Witches of Moondale | Louinprogress

The Hex Next Door

The Ghost of Hexes Past

Home is Where the Hex is

The Hex Next Door

Witches of Moondale book #1

Published:Oct 19, 2022

A LGBTQ+ cozy urban fantasy novel for fans of The Ex Hex, and October Daye.

What’s a little necromancy between family?

For the Crow Witch, Icarus "Rus" Ashthorne, Moondale seemed the perfect hiding place. But like they always say, you can't go home again, and Rus finds out quickly that nothing is how she remembered, while at the same time very little has changed. Then she comes face to face with the only woman she's ever loved, Az Elwood, and... well, things get messier than she thought they ever could.

The Elwoods are a staple of Moondale, respected, feared, powerful, and Azure Elwood was always happy with her place amongst them. Happy to play the part of the good little witch, until Rus Ashthorne. Eleven years ago, Rus got on a bus and left Azure behind, but she's back, with two little girls trailing her like ducklings, and enough unspoken things between them to drown the town.

Now witch hunters are knocking at their proverbial door, the council of magic is being a real pain in the ass, and Rus wonders how much magic it’ll take to protect the people she loves from herself and the danger following her.

Caution: Content warnings may contain spoilers

The Ghost of Hexes Past

Witches of Moondale book #2

Published: Nov 1, 2023

A LGBTQ+ cozy urban fantasy novel for fans of The Ex Hex, and October Daye.

Some dreams should stay dead.

Azure Elwood’s world was clear cut—simple—she knew her place in it and what was expected of her. That all changed about two months ago when Icarus “Rus” Ashthorne moved back to Moondale and made things . . . complicated. As the fight for The Coven of the Forgotten heats up, Azure comes face to face with insecurities and choices she thought long buried.

Rus Ashthorne has never known her place in the world, never had a “home” really. After returning to Moondale and reuniting with the family she left behind, she’s decided maybe it’s time to settle down. Only life is never that simple, is it? And as the Board of Magic is keen to remind her, necromancers aren’t welcome in Moondale.

So, when a broken bluebird shows up on Az’s doorstep, and the board’s demands start taking a toll on Rus’s physical and mental health, their tenuous relationship will be tested. And they’ll find that maybe “home” is just as complex—and as simple—as they always thought.

Caution: Content warnings may contain spoilers

Home Is Where The Hex Is

Witches of Moondale book #3

Publishes: October 9, 2024

A LGBTQ+ cozy urban fantasy novel for fans of The Ex Hex, and October Daye.

Sometimes it’s not your own past that comes back to haunt you.

Icarus “Rus” Ashthorne has been covenless her entire life, but after returning to Moondale she’s forced to face the fact that maybe starting her own coven is the best way to protect her family. Shame the Board of Magic isn’t going to make that easy on them. The task? Find two new coven members by the Centennial or lose their potential foothold in Moondale. Easy, right?

Azure Elwood has always known her family’s Moondale roots run deep, but with the Centennial on its way, she learns maybe there is a little more to the Elwood connection to Moondale than she originally thought. Her plate is full with Centennial plans, classes, rekindling her relationship with Rus, and of course finding them two more witches to join their coven, there isn’t time for anything else. Not that fate has ever really cared.

With new dreams taking shape, new connections being made, and a prophecy hanging over their heads, Rus and Az have no choice but to lean on each other and their friends to unearth the secrets Moondale thought long buried, and solve the mystery of who is trying to turn the Board of Magic against them.