Witch Slapped

By: Dakota Cassidy

Narrated by: Hollie Jackson

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Hello. My name is Stevie Cartwright, and I've been witchless for 30 days. If only there was a support group for down-on-their-luck ex-witches who've had their powers slapped right out of them (literally). Just as I was licking my wounds after returning to my hometown of Ebenezer Falls, Washington, and navigating my suddenly nonmagical existence with the help of my familiar, Belfry, things got sticky. Enter an ex-spy and newly departed spirit named Winterbottom, who's infiltrated my life with his sexy British accent and a couple of requests....

Thanks to Belfry's successful attempt to use me as a human antenna to the afterlife, I can somehow hear Win. I should be ecstatic; helping departed souls used to be my witch specialty. It's like I got the teensiest piece of my old life back. Except Win's dropped me right at a dead woman's feet....

©2016 Dakota Cassidy (P)2016 Tantor

Enjoyed this cozy tremendously!

I love this authors humor and writing style, but her other books just have so much sex and sex talk that it I feel it) takes away from her stories But, this series is just right!!! Great characters, fun world building, great paranormal additions, romance but with the details left to the readers imagination and so funny!

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Great cozy story!

This was the most delightfully entertaining book that I have read in long time. It is a fun, sarcastic, small-town mystery novel. Stevie, Win, and Belfry were all great characters. Stevie is a witch who lost her powers when she was slapped by a warlock. Win is a spirit, former spy, and Stevie’s generous benefactor. He is the only spirit that Stevie can still communicate with. Belfry is her cotton ball bat familiar.

Once Stevie becomes powerless, she must leave the supernatural town. She returns to her childhood home town and that is where all the action takes place. Outside of witches, warlocks, familiars and spirits there are no other supernatural characters in the story. No gratuitous sex or swearing makes it refreshing reading material and it is not a teen story!

Do not expect an involved mystery with twist and turns. This is fun read with entertaining dialog with banter that is witty and snark .

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Ok story, terrible narration!

I felt like I was sitting in an elementary school class being read to by a student helper. Many long and unnecessary pauses, annoyingly high pitched voice for Belfry, and the sometimes monotone quality of her voice made for a very difficult time sticking with this book to the end. I found myself drifting off on my own thoughts and even put me to sleep a time or two. The storyline was just ok. There isn't much motivation to keep me going with this series especially if the same narrator is used.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A little disappointing

What did you like best about Witch Slapped? What did you like least?

I love Dakota Cassidy. I'm not sure if I was just not in the mood or what but this book was not my favorite. It was a little boring and slow. The idea was good but I just didn't get much out of it. I will probably get the sequel from the library because I still LOVE Cassidy and will will always read her stuff.

Would you recommend Witch Slapped to your friends? Why or why not?

No - I like Dakota Cassidy and would recommend any of her other stories before this one.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Meh.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Would be a straight to video movie (do they still do that?)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

constructive criticism

the story is good and I really like it. I will listen to Others like it by the same author. The part I STRONGLY dislike, is the narration. I wanted to scream it was so annoying. Maybe she could practice by reading and listening back or something. Her timing is way off. Also, even though there is some distinction between characters voices, it's still a bit monotone. I hope she will practice, improve, and keep narrating. Best of luck!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

GREAT BEGINNING TO THE SERIES

WITCH SLAPPED is the first in the Witchless in Seattle series. They do need to be read in the order of release, not because of a continuing story, but because of references to previous happenings.

Stevie, the witch… or should I say ex-witch… is a hoot, but her bat, Belfry is the star. The banter between them is enough to keep a smile etched on my face despite the murder they are trying to solve while keeping Stevie out of jail and alive. Add in Winterbottom, a British spy who has become a ghost, and the quips really begin to fly.

I loved this story so much, that I have already listened to it three times and I’ll be pushing “play” again real soon. This one is safe to listen to at work, so that’s where I listened while doing my data entry. Luckily, I work with a man who respects my space enough to allow this indulgence. I only wish I had more of the series (hint, hint for anyone thinking of Christmas).

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted Audible – hey, it was a prize, ya’all – my opinions are my own and are given freely.


Title: WITCH SLAPPED
Series: Witchless in Seattle #1
Category /Genre: Paranormal, Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 18+ due to mature content
Received from: Dakota Cassidy (as an Audible gifted copy)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

slow but did pick up

This was a pretty good story, a little slow at first but it got interesting. My only real negative is I positively hate the voice used for Bel the bat. I will probably read the next book because that voice annoys me so much.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable

Any additional comments?

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3 1/2
A fun start to a new series for Ms. Cassidy. I really enjoyed listening to this story. Ms. Cassidy writes a fun, sarcastic and mystery filled story. I loved Stevie. Not only does she have to find her place in the this new world she has been through into, but she does it so well. Okay maybe there is a little kicking, screaming, crying and murder allegations. But you know just another day in the life, right? But Stevie is a fighter and she will not let a little thing like murder keep her down.
Belfry. Oh my goodness I want a cotton ball bat familiar!!! He is just awesome.
And Win.. Let’s talk about Stevie’s yummy sounding (he is british) ghostly spy!! I have really high hopes for Win. I can’t wait to see what and how Ms. Cassidy handles him in the future.
Hollie Jackson does a good job narrating this story. There were a few small things that bugged me in the audio version. There were a few really strangely long pauses. I am not sure if this was an editing issue or not. But at one point the pause was so long I looked at my phone to make sure the book was still playing. There was one time that the same line was repeated, again I am not sure if this was an editing issue or how Ms. Cassidy wrote the story.
All in all this was a great start to a great series and I can’t wait to see what to Stevie, Win and Belfry.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Book is great but...

Editing blows. Loooong pauses between sentences in the first few chapters. Very distracting and irritating. Story fun thus far.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Don't bother

Narrator is extremely poor. She pauses too much between sentences to the point that I can't even listen to it anymore. Didn't get past the first chapter.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful