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lee_nuhh's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Quick, fun, and funny romance. Not as spicy as I'd hoped, but had me audibly chuckling at some of the dialogue. Erin Green is a witch after my own heart, but I loved seeing her transition all the same.
tlovesbooks's review
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
wildfaeriecaps's review against another edition
5.0
First things first: I enjoyed this and am very interested in reading more by this author--in this world and others.
Ren was the best. I loved almost everything about him. And a fantasy romance told from the male POV? Oh, gods, THANK YOU! I adored it so much. I laughed, I got weepy-eyed. This book was wonderful.
Now here's the problem I had. I don't like Erin. Oh, she's fine as a person. But I have.. ugh. I have trust issues and the fact that she messed with Ren's mind with magic and he just repeatedly forgave her *irked* me. Yes, she has trauma. Yes, he loves her. That's not a good excuse for her to reach for manipulation whenever she panics, sorry. That's crappy behavior for anyone--fictional or otherwise. Did it give her character depth and move the story along? Absolutely. But I still hated it. That it was never rectified, grates. She swears to stop and doesn't and he's just. okay. with it. Ugh.
So.. I don't know. Content warning, I guess? Quasi-gaslighting (it's not.. gaslighting but more just memory manipulation, but for simplicity, I guess, the term kind of works) through magic and everyone seems to think it's okay?
Ren was the best. I loved almost everything about him. And a fantasy romance told from the male POV? Oh, gods, THANK YOU! I adored it so much. I laughed, I got weepy-eyed. This book was wonderful.
Now here's the problem I had. I don't like Erin. Oh, she's fine as a person. But I have.. ugh. I have trust issues and the fact that she messed with Ren's mind with magic and he just repeatedly forgave her *irked* me. Yes, she has trauma. Yes, he loves her. That's not a good excuse for her to reach for manipulation whenever she panics, sorry. That's crappy behavior for anyone--fictional or otherwise. Did it give her character depth and move the story along? Absolutely. But I still hated it. That it was never rectified, grates. She swears to stop and doesn't and he's just. okay. with it. Ugh.
So.. I don't know. Content warning, I guess? Quasi-gaslighting (it's not.. gaslighting but more just memory manipulation, but for simplicity, I guess, the term kind of works) through magic and everyone seems to think it's okay?
becxreadz's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Liked
*Witch and priest romance
*Forced proximity
*Good smut
Disliked
*What was the plot?
*World really wasn't set up very well
*Witch and priest romance
*Forced proximity
*Good smut
Disliked
*What was the plot?
*World really wasn't set up very well
emmelnie's review
3.0
a problematic heroine
I loved the world Prater set up in this book, with highly gendered roles in a society of witches and priests, and where priests held control in marriages. I liked the general characters of Ren and Erin as protagonists. But I struggled a great deal with a particular action of Erin’s.
Trying not to spoil it, let’s just say that Erin does something, repeatedly, that’s a variant of control that was forced on her. I struggled with reconciling her furious need for independence and management of her life with what she did. For me, it really undermined the character and moved her into the realm of hypocrisy.
Ren is a great hero, but his ability to drop everything for Erin over and over seemed not to fit with his demanding job of university chancellor. He was perfect for Erin, and I enjoyed the lightness and joy she brought to his life.
I’d read more by Prater because I loved the world established in The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel. I hope in future books the characters’ actions make better sense to me.
I loved the world Prater set up in this book, with highly gendered roles in a society of witches and priests, and where priests held control in marriages. I liked the general characters of Ren and Erin as protagonists. But I struggled a great deal with a particular action of Erin’s.
Trying not to spoil it, let’s just say that Erin does something, repeatedly, that’s a variant of control that was forced on her. I struggled with reconciling her furious need for independence and management of her life with what she did. For me, it really undermined the character and moved her into the realm of hypocrisy.
Ren is a great hero, but his ability to drop everything for Erin over and over seemed not to fit with his demanding job of university chancellor. He was perfect for Erin, and I enjoyed the lightness and joy she brought to his life.
I’d read more by Prater because I loved the world established in The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel. I hope in future books the characters’ actions make better sense to me.
tranquiltides's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This book was solidly enjoyable. There were some holes in the plot that were easy enough to ignore. I know that it's a romance book, but I did take issue with how marriage seemed to be the "only" way to solve the conflict in the book, despite the fact that Erin spent the whole book not wanting to be married. I don't think that steamy romance should ultimately HAVE to include a monogamous marriage, but I can concede that, for the setting of the story, it makes sense, even if I don't like it.
Erin, for her part, is quick witted, funny, and self confident in a way that I adored.
This book is supposed to be a Steam punk set romance (I think??) but it does miss out on some of those elements, with the exception of one or two specific moments. But I did love the mix of that steam punk style with fantasy style magic! I found that to be unique!
Overall, I did really enjoy it! The spicy bits were well placed and diverse! ill definitely be reading the rest of the series!
Erin, for her part, is quick witted, funny, and self confident in a way that I adored.
This book is supposed to be a Steam punk set romance (I think??) but it does miss out on some of those elements, with the exception of one or two specific moments. But I did love the mix of that steam punk style with fantasy style magic! I found that to be unique!
Overall, I did really enjoy it! The spicy bits were well placed and diverse! ill definitely be reading the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage
Mentions of child loss and domestic abuse are past tense and are not terribly explicit, but the sexual content, while consensual, is VERY explicit. reader discretion is advisedplottrysts's review
4.0
You know what it's like when you start a new job and your boss is super hot, and then it turns out that you're sharing the same suite in the faculty dorm. Oh and you can both do magic and in fact, all of society probably thinks you should get married because only a (hot) (magical) priest like him can keep your witchy tendencies under control.
Oh you don't know what it's like? Then read this book to find out!
OK also, despite the fact that this review was written implying that you're going to read from the female MC's POV, you actually read it all through the understanding of the hot priest. It's a fun one, check it out!
Oh you don't know what it's like? Then read this book to find out!
OK also, despite the fact that this review was written implying that you're going to read from the female MC's POV, you actually read it all through the understanding of the hot priest. It's a fun one, check it out!
katskinner's review
5.0
Both Ren and Erin are cursed with terrible pasts. All they need to heal are each other… if only they can risk giving themselves completely to each other.
THE BLURB
Ren Boaz has a past that’s riddled him with guilt. He’s recently stepped down from his seat of Bishop after he aided witch-kind. As a rake he’s relatively used to women wanting him… and so when he meets his newest employee Erin he’s a bit flustered.
Erin Green is a witch. As a more mature woman (at aged 30), in a victorian style world she’s practically a spinster. Still, she has no plans to marry, ever. Even when Ren’s smile captures her attention whole-heartedly.
TONE OF THE BOOK
The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel is a neutral toned novel, shifting slightly towards lightheartedness.
I love the way that Stephanie sprinkles humour into tight and tension filled scenes. Her characters suffer as needed (usually before a revelation or solution), but the story doesn’t dwell unnecessarily on negative emotions.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel does feature topics that some might disturb some readers. Several of the characters, including a main character, has a back history of physical violence. Women, specifically witches, are not treated well with the world (though much of the story is focused on how they are working towards situational improvement).
SERIES SYNOPSIS
The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel is the first novel in the Stephanie Prater’s new series The Kriegspiel Witches. It does have ties to her second novel Warrior Witch within the Street Witch series, where the hero Ren is primarily introduced (and I highly recommend reading up to the second book in that series first).
The novel is 150 pages long, making it shorter than most romance novels (at 300 pages). However it has so many exciting events that you won’t find the story lacking.
The story has a happy ever after for the hero Ren and heroine Erin. So far I believe each novel in the series will focus on a new couple.
REVIEW
The novel is about healing, compassion and working together to find compromise. No relationship is complete when only one individual is happy, and The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel highlights how a couple’s happiness is built, not found through luck or magic. Though sometimes magic can help save the day.
Stephanie has a way of writing truly dynamic and 3-dimensional characters. They have goals that they work towards, flaws that hold them back, and will even respond to their environments in such a realistic manner that will leave you thinking that perhaps these scenes couldn’t possibly be from imagination but the author’s experience. Truly many of the character’s conversations and actions are vividly rendered, highlighting her superb writing skill.
I am kind of hoping to read more about the tough-love witch friend Lesedi wielding her automations. Who knows, maybe her arguments with Byron will highlight a feisty relationship.
FINAL WORD
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel. The novel is slightly steamier than Street Witch series, and the story line is just as excellent with events that keep you turning the page.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Meljean Brook’s Iron seas series is a bit more action-packed, but still has a number of steampunk/gas-lamp elements that will keep you interested. Each novel in the series follows a different couple, many of which have over-lapping relationships and friendships.
I also recommend Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series. It’s full of intrigue, action, political plots, betrayal and supernatural beings like vampires and werewolves. It feels quite similar to the world that The Wicked Witch of Kriegspiel is set in… supernatural beings aside.
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