Of Witches and Warlocks: The Demon Kiss by Lacey Weatherford

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Webiste:

Fighting for her life has become a theme for Portia Mullins. After nearly being killed in a chemical explosion that was rigged by her best friend, then having to rescue her boyfriend, Vance Mangum, from a demon conversion that was almost successful, Portia finds herself drained of blood after she feeds him in an attempt to save his life. When Portia awakens from her blood loss induced coma it is to find the love of her life gone, off in a search to destroy his demon warlock father. Portia is very angry that Vance has left and determines to go after him. Taking a couple of friends along with her, they set out in search of him. But when she finds him the happy reunion she was hoping for is not to be. She finds that Vance has not been completely healed from his experience and is suffering from serious withdrawals which make him crave blood…her blood to be specific. Can Vance and Portia find a way to make their relationship work around this obstacle? Or will the evil they are chasing find them and tear them apart forever?

Review:

While I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Of Witches and Warlocks: The Demon Kiss stepped up this series in a major way, making it a new must-read series of mine, because not only did the characters and plot threads get more fleshed out and the writing became better, but The Demon Kiss is filled with action, romance, and even some laugh-out loud parts.

In Demon Kiss Portia is dealing with the aftermath of what occurred in The Trouble with Spells. Vance is gone and there's a chance he won't be coming back if his plan fails, so Portia decides it up to her to save the day and him, and before she knows it she's on the road with her best friend, Shelly, and Shelly's boyfriend Brad, with a mission to find Vance and stop this all once for all. Though, as it turns out the future holds to be more dangerous than Portia could ever image, but will the danger come between her and Vance and will she die because of it? Only time and more pages will tell in this amazing sequel!

One of my favorite parts for this sequel was the fact that the characters got more fleshed out, since for one I could finally see why and just how much Vance and Portia love each other. Plus, I loved seeing how Lacey gave bigger roles to Brad and Shelly, my two new favorite characters, because they provided to simply hilarious and well-worth the parts recieved.

Further more, The Demon Kiss' action and romance levels stepped up majorly as well. I loved finding out more about Vance's dad and his ambitions in the dark side, as well as seeing all the spying missions and planing for how Portia, Vance, and everyone would capture him. Lacey's writing also got a lot better...to point were the story was even able to jump of the page in my eyes. And the ending? Words can't express how much I'm dying to read the sequel now.

In all, the amazing thing that The Demon Kiss is makes the lackluster first book worth it. I can't wait to read more about Portia, Vance and the gang.

Grade: A-

Of Witches and Warlocks: The Demon Kiss is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Lacey!

Of Witches and Warlocks: The Trouble with Spells by Lacey Weatherford

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Portia Mullins had always lived the life of a normal teenager, up until her sixteenth birthday. She is then informed by her grandma that she is actually a witch who is a descendant from a long line of witches and warlocks. After overcoming her disbelief she finds that being a member of the coven comes with one great perk in the form of the school's handsome bad boy, Vance Mangum. Vance and Portia have an immediate connection as a budding romance begins, only to be threatened by turbulent skies on the horizon as Vance's checkered past rears its ugly head to haunt them. Portia is forced to use her untried powers in defense of everything she loves in a desperate attempt to hold on to the one thing that really matters in her life.

Review:

When I first heard of the Of Witches and Warlocks series, I couldn't wait to read it because it contained one of my favorite subjects in paranormal YA, witches and warlocks. Luckily Of Witches and Warlocks: The Trouble with Spells provided to be a likable set-up to a new series I'll definitely be reading, but I will admit I did have several problems with it.

The first addition to this action packed series starts three days before Portia's birthday. Portia is your typical high school girl. She's crushing on her school's bad bay, she loves hanging out with her friends, and she can't wait until her sixteen birthday so that she can finally drive. Though, as it turns out there's more than meets the eye to the marking of her birthday. You see, she just found out she's a witch. No, not the one that rhymes with a b-work, the other kind, the one with magic. And as it turns out she's loving it, because not only is Vance, the swoon-worthy bad boy, a witch as well, but he's finally paying attention to her, plus it turns out Portia's a natural when it comes to spells. Though, not everything is as happy as it appears, as Portia is soon to learn...

Portia was a character that I found likable for most of the book, though that didn't stop me for wanting to shake her shoulders sometimes because of her rushed and sometimes idiotic decisions. Regardless, I thought Lacey did a great job of crafting her character into being three dimensional and someone relatable as well. I also enjoyed reading about Portia's relationship with Vance, but I felt that sometimes it was way too rushed for my liking. I mean, they never really got a chance to even know each other before they were "bonded" basically as soul mates. I just didn't see the connection, though maybe there relationship will become clearer in the next book?

The Trouble with Spells was also contained an action and romance packed plot, one that never ceased to make me eager to find out more as quickly as possible. Though, I felt that some of the book wasn't nearly as amazing as it would've been because of Lacey's occasional clunky writing that never really made the story jump of the page.

Regardless, The Trouble with Spells is still a book I did enjoy even with the slight annoyances on my end and one I will be suggesting. Also, the ending was a totally "wow!" moment that has left me eager to read the sequel.

Grade: C+

The Trouble with Spells is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks, Lacey!