I loved Bewitched so much that I literally sat and read it in one sitting! I loved every second of this book and felt so immersed in the story that the ending came much too quickly!! I need more!! Selene and Memnon’s bits of chemistry have me so excited to see how this plays out!

I was obsessed with the themes of colors throughout, it gave me something to really think about it. (This was one of the first books I fully followed through on annotating too 🤣)

This was a great first book to a series that I know will end up being a roller coaster. The setting was great, the characters are likable, and the plot was fast-paced and gripping.

Selene is a 20 year old witch with a bit of a memory problem. She ends up stumbling upon a gorgeous sorcerer who not only is in love with her, but has vowed to enact his revenge upon her. Of course this leaves Selene confused because she has no idea who this guy is and why he keeps on calling her the name of his long dead lover. This leads to some very funny, and slightly traumatic scenes. It also gives us the slowest of slow burns which I loved.

We are kept constantly wondering who this past woman is and how she is connected to Selene, and if her memory loss plays a role in everything going on. While dealing with her overbearing stalker, Selene must also contend with witches at her school going missing and perhaps even being the next target while also deciding how she feels about the sexy werewolf Kane.

Overall, this book was such a fun ride and a great first book to a series I know I will end up loving. Of course we given a cliffhanger and I am so excited for the next book.

Laura Thalassa said that this book took place in the same world as the Bargainer series and I am hoping we catch a glimpse of those characters!

Thank you to Bloom Publishing and Laura Thalassa for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve loved every Laura Thalassa book I’ve read and this one is no exception. The premise of a slightly older (at 20 lol) witch going through an academy to join a coven was refreshing. It gave me vampire diaries vibes meets college in the best way. Although some of the initial scenes in the book were a bit silly, (the whole landing the plane thing) the story continues to develop into a fun read. Memnon has some series groveling to do in the next books. Can’t wait to read what’s next.

“My queen… Find me… Claim me… Save me…”

What a great addition to the Bargainer universe!

It was lovely to fall back in to Laura Thalassa’s effortless and engaging writing style, Selene’s inner dialogues are just as charming and funny as Callie’s. And the shades of grey to our morally grey MMC, Memnon, are truly impressive by the end of this first book—I can’t tell if I want them to be together or if someone needs to junk punch him (maybe both?). This was like some Shutter Island level plot twisting.

As someone who works with languages I felt especially enthralled with the inclusion of the ancient Sarmatians as a major part of this story. While I understand that the language used in the story to represent Sarmatian I appreciate the research that clearly went in to developing the linguistic and cultural framework in its support of the plot and our understanding of the characters. Code switching in this sense is often glossed over in fantasy or romantasy books but it was well done here in a way that added to the story.

I also wanted to give props to the author for writing a character who causally uses “they” as their primary pronoun without preamble or explanation. Readers seeing folks living their lives in media using “they” helps to normalize and destigmatize and I appreciate it!

Can’t wait to see how this story turns out!

This was great, but ahhhhh, I am dying with this cliffhanger! I thought this concept was really unique, and as a doc who works with memory disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s) I found it particularly thought provoking. I also loved the tie in with nomadic cultures who have been all but lost to time due to the lack of written records. Overall, I thought the book was well executed and had great pacing. It kept me engaged from page one, but then I’ve come to expect no less from this author. The world building was great and the incorporation of multiple supernatural communities was seamless. I enjoyed both Selene and Memnon, but their relationship is A LOT. Whew. Glad I don’t have to give them couples therapy is all I can say! I can’t wait to see where the story goes in Bespelled.

A big thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

“Why must everything come back to my memory loss? Why must others think fixing it is what I want most? Or that the loss of my memories is the sum of my identity? Why must they make me feel as though I am not enough as I am? Why can’t they see that my ambition, my heart, my fucking optimism - all the best parts of me - have been borne and shaped by my memory loss?”

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this book!

Wowowow I loved this book and I am so happy the second one comes out soon because I am going to miss Selene starting yesterday LOL. Selene is now one of my favorite FMCs. She’s funny, empathetic, determined, and as she points out, so much more than her memory loss!! I am a big proponent of the belief that people are not their diagnoses, diseases, disabilities, etc. So many abled individuals hold this pitying view of people with disabilities or disorders that emphasizes their limitations and diminishes their autonomy, and I love that Laura emphasized the exact opposite. Despite the origin of Selene’s memory loss, this acknowledgement is still so appreciated.

I was beyond excited to meet Nero - what a unique and badass familiar!! His attitude makes me giggle because it’s so on point, but I love how affectionate he can be as well.

The magic system in this book is so interesting. I love witchy stuff so learning how it worked in this world was fun! I enjoyed that even though this was set in the same universe as Rhapsodic, the magic system and types of supernaturals were not repetitive - it’s exciting learning new things about a universe you’re returning to.

Okay, now for Memnon - I don’t think I’ve ever been so genuinely angry at a MMC!!! Usually authors do a pretty good job at making me think “oh well that was messed up, but it’s fine because of this and this and this reason” and I’ll be swooning again in 5 mins. CHAPTER 37 STRESSED ME OUT, OKAY??? Laura, why’d you have to do Selene (me) like that 😭 he’s gonna have to do some work in book 2 to gain my forgiveness because he was ruthless at the end.

Anyway, I can’t wait to find out more about stuff!!! (cant spoil) in book 2. I hope you guys add this to your TBR. I was immediately intrigued and did not want to put this book down!

I absolutely adore Laura Thalassa's Barainer series, so I was excited to check out her newest work.

This story takes place in the modern world - but a modern world that doesn't just have planes and cell phones, but also shifter, witches, and magic! In most fantasy novels, the "cost" of using magic is generally just energy. The more you use, the quicker you tire. But for Selene, Thalassa's FMC, that price also includes her memories. I thought that was a unique twist! It's not just mentioned in passing, either. Thalassa does a great job of describing just how Selene's life is different from your everyday magic user as a result of her "bad memory," as well as exploring how exactly she feels about how she's treated as a result.

The story is quick and fun. Sometimes a little too quick (i.e. she finds out she needs to complete a quest and then selects one and completes it a few short pages later), but still fun. And there's plenty of spice - actual and imagined.

My one hang up is the MMC, Memnon. It's hard to say how exactly I feel about him and his relationship with Selene without knowing how the rest of the story is supposed to go. If he's ultimately a bad guy that Selene needs to defeat, then she's on the right track - because I definitely want him dead (or, at least, back in his tomb). If he's supposed to be Selene's happily-ever-after, then it's not gonna work for me. He's done too many things that are heinous and down-right cruel, and I don't really feel like there's anyway to really redeem him to the reader. So, I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens in the next books before deciding how I feel about Memnon.

Is this book as great as The Bargainer series? No. But it's still a fun and enjoyable read.

"Bewitched" by Laura Thalassa caught my attention with its premise - a young witch who loses memories whenever she uses her magic awakens a centuries old sorceror who is convinced she is his mate. Much of the premise's promise came through. FMC Selene is a quirky character with a big heart who wants to continue her magical training, even knowing the cost. She obsessively tracks her life on sticky notes and in notebooks, never knowing what memories her magic will take. To get into Henbane Coven, she must undertake a serious magic quest, which leads her to be on a plane to South America, during which an unfamiliar magic calls to her - and tries to bring down the plane.

MMC Memnon trying to crash Selene's plane pretty much sets the tone for their relationship. "Bewitched" is (IMO) a borderline bully romance. Memnon and Selene have amazing chemistry but there is also often dubious consent when they are getting physical. He does a number of cruel things to force her to acquiesce to his will. The ending, especially, shows how closely love and hate seem to be intertwined for him. Selene is soft hearted but also strong and a bit stubborn and believes that she is who she is because of her memory losses, not in spite of them. Memnon does not seem to understand or agree, Selene struggles with wanting Memnon, who is apparently her soul mate, and hating the things he is doing.

I read this book in one sitting, and will definitely pick up the next one in the series. The push and pull between Memnon and Selene pulled me in, and especially given what happens in the cliffhanger ending, I want to know how things progress. 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary ebook. These opinions are my own.

Bewitched is a fun and enthralling read about a young witch and her mysterious connection to a dark sorcerer, the only problem is that she can't remember him at all.

Selene Bowers wants nothing more than to attend Henbane Coven and be accepted into the school for witches. Unfortunately, the cost of her magic is lost memories, which the coven leaders see as a liability and concern for her acceptance. When they suggest she try to go on a magical quest and find a familiar to boost her chances, she travels to South America hopeful she can undertake the quest. But when a mysterious voice calls her to an ancient tomb, she accidentally awakes a powerful sorcerer, Memnon, who mistakes Selene for his wife who imprisoned him in a magical sleep for thousands of years. Memnon is determined to get his wife back, and also exact vengeance for his imprisonment. Selene knows she's never met this man before, but is drawn to him nonetheless. But when a series of young witches are murdered near Henbane, Selene is worried she might be connected to the deaths, or that Memnon might. The only problem is she can't remember.

I really enjoyed Bewitched. I have had several books by this author on my TBR, but this was the first from her that I have had an opportunity to read. It was a quick and fun read. The writing style is simple, not overly complicated, and conversational in style. This made it an easy read and tough to put down. The story moves quickly, with lots of action and some romantic scenes as well. We have multiple mysteries to follow - the issue with Memnon and his unexplainable connection to Selene, and the murders happening around the coven. Selene's lost memories are also challenging, as she is the narrator but also can't recall all the events in her past. Memnon is an interesting character, and I can't wait to learn more about him. A magical warrior king from the past who adored his wife and literally took out an entire nation just so she could have a beach house?! This book had me laughing and swooning, and definitely wanting to find out more about Selene and her past. Th book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am desperately looking forward to the next book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the electronic copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

5/5

Such a fresh, exciting and intriguing read. I was in a MAJOR book slump prior to this read. This book is great blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery. Well paced and good plot development. Looking forward to the next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa is absolutely beautiful!

I loved the story and I am so happy to be back in the world where Rhapsodic has taken place. I definitely know that I need to read the Unearthly series (they're not connected but in the same world).

I love the story of Selene and Memnon and I cannot believe it took me this long to read it but I'm also kinda glad it did because I received an eARC from NetGalley for Bespelled so I get to dive right into it now.

The world building can be a little confusing in the beginning but from already reading The Bargainer series which I felt like there was a lot of world building I understood the world pretty well but I think it might be a little confusing for others. However, it does explain things later on as the story unfolds.

The story itself is amazing and I literally could not put the book and I can't wait to read the second book. I'm very excited to see where the story goes with Selene and Memnon. I was also completely thrown by the plot twist.

I also love Laura Thalassa's work and I actually enjoyed this book more than Rhapsodic (I still did really like Rhapsodic) and I still am obsessed with the Four Horsemen series.

Content:
✨Touch Her and Die (even if she's not being harmed)
🔥Possessive MMC
✨MMC Vows Revenge Against FMC
🔥Ancient Curse
✨Enemies to Lovers
🔥Coven/Campus Setting
✨Magic
🔥Soul Mates
✨Mysterious Deaths and Disappearances
🔥Spicyyyy
✨Witches, Sorcerers, Werewolves, & More

So first off I just want to state that almost anything you pick up from this author will be amazing. I loved The Bargainer series as well as The Four Horsemen so ofcourse I immediately scooped this up when I had the chance. Selene is a witch who loses memories every time she uses magic. My first thought is cool, I’ve read a lot of fantasy books and this isn’t something I’ve run into so points for originality. I don’t want to give too much of the book away because hellooo, you NEED to read it for yourself but I will say I am sooooooooooooooooo impatient so I dislike when there are mysteries dragged out for multiple books. I wish that we got more info instead of the teeny tiny breadcrumbs that we do. I am not so patiently waiting for book two and I’m telling you all now if you haven’t already read this, go now!

This book had me intrigued from the start. The world building is excellent and I couldn’t stop reading it. The characters are fascinating, and the plot keeps you turning pages at a furious pace. It’s dark yet delightful at the same time I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

I’ve been debating whether I should give this one 3 or 4 stars, but I think I’m going to leave it at 3 stars. Laura Thalassa is one of my all time favorite authors and I expected a lot more from this book.

she is my go-to author for villain LIs, because I think she manages to make them quite evil but with enough redeemable qualities to be endearing. this time, however, I simply got annoyed with Memnon and just didn’t agree with his actions at all. there’s also such an abrupt switch with him - for about 85% of the book he is attentive and caring, and then he does a 180.

as for Selene, I enjoyed her character a lot, and I appreciated how organised and self-sufficient she was despite her use of magic resulting in memory loss. I think she carries the book, tbh.

hopefully things turn around in the second book of this series.

Title:Bewitched By Laura Thalassa

Release date: April, 18th, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

At the age of twenty, Selene Bowers is determined to gain acceptance into the prestigious Henbane Coven, an academy renowned for training young witches. In order to prove herself worthy, she embarks on a challenging quest into the wilderness of South America to unlock her magical abilities. However, her journey takes a dangerous turn when she is confronted by a malevolent supernatural force that threatens her life.

In a desperate bid to survive, Selene's dormant magical powers awaken, but each use comes at a cost – her memories begin to vanish.
As Selene delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the attack, she unwittingly awakens an ancient evil known as Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes her for his long-lost wife. Despite escaping the encounter, Selene's troubles follow her to Henbane Coven, where Memnon reemerges and a series of murders rock the campus.

With her memory loss casting suspicion upon her, Selene finds herself in a precarious situation. Reluctantly, she seeks help from Memnon, but his true intentions pose a threat not only to Selene but to the world.

"Bewitched" by Laura Thalassa is a captivating tale that weaves together magic, mystery, and romance.

Thalassa weaves a delightful romance between Selene and Memnon, adding an extra layer of excitement to the narrative. As their relationship unfolds, readers are swept away by the passion and longing that fills the pages. Thalassa adeptly explores themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption, crafting a captivating tale where magic and desire intersect in surprising and intricate ways.

A captivating kickoff to an exciting series, this book had me hooked from the get-go! With its fresh and intriguing concept, I was completely drawn into the story right from the start, eagerly devouring every page until the very end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes & what to expect:
- enemies to (sort of?) lovers
- touch her and I’ll kill you
- soul mates
- amnesia

Bewitched is set in the same world as The Bargainer series (first book is Rhapsodic and yes you should definitely read it if you haven’t already) but follows a new set of characters. The main character, Selene, is a witch who loses memories when using magic and she is intent on joining Henbane Coven. Only problem is, they don’t really want her there so in order to get accepted, she has to complete a crazy quest and find her familiar (which is kinda like her witchy BFF animal). Selene, being the badass that she is, picks the hardest possible quest she can think of and crushes it! Unfortunately, she also ends up freeing a super hot, entombed evil warlord god named Memnon who believes her to be his long-lost wife who happened to curse him two thousand years ago. NBD right? When multiple witches from the Coven are found dead, Selene finds herself at the heart of an investigation while also getting closer to Memnon who btw is hellbent on getting revenge on “his wife”.

I just love Laura’s writing and how it draws you in from page one and keeps you immersed in the story so easily. Selene was such a relatable and fun character and it was so interesting to follow her journey and her struggles, especially with the amnesia thing. Memnon was an immediate yes for me and I’m excited to read more about him and see his character fleshed out a little more in the next books. The tension between them was sizzling hot and I can’t wait to see where their relationship goes.

This was so good. I enjoyed the fuck out of it from beginning to end. Laura created a really cool world to dive into, I loved the thematics, I loved the worldbuilding, the romance, the enemies to lovers that was really enemying, the writing, the mystery, I am DYING to get the second book.

This was a very fast paced book that kept me totally captured. I could hardly put this book down! I absolutely loved Memnon’s character, and found him so sweet and romantic (most of the time).

This book is what I consider slow burn, but with factors added in to give a little spice and keep things interesting, which I really loved and thought was well done.

At the end of book one I still have LOTS of question and not many answers. I wish I had a few more answers at this point but I’m highly motivated to keep reading.

Overall I really enjoyed this book!

Wow this review is late.

I have tried to pick this one up several times. And it really just doesn't have the spirit that some of Laura Thalassa's other series do.
It has failed time and time again to hold my attention.
This one was just a miss for me.

I have read her books before, so I had high expectations for this book. And unfortunately, this book wasn’t it. I didn’t connect with the characters or the plot. And it just felt flat. The whole story felt flat.