Because Good Books Deserve Bad Behavior
From the Publisher:
Grave Witch feels like slipping into a well-worn leather jacket: familiar, comfortable, and just a little dramatic. Alex Craft is a capable, likable heroine juggling murder investigations, magic, and an alarming number of questionable supernatural men. The writing is smooth, the mystery is engaging, and the pages turn easily.
This is a stock standard urban fantasy done with competence. It moves fast, hits the expected beats, and knows exactly what kind of book it wants to be. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre, and honestly, that’s part of its appeal. You can settle in, enjoy the ride, and trust that the story will deliver without demanding your soul in return.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its worldbuilding. The magical rules are clear, the supernatural community feels lived-in, and the stakes are grounded enough to matter. The romance exists, but it doesn’t overpower the mystery, which I appreciated. That said, the romantic options themselves are… hmmm. There are readers firmly planted in Team Andrew (who carries some definite alphahole energy, very of-its-time urban fantasy) and Team Death (who, yes, gives off deeply uncomfortable “watching her since childhood” vibes). Mileage will vary, but my Kindle got some serious side-eye. I was waiting for option C – who never appeared.
The pacing stays tight throughout, and the mystery keeps pushing forward, even if a few convenient plot solutions soften the impact. There is at least one moment where the characters have essentially solved the case and simply refuse to believe it, which kept the book from hitting that “excellent” tier for me. Emotionally, it doesn’t devastate, but it does land a few satisfying end-of-book pangs.
This isn’t a book that changed how I think about urban fantasy, and it’s not one I’ll reread endlessly. But it’s absolutely the kind of book I’d happily revisit when I’m in the mood for something familiar, competent, and entertaining. Flawed but fun, Grave Witch delivers exactly what it promises. I finished it, immediately picked up book two… and remain firmly, unapologetically not Team Death.
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