When we first meet the MC I did find it a little odd as she’s on a little quest but things pick up quick when she gets a panther familiar. I love cats so this was fantastic. When she breaks the curse I was hooked. We then follow Selene to magic school which I’m a big fan of. I really liked how we see her connection to the magic versus the other witches. She felt mature and I connected with her as a character which is something I’ve struggled with when reading the authors other books. This one is by far my favorite. I think the pacing was also very well done because I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where it was headed.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with everything Laura Thalassa releases at this point. She has stellar world and character building skills.

This is so similar to The Bargainer series with the MC doing all the groveling. For all those women who appreciates a good MC betrayal + top MC groveling, this series is for you

LOVVVVEDDD just sadly didn’t hit as much if the first one! but still excited that i got to read this but definitely not as good

What a great start to a new series.
Interesting characters, great storyline, magic and murdery bits.
I liked all of the different components this book had.
I feel like Sybil is a villain and the whole school (and staff) know more than they are letting on. Possibly all out to get Selene. Can`t wait to find out if I`m right!

4 🌟 1-1.5🌶️

Witches. Werewolves. Magic. Memory Loss. Enemies-to-lovers. Mystery.

Before I started this book I was in a reading slump and this totally pulled me out!

This book follows along a witch that has some memory loss and wants to get into this coven of witches. To do that they tell her she needs to go on a quest and to find a familiar. On this quest she ends up waking up an ancient being. The rest is sooo good and you'll have to read to find out!😉

- The spice in this book is great and so is the villain. I mean he is just 🥵.
- The familiar the witch finds is so badass! 😳
- Such an easy book to read!

I loved this book. It had adventure, magic, and spice. I was rooting for memnon, then wanting to throw him across the room. The cliffhanger was torturous!!! I cant wait for book 2

est amage
I really enjoyed this first book in the Bewitched series. Selena made me giggle with her random thoughts that popped into her head from time to time. Memnon is my new favorite bad boy!
I loved the storyline and all the characters.
I’m looking forward to book two, Bespelled, to be released in May 2024. Five Stars!

Bewitched is the first book I’ve read by author Laura Thalassa. I’ve been meaning to try one of her books since I came across them on Goodreads/Amazon. I love Paranormal/Fantasy Romances, and Bewitched was right up my alley. After finishing this book, I need to read the second book, especially since Laura Thalassa left me with a cliffhanger.

Storyline: All the FMC Selene Bowers wants is to be accepted into the Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches, but before they let her in, she’ll need to find her familiar and go on a quest to connect with her powers. She decides to book herself a trip to South America to the jungle, but while on the plane there, a supernatural being tries to gain control of the plane she’s on, and she’s forced to use her powers to save herself and everyone on it. The issue is whenever she uses her powers, she loses her memories. After the plane crashes, Selene braves the jungle and ends up coming face to face with the supernatural being who tried to crash the plane, and she ends up awakening Memnon the Cursed. Memnon is someone who should have never been awakened, especially when he’s determined to prove Selene is his long-dead wife. Not only does she have to deal with Memnon, but after she returns from the jungle, some witches are being murdered on campus, and she knows something sinister is happening.

My Thoughts: This was a great start to the Bewitched series, with some fantastic world-building and a variety of tropes/elements that I love reading in my romance books. Some of those tropes and elements are Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates (possibly), Revenge, and a morally grey MMC, Memnon the Cursed, who I can’t figure out is good or evil, especially with that dang cliffhanger. The FMC, Selene, is a young, spirited, comical witch who definitely has it rough when she tends to lose her memories after using her powers. I felt terrible for her because she just wanted to fit in with the other witches, and some of the witches were downright rude to her. I loved how she handled Memnon, who tended to be everywhere after she awakened him. I’m not sure how to feel about him, especially when I didn’t get his POV in the book, but that’s okay; that just makes him more mysterious. He believes Selene is his long-dead wife, but Selene is not convinced she’s his wife, even though she feels connected to him. Memnon may be a stranger to Selene, but he shows how protective he is of her several times in this book, even if some of that protectiveness is overboard. I’m hoping the next book I get a clearer picture if he’s a good guy or a bad guy because, in this book, I’m not sure.

This book gets four stars from me and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series. I need answers, especially with how everything ended in this book. I’m so glad I picked up Bewitched because now I need to read the rest of this series and check out Laura’s other books.

I enjoyed this book and I will continue on with the series. One thing I am hoping that evolves is Selene's intelligence. Sometimes it felt like she was a weak unintelligent FMC and I know she should be more than that. Major cliffhanger and the spice is spot on. Also, Nero is a great addition to this book.

"All magic comes at a cost. For sorcerers, it’s their conscience. For shape-shifters, it’s their physical form. For me, it’s my memory."

every time I keep telling myself that I will stop starting incomplete series and save myself from the pain of waiting yearly for the rest of the series to release but like the masochist I am I still decided to read this AND I WAS EVEN WARNED ABOUT THE CLIFFHANGER why do I do this to myself😀

THIS BOOK THOUGH. Another case of me having an unhealthy obsession with everything in here and even more concerning with memnon😭 memnon is the literal of definition of "if evil why so hot???" Bye I feel like ive truly gone insane for loving this guy so much but at least selene and I can be insane together!!

anyways selene! I adore this girl SM. She has to deal with memory loss whenever she uses her magic and because of that she has a lot of holes in her mind but the way shes just so optimistic, sweet and determined to not allow this to get in the way of dreams she has and wants!! Selene's pov was SUCH a fun experience and even more so because she's an MC we dont know much abt her past??? I still have so many questions

And theres memnon!! An unhinged manipulative but sweet and romantic sorcerer😭 hes so insane with the things he did but I swear even after everything I adore him... Idk what that says abt me help. but you cant read the healing scene and NOT be affected. Also his endearments for selene were SO SWEET my heart melted into a puddle every time😩

Also memnon and selene are soulmates and it makes their relationship with one another a thousand times more interesting with all the complications they have with one another. They're literally made for each other but also not (yes that's the only way to describe their relationship) AND WITH THAT ENDING I HAVR SO MANY QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED ASAP

The side characters were kinda just there but I dont even care because all I wanted was more of memnon and selene. This almost 500 paged book honestly felt like one of the shortest books I've read it went by so fast?? Towards the end when I checked the page number I was so shocked and sad when I saw I was almost done 😭 this is SUCH a rereadable series and im so addicted. i need book 2 ASAP


Thank you so much SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

Honestly it took a while for me to get into this book, and I don’t like some of the language used. It just gave me an ick. Also, the phrase “I worry my lower lip” was written too many times in the first part of the book, and it became quite annoying after a while. I felt the same about the main character, Selene. She repeats herself a lot in her head (I do get that the memory loss can explain this, but it’s just too much for my taste). I also don’t really need to hear how hot the bad guy is every time she sees him. Even as soulmates she should be able to think around him, right?! I also think Selene seriously needs to grow a backbone. Apparently as long as the guy is hot she can literally ignore that he burned her books, stole her memories, and framed her for murder.

That being said, I did enjoy the book a lot and immediately started the second one upon finishing it. I also want to say that 4 starts is not bad. I liked this book, and it did kind of consume me. However, I just know I will probably never read it again.

As for the action: I was both surprised and not by Memnon’s betrayal when he burned Selene’s books/memories. It felt like they’d come so far at that point and it was just petty of him to do it. And honestly, I hate Memnon. Like with the fire of a thousand burning suns, hate him. There is nothing redeemable about him, and if I was Selene, I would have killed myself instead of agreeing to his terms. That might have been a bit too dramatic, but it was honestly where I thought the story would go. Because there was just no way in my head that she’d agree to his terms. But alas, she does not have the confidence to do anything other than be his doormat. So I’m just annoyed with her, especially that she agreed to marry him?! I get he’s her soulmate, but I was desperately looking for a different ending.

My favourite character by far is Nero, Selene’s panther familiar. I wish we could have gotten to know him even better, and I hope we will. I also like Sybil, the best friend. And I much prefer Kane, the lycanthrope/werewolf as her love interest, as he seems like a genuinely good guy.

As for spice: there is some, but most of it is in Selene’s dreams (which we later learn is something Memnon puts in her head when she’s sleeping. Another reason why I don’t like him).

The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m very happy that I also got an ARC of the second book in the series. I don’t know if anything will ever cure the rage I have against Memnon though. But I’m excited to see where the story goes, and hope that Selene will evolve into a more likeable character who’s able to stand up for herself in the second book.

This was a pretty fun read. It has a modern setting with witches and familiars. The FMC witch is "special" but not to the typical extent for a romantasy read - I think this is a positive. She felt very relatable and honest - she said what I was thinking often. An alluring soulmate villain!? Yes please. The plot's initial focus is on the FMC applying to a coven, which reads like a witch university, and her general struggles as a 20 year old witch. I feel the series going forward will pivot to a more villain/good guy concept. There are also shapeshifters/lycans in this world but are not a main focus at this time. This tells me that more fantasy aspects are possible and likely.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Thalassa and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this first installment of the Bewitched series that is set in the same world as the Bargainer series.

The characters need more fleshing out and feel like some details may fall into plot holes since writing is a bit scattered but world-building is coming along nicely. Looking forward to more development and hoping for more attention to details in the next one! But 4/5 for action sequences and romance progression, so far!

need a copy for my trophy shelf

The mummy meets practical magic meets twilight. Modern witch society in California? Sold. Love it. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ literally canNOT wait for the next book omg! What has she done??

This book was a let down. I've tried two series so far by this author and I wasn't a huge fan of either of them. This one wasnt any different. I was hoping that it would be more interesting power dynamics with her losing memories for the sack of using power but it ended up being more annoying than anything. Plot wise the book was predictable. I had no clue why she would let someone be free that was cursed and had all those warnings. It wasn't being brave it was being stupid. It was very convenient that she was able to also get a bad ass familiar the way she did. I didn't care for the romance either and hated how they treated each other.

This was my first Laura Thalassa book! I loved it. It was such an amazing book the way that the world was build. The book was fast paced for me in a good way. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

When witch Selene Bowers has to prove herself to join Henbane Coven, she inadvertently releases Memnon the Cursed from a thousands-year slumber. And Memnon thinks she is his long-lost wife, which he both loves and loathes. Bewitched is a fun adventure with murder, mystery, humor, and a smoldering flirtation with power.
I loved Selene and how relatable she was! Her friendship with BFF Sybil and how she copes with memory loss every time she uses magic are what make her three-dimensional.
Laura Thalassa's writing hooked me in, and now I'm dying to know what happens next!

I absolutely adore Laura Thalassa and have books from her other series. I felt like the beginning was rushed and getting to the awakening of Memnon. However the rest was written and paced perfectly. Ready to read the next one!

<i> I received an arc via Netgalley, and am leaving an honest review about the book. I’m thankful to the publisher and the author for giving me this wonderful opportunity!</i>

I remember starting this book and loving it in the beginning. I mean, c’mon, the premise is just great. A “reincarnation” trope? An FMC who loses her memories when she uses her magic? An MMC whom the FMC had sealed off years ago, who just now got unsealed and planned his revenge?

You’d expect it to be good. And for the most part, it was.

Until it wasn’t.

The FMC, Selene, isn’t just naive, she’s plain stupid, too. So much so that I wonder if her memories aren’t the only thing her magic takes away, but also her IQ. There is genuinely no reason for her to be attracted to the MMC this quickly, even if he’s her lover and she just doesn’t remember him. This case of betrayed body syndrome and Stockholm syndrome is so intense, I just straight up cringe. She lacks self-control, self-awareness, and not to mention, self-respect.

I think there is a fine line between not giving your enemy an inch and using your enemy to your own benefit. The MMC gives the FMC his powers, and yeah, maybe you shouldn’t be giving him an inch, but goddamn use what’s given to you! If his powers are available to you, my god, you need to stop being stubborn because those aren’t “independent girl boss” moments, that is just plain stupidity. There are so many incidents like this that I’m like, be so fucking for real, girl.

I think her having consistent memory loss is such a great idea, because there are instances where Selene realizes she’s said something she doesn’t remember, done something she doesn’t remember, and everything along the lines, and the angst that emerges is so good. She clearly hates having her memories get taken away. It is burdensome to her. But then when the MMC tells her he can bring her memories back, she has this long internal monologue where she’s like “why can’t someone love me for ME? Why do I have to have all my memories for someone to love me? I am who I am because of my memory loss. No, I don’t want my memories back” and it’s honestly the most cringiest shit I’d ever read. While the MMC had his own motives for wanting her to have her memories back, he mostly suggested them because she LAMENTED THEIR LOSS.

Anyway, time for the MMC. Memnon is by far one of the most hateful MMCs I’ve ever had the utmost displeasure of knowing. There are morally gray MMCs who redeem themselves, and then there are MMCs like Memnon, who, with their name alone, should just never be forgiven.

But the poor choice of his name is far from the point, even if it’s a very valid one.

This man torments the FMC. He panders to her when he needs to, and then he switches it around to hurt her (even if it’s not physical). He claims he does so out of vengeance, but at the same time, he also claims to love her and wishes for them to move on once the revenge is completed.

The audacity of this creature astounds me. He is so narcissistic and arrogant that it is INSANE. He burns her notebooks where each and every one of her memories are in (she keeps everything that she believes is important inside of those journals so she can read them to remember a memory she’s lost), ridicules her, and tells her once she reverses the curse, they can just live happily ever after. She begs him to stop and he burns her journals right in front of her face.

Even after all of that, despite the anger and rage, this pitiful FMC <i>still</i> has those very contagious, very lethal cases of Stockholm syndrome and Betrayed Body Syndrome, because he just needs to be in her presence for her to suddenly forget he’s just not a good person or a lover.

Anyway, back to Memnon. Then we find out that he’s the one who’s framed the FMC, thus adding to that guilt and worry and pain the FMC has been going through, and uses all of this to force her into not only breaking the curse, but marrying him, too, this time as Selene instead of who she was before.

And this delusional ass man still has the audacity to say he loves her. The FMC also has no spine, so when she recovers her memories, the first thing she thinks of is Memnom and his “beautiful” love for her—and then without literally NOTHING that shows us why she sealed him off (and instead telling us how he protected her and loved her as Roxilana), she basically says “I have unleashed a monster on this world.”

Like, girl, what?

My god, are these characters beyond insufferable. I know this wouldn’t happen, but I seriously want them to never end up together, because this relationship is abusive, plain and simple. And more importantly, Memnon isn’t even that hot, so it’s not even worth it.

I gave this book two stars for a few reasons.
1. Nero is kinda cute, but I’m also over the whole “familiar/pet accepting the love interest just because he’s the love interest”. Though Nero did slash and wound Memnom at the end, even if it was pages too late.
2. The best friend, Sybil, was ok. I thought she was forgettable as hell, but she was loyal and the kind contemporary romance best friends need to be like, except a lot less forgetful and a lot more involved.
3. The plot was good.

I have just enough interest to read book two, and I’ll probably hate read it, too. This is such a shame, because I really was enjoying the first 50-70% of the book.