Witch Slap by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Witch Slap in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
Witch Slap started with a premise that held a lot of potential—a mix of magic, mystery, and dark humor that could have made for an entertaining read. Unfortunately, the book struggled to keep me engaged throughout. From early on, the pacing felt uneven and dragged in many places, which made the story hard to follow and ultimately frustrating.
The Details
One major issue for me was the protagonist’s brother. His presence in the story came off as insufferable and often detracted from the plot instead of adding to it. Rather than feeling like a complex character, he became more of a distraction. Scenes involving him often slowed down the narrative and made it difficult to connect with the main storyline.
Additionally, the book relied heavily on telling rather than showing. Long passages of description and exposition felt like filler, as they rarely pushed the plot forward or deepened character development. This created a sense of stagnation, where I found myself losing interest rather than growing curious about what would happen next.
It’s clear the authors aimed for a quirky, witty tone, but the humor didn’t quite land for me. Sometimes it felt forced or out of place, which clashed with the darker elements of the story. The combination should have been engaging, but instead it often felt disjointed.
The Verdict
Overall, I wanted to like Witch Slap more than I did. The core idea had promise, but the slow pacing, frustrating character dynamics, and excessive telling made it a tough read. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries with strong, fast-moving plots, this book may not meet your expectations. For me, it was a disappointing read that didn’t live up to its potential.
