Review: Hexed by Michelle Krys (Witch Hunter #1)

Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1)
Michelle Krys
Published: June 10, 2014 (Delacorte)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: purchased

Reviewed by: Jannelle

Rating (out of 5): 3 stars

Indigo Blackwood is a high school cheerleader who seems to have it all—popularity, a boyfriend who’s the head of the football team, and a best friend who has been by her side for as long as she can remember. Then, one day on her way to work from school, Indigo witnesses a death and happens to find the address of her mother’s Wiccan shop on the victim. Soon, Indigo realizes the situation was no coincidence and this is where any sign of normalcy in her life fades away.

Hexed is a witch story like I have never read before and Indigo’s initial lack of knowledge lets us as the reader play catch-up with her so that the magical world-building isn’t overwhelming. The story also takes place in modern-day Los Angeles and Michelle Krys does a great job at inserting social references, allowing for easier relatability to Indigo and the world she has created.

Indigo’s character, however, is clichéd—she had all the popularity stereotypically associated with being a cheerleader in high school and she was scared to lose that power. When we first meet her, she is contemplating her popularity and is worrying about ditching her next-door neighbor, who is not cool enough for her to be seen with. What bothered me the most was that Indigo felt as if she was better than her “best friend” Bianca and, in some ways, she is. After a while of reading, I started to sympathize with her. But it did annoy me that she could easily say that what Bianca was doing/saying was wrong when she was following in her footsteps and couldn’t own up to her own indiscretions.

I will say, however, that the plot was unpredictable and incredibly fast-paced, which I’m known to enjoy. I liked the constant movement and there was never a moment where I felt like the story was at a standstill or that there was a scene placed unnecessarily.

Another interesting component to Hexed was the love interest, Bishop. Sexy and uber mysterious, Bishop seems to pop out of nowhere and is always there when Indigo needs him. Although she has her handsome (and popular) quarterback boyfriend, that does not stop Indigo from checking out this tattoo-loving warlock who seems to know more about her own life than she does.

If you’re into paranormal novels that involve witches, this is the book for you.

After an unexpected cliffhanger, I will definitely be picking up Charmed, book 2 in the Witch Hunter series.

Sexual content: kissing, references to sex