In my most humble opinion, the spotlight of fall (which is already one of the best season of the 12 months) is Halloween. Annually, I pull out the pumpkins and Halloween wreaths as early as humanly doable and am rewatching Sensible Magic as quickly because the clock strikes midnight on the primary day of fall. I immerse myself in all issues witchy and scary, from the films I watch to the books I learn, and this 12 months isn’t any totally different. Whereas I’ll be curled up studying each remotely Halloween-related e book I can get my arms on and convincing my spook-adverse husband to observe horror motion pictures with me, I notice this sort of dedication isn’t everybody’s factor. However, whilst you is probably not as Halloween-obsessed as me, that doesn’t imply you possibly can’t get into the spooky spirit. Enter: The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling, the one two books it’s essential learn this Halloween season.
The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse are two standalone (albeit linked) tales that happen within the city of Graves Glen. You’ll want to begin with The Ex Hex to get launched to the city and key characters, and by the point you’re executed, you’ll be glad to have The Kiss Curse helpful as you received’t be prepared to go away Graves Glen behind.
What They’re About
Erin Sterling
The Ex Hex
9 years in the past, Vivi Jones nursed her damaged coronary heart like every younger witch would: vodka, unhappy music, bubble baths, and a curse on her horrible ex. The curse ought to have been innocent (it wasn’t actual in any case), however when the aforementioned ex (who’s nonetheless simply as annoyingly attractive as he was a decade in the past) lastly returns to Graves Glen, issues begin to go off the rails nearly instantly.
Erin Sterling
The Kiss Curse
Gwyn Jones is completely pleased along with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mother, and her cousin have fashioned a brand new and highly effective coven; she’s working a profitable witchcraft store, One thing Depraved; and he or she’s began mentoring a few of the youthful witches on the town. Then, Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow strikes to city and opens up a rival store proper throughout the road from One thing Depraved, throwing a wrench in Gwyn’s good life.
Who Will Love Them
While you consider Halloween, most individuals consider issues that go bump within the night time and tales that make you panic-purchase nightlights for each room in your home. And whereas all issues thrilling and scary could also be simply what the physician ordered for October, some would fairly get pleasure from spooky and witchy vibes with out the shortcoming to sleep at night time. Assume Halloweentown or Hocus Pocus. The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse are the romantic, cozy, Halloween-y books for the individuals who love the Halloween aesthetic however nonetheless desire a fortunately ever after. If you happen to love a low stakes rom-com (enemies-to-lovers, anybody?), these books are a must-read in October.
Why I Love Them
I learn fantasy books as if my life relied on it. I really like getting misplaced in new worlds, happening adventures with the principle characters, and falling in love with morally grey (and possibly fae) males. However I can’t learn fantasy books like this on a regular basis—they will get heavy fairly rapidly. After I discover myself needing a break, I flip to cozier, low stakes fantasy books that lean extra in the direction of the romance style than the fantasy one. It was my want for a break akin to this that led me first to The Ex Hex after which to eagerly anticipating the follow-up, The Kiss Curse.
These tales have all the things I really like about cozy reads: a setting to die for, love tales to root for, and magic that makes me really feel nostalgic for the times I’d keep up late ready for Halloweentown to play on Disney Channel.
Each books happen in Graves Glen, The Ex Hex following Vivi’s story and The Kiss Curse following her cousin Gwyn’s. Graves Glen is a small city powered by the magic of the witches who based it. A lot of the 12 months, it’s a quiet city that simply occurs to be residence to witches, however in October, they go all out celebrating Halloween. Vivi is a professor on the native school and Gwyn runs a neighborhood store that sells faux magical objects to vacationers. Sterling does a superb job bringing the city to life—it’s like she plucked the phrase Halloween from the dictionary and turned it into an actual life city. If it had been an actual place, I’d be packing up my baggage and shifting there on the first alternative.
In relation to the love tales, Sterling actually did her homework as a result of these books include just about all the things romance readers wish to see. At their coronary heart, these books are each enemies-to-lovers tales, however how every one develops is really distinctive. Vivi and Rhys are tormented by a curse she by accident positioned on him ten years prior, and when Llewellyn strikes to city he units up a store proper throughout the road from Gwyn’s. I used to be completely giddy studying about how these two {couples} navigate the forces that concurrently drive them aside… and collectively. As an individual who simply loves love, I used to be grinning from ear to ear whereas studying these books and wish everybody else to really feel that very same pleasure.
Whereas the setting and the love tales alone are sufficient to promote me on these books, I’d be remiss to not point out the one factor that pushed these books from the nice to the good class for me: Sir Purrcival, the speaking cat who actually made me snicker out loud a number of instances all through each books. In brief, for those who’re searching for a few enjoyable reads to get within the Halloween spirit, you completely can’t go fallacious with The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse.
Erin Sterling
The Ex Hex
9 years in the past, Vivi Jones nursed her damaged coronary heart like every younger witch would: vodka, unhappy music, bubble baths, and a curse on her horrible ex. The curse ought to have been innocent (it wasn’t actual in any case), however when the aforementioned ex (who’s nonetheless simply as annoyingly attractive as he was a decade in the past) lastly returns to Graves Glen, issues begin to go off the rails nearly instantly.
Erin Sterling
The Kiss Curse
Gwyn Jones is completely pleased along with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mother, and her cousin have fashioned a brand new and highly effective coven; she’s working a profitable witchcraft store, One thing Depraved; and he or she’s began mentoring a few of the youthful witches on the town. Then, Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow strikes to city and opens up a rival store proper throughout the road from One thing Depraved, throwing a wrench in Gwyn’s good life.
Supply: The Every Girl