ARC Review: Flame and Ash (Witchbane #3) by Morgan Brice

From The Blurb:

The third novel in the Witchbane series. 

One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse 

Seth rescued Evan Malone from one of the witches, and they’ve fallen in love despite the danger and chaos, going on the road to complete the quest and bring an end to the ritual murders. Their relationship is new, their emotions are raw, and the danger is real. It’s a challenge to find their way as a couple while they’re on the road together in the close quarters of Seth’s RV, training in magic and combat skills to fight off a supernatural killer. 

In pursuit of the next witch-disciple, Seth and Evan team up with older hunters Milo and Toby as their quest to stop a century-long killing spree takes them to a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They’re ahead of the sacrifice cycle, with plans to stop the murders and kill the dark witch. Only this time, the hunters become the hunted when the witch knows they’re coming to get him, and has deadly plans of his own. When their lives are on the line, will love be enough? 

Flame and Ash contains sexually explicit content intended for adults 18 and over.

Karen's rating:

There's work, there's vacations, there are working vacations and then there's...travels with Seth and Evan. It's unlike any working vacation you could ever imagine. 

Before I get into anything in terms of specifics let me just say if you haven't read  the previous stories in this series and by read I mean read or listened to the audio, I strongly recommend doing this to get the full background on Seth and Evan. Also this series connects to the authors "Badlands" series and to some of her stories that are written under the authors name of Gail Z. Martin. However, when it comes to reading these stories or even the 'Badlands' stories it's definitely an individual choice. While I've read the 'Badlands' series, I haven't read any of the other stories that are connected to this series and so far I haven't found it to be a problem.

Seth and Evan met back in the first book when Seth rescued Evan from one of the dark witch Rhyfel Gremory's disciples (for more on this just read the blurb). Since then these two have discovered that they have a few things in common the most important being that they're attracted to each other and they both want to see Gremory's disciples defeated to ensure not just their safety but that of the descendants of the deputies who originally destroyed Gremory.

I've been enjoying this series on audio but when the opportunity for this story was presented I decided that I didn't want to wait for the audio...not that I won't get it when it's available because rest assured...I will. But I was just to curious to see what was in store for Seth and Evan as they travel to North Carolina seeking to once again do battle with one of Gremory's disciples and save yet another descendant of the original posse and this time they've got help...not just the intended victim and his boyfriend but the boys are meeting up with Milo and Toby, Seth's mentors in the demon hunting world.


Things have definitely stepped up in this one because if fighting these otherworldly bad guys wasn't challenging before this time around it seems that the bad guy knows they're coming and he seems to be more powerful than the disciples that Seth and Evan have encountered so far and he seems to have a whole lot more help.

I love a good mystery/adventure type story, but I have to admit I don't usually go for stories that delve into the supernatural quite as much as this series seems to but as with all things 'never say never' because I am all in on this one. These stories work for me, while the details are enough to give me a solid sense of the paranormal it's done without any real horror, which totally works for me.

I've also enjoyed seeing Seth and Evan's relationship grow to the point where both men are starting to feel like they could have a future together as long as they survive fighting Gremory's disciples and the other things that go bump in the night that they seem to encounter along the way.

And not to surprisingly I also lost a little bit of sleep with this one, but it wasn't due to the spooky stuff...nope, it was a case of 'I just need to read one more page...' and we all know how things go when you fall down that rabbit hole...just one more...no really just one more...and then before I knew it, I was out of pages. Well done dear author, well done.

*************************

An ARC of 'Flame and Ash' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Buy the book:

      

Reading gives us someplace to go, when we have to stay where we are.  (Mason Cooley)

Buylinks are provided as a courtesy and do not constitute an endorsement of or affiliation with this book, author or booksellers listed.