This book is excellent. I am so glad I got the opportunity to arc read Bespelled, and I cannot wait for it to come out!

We start off following the huge cliffhanger Laura left us with in book 1, and things just keep going from there. Selene's memories are back, Memnon has realized maybe he shouldn't be the worst person ever to the woman he loves, and the stakes are much higher. There is a darker take to Bespelled compared to Bewitched, and I really enjoyed it. We delve into dark magic, disappearing witches, and supernatural trafficking. It really added to the larger plotline and I am excited to see where it takes us in book 3. I think the author did a great job handling the supernatural trafficking, it was written very well.

In this book, Selene is having to adjust to life without losing her memories, and also trying to not fall in love with Memnon - although you can imagine how well that goes. She gets mixed up in some trouble, and our morally grey MC swoops in to support her and help however he can. It helps that his whole motto this book is 'grovel and worship her however much she lets me', because how can you resist that? His character arc as a whole was fantastic and I loved it.

That was my one thing in this book - how on earth did Selene resist him so much? I wanted her to accept him faster, but at the same time I understood where she was coming from. Also, the times she did give in like Samhein??? SPICE ALERT. So good!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series. I liked that we took a darker turn and raised the stakes, and I hope we get to see more in book 3 - although I would love to see Selene and Memnon united as a couple and figuring something out together. Also, I am curious if Selene's parents will play a larger role?

Laura Thalassa has become one of the few authors on my auto buy list. Her characters are deliciously realistic and multifaceted and her stories are lush with details and conflict. This novel was excellent and very inline with all her fantastic fantasy novels. Highly recommend this series and all her others.

This picks up where book one left off with Selene and Memnon as brutal enemies and Selene in full control of her memories of both lives. They then set aside their differences to figure out who’s been murdering the witches.

I feel like one thing Laura Thalassa doesn’t seem to do is think ahead in terms of plot points in her books. Ex: in the bargainer series the “bargainer” part was like completely forgotten until the very end of the last book, in the four horsemen series the horsemen don’t discuss each other like at all? This series seems be the same with the excuse that Selene didn’t have her memories, but Memnon had his and he knew Selene had warned him many times about Eisling so why is it only mentioned once at the beginning of the book when they do that little memory sharing moment? This was still a fun book even if it was a little too heavy on the sex and not heavy enough on the actual plot, and a little predictable.

I started this immediately after finishing Bewitched, when I still hated Memnon. I think this book is better than Bewitched. We get even deeper into the crimes that are happening and the evil people and empire behind them. Also, Selene actually stands up for herself and takes what she deserves. She is powerful and does not apologize for it.

Overall, I also like the pace of this book better than the first. I feel like in Bewitched we are mostly getting an introduction, but here we actually go into why things are they way they are. We also get a better understanding of the magic, the different people/creatures that exist in this world, and how Selene ties into it, both now and in the past. I was surprised that there was another person who turned out to be the one who betrayed Memnon, and even more surprised when she showed up again at this point in time.

I think the bond Selene forged with Memnon where he gave her control was an excellent idea as a way to try to remake the trust lost between them. I wish Selene would have used it more to her advantage, especially when it came to Memnon still keeping many secrets from her. Memnon did grow on me after a while, but the feeling of betrayal stayed with me for a lot of the book.

In the end, like a fool (both me and Selene) we ended up falling for Memnon, only to be betrayed on the last page again. I need there to be a third book and I need it now. And this time I need Selene to truly curse Memnon. Because much like Selene, I am mad, but not surprised at the twist of events.

Loved this sequel and felt it was even better than the first book in the series! I enjoyed getting to see scenes from the past played out. Memnon is a classic Laura Thalassa leading man, and it felt like he really came into his character in this installment. Sweet, playful, groveling Memnon is my favorite Memnon! I enjoyed the additional worldbuilding that happened in this book, and that ending? I need book three now!

Well…I don’t even know what to say about this book! We get way more spice in this book, Memnon tries to redeem himself, and Selene gets powerful! I can’t necessarily say Memnon grovels, but there’s definitely some genuflecting in there because he learns he SERIOUSLY messed up after Selene gets her memories back.

I actually enjoyed learning what happened and I’m glad we got it in the beginning. I feel like the past needed to be resolved before the story could move on in the present and it felt that way once we learned what happened.

The rest of the book was a trip. So much happens with the mysterious deaths and we learn what Memnon’s been doing in his spare time. I loved seeing Selene embrace her past and present and being a powerful witch.

One thing I did love about Memnon is all the nicknames he calls Selene. You can really tell (more so in this book) how much he loves and adores her. I also really liked how Selene didn’t cave right away to Memnon and her memories of him. She’s a different person now and Memnon really messed up in the Bewitched.

With that said…I don’t know about the end of this book! It’s not really a cliffhanger as more of a “truth bomb” that’s making us possibly question everything again. I think it’s a red herring in the context it’s delivered. Oh, I definitely think this was all planned, but I don’t think it’s quite as nefarious as we’re made to think at the end. Or, maybe I’m in extreme denial…haha

Looking forward to the next book!

This book is a wicked brew of groveling warlocks, a badass witch named Selene, and enough drama to make even the most seasoned soap opera jealous.

Picture this: Selene stepping into her powers like a boss, finding her confidence, and facing off against a wicked warlock. Drama? Check. Action? Double check. Steamy make-ups? Oh, you betcha!

But what really sets this book apart is its quirky humor. Selene's inner monologue had me cackling like a witch at a comedy show. I'm officially obsessed with these characters – they're like my magical BFFs!

And can we talk about the plot? It's a fresh take on fantasy, steering clear of the same old kingdoms and courts. Laura Thalassa sprinkles in supernatural trafficking, adding depth and heart to the story.

Oh, and Memnon? He's not just your average bad boy – he's swoon-worthy AF. Watching him step up for Selene melted my heart faster than a witch's spell in the summer sun.

So, grab your cauldron and dive into Bespelled. It's a spellbinding mix of magic, romance, and danger that'll leave you utterly bewitched. (See what I did there?) Trust me, you won't want to put it down – just watch out for those steamy spice chapters, they're hotter than a dragon's breath!"

**I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review **

“Cities can burn and centuries can pass and none of it means anything to me without you.” -Bespelled

Laura Thalassa may just be my favorite supernatural romance author, and I feel so honored to have gotten the chance to read Bespelled early! Thank you MetGalley, Laura Thalassa and SOURCEBOOKS for the ARC!!

FYI- no spoilers but if you are reading this review, I will assume you’ve read book 1 and are familiar with the plot.

Bespelled it book 2 in the Bewitched series, I’m assuming there will be 3 books? This one definitely left us on a cliffhanger! And I’m calling it now, book 3 will be named “Beloved” (no inside information, just my guess)

Selene and Memnon are back with their classic bickering and love/hate dynamics in this second installment. Selene has recently recovered her memories, including those of her past life as Memnon’s soul mate. Memnon uses these memories to find out what truly happened 2 thousand years ago between them.

Now that that big misunderstanding gets cleared up, it’s time for Memnon to grovel at Selene’s feet for 500+ pages.

Selene is not only the queen of an ancient kingdom… she’s also queen of getting jumped and kidnapped. Seriously happened every time she went off and did something on her own without her mate.

One thing I love about the “ancient person waking up in modern times” trope is said person adjusting to how the world has changed.. well we don’t get much of that because Memnon just reads everyone’s minded and adjust himself quite quickly.

The last few chapters really flourished, we get to see Selene hold her own and unleash her hidden power!

4⭐️ minus one star because Selene would literally KNOW she’s the target of some unknown murderer and be like “I gotta leave the safety of my soul mate’s warded house because I have a class!” Then get attacked..

I want to start by saying that The Four Horseman series and The Bargainer series by this author are a hard act to follow for me and while this series is different than those, it’s still intriguing and good. I really enjoyed the characters and smut. The story line was a little confusing but it wasn’t bad. I definitely wished it wasn’t so all over the place but I thoroughly enjoyed the read despite it. I will definitely be reading the third book.

This sequel was a lush, dark gem of a book and I loved every second of it. Thalassa is exceptionally talented when it comes to writing villainous men whom are incredibly romantic with their MCs, and Memnon's character arc in this book was everything I wanted for the story. He stepped up and showed up for Selene every step of the way, and my heart melted alongside hers! I also appreciated that Selene's friend, Sybil, took on a more active role in this book and contributed to driving the plot forward.

Loved being able to jump back into this world and keep up with Selene and Memnon's story, especially after the cliffhanger from book one. Loved getting to see this relationship evolve and the spicy scenes were top notch!

An enjoyable sequel!

You can expect:
▪️Paranormal romance.
▪️A plethora of supernatural beings including: witches, fae, werewolves, sorcerers, demons and more!
▪️An in depth magic system.
▪️Fated mates.
▪️He ‘hates everyone but her’ and ‘touch her and die’ vibes.
▪️Murder mystery.
▪️On page spice.

Some of my thoughts:
📍Generally speaking, I did enjoy my time with this book. I found Memnon and Selene to be likeable characters and I was happy with the shift in their dynamic from book one. Additionally, the world has been cleverly thought out and I appreciated that!

📍I confess, I did lose some interest between 30% and 60%. The plot pacing seemed to slow here and I was simply not invested in the murder mystery aspect. I also found what was happening in the romance at this point to be very ‘low stakes.’ Their attraction and devotion was evident, despite Selene’s constant denial.

📍I do feel that Memnon’s character could have used a bit more development. I’m not even sure who he truly ‘is’ outside of his obsession with Selene. More in depth character traits / flaws or even hobbies / interests would have helped. At one point it was revealed that he is a good cook and I ate that up (figuratively 😅). That stood out to me as a sole deeper look into his character. Some chapters in his POV would have been wonderful.

📍I loved the last 20% of the book and felt it really stepped up! The reemergence of an ancient enemy was intriguing and I’m keen to see Memnon tackle his new role.

📍All in all, this was a solid sequel and I’d happily pick up book three!

No one told witch Selene Bowers having a soul mate would be so difficult. Nor did they warn her that he might be a vengeful, ancient sorcerer who would frame her for murder, force her to remember a past life he swears she lived, and then coerce her into an unbreakable marriage pact. But that’s exactly what happens the night of the Samhain Ball, when Selene finds herself in a jail cell.

After waking from enchanted sleep, Memnon swore to discover why Selene betrayed him long ago. But when his soul mate’s memories return, the truth reveals something else entirely. Horrified by his own actions and desperate to make amends, Memnon offers Selene the unthinkable: a magic bond that will give her full control over his will. And Selene is desperate enough to accept it.

This is the second installment that started with Bewitched. This one is better paced, and I really like the romance building in this one. Other than some questionable choices made by Selene, I loved this. Well-written and fast-paced! When can I read the next one?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly this fell so short for me. The fmc and mmc were bland versions of themselves from the first book. It was super weird how they kept bringing up “former crush” ever. single. time. Kane was mentioned. We literally had like 2 interactions with supposedly her best friend. There was a lot of things that just didn’t make sense. Why was her magic eating her memories from this life if the memories had nothing to do with memnon? And multiple times questions are asked in the book but it’s never brought back around and answered.

And the whole forged bond thing felt soooo forced and weird.

It was a fun read, I really all of it but it didn’t feel like it didn’t anything for the story.


Honestly cannot decide if I’d give this a 2 or a 3 ⭐️

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️

Ohmygodessss this book. The last 25% or so had my heart racing as we barreled toward the end of this installment. It was jam packed with action and suspense and I truly didn't know how things were going to end up okay there MULTIPLE TIMES. I finished 15 minutes ago and I'm still not feeling back to normal.

The groveling. By gods. Memnon had his work cut out for him after he realized he was a complete donkey for no reason. But he found a way to show Selene he would do anything and everything for her and boy did it pay off. I know some people felt icky about this, but I really enjoyed it. It was freely given and I didn't find Selene to abuse it's power. I think it also allowed her to find her trust in herself as well.

Can we get a series about Kane too? Because I keep hoping for an MFM only for Selene to remind me she wants no part of that and my heart keeps breaking for that poor pup. He's clearly so smitten with her and I've kinda fallen for the wolf and I'm really hoping he gets an HEA too.

I'm really excited for book three, which I thinkkkk is the finale? Regardless, I'm here and so dang ready for more Memnon and Selene and everyone else. Bring it on, Laura.

This is the second book in the Bewitched series. The first book ended on a cliffhanger and this book dives right in to the story. Memnon's character was very well developed and was easily the best part of the story. Unfortunately, Selene, the main character, fell short for me for a few reasons. First, she seems more weak willed in this book. In Bewitched, she had to overcome a lot and go through a ton of trials in her life and she kept getting up and kept going. This was not the case in this book. Second, it feels like the relationship with Memnon took over the plot and became more important than the story. I wanted to see Selene be even stronger from the information she learned about herself, but she wasn't. She let Memnon do everything and she acted immature most of the time. She showed strength at the end of the book and I hope to see that carry over in the third book. I received this ARC from NetGalley and this review and my opinions are all my own.

Memnon will forever be my favorite villainous MMC. Laura really knows how to make you fall head over heals for the bad guys. This sequel did not disappoint. It was fast-paced, thrilling, action-packed, and full of delicious angst.

As always, I absolutely adore Memnon's devotion and love for his Selene. Even more so in this story. What I found even more precious was her slow realization of what their connection and love truly meant.

I wanted to savor and take my time with this one, and it was everything I could've wanted and more. I'm really excited for what's to come with this series.

Bespelled by Laura Thalassa is a captivating, fast-paced novel that immediately draws readers in and keeps them engaged until the final page.

A great sequel! I blew through this and enjoyed it immensely. This would be the perfect series to read during fall, it has great witchy, mystery vibes.

Thanks to Laura Thalassa and Bloom books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Spice 3/5
This is an improvement in pacing and romance from the first book. I enjoyed Memnon alot more in this book compared to book 1 and i enjoyed watching their banter while trying to solve the mystery behind the murders at Henbane. I do feel we lost some of the stakes with the change in Selenes magic. I think Selene is an interesting character who just seems to make very dumb decisions which is fine for plot progression but started to lose me. 3 stars is for the general vibes and some unique parts to the premise of the book. But deducted stars for the frustrations of some decisions that Selene made that seemed a bit childish/naive.