This was a perfect read for October so I am surprised that it is actually for publishing in March. The cover, setting and storyline are very fall like.

This is the first book I have read from this author but I very much enjoyed it. She did a wonderful job of setting the scene, character and world-building, and keeping to the plot with a smaller plot included. I loved the bane witch focus and the magic that came with it. I was fully engaged in this story.

There were just a few small things that kept me from giving it a full 5 stars. Some work needs to be done with the sex scenes and the descriptions...“He takes my breasts in his mouth like candied apples …??”  <eyebrow raise> Really? That was the best comparison that could be written in?

Plus there were a couple of points in the police investigation that felt far fetched and unrealistic to me. This took a little tiny bit away from the story. I won't detail them so I don't give anything away but unrealistic procedural details do make a difference to me. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC!