I AM BEWITCHED. The premise of this witchy story is so entertaining and interesting. The potential here and the ANGST. There better be some serious groveling in book two, because MEMNON. He has work to put in after what he's done to our girl Selena.

But this has been a fun ride so far. From the start and a literal plane crash in the Amazon rainforest, our FMC is out here fighting for her life/sanity/memories. We've got sketchy coven activities, murder, an obsessed morally grey sorcerer, a witchy FMC who loses her memories when using her power, and a veryyy interesting backstory. I'll leave it there.

This honestly took me by surprise and I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. But I finished at midnight and IMMEDIATELY started book two. I could not stop - and that's when I KNOW I was hooked and thoroughly enjoying it.

There were some minor plot holes that I wish were addressed somehow to explain the magic system, the goddess, and how certain *things* from the past are able to happen. BUT, I'm trusting in the process and in Laura to bring it home and fill in the gaps for me in Bespelled.

I've loved all of Laura's books so far and I'm fully invested in how this story will unfold.

Tropes/Elements:
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Fated mates
- Touch her and die
- "My wife"
- Ancient curse
- MMC who loves to eat
- Anti-hero

Note: Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC. The decision to read/review was my own, and represents my honest opinion.

Laura Thalassa writes some of the best fantasy romance. In case you didn't know, this series is set within the same world as her Bargainer series so the same magic systems apply and there are subtle nods to that, but you don't need to have read any prior books in order to understand this one. Be warned that this is a planned trilogy and there are so many questions I have that were left unanswered. However, Laura does such a wonderful job of leaving you wondering without feeling like you've been dropped off a ledge with a cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thanks to Bloom and Netgalley for my copy to review.

this book had so much potential, sadly, it was poorly executed. I don’t like modern slang in books, especially in fantasy and this one didn’t do it for me. the writing was just a big NO.

I think the writing also made me dislike the main character; she was a bit insufferable and very annoying! please shut up in the most respectful way possible <3 I cannot count how many times I heavily sighed when she opened her mouth and said something, and her dialogue/narration did not help one bit I just had the biggest ick. I did like her friendship with sybil though, she’s a real one!

the mmc? EW. that is the only word that pops into my mind when thinking of him. he was so overly possessive in a bad way and ugh I didn’t like him! he would not leave the fmc alone and mans does not know the meaning of the word no, LEAVE HER ALONE GOSH! you are there at every waking moment of this girls life bothering her and yet when she gets attacked your whining in her mind worried about what’s going on LIKE SERIOUSLY ugh he just was not it! don’t even get me started on what he did at the end, this guy deserves to get cursed into deep sleep again and never wake up BYE.

another thing, the fmc constantly said to herself she hated this guys guts but all of that stops when he decides to kiss her and she’s all googoo eyes for him LIKE GIRL STAND UP ARE YOU FREAKING STUPID WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! there was more smut than plot. speaking of plot… where was it?

“I would rather spend a thousand lifetimes forgetting my past than spend one remembering yours.”

I think this is the only thing she said that I liked in this entire book, I’m glad she stood up for herself in this moment, the mmc had to get humbled.

I was originally going to give this one star, but I actually started enjoying the last 30% of the book so I’ll give it two

The tension between Selene and Memnon is what sets this book apart from other fantasy romances. From their very first meeting the tension and angst between the two of them draws the reader in. Looking forward to the rest of the series and hoping the following books will be more action packed.

Single POV, Spicy, Enemies to Lovers, Witches & Werewolves, Love Triangle, Touch her and die

I loved this!!! This follows Selene as she embarks on a quest to get herself into this prestigious witch coven and she accidentally unleashes Memnon the cursed from his tomb. Memnon was such a fun character. He’s so intense and like literally crazy but watching the romance blossom was great! Selene was so fun to follow and was so strong and independent. I finished this and immediately started the sequel!

My Rating: 6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(This book can take all my stars!)

Favorite Quote: “This man is one big walking Bad Idea, and I'm learning from last night that I have a weakness for them.”

My Thoughts: This book had everything I wanted from a witchy book, plus more. Selene was an amazing FMC. I thought I wasn’t going to be a big fan of hers with the whole memory loss situation, but I loved how the author went about doing that.

Bewitched is packed with action and mystery! The familiars (bonded animal companions) added a special touch for me because the connection between Selene and her familiar is so cute. They reminded me of me and my pet lol.

The story flowed well, the side characters were fun, and the magic system wasn’t complicated.

And can we have a round of applause for Memnon, the super sexy sorcerer, with a heart full of revenge😍🙌🏽🥹 When it comes to unhinged men, he takes the cake! Whenever he popped up on the page, I was smiling from ear to ear, even though I wasn’t supposed to be. What that says about me, I don’t know. The chemistry between him and Selene was addicting.

Murders, romance, animal companions, witchy vibes, humor, and an awesome plot?! This book had it all. I’m glad book two is out now, because that ending has me needing more.

This was quite refreshing not going to lie! I'm starting to get tired of the same formulaic romantasy novels and this one was a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere and setting were so well depicted, I was truly sucked into this world. The MMC (what's his name already) was the only thing that feels kind of repetitive, we get it, he's broody and mysterious, can we get something else now? Aside from that, I think the magic system was also pretty fun and I'll get to book 2 immediately. 4 stars

I had to stop reading this book at chapter 13. I have loved almost everything Laura has written in the past but I did not enjoy Bewitched at all. The plot in the first couple of chapters was way too fast moving and the writing was childish. I am very disappointed that I did not like this book because the summary looked very promising. Additionally, the female main character was very immature. Overall, this kind of reminded me of romantasy fast fashion.

After the incredible popularity of Laura Thalassa’s Four Horsemen series, I was excited to try some of her other books, something fresh and slightly lighter if possible. Bewitched is a new trilogy about a modern society where witchcraft and other supernatural entities are a normal occurrence.
Selene is the main heroine in this trilogy. She is a witch who is unlike the others. Each time she uses her magic, some of her memories are erased. She has accepted this and found ways to cope with the anomaly. Desperate to get into the local coven, Selene is working tirelessly to impress them and not let her memory issues prevent her from doing so. Due to her lack of interesting magical quest and familiar, Selen feels defeated but is not ready to give in just yet. In a last attempt to impress the coven, Selene boards a plane to begin her trip into South America and visit to the Galapagos Islands. Unfortunately, this plane journey doesn’t go to plan when she starts hearing this strange voice aboard the plane, one that is guiding her forcefully somewhere. As the plane starts experiencing turbulence and eventually starts to crash, Selene intervenes saving all the passengers aboard but depleting her magic. The voice is still there, guiding her twenty miles away from the crash site to a strange crypt. She discovers a man, asleep and awakens him not understanding the consequences of her actions.
Returning to the US with a panther familiar, which I don’t know why, I found slightly corny, and an impressive magical quest Selene is determined to get back to normal but this will not happen any time soon.
Memnon, the mystical man from the crypt has returned with Selene, desperate for revenge on a woman named Roxilana, his wife who he thinks trapped him in the tomb and betrayed their relationship.
Obviously, Selene is having a ‘wtf’ moment as she has no idea what he is on about. For the remainder of the review, I will try and remain spoiler free as it’s definitely a wild journey.
This book has a blend of college life, ancient magic, unknown enemies, and new magic system. It felt like a soap opera in book form to me. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t find it emotionally charging either. It was entertaining, the romance was fun to read and the plot kept moving throughout with twists and turns right until the end. I definitely went straight into book two – Bespelled.

What a fun witchy read!
This did not have a slow start and pulled you in immediately. The action was there, the plot was there and the relationship development started strong.

They all did kind of fizzle out in the middle - I think part of Selene not remembering parts of her life when she does magic will always alter the timeline of things. It felt like I didn't know what was going on, but the characters didn't either.

I am reading reviews that this is in the same world as the bargainer but I felt like the world building was not as detailed as I expected in book one. You knew everything you needed to know, but nothing else. The immediate community was understood but past that, not a ton of details. I think there could have been more, even if you've read the other series.

I am a stan for a book boyfriend, okay! The thing that I felt was so different and enjoyable here was that Laura did such a good job at can we trust Memnon - I questioned it the entire time. He was acting a fool and then Selene was not saying what she meant while also forgetting things. Through it all, the fact that I was like is he good or bad for Selene is so different then my usual attitude toward fictional men, I liked that I wasn't completely one way or another.

The cliff made me jump to book 2 so just be prepared and have it ready to go!
Thank you NetGalley for the ebook with Bespelled's release

#Bewitched:

Thank you so much @bloom for my gifted copy.

Memnon, it’s on site.

I received book 1 and 2 from @bloom since Bespelled is out on the 28th. I flipped through a few pages, became instantly hooked, and two sleepless nights later, I finished and had the biggest book hangover.

This book was what I needed at the perfect time. A FMC that is loud, proud, and stubborn. She’s a hint of snark. A very sketchy, yet brooding love interest. There’s a magical school that is having mysterious murders on campus, a pack that I’m totally down with. (I love Kane, so can we make sure he gets his HEA please?)

I can go on and on about how much I loved this book. It’s just what I needed, ya know? Also, Nero, ugh, I just adore you. The snark and mystery with a good ole dollop of spice really just did it for me.

Off to go obsess over book 2 now!

Predict text: I was bewitched….

I was bewitched by the fact that I was not a good reader!

🖤🥀 Bewitched Review 🥀🖤

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Bewitched is a fantasy romance and book one in the Bewitched series. Selene dreams of being part of the Henbane coven. But whenever she uses her magic, she loses pieces of her memory. When she’s given two tasks to complete before being admitted to the coven, she realizes she might be taking on more than she expected

This book was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the unique world building and different twists to traditional witchy lore. Selene is a wonderful character and I loved her strength throughout this story. Memnon is just absolutely delicious and I really enjoyed his character.

Overall this was a four star read for me. It was a fun start to a new series! I really enjoyed the characters and the world - I can’t wait for the second book! This book did have some darker elements, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book did have spicy moments throughout, so overall three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of strong characters, unique world building and ancient enemies vibes, then absolutely pick this one up!

4.25 stars!!

WOW a witch's coven, missing memories, a 2000 year old sorcerer soul mate awakening from a curse, familiars galore, and a string of murders...this truly is new york's hottest club!!

All Selene Bowers wants to do is get into Henbane Coven so she can have a support system and be with other witches. What she doesn't expect is crashing a plane in Peru, awakening a millennia-long cursed socerer named Memnon, and ending up with a lot more than she bargained for. All magic has a cost, and her cost is her memories- the very thing that could help her figure out what exactly has happened to her life!! Memnon, of course, remembers all 2000 years he's been cursed, and a life he led before with his warrior queen wife, Roxilana- and wouldn't you know, Selene looks and acts JUST LIKE HER. If only her memories weren't consistently disappearing and she could know for sure one way or the other.

This is such a fascinating world, spun-off slightly from the Bargainer world (mostly just that the same supernatural laws and universities exist), where witches and lycanthropes and other supernatural beings live in our world and hide their magic. I loved getting a chance to dive in and learn more about the witches of this world, and have a much more positive view of lycanthropes after the Bargainer! The mystery of this book still hasn't been fully solved, and I feel like the story is just beginning. I cannot wait to get to the next book and see where the story goes from here!!

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review...onto Bespelled!!!

Spellbinding. I cannot wait for the release of Bespelled, the second installment of Laura Thalassa’s Bewitched at the end of this month. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read Bewitched in advance.

STORY LOVES
♥️♥️♥️

SPICE
- - -

RECOMMEND
💳 yes

Selene Bowers seeks acceptance into Henbane Coven by embarking on a quest to connect with her powers. However, when her magic saves her from a supernatural attack, it erases her memories. Unknowingly awakening an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, Selene becomes entangled in a dangerous plot at her new school. Accused of murders due to her memory loss, she must rely on Memnon's help, setting off a chain of events that will change her destiny.

At first, this book reminded me of the movie 'The Mummy' since Memnon believes Selene to be his long-lost wife. But every time I thought I knew what was happening, there was another twist and more questions to be answered. If you want a book to keep you on your toes, this is it! From the slow-burn, tension and spice to the thrilling twists, I could not read this fast enough. The ending left me with my jaw on the floor, immediately needing the next book. I cannot wait to see how Selene will make it out of this hot mess!

Thank you Sourcebooks/Bloom books for the ARC!

What a fun and exciting ride! I love Laura Thalassa and was thrilled to get a copy of Bewitched, and it didn’t disappoint! I loved the world building, the magic system, Selene’s internal struggles with her abilities, etc. And the romance! 😍😍 I’m so excited to see where this story goes next!

Utterly romantic and addicting, this thrilling read blends elements of adventure, fantasy, and romance together to create a start to a bewitching new series.

All Selene has ever wanted is to be accepted into Henbane Coven and feel a sense of belonging in her journey as a witch. But her magic comes at a price. With every spell she casts, she loses a piece of her memory, making her chances of acceptance hard to achieve. When she is faced with an opportunity to become part of the coven by going on a more intricate quest, she accepts the challenge. But when mysterious forces impose on her trip, she accidentally wakes an ancient sorcerer, who may be more powerful than she could have imagined.

If you loved Rachel Griffin’s nature-filled witchy books, this magical world-building is similar but almost a grown-up version with a hint of mystery, mysticism, and allure of The Mummy and the thrill and adventure of Indiana Jones. I loved the witchy element so much! I enjoyed seeing Selene find a familiar (my heart!!) and go about her life as a witch.

The romance was very intriguing as well. It was a mix of curiosity and lust, leading to something completely compelling and intoxicating (whew!). I think this book set up the romance and story so well for the next one, and I’m excited to see what happens next!

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Selene Bowers is determined to get into the Henbane Coven to focus her magic studies . She was previously rejected because her magic feeds off of her memories and it is considered fatal. She needs to have a life defining adventure of epic proportions in order to gain entry this time around. She ends up in the jungles of South America and ends up accidentally waking up a 2000 year old sorcerer who claims to be her mate!

I loved this book! Even though Selene is constantly losing her memories, she isn't a push over and is smart with her record keeping. This book did drag a little in the middle but after I got over that hump the story flew by!

I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

I was really into the whole witchy premise of this book. I loved being at the coven & getting to learn about the classes witches take to continue their magical education. It was unusual that Selene lost her memories everytime she cast a spell and something I’ve definitely never read before. Her friendship with Sybil was great & I actually wish we got more of that.

I absolutely did not like Memnon or anything pertaining to him, which kind of sucks because that’s majority of the story. I didn’t really buy him and Selene’s relationship and their chemistry was weird. His constant need to refer to her as my soulmate or mate made me crazy- dead ass sounded like a drunk British/Australian dude talking to one of his friends MATE. This is truly the first morally grey MMC I absolutely do not enjoy.

But of course I’m a sucker and must know what happens in the next book. I will absolutely be reading it even though Memnon makes me want to jump out a window. Gosh he sucks. Give me less of him and more coven.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Thalassa for the ARC of this title!

I loved the concept for this book, and was actually quite surprised by how much it pulled be in towards the back half of the book. While I have some complaints as far as a couple of elements of the story (see below), I am hoping they get resolved in the next installment. I also felt like there were times I got thrown out of the story, particularly with Memnon as be began to use more modern language, but it didn't stop me from wanting to continue the story. The cliffhanger was STEEP and I need to know more!

If Goodreads had a more nuanced rating scale I would probably honestly give this book a 3.5-3.7 because again, I just feel like it was not *quite* there are far as would building and background information for my specific tastes, but YMMV, but I was otherwise entertained and kept hooked, which is higher on my hierarchy of needs for reading for pleasure, so I'm happy to leave it at a 4 here! I'll definitely be seeking out more in the Laura Thalassa universe in the meantime while waiting for "Bespelled"!




------SPOILERS BELOW------------------------------------------------------




















Below are some more specific pros/cons that contain book spoilers!

One of my biggest complaints with the book overall is that I feel like we have a lot of loose ends that aren't tied up, and I can't tell if that is because they're going to be addressed later, or if that is because of the writing. Immediate examples of this include the werewolf/shifter plot line (literally got brought up at the last minute while a ton of other things were going on), and honestly the entire plot with the police. I felt like with a lot of the interweaving story lines the plot was just ~missing~ enough extra details to make them seem centered in the story. I think there were several really good examples of Selene's memory issues being used to alarm the reader and also explain why she's not paying attention to certain things, like when we are introduced to Kasey twice. However, I feel there were a ton of small moments when things either needed a couple of extra lines to show Selene has forgotten, because otherwise I felt more than once things were specifically ignored by the author and/or I as the reader was supposed to assume Selene had forgotten.

I also like a lot of worldbuilding, and I think I would have liked to se more lore around the school, more of Selene's day-to-day activities, and the world of the witches and supernatural in general to feel more set in the story. Same with more of the tertiary characters, there were definitely times where I felt as though her BFF was just there to play the BFF role instead of functioning as a fleshed out character (actually, I don't think she was ever described physically in the book, now that I think about it). Same comments about the familiar selection and their purpose, I just feel like we got pushed through it without really getting settled into the story and WHY a familiar is important or more lore around them.

I also really would have liked more insight into what Memnon was doing off-page. I think it sometimes just felt like he was hanging out backstage waiting to become plot relevant, and I would have loved to figure out how he managed the new world, or how he got to San Francisco, or where he's getting money from, but this all may be revealed in later books. Like I can barely handle online banking as a Millennial child of the internet and he's been here for a few months and has it down pat? Debatable. I would also love to learn more about his background culture, but I definitely feel like that will be forthcoming. I do really like that he's a proper enemy in the enemies-to-lovers trope instead of just a reluctant ally and or "we'll we're kind of enemies but we're iN lOvE so not really". This man is an Enemy with a capital 'E' and I am here for it.

Overall though, as I said I enjoyed the story and will absolutely be continuing the series. While I would like more depth and more background in the lore, this was still an entertaining read! I am hoping some of the things I am concerned about will be explained in the next book, which I can't wait to get my hands on!