The House Witch

Author: Delemhach 

Narrator: Matthew Wolf

The first in a series of books, this title introduces us to the kingdom of Daxaria and all the various, interesting individuals who inhabit the castle. Our main character is Finlay Ashowen who is employed as the head chef. Unbeknownst to the king or his staff, Fin is a House Witch, a special brand of witch whose power rests in making their home a comfortable and safe place for everyone. I personally appreciate that the magical system is rigid and the author adheres to their own rules throughout the novel. 

Though this novel is billed as a romantic fantasy, it’s definitely more fantasy than romance. The story doesn’t just focus on the MC and his romantic interest, but instead follows a large cast of characters. The romance itself is a will-they-won’t-they, with several reasons standing between them, but it’s overall very sweet with absolutely no spice to be found. Also, there’s a kitten! And you get to follow him around on his kitty duties in chapter 21, which is super cute.

Overall, I found this to be a pleasurable story to listen to and the humor to be right up my alley, though sometimes it was a bit long-winded. I think perhaps reducing the cast of characters would be easier for a casual listener to follow along with, though someone who listens intently will most likely appreciate the large cast.

The narrator, Matthew Wolf, has a very pleasant speaking voice with a soft British accent. His tone and flow are lovely and easy to listen to. My one criticism is that it was sometimes difficult to tell when a female was speaking until a name was attached to the voice. That may have just been a narration choice considering the large cast, though. 

This is the first novel I’ve read from this author, Delemhach. I enjoyed this one, so I’m eager to check out others in the future!