25 August 2025
The House Witch
The House Witch #1
Cozy, Fantasy - 2022
Character
A grouchy magical cook who cares more than he lets on
Setting
A fantasy kingdom menaced by cruel neighbors
Plot
Slowly and with many side tangents, the cook tries to make the castle safe for those who live there.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ¼
The House Witch by Delemhach is a rambling, episodic but still completely enjoyable story that is more about themes - like found family and the value of a safe home - than about plot.
I think more any any other found family story that I've read, this one is focused on characterization. We spend a lot of time getting to know the characters. A lot of time. In other stories of this type, each episode is devoted to meeting a new character. This book didn't have the formulaic feel, which I appreciated. Instead, most of the characters are introduced early on, and we watch as they slowly form relationships. It makes the relationships more rich and believable.
Another positive element of this book is the feeling. One of the main themes is the value of having a safe, comfortable space. The book mirrors that theme, in that it too has a warm, comfortable feel. At least, it felt that way for me.
On the other hand, the author made some really goofy choices. There are sections from the cat's point of view, which were already a bit silly, but then the cats all ended up having an African-American accent, which seemed... like maybe not the best idea. (I listened to the audiobook, which made this worse.) I don't think it was intended to be mean-spirited, as the cats are better informed than the humans, but I still felt uncomfortable with it. There were also drunken escapades, ridiculous names, and other silly moments.
I listened to this book before bed, which was a good point. It is fairly calm. At no point did the drama become so extreme or upsetting (although there are brief moments of domestic violence) that I felt like it was winding me up.
If you are looking for something fun and light with some silliness and the feeling that kindness and the desire to help others can make everyone's life better, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you are looking for a rollercoaster of emotions or something serious, I don't think this book is for you.
I will definitely listen to the next book, also before bed, and would certainly consider other books by this author.
I think more any any other found family story that I've read, this one is focused on characterization. We spend a lot of time getting to know the characters. A lot of time. In other stories of this type, each episode is devoted to meeting a new character. This book didn't have the formulaic feel, which I appreciated. Instead, most of the characters are introduced early on, and we watch as they slowly form relationships. It makes the relationships more rich and believable.
Another positive element of this book is the feeling. One of the main themes is the value of having a safe, comfortable space. The book mirrors that theme, in that it too has a warm, comfortable feel. At least, it felt that way for me.
On the other hand, the author made some really goofy choices. There are sections from the cat's point of view, which were already a bit silly, but then the cats all ended up having an African-American accent, which seemed... like maybe not the best idea. (I listened to the audiobook, which made this worse.) I don't think it was intended to be mean-spirited, as the cats are better informed than the humans, but I still felt uncomfortable with it. There were also drunken escapades, ridiculous names, and other silly moments.
I listened to this book before bed, which was a good point. It is fairly calm. At no point did the drama become so extreme or upsetting (although there are brief moments of domestic violence) that I felt like it was winding me up.
If you are looking for something fun and light with some silliness and the feeling that kindness and the desire to help others can make everyone's life better, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you are looking for a rollercoaster of emotions or something serious, I don't think this book is for you.
I will definitely listen to the next book, also before bed, and would certainly consider other books by this author.
Fiction: The House Witch by Delemhach
The House Witch #1
Podium Publishing, 2022-06-06
472 pages
The House Witch #1
Podium Publishing, 2022-06-06
472 pages