Absolutely LOVED everything about SPELLCASTER!

As soon as I started reading, I couldn't put it down and I was immediately swept into the world that Jaymin Eve created. I loved all of the magical elements and the world-building so much, and I absolutely adored the characters! Paisley and Logan were fantastic, and I'm so, so curious about their history! I also loved Paisley's family and friends so much--they added such wonderful heartfelt moments to the story and complemented all of the action...and the slowburn romance so well! I also adored the moments between Paisley and Logan! Enemies to lovers, who hurt you?, f*ck moments, and dark academia vibes at a magical college...I was so here for all of it, and it completely delivered for me. Also, Logan and Paisley's chemistry was phenomenal and I'm extremely excited to see where it leads!

Highly recommend to readers who like enemies to lovers, all things romantasy and fast-paced stories that they won't want to put down!

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/5
Genre: romantasy; more fantasy than romance
World building: 🧱/5
Plot: lacked originality
Emotion:📉 none
Spice: 🌶️/5

The plot was rather predictable. The inspiration for this book appears to be the wizarding word of Harry Potter fantasy elements (school / magic) meets attempted Fourth Wing romance. It was abundantly obvious who the enemies to lovers would be and how their relationship would play out. Context clues were too easy to predict, leaving no room for mystery/surprise. There was some spice but it was short and not super steamy.

The dialogue was juvenile for 22+ year olds with conversations that didn’t flow naturally and/or were meaningless, contributing nothing to the overall plot. I could not relate to the FMC and the bond between her and her 3 besties. I have never been a fan of friends that walk around arms linked, constantly saying ‘love you’, especially when they just met - so fake and forced. I also didn’t particularly care for such heavy family involvement throughout the story. FMC is one of 5 siblings all of which attend Weatherstone College. Family dynamics also come into play with other characters as well. The personalities of the characters were so underdeveloped that most of what we know about them is surface level, failing to reach deeper connections. The MMC was sparsely present for most of the book with minimal dialogue between the enemies to lovers.

The ‘fast paced’ nature was the downfall of the book. Not enough time was devoted for character and world development. For example we learned about a spell in less than one page and were already using it defensively in the next chapter - too fast without enough context to really take it in before the event happens. With the lack of descriptive world building, I often found myself having difficultly visualizing the scenery. The book also failed to address the speed at which time was moving. I had no idea, most of the time, if days, weeks, or months had passed.

There is potential for this series; however, this first book didn’t deliver in comparison to leading romantasys. Unsure whether I would read the next book; perhaps I would just to see if the world and character development improved.


Review and rating posted on Goodreads. Rating will be included in March recap of books read on Instagram (no individual book review post due to lower rating).

Do you like dark academia? Witchcraft? Enemies to lovers? If that’s your vibe, for sure check this book out. I will say the writing style is a little more YA despite the fact that the main character is 22. But it does have a few spicy moments.

I enjoyed the story. The way witchcraft works in this world. I am beyond intrigued. However, fair warning, this is not a standalone book. When it ended, I was PISSED. More because this book doesn’t release until September and who knows how long after that I have to wait for the sequel ugh lol

This book was TOTALLY giving magical Romeo & Juliet vibes and it DEFINITELY lives up to its “intense enemies-to-lovers” description. I couldn’t stop thinking that if there was college after Hogwarts, Weatherstone would be it. I got huge grown-up Harry Potter vibes from this book.

The magic system was very standard, encasing a bunch of different magical varieties; from necromancy, elemental magics, spellcasting, to nature sprites who commune with plants and animals and even have familiars. The most intriguing part of the magic system are Spellcasters, who are able to commune with all magic types (except necromancy.)

The FMC, Paisley Hallistar, was very likable but there was really nothing that stuck out about her overall. I’d hoped there would’ve been more of a ‘bang’ when we found out what affinity she had (magic type) but it was mentioned several times throughout the story what affinity she may have so when it was announced, it fell very flat. While her magic DEFINITELY grew (from not being able to unlock it, to parting lakes,) she did not have any personal growth and was a bit bland overall. The MMC, Logan, was your typical mysterious, powerful loner-type bad boy and as we still don’t understand his motives, there is a little bit of depth to him overall.

The thing I loved most about this book was the relationships built between all characters. Paisley ends up saving a girl early on in the book who ends up becoming her best friend, and later in they gain 2 more besties to round out their circle. The interactions between the girls was very cute.. but as someone who is very close with their family, my favorite relationships was between Paisley and her 4 siblings. They were very protective and loving towards each other- as family should be.

In conclusion, for me- it was flat throughout and nothing happened really that piqued my interest or brought excitement. There were a few VERY INTERESTING mysteries being alluded to throughout, but I was so disappointed in the end when NOTHING was revealed. There were so many questions formed throughout the book but we were given zero answers, which is why my final rating was 3 stars. I understand that it may be intended to draw readers into the next book but I’m not sure yet if I’ll be one of the people continuing the series (if it is intended to be one.)

I enjoyed this book. The twist felt a bit predictable, and the pacing was a bit off for character development, but it was enjoyable none the less. Wonderful dark academia videos and a MMC that the Romantasy ladies will be swooning over!

I just couldn’t get into this book. I read mostly fantasy with romance, but the FMC was horny within the first 2-3 pages. The writing also felt juvenile and young for me considering what I’ve read previously (I’ve not read this author before)

Oh my gosh, I LOVED this book!

First I would like to say that I felt seen by the FMC, Paisley, as she has the same sense of humor I do and I think we would be the best of friends.

This story had me hooked after the first couple of chapters and I couldn’t put it down. The writing was phenomenal when it came to the Paisley’s relationships with her family and her witty banter with her besties, Logan (MMC), and other characters in the book. Her internal dialogue is so relatable which made it even more entertaining to read.

The slow burn was epic and the spice was spicing. The overall plot was intriguing with Paisley coming into her magic at 22 and entering the school Weatherstone to explore her future as a witch. The mysteries continue to pile up as Paisley overcomes challenges with her magic and her apparent arch nemesis, the swoon-worthy yet broody, Logan Kingston. I really enjoyed the ride and I am DYING for whenever the second book comes out. Please let it be within months of this book’s release.

I am super grateful I was gifted this eArc by Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGallery

Witches, warlocks, dark academia, and a smexy MMC straight out of my wildest dreams (literally).

Y’all, this book had me on the edge of my seat. The world-building? Chef’s kiss. The magic? Pure perfection. Every little detail just pulls you in. And the enemies-to-lovers tension?? So hot, I was squirming for relief (IYKYK).

I JUST FINISHED AND WTF DID I JUST READ?! I NEED BOOK TWO RIGHT NOW. Jaymin Eve, ma’am, you have some EXPLAINING TO DO get back here with the sequel IMMEDIATELY.

And Logan? My sexy warlock. He can call me precious any damn time he wants.

If you love “who hurt you?”, elemental magic, and pure unhinged “f*ck it” moments, do yourself a favor and ADD Spellcaster TO YOUR TBR ASAP.

I really couldn't get into this which was a shame because I was really looking forward to it after seeing it on the Hive Instagram. I found the characters weren't that engaging, and the plot was one I couldn't get into. I know their is an audience for it I am just not it

Spellcaster by @jaymineve just cranks up the drama, magic, and swoon-worthy moments in this arc! @netgalley The main character is struggling to unlock the full potential of her magic, and let me tell you, the journey is far from smooth. She’s like a superhero-in-training who’s so close to tapping into her powers but just can’t quite get there. Enter Logan, the mysterious and ridiculously powerful warlock who has the potential to help her unleash that magic… if only their complicated history wasn’t standing in the way.

Logan is everything—handsome, powerful, and (of course) a little broody. But the twist? She can’t remember her childhood memories of him, so their past is a huge mystery that keeps her—and the reader—on edge. Do they have a history? What exactly went wrong between them? And most importantly, why does she feel this undeniable pull toward him even when her head is telling her to stay away?

The magic between them? Fire. Every time they’re together, the tension is palpable, and you can’t help but feel like something explosive is about to happen. It’s this constant push-and-pull that keeps the chemistry between them sizzling, all while the protagonist is struggling with her own identity and magical potential.

As for the magic itself, it’s like watching a person finally start to unlock a power they never knew they had—and the stakes are higher than ever. Each time she gets closer to controlling her magic, things get more dangerous. The question is: will she be able to trust Logan enough to unlock it… or will their tangled past ruin everything?

This arc has it all—sizzling chemistry, magical secrets, a warlock with a tortured past, and a heroine who has to face both her inner demons and the real ones lurking in the shadows. If you love magic, mystery, and a enemies to lovers romance that keeps you guessing, this arc of Spellcaster is pure gold. Prepare to be hooked! RELEASES September 23, 2025

If you like Jaymin Eve, you’ll love this book

It has all the elements we know and love about her style:
- She builds an entrancing world with magic and wonder, and while there are a few plot holes, you can’t keep from wanting to read more (and read faster) to see where the story goes
- She brings to life a dreamy book boyfriend, a quirky female lead who grows into herself throughout the story, and supportive friends (and family) to round out the story
- …And she leaves you with a cliff hanger having you counting down the days until the sequel comes out!

But seriously - I loved the dark academia setting, the magical world (similar to Zodiac Academy though less cutthroat), and the slow burn romance between Logan and Paisley (I cannot wait to learn what happened when they were kids). And surprisingly, the book felt oddly cozy despite the main character fearing for her life for a lot of it…

For full transparency, there are two overarching observations I would be remiss not to call out. They didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book but they are necessary for a fair review
1. The plot twist felt predictable
2. I never understood why Paisley was so positive Logan was evil nor why she never asked more questions about their shared past (both important to driving her character’s behaviors

Thank you to Jaymin Eve, HarperCollins Publishers, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Welp. I fell for a pretty cover once again, the colors, the art, the edges…so pretty!

I wish I could say that the actual story was just as gorgeous but it fell a bit flat for me. I’ve never read Jaymin Eve before but I know she’s quite popular on the indie scene. Unfortunately I just could not connect with her writing at all…it felt very juvenile to me. Most of the characters are supposed to be 22-24 years old but some of the stuff they did and they way they talked read to be like they were teenagers.

The romance was a good paced slow burn but honestly how horny the FMC acted all book long made the culmination of them actually getting together feel diminished. And I get that the MMC is supposed to act in ways where you can’t tell if he actually wants to kill her or love her but secretly you know he loves her but in this case it truly was hard to tell lol. He doesn’t really show any outright affection towards her unless he’s saving her ass again and again.

I did like the plot of the book, can’t really go wrong with a college for witches! And I did like how tight knit the FMC’s family was, that was cute. And the whole mystery surrounding what happened when the FMC and MMC were kids is intriguing. But in the end I don’t think there’s enough here for me to continue on with the series. Thank you so much to Canary Street Press for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Edge. Of. My. Seat!!! Only way to describe this book! The world building and magical system were really easy to digest and the mystery surrounding Paisley and Logan had me hooked! Paisley is strong and curious sprinkled with a little vulnerability. Mixed with Logan who is bad boy personified … yeah, love love love these two. Overall amazing book and great cliffhanger! Can’t wait to see what Jaymin has in store for book two!!!

My one and only feedback is that this is set in America and very clearly not written by an American. Like referring to school as primary and secondary. Super minor but did stand out to me in terms of not lining up. Didn’t effect my overall view of the book though.

Dear romance gods, thank you. i have found a new book boyfriend who is giving bad warlock vibes with tattoos, and he saves her life.

The spice was spicing, i was kicking my feet when i found out they are both having the same dreams about each other.

Monsters ✔️
Sëx dreams ✔️
Magical college ✔️
Enemies to lovers ✔️

I'm excited for more of Logan and Paisley in the next book. I can't wait to find out what's gonna happen. I was entertained, and my eyes did not leave my Kindle. I literally read this in one sitting. I love the character growth for Paisley. It's not easy being a part of a family with great power and not knowing what your affinity is. I do wish to get more of the past, Logan and Paisley being inseparable when they were younger, I'm going to cross my fingers for a flashback because she doesn't remember.

This book is fabulous! It has plenty of action and romance all packed in it. The characters are awesome. The MMC, Logan, is the next shadow daddy. He’s so hot 🥵. Can’t wait to read the second book when it releases because I will definitely be picking it up.

💫 ✦ Spellcaster ✦ 💫

Author: Jaymin Eve
Pages: 336
Genre: NA Romantasy, urban, paranormal
Rating: 4.5/5

VIBES
✦ Who hurt you?
✦ Slow burn enemies to lovers
✦ Dark academia
✦ Witches and warlocks with elemental magic
✦ Monster attacks

THOUGHTS
I couldn’t put this down. This is my 8th book by Jaymin Eve, and it might be my favorite yet! Starts out with a bang and keeps on going.

Paisley Hallistar is our 22 y/o witch who got excepted to the oldest and most prestigious magical schools, Weatherstone College (Formed by two necromancer witches in the 1800s. A necromancer always sits as headmaster. Dark and creeping energy lives throughout the school). She is from a loving, powerful, big family. This family is so stinking cute and strong together. This book takes us on her journey through the first school year. I loved Paisley’s journey to discovering her powers and the mysteries behind it.

Logan Kingston is a 3rd year transfer from Italy who is the sexy tatted up powerful warlock with spellcaster magic (rarest, most powerful magic- can draw on the energy of the world itself for near limitless power). He secretly heals her and saves her life 3 times. 🖤 He calls her ‘precious’ which is super cute but gave me Lord of the Rings vibes. 🤣🤣

I got Romeo and Juliet vibes with this story. Paisley and Logan’s dads grew up together and were best friends. Then Logan’s mom tragically dies and Logan’s dad blames Paisley’s mom for the death of his wife. So, now there is a family feud and they are supposed to stay away from each other during the school year. The tension and slow burn is 🥵! That ending!! I NEED more. With monster attacks, sexy dreams, powers calling to each other, and so many laugh out loud moments and relatable scenes, I highly recommend this to romantasy fans!

QUOTES
“Trying to kill yourself before I get the chance, Precious?”

“Your life has been in my hangs for years, and I’m not ready for it to end yet.”

✦ A MUST add to your tbr!
✦ Thank you @jaymineve and @netgalley for the gifted eARC!

#netgalley #spellcaster #jamineve #romantasy #darkromantasy #bookrecommendations

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve

Release date September 23, 2025

This is an absolutely wonderful dark academia witchy novel. It follows Paisley as she enters her first year at Weatherstone College, a prestigious magical school. There she makes some new friends and also an enemy or two, as well as Logan who she knew when she was little.

I loved everything about this book. The setting, the spice, the magic, the cast of characters. My favorite character is Haley who is a book obsessed friend of Paisley’s.

Really hope this series continues.

Soooooo I won’t say much since it will ruin the plot of the story. I will say that this book is truly a slow burn at the slowest pace ever. Literally, half of the time I wanted to quit reading it, while the other half of the time I had a fun time. I don’t know how the author did it, but I was engaged. I just felt frustrated because I needed to know what’s going on. I know it’s the world-building that is going to be more explored in the next book. But I need the answer now. Like, chapter after chapter still leaving me entertained but confused as well. Just need to know. Please.

Besides my endless rant about needing to know the answers, the enemies-to-lovers is a bit slow. Don’t expect too much until 70% in. It’s truly a slow burn between the characters. There is major history between them that is hidden. I can’t wait to see it in the next book.