Hexhunter

Every book in this series has been better than the last. This one has an intriguing slow-burn plot and a lovely slow-burn romance. Isaac and Bill are deeply in love before anything happens between them, and that doesn't change at any point. Misunderstandings have been important in the romance plots in this series before, but not in this book. These two are honest with each other at every point, and I loved their relationship. They're both very patient and respectful, which is exactly what they both need.

So, I know the witch/familiar bond is not necessarily romantic or sexual, but the witches and familiars who found each other in the previous books in this series have all been fated pairs, and they've fallen in love with each other. However, Isaac and Bill aren't magically destined to be together. For a few years, I've been wanting to read a book exactly like this one: a romance set in a universe with fated pairings, in which people find happiness with someone else. I like soulbonding and everything like that, but I was really curious about how an author would handle a change to the concept. I thought that aspect of this book worked beautifully. It became all about Isaac making his own choices, in several ways, which was very satisfying to see.

One of Hawk's biggest strengths as a writer is his excellent characterizations; previous main characters, as well as a few side characters, play important roles here that fit with what we've previously seen from them. I really liked seeing the team all together, fighting evil. I also liked the focus on the close friendships between Isaac and Cicero and between Bill and Tom.

I enjoyed this book a lot and I look forward to the next installment of the series. I don't know who it will be about - maybe Nathan, or Sionn, or the reporter. I'm excited to find out.

ReRead November 2022
So far, of the four Hexworld books, I have two favorites and two that I don't like quite as much (even if they are all awesome, amazing, five star reads for me) and this one is one of my two favorites. (The other is Owen and Mal's story.) And part of the reason I love this one so much is because of how different it is over the other three.

I'm not usually the biggest fan of romances when the couple already know each other - but this works out okay for me here because we do get to see a lot of their history together in the previous books, even if it's not told from their perspective.

I love the fact that Bill is not Issac's witch and that this doesn't have anything to do with Issac's magic choosing Bill, but Issac himself choosing Bill. (Which is something that Bill desperately needs after his past.) I also like the fact that Bill doesn't really have much magic at all.

I also like their dynamic together as a couple. I like how they are both sweet, the late story separation has nothing to do with them or misunderstandings and just the fact that they are really solid together.

(Also, I kind of want Sionn to get a witch/story now, too.)


Original Review

This is the story I didn't think we'd ever get, just from the structure of the rest of the series. But, honestly, I adore these two so much and I am so, so happy to get their story and see them together. I'd love to say more, but if you know their story to date, you have some idea of how badly Issac needs someone like Bill but you probably don't realize that it's kind of mutual. And this story makes me want to get to the end of the series even more just so the villain of the series can get what's coming to them. Otherwise I'd be saying that I never want this series to end.