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.

“Write me a tragedy, Lev Fedorov. Write me a litany of sins. Write me a plague of devastation.”
Two rival witch families fight to maintain their control of their respective domains. Currently they’re at a stalemate, but when blood is spilled all hell breaks loose.
Olivie Blake can do no wrong. Her writing is SPECTACULAR. Her characters are dimensional. I find myself confused but not caring when she weaves her stories.

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!

I didn't realize that this had first been published in 2019. However, I'm glad it's being reissued. The story is one part Russian mob, one part Romeo & Juliet & one part fairytale all woven together to make a fascinating novel.
In modern day NY City, 2 rival witch families fight to maintain control over their respective empires. But as always, love gets in the way. On one side are the Antonova sisters and their mother, Baba Yaga. On the other side are the Federov brothers and their father, the crime boss known as Koschei the Deathless. After 12 years of relative peace, one family's (ahem) 'business ventures' cause a rift in the stalemate. But love complicates everything and even death is no match for fate.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc..*

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Book Review:
One For My Enemy
Written by Olivie Blake
Read by Ferdelle Capistrano
Book 75/200
Genre: Fantasy, Crime
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 427
Published: 2019/2023
Rating: 9/10

“The past is nothing. We are everything.”

This audiobook was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Back-Cover Blurb:
In modern-day Manhattan where we lay our scene, two rival witch families fight to maintain control of their respective criminal empires.
On one side of the conflict are the Antonova sisters — each one beautiful, cunning, and ruthless — and their mother, the elusive supplier of premium intoxicants, known only as Baba Yaga. On the other side, the influential Fedorov brothers serve their father, the crime boss known as Koschei the Deathless, whose community extortion ventures dominate the shadows of magical Manhattan.
After twelve years of tenuous co-existence, a change in one family’s interests causes a rift in the existing stalemate. When bad blood brings both families to the precipice of disaster, fate intervenes with a chance encounter, and in the aftershocks of a resurrected conflict, everyone must choose a side. As each of the siblings struggles to stake their claim, fraying loyalties threaten to rot each side from the inside out.
If, that is, the enmity between empires doesn’t destroy them first.

Olivie Blake's One For My Enemy is a new take on a classic story. I would describe it as Romeo & Juliet + The Godfather + witches. And yes, this is as good as it sounds! Blake continues to write fantastic morally grey characters that are well developed and feel real. Heartbreaking and riveting, One For My Enemy manages take familiar stories and tell them in a new way.

This book is also enhanced by Ferdelle Capistrano's great narration. Because of the combination of Blake's writing and Capistrano's narrating, i could not put this one down. Special thanks to Netgalley, Tor Books, and Olivie Blake for this ARC!

As far as Romeo & Juliet retellings go, this one made top of the list. It was done in a very unique way with a complex and intriguing magic system. And I liked the way it ended, which says a lot.

Think: the mafia but with witchcraft and then add in Romeo and Juliet and you’ve got the outline of this book.

This story involves magical underground crime all set in New York and is a modern fantasy based retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It deals with a blood feud between two rival witch families, and a forbidden love story with stunning prose and high stakes.

I think Olivie Blake’s work is so creative and unique. Her writing is absolutely beautiful. If she writes it, I’ll buy it.

I hadn’t read a fantasy book in awhile and this filled my cup. It is always difficult when first diving into a story like this because there are often many characters and world building to understand and adapt to, but this had a list of characters in the beginning, which was helpful.

Thank you @netgalley for the audio of this to review. The narrator read it seamlessly and I enjoyed listening to it. I also bought a hard copy for my shelves because I love this author and the gorgeous illustrations make me happy.

My. Goodness. Olivie Blake has my whole heart. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that this is the first of her “formally” published works that I’ve read, considering how I tell everyone to read her fanfics.

I was immediately sold based on the blurb- Baba Yaga and Koscheii the Deathless are heads of modern Manhattan (witch) organized crime families, but this book is so much MORE than a modern take on old lore.

This is going to appeal to so many people. Mafia readers. Mafia romance readers. People who like lore/fairytale retellings. Fantasy girlies. Witchy friends.

Don’t sleep on Olivie Blake. This was incredible.