The Ex Hex

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Manufacturer: Erin Sterling
Brand: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Brew: Paperback
Steeping Time: 322 pages
Tea Service: Authentic Books Halloween Special
Strength:

Synopsis: Vivienne Jones handled the biggest break-up of her life the way that any witch would: vodka, bubble baths, and a curse on her ex.

That was nine years ago. Now Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the town’s founders, breaker of hearts and still irritatingly gorgeous, is back. Rhys has returned to the quaint town of Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival. But when his every move results in calamity, Vivi realises that hexing her ex might not have been so harmless after all . . .

As the curse starts to affect the magic of the town, resulting in murderous wind-up toys, an outraged ghost, and a surprisingly talkative cat, Vivi and Rhys must put their personal feelings aside and work together to break the curse and save not just the town, but also Rhys’s life.

Mixing alcohol with nearly anything is usually a recipe for disaster. Add magic into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a right problem on your hands.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted Halloween rom-com, you’ll find that in The Ex Hex. You’ll also find a little more spice, if you know what I mean. Romance novels, even rom-coms, aren’t my usual pick. I’m not a big fan of sex scenes, mostly because I find them awkwardly silly, and I’d rather have a serious thriller with romance than a silly or lighthearted book with romance. If this had been darker with more intense witchy ghost business, I’d have been all over this.

Even yet, I still enjoyed it. It was a fun, easy read that didn’t go much below surface level. I enjoyed the setting immensely. Having just spent Halloween in Vermont this year, I connected instantly to Virginia in the fall. And since my husband and I are currently planning a trip to Wales in the spring, it was easy for me to plant myself there as well.

I thought the characters were fun, the situations they found themselves in were engaging, and overall I enjoyed the story.

Is this a profound masterpiece that will induce hours-long discussions about the repercussions of magic use in the modern world? No. Will it entertain you and give you a fun Halloween romp? Yes.

In all, if you’re after a witchy book that has incredible worldbuilding and magic, The Ex Hex isn’t going to hit the mark. If you’re after a romance novel that happens to have witches in it, then you’ve hit the target.

In writing this review, I’ve learned that The Ex Hex is book one in a series. From just reading this one, I didn’t expect there to be a book two. It works well as a stand-alone book, which is great. I don’t think I’ll be buying the rest of this series, but if they fell into my lap, I’d probably read them.

Have you read The Ex Hex? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it! Want to read it for yourself? Click here to get a copy of your own.
Cheers,
Lydia