Thank to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: April 4, 2023

I just love Olivie Blake's writing. This one started off a little slow for me but wow did it build. Her writing is so descriptive, and emotional, and poetic. I love the super strong and smart, don't mess with me female lead who had everything figured out.

For the most part the audio narrator was very good, great voices and emotion and speed. There were a few spots when she was just reading the narration in the beginning/middle that the cadence and tempo started to bother me, but then I either got used to it or it was more dialogue and thoughts so it didn't happen as much or I just got so sucked into the story I didn't notice anymore.

This audiobook is insanely good. I will officially listen to anything Ferdelle Capistrano narrates, and read anything Olivie Blake writes.

I am not usually a fan of Romeo and Juliet retellings or spin offs (or I guess just the forbidden lovers trope), but this was so captivating and so different that I loved it so much. I wish we got more of their individual magic explained but not enough to make this less than 5 stars.

Overall this was fantastic. I can’t wait to see what’s next! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me listen early.

I found this to be a difficult read as an audiobook - the list of characters was long, it would have been worth it to have a cast of people to portray the characters, because it was hard to keep up with the characters, their nicknames AND which tone was used for which person.

I also found that the play format did not work for me - being dropped into some of the conversations between characters like they were already established proved to be quite difficult with the issues mentioned above. I may try reading this as a physical book instead.

Unfortunately I wasn’t a big fan of this book or the narrator . The idea is incredible but it definitely needed better execution.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the book !

Well, it had to happen, I finally have come across an Olivie Blake book that I didn't love.

So, I think this is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but not having read that play, I don't actually know? But I'm pretty sure. So, a retelling, set in a magical New York. And it just didn't work for me. I found it confusing, as there were a ton of characters, all of whom had at least two, but usually three names, and then lots of people dying, but are they really dead? It was also loosely based on Russian folktales, I believe? Both families had Russian names and the matriarch of the one family was Baba Yaga. I'm not sure if it is the confusion of characters, or the writing, or what, but I just could not care about what was happening in this story. It was a struggle.

To be honest, it was a stretch to give it 3 stars, but I bumped it up for the uniqueness of it, which I do hope worked for some folks.

One for My Enemy is a captivating Romeo and Juliet retelling with a modern and magical spin. The Antonova sisters and the Fedorov brothers are both vying for control of the magical underworld of Manhattan. The two families are equally matched in terms of power, with each family controlling their respective criminal empires. Like in Romeo and Juliet the theme of family loyalty versus love is central to the story. The power struggles, betrayals and shifting alliances made this book impossible to put down.

I realize this may be somewhat controversial - given how many authors and tried to modernize the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet - but I think Olivie Blake may have upped the R&J story for a new generation. One for My Enemy is the story of familial bonds, romance, tragedy, and grief. Add in a modern New York setting, families steeped in Old World traditions, and witchcraft, and you have the story of the Antonova and Federov families. the seven Antonova sisters - daughters of the fabled Baba Yaga- were raised to loathe the three Federov brothers - sons of Koschei the Deathless. Unfortunately, familial loyalties can't always overpower the pull of the heart, and should it, really?

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, Olivie Blake, and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting supernatural fantasy about two rival witch families in modern NYC. Perfect for fans of Chloe Gong's These violent delights series. Olivie Blake was a new to me author but I enjoyed this one well enough and thought the narration was well done but I thought the magical family saga/rivalry was a bit long for my tastes. I'd read more by them again if given the chance though. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

One for My Enemy follows rival witch families in New York. We have the Antonova sisters, who help their mother, known to the public as Baba Yaga, distribute exclusive and personalized intoxicants. Then there are the Federov brothers. Their father, Koschei the Deathless, deals in information so he can get what he wants.

But things change when one of the families decides to push the limits on their 12-year-long stalemate. Thus begins a conflict that challenges both families, changes loyalties, and brings devastation.

One for My Enemy starts strong and is an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire ride. Although I frequently thought "surely they can't get out of this situation," or "wow, really seems like things are wrapping up," Olivie Blake had another trick up her sleeve.

If you love family drama, crime bosses, and a touch of magic, you'll adore One for My Enemy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books/Macmillan Audio for providing an e-ARC and digital audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received an e-arc from NetGalley for an honest review.

One for My Enemy gave me more than just a Romeo and Juliet retelling. With a good dose of eerie magic, Slavic folklore, and families at war, this was a fun read.

This is the second book I’ve read from Olivie Blake, the first being The Atlas Six, and I was thrilled to get a better grasp of her writing style. The style she used in TAS is very similar in this book, with grand elaboration and nuance. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well for me here as it did in TAS. It made some moments feel slow compared to the fast-paced moments of intensity in the rest of the novel.

That being said, it was a phenomenal book, and one with endless twists that kept me wondering just where this book was headed. Absolutely recommend if you’re looking for some urban fantasy with copious romance.

I'll start off by saying that the Romeo and Juliet trope has been over used. I am not a fan of the families fighting against each other, and a daughter of one family, and the son of the other suddenly find love, and it solves everything. That's not this book.
Yes, it has the bare bones of Romeo and Juliet's story, but there is so much more to this tale.
I loved the magic aspect, the underground witches, and the mafia-like level of crime. The spice was also good in this book, and wasn't overpowering. This is the first Olivie Blake book I've read, and I found I quite liked it. Though the end became confusing as several family members began plotting, and the POV moved between multiple people, overall this wasn't a bad book. I would give it a solid 4 stars.
If you like witches, magic, criminal activity, and a dash of spice, then this is a great read for you.
I hope this review helps!

n New York City, two rival witch families are fighting to maintain their control. Loyalties that have been decided years ago begin to shift, and the power will shift with it. Fate brings together star crossed lovers, and blood will be spilled. Who will be left to pick up the pieces?

I’m giving this 3.5 stars. A modern day retelling of Romeo & Juliet, but so much more; including elements from Russian mythology, urban fantasy, and elements of powerful crime families. Olive Blake made all of this work together in an amazing way, writing with such beautiful prose that made me want to highlight entire paragraphs as I was reading.

Besides the beautiful writing, what makes this book stand out are the characters. Blake manages to develop the most intricate characters, in a way where I truly felt that I knew how they were feeling in parts. She truly developed each of her characters, and as the book came to a close, I knew I would miss them. These characters drive the story, and I loved that.

My main criticism is that towards the very end of the book, the storyline gets rather complicated. I found myself having to go over what happened, and I still wasn’t fully sure of what was happening. The story was fairly long, but the ending felt fast. That could be due to having the audio version, I’m not quite sure.

I did find that the audio narration was enjoyable, and grabbed my attention. I think the narrator did a good job - though I wished there could have been a few narrators considering how many characters there were.

Overall, I was impressed by this book and I will most definitely be reading more from Olive Blake! The prose is stunning, the characters are so well done, and I will be missing this magical world now that I’ve finished!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and the talented Olive Blake for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review!

From the moment I started this, I knew I would love it! This author has a writing style that instantly captivates me.

Following two rival witch families, this starts off strong and does not let up. I loved all of these distinct characters, the building and breaking of relationships and the flow of this story. I was so surprised with how many characters that all of them felt real and fleshed out.

This was beautiful and I loved listening to the audiobook! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc!

I loved the premise of rival witches, betrayal and forbidden romances (more than one!). It reminded me a bit of These Violent Delights series, but didn't quite measure up.

I found the magic system to be a bit confusing, and I wasn't always clear on why the characters were doing what they did.

The audio was well done, and I think it might have been more confusing actually reading it. The narrator did a good job.

The story was engaging. And I wanted to totally love it, but walked away feeling not completely fulfilled. Would try this author again for sure.

Man thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Myth: 4.5/5

A modern-day Romeo & Juliette reimagining with a magical twist. I couldn’t get enough of the rival families, challenged loyalties and lengths to which the characters would go for love. There were a lot of characters, which is sometimes intimidating at the beginning of a book, but they were all introduced and used beautifully within the story.

Magic: 4/5

Set in Manhattan, the rival families were witches with interests outside the ‘allowed’ magical uses. Magical drug dealing, magical human trafficking and finally, someone made a fae character a modern-day lawyer. My life is complete.

Overall: 4.5/5

A compelling read, the story pushes you to flip every page. The story sends characters careening for conflict, big clashes, and for demise. I couldn’t read it fast enough.

This one is tricky because on the one hand I can see that this book is amazing and I would have loved it but on the other I was so confused and definitely read it the wrong way. I will be trying this book again since I only got 20% into it but I just think I need to physically read it it’s just too confusing to listen to. But I do love Olivie Blake so I will be purchasing a copy on release day.

For some reason I just couldn't connect with this book. It was fine, but something about it just wasn't for me. If you loved other Olivia Blake books then there is a high chance you will like this one as well.

I was really looking forward to this as I thought it had quite a lot of potential to be something I’d enjoy. Rival witch families and star-crossed lovers seems like a great time. But this just wasn’t for me. Atlas Six wasn’t for me either, so I think I’ve discovered that Blake just isn’t for me. And that’s fine! I can recognize wonderful prose when I see it, and while that’s definitely happening in this story, it nonetheless was only a 3-star for me. There were too many plots drawn out for too long, yet somehow it was such a straight retelling that it seemed boring at times. How does that happen? The central characters seemed quite erratic and the magic system could have been so cool, but it just wasn’t.

This book is my new favorite book. Everything about it…. incredible. Wow. The writing, the characters, the drama, literally everything. I just want to read this book forever. I have the biggest crush on Lev and I just want him and Sasha to have the world.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for early access to the audiobook.

One for My Enemy is a modern of Romeo and Juliet.
With Practical Magic. It has Shakespearean levels of melodrama, enemy families that are deeply intertwined, magical drugs, death that may or may not last, starcrossed lovers, and wonderfully vicious women.
It's a wild ride with lots of twists, complicated relationships, and big feelings. If that sounds like your cup up tea I do recommend it. I had a great time with it, though occasionally the emotional drama was so over the top as to feel campy.
Urban fantasy will never appeal to me more than epic fantasy does but I remain engaged by all facets of this and Blake pens a story in such a way that makes any genre appeal, regardless!