A book, set in NOLA, with witches, demons, vampires and shifters, what not to love? I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book, only wishing to see more of how the Paranormals interact with humans (we get told a lot of what they do, but there are not really moments where they all come together).

Another point that I really liked was the pace, not too fast or too slow. There was always something happening. Regarding time, one thing I would like to be better, was the timeline. During moments of the story, it was not clear which month we were or how long ago previous events had happened.

Overall, I really like the story, the characters, and from what I understood how the series might evolve (each sister getting her own book).

If you are looking for fun, with good spice (but not being the only thing in the book), and enough plot that is not just about the love relationship between the MCs, this is a good book to add to your TBR!

What kind of genre is this? It has definitely a murder mystery in it. But its also a romance (with some spice!). But it is also kind of a coming of age story. So let’s call it a spicy, romantic murder mystery with a strong coming-of-age trope. And although I am not really a romance reader, and I am not that much into the whole plethora of fantasy beasts (Fae, vampires, werewolfes, demons, witches… I mean they are all intriuging in itself, but all of them together at once?) I fairly enjoyed this one! I got this one as an ARC and I can say I am very thankful for getting this.

We follow our two main characters Ember and Killian. Ember is a young witch, living with her three sisters in their deceased parents house and trying to cope with her loss in the most unhealthiest of ways (drugs, sex and partying basically). Since the violent death of her parents she is also not able to access her magic properly, a problem which she tries to avoid more than solve. One day she meets Killian, a demon from hell, who has to deal with his own hurt and grief and who seems to equally hate and desire Ember. Feelings Ember returns. Their relationship towards each other becomes more intense and complicated when murders are happening to supernatural beings in the town and they decide to find the murderer together.

As stated above I am not the biggest fan of romance so far. I really decided to give romances a try this year, because I always want to keep an open mind and give the opportunity for changing my mind (If you want to see me explore more of the romance world this year, you can subscribe down below to be notified when I post a new blog article). And hey, you never know, maybe romance is totally my thing and i just didn’t get that so far. And I have to say this book did a good job regarding that already. Ok, I have to admit, the spicy parts were a big leap for a newcomer romance reader as me, but I do think that a lot of people will really enjoy this. I also was pleasantly surprised that although the whole dominant male thing was executed here, there was an emphasis on consent, which is more than I found in some other books and which I really appreciate (because really: if this consent is not given we are basically witnessing an assault and I am not up for that!). The romance part was personally more to my liking and far more easier to get into for someone like me not used to this kind of content. I found the relationship development quite realistic (given the specific circumstances I will not discuss to not give any spoilers) and I was really interested in knowing what would happen next.

The characters in itself were quite likeable. I do enjoy an anti-hero and Ember and Killian both fall at least slightly in this category. Although not really anti-heroes, they are still quite troubled and traumatized and don’t always act in the icest and most considerate way regarding others in their lifes. The character development based on those grounds was quite satisfactory therefore, as there was a lot of room to grow. The character growth was maybe a little hasty at the end, but still ok for the genre we are speaking of (not expecting it to be super extra realistic and believable as we are speaking about supernatural beings).
From a psychological standpoint we can see clearly the possible aftermaths of severe trauma in the form of avoidance (emtional as well as situational and regarding memories of the traumatic event) and unhealthy destructive behaviour (drug abuse, a lot of meaningless sexual encounters etc.). Both Ember and Killian struggle with feeling emotionally safe in regards to a partnership. The story is also about the hard path to overcoming trauma and its conseuquences and facing your fears for the sake of those you love and yourself.
Sadly, LGBTQ+ representation was not existent at all in regards of the characters.

The plot was quite nice and slower at the beginning (which I always like) and quite fast in the end (maybe a little bit too fast for my personal liking, but still entertaining). A strong suit of „Bewitched Shadows“ is the heartwarming portrayal of the family dynamic of Ember and her sisters. I quite enjoyed myself spending evenings with the girls and feeling their love for one another (yes, I am talking like I was sitting with them their on their sofa and watching a movie with them, because thats exactly what I did in my imagination 😉 ).

The ending was mixed for me, part really nice, partly i didn’t care for some of it. I would love to know your opinion! 🙂 For all that don’t want to say goodbye already to this world: In september 2023 there will be another book coming out, „Blood Enchanted“. This time it will be told from the viewpoint of Ember’s sister Jade, a character that was quite interesting in „Bewitched Shadows“, so definitely worth checking out if you enjoy this one. I will actually keep watching out for this (subscribe down below if you don’t want to miss this).

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3,75 stars! A good and entertaining read 🙂

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This is for you if…

… you are into spicy romances with dominant males, but also explicit consent

… you like a murder mystery paired with a fantasy setting with multiple kinds of supernatural beings (witches, fae, werewolves, vampires, demons, nymphs…)

…you like stories with flawed main characters you can maybe realte to better and their quest to finding their true and whole self

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Trigger warning: explicit depiction of sexual activity; physical violence; traumatic experience

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a romance with a hint of a mystery throughout the novel. It’s set in New Orleans with several different factions of supernatural beings all trying to coexist together, while hidden in plain sight from humans. The world building was very good. As a reader, I could easily see the world that was being built and imagine the characters written. The book is well paced with a mixture of romance and adventure. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of fantasy romance.

The strength of this book was definitely the romance plot. Killian is a great romantic interest. Strong and protective, but never venturing into controlling. If you like enemies to lovers then you would like this romance.

The weakness of this book is the mystery. The mystery is there is to move the romance along, but I think the book would have been better if the mystery was focused on a little bit more. They are supposed to be trying to figure out who a killer is, but neither character does much investigating.

I did receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy of e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review!

I could not stop reading this book. It was so good and so many things happening!! If you like vampires, witches, demons, wolves and more, then this book is for you. The story mainly focuses on Ember and Killian.

The story is told from Ember and Killian's view point. The author switches back and forth between the two which is easy to understand how each character is feeling, thinking and doing.

The summary up above tells you what the book is about. It definitely ticked all the boxes off for me. This kind of stories are so fun to read.

The moment Ember and Killiam meet is epic. The banter between them is awesome. I loved it. You could sense they have something going on there. Could it be lust? Could it be love? Could it be from the spell? What will ever happen?

They eventually work together to solve the murders that are going on. Plus Ember wants to get that magical item to help herself. Killian has his own plans as well. Will all the plans go the way they want them to or will they be thrown all over the place?

There's passion, there's pretending, there's drama, there's heartfelt moments and then there is spicy parts happening. Whooo! A great combination between Killian and Ember.

I love Ember's sisters: Jade, Audra and Isla. They are all unique sisters and they look out for each other. Best ever. A nice family touch in the story is great! The sisters even somewhat warm up to Killian in time. I will say I love movie night moment. Oh my gosh. Movie nights are the best aren't they?

I did mention other supernaturals that pop up in this book like vampires, wolves, demons, faes, and witches. The vibes I got off off of the wolves: being cocky, vampires: snobbish, faes: evil, witches: keeping everyone on task, and demons: having their own agenda. I love having the supernatural elements in this book. It gave off the feel of an urban fantasy genre.

I will say that I did like Killian's friend: Taliah. She is pretty bad-ass.

I will point out there is one part in the book that could be scary regarding to the fae party. So to those who may have triggers, you might want to skip that part? Also there is murder mentioned and fighting between supernaturals.

For some reason I wanted to point out that the places that you are immersed into is great.. The library, the underworld area, the houses, the areas of the parties and so much more, you could literally picture yourself there. I know I did! Ember's favorite place was the hedge maze. I wanted to go there and explore that place. Then for some reason I kept thinking of Bram Stoker's Dracula movie scene of the hedge maze. It popped into my head.

Isn't the cover so pretty???

I just really liked this story. The adventure, the drama, the spice, the family, the magic, the everything!

I believe the author may have another book after this one and I want to read it!!

I just absolutely loved the story and writing!

This amazing world is epic!

read as an ARC.

First off, thank you, Autumn Blake!

What's not to love?
✔️ New Orleans
✔️ enemies to lovers
✔️witches
✔️demons
✔️magical creatures of all varieties
✔️ and SPICE 🌶🌶🌶

The setting in New Orleans had me in a vice from the get-go. I loved the main characters and their back and forth. The love the sisters had for each other made my heart swell.

This one was a hit out of the park for me.

I absolutely loved the New Orleans setting! This book has demons and witches and all the spooky vibes! I requested this book based off of the cover to start. I’m so glad I did! If you enjoy adult fantasy books then this is for you!!

"Bewitched Shadows" is a great combination of fantasy, romance, and a little bit of mystery. Not to mention it has enemies-to-lovers fated mates!

I was a little unsure if this book was really going to be for me after the first couple chapters, but after a bit of a shaky start I was definitely hooked.

The fantasy world was enjoyable and well explained, I loved how magic played into Ember and Killian’s relationship, and KILLIAN HAS WINGS. The romance had banter, a slow burn, spice, and some really sweet moments. If you love a protective mmc this one is for you. The mystery was a really fun additional element, but it was definitely less of a focus.

Ember’s sisters were also a really important part of this book and I loved their dynamic and how they played into the plot. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for a potential sequel!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a quick & fun, read, with some spicy moments. I feel the setting of New Orleans was under utilized, but the perfect background for the story. The main two characters were pretty well fleshed out, though the banter left something to be desired. All in all an enjoyable read.

I had a hard time reading this book. It just seemed to drag all the way through. The world building was good and the characters were interesting.

In short, I love this book. In addition to featuring witches, demons, vampires, fairies, and more, the book also contains elements that I love in books. Romance, passion, hatred, a bit of action, and a lot of humor.
I love the relationship between the main female character and her sisters, how protective they are of each other.
I like how we get to know the main two characters and how they get to know each other through their POV.
I like that the heroe is an alpha male and that the heroine is not the sweet and quiet type of woman.
I love that I knew after two pages this was going to be a book that I won't forget soon and the book I want in physical form on my shelf at home.


Thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours, & Autumn Blake for this ebook.

A special thanks to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours, & Autumn Blake for this eARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It combines some of my favorite elements of fiction — fantasy, romance, & mystery. The enemies to lovers, slow burn between Ember & Killian was done well & the spice is there for those that enjoy it! The mystery is what had me hooked, though, having read this in two days. If you’re a fan of dual POV, witches, demons, & all things paranormal, fake dating, forced proximity, & spice — this books is for you! It’s the first in a series & I’m looking forward to reading the next installment when it’s released — Blood Enchanted.

NEW ORLEANSSSS! YESSSS!

other than a very atmospheric vibe, this was…all over the place. in the best way possible? the characters were so intense and visceral and very smexy but the writing was a little lackluster (and also very awkward dialogue?) but i digress

if you know what you’re getting yourself into, it’s easier to enjoy it for what it is instead of expecting the greatest piece of literature ever written and just enjoy a good time

3.5 stars

Honestly, it’s hard to truly explain how I felt about this one. It toed the line between something lighthearted/cozy and something dark/sensual to the point where I felt like I had whiplash trying to figure out where this book was going and what it was trying to be.

I really enjoyed the female main character and her 3 sisters. I want more of their interactions with each other, enough to have the rest of this series on my radar in the future. The humor and witty banter between them, as well as between the fmc and mmc, was satisfying and made me laugh out loud quite a few times—something that doesn’t happen that often while I’m reading. As for the rest of the characters? There was so much potential that just fell flat. I can tell that as the series goes on the characters may become more fleshed out and deep, but it didn’t happen in this first book and I really wish it did.

Speaking of wasted potential. The setting. It takes place in New Orleans and mentions that it does multiple times… But where was it? They were inside a shop, restaurant, or café in the French Quarter a few times but otherwise there was no mention of New Orleans as far as an actual setting or even atmosphere. There were some (slightly cringeworthy) Cajun accents and jazz music thrown in to occasionally remind you of where the characters were, but I really felt like the setting was wasted.

Throw in a few confusing situations that pulled me out of my immersion (his hands were tied behind his back yet he was able to easily touch his neck with his hands?), spice that just felt like it was there because it had to be, the fact that there was only mention of a mating bond between the main characters but no one else, and a major revelation at the end that could have changed the entire course of the book if he had just… realized it earlier, and honestly I’m just sad that a book that had such potential fell so flat for me. I didn’t hate it, I just know it could have been something so much better.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

tw: grief, ptsd, violence
trope: enemy to lover, mate, fake boyfriend

If you love smut, dark magic creatures like witches, demons, and vampires as well as a murder mystery, this book is worth giving a try.
I gave this book 3 stars only because I am not a huge fan of smut, while it does not bother me too much, I did skip a few pages in this book because there were too many smut scenes for my liking.
The plot made me think of the first crescent city by Sarah j. mass, the female main character going through a lot, and a very dark man hiding his past, partnering to find the murderer running around the city.
A little non-important detail I loved was how the wolves spoke french from time to time, and as a french speaker myself it was funny to understand it all.
I loved the characters’ relationships like Ember’s family, they genuinely felt like a credible family, nothing was perfect between them and Jade really made me think of an older sister (as one myself). The author managed to create characters that each brought something special to the book, which was amazing to read.

I am usually complaining about multiple povs but the author managed to write it so well that it did not bother me at all, which surprised me because I am very easily bothered by multiple povs however here it was done very well.

Last but not least the cover, look at this beauty, is it not so pretty and chic? It embodied the main female character for me and this dark magic vibe the book is giving.

In conclusion, if you love books where the male is dark, dominant, and simply described as perfect while the female is sexy, powerful, and beautiful then you ought to read this. The story is worth a shot if you love smut and a bit of fantasy thrown in the mix.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It was fast paced and kept your attention. The characters were likable and the plot was thick with drama. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Captivating. I couldn't stop reading and finished at 2 am. A love story between a witch and a demon. What happens when mates are in denial, bodies are showing up dead and magic is in the air. I seriously loved this and would definitely love to read more by this author. It's well written with characters that will have you fall in love with this story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ✨ARC✨ I gave this 3 stars being that I was struggling in the beginning to for a connection to the writing , but was able to quickly form bonds with the characters once I gave it a shot. The writing was not my style at first but I grew to love every part of it ! 🤍

Bewitched Shadows by Autumn Blake drew me in with a gorgeous cover and kept me captivated with a stellar plot.

General book thoughts

-Wonderful setting complimented by an whimsical writing style
-excellent character chemistry
-leans heavier to the romance than the fantasy.

~This will be an enjoyable read for fans urban fantasy looking for a dash of spice

4/5 Stars + 3/5 Spice

- Romance/Fantasy(urban vibes), Mystery
- Dual POV (my favourite)
- Anxiety representation
- TW: murder, SA

Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and the author Autumn Blake for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

This book suited my fancy in a multitude of ways. It had features from so many genres and types of novels that I love. As a mood reader this book is one that I feel would have suited me no matter what mood I was in. It was both an easy read while at the same time having enough world development to not feel lacking.

I would classify this book as a romance set in a fantasy plot within our world - New Orleans in fact - leading to an urban fantasy feel. An enemies to lovers and fated mates romance - chef’s kiss. And have I mentioned the spice yet? There is tension, slow burn (but not too slow), and just enough spice to satisfy you (no pun intended), without feeling overdone. Bravo, truly. It features witches, demons, werewolves, and vampires. Our FMC Ember is a witch with issues accessing her powers. She is strong willed, self-assured and is outwardly confident (especially in her sexuality - something I don’t see enough of honestly, and was a pleasant surprise). Our MMC Killian, is a dark, broody demon with a gruff exterior but a beautifully sensitive and vulnerable inner dialogue.

This story follows our two MCs trying to solve a series of murders. Themes of grief and underlying trauma are also explored. The FMC also has 3 sisters, all witches as well and we get to know little pieces of them as well throughout the story - I am very hopeful for a book featuring each of them (fingers crossed).

As far as the trigger warnings go, there is murder and killing and descriptions of the deceased. SA is also, at the very least, implied, but may still be difficult for some readers.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. I was initially attracted to the cover/title and was not disappointed in the overall execution of this story. Any potential future books in this serious will be an automatic addition to my TBR.

#BewitchedShadows #NetGalley