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny

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