Book Review: Only Words

My rating: 5 magick stars


for a mighty fine debut novel that has officially kicked my socks off.

Wonderful magic, deeply developed characters and profound themes are nicely interwoven into a fast-paced action filled plot that will keep you hooked till the very last page.

Blessed be, you need to lighten up. If we can't laugh at our misfortunes, we become frightfully dull.

Shane Ashby - Celtic witch with three times the power of your average magick-user is the star of this tale. And if you take a look at the blurb, you'll get a little idea about her personality, as well as the tone of this book.


Shane is sardonic in the best sense of the word. Funny, quirky and self-deprecatory, she has a unique and irresistible way of seeing life, including her own troubles.

But here we were, parked across the street like stalkers as I stared at the house with a blend of emotions so mixed, I could’ve made salsa.

And troubles seem to await Shane at every corner lately. For both her and those around her. Because you see, not only had Shane been cursed just three months back, but she was now having a rather large target on her head. And the witch pulling the trigger cared little if there were additional casualties. All in all, Shane wasn't exactly the safest person to hang around those days.

So you can imagine her surprise at suddenly finding herself in the position of a tutor. For Jeremy, a young warlock from a very important family, who also happened to be very desperate and viewed her as his last hope.
Of course Shane has to wonder how she could be qualified to train someone, taking into account her recent predicament. And what sort of trouble was this guy in, if he was so desperate. And the big question, did Jeremy know what he was risking by coming here.
But he makes an offer that Shane can't afford to miss. Because 'fairies and dust bunnies - that was a serious bribe.'
So she accepts the job and decides to help him out. At strict professional level of course. Because as far as Shane was concerned, 'romantic relations of any kind could suck it.' And yet Mr. Polite and Fidgety slowly starts getting under her skin. And he frustrates her to no end... being so helpful all the time. Nosy, frustrating, invasive... Generous thoughtful, empathetic.

What follows is an action-packed adventure in which Jeremy has to keep up because Shane's being targeted in the most unexpected places and in the most unlikely circumstances. Add in a few pissed off gods who don't tolerate a messed up offering, a lot of sardonic remarks and chuckle worthy moments, and top them off with a fuzzy silver-and-black striped terror and there you go - the perfect recipe for an awesome read.



Freya - the said fuzzy silver-and-black striped terror is a favorite of mine. :)
She won't hesitate to sprint out of a room with fur puffed up in all directions clearly stating: 'Freya not in trouble!' - after sending an entourage of pots and pans crashing to the floor in revenge for not having been served pancakes for breakfast.

You have got to love Freya, especially when she clearly takes a side:
'Fiona not hurt Shane. Freya scratch her good. Freya get treat for scratching.'


Written in a wonderfully easy to follow prose, Only Words is a light and very funny read. And yet, despite it's fun and lightness, it is also profound, giving readers both laugh-out-loud moments as well as the rip-the-heart-out kind of sorrow due to real-life problems beautifully showcased on a fantasy background.
Sorrow and loss are amazingly well portrayed here both through the wonderfully fleshed out characters, as well as the circumstances in which they are described.

And what is even greater is the fact that, despite it being a fast paced and fun filled action novel from cover to cover, this book is above all, character driven. You wouldn't really say anything could top that awesome plot, and yet the character development does. This writer has made them real and absolutely relatable. And don't even let me get started on the feeling and emotion.

You can both see and feel,
The way the ice around Shane's heart thaws a touch when eleven pounds of fluff reassuringly crawl up into her lap.
The hurt in the clench of Jeremy's jaw when he talks about his past and his family.
As well as the harrowing sorrow, guilt and regret of a woman who had been destined to destroy two girls'lives and save one.

Betrayal in itself is bad enough, but when your own sisters are trying to hurt you, it adds in a whole new layer of ouch.


Only Words is an Indie debut and yet it is among the best books I've read this year. Unique, imaginative and badass awesome!
I highly recommend it to all Urban Fantasy out there.
It is Magick!

Check out this book and more of Summer Kiska over at: https://summerkiska.com/