Anything by Laura is an automatic win for me. And this did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley for this wonderful ARC so I could enjoy this a little early.

My head is honestly still spinning. But it is a delightfully spicy, dark and twisty, incredible story that fits all your witchy needs.

It’s so easy to get whisked away into this world and fall in love with Selene’s story. Also, we love a sassy and bad assey female MC.

This was everything I needed. Perfect witchy palate cleanser with lots of happy endings if you get my drift.

I am getting really sick of horrible cliffhangers though.

2.5/5

I just don't think Laura Thalassa's books are for me. I read the whole Bargainer series and while I was reading it I enjoyed it. But the more I thought about it after I was finished, the more issues I had with it. The same thing happened with Betwitched. I'll be honest, I finished this a couple days ago and had to look up what the main character's name was before writing this review. So not great.

To start with a positive: definitely a "no thoughts, head empty" vibe for me while reading. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading, but not something you have to really think about while reading. I felt the same way I do while watching reality shows. I would argue that a lot of romantasy books are the same, and they have their place.

Things I did not like:
-All of the characters, even Selene, fell very very flat for me. I was not really invested in her success or the plot in general at all. There was one moving speech where she talked about how she has grown to love her memory loss and view it as a positive and not something she wants to change. It was a lovely metaphor for loving yourself the way you are, regardless of how society views you. That was the only time I found myself really rooting for her.
-I really do not like using a bunch of modern jargon and slang in a magical setting. It pushes the envelope of magical realism just a touch too far for me. If I heard Selene's friend call her "babe" one more time I was going to throw my Kindle.
-The spice was... A little degrading considering how awful Memnon was? I think him being so horrible was supposed to be part of the draw, but it gave me the ick. The whole villain/bad boy thing can be done in a way that is still (at minimum) palatable, and this wasn't it for me. Respect can still be there, even if the people hate each other. Turns out that's something I need to have the spice be believable/enjoyable. Yes, there were endless proclamations of love from Memnon, but turns out it was even Selene specifically that he loved. Next point explains that in detail if you don't mind spoilers. This was one of the biggest issues I had with the spoiler part.
-SPOILERS HERE IN THIS POINT, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED: the whole "you are actually a reincarnation of the mate of the person you have been falling in love with and/or is your enemy" is probably my least favorite fantasy trope. It doesn't let the main character be their own person making their own choices. The "she couldn't explain the draw she felt to him" or "he felt to familiar to her in a way that she could not explain" paired with suddenly being able to speak an ancient language and not even questioning it, AND getting sudden visions of memories that aren't hers? No. It is painful to see it coming and have the main character, who previously has been a smart person, ignore all of the signs. Let this trope die.
-What is going on with the wolves?? I hope there is a bigger plan for them and this was just laying the groundwork, because they added nothing to the story. They could have been removed completely and I don't think a single thing would have changed.

I won't be continuing on with this series. The best thing I can say about it is it was entertaining in the moment, but that's not enough for me to want to come back.

Bewitched is a beautiful, complex, stunning series opener that explores diverse ways that magic and soulmates can exist in the world. Thalassa's world building is rich and complex without being overwhelming. Selene's character came into her magic with a unique caveat - using her magic causes her to lose her memories. This loss of memory, and in some ways loss of self, helps propel the story and drive her motivation as she works to be accepted into a coven so she can find her place in the supernatural world. Her interactions and relationship with Memnon are intriguing and frustrating. As Memnon upends Selene's carefully crafted world and sends her on a path where she has to confront her lack of memory, deal with other supernatural and navigate a murder investigation, she has to make some difficult choices and put her trust in a man that she really shouldn't.
Overall this was an excellent read and I can't wait to see what happens next in Selene's story.

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa is an amazing beginning to a magical series where we encounter witches, lycanthropes, and sorcerers. Selene, a twenty year old witch, is trying desperately to get accepted into Henbane Coven and after multiple attempts she is given a task to complete to gain entry.

On her way to South America, Selene encounters series of troubles, including Memnon who believes she is his wife from 2,000 years ago. Selene fights against the apparent bond that she has with Memnon while he is, quite frankly, an asshole to her.

The ending left me excited and anxious for the next book in the series! I was not expecting a cliffhanger until I was closer to the end, but then I realized it’s okay because I don’t want this story to end. The magic, the description, the determination that Selene and Memnon each have— it’s beautiful.

I was given an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. I would recommend this book and I cannot wait for book 2!

This was quite a slow start and took me a while to get fully invested in the characters and the plot but when I did, wow I loved it. I really like the idea of reincarnated soulmates and forgotten memories plus the magic is also really original and unique which comes with a "disability" for some witches yet Selene is is continuously a vivacious strong female lead. Also enemies to lovers with spice, do I need to say anymore? I can't wait to read the next instalment I'm desperate to find out what happens next.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for this arc.

3 stars. maaaaybe 3.5.

i applied for this arc mainly because i read laura thalassa's bargainer series, and while i can't remember much about it, i do remember liking it. i think i gave it an overall 4 stars? anyways. i thought this would be on that same level. i was wrong, sadly.

i think i was only about 5% into this story when i first thought, "oh no, what is this", and i can't say i ever really completely stopped thinking this. and while i have to admit the second half was so much better than the first, it really does not make up for that first portion of the book. and it wasn't even really the story itself, not even the plotholes (that ARE there) and the shitty ending (because, and excuse my language, FUCK THAT CLIFFHANGER. i'm not against cliffhangers, but ones that are as bad as this one... i'm sorry. no.)– it was more the usage of language. i feel like at times i was too busy cringing to even try and enjoy this book. and what a shame that is, because the premise!! great!! i should have LOVED this! (and then i didn't. 🥲)

anyways. this book wasn't for me, but maybe YOU can tolerate it. who knows. this could be your new favorite book!! try it!

As a newcomer to Laura Thalassa's work, I can say with certainty I will be digging into her other books while eagerly awaiting for the next entry into the world of Selene and Memnon.

Memory is a tricky thing for most of us, much more so for Selene Bowers, a witch whose power feeds on and destroys her memories at random. When confronted with an ancient sorcerer who claims to be her soulmate - who she apparently locked away 2000 years ago with a curse in a coffin - Selene is faced with a dilemma. Who is she, really?

Thank you to Laura Thalassa, Bloom, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me just start out by thanking the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book early!!

This was an absolute stunner!! Morally Grey villain love, a strong as get out female main character, with a cliffhanger ending that will leave you absolutely feral? That’s exactly what this book is!!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5


I’m gonna be honest with y’all… I don’t even know how to put into words the amount of love I feel for this book! The story, the characters, it was all just so amazing!! Like I literally can’t even believe the ending I just read!? And now knowing I have to wait for book two?! Unbearable!! I mean this story truly has everything!!

I mean this story starts off with a strong female heroine, Selene, our main witch character who handled what could be considered a disability with an amazing optimism! She struggled and had trials and even with her personal struggles,that I won’t spoil here, she overcame and she did it with such grace and strength that readers won’t be able to not fall in love with Selene!! She has fought on off for years to be accepted into a Coven, specifically Henbane Coven, and after years of trying and being rejected they finally give her a shot if she can complete two tasks. And boy are those tasks a dozy, but to fulfill her dream, Selene willingly accepts the challenges that come with these specific tasks, and dives in head first!! This leads us to Memnon, our morally grey (close to pitch black) male lead. And I’ll tell y’all the Gods honest truth… even after all the bad he did, I don’t think I can find it in myself to dislike him. It’s a true struggle of like I know he’s not a good dude… but he may not be the worst either… ugh I’m so torn!! Because Memnon has struggles of his own, betrayal, and unending “sleep”, and a few other struggles. But, rather than handle them with optimism and grace like his opposite Selene, Memnon pretty much lives by the motto of if you have the power then you don’t have to bow down to anyone, or anything. So basically I’ll leave y’all with these words… be a bad dude who has no problem being a bad do, but it’s impossible to hate him!!

Truly this is a book that everyone needs to add to their TBR immediately, because it is simply not a story to be missed!! If you like witches, sorcerers, soul mates, betrayal, curses, murder mystery, fantastic banter, spice and a story that will leave you panting for more this is the story for you!!


HAPPY READING 📖

I discovered Laura Thalassa last year when I fell head over heels for her Four Horsemen series, which was just so brilliant, and truly a breath of fresh air in the romance fantasy market. So I was really excited for Bewitched, hoping it would deliver the same unique, engaging plot, with strong and relatable characters. Unfortunately, this one ended up falling a little flat for me.

Firstly, I thought the writing was excellent. Laura Thalassa has an expert way of writing her romantasy in a voice that is both prosaic, as well as modern and relatable. I find her writing incredibly engaging and easy to read, and I think it is one of her strengths as a writer. I also thought the concept was excellent. It has witches, fated mates, lost royals, a school for witches, and ancient magic - the more I discovered about the concept behind the book, the more excited I got to read it.

Where this book primarily fell flat for me was the plot - not much happens in this book, and it becomes very clear as you read it that it is more of an establishing novel than anything else, and the inconsistent pacing does not assist this feeling. The first few chapters are filled with info-dumping, and everything moves so fast that the reader can barely get their bearings or understand the world or our main character. But from then, the events of the book move very slowly, and I found myself reading several chapters and realising very little had actually happened or changed over the course of them. There are also a lot of unfinished plot points and unanswered questions about the world Selene is moving in, which ties into my next point, about the world-building. Unfortunately, I felt the world-building was rushed and unclear, and it left me wishing there'd been a bit more development so I could get fully immersed in the interesting setting Thalassa was attempting to create.

I was also underwhelmed by the main character, Selene, who I didn't really find to have any distinct personality - which may have been a technique Thalassa employed on the basis of Selene's overall character arc, but ultimately, it just made her an unenjoyable narrator. Memnon was an interesting love interest, and I enjoyed the glimpses we got of the many facets of his personality, but I wished we'd gotten more than mere glimpses, and that he'd been a bit more fleshed out - there was so much potential with his character, and I was frustrated we didn't get to see more, because he ended up coming off as a classic, cardboard-cut-out alpha-male love interest.

In saying that, I thought the romance has a lot of promise, and the last few chapters were undoubtedly the strongest part of the novel. There is so much potential with Memnon and Selene, and I am hoping that subsequent novels will allow for this to be further explored, with the backdrop of a plot with higher stakes and more action.

Ultimately, this is a romantasy that promises a lot, but may underdeliver for fans of Thalassa's previous works. I am curious to see what future books in this series might hold, as I would love to see a deeper exploration and development of the promising ideas and characters touched on in this book.

I am absolutely lost for words. I didn’t think that Laura could top herself from the Raspodic series but she did! Within the first few pages readers are hooked and transported to a fae world, ful of fantasy and romance. It felt like I was reading for 5 minutes and finished the book! Readers will get lost in this story! Ugh, there’s so much I want to gush about but alas I shall hold my tounge. Let’s just say, this is a book you don’t want to miss out reading!

It was sooo good to come back to Laura Thalassa’s universe. In true style Bewitched is rich of plot and steamy. I found myself hooked from the start and while this book is a chunky one, it felt as though I was speeding through it. I had the best time reading and getting to know Selene. I loved how culture rich Bewitched was and how it was developed. I am so excited to know what happens next!

In true Thalasa form, this book will send you on a journey.

When I first started Bewitched it was early evening and I thought I would just try to get to around 20%. Instead I got to 43% and only put it down because I couldn’t keep my eyes open. The next morning I picked it up and read to the end.

In Bewitched, you are transported to the a Fae realm. Let’s just say that the world building is phenomenal and there were times I felt truly transported.

The heroine is losing her memories anytime she uses magic, and how she works around it is amazing. She is plagued by her latest magical experience, an he wants something from her she can’t give.

The only thing to be wary of is the ending because it has a cliffhanger. I’ll I can say is read Bewitched and be prepared for a journey. It’s a great ride.

Bring on book two!

The plot had so many moving parts and the ending completely threw me off. I was so surprised and it made me so much more excited for the next book in the series. I loved the fact that the MC is an unreliable narrator with memory issues. I was engulfed in a world of magic and soul mates. The story is written in a way that it compels you to keep reading.

Thank you netgalley for an arc copy of this book!! I love all things witchy and magical and this book did not disappoint. This book was so good I couldnt put it down!! I had to know what happened and when it happened. This was a different turn on how magic can affect someone and it was so interesting to see. The wording of this book was incredible and left chills on my skin.

This book was very dark, sexy, action-packed, snarky, and humorous at times. The plot itself was good, thinking I had it all figured out only to have a plot twist thrown in and leave me wanting more!

Selene was kind, strong, confident and sure of herself (even with her magic issues). I liked that she still pursued her dreams, no matter what challenges were thrown her way.

Memnon was obstinate, manipulative and completely gone for her. Def some love/hate going on there (for him and Selene as well as me and him throughout the book LOL).

All in all, this was a really good read and I can’t wait to see what else this Laura has up her sleeve!

This was my first Laura Thalassa book and I was surprised at how much I loved it!!

3.5 ⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️
- NA fantasy romance
- enemies to lovers
- who did this to you / touch her and die
- fated mates
- witches, sorcerers, familiars, lycanthropes (werewolves/shifters)

blurb: A young witch must go on a magic quest to enter this coven, but in doing so, she accidentally awakens an ancient being who actually thinks she’s his wife (who also cursed him. 🥵 hello, enemies to lovers. lol) When she returns, a string of mysterious murders of witches happen to occur when Memnon, the ancient sorcerer, follows her back to the coven.

review/random thoughts:
- I actually loved how Selene’s powers were throttled in a unique way. We’ve longed learned that magic comes at a cost, but for Selene that price is her memories. Every time she uses a great amount of magic - she pays that price. I think to me, this made her that much more interesting.

- I am a bit disappointed that we didn’t see more of Kane!! I loved this character a lot and saw HUGE potential for a relationship there. I think Selene’s acceptance of her connection with Memnon was a bit insta-lovey (even with the constant red flags). I wanted there to be more pining and groveling. Even more jealousy! Like Selene girl, pick yourself up and make him work for it!! I actually hate love-triangles, so for me to want this is truly shocking. 😂

- Up until the last 15-20% of the book, I was gearing up to give this a solid 4 ⭐️ rating. However, towards the end and the cliffhanger left me with so many questions and not nearly enough answers. The buildup and pay off was… frustrating. But knowing that this is Book 1 of a trilogy (and novellas in between), I’m a bit more lenient. I have extremely high hopes for the next books and I’m already counting down the days til the next release!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and the author for the ARC!

I have been very much looking forward to Bewitched by Laura Thalassa coming out. Anything to take me back into the Bargainer universe! Now it's not looking like you need to read one series before you can read another (though you very much should) but I did really enjoy the little sprinkle of familiar places.

Bewitched is a fast-paced read that really kept my attention with the magic and lore and of course the hot sexy piece of ancient man meat keeping me interested. The spice level in this book is actually pretty tame but it has definitely set itself up to be very promising in the future. For once I actually enjoyed a rather slow burn start.

Downside to reading a book early however is the ending here felt like we were finally really getting started and now I'm in a desperate need for what happens next. I'll be adding this to my list if recommended reads this year!

4.3 stars!!! Great start to the series. I have to admit this is nothing like I’ve ever read before. This starts out with our heroine trying to get herself into a witch coven, and she accidentally stumbled upon a cursed man that she ends up awakening. This fun filled fantasy is some thing that I feel like many people would enjoy, but I need the second book immediately. This read definitely liens on the Fantasy side, even though it has romantic elements in it. I think the only issue I had with the book itself was the fact that I needed more from the ending. I understand a good cliffhanger, but I felt like I had too many questions that were left unanswered. But overall this was a solid read, and I am excited for the next installment.
A special thank you to NetGalley and Laura Thalassa for my advanced arc.

Okay, so. This book was NOT bad. I just want to make sure that is said before I get into it.

The creativity that is in the book is great. I loved the entire premise of this one. I was here for the magic, great leading characters, and action packed stuff. My main issue was the lack of backstory. I found myself wondering why the MFC wanted to be in the coven at all. Why was it SUCH a big deal to be in this particular coven, ya know? Also, I love a good cliff hanger. But this one stopped so abruptly that I was literally confused.

Overall, I actually did like. There were just a few things that bumped it down some stars for me. I will read the next one though!

Wow, this book was a complete ride. Amazing world building, a whole slew of characters, some of which you don’t know if you love or hate.

There are definitely some twists in this book, and parts that I could not put down. I was glued to the pages. With a little bit of an unreliable narrator this book keeps you on your toes.

This is the first book in the series, and does leave off at a cliffhanger. We have so much more to learn about this world and to untangle all of the mysteries. I can’t wait for the next book!

Selene is a powerful witch and I love how she’s doesn’t let her lost memories hold her back. Memnon, him I’m completely unsure of. The author did a fantastic job of making him horrible and then making me fall a little in love with him (hello villain redemption), but we still don’t have the full story, so I’ll have to revisit my feelings on him once we do.