Unfortunately I tried! I got to Chapter 8. Here is my honest review.
I am a huge fantasy lover and I love everything about magic.

I loved the first part of the book, the meeting and the school of witches and the interaction with the characters. The magic that uses memories ect this got me excited! I was enthralled in it, I was like yes it’s going to have a Harry Potter feel to it mixed with quests and magic.

But my honest opinion it was lacking in something. The quest was rushed I felt like it was jumping from one scene to the next, left me a bit confused. The part it really needs to be reeled in more is less descriptive of feelings and thoughts, it just drags on and on especially with ‘my queen’ There needs to be more world building. I felt lost a few times. Although I do love the character she has a great sense of humour and swears a lot. But the character fell in love quickly? Really?
With the familiar it was great but, the connection straight away was too quick and she doesn’t seem to be weirder out, and suddenly they are on this adventure together. It felt too quick and rushed the story didn’t have the reason behind it such as who she was, why she was at the witches school, who is the family and friends, it felt like it missed a lot. Should have been more world building. I really wished that I stayed at the school it would have been more interesting rather than a plane crash… I am sorry but I can do it too many of the same words are sentences! It feels like it’s repeated a lot and I have grown board of it. DNF!

I wished there was more gradual steps for each scene. 2 stars 🌟

Dark academia vibes with one of Laura Thalassa’s female leads? Sign me right up. I have been chomping at the bit for a GOOD Dark academia read, and this one gave me a GREAT one. One of the things I love about this author is how she keeps you invested with character conversations and banter, and this was no different. Selene and Memnon work to solve a murder before one of them (cough cough Selene) meets the wrong side of the law and I couldn’t put this one down!

When we first meet the MC I did find it a little odd as she’s on a little quest but things pick up quick when she gets a panther familiar. I love cats so this was fantastic. When she breaks the curse I was hooked. We then follow Selene to magic school which I’m a big fan of. I really liked how we see her connection to the magic versus the other witches. She felt mature and I connected with her as a character which is something I’ve struggled with when reading the authors other books. This one is by far my favorite. I think the pacing was also very well done because I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where it was headed.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with everything Laura Thalassa releases at this point. She has stellar world and character building skills.

This is so similar to The Bargainer series with the MC doing all the groveling. For all those women who appreciates a good MC betrayal + top MC groveling, this series is for you

LOVVVVEDDD just sadly didn’t hit as much if the first one! but still excited that i got to read this but definitely not as good

What a great start to a new series.
Interesting characters, great storyline, magic and murdery bits.
I liked all of the different components this book had.
I feel like Sybil is a villain and the whole school (and staff) know more than they are letting on. Possibly all out to get Selene. Can`t wait to find out if I`m right!

4 🌟 1-1.5🌶️

Witches. Werewolves. Magic. Memory Loss. Enemies-to-lovers. Mystery.

Before I started this book I was in a reading slump and this totally pulled me out!

This book follows along a witch that has some memory loss and wants to get into this coven of witches. To do that they tell her she needs to go on a quest and to find a familiar. On this quest she ends up waking up an ancient being. The rest is sooo good and you'll have to read to find out!😉

- The spice in this book is great and so is the villain. I mean he is just 🥵.
- The familiar the witch finds is so badass! 😳
- Such an easy book to read!

I loved this book. It had adventure, magic, and spice. I was rooting for memnon, then wanting to throw him across the room. The cliffhanger was torturous!!! I cant wait for book 2

est amage
I really enjoyed this first book in the Bewitched series. Selena made me giggle with her random thoughts that popped into her head from time to time. Memnon is my new favorite bad boy!
I loved the storyline and all the characters.
I’m looking forward to book two, Bespelled, to be released in May 2024. Five Stars!

Bewitched is the first book I’ve read by author Laura Thalassa. I’ve been meaning to try one of her books since I came across them on Goodreads/Amazon. I love Paranormal/Fantasy Romances, and Bewitched was right up my alley. After finishing this book, I need to read the second book, especially since Laura Thalassa left me with a cliffhanger.

Storyline: All the FMC Selene Bowers wants is to be accepted into the Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches, but before they let her in, she’ll need to find her familiar and go on a quest to connect with her powers. She decides to book herself a trip to South America to the jungle, but while on the plane there, a supernatural being tries to gain control of the plane she’s on, and she’s forced to use her powers to save herself and everyone on it. The issue is whenever she uses her powers, she loses her memories. After the plane crashes, Selene braves the jungle and ends up coming face to face with the supernatural being who tried to crash the plane, and she ends up awakening Memnon the Cursed. Memnon is someone who should have never been awakened, especially when he’s determined to prove Selene is his long-dead wife. Not only does she have to deal with Memnon, but after she returns from the jungle, some witches are being murdered on campus, and she knows something sinister is happening.

My Thoughts: This was a great start to the Bewitched series, with some fantastic world-building and a variety of tropes/elements that I love reading in my romance books. Some of those tropes and elements are Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates (possibly), Revenge, and a morally grey MMC, Memnon the Cursed, who I can’t figure out is good or evil, especially with that dang cliffhanger. The FMC, Selene, is a young, spirited, comical witch who definitely has it rough when she tends to lose her memories after using her powers. I felt terrible for her because she just wanted to fit in with the other witches, and some of the witches were downright rude to her. I loved how she handled Memnon, who tended to be everywhere after she awakened him. I’m not sure how to feel about him, especially when I didn’t get his POV in the book, but that’s okay; that just makes him more mysterious. He believes Selene is his long-dead wife, but Selene is not convinced she’s his wife, even though she feels connected to him. Memnon may be a stranger to Selene, but he shows how protective he is of her several times in this book, even if some of that protectiveness is overboard. I’m hoping the next book I get a clearer picture if he’s a good guy or a bad guy because, in this book, I’m not sure.

This book gets four stars from me and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series. I need answers, especially with how everything ended in this book. I’m so glad I picked up Bewitched because now I need to read the rest of this series and check out Laura’s other books.

I enjoyed this book and I will continue on with the series. One thing I am hoping that evolves is Selene's intelligence. Sometimes it felt like she was a weak unintelligent FMC and I know she should be more than that. Major cliffhanger and the spice is spot on. Also, Nero is a great addition to this book.

"All magic comes at a cost. For sorcerers, it’s their conscience. For shape-shifters, it’s their physical form. For me, it’s my memory."

every time I keep telling myself that I will stop starting incomplete series and save myself from the pain of waiting yearly for the rest of the series to release but like the masochist I am I still decided to read this AND I WAS EVEN WARNED ABOUT THE CLIFFHANGER why do I do this to myself😀

THIS BOOK THOUGH. Another case of me having an unhealthy obsession with everything in here and even more concerning with memnon😭 memnon is the literal of definition of "if evil why so hot???" Bye I feel like ive truly gone insane for loving this guy so much but at least selene and I can be insane together!!

anyways selene! I adore this girl SM. She has to deal with memory loss whenever she uses her magic and because of that she has a lot of holes in her mind but the way shes just so optimistic, sweet and determined to not allow this to get in the way of dreams she has and wants!! Selene's pov was SUCH a fun experience and even more so because she's an MC we dont know much abt her past??? I still have so many questions

And theres memnon!! An unhinged manipulative but sweet and romantic sorcerer😭 hes so insane with the things he did but I swear even after everything I adore him... Idk what that says abt me help. but you cant read the healing scene and NOT be affected. Also his endearments for selene were SO SWEET my heart melted into a puddle every time😩

Also memnon and selene are soulmates and it makes their relationship with one another a thousand times more interesting with all the complications they have with one another. They're literally made for each other but also not (yes that's the only way to describe their relationship) AND WITH THAT ENDING I HAVR SO MANY QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED ASAP

The side characters were kinda just there but I dont even care because all I wanted was more of memnon and selene. This almost 500 paged book honestly felt like one of the shortest books I've read it went by so fast?? Towards the end when I checked the page number I was so shocked and sad when I saw I was almost done 😭 this is SUCH a rereadable series and im so addicted. i need book 2 ASAP


Thank you so much SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

Honestly it took a while for me to get into this book, and I don’t like some of the language used. It just gave me an ick. Also, the phrase “I worry my lower lip” was written too many times in the first part of the book, and it became quite annoying after a while. I felt the same about the main character, Selene. She repeats herself a lot in her head (I do get that the memory loss can explain this, but it’s just too much for my taste). I also don’t really need to hear how hot the bad guy is every time she sees him. Even as soulmates she should be able to think around him, right?! I also think Selene seriously needs to grow a backbone. Apparently as long as the guy is hot she can literally ignore that he burned her books, stole her memories, and framed her for murder.

That being said, I did enjoy the book a lot and immediately started the second one upon finishing it. I also want to say that 4 starts is not bad. I liked this book, and it did kind of consume me. However, I just know I will probably never read it again.

As for the action: I was both surprised and not by Memnon’s betrayal when he burned Selene’s books/memories. It felt like they’d come so far at that point and it was just petty of him to do it. And honestly, I hate Memnon. Like with the fire of a thousand burning suns, hate him. There is nothing redeemable about him, and if I was Selene, I would have killed myself instead of agreeing to his terms. That might have been a bit too dramatic, but it was honestly where I thought the story would go. Because there was just no way in my head that she’d agree to his terms. But alas, she does not have the confidence to do anything other than be his doormat. So I’m just annoyed with her, especially that she agreed to marry him?! I get he’s her soulmate, but I was desperately looking for a different ending.

My favourite character by far is Nero, Selene’s panther familiar. I wish we could have gotten to know him even better, and I hope we will. I also like Sybil, the best friend. And I much prefer Kane, the lycanthrope/werewolf as her love interest, as he seems like a genuinely good guy.

As for spice: there is some, but most of it is in Selene’s dreams (which we later learn is something Memnon puts in her head when she’s sleeping. Another reason why I don’t like him).

The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m very happy that I also got an ARC of the second book in the series. I don’t know if anything will ever cure the rage I have against Memnon though. But I’m excited to see where the story goes, and hope that Selene will evolve into a more likeable character who’s able to stand up for herself in the second book.

This was a pretty fun read. It has a modern setting with witches and familiars. The FMC witch is "special" but not to the typical extent for a romantasy read - I think this is a positive. She felt very relatable and honest - she said what I was thinking often. An alluring soulmate villain!? Yes please. The plot's initial focus is on the FMC applying to a coven, which reads like a witch university, and her general struggles as a 20 year old witch. I feel the series going forward will pivot to a more villain/good guy concept. There are also shapeshifters/lycans in this world but are not a main focus at this time. This tells me that more fantasy aspects are possible and likely.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Thalassa and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this first installment of the Bewitched series that is set in the same world as the Bargainer series.

The characters need more fleshing out and feel like some details may fall into plot holes since writing is a bit scattered but world-building is coming along nicely. Looking forward to more development and hoping for more attention to details in the next one! But 4/5 for action sequences and romance progression, so far!

need a copy for my trophy shelf

The mummy meets practical magic meets twilight. Modern witch society in California? Sold. Love it. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ literally canNOT wait for the next book omg! What has she done??

This book was a let down. I've tried two series so far by this author and I wasn't a huge fan of either of them. This one wasnt any different. I was hoping that it would be more interesting power dynamics with her losing memories for the sack of using power but it ended up being more annoying than anything. Plot wise the book was predictable. I had no clue why she would let someone be free that was cursed and had all those warnings. It wasn't being brave it was being stupid. It was very convenient that she was able to also get a bad ass familiar the way she did. I didn't care for the romance either and hated how they treated each other.

This was my first Laura Thalassa book! I loved it. It was such an amazing book the way that the world was build. The book was fast paced for me in a good way. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

When witch Selene Bowers has to prove herself to join Henbane Coven, she inadvertently releases Memnon the Cursed from a thousands-year slumber. And Memnon thinks she is his long-lost wife, which he both loves and loathes. Bewitched is a fun adventure with murder, mystery, humor, and a smoldering flirtation with power.
I loved Selene and how relatable she was! Her friendship with BFF Sybil and how she copes with memory loss every time she uses magic are what make her three-dimensional.
Laura Thalassa's writing hooked me in, and now I'm dying to know what happens next!