Soul of the Witch

Witches of Keating Hollow, Volume 1

By: Deanna Chase

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Welcome to Keating Hollow, the village full of love, magic, and cupcakes, where nothing is more important than family.

At age 18, after a spell tragically backfired, Abby Townsend left Keating Hollow and her magic behind to find redemption. Twelve years later, after being summoned by her family, she’s back.

As soon as she drives into town, she’s already plotting her inevitable exit, but she can’t quite escape the pull of the tightly knit magical community or the soulful gaze of the one man she’s never forgotten. And when a nine-year old witch not only leads her back to her magic, but also steals her heart, Abby’s about to learn what it means to embrace the soul of a witch.

©2018 Deanna Chase (P)2018 Deanna Chase

Critic reviews

"Soul of the Witch feels like it maybe got touched by just a little bit of Witch Central’s DNA." (Debora Geary, best-selling author of A Modern Witch)

Contemporary Romance - Yet Witchy

This was my first book experience with Deanna Chase and have to say I was pleased. Because I was short on reading time, I chose the audio version. The narrator was commendable though I would say she has a soothing voice so I had to work harder to listen and not doze off. Her characters are very relatable although they are in a paranormal witch world which make them captivating. There isn’t anything that stood out to me about them, yet her storytelling made them well-liked. I didn’t know anything about the story when I began, so I was surprised when I finished that it ended up being more of a contemporary romance, with witches. I kept expecting them to face some form of a villain or adversity, but the only adversity they face is themselves and their own intra-personal relationships. It’s refreshing; yet I usually enjoy books with a bit more action than this, so it ends up being a bit underwhelming. Since there is no outstanding villain or issue, I would personally say the book could be read as a stand-alone and you would be satisfied with the ending. I will have to say though that the ending made me bawl like a baby. Flat out ugly cried. It was heartwarming, but man did it ever hit home with me. After a short break for some other more thrilling books, I’ll probably pick up the series again just to see what happens in the next chapters of these characters lives.

Loved This

I am usually a mystery reader, but this light paranormal romance was a perfect feel-good read. I loved Abby and her family, as well as Clay, Olive, and most every character that Deanna Chase created here. It made me particularly happy that the tension was not prolonged. I needed this.

Paranormal Lifetime Melodrama Beginnings

I have listened to Deanna's Premonition Pointe and Witches of Christmas Grove series and so was pretty sure what this would be. These stories do not have great depth but can be entertaining when you are in the mood for this style. Lots of intense love at first sight, villains who seem capable of pulling off ridiculous treachery that is very unrealistic, and tidy completely wrapped up happy endings that will never let you down. The drama is high and it has that soap opera quality where you feel like the camera zooms in and the audience gasps. This is made more so by Gabra's narration who gives everyone a desperate breathy voice filled with emotion. Every situation seems dire and dramatic. Honestly when I am in the mood these can be so much fun I find myself laughing out loud at how over the top it is. I agree with what other 3 star reviews have stated and Abby the main character is not terrible engaging nor was the romance. This definitely feels like the book that is there just to introduce the town and I found myself eager to check it off so I can just get the next. The pacing was odd feeling rushed at times leaving the audience without explanations or details and then syrupy slow at others. The obstacles the characters face are so over the top but I never feel tension because I know it will be resolved by the end. The baddies are very bad leaving the audience with zero sympathy for them and leaving those villains very two dimensional and a tool to create story conflict and nothing more. I am interested in finding out more about this world though the magic feels completely inorganic and unexplained throughout this narrative, as the audience I have no sense of how magic functions or who has abilities--this is something I have noticed in many of Deanna's series. Magic is more of an accessory that randomly pops up instead of an ability the characters seem to weave seamlessly into their life. Again I have listened to many of her books and will check out the next in the series but my expectations are set around the fact that I listen when I am wanting some fluffy lightly paranormal, lightly romantic melodrama. I also appreciate each volume switches the main character so you know you will get to move on to someone else if you aren't digging the storyline.

Great start to new series

This was an amazing story. Full of just about everything love laughs even sad parts. Wonderful ending too. The narration was amazing as well.

Great story of love and family!

This was a delightful story full of laughs and sometimes tears. Abigail shuts herself off from her power for over a decade due to a misunderstanding. It takes love from family and friends to help her find her way back.