This wasn’t my favorite witch romance of last year.. I didn’t love the whole “he’s done a horrible thing but bed actually good” situation that played out.

It's been over eight months since I read this book and cannot remember anything about it. I gave it two stars after I finished reading (not a good sign) but was apparently too disappointed / distracted / disgusted to write any notes or thoughts down.

Even reading the synopsis and some other reviews is not helping to ring any bells.. At best The Witch Is Back appears to be forgettable.

The author skilfully crafted a poignant narrative about the significance of freedom to choose the importance of selecting one's family—whether by blood or otherwise—pursuing one's dreams, discovering one's purpose, and finding one's voice. Emma and Bastian's stories, both individually and together, resonated deeply with me—I absolutely adored them.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

Emma and Bastian were betrothed by their parents in a marriage contract when they were pretty young. They were good friends as teens, and I think the hope was from Bastian’s family that it’d grow into a good match. For Emma’s mother however, the marriage is about power. Bastian is from a Higher Family and they’re very powerful. Emma’s family – well her mother had money and her father was a younger son I think, in a Higher Family or a lesser higher family or something. They’re definitely on the fringes of it, not in the mix of Higher and powerful families. Emma has been a huge disappointment to her overbearing mother her whole life. She’s quiet and shy, doesn’t seem to be a particularly powerful witch although who really knows because Emma is so crippled with anxiety by her mother that it’s hard to guess at what she might be able to do.

However Bastian left the country before the marriage, leaving just a note for his parents and not even one for Emma. She loved him and it devastated her and humiliated her in the witch community. She moved away from her mother, picked up the pieces of her life and has created a new one for herself. Bastian’s casual sauntering back into her life unnerves her and he now wants the marriage contract to go ahead. He has a specific reason for this, and guilt means that Emma will have to go along with it.

This was a struggle of a read. The way Bastian was at the beginning, when he came back, was really offputting. He comes in with this swagger, like he’s a gift, like he didn’t run out on Emma years ago in a rejection, like he didn’t have a clue what it would do to her, even though he had a half decent idea of what her mother was like. Look, there were a lot of complications and reasonings and the further we got into the story the more it came out about why Bastian left and all that, but still, his very attitude when he reappeared, was just incredibly annoying. He was all charm offensive and ‘we used to be such good friends’ – yeah Bastian, until you left her basically at the altar and now you’re wondering why she’s all defensive? Also I feel like this book did a thing where you’re led to think one thing and then it gives you a switcheroo so that you’ll realise that the person you thought bad about, wasn’t bad at all! They were a victim too! They’re actually worthy of your time and attention and you should like them. I don’t enjoy that as a plot point because it attempts to neatly sidestep the negative things that person did and just be like oh look, focus over here!

Liek many things, this could’ve been solved with some basic communication. I also felt like Bastian was really dense about why Emma might not trust him much now, even at the end of the book, he still doesn’t get it and has to have it spelled out for him basically, by his mother. You knew Bastian. You saw it. He didn’t know the depth of it, granted, but he knew what kind of person Emma was and what kind of person her mother was and he still couldn’t put that together and come up with a reason Emma went into her shell. And Emma’s mother was just such a caricature, she had no nuance to her whatsoever and was basically just evil for the entire point of being evil and having someone in the book treat Emma like garbage.

This is a romance novel and in the end, I just didn’t feel the romance at all, personally. Emma went from being so hurt and determined not to allow Bastian back into her life in any meaningful way, to giggling and blushing over him in no time at all, even before he attempted to explain anything about his absence and rejection of the marriage contract. And by the time everything unravelled, I still didn’t really have any feelings on them as a couple. I think Emma’s friend Leah and her brother Kole were more entertaining in the maybe dozen pages they were together, than Emma and Bastian were in this whole book.

All in all I didn’t feel as though this one developed story or characters in a way that was for me, unfortunately.

5/10

Emmaline currently lives in Chicago running a bar called “Toil and Trouble” with her two best friends. She is happy and enjoying life. However, she is a witch not a human, and almost seven years before she had walked away from the Witch Society when her contracted witch fiancé, Bastian, left town without a word. She still carries a torch for him and hasn’t found anyone to take his place in her life.

Emmaline was heartbroken when it happened - she and Bastian had been best friends since childhood and she was overjoyed that they were going to marry, she thought he was to; so when he left without any explanation she walked away from the hidden witch world to live as a human.

Imagine her shock when Bastian walked into her bar and tells her he wishes to fulfil the contract and get married after all, and quickly because the contract expires in the next few weeks. Turns out the reason he wants to go ahead is that his mother is cursed, she is going to die the day the contract expires and only the contracted marriage of Bastian and Emmaline will save her. From here the reader is taken on a journey of mystery, betrayal and second chance romance.

Emmaline is a determined character - does her own thing and makes her own decisions. She has a mother from hell whose whole purpose in life is to control everyone around and everything in the witch world, she is not happy about her daughter being independent.

Bastian comes over as a bit of wimp - but as the story progresses he proves to have a hidden backbone, and we learn why he left in the first place and what needs to be done to fix that problem too!

so, as you can see there a couple of plots and some twists and turns, along with a few conflicts, at one time I even thought there might not be a happy ever after. But rest assured - good does eventually win.

I really enjoyed this story and would certainly read more books by Sophie H. Morgan.

Perfect little witchy meet cute novel.

Bastion is a warlock who left his witchy bride to be Emmaline, before their marriage of convenience.

In the past 7 years, Emma has changed a lot and she has grown, Bastian comes back to claim Emma for family reasons.

There are plenty of secrets to be unraveled, hexes to be reversed and love to be rekindled.

Great read, second chance romance, found family, witches and warlocks, overbearing family members, marriage of convenience, magical contract, spells and hexes.

4⭐️2🌶️ read for me, but I definitely recommend this novel.

Thank you Harlequin Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive this ARC. I have been desperately awaiting the release of The Witch is Back and to be given the opportunity to read and review it before its publication date is an honour.

Witchy romance is my number one favourite genre. Throughout the many books I’ve read that fall into this category I have never identified with a character as much as I did Emma. Painfully shy, fiercely protective and an animal lover are just the tip of the iceberg, which are all things that make her a very relatable and lovable character.

Obviously, you can’t forget about the magic. Novels involving magic, witches and warlocks, are usually accompanied by a feeling of want or jealously by readers who want to live in those worlds, but what The Witch is Back shows so perfectly is the darker side of what that world looks like. The power hungry, social climbing witches and warlocks that aren’t afraid to hurt anyone in their paths. It’s a refreshing perspective.

My favourite theme throughout The Witch is Back, is the fierce big sister protectiveness. Emma and Sloane’s bond was the highlight of this book, the stories focus on this relationship doesn’t detract from the main story relationship between Emma and Bastian but enriches it.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the world building in this story. Emma and Bastian have a very long history with several things getting in their way of a happy ending. I like that they spent a lot of their time getting to know one another and that it wasn’t Insta love.
It’s just a personal preference but I would’ve loved to have seen more of Emma’s powers, as they seemed dormant and hopefully hidden from her mother.

BOOK REVIEW 📚 of The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to Harlequin Australia, the author & Netgalley for providing an eARC of this story for my review.

Childhood friends Emmaline Bluewater and Sebastian Truenote had been close for as long as they could remember, despite Bastian being a prince of witch society and Emma being….not. So, when Emma’s grasping, social-climber mother arranges their betrothal contract, they are more than happy to plan their futures together. But before they can start, Bastian discovers that the medieval contract contains a clause that will strip him of his power and also contains a silencing hex. Desperate to retain his family legacy, he disappears without explanation, his would-be bride left to face heartbreak, years of humiliation from witch society and the scorn and cruelty of her icy mother.

7 years later, Emma has built herself a life in Chicago to be proud of, a partner in a human bar with her two best friends, a scruffy dog familiar and as little to do with witches and her family as possible.
So when Bastian strides into Toil and Trouble on Emma’s birthday- shocked is an understatement for her feelings (and he caught her wearing a pink sequinned birthday hat, for Goddess sake!). Bastian explains that because their marriage contract was not fulfilled, his sweet mother, as a witness, has been sickening and is now near death. He pleads with Emma to marry him to save her, expecting her to still be the moony eyed girl he left behind. But Emma isn’t the same person anymore- she’s tough, and sharp and angry, and Bastian starts to realise the extent of the damage he caused her. Determined to gird herself against his charms, Emma agrees to save his mother, but to be married in name only, and Bastian still wonders how much Emma knew about the contract and its consequences. The two will have to learn to trust each other again, before time runs out for all of them.

The Witch is Back is a paranormal romance with an entertaining plot and amusing characters. I love books written in third person and the spice level of this book was PERFECT.
Anyone who has gone out on their own, seeking independence, can relate to Emma and her need to separate herself from the family she feels uses her as a pawn. It’s hard to resist the charms of Bastian, even as a reader, and the dual POV was crafted brilliantly.
The romance between these two is depicted a typical ‘enemies to lovers’, and also as ‘slow burn romance’, and ‘a second chance of love’ tropes. I enjoy witch fiction immensely, and this book did not disappoint. Although this was more contemporary fantasy than traditional, the author did a great job by addressing the urban and human magical elements within the storyline, including a variety of magics (e.g. mind magic, telekinesis, fire magic etc). The Divining tattoos were a great touch, and added to the romance building in a unique way.
Watching the main antagonist change from Bastian to Clarissa was seamless, and the reader easily saw who the villain was in the story by the end. (Clarissa really does have a face you’d like to punch- I audibly cheered when Bastian reads her at dinner).
All in all, the book was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it to lovers of paranormal/fantasy romance

This review will be shared on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/46599812-kat-henley
And on Instagram @tinydragonbooks. https://instagram.com/tinydragonbooks?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==