Olivie Blake's writing is so captivating! She really is able to draw the reader in from the very first moment, and keep us hooked until the end.

The setting was incredible - modern era witches in new york, i felt like I was a part of it. The characters were so strong and individual, felt like they were made of flesh! Blake's pen is truly a talent. I loved this one.

I went into this book having read the Atlas books and so I was expecting this to be similar - minimal plot, maximal vibes. I love vibes! Vibes are great! There were no vibes here, which is wild because this is a Romeo & Juliet retelling with Baba Yaga.

The characters were deeply boring, the magic system was poorly constructed, and the story lacks the emotional resonance of the source material.

I apologize for the length of time it took to read this, but when I finally got to it--ugh, what a slog.

Questionable worldbuilding and convoluted plot. The characters for the most part are all unlikeable, save for (very) few of the side characters. The book leads you to think Sasha and Lev are the Romeo and Juliet of the book, but then the focus turns to Lev’s oldest brother, Dimitri (Dima), and Sasha’s oldest sister, Marya (Masha), the youngest pair of lovers falling by the wayside.

Roman is a dangerous but whiny brat whose actions are unforgivable, yet somehow everyone lets him live. The fae lawyer’s annoying and yet everyone keeps making deals with him, despite knowing how tricky the fae are.

This is the second Romeo & Juliet-inspired book that sucked me in with an intriguing premise and then just couldn’t stick the landing (See Chloe Gong’s “These Violent Delights”).

I’m going to DNF this one for now. It’s not catching my attention but hoping to get back to it later

Okay. So I don’t know why this book IS? I think Olivie Blake is an excellent writer. But an absolutely abysmal storyteller. There was no real plot just sort of dead - not dead and oh yeah magic and big mad feelings. I have no doubt many people love this book. The reviews speak for themselves and to each their own. But a massive amount of editing and flushing out of of a plot would have done this a great service. I don’t think I’ll be back for more. Also this is why I can’t with booktok. #askalibrarianaboutbooks

I really enjoy Olivie Blake's writing and this was a really quick well done story. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This is a truly exceptional tale of magic, love, and family - in all of its tangled and imperfect glory. Olivie Blake’s writing and world building are incredible, and I just want to stay in this book forever! Every character is so very human (although generally not in the literal sense). Their pains, motivations, and joys are made clear through the brilliant writing. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It is one of the best I’ve read, and I can’t wait to read more of Olivie Blake’s writing.

I liked what this strove to do. A retelling and contemporizing of the Romeo Juliet story. The formatting in the digital arc made things a little difficult to read. I also didn't connect with the characters very much and thought they could be a little more developed. This would be good for a teen/high school reader.

Olivie Black has become an auto buy author for me and my library. Her world building is at the highest level in One for My Enemy.. It has a Romeo and Juliet feel but with Russian folklore. It was interesting, moving, and a great read. I recommend One for My Enemy.

4/5⭐️

This book has to be my favourite Olivie Blake book I’ve read this far, and that’s saying something since I really enjoyed the Atlas Six books.

I love her writing style but her past books have often left me feeling too stupid for her books, like very word and theory heavy, and while this book did have her signature writing style, I found it a lot easier and more enjoyable to follow!

Also, this book has the romance elements I cannot survive reading a book without. Throw in some witches and a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque storyline with tons of twists and turns, and I’m freaking hooked. Seriously, this book was a rollercoaster that I never wanted to get off.

The only reason this isn’t a five star read for me is that so much time was dedicated to conflicts and plot twists and betrayal and death, that I feel like the basis for these characters was underdeveloped. I would’ve loved to read more about Dima and Masha and their relationship dynamic outside of the drama. Same for Lev and Sasha, I wanted them to have more time together as a couple before the family drama began. I even would’ve loved to see more of Marya (the matriarch, not the badass daughter) and Lazar’s dynamic since I think there was really something there. All in all, I think the first chapters could’ve been more dedicated to foundation building for the characters and their relationships rather than diving right into the conflict and drama.

Other than that though, this is a great read for anyone looking for a fantasy romance full of plot twists, betrayal and political warfare.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's the year for Shakespeare retelling and this is a good one! Olivie Blake is such a talented writer and One for my Enemy highlights her lyrical writing and prose. I loved every minute of it.

New York City, divided by the potions dealing Baba Yaga and crime boss Koschei the Deathless, the Antonova sisters are pitted against the Fedorov brothers when their heir crosses the line between the two criminal empires. Two star crossed lovers will threaten the balance.
One For My Enemy is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet that is full of Olivie Blake’s bewitching prose full of magic and mayhem, duty and deceit.

Olivie Blake holds a special place in my heart and now so does this book. Like a modern Romeo and Juliet- this book comes ready to break your heart. I LOVED the magical aspects (think Practical Magic) and the stunning romance. Blake has such a way with words.... I'll buy anything she writes.

OBlake is hit or miss with me. While I find that I can be emersed in her prose and become neck-deep reading paragraph after paragraph of detailed backstory or side story or background, I will come up only to realize that I have no earthly clue what I read is truly pertinent to the story of anything. It can be maddening to feel like you are circling a drain, desperately trying to grab onto any flotsam that may come my in the hopes that it is important.

I think I spent the first 50% of this book only having a vague feeling that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling so, you know, there was that. I must have put it down over a dozen times work the intention of DNF, but the persistent itch TO KNOW just wouldn't stop so I kept picking it up only to groan again. I really did feel like I was trying to solve a thousand piece pickle that someone put in the wrong box, showing the wrong quantity, and picture. I can tell you that I finished it, but was the effort worth it . . .

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion **

One for my enemy had my rapt attention in the beginning. Blake’s beautiful prose that I have come to love can be seen blossoming, but the only thing holding the story back from reaching the highs of her other books, is the plot.
Her characters are still her strongest asset, and were the shining light in what was mostly an overlong and repetitive story.
I honestly thought the book had ended halfway through. Until it kept going, meandering through the motions of the characters choices until the ending climatized a bit nonsensically.
I enjoyed seeing where she came from, but I might skip her other older writing in the future.
She’s improved too much for me to linger on the past!

Ultimately this book just did not quite do it for me as much as I wanted it too. I was very intrigued by the premise and while it started off strong, it quickly became a slog. I think there are plenty of people that will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me.

Olivie Blake's books are always so unique and immersive and One for My Enemy is just as amazing as her other novels. An excellent Romeo and Juliet retelling with a super-unique magic system. I will definitely be recommending this one to readers!

As to be expected, this book was a freakin' delight. Everything that Olivie Blake writes is gold. I loved the characters, the magic, and the dramatics. Her knack for writing such intense and realistic relationships in such a short amount of time/space on the page is my favorite part. Nothing feels rushed even if it happens over a few pages, everything falls into place just as it should. I will read anything and everything she writes.

One for My Enemy is the story of Romeo and Juliet, but make them rival witch families in modern-day New York City and add in Russian inspiration.

This novel has Olivie Blake’s classic strong character building, but I just wasn’t that invested in the story itself. I think the concept was cool, and the way she inverts the original Romeo and Juliet story was fun to see, but I just kept getting lost in the vast cast of characters and all the Russian naming.

Even though this is Blake’s weakest novel I’ve read by her so far, I would still recommend it to fans of Romeo and Juliet retellings.

This book is a wild ride with complicated relationships, twists & turns, and a whole lot of feels! I loved the premise and all the drama. Blake's work is always entertaining and a fun read!