Made with love
© Victoria Gryson 2024
I’m a witch.
Yes, I know. It tends to make most people uncomfortable, but I don’t go around announcing it to just anyone.
Truth is, I didn’t even know I was a witch until my estranged uncle came and took me from my home in North Carolina to a gothic castle in Scotland…and started teaching me magic.
I thought that was as exciting as it was going to get…
Until I met the five princes of the Society of Magic, and learned I’m the key to protecting the human and fae realms from the darker side of magic.
The House of Exiles.
Oh, this is an excellent start to a new series!
Just a quick warning before you read on, calling this book 1 might not have been correct, but see it as a prequel. It is a novella, so not a full-length book!
We join Cecelia in a time of great importance, her initiation into one of the elemental Houses. Even though it’s only a novella, it is packed with information. Though that said, it was never too much at once. We just learn things as Cecelia does. Worldbuilding seems fine, and there is a lot of potential to build upon. I loooooove that 😀
Scenes and environments were clear and well detailed.
Cecelia is a powerful witch. For the last few years, she has lived with her uncle and learned more about magic.
While she is innocent and naive about the world she is set to enter, it doesn’t deter her. On the contrary, she is dedicated, friendly and open-minded, and I can tell she will need it for the coming events.
We also meet Jasper of House of Dragon Blood and Adin of House of Wizards. And… at the very end, some more exciting individuals (what? I’m not gonna spoil everything!)
It was even paced, with some action here and there, but primarily this set the stage for the actual series.
The novella was well written with no (noticeable) errors, or rather, I found one, and it wasn’t something big. There is no sex described (if that is important to you), though I feel we will be getting there in the series.
It has 120 pages, spread over 19 chapters, with mixed points of view, though Cecelia’s is the main one.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, and all in all, it has me intrigued. I’m sad that the first part of the series (House of Celestials) isn’t out yet, but I will surely read it when it releases!
© Victoria Gryson 2024