Asphalt Coven

Witches of Kirra Cross, Book 1

By: Gwen DeMarco

Narrated by: Janine Granda

Darby wasn't looking for magic. She was looking for a fresh start.

One accidental spell in a dusty library archive changes everything–binding her to four women she's only just begun to call friends, and awakening power none of them knew they had.

But magic has enemies.

A violent order called the Torch Bearers has been hunting witches for generations. They've already burned other covens out of existence. Now they're coming for Darby's.

Five women. No training. No time. And a bond forged in concrete, grit, and the kind of magic that refuses to die. And the unbreakable bond of women who refuse to burn.

This isn't a story about peaceful garden witches. This is a coven that won't burn.

Perfect for fans of The Craft, A Discovery of Witches, and fierce female-led urban fantasy.

©2025 Gwen DeMarco (P)2026 Gwen DeMarco

Great beginning of a series

Asphalt Coven was such a fun read. Darby is trying to start over and struggling when a meeting with a bar tender changes her entire life. This story is a fun magical journey of her finding not only her self but the people she was destined to be around. The characters were charming and the world building was well done. This is a stellar start to a series that has me intrigued and wanting more. Narration was done fabulously well and added just another layer of goodness to this story.

Great start to a new series

Darby is looking to start over while living on her friend's couch. While at a coffee shop, she meets Topaz, who has a friend looking for a new roommate in her building. When those 3 women and 2 others decide to start a book club, they get more than they bargained for when they find a witch's grimoire. When they all realize that they have magical affinities, they begin to learn to use their magic. But when they realize there is a secret society dedicated to eradicating witches, they decide they need to go on the offensive to make sure they aren't next.
Since this is book 1 in this series, a lot of this book is dedicated to meeting the characters and getting to know their "world". Darby is looking for a fresh start. She has moved to a new city and has her one friend and coworkers. I wouldn't say she is timid, but she's not overly outgoing, like Topaz. Topaz works at the coffee shop as a barista and also as a singer. She introduces Daby to Cara, her roommate and Yvette and Jasmine in the apartment building. The 5 women form a bond right away and once they realize they all have magic, they become like sisters. This book really builds on their interactions and how they develop their magic together.
The plot moves along at a little slower of a pace than some of this author's previous books, but that doesn't mean it is not interesting. After we get to know the coven and their magic, we start to get into the story of the Torch Bearers. We learn everything they have done and even geta little magical intervention as well. It's more of an investigative feel until the end where we find out what is really going on with the Torch Bearers. The absolute jaw dropping secret that the author revealed had my head spinning! To say I was shocked would be an understatement! I can't wait to see where this series goes after that.
This is the same narrator that the author has for her other series and as usual I enjoyed that as well. She is easy to understand and does an amazing job with all the voices.

Very Enjoyable!!

This was such an enjoyable listen and easily one of my favorites by this author. I loved the story of Darby accidentally stumbling into magic and forming an unexpected bond with four other women as danger closes in around them. The found-family dynamic and rising tension kept me hooked, and the stakes felt real without losing heart. Janine Granda’s narration was wonderful and added so much to the overall experience.

Outstanding

This book is non-stop action. I loved the storyline, characters, and the fast-paced flow. The narrator was amazing. I highly recommend this audio book.

A Magical Group

I was entertained by this book. I enjoyed how the group of women were brought together by their love of books. There were so many twists and turns which kept my attention glued to the audiobook. I liked that the women had to work to discover the intricacies of their powers, and that they didn't have complete control from the beginning. I can't wait to start the next book in the series. I thought Janine Granda's narration was great as her performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.