Review: Black Widow Witch by A.J. Locke #ParanormalRomance

The Blurb

A deadly curse, a dangerous assassin, and one shot to save everyone she loves… 

Malachi Erami can’t fall in love. After she’s caught with Knave, the witch Queen’s favorite lover, she’s cursed to savagely butcher any man she falls for. Exiled to live among humans, Malachi runs a bar that serves magic-laced drinks, but since her curse labels her high risk, she’s also closely monitored. Julian Vira is her latest babysitter, but he’s also the first man since Knave that she’s been attracted to. Good-looking and nonjudgmental of her horrible curse? Yeah, he’s hard to resist. 

But when Malachi finds a body behind her bar, she knows she’s in trouble. If the Witches Control Council gets wind of it, she’ll be accused of murder and sent to her death. And when her friends start getting framed for murder, she realizes she’s not the only target. Malachi and Julian dig into the evidence to clear her name, but the closer they get to answers, the closer the curse comes to taking over. So when Malachi uncovers a plot to kill the witch Queen, she finds herself suddenly recruited into service, with the promise of having her curse lifted and a reunion with Knave as well. But if she fails, Knave will die. And she and Julian might not live long enough to see that happen.

My Review

Every once in a while you read a book and wonder how come you’ve never read anything by that author before and then you rectify it by buying another book by her (I got Affairs of the Dead). A.J. Locke has done it for me.

I was most impressed by the two stories she told in one. Yes she took us back and forth through time to let us know what happened to get Malachi cursed, but both Malachi’s present day life and her life in the Averneath were intriguing.

Magic popped throughout this book, which was a good thing. I found it unique that the characters who had been cursed came from a land of witches where everyone had power. They were brought to earth to suffer for their sins (and in many cases just because the queen was a nutcase).

Which brings me to the all-powerful queen. One of the best villains I’ve read in a long time. There was no way anyone could mistake her for a good person. Not even when she tried to fake it. Those curses she came up with were evil-laugh genius.

I loved Malachi. Her power impressed me and so did her strength to survive the life she’d been dealt. The intense romance she shared with Knave was beautiful. I wish I could’ve learned more about Knave and Julian. Malachi was placed in an impossible position where she couldn’t fall in love without ripping someone’s head off. All too sad.

I give this book five out five shot glass shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from Amazon.