Mabon is about a 16 year old girl who has a very magical family. Her mother, sisters and father all are witches. However, Lucy, has yet to come into her magical abilities. The story starts with her seeing some odd things that are going on around her. And then on her sixteenth birthday, she hears chimes in her head and her mother decides that this is a sign that she needs to be initiated into their family coven. From then on, all hell breaks loose for Lucy. And then on top of all the witchyness in her life, she has to deal with her massive crush on her best friends older brother. The author does a good job on describing witch life, rituals, and history.
However, even though I enjoyed the story and the writing, there were a few things that I didn't like. At the end of most of the chapters, the author leaves a cliff hanger, which is usually why I keep turning the page, the need to know what is going to happen. Well in this book, the next chapter doesn't begin where the last one leaves off, it skips ahead to after the event and then about midway through the chapter you finally find out what happened. It was just a little confusing. Other wise, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends.

Description
Magick or Love. If both ran deep in your blood, which would you choose? On her sixteenth birthday, introvert Lucy DeBane can't shake the memory of her father's death, or the possibility that by day's end a life altering ancestral truth will blow apart the world she knows. Lucy is sure of one thing, her feelings for Gil ... tall, dark and hot ... her first real love. So when she hears the chiming of ancient bells and her family's secret is revealed, Lucy must make a decision ... become a DeBane witch, or walk away from family for love.

My Review

This is the first book I have read by Kellie M Davies and I have to tell you it was quite enjoyable. The characters were well written and the overall story encompassed paranormal with romance which is always entertaining to me. You can’t help but fall in love with Lou and I especially enjoyed reading about Wicca.

A delightful easy read that will definitely entertain you until the very end.

Although this book was published in 2018 I just received this free in exchange for my honest opinion. So, my recommendation is go out and but - I highly recommend this novel - and can’t wait to read more from the author.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The cover and title of this novel is what originally drew me to it. I really enjoyed the story and I polished it off within a day but there were a few things that made it somewhat difficult to keep track of. I recently read another review of this and that particular reviewer nailed it. I’m echoing her thoughts and adding a few of my own.

But....I found that I was getting bombarded with all of this new characters and sub characters all at once. It made it really difficult to keep people straight and also really get into the primary characters. Side note though, give me more Gil! Even though he can be cheesy, I totally love him.
Similar to this, that Egyptian story at the end completely lost me with all of the characters in a quick span of 5 pages; I got the gist of the purpose of it but it could have been executed better.
Another frustrating thing was that some key chapters would end on a cliffhanger with an emotional intent, and then the next chapter would pick up after it would happen. What I mean is, one chapter might end on a moment of a possible kiss, the next chapter would leap forward in time without warning and we as the reader, would miss that moment. I’m a huge fan of emotion and intimacy in novels as it helps you identify with the characters. Many key moments fell flat for me because of this. I also felt lost sometimes at the beginning of a chapter because I didn’t know what moment of time we’d leapt forward to.

All of that being said, I really really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for Yule to come out so I can read it. I’ve been drawn into Lucinda’s story and I need to know more!

Mabon drew me in by its title, potentially promising myths and legends with an ancient word like Mabon. The novel draws upon the myths and legends of witchcraft and twists them in to a modern day story. Sixteen-year-old Lucy realises she is a witch and perhaps a powerful one at that. It is a coming of age and coming in to power story and I like those sorts of stories. The story had potential, Lucy has a normal life and has to keep her witchiness secret. I wanted to see how she would use her magic in her life and we got hints of it from her and other characters (particulars I won’t mention out of spoilers). This is the first in the trilogy so I hope maybe she uses her magic more to help her in life. I like how after she was initiated in to being a witch she changed outwardly and had to find some way of dealing with that. Her devotion to Gil was also interesting to read about and I was rooting for them all way!
However, at some points I did get a little confused. In the beginning we were introduced to so many characters at once I struggled to remember them all. But sometimes chapters ended at moments that were confusing more than anything because the scene dramatically changed to the next day in the story. Then we’re told what happened at the end of the last chapter. I’d rather have read it during the moment it was supposedly taking place. The twist at the end felt a little out of place and maybe if her mother had just been a bit more forthcoming with information it would have read better and the pacing wouldn’t have felt so strange at the end.
Also just as a writer myself I couldn’t look past the descriptions of eyes being pools, or how her Aunt had perhaps a longer description of her eyes being gemstones over Gil’s pools. Since Gil is Lucy’s crush he should have had more eye screen time and perhaps had the gemstone eyes instead. My pet peeve I suppose!
I loved reading about Lucy’s close family. Abi, Mat and her mum are so close and it’s nice to read about supportive families in stories. Lib is also such a fierce cutie.

I wanted to like this book. It has romance, supernatural, young adult... But I just didn't.

To be honest, I skimmed this book. I was interested enough to see what happened, but not interested enough to fully read it. The premise and the characters were interesting enough, I just wasn't drawn in. I would find that I read a few pages, but didn't remember what I just read.

I know people put themselves out there writing a book. And it feels so personal when I don't like a book. But I just couldn't get into this one.

I started reading this book just after I downloaded it and I was hooked since the first pages.
I really appreciated this paranormal romance, well written and entertaining.
I loved the fleshed out characters, the plot and was fascinated by the world building.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine