Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Oh. My. Gosh. First of all, this ends on a HUGE cliffhanger and I’m sitting here trying to piece together clues in the hopes that I can create an ending to tide me over until the next book is released.

This series takes place in the same world as two of Laura's other series--The Unearthly and The Bargainer--but you don't need to have read them to understand what's going on. Selene is a witch who loses memories when she uses her magic. Her dream is to be accepted into Henbane Coven, but they have rejected her in the past due to her memory issues. She reapplies and is told she needs to go on an epic magic quest and find her familiar and they will reevaluate her application status. While on her quest, she accidentally breaks a curse and releases Memnon, an incredibly sexy sorcerer who thinks she’s his long lost soul mate who cursed him to slumber for 2,000 years. He vows revenge and turns her life inside out all while she tries to explain she’s not his soul mate and they fight an insane attraction.

This story has magic, murder, mayhem, mystery and some spice. Selene’s inner monologue is hilarious and relatable. She is incredibly upbeat for someone who has to leave post-it’s all over just to be able to function through a day. It does get a little jarring to read an event and then have her forget it almost immediately, though. Her familiar is a true cat in every sense of the word and their interactions are really funny. Memnon is a pretty straightforward Alphahole who is torn between love and revenge. The rest of the cast of characters are decently written, but we don’t get a good sense of them in the story because it is very focused on Selene.

I devoured this book in a day—I could not put it down and I can not wait to read the next book!

I feel so lucky that I got an ARC of this amazing book from NetGalley. Bewitched is the first book in a new series by Laura Thalassa that takes place in the same world as her Bargainer and Unearthly series. It’s a witch fantasy with romance, magic, suspense, humor, and a cliffhanger that left me hungry for more.

I finished this book in one sitting, deciding to simply stay home and read instead of going out. I have forgotten how Laura’s stories capture you from the very beginning and keep you hooked until the end. She always knows how to twist the fated mates trope and make it fresh and exciting.

The heroine, Selene, is a young witch who hopes to join Henbane Coven, an academy for witches. But on her way to South America for a quest to connect with her powers, she awakens an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes her for his long-dead wife. The wife who betrayed him. Selene escapes and starts her studies at Henbane, but Memnon follows her and soon witches are found dead on campus. Selene becomes a suspect because of her memory loss caused by using her powers. She has to rely on Memnon’s help to find out the truth―and his plans for her will change everything.

This book has everything I love in a paranormal romance: a strong heroine, a mysterious and sexy hero, a captivating plot, a rich world-building, and a steamy chemistry. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens next. When is book two coming? I need it now!

Thank you NetGalley and Laura Thalassa for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Loved the world building that was done. Went in thinking that I was going to get the same kid of story as the previous books I’ve read by the author but was totally blown away. She isn’t a one trick pony and I hope to see more from this author.

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 ARC #Review of Bewitched by Laura Thalassa

Crystal's Thoughts:

"You are the only goddess I pray to," Memnon murmurs, pressing a kiss to my inner thigh. "You're a f*cking vengeful one too."

Brimming with magic and mayhem, Bewitched is a can't-put-down, sizzling hot paranormal romance that you don't want to miss!

Set in the same world as the Bargainer series (though you do not have to read that series to understand this book), Selene Bowers life goal is to be accepted into the witch academy, Henbane Coven. Unfortunately, a side effect of her powers is memory loss and the coven isn't sure that Selene has what it takes to be a Henbane witch because of this. So they require her to go on a magical quest and find a familiar to prove that she can handle the rigorous schooling. Flying to South America, Selene suddenly feels a supernatural force grip her...and the plane she's on. Fighting for her life and the lives of the other passengers, they make it to the ground, but Selene finds herself following that magical malevolence to a lost city. And beneath it, a tomb. Drawn to the drop-dead gorgeous man inside, Selene unintentionally wakes him only to discover that he was cursed for a reason...by her...his wife? Out for revenge, Memnon follows Selene back to the coven to obtain vengeance. When dead witches begin appearing though, Selene must rely on Memnon to prove her innocence. But does Memnon have something even more sinister than murder in store for Selene?

Bewitched kept me glued to the pages, and I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this book! Memnon is a delicious blend of a dark and dangerous morally gray, anti-hero who walks the fine line of love and hate throughout the tale. While Selene was a feisty and witty female main character that I could easily get behind. I loved that no matter what obstacles life threw her way, she never faltered. That doesn't mean that she didn't have her hopeless moments, but she fought through them admirably. There is an undeniable chemistry between Selene and Memnon from the start, and as more of Selene's past is revealed, the more sizzling that attraction becomes. Memnon has no problem reminding Selene that though they had their ups and downs, when it was good between them...it was very good.

The words flowed from the pages sweeping me up in this magical world that I honestly couldn't get enough of. I hope that we don't have to wait too long for the next book in the series! I loved how Selene's memory loss was portrayed and that readers uncovered alongside her the memories that were taken, along with the organization system that she had when memories were lost. The twists and turns in the book definitely kept me on my toes, and I enjoyed the fun little historical aspects sprinkled throughout the storyline. Bewitched was everything that I hoped it would be and a definite recommendation to paranormal and fantasy romance readers looking for their next magical adventure!


✔️ Anti-Hero/Morally Grey MMC
✔️ Forgotten Past
✔️ Panther Familiar
✔️ Revenge
✔️ Enemies to Lovers to Enemies...
✔️ Bonded Mates
✔️ Witches, Mages, Sorcerers, and Werewolves
✔️ Kick-@$$, Witty FMC
✔️ Villain Romance
✔️ 'Touch Her and Die'
✔️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved the magic, the different groups of supernaturals: witches, sorcerers, werewolves, and so on. The characterization and description of the coven headquarters, the classes, professors, abilities of the witches, the whole background it was fantastically well written and described, made sense how the magic worked.

Selene is a fantastic main character, i loved her. She is smart, strong, sometimes i was kinda annoyed by her, but overall a really good mc.

Memnon is one of the worst love interest I have ever read about. He is a egotistical, selfish, insufferable, narcissistic bastard. And it's not like "He is a murderer, but we love him" like sometimes that happens in YA or NA books, like we advocate for them; this time he is just a big red flag. I can excuse murder, but I draw the line at abusing and incriminating the love of your life. You don't do that shit for someone you love.

THAT ENDING!!!! I need the second book right now

I didn't now about Laura Thalassa, but now that I have discovered her, I want to read all of her book series

This is a fantasy novel; witchy & urban too. 5* or 5 hearts.

Synopsis: " At age twenty, Selene Bowers desperately hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. .... Selene's magic awakens to save her life―at a cost. Using her powers devours her memories, one by one. ...when Selene braves the jungle on a quest and discovers the source of calling to her, she finds herself awakening an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who thinks Selene is his long-dead wife. The wife who betrayed him. Selene manages to escape and begin her studies at Henbane, but when Memnon turns up at the coven and witches are found dead across campus, Selene becomes entangled in a dangerous plot. Accused of the murders on the basis of her memory loss, Selene must rely on Memnon's help for answers―and his plans for her will change everything..."

3 things I liked- nope loved:
1. Loved both MCs and one creature as well
2. All the Witchy vibes and unknown past
3. I will burn the world down vibes!!! so strong.
3 things I disliked:
1. na- nothing
2. na- nothing
3. na- nope- great- read in 1 day- can't wait for more

I was so to read this one. I just loved it and can't wait for more Laura Thalassa.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of Bewitched by Laura Thalassa.

There was a lovely promo teaser excerpt that I immediately hunted down, which was wonderful. I am a fan of her books, and I have been reading them for years. This book is intricate and the ending was phenomenal. It is quite a satisfying cliffhanger. I received a review copy from NetGalley and have left my opinion.

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa is a captivating fantasy story about witches and magic. Selene, a young woman who wants to join the elite Henbane Coven, must find her powers. Selene's powers awaken at the cost of her memory when her plane is besieged by a supernatural force.

As Selene begins her studies at Henbane, old evil Memnon the Cursed mistakes her for his long-dead wife and draws her into a terrible conspiracy. Action, mystery, and romance keep the plot moving. The world-building is comprehensive and the characters are relatable.

Thalassa's vibrant writing style makes Bewitched stand out. Readers will be captivated by her tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. For witch fantasy enthusiasts and newcomers to Thalassa's storytelling, Bewitched is a must-read.

But, Bewitched's storyline holes bothered me. The novel never explains how Selene transported Nero from South America to the US, which baffled and frustrated me. The book's artificial plot and various inconsistencies detracted from my enjoyment.

The idea of a witch who loses her memories when she uses her power and a sorcerer cursed and mistaken about Selene's identity is intriguing, but the unsolved plot issues and contrivances kept me from getting into the novel. Yet, Thalassa's writing style makes Bewitched a good read.

Bewitched is worth seeing if you like witch fantasy and don't mind certain plot holes. If you prefer a tightly-plotted and fully-explained story, you may struggle with some parts of the book.

4/5 Stars from me.

***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Ahhhh, the cliffhanger!! This book was great. Laura Thalassa always delivers. Bewitched pulled a lot of emotions out of me, and it was a nice ride.

Selene, the main character, feels like one of Laura’s most relatable characters. The way the Selene speaks, her inner dialogue, and how she navigates the world is modern and refreshing.

Her condition and her conviction to overcoming it in any way she can made her an inspiring character. I loved how she used her notebooks as a tool to help her and how she refused to let her condition rule her life.

I do, however, wish that Selene's power was a bit more mature so she could give Memnon a run for his money because some of the things he did pissed me off bad. He’s giving season one Damon from TVD—hot but with no moral compass and selfish. Memnon's actions in Bewitched are also very inconsistent at times, so I hope he becomes more dependable in the next book.

Although, I do like how complex Memnon and Selene’s relationship is. I go from rooting for them in one moment to hoping they call it quits in the next. Honestly, what's a relationship without a little (or a lot) of drama?

Side-note, I think the side characters are a bit one-dimensional. Sibil is pretty bland. I wish she had a bit more depth because I love a good found-family or friend trope when done well.

I cannot wait for book two—fingers crossed we get more spice! 10/10 would recommend.

This book is pure entertainment.

Quick Synopsis: Selene has a magical condition where anytime she uses magic, it eats her memories. A condition she’s lived with since she awakened, Selene has a system of storing her memories and important information in journals. When she is rejected from the Henbane coven that she has longed to be a part of, Selene takes action to acquire the necessary skills and a familiar to be a member which sets her on a journey where she not only discovers a familiar, but unlocks a man from a secret, hidden tomb who claims she’s his wife from 2000 years ago.

Trigger warnings: Plane crash; sexual abuse; sexual assault; toxic masculinity

What I liked:
-I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know what happened next and I had to know what happened to Selene and Memnon.
-There are a ton of unanswered questions which has me so excited for the next novel.
-There are some super funny moments throughout the novel that did make me chuckle. It very much gave Buffy with humor and The Mummy, with some funny parts.

What I struggled with:
-There is a lot that just isn’t explained: how Selene gets Nero from South America to the USA (this bothers me so much that it wasn’t explained), where/who Selene’s family is, etc.
-Many of the situations didn’t fully make sense. Maybe this is so it aligns with upcoming novels, but there are many things that seemed slightly contrived (I don’t want to spoil anything for you).

Look, it’s a book that is just entertaining as hell and I can’t wait to read the next.

There is a lot to unpack here. There’s a witch who loses her memories every time she uses her power…which is an interesting concept. But there is also a sorcerer who she frees from a thousand+ year curse who thinks she’s his wife who originally cursed him. Also an interesting concept.

Okay, all of that sounds like a pretty good story. But the plot jumps all over the place and there is a very, very important dramatic scene that occurs mid-book and then is basically not mentioned again. It’s so odd. This is set up for a sequel…definite cliffhanger ending, so maybe this other plot line will be followed in that book. I don’t know that I would read it…I’m not partial to any of the characters (in fact, I would say I actively dislike pretty much all of them). Memnon is an alpha-hole who is kind and sweet to Selene unless she disagrees with him in which case he gaslights her. Kane seems like a good guy but Selene treats him far worse than he deserves and yet he’s still attracted to her for some reason. Sybil is a poor excuse for a friend…she is the kind of friend who disrespects your wishes and pressures you to “just let loose!” And Selene wants her cake and to eat it , too. She bemoans her memory loss to no end until Memnon offers to give her memories back and then she’s all “I don’t need them!” Except she very clearly does need them because she is a barely functioning adult without them.

This was a bit of a miss for me. I think I will read the second book to see what happens, though.

Well... add the sequel to my tbr now! I actually have not read the Bargainer series by this author, so I was really excited to pick this one up, and I'm so glad I did. With lots of magic, mystery, and action, I could not put this down!

Selene is a great character to get behind. She has powerful magic. However, every time she uses it, some of her memories disappear. Losing her memories is the main reason she has not gotten into Henbane Coven. However, when they tell her that the possibility of acceptance may rise if she gets a familiar and travels out into the world to have a more "magical experience," then Selene is on her way!

She plans a trip to the Galapagos, and when her plane is pulled from the sky by a mysterious magic, she saves everyone on board and then finds herself venturing into the surrounding jungle. She finds her familiar and more, but the question is... would some things be better left in the dark?

This has an amazing, colorful magic system and great descriptions of this world while including some very nice romance!

Definitely recommend this!

Out April 18, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

"At age twenty, Selene Bowers desperately hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. Since one of the requirements for entry is to connect with her powers via a quest through the wilderness, Selene books a trip to South America. When a nefarious supernatural force tries to drag her plane from the sky, Selene's magic awakens to save her life—at a cost. Using her powers devours her memories, one by one.

Worse, when Selene braves the jungle and discovers the source of the attack, she finds herself awakening an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes Selene for his long-dead wife. The wife who betrayed him. Selene manages to escape and begin her studies at Henbane, but when Memnon turns up at the coven and witches are found dead across campus, Selene becomes entangled in a dangerous plot. Accused of the murders on the basis of her memory loss, Selene must rely on Memnon's help for answers—and his plans for her will change everything."

I really enjoyed this book, I found it such a quick read and finished it in a couple of days- Laura Thalassa's writing is so beautiful and I need more of this series now. Thank you to Laura Thalassa for the chapter lengths they were perfect if your brain is set on constant one more chapter mode.

This is straight up enemies to lovers and I loved the FMC (for the most) and the MMC the banter was top tier! I say for the most I loved the FMC as they did seem to lose all ability to be a strong female when connected with the MMC which I didn't feel entirely fitted with the character.

There's lots of world building in this book but honestly that's what I expect from the first in a fantasy series, the way that Laura Thalassa writes makes the book almost cinematic at times especially during some of the "What the actual..." moments. The magic in this book is fantastic and explained so well! Love the nods to The Mummy.

I did feel that we don't get enough of the back story as to why certain things are as they are and how - but maybe I am jumping ahead and I need to wait for this a little longer but this is also why I marked the book down slightly.

There are :
Witches
Quests
Mystery
Enemies to Lovers
Spice
Romance
Top tier banter
and of course Magic

Really looking forward to book two now!

I have so many questions and I need book two NOW!

Selene is desperate to join a coven that she has been denied acceptance to twice, so she embarks on a quest and her life is forever changed.

Selene is a likable character, but it’s also incredibly difficult to really “know” her because of her memory loss. There were so many times I had to go back and read something because I couldn’t figure out if I had forgotten or if Selene had. It would have been nice to have more details about her parents and why she was so desperate to get into this specific coven. However, since we’re getting her perspective, it makes sense we didn’t get those details because she likely doesn’t remember many of the specifics.

Memnon…let me just fan myself for a second. Many people probably won’t agree, but I love him & hope they can figure their stuff out. I also love a well written morally gray character, so maybe I’m not the best person to ask. I do wish that we had a couple chapters of his perspective, and I really really hope that Laura can add this into the future books. I want to know what he’s thinking, what he’s up to when he’s not with Selene, where in the world was he when she was attacked & he was pushing her to use his magic?

Kane…I wish we had a little more of him in the beginning before Menmon was introduced because I kinda like him too. *sigh*

I will definitely be rereading this book, especially as we get closer to a book 2 being released.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the publisher, via NetGalley. My review is my own opinion.

An intriguing, magic-laced world, with smoldering romance, and layered supernatural characters; this story will have your imagination running wild, begging for more!

Betwitched throws you into a supernatural universe of passionate, violent delights and gives us a true glimpse at the power of both love and vengeance.

I am so happy to hear this will be a series, and I can’t to see what happens next!

Fantasy Readers: Add this to your list ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom books for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available for purchase April 18,2023

Holy mother of Pearl but YESSSS. Cursed witches, familiars, murder mystery, a schmexy warlord sorcerer who was entombed and fated mates? Yes yes yes checks all the boxes. Very quick paced and very well written. Little bit of spice in there too but Selene and Memmnon are fun to read. Totes buying this book and the rest of the books when they come out

| Book Review 📖

Bewitched by @laurathalassa

Firstly thanks to Laura and NetGalley for the ARC!

Yet again it’s been awhile since a review, sorry about that!

I am now obsessed with this book and what I know is going to be an amazing series!

Both Selene and Memnon had me laughing out loud, their banter and pure enemies to lovers journey is so chaotic and genuine it had me completely enthralled.

We had enemies to lovers to enemies, familiars, witches, demons, wolves, magic, lore, spice, fated mates and more.

Think The Mummy plus spice and witches and all of the above.

The plot was fast paced and really capturing. The chapters were nice and short which made it so easy to just say ‘one more chapter’.

10/10 definitely recommend. Bewitched is out on April 18th!

Entertainment:🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿/5
V*olence: 🗡️🗡/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5
K*nk: 🪢🪢/5
Feels: 🎭🎭🎭🎭/5
MMC: 😈😈😈😈/5

I was so incredibly excited to find out I was approved to read this book from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review of the book in exchange. I love Laura's work and both her bargainer series and the four horsemen have been favorites of mine. So to see her dive back into the world of the Bargainer I was excited to see what she had in store for us.

Selene is a witch who's powers take her memories when she uses them. But that doesn't stop her from trying again and again to be accepted into the magical Henbane Coven. But in order to be accepted she must first find herself a familiar, and go on a magical quest. This task has her crash landing in the rainforest of South America and awakening an ancient evil. Only everything isn't as it seems. Memnon, known as Memnon the cursed, thinks Selene is his long lost wife. The same wife who betrayed him and left him bound for two millennia.

On top of that Selene must battle her own inability to remember as witches start showing up as murdered at the school. And with Selene's memories not intact, she is now involved in a dangerous plot that could end up with her being framed for murders she didn't commit. Or did she?

Love, love, loved this book. I can't say enough about how great it was to read and I couldn't put it down. I loved Selene's determination to be great on her own terms without her disability holding her back. If you love Laura's work you will love this one too.

Bewitched is the first book - and the only one published as of yet - in a fantasy series, and is about 20-year old Selene Bowers, who hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. Since one of the requirements for entry is to connect with her powers via a quest through the wilderness, Selene books a trip to South America. When a supernatural force tries to drag her plane from the sky, Selene's magic awakens to save her life―at a cost. Using her powers makes her loose her memories. When Selene braves the jungle and discovers the source of the attack, she finds herself awakening an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes Selene for the long-dead wife, who betrayed him. Selene manages to escape and begin her studies at Henbane, but when Memnon turns up at the coven and witches are found dead across campus, Selene becomes entangled in a dangerous plot. Accused of the murders on the basis of her memory loss, Selene must rely on Memnon's help for answers―and his plans for her will change everything.

So I liked this book, and it really made me realize how lucky I am to have such amazing memories of a life well lived, as a reader, you feel really bad for Selene. However, the bad guy Memnon really bothered me. His way is just one step too psychotic to be charming on any level. So I have a hard time understanding Selene’s low level of resistance to his woes and charms. Of course she does speak up but it just feels a bit too bland. So this made me have a hard time getting into what, in parts, ultimately is a love story. But it is entertaining and I do love a witch themed story!

Laura Thalassa does it again by enticing her readers into beautiful prose writing and emotionally driven characters that you feel for. Such a swoon worthy read for lovers of romantasy!