wellactjoally's review
medium-paced
3.0
Listened on audiobook. fast read. Secret revealed. Makeup sex. Family and friends. Mystery. Saved from certain death by a resentful spouse. A magic portrait. A familiar cat.
mirocchi's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
weecha22's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the angst of this one. And I liked that we actually saw a bit more of their relationship and dynamics. It’s hard to say whether they can make a relationship work but I did enjoy it. Still annoyed at the mystery and total lack of progress there. Also very confused about the title of this one.
dryad23's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
witandsin's review
3.0
As with Mainly by Moonlight, I wrestled with rating this book. I may do a full review later on, but for now here's a quick and dirty list of what worked for me and what didn't. Spoilers are all in spoiler tags.
Likes:
- Cosmo - he's a kindhearted witch with a bright personality and an interesting voice. I adored him and want to see him get the happily ever after he deserves.
-
- Josh Lanyon's writing, which sucked me in. I read I Buried a Witch in one sitting and can't believe how fast the pages flew by.
Dislikes:
- John. He's judgmental, unyielding, domineering, and occasionally condescending toward Cosmo.
- Cosmo ceding all the power in their relationship because he's afraid of losing John.
- The foundations of the romance were shaky to begin with and the more I saw of John the more the fine cracks in the romance developed into dangerous faults. A non-spoiler example: John decides they're going to put a pool in the backyard. Cosmo objects because he's terrified of water. Rather than asking him why or showing any interest in his feelings at all, John dismisses Cosmo and declares they're getting a pool and he wants Cosmo to deal with the contractor.
-
- I loved that Cosmo acknowledges the faults in their relationship and starts to stand up for himself, but it felt like he forgave John quickly with so little give on John's part.
- John's version of compromise at the end made me feel even more unsettled about their future; I feel like he hasn't really changed and he still doesn't accept who Cosmo is.
Neutral:
- The mystery involving who was murdering Wiccans was interesting, if understated
- The ongoing mystery plus some witch politics are also interesting (I know I keep using that word, but it really fits this story and it's part of why I rated it as high as I did), but there are a lot of threads to be tied up in the third book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
All in all, I Buried a Witch is an engaging second installment to the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series. Josh Lanyon's writing is as addictive as ever (which bumped this rating up one star for me), but as this really feels like part 2 of 3 of a larger book, I'm waiting to see what happens in Bell, Book and Scandal before I can decide how I feel about Cosmo's journey as a whole. The fact that the romance is so deeply flawed is interesting, so long as the love story is ultimately resolved in a satisfying manner. I'm optimistic and I hope Cosmo comes into his own and John becomes a husband worthy of him.
Likes:
- Cosmo - he's a kindhearted witch with a bright personality and an interesting voice. I adored him and want to see him get the happily ever after he deserves.
-
Spoiler
When Cosmo acknowledges that his marriage to John isn't one of equals. I loved when he finally stands up for himself instead of letting John steamroll him (more on that below).- Josh Lanyon's writing, which sucked me in. I read I Buried a Witch in one sitting and can't believe how fast the pages flew by.
Dislikes:
- John. He's judgmental, unyielding, domineering, and occasionally condescending toward Cosmo.
- Cosmo ceding all the power in their relationship because he's afraid of losing John.
- The foundations of the romance were shaky to begin with and the more I saw of John the more the fine cracks in the romance developed into dangerous faults. A non-spoiler example: John decides they're going to put a pool in the backyard. Cosmo objects because he's terrified of water. Rather than asking him why or showing any interest in his feelings at all, John dismisses Cosmo and declares they're getting a pool and he wants Cosmo to deal with the contractor.
-
Spoiler
I hated that - since this is a romance - it seemed to me like Cosmo would be better off without John. The fact that in one scene he's actually physically afraid of him? No matter that the fear is short-lived, this is a huge red flag for me.- I loved that Cosmo acknowledges the faults in their relationship and starts to stand up for himself, but it felt like he forgave John quickly with so little give on John's part.
- John's version of compromise at the end made me feel even more unsettled about their future; I feel like he hasn't really changed and he still doesn't accept who Cosmo is.
Neutral:
- The mystery involving who was murdering Wiccans was interesting, if understated
- The ongoing mystery plus some witch politics are also interesting (I know I keep using that word, but it really fits this story and it's part of why I rated it as high as I did), but there are a lot of threads to be tied up in the third book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
All in all, I Buried a Witch is an engaging second installment to the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series. Josh Lanyon's writing is as addictive as ever (which bumped this rating up one star for me), but as this really feels like part 2 of 3 of a larger book, I'm waiting to see what happens in Bell, Book and Scandal before I can decide how I feel about Cosmo's journey as a whole. The fact that the romance is so deeply flawed is interesting, so long as the love story is ultimately resolved in a satisfying manner. I'm optimistic and I hope Cosmo comes into his own and John becomes a husband worthy of him.
inkedstoryteller's review against another edition
5.0
This second volume of the fun Bedknobs & Broomsticks series has a title with a dark spin on the movie “I Married a Witch” from 1942. The plot continues the story of a young witch named Cosmo (whom is destined to inherit the throne as Witch King) and his new husband, John, the Police Commissioner of San Francisco (whom just happens to be descended from witch hunters and is somehow resistant to magic.) In this second book, the new family remains involved in a mystery that threatens their happiness, and their lives. Someone is killing witches of the Wiccan variety and the hereditary sort as well. Will Cosmo, his friends and family, and the police catch the killer; and will the Witch Duke’s marriage to a cop survive the truth. Read this relatively short, fast-paced book to find out. You will be entertained.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This one picks right when [b:Mainly by Moonlight|45443931|Mainly by Moonlight (Bedknobs and Broomsticks, #1)|Josh Lanyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556875130l/45443931._SY75_.jpg|70204739] ends, and things are... complicated, between Cosmo and John. Part of it is Cosmo's willingness to help Ciara, which John can't understand. But the real problem that will finally break them is Cosmo's secret. of course.
It's heartbreaking to see it, Cosmo's pain is raw and deep and John... It's obvious he has feelings for Cosmo, and it's also obvious that he isn't sure about from where those feelings come.
Look, I can understand John's position, okay? I can see why he can't trust his feelings, and how freaked-up he is for this gigantic turn in his world's vision. I get it. But argh! I want them happy!
The mystery is fantastic, and, even as the arc in this book (the killing of the San Francisco's spellcasters) closes, we are left with a lot of questions; who attacked Rex? who pushed Cosmo into the Seine? What's going on with Jinx? Which is her power? And what about John's bloodline? What happened to him in Somalia? And what's doing Oliver in the Witch Council?
And the worst thing is that I'll need to wait until April to know! :P
One of the things I love most here is that even when Cosmo loves John deeply, he is aware enough to know that he can't compromise who he is in order to save his marriage. John's struggle is very real, he is looking for a way to keep Cosmo in his life, and it's lovely to see how, slowly, he comes to the conclusion that he can =D
John changes. That's the main thing: he changes. He goes from being: my way or the highway, to understand that he needs to accept Cosmo as he is. Are their issues completely solved? I don't think so, but they are on the right route to do it. Their relationship feels real now :)
This is a great book, and I love the characters and the Universe that Lanyon creates here, and I'm really happy that the author is considering to keep writing in it once the main arc ends in the next book.
It's heartbreaking to see it, Cosmo's pain is raw and deep and John... It's obvious he has feelings for Cosmo, and it's also obvious that he isn't sure about from where those feelings come.
Look, I can understand John's position, okay? I can see why he can't trust his feelings, and how freaked-up he is for this gigantic turn in his world's vision. I get it. But argh! I want them happy!
The mystery is fantastic, and, even as the arc in this book (the killing of the San Francisco's spellcasters) closes, we are left with a lot of questions; who attacked Rex? who pushed Cosmo into the Seine? What's going on with Jinx? Which is her power? And what about John's bloodline? What happened to him in Somalia? And what's doing Oliver in the Witch Council?
And the worst thing is that I'll need to wait until April to know! :P
One of the things I love most here is that even when Cosmo loves John deeply, he is aware enough to know that he can't compromise who he is in order to save his marriage. John's struggle is very real, he is looking for a way to keep Cosmo in his life, and it's lovely to see how, slowly, he comes to the conclusion that he can =D
John changes. That's the main thing: he changes. He goes from being: my way or the highway, to understand that he needs to accept Cosmo as he is. Are their issues completely solved? I don't think so, but they are on the right route to do it. Their relationship feels real now :)
This is a great book, and I love the characters and the Universe that Lanyon creates here, and I'm really happy that the author is considering to keep writing in it once the main arc ends in the next book.