It was so funny and charming, like a fantasy cosy mystery, I enjoyed it very much. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Five stars. ( )

I sincerely enjoyed this urban fantasy. It's fun, light and not overly burdened with a need to take itself seriously. Ivy is fun, amusing and if maybe a tad bit too good to be true, she's at least energetic in her championing of naps.

At times the story was rather predictable - even who turned out to be the Mastermind is, while clever, obvious enough if you paid attention to the details.

Ivy however was refreshing - she got screwed over (a couple times) while just being herself and yet I truly believe she lived by the principle she mentions in chapter 1. Why let it get to you?

Winter was typical of the genre - all business and rule following with a work hard work ethic and his softening due to Ivy's influence can be seen from a mile away. I did like his observation about Ivy though and the fact he genuinely wanted Ivy to do her best for herself moreso than anything else.

Hands down Brutus was love.

For those who worry about their UF being heated, this was closed door scene. Some light innuendo banter, a bit of warm thoughts, but what they did (or didn't do it's a little ambiguous really) ends at a kiss. Everything else is the reader's imagination. Whether the series stays this way I can't say, this is the first book and I haven't read the second yet. ( )

The story was able to live up to its premise.
I fell in love with the MC immediately and it felt only a little like she was forced to comply with the premise which is far better than most UF manages.
Later on, she had reasons to only put up a token effort against her role but in the beginning, she gave in to the whole binding thing way too easily but at least she wasn't portrayed as this extremely headstrong and independent character beforehand which is usually the case in this kind of book.

The combination of thwarted expectations and the avoidance of most dated clichées and stereotypes allowed me to be fully consumed by the story which I haven't experienced in a long time (except for "Brimstone Bound" also by Helen Harper which I read immediately before this and which was the reason I tried this series in the first place).

What annoyed me were the guests of the neighbour.
The story kind of forgot about them repeatedly and they kind of just showed up again out of limbo if they were needed for a scene. You can not keep people confined like that for days. They would lie in their own excrement full of infected wounds all over their bodies after being tied up like that for that long. Not to mention the severe wounds on the bound limbs from repeated escape attempts. That entire part was just sloppy and didn't really serve any purpose for the plot either.

I am tempted to give this 5 stars which didn't happen to me in years but from a more objective viewpoint, I can't do that. ( )

Slouch Witch
4 Stars

A case of mistaken identity results in Ivy Wilde, the world's most indolent witch, being partnered with Raphael Winter, the very staid yet oh-so sexy investigator for the Holy Order of Magical Enlightenment. When a magical artifact is stolen from the Order's library, Ivy and Winter must overcome their differences to uncover a conspiracy with the potential to bring down the Order.

This is a surprisingly delightful read.

The heroine's laid-back charm and irreverent attitude are a perfect counter-balance for the hero's stoic seriousness. Their opposites-attract chemistry and snarky banter is reminiscent of some of the most iconic investigative partnerships - Mulder and Scully, Steed and Peel, Rogan and Nevada.

While the case itself is secondary to the characterization, it does have some intense and action-packed moments. The world building is an interesting mix of the Wizarding World meets the Dresden Files with magical herbs, spells, artifacts and bureaucrats.

Tanya Eby's narration of the audiobook is entertaining although it is strange that her voice for Ivy has an American accent when the book is set in the UK and all of the other characters have English accents.

All in all, an engaging beginning to the series and I look forward to more of Ivy and Rafe's adventures in witchcraft. ( )

Definitely liked it more than i expected. The main character is a smart but lazy witch that is coerced into some crime solving institution of the Arcane Order by some clever story plot.
There are some Bridget Jones moments and all in all a nice mystery with more layers than there seem to be at first glance.
Read it in one day because it was such lighthearted fun. ( )