The Witchstone - by Henry H Neff

About the Book

"Laszlo is an eight-hundred-year-old demon and Hell's least productive Curse Keeper. From his office beneath Midtown, he oversees the Drakeford Curse, which involves a pathetic family upstate and a mysterious black monolith. Maggie Drakeford is a nineteen-year-old Curse Bearer. All she's ever known is the dreary corner of the Catskills where the Drakeford Curse has devoured her father's humanity and is rapidly laying claim to her own. The future looks hopeless, until Laszlo appears at the Drakeford farmhouse one October night and informs them that they have only six days to break the spell before it becomes permanent. Thus begins a breakneck international adventure that takes our unlikely duo from a hot dog stand in Central Park to the mountains of Liechtenstein"--

Book Synopsis

An unforgettable, high-stakes, laugh-out-loud funny novel, The Witchstone blends the merciless humor of The Good Place with the madcap fantasy of Terry Pratchett.

Meet Laszlo, eight-hundred-year-old demon and Hell's least productive Curse Keeper. From his office beneath Midtown, he oversees the Drakeford Curse, which involves a pathetic family upstate and a mysterious black monolith. It's a sexy enough assignment--colonial origins, mutating victims, et cetera--but Laszlo has no interest in maximizing the curse's potential; he'd rather sunbathe in Ibiza, quaff martinis, and hustle the hustlers on Manhattan's subway. Unfortunately, his division has new management, and Laszlo's ratings are so abysmal that he's given six days to shape up or he'll be melted down and returned to the Primordial Ooze.

Meet Maggie Drakeford, nineteen-year-old Curse Bearer. All she's ever known is the dreary corner of the Catskills where the Drakeford Curse has devoured her father's humanity and is rapidly laying claim to her own. The future looks hopeless, until Laszlo appears at the Drakeford farmhouse one October night and informs them that they have six days--and six days only--to break the spell before it becomes permanent. Can Maggie trust the glib and handsome Laszlo? Of course not. But she also can't pass up an opportunity to save her family, even if it means having a demon as a guide ...

Thus begins a breakneck international adventure that takes our unlikely duo from a hot dog stand in Central Park to the mountains of Liechtenstein. As the clock ticks down, tough-as-nails Maggie and conniving Laszlo will uncover a secret so profound that what began as a farcical quest to break a curse will eventually threaten the very Lords of Hell.

Review Quotes

"A hilarious, horror-laced fantasy road trip novel...Neff seamlessly blends corporate satire with dark fantasy in this wisecracking race across the globe. His hidden demonic world is richly drawn and filled with a host of supernatural creatures. Tough yet vulnerable Maggie and secretly soft Laszlo will capture fantasy readers' hearts and funny bones."

-- "Shelf Awareness (starred review)"

"So smart and inventive. Just loved it!"

-- "Martha Brockenbrough, award-winning author of The Game of Love and Death "

"There's something about a demon, right? Especially a less than successful one like Laszlo, who--while gleefully wicked, vain, and arrogant--harbors a nascent conscience (something he would no doubt deny)...Better buckle in--it's going to be a thrilling ride."

-- "Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times bestselling author of the Heir Chronicles"

"This captivating audiobook proves to be an unlikely but winning blend of humor and terror...Monsef's hilarious efforts make this a hoot of a horror story."

-- "AudioFile"

"A raucous fantasy novel that centers otherworldly intrigue and the meaningful bonds formed between unlikely allies."

-- "Foreword Reviews"

"Incandescently funny...A glorious romp that's clever enough to keep readers infernally entertained."

-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"So much more than urban fantasy...A sometimes horrifying, often hilarious adventure...A good fit for readers who enjoy a healthy dose of humor with their fantasy and don't mind a bit of body horror."

-- "Booklist"

"Christopher Moore fans, rejoice! Henry Neff has written the snark-filled, globe-trotting, feel-good, demon-curse-breaking novel you always wanted--and you don't even have to sell your soul for it."

-- "Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The League of Seven"

"I was bewitched by Laszlo, the most endearingly selfish demon you'll ever meet, and his globe-trotting adventure to unravel a complex curse. Packed with wit, adventure, and heart, The Witchstone is a tale of magic and redemption you don't want to miss. Wicked good fun!"

-- "Veronica Rossi, New York Times bestselling author of Under the Never Sky"