This book blew me away. The magic, the spice! It was everything I didn't know I needed in a witchy book!

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing this e ARC. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more by this author.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely loved the witch vibes of this book! Totally spot on from potions to familiars to colour magic.
The mystery element is so well done and I have so many questions - book two please - I need to know their history!!
The main man is intense and the hate/love is messy and I need more of this too!
Highly recommend.

This novel follows a young witch’s journey towards joining a prestigious coven, despite the slight issue of her magic’s cost – her memories. When offered an opportunity to finally be accepted by this community, Selene jumps at it and books a trip to South America in an attempt to find a familiar and inspire a journey worthy of the coven’s acceptance. On the flight there, however, Selene gets more than she bargains for, and enacts a chain of events soaked in bloodshed, sexual tension, romance, and a soul mate convinced she is his wife – the wife who betrayed him 2,000 years ago and whom he is set on punishing.

Did this story depict a very problematic, potentially abusive, and definitely manipulative relationship? Absolutely. Did I devour the entire novel in one sitting? Well…

The relationship between the two characters left something to be desired (although the spicy scenes were exceptional!), the plot and mystery surrounding the plot made this a compelling story. I’m looking forward to the next installment, and am looking forward to continuing this series.

Laura Thalassa has a way of sucking you and making it hard to let go of the world she created!! This and the bargainer are my favorites of her, and I seriously can not wait for the next book. The anticipation might just kill me🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

3.5/5 Stars + 2/5 Spice

- Romance/Fantasy, Mystery
- Tension
- Single POV
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder

Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and the author Laura Thalassa for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I quite liked this book, I really, really liked it in fact. It tickled a romance/fantasy mood reading itch for wanting a romance/fantasy book but needing it to be fast paced enough to keep my attention after coming out of a reading slump and this book did just that.

The author has written other books set in this same world however, they by no means need to be read in order to understand or enjoy this one.

The story follows our FMC Selene who is a witch attempting to join a coven. However, due to the cost of using her magic being her memories, she has difficulty remembering things and requires the use of diligently kept notebooks and sticky note reminders to keep her on track. At the coven’s request Selene embarks on a magic quest and a journey to find her familiar. It is on this journey we are introduced to our MMC Memnon. I still don’t know how to feel about this guy, I’m in a love-hate relationship with him to be quite honest. I will leave it at that and allow you to formulate your own opinion as I’m afraid anything more I say may spoil something. This book does end on a cliffhanger and boy oh boy the set up for a sequel is superb.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a fast paced, romance/fantasy, mystery novel with well executed world building and a little bit of spice, then this book is for you!

Bewitched has completely has me... bewitched. The characters.. the story.. every single thing about it hooked me and kept me entranced the entire time. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5

Despite the slow pace initially, the complex plot, interesting magic system, and conflicts (both Selene’s internal fight and the external struggles) pulled me into the story and left me eager for the next book.

I thought the plot was brilliant and the twists and turns kept me on my toes until the end. The characters were well-crafted and unique, each serving their purpose well within the story. I loved the tension-filled, slow burn romance and the complexity of the attraction between Selene and Memnon.

This book is perfect fans of urban fantasy who don’t mind a hefty, yet captivating, read.

As per every book Laura puts out, this was another home run for me. I was enthralled in the story and captured by the characters.

I received an advance readers copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley for this free copy.

Where do I start...
I love Laura Thalassa's books - The Bargainer Series being one of my favorites. I'm conflicted about how I feel about Bewitched.
I wanted to like this so bad, however, I HATE the MMC. He's toxic. I'm really hoping that book 2 will have some kind of twist where we find out he's actually the villain. I really hope we are "supposed" to hate him. He's controlling and sadistic, and does not take her thoughts and feelings seriously. To top it off he has no problem hurting Selene out of vengeance. This is not love. I don't even understand how she can still be attracted to him after the way he's treated her.
Please oh please I hope she ends up with Kane instead. He is so much better for her!

I am new to this author and was a little worried about that going into this book but I quickly found that I loved this story!

I received an arc from NetGalley, this review is my own opinion.

I love Laura Thalassa. I adore everything she’s written. Fae and undying kings and touch starved super heroes and even the bringers of the apocalypse so when I read the synopsis of Bewitched I was enchanted from the start. It sounds like everything I love tied up with a string but something about this book didn’t flow quite like her other novels and if it wasn’t by Laura Thalassa I’m not sure I would love it as much as I did. I think I also trust Laura to write the sequel (and potentially more books) to make the suffering of the first book worth it.


The writing was beautiful as always. I just wanted more without being able to define exactly what that is … helpful right? Not.

“It mesmerizes the eyes while unsettling the heart.”

Selene’s a witch and magic always has a price. Selene’s price is her memories. She has extensive journals and sticky notes to keep her days organized. At one point something happens to all those mementos and the revenge was so flat and uninspired I think that is the crux of my disappointment.

Near the end I finally got some just revenge but then the book ended so I’m hoping in the sequel I can get all the revenge my vengeful little heart desires.

“You can rot, Memnon.”

I would recommend this book and all of Laura’s other works a million times over and over again.

Bewitched - Bewitched #1 - Review

Couple: Selene (Roxilana) & Memnon

Author: Laura Thalassa

Tropes: enemy to lover, hidden plots, dark fantasy, memory spells, touch her and die, PNR, adult romance, smut

Review: Laura has done it again in this all new series that takes place in the Bargainer Universe. This book is dark, twisty, spicy and oh so mystical!

Selene is a witch who loses her memories every time she casts spells. This sets her up to be at the mercy of the Hebane Coven and their whims. I loved Selene! While we do not know the origin of her memory loss at first, she is resilient and her methods of keeping tabs on her life are impressive. I enjoyed her dark humor and her determination to stand up for what she wanted.

Memnon is perhaps the most mysterious and dark MMC I have read of Laura’s (in my opinion). While we do not see a ton from him in this first book, what we do see showcases how deliciously evil he is. I enjoyed the push-pull between them and the “care” he seemed to have until he did not. While we know Memnon is not behind the murders…his deception to Selene makes you wonder who is?

The book has so many sudden twists and turns that it will leave you on the edge of your seat. The things Selene stumbles upon in her desire to solve the mystery of the murders and the dark coven. It almost makes you wonder if it wasn’t actually Selene who locked Memnon away.

The book is spicy and what we love from Laura. It is hate-lust and full of tension. I thought Selene not bowing to Memnon was pivotal. I also thought the way Memnon uses his magic was a huge hint that maybe he is not totally lost to being evil.

I am excited for the next installment and cannot wait to see what this couple does.

Rating: broke the scale, this book is HAWT!

#Nowlive #darkromance #bookstagram #romancingqueens #romancegroup #bookbloggers #fantasy #spy #thieves #fantasy #darkfantasy #hiddenplots #romancebook #paranormalromance #magic #romancebookaddict #igreads #bibliophile #books #novels #igbooks #bookstagrammer #romancestagrammers #booklover #bookaddict #netgalley #laurathalassa

A strong four out of four stars for me, I read this in one sitting and will share the clear plotline, clever ideas, and trustworthy character development that made this book impossible to put down to all of my patrons!

I loved this so much, Laura did such an amazing job with this one and I can't wait to get more of this series! I loved that it was a new series BUT in a world that Laura's readers will already know! She has quickly become an author that no matter the book, I know it will be good so I am going to just purchase it.

bewitched is full of action, fun and silliness. The characters are great, you will have them pulling on your strings in no time. best part, it was the PERFECT set up for the next book in this series.

Little bit of witchcraft here, magic police there. Buckle in and get ready!

I wanted to also thank Laura and NetGalley for this one!

I really liked the setting of this book and plot development. I really enjoyed the writing of this book and the characters
Cannot wait for the next book :)

Laura NEVER disappoints. The themes, history and story for this novel were so thoroughly written I was enraptured from the moment I opened the book. Selene is a witch with a distinctive cost of use for her magic and causes a bit of mayhem on her journey to joining a well-known coven. I expected more spice from Laura but I am not complaining, I hardly missed it! It reads fast and will leave you jonesing for the second installment.

Ok omg, this book was so much fun. The narration was so sassy and heartfelt and straightforward, I sorta breezed through the book and finished it in just a few sittings. I love the MC so much, her character was the absolute best, and her journey through the course of this book was so thrilling. And the cliffhanger?? I can't wait for book 2, I need it resolved 😭

The hero Mennon? I have such conflicting feelings about him, which I guess is *precisely* what the author wants 😭 like I need a proper redemption arc and loads of grovelling in book 2 🥲

TWs - blood, gore, violence

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This is my first book by this author, and I’ve heard such good things. I definitely enjoyed the plot and thought the lack of knowledge of the main characters backgrounds kept me intrigued. I liked the main character and her inner monologue, and loved her familiar. Unfortunately, I just found the male main character, Memnon, completely unlikable and was unable to understand the relationship between the two. Even in the moments I think the author intended for us to be intrigued by him, I was still unable to see the connection. The soulmate thing also didn’t really make sense to me. I can see this being a very enjoyable read for someone who is looking for lower stakes fantasy, but overall, it didn’t work for me. I’m still looking forward to reading this authors other books and think I may enjoy them more.

"You have never needed magic... You are entirely bewitching without it."

I've never read a Laura Thalassa book before (though I have had her Four Horsemen series on my tbr for a hot second), but this was an enjoyable ride! I loved the idea of covens being like colleges/sororities, and magic looking and being a little different for everyone who uses it.

And though I doubt he was supposed to be, Nero was my all-time favorite character. I need to immediately be informed if Laura owns a cat because he was written to act *exactly* like a cat does. Just a hundred pounds heavier and far more deadly. I died whenever he was around and Selene "narrated" his thoughts.

I will definitely be on the lookout for the second installment in this series. [I need to know what happens between Selene and Memnon now that she has her full power and memories of her past life back.

Bewitched was published on April 18, 2023. Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS, Bloom Books, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.