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Review: Hell of a Witch by Rachel Aaron

Blurb:

The hotly anticipated sequel to HELL FOR HIRE!

One month ago, Bex, the demon Queen of Wrath, and Adrian, witch of the Blackwood, pulled off the upset victory of the century. Now, they find themselves facing the question all unexpected champions must answer: what next? They've declared war on Heaven, but how do you actually bring down a divinely powerful tyrant when your army's still in the single digits and your magical fortress is an illegally modified Winnebago?

It seems like a hopeless situation. As always, though, Adrian Blackwood has a plan, and this time, he's going big. He's got an idea to take down the Seattle Anchor, the giant magical fortress that houses the Anchor Market and every other bit of critical infrastructure that connects Heaven to Earth.

How the Anchors work is a closely guarded secret, and getting to the good stuff will require going deep into the heart of Gilgamesh's power. There's a reason even the Queen of Wrath has never attacked one directly, but now that Adrian's on her team, Bex thinks they can do it. She's finally got the power she needs to actually move the needle on this war, and she's going to hit that Anchor with all the fire she's got.

But the enemies of Heaven aren't the only ones making plans. After the fiery return of his most persistent annoyance, Gilgamesh has ordered his princes to take care of the demon queen problem personally. It's time to roll out the big guns and show these rebels what divine wrath really means, starting with the Hell of a Witch who made it all possible.

Book 2 a new, action-packed Urban Fantasy series from the author of NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST and MINIMUM-WAGE MAGIC!


Review:

Hell of a Witch is the sequel to Hell for Hire and a part of the Tear Down Heaven series. Picking up where the previous book left off, the story follows Bex and Adrian on their mission to overthrow Heaven and seek retribution for those who have suffered and been enslaved by Gilgamesh. This instalment raises the stakes as the team sets out to overthrow the Seattle Anchor, a massive fortress housing the Anchor market. However, Heaven has its own plans to eradicate Bex and stop the resistance once and for all.

After reading Hell for Hire, I was eager to see how the story would progress and what lay ahead for the characters. I thought I would have to wait a year for the next book, but I was pleasantly surprised when Rachel Aaron reached out just a couple of months later, asking if I’d like to read the sequel, Hell of a Witch. I immediately said yes, excited to discover where Aaron would take the series.

This book dives deeper into character development while still delivering the action and intense plot readers expect. I loved how Bex and Adrian's characters and relationship are explored in Hell of a Witch, revealing the layers of who they are and the lengths they’ll go to accomplish their goals. The emotional depth in this novel is masterfully done, drawing me in and making me truly care about the characters.

The story focuses more on Adrian, as the previous book centred more around Bex and introduced us to the world. Rachel Aaron  ensures that no character is sidelined and each one gets their moment to shine, even if they play smaller roles they’re still impactful creating that connection to the characters.

Romance is a key element in this novel, which isn’t usually my cup of tea, but the way Rachel Aaron weaves it into the story is phenomenal. I found myself invested in how the relationship progressed and genuinely rooting for it. The romance isn’t just there for the sake of it. It drives the plot forward and creates memorable moments I won’t forget.

For me, the standout characters in Hell of a Witch are Adrian, of course, and Lysander, who completely stole the show. While Lysander was initially introduced as a lust demon with an overtly sexual persona, in this book, Rachel Aaron gives her character a lot of depth, showing her care for the team and the hardships she’s endured. I loved watching her guide Bex and do whatever it took to protect the people she loves, always staying witty and one step ahead.

Adrian also shines in this novel, with added layers to his character and a deeper look at his magic and abilities. He’s become my favourite character, with a carefree aura paired with impressive magical potential. I feel he’s just beginning to realise the extent of his powers and will likely become even stronger. His maturity in this book is fantastic; he’s able to set aside personal issues to focus on the task at hand, proving himself in every way.

In conclusion, Hell of a Witch is a spectacular sequel to Hell for Hire. It expands the lore and brings much-needed character depth and development. Rachel Aaron has truly outdone herself, I loved every second of this novel. If you’re looking for an urban fantasy series with magic, demons, witches, romance, and action, this is for you. I absolutely recommend it, and I’m incredibly eager to see where the series goes next, as Rachel Aaron knows just how to tug at the heartstrings and create emotional, nail-biting moments.