Bewitched is the first book in this romantasy read. This one is a world full of witches and magic. The author did a good job writing this one and all of the characters in this were interesting. I look forward to reading another book from this author. Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any reader who likes fantasy or romantasy. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books / Bloom Books in exchange of my honest review of Bewitched by Laura Thalassa.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

I knew I would probably like this book because I had already read another series by the author and really enjoyed her writing.
However, I didn’t expect to get so invested in the story and read it so quickly—I finished it in just two days!
I got completely drawn into the story. The writing is fast-paced and easy to follow. It takes a little time to fully understand what’s happening, but once you do, the story flows really well.
I really liked our protagonist. She has all the classic vibes of a fantasy book main character. But the unique aspect of her power was really interesting to follow.
I also liked that the romance wasn’t the main focus. There’s a lot happening in the background with both the story and the character’s development, which kept things engaging.
As for the male lead, I enjoyed his character and found his actions understandable based on his past.
However, I had mixed feelings about certain aspects of the romance, which is why I didn’t give the book five stars. I’m not sure how I feel about the theme of past lives or reincarnation. I don’t know yet how the author will handle it, and I don’t want to give spoilers, so I’ll keep it vague. I think my overall opinion will depend a lot on how the second book develops this storyline.
Speaking of the second book, I’m not sure if it’s the final installment or not—I couldn’t find that information. Depending on how it wraps up (or doesn’t), I’m not sure how interested I’ll be in continuing.
My main issue with this book is that, while I loved the story, the characters, and the romance, I didn’t love the idea that the main couple already had a history, which explains why they are drawn to each other. I would have preferred if they were getting to know each other and falling in love in the present without the felings and the backstory to support i.
I really enjoyed the book overall and I am excited to see where the next one goes!

I will say I usually love this author but this book was a DNF. I tried to push through but Memon was just too mean for my liking .

Bewitched wasn't my favorite of Lauras works, but I was certainly entertained from beginning to end. Truth be told, this quite possibly could have been a five star read for me if I had liked the MMC at all. Selene and her woes were so relatable and fun that I couldn't help but be drawn immediately down the rabbit hole. Her memory loss and methods of coping were so endearing and enjoyable to read that I felt like I was right there with her, along for the ride. I could certainly see myself falling into similar predicaments, sadly without magic myself, and loved her tenacity and steadfastness. I'm still rooting for her to end up with a certain werewolf, but sadly don't see that coming to fruition any time soon. Memnon was not at all who I would pick for Selene's pure nature. His morally black persona just doesn't vibe with her 'make the best of it' attitude and the way that he treated her at times made me unreasonably angry. I just started book two and I am ready to see him GROVEL.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I love this author -- I just wanted to make sure I read all her other books in this world first!

A fantastic read!

Set in the same world as Thalassa’s Bargainer series, we follow a young witch named Selene whose magic costs her memories. As she works to gain entry to a coven, she ends up in a plan crash in South America and awakens an evil force, Memnon the Cursed who thinks she is his dead wife.
This story was packed with excitement, intrigue, and spice. A fantastic read!

Laura Thalassa is one of my favorite authors, and I know that if she’s written it, I’m going to love it. She doesn’t miss—her storytelling, world-building, and characters are always top-notch. Bewitched had that perfect mix of magic, tension, and romance that makes it so hard to put down. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I’m in for an unforgettable experience, and this one was no exception! It’s definitely one I’ll be re-reading for sure.

Laura Thalassa’s Bewitched is a spellbinding blend of romance, magic, and intrigue. With its vivid world-building and captivating characters, the story pulls you in from the very first page. Perfect for fans of paranormal romance, this book is a thrilling and enchanting read that left me eager for more.

Definately going to continue this series! I love a good witchy book.
I love me a good possessive man and I love the magic system. Will definately continue on reading.

Anything by Laura Thalassa has me on the edge on my seat. I absolutely love the way that she writes. Every story every new adventure is an emotional rollercoaster and this one is no exception.

★·.·.·★ “𝗡𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹.” ★·.·.·★

Romantasy • Witches • Werewolves • Amnesia
Published • April 2023

₊˚⊹♡⊹ ࣪ ˖🐈‍⬛ I’m reviewing these books in a two for one because the cliffhanger at the end of Bewitched is so massive, you’re going to want to read both at once.

This series is pure escapism: easy to read, fast paced, and quickly binged. If you are in a reading rut and want a very spicy 🥵🌶️🌶️ and fun read, then look no further. The kindle books are also free on Prime reading.

So while the smutty romance portions are sizzling, the fantasy components don’t hold up on their own. It’s not that the plot is weak. It’s more that the magic happens too easily, is not really explained... and the spells are cheesy (basically just come up with a rhyme and *boom* you’ve got yourself a spell).

When the main characters can heal from any wound it starts to lose its impact when they are taking multiple mortal injuries and then standing back up the next day. I had a similar issue as Selene lobs “explosion” spells overcoming any opponent. Everything is a little too “ta-da” easy peasy, convenient.

Points for Selena’s giant furrball Nero, a black panther — her grumpy familiar was one of my favs.

Bewitched is the first book in the Bewitched series and cannot be read as a standalone.

Selene was a witch who wanted to join the Henbane Coven. Whenever she used her powers, however, she would lose her memories. After a trip
to South America goes awry, she returns home with Nero, a panther, and an ancient sorcerer, Memnon, whom she’d accidentally awoken.

The twists and turns, the murder mystery, the world building — they were great! And Memnon, oof. The man — sorcerer — was morally grey? Black? I’m not sure, honestly. He believed Selene to be his wife…from many years ago. And he seems to know something that she doesn’t (well, she doesn’t have her memories), but whatever it is, he’s not telling. Anyway, after that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I loved the premise of this book but struggled with the execution. I found the main character to be a bit unlikable but I am hoping it is the result of her “past life” which I am eager to read more about. I love this author and I hope book two explains some of the criticisms I have!

This was good - it was packed with adventure and action, the FMC is strong, snarky and a witch, the MMC is obstinate, manipulative, hates her but also is totally gone for her. That being said, I really wish Memnon (the MMC) wasn't so much of an asshole, it makes it hard to root for them to find a way to be together. The memory loss in this one was interesting and added a bit of intrigue to the plot but overall, I have more questions than answers right now, which is likely by design. My favourite part is 100% Nero, what I would give to have a familiar like that!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bewitched
Laura Thalassa
Fantasy

Thank you so much Netgalley, and Bloom Books for this copy of Bewitched! This book was extremely refreshing, and the exact type of read I needed right now. Selene is a twenty year old witch that is trying to join a coven. The coven tells her that she is not good enough, and that she needs a familiar and to complete a better quest. She ends up booking a trip to South America where she is called to a mysterious magic, that ends up being a delusional powerful sorcerer that is convinced she is his mate from a different time period. She somehow escapes, and ends up being accepted into the coven she really wanted after they learned about her escapades. However, once she is there, witches start showing up unalived, and she finds herself at the root of each individual case. Her mysterious suitor also has followed her home and begins appearing everywhere she goes, trying to convince her that she is his long lost love. This book was about 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 on the spice scale. I really loved it and can’t wait to read book 2!

This is my first book by Laura and she has turned me into a forever fan. This is a paranormal romance with some of my favorite tropes, memory loss, multiple love interests with a slow burn.

I love the vast world with different characters. I resonated alot with Selene and especially her inner monologue. Menmon, the perfect alpha hole MMC 😍🖤 the tension between the two had me screaming.

The moment I saw the cover of Bewitched and read the blurb on Laura Thalassa’s social media, I knew I had to read it. Laura has a knack for pulling readers into her fantastical worlds—whether it’s with The Four Horsemen or The Bargainer series—and I had some pretty high expectations for this one.

Did it live up to the hype? ABSOLUTELY.

Get ready for a spellbinding adventure in this dark paranormal tale. Bewitched introduces us to Selene Bowers, a 20-year-old witch with a rare magical condition that causes her to lose her memories—a flaw that has kept her from being accepted into Henbane Coven, a prestigious academy for witches. Determined to prove herself, Selene is finally given a chance when the academy assigns her a series of tasks.

But what starts as a routine quest spiral into chaos when Selene’s plane crashes on a mysterious island. There, she accidentally frees Memnon, an ancient and dangerously alluring being. Unfortunately for Selene, Memnon believes she’s the one who cursed him and betrayed him—oh, and he’s convinced she’s, his wife.

Selene manages to escape the island and return to the academy, but her life is anything but normal. Memnon is hot on her trail, a string of murders rocks the campus, and her memory loss makes her the prime suspect. The stakes are high, the tension is electric, and the secrets are as dark as the magic in this world.

Laura Thalassa’s writing is as captivating as ever, pulling you into every twist and turn. The plot is thrilling, the characters are complex, and the ending will leave you reeling. Memnon is the perfect mix of dangerous and swoon-worthy, while Selene’s strength and determination make her an unforgettable heroine.

Bewitched is a wild, dark, and magical ride that’s equal parts thrilling, addictive, and haunting. It’s a must-read for fans of dark fantasy romance, and I, for one, cannot wait for the next instillment!

I loved reading this witchy book right in time for spooky season! It was so much fun and I could not wait to get to book two.

It took me a long time to finish this book but I’m glad I did. The storyline was riveting, the characters entertaining. The only thing I didn’t like was the cliffhanger, but I’ve already got the next book on lock. Well done.