The cover for Bewitched is just as amazing as Laura Thalassa's writing(I still can't get over how gorgeous it is) and I totally squealed when I got the ARC 😍😆 I'd been looking forward to reading this one from the time the blurb was revealed and I finished reading it within a few hours of starting it - couldn't pull myself away!❣️

So, we have Selene Bowers, who has tried to join the Henbane Coven multiple times but always ends up getting rejected - mainly because of the fact that she loses her memory every time she uses magic 😵 Poor girl literally needs a journal to keep her life on track because she doesn't know which memory she'll lose everytime her magic is used. That doesn't stop her from wanting to prove herself though! So when her latest attempt to join ends up with a suggestion to go on a magical quest and get a familiar at the same time, she's determined to do it. And that's how she ends up going on a trip to South America(she doesn't remember booking it though🤣) and not only does she try to save her plane that's about to crash because of a mysterious force, she also ends up awakening an ancient being who's been cursed. And he thinks she's his wife 👀
And like that's not enough, when she comes back, a bunch of murders in and around the campus put her in a difficult situation especially when she ends up getting accused because of the gaps in her memory.

I loved everything about this one especially the protagonist - Selene who is tough, witty and determined. She doesn't let her situation bring her down but always tries to find a way around it. The love interest - Memnon is an anti-hero and I can't wait to find out more about him and their shared history! This had the perfect mix of darkness, magic and romantic tension! I feel like we've just scratched the surface here when it comes to certain things and I need more!😍 No spoilers, but this one ends on a cliffy and I'm dying to get my hands on book 2!
This one comes out on 4/18!❣️✨

P.S. If you've been a long time fan of Laura Thalassa's books like me then you'll understand what I mean when I say that this has The Queen Of All That Dies vibes but with the magic of the Bargainer world!❣️✨

Omg I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this - I’m pretty sure it’s the fastest I’ve read an arc in a long time. The story had me gripped from the start.

I love Selene and the relationship she has with Memon as she battles to remember and regain her memories which she loses little by little every time she uses her magic. I now need the next book as the cliffhanger it’s left on has me wanting to know the rest of the story.

The world building and character development is brilliant and I found myself immersed in the coven life and all the things Selene went through to get there.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom books and especially the author Laura Thalassa for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ahead if it’s release.

The story is captivating in a lot of ways, but there are also moments of shock, disgust, and predictability in this book. This is a dark paranormal romance story that revolves around Selene and Memnon and their thirst for revenge for each other.

There is only little plot, but it still somehow snagged my interest. There are action scenes, which are explosive and mindblowing since they are vividly written. The deceit in this book was galling to the point it's uncertain what move will be pulled next by who.

The book has these tropes:
Enemies to lovers to enemies
"Who did this to you?"
"Touch her and you die."
Tending to wounds
Close proximity

And yes, it's spicy at just 20% (I think?)

I didn’t connect at all with the story neither the characters. I’m so disappointed since I’m a big fan of the author and had loved her other fantasy series therefore I had high expectations from this book.

What a great story : a thousands year old mage, a young witch and ancient cursed magic! All I need to spend a nice time reading it! The characters are so well (and coherently) described that I have a pretty good idea of who they are and I enjoyed the originality of their stories. I would gladly jump in book 2 if it's ever written ;-)

I love everything Laura writes and this was everything I was hoping for! It's set in the same world as the Bargainer series but focuses on witches instead! I loved the unique magic system! Our main Witch has such a glass half full, loving personality that you can't help but cheer her on! The love interest is delicious and dangerous. I will be sending Laura my therapy bills waiting for the sequel!!! 5/5 stars- easy!

One day, my husband asked me who my favorite author was.

That’s a really tough one to answer so I instead told him that I have never read a book by Laura Thalassa that I didn’t love!

And after reading Bewitched, nothing has changed!

I adore the characters Laura creates, I could see a lot of Serenity in Selene - with her strong attitude and immediate dislike of our new main man, Memnon. Memnon is dark, dangerous, and my new obsession.

Selene is a witch desperately trying to get into San Francisco’s most esteemed coven. Like a college for witches. One problem, her magic feeds on her memories so she often misses appointments, and fails to meet coven requirements. One such requirement leads to Selene getting on a plane that crashes where she is drawn to a sleeping Memnon and unwillingly awakens him.

Memnon stalks her back to the states and continually shows up unannounced proclaiming her his long lost wife and mate. Selene has no time for this, she has classes to attend… money to make… thats when the murders start..

Very anxious to see what happens in book 2 after that ending! I have no idea what Memnon’s end game is, but I’m so very excited to find out!

Thanks to netgalley, bloombooks, source books, and Laura Thalassa for the ARC of my most anticipated read of the year!!

4.5 stars! Talk about being Bewitched! I was enthralled by this book filled with mystery, suspense, action, and spice from the very beginning. Not to mention, I love Laura's writing style. She weaves an easy to read story with a perfect pace and an intriguing plot. I read this within a day if that says anything.

The events that occur and the mystery surrounding Selene and Memnon keep you turning pages. Selene is a relatable, loveable FMC, whereas Memnon is a possessive, morally gray MMC. The two are soul-mates with a bond spanning centuries, but Selene doesn't remember, and Memnon is enraged after being entombed by her for so long. Their relationship is tense as they fight wanting and hating each other. Why can't Selene remember, and what would've driven a soul-mate to place such a curse the other? If Memnon was truly villainous, what has Selene unknowingly unleashed upon the world? There's definitely a lot more to this book.

I'll say, Memnon is a straight-up enigma. He's like a green sour-patch kid. First, he's hateful, then he's sweet and finally leaves a bad taste in your mouth. (Sorry to those of you that like the lime flavor 🤷‍♀️ lol). I'm not a huge fan of Memnon after that helluva cliffhanger. He's got some real groveling to do if he's going to redeem himself. I'm really curious to see how the next book pans out!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & Laura for the ARC!

Laura Thalassa's writing is so captivating - Bewitched was such a fun read that was hard to put down, we continue to learn new and exciting information that keeps you turning the page to figure out how things turn out. It was hard to find a place to pause because this book is fast-paced & packed with action, there's one thing after another!

We follow Selene Bowers, a 20-year-old witch trying desperately to be accepted by the coven...however, her magic isn't always reliable. The more she uses it, the less she remembers. Selene goes on an adventure to South America to try to find a familiar - she gets more than she bargained for. She finds a panther named Nero who she creates a bond with.... but she also finds Menmon.. a sorcerer who is convinced that Selene is his long lost love who has done him wrong.

Selene makes it back to the USA with Nero, and Menmon tracks them both down. While this is happening, there are some sketchy murders going on that has a lot of suspicion arising.

I love Selene as a character, she's witty and interesting. She isn't a damsel in distress, she puts up a fight, sometimes to her own detriment. Following her journey is a real treat, and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next books!

I would highly recommend this book to people who are into witchy books with some spice! This book is a lot of fun - can't think of a dull moment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Laura Thalassa is an incredible writer and I can't wait to devour more of her literature.

This was my first Laura Thalassa novel and after reading this I am really sad I didn't move her other books higher up on my TBR because her writing style is really lovely.

Bewitched follows the story of Selene, a witch whose biggest goal is to join a coven and learn as much as she can despite the fact that using her magic steals her memories. Selene is kind of a badass. She's hyper-organized to accommodate how her magic functions and she never behaves as though what she deals with is a hindrance. She is smart, funny, and very relatable.

I did find myself somewhat frustrated with Memnon. He was so persistent and at times it bordered on obnoxious. He was not yet a book boyfriend I feel is swoon-worthy, perhaps that will change in the upcoming books as we learn more about the back story between him and Selene.

But overall, the plot was well paced and I felt this was a. really fun read. It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger and I usually find myself ruffled when a story ends that way, but that wasn't the case with Bewitched. Instead I left this book feeling sad that I would have to wait patiently for the next installment to see how Selene faces what lay ahead for her.

I also have to note, Nero. Precious, perfect Nero.

Tropes: Soulmates/mates, possessive MMCs, spice, enemies to lovers, and witches

I fell in love with Laura’s writing in The Bargainer, and it was so amazing to be welcomed back into this world and her creative and atmospheric writing.

Bewitched is an intriguing story and has a fantastic unreliable narrator due to memory issues. This gave the entire story an extra air of mystery and had me absolutely scrambling to read and unravel secrets. The romance was delicious to watch unfold, and the tension was so ridiculously hot.

This has….
- dark
- spicy
- enemies-to-lovers
- possessive soulmates
- magic
- witches
… and needs to go straight on your TBR.

Special shoutout to Nero – the greatest familiar a witch could ask for.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

5/5

OMG. LAURA THALASSA HAS DONE IT ONCE AGAIN. I read her bargainer series last summer and absolutely adored it. This? This was just as good, if not better. I know.
The world of the witches is exquisitely crafted, with such vivid spells and magic described. I loved all of the coven setting vibes!!
SELENE. LOVE OF MY LIFE. She is SUCH an amazing MC!!! Her sense of humour is amazing, she feels so realistic, and she’s just …. so lovable. I cannot say enough times how fun her POV is!! Seriously, her character is relatable in a way I find is so hard to see in romance fantasy books these days.
AND MEMNON?! okay. So yes he is a bit crazy and definitely out of his mind BUT. BUT. He is hot as hell. Seriously. His character is so fucking intriguing, and I am dying to know exactly what he’s done in the past. Although to be fair if a guy did half the stuff he did to Selene in real life I’d hate him with a passion like she did, but there was something so romantic about him as well. His endearments for Selene??? The scene where he heals her?? Take my heart. Make of that what you will !
The romance. Oh my god. This is the perfect ‘I don’t want to love you but I do’ romance. The push and pull of Selene and Memnon is SO compelling and intriguing to read about. The fact that they’re soulmates just adds more layers and depths to their relationship. I wanted them to get together and also never see each other again - it’s such an interesting dynamic. I am so excited for more layers to be peeled back in this series!!
The plot? Is so so good. Laura manages to bewitch readers with this book. Yes see what I did there. 😁 But this book is so well plotted. Heavy on the romance and character relationships, but still heavy on the mystery; the two components are blended with such craft.
I read this in one sitting. It was impossible to put down. I am dying and on the edge of my seat for the sequel and best believe I will be one of the very first to read it if I can!! I am beyond excited to see what happens to Selene and Memnon next - and THAT ENDING??? I am dying of anticipation. I know Laura will deliver a stellar sequel, and I cannot recommend this book enough!!

Outstanding. What I just finished is a work of art!! Laura based this off real history and made it her own. I'm blown away truly. The intro is special. I yearned for this king to be set free. Idk who he was but I felt bad for him. Selene was a rare witch who I definitely was curious about, and still curious. Her existence is tricky to me. She is a young girl who is in a sense looked down upon because she loses memories. Her BFF Sybil is amazing and I grew to love her but I'm on the fence with her weirdly for my own personal reasons. You decide for yourself when you finally read this gem. The plot thickens and thickens and just never stops thickening. I love it. I have so many unanswered questions. I'm sad I got an ARC from Netgalley because I'm that much farther away from book 2. I have no idea how fast Laura writes, but no matter I will be anxiously waiting. Alot happens in this book. I don't want to give away any spoilers because it is that good!!!!! Everything and every single detail feels like it really matters. I laughed. I got angry at all the characters. I feel bad for all the characters. I feel bad for Laura. I'm jealous of Laura. 🤣 I love the cliffhanger it ends on. I just love love love it. Oh yeah ! I'm super happy about that fact it's filled with happy time FOR Selene's pleasure. Down south. I've always wanted that to be mentioned more and I got it from this book! That's the perfect spicy for me. 🥰

Thalassa kills it in Bewitched, a beautifully written story of magic, witches, and soul mates (and spice). 😉 The MC is wonderfully intricate and likeable, and with her memory issues comes one of the best aspects of any book—an unreliable narrator. Equal parts mystery and fantasy, Bewitched was a book I couldn't put down, continuously developing more addictive story telling as the book went on, leaving you anxious to find out what happens next.

*Thank you to Bloom Books, Laura Thalassa and Netgalley to providing me with an E-ARC of "Bewitched" in exchange for an honest review *

I found this a tad difficult to get into, but it may be just a me thing. The mc forgetting her memory made it hard to follow. But I'm sure other fans of Fantasy Romance will love this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Laura Thalassa for providing me with the ARC! I DEVOURED this book 🥰

Excerpt of my goodreads review:
AAAAAAAH! I'm done! 😭 It's so good, I can't deal sh*t right now! My thoughts and feelings are all over the place and I feel absolutely, devastatingly heartbroken 💔 And the worst part is??? One year till the next book 😭😭😭 F*CK but this hurts. Laura, what have you done?? You malicious brilliant woman, you!!!

Now a more streamlined review:
I loved it!! As always, the characters were unique and I could immediately sympathise with them. The MMC Memnon was haaawt 🥵 and their chemistry lit 🤌 The story was predictable but amazingly written and sucked you in right from page 1. And although it WAS predictable, it still hurt like a m*****f****er. 😭 I'm really excited what Laura will have in store for us in book 2!! A great start for her new series. 🥰

Bewitched
By Laura Thalassa
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Oh my goodness. I’ll be honest - I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. I absolutely LOVED it. And now I have to wait a long time (maybe the author will take pity on me and write the 2nd one quickly??) for the next book! I chose this one on NetGalley because I thought the description sounded interesting - and it exceeded my expectations!

Selene is a 20-year-old witch who is trying to join a coven/witch school. The problem? When she uses her magic, she loses some memories. Due to this, the coven has not allowed her to join, despite multiple applications and interviews. In her last interview, she is told she will be admitted if she can find her familiar and go on a nature adventure. Determined, Selene books a trip to the Galápagos Islands.

On the way, she ends up meeting her familiar and being called by magic to an ancient tomb. There, she is drawn to awaken an ancient, warrior, sorcerer king, Memnon the Cursed. Memnon awakens…and thinks Selene is his queen and mate…and that she was the one who cursed him in the first place.

Selene escapes with her familiar and makes it back to the US. There she is admitted into the coven. But someone’s killing witches in the coven and Selene’s memories are still disappearing with her use of magic. And Memnon has found her.

I flew through this book and didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend this book. Will definitely read it again before the second one is released!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This book kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The writing was not amazing, but had me laughing at points and kept me interested in the storyline. This was also an easy read that I was able to finish in one sitting.

The romance aspect of this book felt very forced at times. The main characters are mates, which explains that pull to each other, but I felt this storyline could have been developed better to help the reader see at least some glimmer of the old connection they once had. Instead, we saw one mate that couldn’t explain her (purely sexual, not emotional) pull to her mate, and a mate who wishes to cause harm and flips between seeming understanding of her situation and wanting to make her suffer. I hope book 2 goes more in depth about their past so that the reader has more insight into why these characters behave the way they do.

The magic system was fun, albeit simple. Some of the spells were overly simple, but made sense if you placed yourself into the shoes of a witch who is learning how to handle her powers. I loved the premise of magic feeding on memories as well.

This ARC was given to me by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3 ⭐

This is one of those books in which I would have PREFERRED for the main character to not fall in love/end up with with the male protagonist. I always felt discomfort whenever he was mentioned/appeared. I didn't find him appealing and it felt forced.

I loved that glimpse of world building and I truly loved all the idea of loosing memories if using magic, unfortunately it felt like it needed to be more.

Thanks Netgalley and Bloom for this ARC.
I have to admit that I was scared to write this review when I first started it. The book didn’t start of too great in my opinion. And I don’t mean the story line.
I know Laura writes fantasy in a modern language but it really bugged me in the beginning. However, as the story grew and continued, I kind of fell in love with the story. (Still not the language)
Therefor I rate this 3,5/5.
Okay, so we have a witch, we have werewolves, mages, and a big ass demon who’s feisty. I like the way that magic / supernatural beings has been implemented in modern day to day life, which is something Laura excels at.
We follow Selene who suffers memory loss because of her magic. Because of that memory loss, she might have done a few things she shouldn’t have but can’t remember. It’s an epic love story, for real, that has the dark aspects of magic too.
I loved the characters, they were well written and loveable. There were a few gaps in the book which I hope will be cleared out in book 2. Also, the smut. The smut was great. Thank you