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Cover of Rise of the Witch

Rise of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·Witches of Keating Hollow #17·Ongoing Series
4.6 on Goodreads (408)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A cozy paranormal romance with a fake engagement that feels warm and magical. The enchanted small-town setting wraps around a sweet friends-to-lovers dynamic that long-time series fans will devour.

Synopsis

Briggs Williams has a problem. For years he’d been unable to control his magic. But all that changed when he moved to Keating Hollow. There’s just something about the enchanted town that settles him. But when an old flame shows up in Keating Hollow out of the blue, his magic flares out of control again. Suddenly he’s a walking disaster. And there appears to be only one person that can help him keep his magic in check—Melissa Benson, the one woman he wants but knows he can never have. Melissa Benson is determined to find her Mr. Right, instead of Mr. Right Now. If only she had a little bit of magic, she’d cast a love spell to help her find him. Unfortunately, she’s never been magical. It appears her only talent is dating emotionally unavailable men. Which is why she has sworn off the very handsome Briggs Williams, who has made it clear he’s not interested in anything permanent. But when his ex walks into town and Briggs asked Melissa to pretend to be his fiancée, she finds herself unable to refuse his insane request. Now she’s spending all her time with a man she can’t resist who is destined to break her heart. Just when Melissa is determined to break off the charade, it becomes clear that she has magic after all, and if she leaves Briggs’s side now all hell will break loose. In order to keep Briggs and the residents of Keating Hollow safe, Melissa has no choice but to go through with the fake engagement at least until Briggs can regain control of his magic. But will she lose her heart in the process, or will she and Briggs find they can’t live without each other after all?

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Witches of Keating Hollow #17. Briggs asks Melissa to fake an engagement when his ex arrives and destabilizes his magic. She discovers she has powers of her own, and their pretend relationship catches real feelings. Deanna Chase delivers cozy paranormal romance with moderate spice, a small-town enchanted setting, and zero angst. Standalone-friendly despite being book 17—the enchanted town and character dynamics are accessible without prior reading.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.63 ★ (408)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

250 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2025

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Paranormal Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

N/A

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
forced proximityfriends to loversopposites attractmagic bondfake engagement
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

romanticmagicalengagingemotionalhopefulcozy

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

conversationalwarmengagingemotional

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

light

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

low

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

comfort read vibes

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

caretakersurvivorsecretly soft

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

soft/gentleprotective love interestsecretly soft

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

friends to loversmutual piningpush and pullprotective love interestfake dating to real feelings

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

sweet / tendergentle / romantictension / anticipation focus

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionanticipationpossessive/protective

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
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This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (2)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
jealous exmagic instability
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World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

paranormalcontemporary

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

enchanted small town of Keating Hollow

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

witches/wizards/warlocks

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

romantic fulfillmentfeel-goodcomfort reread

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

cozy eveninglazy Sundaypalate cleanser read

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.250
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2025
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.63 ★ (408)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Witches of Keating Hollow #17
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