What the Hex

Clare returns to the world of Go Hex Yourself with this madcap paranormal rom-com. Penny Roundtree is the secretary to the Society of Familiars, comprising familiars waiting to be apprenticed to a witch or warlock to progress their magic. Unfortunately, there are no warlocks or witches currently hiring. Penny desperately wants to become a familiar herself, leading her to agree to a risky, off-the-books apprenticeship with arrogant warlock Willem Sauer, who’s been banned from casting magic due to an undisclosed past transgression. If caught, both of their careers—and possibly their lives—will be at stake, so the polar opposites turned reluctant allies pretend to be dating to disguise the real nature of their relationship. Doing magic with Willem makes Penny feel seen for the first time, and despite his best efforts, grumpy Willem can’t help but gravitate toward Penny’s sunny nature. The buildup of their relationship is delightful, but as the tropes pile up and the stakes increase in the rushed second act, the plot goes a bit off the rails. Still, Clare makes it easy to see why these two characters work together—and Penny’s feisty pet squirrel adds some laughs. Series fans will be pleased. (Apr.)