I really wanted to give this book a very high rating, but I found it to be pretty average. Laura Thalassa is an author that is hit and miss for me and Bewitched is more of a miss than a hit.

Selene Bowers is a twenty year old witch who is desperately trying to get into the school of Henbane Coven. Thalassa's world building is set up to have supernatural creatures do college through approved supernatural schools and for the most part, this works to convey Selene's age and lifestyle. Selene is also hampered by memory loss every time she does magic. This payment was such a great aspect to the story and I liked the uniqueness that magic does come with a price. Selene is finally accepted into the coven school after pursuing her project of getting a familiar and having a magical journey. Unfortunately, this magical journey consists of a plane crash and the waking of a 2000 year old sorcerer that thinks that Selene is actually his scheming wife in disguise.

And this is where we veer into regular Thalassa territory. My issue with a lot of Thalassa's books is that her characters really don't change from book to book. The female main character is always young and there is an attempt for her to be seen as not like other girls. The male main character is always older, overbearing, and most times veers into AITA territory. This book was just not an exception and that's where it started to lose me.

Memnon and Selene just have no chemistry together. The parts where he invades her dreams to make her see him sexually are just ick, the parts where he invades her life and insists she is the scheming wife are just ick. He gives her no agency and there is no way that I buy any sort of relationship between them.

The other aspect of this book revolves around witches being murdered, but after being the main plot for several chapters, it is left to the background. I'm sure these dangling plot threads will be picked up again, but I'm not sure if I'm invested enough to read the next book.

Overall despite the three star rating, I was rather disappointed in how this book worked for me. I think fans of Thalassa will glom it up, but if you are on the fence, I say to check it out from the library.

I received this book from Sourcebooks Bloom Books for review purposes.

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Laura Thalassa had long become an auto-buy author for me. I can’t recall which series of hers I read first.. maybe it was The Vanishing Girl, but I’m one hundred percent certain it was both The Bargainer series and The Fallen World Series that sealed the deal for me.

The Four Horsemen series was something very different and Laura Thalassa for the most part pulled off writing books with the same plot thread that need to be executed differently. The only book in that series I haven’t read is Death, but even without reading it I know it’s going to be very different from the previous three.

When I read the blurb for Bewitched, I was quite frankly bewitched. The idea sounded so very different from anything she’d written before this and I was super curious how this book would be. I practically fell over when I saw my approval for Bewitched sitting in my mail. I couldn’t wait to dive in and see what world those pages hid for us.

Long story short, I was not disappointed.

The book starts off by setting the tone of the story, the voice of the protagonist and her situation. The base setup was complete within a few chapters and I enjoyed the way Thalassa chose to do that. The chapter after that is an explosion that blasts open doors straight into the meat of the story. From that point onward the book flies.

If you think about it, this book has a very different relationship graph than is typical for a story with romance in it. Typically the couple meet, there’s a trope that is followed and eventually they fall in love. This book follows no such thread. As the blurb says, the heroine is thrown into a situation where she is mistakenly considered the love interest of an ancient being called Memnon, the Cursed. The writing throws everything over its head and Selene lives every day at a time, her optimism and strength pushing her forward despite her circumstance with a dangerous magical being and of course, her personal situation where her using her powers result in her losing her memories.

These two situations are the primary plot threads, but there are many many interesting sub-plots that add to the complexity of the narrative and complicate the nature of the heroine’s life. There’s one beautiful line that Selene thinks to herself, questioning why everything about her must be viewed in the lens of what she doesn’t have, instead of everything she does. I enjoyed that line immensely and hugged that line to my heart.

Laura Thalassa has always been the queen of anti-heroes and she does no different in this book. The graph, again, is very different from what she’s done before and what we may have seen before. Often anti-heroes begin as villains and reveal themselves to be anything but. The graph of Memnon’s presence follows no such pattern. Everything is turned on its head and the book leaves you wondering who betrayed whom in actuality.

The book ends of sorts in a cliffhanger. It’s not devastating, because Thalassa builds to it, but it’s still a cliffhanger nonetheless. The book was about 7K pages on my Kindle, which must be about 500 pages in print format; I devoured it in practically one sitting. It was a breeeeeeze to read. Additionally it was so funny, I couldn’t stop all the giggles. A special mention to Nero, who’s—I feel—the actual protagonist to this whole story.

The writing is as addictive as always and while the book worked on such a serious subject, it didn’t feel heavy most of the time. It was light and a swift read (despite being such a big book filled with so many things that happen). But I have a feeling the sequel to Bewitched is going to be more serious than this one was, given the circumstances that this book ended in.

Five stars. Eaaaaasy. Happy reading and as always check trigger warnings!! I’ve mentioned a few here, highlight to read: There’s blood, violence, gore, drugging and kidnapping of a minor, grotesque creatures, misuse of power, betrayal by a loved one to name a few.

Well.

I'm struggling to rate this. Lots of stuff happens, and yet it felt like nothing happened. It was long and meandering, and I just kind of wanted it to get to the point, but it never really did.

It's frustrating when authors make it blatantly clear that a relationship is incoming and yet insist upon forcing in third wheels, either to inject a bit of sexy bits on the page before the main dish gets together or to try and create a facade of inner romantic turmoil which we all know is a crock.

Memnon is an asshole alpha, tall and buff and dark and brooding and all the things we love about asshole MMCs. He acts like a macho stereotype jackass, and whatever, that's fine, because that's who he is.

What I hated was how vehemently Selene loathed his actions and then turned into a puddle of goo because wang. It made it so that I couldn't possible respect her, and I actually grew to really dislike her and wish the worst for her. AND we aren't even given any graphic banging to offset it. I could maybe almost sort of understand if she was dickmatized to some degree, but she never actually gets the dick. (spoiler)

Yada yada yada, I don't want to read the next one.

A great start to a new series!

Selene Bowers has been desperately trying to enter Henbane Coven. Due to a quirk with her magic where she loses a memory every time she casts a spell, the Academy has denied her applications.
This time however she is told if she completes a magic quest and finds her familiar she could be admitted.
While on her quest she awakens Memnon the Cursed who believes she is his beloved.
I truly love a great bad boy and Memnone definitely doesn’t disappoint! Hie has a mysterious history with Selene….can his love for her win or will his anger over being cursed ruin them both?
I loved how Selene finds ways to work around her disability! She’s strong, clever and determined. I really admired her strength!
A steamy enemies to lovers romance with plenty of action and plot twists to keep you turning the pagesI I can’t wait for the next book!
*Warning there is a cliff hanger ending.
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to describe this book in 3 words?
✨ Magical
😀 Fun and…
🔥 HOT

Young witch, Selene, yearnsssss to be apart of Henbane coven. All she has to do is go on an epic quest and find her familiar. She does both on a trip to South America, but she also kind of releases a smokin’ hot dude from a tomb. Enter Memnon the Cursed 😈

Do you like possessive, dominant, two-thousand-year-old sorcerers? Cuz same. This man was HOTTTTT. And so were his interactions with Selene, who he SWEARS is his beloved, Roxilana.

Between dealing with Memnon, taking coven classes, trying to keep her memories (oh yeah, using her magic makes her forget things), and figuring out who is murdering witches.. Selene’s story is a fast-paced, unique, witchy adventure.

I’d say my only gripe is maybe there were a few TOO many plot points? I’d also have liked a bit more backstory/context. However, these things make me even more excited for book #2.

This was my first book by LT, but it certainly won’t be my last (I actually have Rhapsodic on my physical TBR!)

Laura Thalassa’s writing is just so engrossing. She’s unlike any other romance author out there, in that her books can be dark and complicated but they’re somehow so relatable and accessible while tackling these complicated issues of humanity and good and evil. I’ll admit I was reluctant to read her “four horseman” series, but curiosity got me and once I started, I was hooked. It’s the way she writes about the human experience that really makes her special. She can take these fantastical themes such as dogma, witchcraft, theology, etc. and spin them effortlessly into daily life in a way that makes you feel like you are the main character and you’re the one having this profound adventure.
Bewitched follows Selene, a witch who is a bit of a hot mess. She desperately wants to be welcomed into Henbane Coven (which is like a college), but she has a problem with her magic. When she uses it, she loses memories. She is given one last chance to prove herself worthy of entry and finds herself in an airplane about to go down somewhere in the Pacific. (This part sounds exciting but is a bit choppy to get through so stay with it!)
After their crash landing, Selene is lured deep into the jungle, following a voice and a bit of magic. What she finds is trouble in the form of an ancient, and damn sexy, ancient sorcerer who believes she, Selene, is his wife; his empress.
TBA- he’s obnoxious and irked me a lot but I’m now invested in this story and will read the series because for sure he will find his humanity and be tender and loving eventually, right?!

Are you still with me?! I know- it’s a lot. Now once Selene is back home and finally in her coven, murders start happening and she finds herself at the center of it. Memnon still is harassing her in a sexy but still annoying way, and her memory is still choppy at best. But it’s ok because at this point you basically are absolutely addicted to this book and would volunteer as tribute for Memnon any day, and/or would beg to party with the shifters next door…… 4 ⭐️

Did the book have a cliffhanger ending? Yes, yes it did. Will I preorder it immediately? Yes, yes I will,

Also, I want a Panther. Thank yew.

Thank you NetGalley, and the publisher for the chance to review this arc!!

Book 1 of Bewitched gives you exactly what you need: FMC Selene, a witch who loses a bit of her memory every time she uses magic. She wants to join a coven, ending up taking a trip and uncovers a crypt with an ancient evil sorcerer who thinks that she is his wife who betrayed him and now wants revenge!

Selene was frustrating and a badass FMC. Her familiar is a Panther and AMAZING! Memnon, who isn’t necessarily a hero but not a villain and he’s so intriguing and you’ll love every moment with him on the page. With exceptional world building and magic throughout the story with a touch of dark academia you’re going to be pulled in and awaiting the next! In all you need to read this if you love magic, witches, enemies to lovers, werewolves and steamy/spice scenes with obsession!

I received this ARC for an honest review. This is not my first book from author Laura Thalassa. I really enjoyed her Four Horseman series so I gave Bewitched a try. This story is about Selene and Mennon The Cursed. It is set in the same world as the Bargainer and Unearthly series.. It started off exciting with Selene going on a magical quest and trying to find her familiar. Selene decides to go to Galápagos Islands for her quest. On her flight to the islands, a magical attack that hit the plane. Selene used her magic to help out with the crash. Once on the ground, she kept getting magically pulled into the forest. What happened next? You must read the book to find out.
After the beginning of the book, the story slowed a little then the action picked up. It’s a good story. Just get passed the one slow spot.
With quality of writing and world building, Laura Thalassa is obviously extremely talented. Her characters are multidimensional and you want to continue reading.

3.5 stars.
Well guys... Bewitched by Laura Thalassa did not live up to the legacy of the Bargainer or Four Horsemen series this author is known for.
✨️
Selene is a college-aged witch who desperately wants into the Henbane Coven. Problem is, every time Selene does magic, she loses memories. This magical disease leaves her vulnerable, but she doesn't care. She wants what she wants, consequences be damned. In order to secure her spot, she goes on a magical quest. Find a familiar and use some serious magic. Well, she does both. She gets a badåšs panther named Nero for a familiar, and she opens the tomb of a man named Memnon the Cursed. Sound like a bad idea? It totally is. She gets way more than she bargained for when Memnon is convinced Selene is his wife, Roxilana, and he'll stop at nothing to have her by his side.
🐈‍⬛
So. I was super pumped about this book ,and it was just...not great. It felt incredibly disjointed. Like witchy college vibes mixing with the ancient fated love and history, and then throw in some mysterious műrďerŝ. It didn't mesh well for me a,d I felt yanked out of the story when I'd go from Memnon's history to a witchy party.
🤔
For what spice there was it,was pretty decent. More than what you get in the Bargainer series. Memnon is orally fixated and loves to worship the 🐈. And he has no problem denying Selene what she needs until he gets his way. My biggest complaint is Memnon may be at my villain limit for a love interest. I need the villain MMC to still treat the FMC like he loves her. Not just flowery words and $5000 for cat food. That doesn't negate his vengeance. There do have to be some lines in enemies to lovers that aren't crossed. And Selene needs a backbone. Maybe a new one, built from scratch.
🙄
I may still continue the series. The cliffhanger has me interested,but I'm also annoyed so idk. I appreciate the ARC opportunity from NetGalley though.

In true Laura Thalassa style, Bewitched has captured my heart and soul from the first page. This enemies to lovers fantasy romance left me breathless and completely enamored with Selene and Memnon. A fantastic world of witches, sorcerers and supernaturals was crafted here with beautiful and fascinating details. I was transported to a world full of secrets, twists and suspense. The soulmates from ages turned into enemies. A bond that shimmers, sizzles and just refused to die. Dark magic, dangerous curses, sinful passion and an epic love that's messy and all consuming. And everything comes together spectacularly through Laura Thalassa's epic writing to create a fantasy masterpiece.

What happens when a witch books a trip to Galapogas Island for her required magic quest and familiar so that she can be accepted in the coven..and then set free an "evil" sorcerer-conquerer from the cursed tomb who claims she is his queen who also betrayed him? You get it..chaos ensues.

This one was a mix of magic, fantasy, action and obviously all consuming emotions. I am a sucker of soulmates and reincarnation because there is something so inherently romantic about two people finding each other over again after centuries! I love-hate-love Memnon. He is obviously obsessed with his queen. He comes with "you are mine" and "touch her and die" vibes. But he is also enraged with Selene because she is the queen who has cursed him. He needs the curse to be lifted. He needs her to remember. But Selene doesn’t remember. She is sweet and witty and strong. So strong. Her magic comes at the great cost of her memories but she will risk everything for the right and the fair. She definitely holds all the Regal qualities. This story comes with the angst of some kind of unrequited love. The connection between Selene and Memnon is palpable but Selene doesn’t want to give in. The slow burn chemistry was epic. The thing is..there are so many unresolved things between them. And Memnon can be really cruel and manipulative and conniving when required. It's hard for Selene to accept that she loved a heartless monster but she also cannot deny that Memnon holds some kind of unexplainable power over her heart. He is the kind of hero who takes you right at the line between love and hate, obsession and disdain, pain and pleasure. You can feel that his love is larger than anything in this world. I can just pray that they find it soon..in next book.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Laura Thalassa is a favorite author of mine. When I found out that she was writing a new series, I jumped at the chance to read it. And boy did this book, BEWITCHED, OUT APRIL 18, not disappoint. It’s got romance, magic, suspense, drama, and throw in some spice and you have a winner story.

Part of what I loved most about this story is it’s newer take on the romance between Selene, the FMC who is charming, optimistic, and a lovable hot mess, and the sorcerer who she awakens from his cursed tomb, Memnon. He’s a badass villain who thinks Selene is his long lost wife who locked him in said cursed tomb. It was like the grumpy sunshine trope, but with magic and if the grump was a 2,000 year old powerful sorcerer who not only worships the ground you walk on, but also wants you to pay for that betrayal.

I think that dynamic was different than some of the other morally grey romances I’ve been reading and I was really entertained. Here is this guy who is obsessed with Selene, values her, but still seeks revenge in most places. Its a new relationship dynamic I haven’t seen often in romance, where the person who is supposed to be your ride or die, who is supposed to love you, support you, and cherish you doesn’t have a conscience and is actually the villain. I thought that was interesting and unique and that Selene is realistic in her struggles with that dynamic, even if she drove me nuts sometimes.

I will say I found some parts of the plot repetitive, but because the story flowed well, I was entertained, and I enjoyed the characters, this wasn’t a deal breaker for me or even an issue. But it might be to other readers.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and you should read it if you like:

✅ Villain, alpha MMC
✅ Witch FMC
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Touch her and die
✅ Amnesia/ mistaken identity
✅ Power Struggles
✅ Magic and familiars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this book in exchange for an honest review. And thanks Laura Thassala for writing this fabulous book.

Selene has been desperate to get into her coven of choice for years but when her magic takes memories, this has not been an easy journey for her. Undertaking a quest and finding a familiar is the key. Easy, right? The quest takes a turn when Selene releases Memnon the cursed. Does this mean she is now cursed? Is she responsible for Memnon? And why does he feel so right??

Memnon has been asleep for over 2000 years and in this time the world has forgotten his conquests, his kingdom and his irreplaceable soulmate. He is intense, but who could blame the poor guy. The love of his life, his soulmate, doesn't remember him even though he remembers everything about Roxilana. He will go to any length to make the world and his soulmate remember.

But when witches are being murdered and Selene can't remember where she was last week or even yesterday, what lengths will they have to go to? Will Selene's magic continue to take her memories? Can Memnon restore Selene's memories, and his kingdom and glory? And who is killing these witches?

This was so good! There were some great one liner's. So great that I had to send them to others who were also reading this book! It was fun, it was spicy, it was witchy, and it includes a drop dead gorgeous sorcerer. What more can you ask for. I CANNOT wait for Laura to release the second novel in the series!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks bloom books and Laura Thalassa for this ARC.

Instagram posted on 16/04/2023 (AEST)

This was so good! It got off to a weird start if I’m being honest but slowly but surely developed into a really interesting story. I absolutely love Laura Thalassa’s take on enemies to lovers in this one because it’s not really enemies to lovers at all, it’s enemies and lovers all at once. We get all the tropes we love (who did this to you, fated mates, etc) but in a completely new way that feels just as much like romance as it does like a violent power struggle. It’s so interesting and tense and idk how I’m supposed to wait for book 2 now 😭😭

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bloom for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review and the biggest thanks to Laura for writing yet another amazing novel!

I was so disappointed because I was seriously looking forward to reading this early with my ARC copy. I wanted to give this a good review but I have to be honest. I just didn't enjoy this book. It was kind of cheesy and not what I was expecting. The "witchy" stuff was so cliche that I just couldn't stick with it. I feel like apologizing to the author because I loved "The Bargainer" series SO much and I was hoping to love this one too. It just didn't live up to the other series, for me.

4 1/2 Bewitching Stars!

This book contains all the elements needed for an excellent story: a tough as nails heroine, an anti-hero, a possible love triangle, a mysterious killer, and several other strong sub stories. Selene is a twenty year old witch who struggles with memory loss every time she uses her magic. It's so severe that she has to leave herself thorough notes regarding things she might otherwise never remember. She goes on the look out for a magical adventure and a familiar in order to gain entry into the coven she wants. She finds her familiar, but also manages to release a sorcerer named Memnon from a crypt in the jungle. He's been cursed and imprisoned there for more than two-thousand years. He remembers Selene as his wife - - the one who betrayed him all those years ago. No matter how much Selene insists she isn't Roxy, Memnon knows things that she can't explain. In addition, he makes her feel things no one else ever has. It becomes evident that there is something between them. If she can just understand things better so she can get him to leave her in peace instead of haunting her existence, her life will be so much better.

Of course, when Selene returns home and the coven invites her to join them, she thinks she's well on her way to fulfilling her dreams. But Memnon tracks her down and proceeds to distract her from her goals. Not only that, he also works to have her fall for him again. Of course, things never go quite as planned and are often complicated by life itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

''What do you want?'' I say softly. ''Everything,'' he says. ''My empire, my riches, my palace, my adoring subjects. But most of all - I want you.''

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐

There's no reason for me to write a summary - if you read the official blurb, that's everything you need to know :D Let's start with the positive. I did enjoy the writing style and I was definitely entertained and swept away into a world of magic. Sybil was cool :) And bonus point from me - my dog's name is Nero, who can also be grumpy, but occasionally likes to cuddle. But he looks more like a black wolf haha

Chapter 27 was the best spell, curses, action with the familiar help, and overall witchy dealings in dangerous magical situations, sequence I have read so far. If you have any recs with 'in more detail' witchcraft battles or daily life at witchy school, let me know.

Let's move to the meh section. Not bad, but not great either.
Plot was little bit all over the place. Yes, I did like some random thrown things here and there, but I didn't understood where all of this is going or why. 2 major things were guessed straight away, so that's bit sad. On one side, I liked Selene. She's brave, funny and caring. I liked the premise of her unique situation about losing her memories while using her magic. Due to this situation, she struggles a lot, but she somehow adapted to it with the help of keeping books with written memories.

But girl lost her wits once she saw Memnon in a tux :D On occasions I felt very frustrated with her. And the man himself - I'm usually drooling for tatted, possessive and wicked guys, and by the premise, Memnon would be ace here. But he felt very repetitive and 'generic'? If I may say so. And only kissing? All that bravado, but nothing more 🥲 Me and Selene feel robbed haha

And now minuses. I'm all up for enemies to lovers troupe, soulmates, calling sweet names and all the jazz. But after a while I grew tired of hearing words Empress or Est amage. And what Memnon did at the end of the book had me fuming! How can you be a soulmate and do this? It makes no sense (we still don't know what Roxi did).

But this whole situation with him is tied to the next problem - too many gaps of information and too many unanswered questions. So pardon me, if he maybe deserved Roxi's wrath in the past (or not), but from the information that was given to us for the time being, I can't accept his wrongdoings. He's hot and cold. Harsh and caring. I have read these treats before, but somehow it didn't work for me in this book.

''The world will know my wrath - you will know my wrath, my queen. I will put you at my mercy,'' he vows. ''And I will destroy your world bit by bit until all you have left is me.''

I can't. Laura, you need to turn yourself in, because that cliffy was illegal 🙈

Thank you Laura Thalassa, publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

4.5 ⭐️

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa is a captivating novel filled with magic, adventure, and romance. Selene is a twenty-year-old witch who is trying her hardest to get into Herbane Coven. However, when she uses her magic, she loses memories. To gain acceptance into the coven, Selene must go on a magical quest to find a familiar. But what should have been a simple task turns out to be anything but, as magical forces attempt to bring down her plane during her journey. To save herself and the other passengers, Selene expends a considerable amount of magic to keep the plane from crashing.
Once in the jungle, Selene awakens an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who believes she is his wife. As Selene returns home and begins her classes at the coven, witches start turning up dead, and it becomes clear that Memnon has followed her home. Selene must protect herself and others against unknown and known dangers.

Memnon the Cursed is a fascinating character, and his behavior sometimes doesn't seem to make sense. I wish we got tiny glimpses into his mind to explain more. His unpredictable behavior adds intrigue to the story. Selene and Memnon's chemistry is intense, and their complicated relationship keeps the reader on edge. Memnon is possessive, adoring, and also a complete jerk at times, and it would have been interesting to have a peek into his mind.

The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. I liked this world that runs tandem to ours with witches, sorcerers, shifters, and curses. Selene is a great main character who is determined and strong, despite her memory loss. The cliffhanger ending leaves the reader eager to find out what happens next, making the anticipation for the next book in the series all the more intense.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

I had a damn good time with this book! Was it perfect? No. Do I care? Also no. It was entertaining and kept me wanting more and more and I can’t wait for the next book!

Now, onto the details.
Selene is a witch whose power takes her memories. Every time she uses her power she can feel a memory be taken away without ever knowing what it was. She keeps detailed journals and has post it notes everywhere with things she doesn’t want to forget. She’s also trying to get accepted into a coven but she must go on a magic quest and also get a familiar. While on this journey she accidentally awakes Memnon the cursed who thinks she’s his wife and queen. And she finds her familiar. When she gets back and is accepted into henbane coven weird things happen. Witches are murdered, she’s being stalked by Memnon. There’s shifters and soulmates and some spicy scenes.

This is one that you shouldn’t question too much though. Not everything is explained and not everything makes sense. But if you’re more interested in just having a good time and not letting things like that bother you much, I definitely recommend this one. This was also my first book by this author so I have no idea if this is similar to her other books or not.
4.5⭐️2🌶
I received an arc through NetGalley for my honest review

Laura Thalassa is a go to author for romantic fantasy! This book only positively adds to her already impressive collection of novels. The writing is tight and the premise, wonderfully original.

You can expect:

▪️Witches, sorcerers, shifters!
▪️Fated mates
▪️Ancient magic, an ancient curse
▪️A mysterious, powerful, alpha MMC
▪️A spirited, kind hearted FMC
▪️An animal sidekick
▪️A school for witches

Some of my thoughts:

📍I was absolutely obsessed with the premise! Every time witch Selene uses her magic, it devours her memories. I found that so original!

📍I thoroughly enjoyed the moment she haphazardly woke Memnon, the ancient ‘evil’ being who thinks she is his wife. The fallout from that was a delight to read! Their frustration and confusion was well written!

📍The ending was fantastic. The last 20% of this book, I flew through and I can’t wait for the next!

📍My main issue with this book was that I struggled to invest in the characters. Selene didn’t have much in the way of memories and that made her difficult to ‘know’ in depth given that she didn’t ‘know’ herself. So much of who we are is rooted in our childhoods etc and her backstory was blank. That had a flow on effect because she also didn’t remember Memnon. The book is in Selene’s POV and as such Memnon is an enigma. I did not understand his behaviour and it made him unlikeable. He flip flopped from cruel, to kind and back again in an erratic way. I wasn’t given enough back story to understand his motives.

📍Despite my point above I have high hopes for the sequel! With Selene recovering her memories I suspect we’ll come to know both her and Memnon! I just needed a bit more of them in this first book to aid in my investment. Memnon in particular. I would’ve liked him to tell Selene a little more of their history. Also … how did he cope awakening in a modern time? Where did he get money? Some of his POV would actually have been amazing because I would’ve really enjoyed reading that!


⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (rounded up for Goodreads)

Thank-you to Laura Thalassa and her publisher for providing me with this ARC - I was thrilled to receive it!

Bewitched is a story that follows a foul mouthed baby witch named Selene. Who when she uses her magic she loses memories.

First things first I hate academy witch stories. So if you like the whole school for the witches trope this is a book for you.

I did however like the story of the villain Memon. I found his whole thing interesting. I had so many questions about him. What was his link to Selene? Why was he cursed? He was a tad obsessed with Selene and at times it just came off weird.

I loved her familiar Nero. One would be so lucky to get a "cat" like him.

Overall the story was pretty good.

I received this arc from Netgally for an honest review.