This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Verdict: A quirky, cosy-spooky paranormal romance: neurodivergent witch and empath Mave Kitten lands her dream job as a paranormal journalist for a small-town paper, where her boss, leather-clad motorcyclist Lisa Blonde, does not believe in the supernatural. Readers love the northern humour, the fifty-something leads and the originality; others found the blog format and the wild second half hard to follow.
Best for: Readers who want gentle, offbeat paranormal mysteries with older sapphic leads and a cat.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.7/5 — a 4.02 Goodreads average across 55 ratings and 4.3 stars across 20 Amazon ratings; too few StoryGraph reviews to count)
Tropes: Workplace, believer/sceptic, butch/femme, paranormal mystery, older leads, neurodivergent representation.
Sealed With A Hiss is Eule Grey’s 2023 paranormal sapphic romance from NineStar Press, the first Kitten and Blonde book: mostly paranormal, sometimes alien, always gentle. Mave is ecstatic to land a job at the Echo, a chance of a lifetime for a neurodivergent witch.
It holds a 4.02 average across 55 Goodreads ratings, with 77% of them four or five stars, and 4.3 stars across 20 Amazon ratings.
What Is Sealed With A Hiss About?
Lisa has a heart of gold, and Mave settles into her role with help from an office cat. One problem remains: Lisa does not believe in the paranormal. When the two investigate a creepy sound coming from a nearby canal, the trail leads to ghosts, a haunted well and a mysterious woman in green.
The last place either wants to go is the depths of a macabre well, but ghost whisperers cannot choose when to answer a supernatural SOS, and Mave is glad of Lisa’s mix of strength and softness.
What Works in This Book
- Humour: Readers love the northern British humour and banter.
- Leads: Adorable, blundering empath Mave and big-hearted Lisa, “Blonde, like the beer.”
- Originality: Readers say it is unlike anything they have read.
- Older women: A romance between two women in their fifties.
Book Synopsis
A witch who hears what others cannot. A boss who does not believe a word of it.
Something is hissing in the canal.
My Review
Grey has built a whimsical little world here, and fans who know the author expect quirky characters and banter and get both. The podcast-style first story captures Mave’s voice brilliantly for many readers, and the investigations blend the supernatural with charming British settings and eccentric locals. Several readers are eager for the next Kitten and Blonde instalment.
It is an acquired taste. Some readers found the blog format confusing to follow, one called the second story a fever dream, and one was baffled by Mave making animal noises at her boss in a meeting. A couple of readers noted it was not quite the romantic mystery they expected.
My honest note: A charming oddity for readers who like their romance a little strange.
| Element | In Sealed With A Hiss |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Mave Kitten (neurodivergent witch, journalist) & Lisa Blonde (sceptical editor, motorcyclist) |
| Core tropes | Workplace, believer/sceptic, paranormal mystery |
| Setting | Litten Vale, a small British town |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 169 pages (Kindle edition) |
| Series | Kitten and Blonde #1 |
| Content notes | Ghosts, mild horror, peril |
How Spicy Is Sealed With A Hiss?
Mild to moderate. It is gentle overall, though a couple of readers mention a good amount of spice.
Readers mention ghosts, a haunted well and spooky investigations.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a quirky paranormal romance with a neurodivergent witch. It is on our neurodivergent sapphic romance list.
You may want to skip it if: unconventional formats or surreal plots frustrate you.
In short: Ghosts, banter and a grumpy cat.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 35% five stars, 42% four, 16% three, 5% two and 2% one.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Humour first. Second, the leads. Third, originality. Fourth, the cat.
What readers argue about and complain about: The format, above everything. Second, the surreal second story. Third, Mave’s quirks.
The comparison worth making first: Mooncakes, another gentle, witchy sapphic story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sealed With A Hiss one story or two?
Two connected stories in one volume, plus a teaser. The first is told largely as Mave’s blog or podcast posts; the second, a stranger and more outlandish tale, is told more conventionally.
How old are the leads?
Both are in their fifties, which readers enjoyed.
Is it spicy?
Readers disagree slightly: most describe a light, gentle romance, while a couple mention a good amount of spice.
Is there a cat?
Yes, a testy office feline named Penelope Sardine.
Is Sealed With A Hiss on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $3.99.
If You Loved Sealed With A Hiss, Read These Next
Try Mooncakes or Blessed by the Cupid Distribution System. Browse our neurodivergent sapphic romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Sealed With A Hiss sets out to be a gentle, funny paranormal romance, and its humour and originality deliver for many. What holds it back is a format and second half that lost some readers. A quirky, cosy-spooky treat. Check Sealed With A Hiss on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Sealed With A Hiss ranks as a fair-to-good neurodivergent-rep pick — quirky, cosy.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ 4.02 average across 55 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 77% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ Too few StoryGraph reviews
- ✓ 4.3 stars across 20 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Believer and sceptic
- ✓ Gentle
- ✓ Older leads
- ✓ Light
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Mave
- ✓ Lisa
- ✓ Penelope Sardine
- ✓ Eccentric locals
Writing ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Northern humour
- ✓ Blog format
- ✓ Surreal second half
- ✓ Original
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3.3/5
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Spooky
- ✓ Funny
- ✓ Heartfelt
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
- ✓ Gentle
- ✓ Some spice
- ✓ Adult
- ✓ Romantic
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Teaser
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Hopeful
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ $3.99 Kindle price
- ✓ 169 pages
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ Quick read
Affiliate disclosure: Lesbian Romance Reads is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. If you buy through the link below we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.