The Killing Spell

by Shay Kauwe

In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name.

Kea Petrova is dealing with more than her fair share of trouble.

At just twenty-five years old, she’s the youngest of five Hawaiian clan leaders living on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles. Nearly 200 years ago, when a catastrophic flood submerged the Hawaiian islands and unleashed magic into the world, these clans forged a treaty with the city, establishing a new Hawaiian homeland. But that treaty is about to expire.

Kea struggles to keep her small clan afloat, scraping together rent each month through odd jobs and selling her own crafted Hawaiian language spells. While her talent for language magic is her saving grace, she feels like a shadow of those who came before her. Just when she thinks things can’t get any more complicated, the murder of Angelo Reyes—LA’s most prominent Filipino activist—turns her world upside-down.

Angelo was killed by a death spell—something that, due to the properties of each school of language magic, can only exist in Hawaiian. With independent spellsmithing being technically illegal, Kea quickly becomes the prime suspect, known for her spellwork on the Homestead. To clear her name, she must unravel the mystery behind Angelo’s murder and confront LA’s most powerful (and dangerous) players, each wielding their own type of magic. The clock is ticking—can Kea save herself, her clan, and the Homestead before it’s too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Indigenous, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Shay Kaleoʻoluhoʻiloliokawaipāhe Kauwe is a kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) author from the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. She grew up on the Homestead in Waimānalo but moved to Russia because she fell in love with a boy. Her and the boy now live in Honolulu with their poi dog, Iris.

Shay holds an M.Ed in Education and taught English, ESL, and Literacy for nearly a decade.

Reviews

[Rebecca Roanhorse]

An absolutely fantastic debut. The Killing Spell is an urban fantasy set in a near-futures Los Angeles that manages to balance humor, romance, and adventure with a murder mystery, all driven by language magic. It also manages to be a thoughtful exploration of the consequences of colonization and the choices the colonized are forced to make in order to survive. I tore through it in two days and loved every second.

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

SIGHHHHH.

I’m going to give up on requesting ARCs, I swear. THE KILLING SPELL attracted me because it combined so many topics I am a nerd for–linguistic politics and social power–with a genre I have long adored (urban fantasy). Unfortunately, I felt like it suffered from a lot of debut author issues with world-building and characterization.

There are many features of TKS that, at first glance, make me excited to recommend to any fan of Ilona Andrews, particularly their Hidden Legacy series. Kea is the breadwinner for her ragtag large family; magical abilities dictate social and political hierarchies in the world; and the MC is unwillingly dragged into magical city politics.

As someone who’s worked in language education my whole career, I was really excited to read about the concept of language magic. Sadly, the magic system of TKS remained at a surface level. There’s a fairly simplistic hierarchy of languages broadly classified as “classical” languages–such as Latin, French, Spanish, etc.–and “emergent” ones, e.g. Chinese and Japanese. Part of the conflict is between classical “purists” and those who champion more inclusivity and openness in designating languages as official magical ones.

Which is very interesting, but because this concept is not extrapolated further into things such as social dynamics, Board politics, and so on, I’m left wondering if the difference between the two groups of languages is just… racism? Odd because, you know, Chinese is one of the oldest continuously used languages in the world. The book also doesn’t give any insight into how other, non-official languages are ranked compared with one another, and why. If you’re going to make an urban fantasy world, I need to believe that the author has thought through the effects of that magic system into every aspect of life.

This haziness around the significance of different language systems applies also to Kea’s language, Hawaiian. Which is really unfortunate because, you know, the whole book revolves around the significance of Hawaiian. One of the most salient features about Hawaiian in TKS is that it is not a written language, and thus cannot have as much magical importance. Or something like that. The problem is, the book doesn’t convincingly show why it is so magically significant when a spell is written down as opposed to when it is spoken. In the story, written and spoken spells seem to both have similar effects. There’s also the added confusion that Kea is apparently not a consistent magical user, and so her spells often backfire. However, it is unclear whether her misfiring spells are the result of Hawaiian’s oral tradition, or because of her own self-doubt, the latter of which is a key feature in the story.

TKS opens with two high-drama scenes. This didn’t work for me, as the scenes felt more like they were placed there to grab readers’ attention and less to set up relevant information for the rest of the story. In the first scene, Kea battles a magical creature that has come onto their property because the youngest member of her family disrupted some wards. My issue with this opening scene is that battling magical creatures is not a significant feature of this magical world–it barely comes up again elsewhere in the book–and it sets up expectations about Kea’s family dynamics in a way that, again, isn’t relevant to the story. In this scene we are introduced to Kea’s large family, but, in addition to having very little on-page time, any time any family member is on the page, they don’t say or do anything that makes them particularly memorable. Readers are told that Kea carries heavy responsibility for the well-being of her family, but in the book she spends so little time with them, and the time we see them spending together is so mundane, that we aren’t really convinced by this aspect of Kea’s internal motivations.

The second scene is even more ridiculous, featuring a flying forest magic fight between Kea and members of her landlord’s family, and then Kea returns from the fight to find that someone has stolen the hard-won groceries from her car. Again, this scene was unnecessary. First, this kind of magic-on-magic fighting is not a staple of this magical LA; similar encounters never happen again, except in one final scene. Second, Kea’s family’s financial insecurity is made out to be a big thing at the beginning, but is kind of forgotten about in subsequent scenes.

Characterization was the other major letdown. Everyone felt one-note, with the author kind of force-telling us about how we’re supposed to feel about them, and not letting that readerly connection happen organically through how the characters talk or act. I felt this especially with Sora, Kea’s love interest. He is introduced as this hot, badass, scarily powerful spell-wielder and new member of the Board, but he spends most of his on-page time from the get-go finding excuses to touch Kea. His favorite thing to do is to reach under her chin to tilt her face up so she can look at him, then to deny vehemently that he has any feelings for her. Sorry, but I’m not convinced of their romantic development or individual character development, not when he starts off and continues like this.

There’s a good story in here somewhere. Unfortunately, it is lost amongst distracting and irrelevant scenes, while the truly interesting aspect of the book–the magic system–is underdeveloped.

[Sara. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up. Ah, thought I'd love this one, because I go feral for a language-based magic system. For all the things that didn't work for me though, I'll say it's a quick and breezy read. The murder mystery aspect was intriguing enough to get me to keep turning the pages.

The strength of TKS has got to be the absolutely fascinating world where magic is utilized through spells cast in different languages. Every time we learn more about the languages used for magic is a highlight. I'm so intrigued by spellsmithing, which is essentially creating spells according to the language's respective grammar rules, limitations, and staying true to the culture it's rooted to. Given the sociopolitics revolving around language use in general, of course there are themes that I generally enjoy reading about: anticolonialism, racial inequalities, erosion of cultural identity, reclaiming & preserving one's heritage, exploitation of the vulnerable.

Kea is a strong POV character for me to follow. I empathise with her so much as an oldest daughter having to shoulder the burden of taking care of the rest of her family, while juggling her personal journey of getting in touch with her roots that ultimately make her a stronger spellsmith. She does well enough for someone who isn't formally a detective, but the investigative storyline itself could've been more engaging. For one, there's pages wasted on her having to learn to dance just to infiltrate a gala to interrogate a suspect, which she didn't even end up doing! Felt like merely an excuse for Forced Proximity with her love interest Sora. Speaking of whom-

Shockingly (not), I didn't care for the romance. Love to see an interracial couple with no white person involved, but the development was way too rushed. We also barely know anything about Sora other than he's Japanese, Broody & All Serious Business. Why does he even emotionally connect with Kea, aside from her being a decent person to work with. Personally I'd sacrifice the romance to better flesh out the magic system, the actual investigation, and the sadly underdeveloped Hawaiian clans.

Magical creatures (magi) also exist but remove them and nothing really changes??

Overall a decent debut with strong concepts & ideas saddled with a Just Okay execution. I would absolutely be down for another story set in this world though! The language magic is just too good to be kept to one novel.

[Lori]

Native Hawaiian/Pacific adult fantasy book. Sign me up! I'm so excited for this

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea who had this book in one of their TikTok posts, but whoever you are THANK YOU! This was an absolute delight to read. The authors note at the start made it seem a little intimidating because they used the Hawaiian language for the spells and didn’t necessarily provide English translations. But any fantasy reader knows, language is fluid and sometimes you are not going to pronounce it in your head correctly even though you understand the meaning perfectly. That was the case here.

Set in a dystopian future in which LA becomes a magical city center and those outside the city limits are left to their own, people are part of clans. A connection to their nationality and magic that’s traced through lineage. Each clan has a head that holds the family spell that grants them the power to survive. The magic system in The Killing Spell is incredibly complex and beautiful. Unique to each person it allows everyone to tap into magic within their family line. It isn’t packaged and neat, it sprawls across the globe and offers something different to each person that uses it. This magic system is the backbone to the entire story. When someone uses a killing spell in a language that is only spoken, our protagonist, Kea, must not only figure out the spell but also find the killer in order to keep her family on their ancestral land. It’s a race against time against some very powerful people.

At its heart, it’s a story of acceptance. Owning where you came from and who you want to be. This was beautiful and heartwarming. I think it shines a much needed light on why culture and history are so important. We stand to lose so much when we don’t connect with our past.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two hundred years after magic arrived and sank the islands of Hawai'i, Kea is the twenty-five year old leader of her clan and is struggling to make ends meet. When she's framed for murder, she makes a bargain with the council of LA mages: find the real killer, or surrender her land.

I really, REALLY enjoyed this one.

It had a lot to like: underdog heroine who has a LOT of shortcomings but is determined to succeed, a taciturn hero with a heart of gold, a fascinating magic system, and tons of twists and turns and political machinations that deal with language, colonialism and diaspora, climate change, magic and the meaning of land and home, and safety versus independence.

I think that if you enjoyed Jade City and Ebony Gate (by way of Babel), I think you'll enjoy this one.

I received an ARC from the publisher

[Zana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to really like this novel because the premise sounded super cool, but the execution was just okay.

Initially, I thought that this was going to be a post-apocalyptic novel (a destroyed homeland unleashing magic into the world? Very end times), but the vibes were just contemporary urban fantasy. We don't get to see the world pre-magic or experience the transition, so magic was just a fact of life for folks who are licensed to spellsmith (or doing it illegally) and the people who benefit (or not) from the spells.

My favorite part of the story was getting to meet Kea's clan. You're introduced to her family and her clan right in the first chapter within a cute action scene where they're trying to fight off a magical creature who broke past their wards. It was a really promising beginning. A mixture of fun and serious.

I loved the mixed Native Hawaiian and Russian rep. It was very unique and the linguistic and cultural blending was one of my favorite parts. I loved the clan's close-knit ties, including Kea's relationships to her family and clan members. The struggle to lead her little clan and be their voice among the much larger clans on the Homestead was enjoyable to read about.

Unfortunately, the book lost me after all of that. The tone ended up being very older YA, meaning that the worldbuilding was just detailed enough to satisfy the reader. Kea's character arc was also very YA coded. Without going into spoilers, her plot armor became a deus ex machina. All of the story beats took predictable turns. There weren't really any shocking revelations or plot twists if you're well-read in this genre.

The whole spellsmithing thing wasn't all that exciting in the end. It wasn't really utilized as much as I thought it would've been. There was more talking about it and its effects, rather than performing magic.

I think the part that really sealed the older YA vibes deal for me was Kea realizing that different ways and different types of thinking and doing don't have to be hierarchical or better than the other. (But then again, we have people in charge who strictly think in absolutes, so this is on me for thinking that people should know better.)

She also mentioned that, “Academia taught us that there was no value to these unscientific beliefs” re: Native Hawaiian storytelling, myths, traditions, etc. Maybe if you don't study social sciences, languages, the arts, etc.? Since Kea had no formal education or training, the anti-formal learning vibe here was off-putting.

Anyway, this book wasn't all that memorable for me, unfortunately. I just wish that the tone was more adult and matched the seriousness of the premise.

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[BookishlySonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book instantly transported me back to the early-2000s era of urban fantasy that I absolutely fell in love with; the kind of story that balances quippy humor, gritty magic, and a heroine you can’t help but cheer for. The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe nails that nostalgic vibe while still feeling fresh and relevant.

At the center of the story is Kea, a sharp-tongued, magic-wielding protagonist navigating a world where language is not only communication but also power, status, and control. Magic is regulated through written language, with Romance languages dominating as the “elite” standard, and newer inclusions like Mandarin and Arabic only grudgingly accepted into legitimacy. Meanwhile, languages like Tagalog are dismissed as inferior, barred from full participation in magical systems.

And then there’s Hawaiian, Kea’s connection, and the most marginalized of all. Because it is traditionally unwritten in this world, its magic is considered unstable, illegitimate, and dangerous. In a society that equates writing with authority (echoing real-world histories where literacy itself was a gatekeeping tool), Hawaiian magic is pushed to the absolute fringes.

When a dangerous Hawaiian spell sets off a chain reaction of political consequences, Kea is pulled into a conflict that forces her to confront both the rigid structures of regulated magic and her own place within them. What begins as a single crisis quickly spirals into a deeper mystery involving colonialism, systemic control, cultural erasure, and long-standing power imbalances embedded within the very language of magic itself.

The pacing is fast and addictive, carrying you through a layered plot full of tension, action, and sharp humor. Kea is an absolute standout! She’s witty, self-aware, and deeply compelling, with a voice that makes even the heaviest moments feel engaging. She’s easy to root for, especially as the stakes grow more personal and the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred.

Overall, this is a wildly enjoyable read that delivers both nostalgic urban fantasy vibes and something much more thoughtful beneath the surface. Fast-paced, emotionally grounded, and thematically rich, it’s absolutely worth picking up.

[Ananya Sarma · Rating 4 out of 5]

as someone blessed to receive an ARC copy, here’s an honest review

-the story was gripping, like I was jumping on it hard. Although it started off slow, it picked up, and I was super engaged.
-I also LOVE the romance. The slow burn was SO slow. Like if every failed kiss gave me a penny, I’d have a LOT of pennies.
-the only issue I had with this book was the obvious plot armor. Like there’s no way this girl has this much luck. Out of every life and death situation, she manages to use her one word spells that usually don’t work well, and somehow it works? Especially when she just reached her hand out to save herself from being buried alive. Tbh, that plot armor was more obvious than Kylie Jenners lip filler.
-other than that. I would definitely recommend this, it’s a great easy urban fantasy to follow, and I will be recommending it to fans of caravan, OUABH, and in the veins of the drowning

[Andrea Beatriz Arango]

This was such a cool read!

The (magical dystopian) dynamics between the Hawaiian Homestead and Los Angeles really hit close to home for me as a Puerto Rican living on the archipielago, and the language-based magic system was incredibly complex and fascinating. I truly would read more books set in this world ‼️.

Seriously, though, THE KILLING SPELL comes out April 14, and to my knowledge it's the first trad published fantasy by an indigenous Hawaiian author 🥹❤️. So go support Shay with a pre-order or library request! Especially if you like your fantasies smart & nerdy w/ a swoony dash of romance. And especially especially if you're into linguistics and are not a language purist 👀.

Okay, that's my spiel! Go read it so we can chat about it, please!!

[Runalong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very impressed by this that makes a magical murder mystery plot and combined it with a fascinating magical world that also has a look at how cultures are accepted or not in society as having value

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a post climate crisis re-imagined Hawaii and LA this urban fantasy has a magic system that revolves around language. Ohana, unexpected romance, and a murder to solve are all key factors in this story.

[Neilina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written from start to finish. Such an intriguing concept to weave languages as forms of spell casting (with some history in there too!). I love that the plot wasn’t centered around a love affair between two characters, but rather a love of culture and family.

[ColleenIsBooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Kea who is the leader of her family at only 25 years old in a world where Hawai'i has a 200-year lease on land in California ending soon and needing to be renegotiated (the islands were essentially demolished in an environmental disaster 200 years ago). So tensions are high between the clans of Hawai'i and the leaders of LA, the governmental capital in this world that is run on language magic. Kea's family is struggling as there are monsters roaming around, they do not have a family spell and therefore no say in the new lease, as well as owing a lot of money in mortgage to more affluent Hawaiian clan. As if this isn't enough to concern us, Kea is also roped into an investigation of the death of a board member in LA that appears to have been done with a spell in Hawaiian, working with a guy she does not like, Sora.
I felt that the language-based magic was an interesting concept and I liked that Kea wasn't immediately the best at it. Unfortunately, the book felt a little disjointed at times as we hopped from scene to scene, but it evened out a lot more towards the middle to end of the book. I, personally, did not care about the romance at all. I didn't really feel the chemistry between them at any point. A friendship would have worked just as well.
Overall, I think this book was a really interesting concept. It is also only around 300 pages and, to my knowledge, a standalone. So if you are looking for a shorter fantasy with an interesting world and magic system, check this one out. 3.5 Stars.

*Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Thanks as well to Ariel for buddy reading with me :) *

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dystopian/fantasy debut about a world where language has power and different ethnic groups are fighting for their autonomy and more. I don't read a lot of books about Indigenous Hawaiian characters so this was a refreshing change. There was also a bit of romance, some intrigue and a couple good twists. Definitely a great read for AAPI month! Recommended for fans of books like Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes.

[Alexandra Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool and different. Really liked audio version to hear all the languages!

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loveeee the worldbuilding concept here and would love for this to be a series!! For meee I was less interested in the romance part of this romantasy but that's OK!! I think this could be a good pick for older teens too--it's not ~too spicy~ but it is cool and pretty fast-paced.

[Rallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off: GET THE AUDIOBOOK!!! Barrie Kealoha does an incredible job - in a book about language, not knowing/hearing the correct pronunciations of everything feels criminal, and their voice is so beautiful.

SECOND: I rarely get so mad that I feel in my whole body the need to join the main character in a discussion (argument), but my god the linguistic colonialism and white supremacy was so, so, SO well-written. I was grinding my teeth in frustration and outright rage. Okay so she obviously couldn't go punch people in the teeth (and shouldn't slapping them) but I can! Let me at them!

To be more serious, this is an incredible book. Kea is strong, smart, and impossible to not love, while Sora is a goose who thinks he's a heron. The setting is unique but also entirely grounded, every aspect of the magic system made sense on an almost intuitive level. Shay Kauwe uses the manifest destiny of the setting and linguistic colonialism as a biting critique of our world, echoing a long history of political linguistics - the ghost of Gloria Anzaldúa is dancing because Kea will not let her tongue be tamed. I would love to see this book engaged with in high school literature/language arts classes, and with university-level literature/anthropology/sociology/linguistics classes!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute love letter to languages, especially, of course Hawaiian, but also Russian, other Polynesian languages, and so so many others. There was so much care that went into this book, it felt like it's own Smithing. The characters were so wonderful! and the climax made me cheer out loud! Will definitely recommend this one

[Thelatebooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just the Hawaiian fantasy debut you’ve been wanting, but the one you NEED. This story has world building, linguistics, whodunit, and my favorite — banter between the main characters! Eeeeek! *blushing*.

If you’re looking for an easy and fun introduction to Hawaiian, the people, the beliefs and the mana that ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi holds, this is an excellent start.

Excited to read more from this author!

Mahalo to SagaPress for the ARC of this. This review is completely of my own choice.

[Theta Chun]

The Killing Spell is a both a wonderfully written book, and a book that could've used more time and words. It's an excellently paced book that understands when to lag and when to not, with a charming romance that never feels like it's rushing or taking too long. Both Sora and Kea were incredibly charming, and Kea's internal monologue was distinct and showed her own personal flaws, without being grating. Kauwe has a wonderful mind for how to write incredibly faulty characters, that you want to read about. You may hate them sometimes, be annoyed with them, but you will want to read about them. And for a murder mystery, that ability is integral. Mysteries make or break on their characters, you need to understand why people have their given motivations, and even be able to guess it, and Kauwe knows that.

Furthermore, even though I guessed the killer less than half-way through the book, that didn't fail to make the book enjoyable. Sometimes you read a murder mystery and the only thing that keeps the story going, is the mystery (*cough*magic for liars*cough*). But The Killing Spell doesn't suffer from that, the prose, the motivations, and how the rest of the story will untangle, kept this book profoundly enjoyable past that point.

Kauwe also clearly has a love for language that shines through in this book. Both the act of learning it, the structure of it, and the cultural conceptualization of it. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the magic system that we're shown. The idea that some languages are better for expressing certain ideas and how that manifests in magic, is a really intriguing idea. A lesser author would've chose to use linguistic determinism, but Kauwe doesn't, and it makes the story better. I do hope she returns to this world in the future, because I would love to see it dug into, and expanded on.

However, I will also say, that The Killing Spell suffered from what I see as 2 major flaws. For one, there's little talk about the lost homeland of the Homestead, mentions here and there, but nothing beyond that. I wish there had been more focus more on what it's meant to these characters to loose that land.

Secondly, and personally more noticeable, this book reads like it was written by someone whose reference for LA was a map, and little else. Nothing in the book is particular to the setting of LA, and at points seems to not understand the culture or history of LA, or it's relationship with it's many diasporic and multilingual communities. Kauwe's passion for language shines through brightly, but there are nevertheless misunderstandings about what languages are popular in LA, that struck me as odd such as the inclusion of Italian, a profoundly uncommon language here.

Similarly, there’s a whole point of LA being more inland and the coastline being where the Kanaka homesteaders took up after the destruction of Hawaii. Which while a really cool plot point shows a lack of knowledge about LA's coastlines and our dependency on it. While there's quite a bit north of Santa Monica that is unoccupied, that's because of the mountains that buffer the coast. These mountains regularly catch fire. While Santa Monica and southwards is a heavily populated region. LA is incredibly dependent on its access to the coastline, namely Long Beach and LA port, which are the two largest ports in the nation. While I understand the Doylist explanation of Native Hawaiian cultural connections to the ocean, there's no watsonian explanation provided, and that meant I struggled to understand where the homesteaders were living and how this was working. It's frankly not believable that people would've abandoned the coastline, and it's never really explained where on the coastline that the homesteaders are.

Finally, for a book that is about Indigenous people and stolen land, I did find the lack of direct mentioning of the Gabrielinos and their language revitalization efforts, a bit strange. It's addressed that the Kanaka are going through language revitalization, and that LA is stolen land, but the way it's talked about, makes it sound like the Gabrielinos aren't around... that's not true. They are, and they're trying to revitalize their language. It would've been nice to just have a single more clear mention of them.

In all, The Killing Spell is a wonderful debut, and I look forward to reading more from Kauwe in the future, hopefully in this world as well, but I can't help but feel as if the book could've been better researched.

[Bethany J · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*

This had so many ideas that I loved: a linguistics based magic system; the discussion and critique of the way colonialism erases language, culture, and people; discussions of the way certain languages are propped up and others are dismissed or looked down upon; an interesting post-climate disaster dystopian(? almost?) world with monsters. Unfortunately, this didn't... hit the way I wanted it to. For one thing, I think the pacing of this book was horribly off. Goodreads says this book has 288 pages and that's not nearly enough for everything it's trying to do. As a result, the book feels choppy and underdeveloped, particularly where it concerns the romance. Truly, the romance didn't need to be there and Kea's love interest was supremely underdeveloped as a character. While I think Kea as a character was interesting and had a lot of potential to develop in interesting ways, she was really held back by the romance and pacing.

Plus, I feel like the world-building had a lot of potential to be interesting. While I think the author did a decent job establishing the basics with the page count, I can't help but thinking how much more expansive it could have gotten with a slower pace. There really wasn't any time to settle into the world and with its characters. And while that's not always a bad thing, I do think it really hurt the book here.

Overall, I was so interested in this book and was hoping I'd love it. There's some really good discussions here and I think the potential is there. Unfortunately, the execution really didn't work for me and, ultimately, I felt really let down by the end of it. I think this is an important book and the author's voice a key one. Truly, I don't regret reading it, but I didn't enjoy the whole of the book, only parts of it.

[Lexa Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

" He was the ocean's rage and peace, bottled up and coated in red paint. If I leaned closer, he'd sweep me away. And if I kissed him, I'd surely drown."
- The Killing Spell, by Shay Kauwe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|| 🫑

Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Killing Spell, by @shaykauwe. When I first read the synopsis for this book, I immediately knew this was going to be a clever book and I was not disappointed. Rooted in Hawaiian culture with a deeply complex magic system built around language and etymology, The Killing Spell is about cultural identity, resilience, and justice in the face of adversity. Set in an urban fantasy setting in the not too distant future where flooding has destroyed Hawaiian islands, it is also a great murder mystery with a side helping of romance and delicious banter that breaks up what could otherwise be quite heavy subject matter. I really liked Kea and Sora as FMC and MMC respectively, and although I am someone who normally prefers books more heavy on the romance, the murder mystery plot interspersed with magic kept me fully entertained and invested throughout. I enjoyed the politics as well as the side characters, Kea's family, and - of course- Fiona the chicken.
The ending wrapped everything up really well without being predictable and left me feeling genuinely satisfied. It gave answers without spoon-feeding them, and still left enough emotional weight behind to make the story linger.
This is such a smart, layered read. It has magic, murder, politics, cultural depth, sharp banter, and a chicken with main character energy. What more could you want?
Thank you to @bookramblerpr, @solarisbooks and @shaykauwe for having me on the tour and sending me a gifted copy.

[Megz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?!

I fell in love with The Killing Spell from the dedication. I know a bit about losing languages, endangered/extinct languages, and the value of mother tongue education, because of language debates and policy issues in my time in student governance. And also an erstwhile National Geographic issue that held my rapt attention for weeks.

Not to be outdone by her own dedication, the "author's note on language" is at once tongue-in-cheek and firm; refusing to be minimised for writing language as it is written.

I enjoy the setting (a future post-apocalyptic Earth where language holds magic) and the novel's many parallels to colonisation and language deprivation. I am enthralled by the protagonist, Kea: her uncertainty, her imposter syndrome, her difficulty "adulting" and feeling like too much has been put on her, too soon: I can relate so hard, even though I am objectively in a much easier situation, and I have much privilege that she does not.

I like the magic system: sure, it's not watertight, it is a bit confusing, but this is fantasy! Sometimes the rules broke my head a little, especially when referring to language and meaning in Hawaiian, but it's once again something I enjoyed. I'm comfortable with not knowing everything.

My only real gripe is the romance angle: I hate how simpering Kea becomes when around an attractive man. She loses so much of her own agency and power when she gets swept up in the idea of a man, and I kind of wish there hadn't needed to be a romance, at all.

But, wow, I rate this up there with Babel, and I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Rebellion Publishers and Netgalley for providing this eARC.

[Nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good urban fantasy debut. I thought some of the urban fantasy elements were just fine, but what I found the most interesting were the politics and power dynamics around the use of language magic and the presentation of Hawaiian culture and language was refreshing. Kea is a spellsmith on her way to being her clan’s leader when she gets caught up in Los Angeles politics after a council member is murdered by a spell cast in the Hawaiian language. I’ve been trying to place what bothered me a bit about the book. I think it’s that this works better as YA than adult IMO, because of both the depth of plot points of the story like the romance, murder investigation, and politicking, and especially the writing style, (e.g. “My heart was thumping loud enough to start its own marching band”). It was an easy listen though and I loved the scenes that took place on the homestead with her family and community, and I’d be curious to check out a future release from Kauwe.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this debut is a wonderful addition to Indigenous fantasy fiction, with an interesting magic system and characters that you want to spend the length of the story with. there are aspects that make it feel like a debut -- the epilogue, the light touch on certain aspects of the worldbuilding that I'd have liked to have seen developed more -- but I'll definitely be looking for the author's next book. I personally don't like any romance in my fantasy novels, but this one didn't overwhelm the plot and felt mostly well integrated, so I think it will work for both types of readers. the emphasis on land -- particularly around a Hawaiian homeland after the islands have "gone missing" was an interesting choice, and highly relevant considering the decisions many pasifika peoples are having to consider due to climate change and sea level rise. the book asks, "what were Hawaiians without Hawai'i," and spends its pages answering that question.

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads challenge book. Feels good to read but don’t think too hard.

Kea is Hawaiian, living in poverty in the outskirts of LA. A few other Hawaiian clans live there too. Someone is killed and Hawaiian was used to create the spell. Sora (hot, skilled, and a clan head) is also tasked to work with her in the investigation.

I think this works well as a romance story. Sora is hot; quietly attracted to her, and you get the usual “protagonist does something amazing with magic that no one else can do”. There is the “collapse from fatigue” part too.

And like romance novels, don’t think too hard about worldbuilding. Sora feels like a blank slate. There is one part where Kea’s inner monologue attributes failure to her being a bad leader, which felt rather surprising. Keanu randomly robs Kea, but he still has a seat on the council. Huh??

2.5/5

[2TReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I loved the basis for the magic system where language was the tool used to wrest and retain power. Where certain languages are held to be the standard and accepted way of casting. I do love the parallel drawn with colonial prejudices when it comes to the tongues of those they wish to oppress and use.

I didn't mind the attempted romance between the MCs, but thought this story could have been longer in which certain plot lines could have been better developed.

Kauwe is an author to watch.

[Harley Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★: LANGUAGE AS LAND. MEMORY AS MAGIC. RESISTANCE AS SURVIVAL. ❤️ I went into The Killing Spell expecting something unique, and boy did Shay Kauwe deliver! Beyond distinctiveness, I got something far more grounded—and far more extraordinary: a story about what it costs to hold onto your language, your land, and your people when the world is built to take all three from you.

At its core, this isn’t just “language magic.” It’s a reminder that language is lineage. It carries the weight of ancestors, the authority of elders, and the right to exist on your own terms. Watching Kea navigate a system that ranks languages—and by extension, cultures—felt uncomfortably familiar in the best way. This book doesn’t just gesture at colonial power structures; it shows how they seep into everything, even something as intimate as the words you’re allowed to speak.

What hit hardest for me was the tension between survival and integrity. The Homestead isn’t just a setting—it’s a pressure cooker. You can assimilate for safety, or you can resist and risk everything. There’s no clean answer, and the book doesn’t pretend there is. That ambiguity felt honest.

The climate refugee backdrop adds another layer that lingers. This isn’t a distant dystopia—it’s a plausible future where displacement has already happened, and people are still expected to prove they deserve space. The connection to land isn’t treated as symbolic; it’s survival, identity, and inheritance all at once.

And then there are the quieter strengths:
🌴 The presence of elders as knowledge-keepers—not decorative, but foundational.
🌴 The idea that history isn’t past—it’s active, shaping every decision.
🌴 The insistence that culture isn’t fragile—it adapts, but it doesn’t disappear.

I also appreciated that the humor felt like pure indigenous wit—something I’d expect to hear from my funniest cousins. The romance doesn’t overshadow the story; it humanizes it.

If there’s one thing this book does exceptionally well, it’s this: it reframes power. Not as who controls institutions, but as who remembers, who speaks, and who refuses to let their language die. 🤜🏽💥

That’s the kind of magic that lasts.

And the narrator, Barrie Kealoha, was PERFECT. She is a native Hawaiian multilingual singer, actor, and voiceover artist located on O’ahu. Representation matters, and Kauwe’s people did it right.

Published 5 days ago on 4/14/26, this book currently has a 4.27-star average by 90 GR peeps.

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely lives up to the incredible premise. I read the blurb on NetGalley and immediately requested it because of the language based magic system. That part was every bit as cool as I thought it would be, but it was just one piece of this book that I absolutely loved.

The worldbuilding beyond the magic system is really interesting - LA is ruled by a Board with members from clans that specialize in specific languages. Kea, the main character, lives outside LA on the Homestead, a diasporic Hawaiian community after a flood swallowed the islands. There are politics in the Homestead and in LA, and the power games in both were super interesting.

Kea was a great main character and her relationships all felt fleshed out and real. Her family was hilarious, and the other side characters were each interesting in their own way even if it was a love-to-hate-them kind of thing (ahem, Charles).

I can’t wait to read this book in print!