Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an arc of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh, this book was something else. This is the second in series, and although it has a really helpful recap in the beginning, you definitely need to read the first one before diving into this one. (Seriously, the recap was so helpful.)

Usually, second books in a series aren’t quite as good as the first or the third. This one though, this one was incredible. The development of the relationship between main characters was perfection, the overarching “mystery” kept me hooked, the villains were superbly villainous, the side characters shined. I couldn’t put this one down … I read it in less than a day. My sole “complaint” is that book three isn’t out yet.

I loved it and cannot wait for more. Definitely recommend this one, however, please read the content warnings located on the authors webpage and read with care. There are triggers in this book that some may wish to avoid.

I can’t even write a good review right now because I can’t put into words how much I love this book and this series.

The continued world building by the author is phenomenal. Selene getting her memories back is a pivotal point in this story, and the @mystery” piece in this feels like a “whodunit” and I actually really loved it. Memnon continues to try to win Selene’s love and affection, but in a more genuine and authentic way than Bewitched and it is melt worthy. Oh, and those spicy scenes…make sure you have a fan handy.

Can’t wait to read the third one. Thank you so much for the ARC!!

A really big shoutout and thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy!

Disclaimer: Maybe don’t go into this review without having read Bewitched and at least the blurb of Bespelled.

I got really really really lucky and was chosen to beta-read Bespelled. I cannot explain how many years I’ve been in love with Laura’s work and how many times I’ve re-read them. When she said she was starting a new series, I could not believe it. I love how different each of her series is from one another and I couldn’t wait. She’s always been an auto-buy author for me and getting an ARC of Bewitched had been a dream come true. I remember I was really under the weather and the book was the best thing that happened 🥹✨.

Well, of course, I fell in love with Bewitched, which my review appropriately gushes about. I’ve been waiting and waiting and stalking Laura’s website that has a little completion status bar of her books as soon it went up.

When Bespelled landed in my library I was actually 40% into Death but I couldn’t stop myself from falling into Bespelled (also I wasn’t ready for The Horsemen series to end which is why I’ve postponed reading the conclusion to the series).

Bespelled was *lets out a breath* everything and more that I wanted, needed, hoped for. I had to remind myself every single second that I was beta-reading because I kept getting immersed into the story. So my first promise of your experience is that you’re going to drown in this read. The book’s not going to let you up and you’ll forget you need to be let up. Who needs to breathe anyway?

Laura had never shied away from keeping her promises. She promised an anti-hero in book one and Memnon was exactly that. There’s a single scene in book one that broke my heart and set it ablaze and I didn’t think I’d ever recover from it. BUT Laura also promised grovelling in Bespelled. She delivers, in a way that’s both heartbreaking and healing. I’m more of a do don’t say person and Memnon hit the mark on it. BUT, I love that she kept to Memnon’s personality even in writing him as the one that needs to prove himself.

Now Selene. I loved her in book one and I love her now. I especially loved everything she’s gained and all the she feels the loss of, as a consequence of her recovering her memory. I loved that it was bitter sweet and I also loved that she tries to hold on to as much of herself as she can and build herself back up. I can’t imagine what it must feel like after remembering a whole life worth of memories and trauma from a different time. Laura did beautifully working these different aspects together as much as possible and balancing it with her current struggles, challenges and life.

In connection to this is the lost-memory related plot lines that are so hard to manoeuver around. Especially when the readers are equally unaware of the past as the MC is. Laura took a wonderful risk by deciding book two does not focus on past memories—even though it has an influence on the present which is featured heavily—and it pays off! So 👏🏻 well 👏🏻. The book flows perfectly well with the story Laura weaves, telling us exactly how much we need to know and never making the reader feel left out of the loop. I love that one whole novella is dedicated to the past and I cannot wait for it!

I sent this super gigantic mail to Laura explaining how after being a reader for so many years, for the most part all of us are generally adept at picking clues and predicting the dips and highs of a plot. However, in Bespelled, while I could guess there was a general something that’s coming in this area of the plot thread, I was usually completely blindsided by how it happens. This is true in every single thing that happens in the book. Which 🤌🏻✨. If an author can surprise me after my nearly one and a half decades long experience in reading, then kudos to them.

I loved all the relationships that the author ensured to include in the book, making it as realistic as possible. I think for the most part we ignore the presence of some relationships because they usually suffer at the face of the plot and we never really mind. But when they are given space it really adds something to the story, especially in fantasy (/magical realism?).

I wouldn’t say the book ends on a cliffhanger, but it certainly delivers on a feeling that stays with you through the whole book. This feeling like something is coming, but I never guessed (again) what it would be. Of course, stress is good in life, so yay.

Also! Look out for similarities! This is set in the same world as the Bargainer series (which if you haven’t read is 😙🤌🏻✨). You might stumble upon something exciting. Laura is building up to something. We can all tell.

Five billion stars. In case that wasn’t evident from the 39392 word gushing essay I’ve written. Happy happy reading. Check trigger warning please! Bespelled has lots of graphic content! This series will also be available on KU when it goes live.

This book was so good! I do believe I loved this one even more than Bewitched. I am a sucker for mates and this book just shows how much I love reading about them.

I am elated and devastated that I have already finished this story. I am so enthralled by Memnon and Selene/Roxi’s love story. Their love spans centuries and life times, becoming eternal. We start of this story right where we left off with Selene getting arrested right after getting her memories back. I love that we didn’t have to wait for long to find out what happened to her to entomb Memnon for as long as he was. Wow did Memnon have it all wrong. After book 1 and his revenge plot I did not think he could be redeem but lord almighty did he have me won over in an instant after the vow he made to her. I’m surprised she even lasted as long as she did being mad at him (especially after the witches brew lol). The ending reveal had me smacking my head saying how did I not see it coming. I hope it does not mess up the progress that the two love birds have made in their relationship and helps them taking down their old enemy in the next installment. Anxiously waiting for book 3.

Netgalley ARC Review

Bewitched Book 2

After being framed for murder by her soul mate, Selene Bowers is done with the Sorcerer. Unfortunately she needs him to find the real murderer who is killing witches and leaving their bodies on campus. With her memories of her past and current life restored she’s more powerful then ever and able to show Memnon the truth about what happened in their past life together. Memnon is devastated to learn his soul mate is innocent of the crimes he levied against her and seeks to make amends. Epic groveling ensues.

Action 🗡️
Angst 💔
Ass Kissing 💋
Ass Kicking 👢
Shifter Allies 🐺
Backstabbing Witches 🧙‍♀️
Demons 😈
and an enemy from the past 🧚‍♂️

Plus lots of Memnon eating Selene out. Poor Nero 🐈‍⬛

There are not may series out there where I enjoy the second book more than the first but this is one of them! While I liked Bewitched, I love Bespelled!

This book is action packed loaded with adventure and tons of new information but I loved it and it kept the mystery interesting, The world building is intricate and really well done and I found it to be easier to really get into and follow in this book compared to the first. Memnon! Loved his character arc and the relationship/ chemistry with Selene. The banter between them was fantastic along with the spice. Who doesn't love an MC that grovels?

This book was so good and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store next.

Things are just getting good... The 2nd book of the Bewitched series does not disappoint. If anything it made me want more. This installment drives both the mystery and the romance forward in very satisfying ways. I especially enjoyed how even the "side characters" got to grow and develop. I'm hoping we get see more of Selene's BFF... and maybe even Asmodeth. O_^ All things are not resolved yet, by far. In fact it feels as if they're about to get very murky-- and that's a very, very good thing.

Wow! I am not sure I can even find the words to describe what I just read accurately! I mean, I kind of knew where we were headed. The clues were all there, and I guessed a lot of them, but I did not feel prepared at all!
You guys are all in for one hell of a ride!
Selene is such a danger magnet. It follows her around like a bad smell. Action pact, thrilling, and so damn hot! Their chemistry is a smoking, scorching, living, and breathing thing, and I want to be consumed by it! Memnon belongs in ancient times. A ruthless, unapologetic creature that is ruled purely by his desires, or rather one desire, his mate. It's in everything he does, from breakfast to the words he speaks. That poor, beautiful monster of a man. Selene certainly keeps him and us on our toes.
Be prepared for pain when you go unto it. A cliffhanger that will leave you desperate for more and aching in all the best places!

“I’ll wake her in another year when I get tired of you. I do so like burning my lovers.”

I have been holding my breath for this book and so excited that I became nervous that it would not live up to the hype that I built up for it. I am SO glad that it not only lived up to my hope but surpassed it. The character growth, I LOVED seeing our FMC get more confident while acknowledging the changes that occurred after book one. And the real star here..Memnon!! Did I really ever think I would put a mummy man as a top book boyfriend, no, but lord is he. This man is evil to his core and does not CARE!! For a bit there I was like…hmmmmmm, he really is not the man I thought he was, but keep going and YAAAsssss, he is. I was kicking my feet, wiggle dancing and swooning so many times over the characters and relationship in the book.

It did not disappoint and I can not WAIT for book 3 to get in my hands. (I will also be getting the audiobook of this once it is released. I will need all the books, all the covers, and all the formats)

It only took me this many days to read this because I didn’t want the book to end! After reading book 1, I was so happy to be able to jump right into Bespelled with the way the first book ended!

I found myself even more obsessed with the FMC, Salene, and the way she came into her powers and became even more of a badass than she was in the first book! Selene’s inner monologue will forever be one of my favorite things ever! And who can forget Memnon? I mean come on those spicy scenes between these two were just 🔥 But the way they also cared so much for each other had me swooning just a little bit 🥹

Also, did someone say groveling?? If you’re hoping for some of that from everyone’s favorite sorcerer, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed when you read Bespelled because Memnon learns his lesson. 😉

There’s a great plot, witches, drama and great action and of course the fantastic spicy scenes! I am obsessed with these characters and I can’t wait for the next book of the series! (Like I need it now please. Yea I’m looking at you Laura 😂)

When I started the first book it took me a while to get into (I’m talking days of picking it up and putting it down, reading a chapter here and there, very unlike me). However, eventually the book, the storyline, the characters hooked me and I couldn’t put it down - so much so that I immediately started on book 2 straight away. Bespelled follows on from where Bewitched left off and the mystery intensifies 10 fold. Whereas the last book took some concentrated effort to get into, this had me hooked from page 1!

Selene and Memnon are captivating and have such intense chemistry - I love it! Through all the twists and turns and unexpected surprises, this books is a roller coaster ride, and I’m here for it. I’m intrigued to see what comes next, and what supernaturals feature with the latest twist.

Wow! I have to give it to the author because this book was better than the first! There is soo much going on in this book and a lot of information. We get a lot more background on characters and I love them! The world she created is really cool! I don’t want to say a lot because it will give to much away, but everyone is in for a ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Bespelled

Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Book Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (5/5)

I fell in love with this series a year ago when I got my hands on the ARC of Bewitched and I am falling in love all over again!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t believe I got to read this book for free!

I love love LOVE both Selene and Memnon. I always have. I love Selene because I don’t think I have ever met a fictional character I relate to more than her. I may not have a soulmate hell bent on making me his but Selene’s sense of humor and her wit just had me screaming “SAME!” while reading.

It’s not even a joke how much I relate to her. Every time I read a passage that elicits a certain response, I’m surprised to read the next paragraph showing Selene reacting the same way. And I am sure a lot of people will feel the same way.

And then there’s Memnon.

When I read Bewitched last year, I thought the name “Memnon” was ridiculous and so I thought it would be impossible to have him as a book boyfriend.

BOY WAS I MISTAKEN.

It’s a true testament to Laura Thalassa’s skill as a writer that I somehow managed to (disgustingly) fall in love with a sorcerer named Memnon. I already loved him before but in Bespelled, I loved him even more. I didn’t think it was possible but here we are.

His complete and utter devotion to Selene had me screaming, crying, throwing up! It was so good I went FERAL. Like, to the point that at one point, my brain refused to retain information about the plot and glazed over the important parts because she wanted to read about Memnon and Selene so much.

Speaking of the plot… WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING?

THEY WERE FINALLY HAPPY AND IN LOVE AND SUDDENLY KANE GOES AND RUINS IT! Well, okay in his defense he didn’t ruin it but Kane just honestly pisses me off so much. I get so irritated every time he opens his big mouth to yap about something. He’s lucky he’s never met me in real life or else I would’ve repeatedly strangle him for his entitlement.

So yeah. I would 100% recommend this series to someone and this series deserves the commendation. Laura Thalassa’s writing style is mesmerizing and absolutely stunning. The way she weaved the plot, starting it off at a low before letting it rise and rise until it reaches the climax was so satisfying. There wasn’t a point in the series that I ever got bored because of how well she paced the plot. She knew when to slow down and when to speed things up. It’s always going to be such a pleasure to read one of her books!

I know I just finished the second book but god I can’t wait for the third!

Cheers to you, Laura, and the no doubt incredible launch this book is going to be. A NYT bestseller to be sure and I am so grateful to be a part of it!

Could not keep this book down at all, it such an excellent sequel 😭 all the tension and the mysteries in the first book were expanded on so well here, and the slow burn enemies to lovers was frickin perfect in this book 😭
ALSO
THAT CLIFFHANGER
!!!!
I need book 3 asap 🥲

TWs - violence, gore, murder, torture

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

What you can expect to find in Bespelled
-groveling - lot of groveling
-🌶🌶🌶
-banter that had me grinning
-plenty of action/suspense
-swoony moment that had me 🫠

When I first read Bewitched last year I knew that whenever I got a chance to read the next book in the series - I would drop everything to do so! And that's exactly what I did :). Bespelled picks up right where Bewitched left off. If you haven't read Bewitched yet - please don't read on - major spoilers for the series ahead...
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SPOILERS
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Bespelled opens right where Bewitched left off. Selene has regained her memories when she was Queen Roxilana. She remembers her past life with Memnon and all that they shared together. She also remembers the reasons why she cursed Memnon. When Memnon realizes why Roxilana cursed him in the first place - his entire reason for exacting revenge on Selene all of a sudden comes to a halting stop. For all of us asking how could Memnon be so cruel so Selene in book 1 - we get so much groveling in Bespelled. 🥲 Yes, witches are still going missing at Henbane Coven and there's a lot of dark magic happening - but Memnon vows to keep Selene safe and to help her any way that he can. He also offers her a magic bond where she can command him - the bond can only be broken if she truly falls in love with him again.

Bespelled was so so so swoony 🥰. The words that were leaving Memnon's mouths were so loving and beautiful. And yet, Selene had a hard time trusting him with her heart even though she whole heartedly trusted him with keeping her safe. I loved their dynamic. How he was at her mercy - but willingly. And how he always lifted her up and encouraged her to be the fierce woman that he knew as his queen.

As with other Laura Thalassa books this one was a perfect mixture of humor, spice and darker elements. I already can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

Laura, Laura, Laura
You sure do know how to make a gal love the most morally grey men possible. I know alot of people felt Memnon had no redeeming qualities after Bewitched, but I swear he has so many lol. I know he has done some super shady stuff, including manipulative tactics, to Selene and in general but I feel like he worked SO hard in Bespelled to try and rectify those mistakes. I can't help but be team Memnon.
Laura has such a descriptive way of writing her characters emotions, especially when they are seeking vengeance and un leashing their fury on supernaturals who have done them wrong. Selene is the definition of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" when you do her or someone she loves wrong. The spicy scenes were just perfection and you could absolutely just feel the love, hatred, tension, etc just seeping off the page. I love this series so dang much!

As always, I will post my review on my bookstagram on release day (May 28th), which is @thatbookishteach
email for any additional followup- cbsmith6317@gmail.com

in the past few months, the second book in series like this have all just fallen flat. I went into this very worried. But it worked. Bespelled picks up right where Bewitched left off and we dive right back into the mystery and intrigue and heat of this world. Through this book, not only does the battle with the witches and their mystery disappearances continues, but we also get back into the rocky romance between Memnon and Selene but with her memories.

It is long. Know that going into it. I did feel a little frustrated as I was reading at how long it was taking me until I realized that it's super long. But the detail and steam are totally worth it.

thanks so much for the arc!
i'm always wary of the second book in a fantasy series - however, this book was a treat. the spice was fun, the plot was there, and i enjoyed my time back in selene and memnon's world. this book did a good job of wrapping up some of the smaller plot points from book 1 and then unearthing where we might be heading in book 3. i was engaged throughout.

i am confused by the selene vs. roxilana thing - i feel like that could be fleshed out more?

looking forward to the next book.

This book was such a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed Bewitched, but I DEVOURED Bespelled! I love a good morally gray MMC who is really only good where the FMC is concerned, and boy does Memnon deliver!! This book really fleshes out their relationship, and it’s the perfect balance of plot/romance/spice. The murder mystery plot kept me on the edge of my seat as well as the main couple’s dynamic. This is the first book I have finished in a weekend in a while! Can’t wait for more from this author!