My The Trouble With Witches Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
I picked up The Trouble With Witches by Kristen Painter because I wanted a cozy paranormal romance with a side of magic and small-town intrigue. This is the first book in the Shadowvale series, and the town itself is as much a character as the people in it. The story follows Emeranth Greer (Em), a young woman desperate for a fresh start who heads to Shadowvale, a place where the sun never shines and magic coats every corner. Em has never met her aunt Amelia but hopes this mysterious relative can help her rebuild her life.
Shadowvale is no ordinary town—it’s gated, cursed, and every resident carries their own strange burden. Em soon discovers she comes from a line of witches and that her own power is waiting to surface. The brooding and loyal Deacon Evermore, a raven shifter and the town’s peacekeeper, quickly catches her attention. While Deacon wants out of Shadowvale and away from his family’s curse, Em is determined to put down roots—especially as romance and magic entwine around her. But as her troubled past resurfaces, threatening her place in town and what’s growing with Deacon, Em is forced to decide if she should run or fight for her new home.
Why I Love This Book
I love how this book brings together quirky magic, found family, and a moody, otherworldly atmosphere that feels like home. Shadowvale is so vivid and weird—in the best way—from the perpetual night sky to the enchanted gates that choose who can enter. I genuinely got lost in all the magical details and the undercurrent of melancholy that runs through the characters.
Em is positive, stubborn, and instantly relatable. Her journey from confusion to empowerment pulled me in, and I loved watching her claim her identity as a witch. Deacon is complicated but deeply caring, trying so hard to be good in a place that ties him down. The banter between them (and with their relatives) adds humor and lightness, while the romance grows at just the right pace.
What stands out most for me is the sense of community and belonging—everyone in Shadowvale is a little broken, and the acceptance they offer one another is real. There are stakes (curses, rivalries, secrets), but the story never becomes too heavy. For all its supernatural elements, the heart of the book is about finding where you belong.
Who Will Like This Book
If you’re into light paranormal romance with magic, shifters, and a touch of darkness (but not full-on horror), you’ll like this one. It’s for anyone who loves found family, gentle mysteries, quirky towns, and a slow-burn love story with supernatural twists. If you want explicit romance, this one keeps the steam behind closed doors, focusing more on charm and gradual connection than graphic scenes.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Very mild—some references to trauma and past family struggles, but no heavy themes or graphic violence.
Tagged As
paranormal romance, witches, shifters, small town, found family, slow burn, quirky town, magical realism, sweet romance, light angst, broody hero, positive heroine, series, HEA, cozy fantasy, kickass heroine, behind-closed-doors, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️Mild
