A murder mystery and urban fantasy meets paranormal romance?? Literally say less. I kept trying to put my finger on why I liked this so much and that pretty much sums it up. This is a fantastic debut!

Mostly a mystery with a really cool magical system rooted in linguistics, the plot had great action points, woven with heartfelt moments between the characters. I loved the lore! The mana! The magic! The book had a wonderful atmosphere that reminded me of my time in Hawaii and it left me a bit nostalgic. The political intrigue and world building felt very smart and not overly complicated. I think this could definitely be built on in a potential sequel.

Kea was an intriguing main character. The unofficial head of her clan, very strong, caring, but untrained in her magic with very few members left to carry on their family spell. Making do with whatever she can to keep her family and homestead safe.

I really liked Kea and Sora, their relationship felt very realistic and I adored the slight slow burn. Kea is basically forced to help find the murderer, with both of their lives at risk and Kea’s familial land under siege, the connection between them was undeniable.

I could easily see this becoming a series, it has so much potential for possible new plot developments. I would definitely read it!

Thank you to Saga Press for the advance review copy.

Title: The Killing Spell
Author: Shay Kauwe
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️