This book had me intrigued from the start. The world building is excellent and I couldn’t stop reading it. The characters are fascinating, and the plot keeps you turning pages at a furious pace. It’s dark yet delightful at the same time I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

I’ve been debating whether I should give this one 3 or 4 stars, but I think I’m going to leave it at 3 stars. Laura Thalassa is one of my all time favorite authors and I expected a lot more from this book.

she is my go-to author for villain LIs, because I think she manages to make them quite evil but with enough redeemable qualities to be endearing. this time, however, I simply got annoyed with Memnon and just didn’t agree with his actions at all. there’s also such an abrupt switch with him - for about 85% of the book he is attentive and caring, and then he does a 180.

as for Selene, I enjoyed her character a lot, and I appreciated how organised and self-sufficient she was despite her use of magic resulting in memory loss. I think she carries the book, tbh.

hopefully things turn around in the second book of this series.

Title:Bewitched By Laura Thalassa

Release date: April, 18th, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

At the age of twenty, Selene Bowers is determined to gain acceptance into the prestigious Henbane Coven, an academy renowned for training young witches. In order to prove herself worthy, she embarks on a challenging quest into the wilderness of South America to unlock her magical abilities. However, her journey takes a dangerous turn when she is confronted by a malevolent supernatural force that threatens her life.

In a desperate bid to survive, Selene's dormant magical powers awaken, but each use comes at a cost – her memories begin to vanish.
As Selene delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the attack, she unwittingly awakens an ancient evil known as Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes her for his long-lost wife. Despite escaping the encounter, Selene's troubles follow her to Henbane Coven, where Memnon reemerges and a series of murders rock the campus.

With her memory loss casting suspicion upon her, Selene finds herself in a precarious situation. Reluctantly, she seeks help from Memnon, but his true intentions pose a threat not only to Selene but to the world.

"Bewitched" by Laura Thalassa is a captivating tale that weaves together magic, mystery, and romance.

Thalassa weaves a delightful romance between Selene and Memnon, adding an extra layer of excitement to the narrative. As their relationship unfolds, readers are swept away by the passion and longing that fills the pages. Thalassa adeptly explores themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption, crafting a captivating tale where magic and desire intersect in surprising and intricate ways.

A captivating kickoff to an exciting series, this book had me hooked from the get-go! With its fresh and intriguing concept, I was completely drawn into the story right from the start, eagerly devouring every page until the very end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes & what to expect:
- enemies to (sort of?) lovers
- touch her and I’ll kill you
- soul mates
- amnesia

Bewitched is set in the same world as The Bargainer series (first book is Rhapsodic and yes you should definitely read it if you haven’t already) but follows a new set of characters. The main character, Selene, is a witch who loses memories when using magic and she is intent on joining Henbane Coven. Only problem is, they don’t really want her there so in order to get accepted, she has to complete a crazy quest and find her familiar (which is kinda like her witchy BFF animal). Selene, being the badass that she is, picks the hardest possible quest she can think of and crushes it! Unfortunately, she also ends up freeing a super hot, entombed evil warlord god named Memnon who believes her to be his long-lost wife who happened to curse him two thousand years ago. NBD right? When multiple witches from the Coven are found dead, Selene finds herself at the heart of an investigation while also getting closer to Memnon who btw is hellbent on getting revenge on “his wife”.

I just love Laura’s writing and how it draws you in from page one and keeps you immersed in the story so easily. Selene was such a relatable and fun character and it was so interesting to follow her journey and her struggles, especially with the amnesia thing. Memnon was an immediate yes for me and I’m excited to read more about him and see his character fleshed out a little more in the next books. The tension between them was sizzling hot and I can’t wait to see where their relationship goes.

This was so good. I enjoyed the fuck out of it from beginning to end. Laura created a really cool world to dive into, I loved the thematics, I loved the worldbuilding, the romance, the enemies to lovers that was really enemying, the writing, the mystery, I am DYING to get the second book.

This was a very fast paced book that kept me totally captured. I could hardly put this book down! I absolutely loved Memnon’s character, and found him so sweet and romantic (most of the time).

This book is what I consider slow burn, but with factors added in to give a little spice and keep things interesting, which I really loved and thought was well done.

At the end of book one I still have LOTS of question and not many answers. I wish I had a few more answers at this point but I’m highly motivated to keep reading.

Overall I really enjoyed this book!

Wow this review is late.

I have tried to pick this one up several times. And it really just doesn't have the spirit that some of Laura Thalassa's other series do.
It has failed time and time again to hold my attention.
This one was just a miss for me.

I have read her books before, so I had high expectations for this book. And unfortunately, this book wasn’t it. I didn’t connect with the characters or the plot. And it just felt flat. The whole story felt flat.

DNF 7% in.

Thank you to Bloom Books for providing me with an arc.

I keep trying to get into this book but unlike Rhapsodic that instantly sucked me in, I feel like I am forcing myself through this one. I may try to read it again but for now I am dnfing as it was boring for me. The writing was decent but at 7% in the magic was already confusing which puts me off.

‘Bewitched’ by Laura Thalassa casts a spell of dark enchantment and thrilling suspense, wrapping you in a world where magic is a double-edged sword and love is as complex as the spells woven by its characters. Selene Bowers, our charming yet troubled protagonist, embarks on a journey to the prestigious Henbane Coven, only to find her life entwined with Memnon the Cursed, a figure shrouded in mystery and darkness.

Selene's magical abilities, which come at the cost of her memories, create a unique and poignant struggle. Every use of her powers is a gamble, making each scene where magic is wielded a heart-wrenching experience. The intricate blend of magic, memory, and emotion Thalassa blends is nothing short of mesmerizing, propelling the narrative with an intensity that grips you from the first page.

Memnon, the brooding anti-hero, is a character that defies easy categorization. Dark, intense, and enigmatic, he challenges both Selene and the reader’s perceptions, balancing on the fine line between villain and victim. Their relationship, a mysterious and a slow-burning romance, is the beating heart of the story, as it oscillates between tension, passion, and deep emotional complexity.

The world of ‘Bewitched’ is richly imagined, combining a modern times witch academia with the allure of ancient curses and shadowy pasts. Thalassa’s writing style, both lyrical and sharp, sets the perfect tone for this gothic fantasy, immersing you in an atmosphere that is as dark as it is enchanting.

Despite its darker elements, the book is infused with moments of humor and wit, primarily through Selene's lively personality and her interactions with a diverse cast of paranormal beings. The novel’s pace is brisk, ensuring a thrilling read, yet it never sacrifices the depth of its characters or the intricacy of its world-building.

Magic always has a price dearie.
Whenever selene uses her powers she loses parta of her memories.
When she drunkingly books a trip she awakens someone
Someone who happens to be her sould mate

I realllly liked this one! I picked it up and before I knew it, I was halfway through and devouring it. I've read a lot from Laure Thalassa and I haven't found a book I didn't vibe with. The FMC is SO interesting, the fantasy piece, the twist and turns and that MMC? Yes please. A memory loss trope I actually enjoyed! I need the second book immediately.

I had a great time with this! Urban witchy fantasy romance is such a great combo and this book did it so well!

I picked up this book because I enjoyed another series written by this author. I thought that this was a good story and the pacing was nice. It was and interesting concept, although I didn't find myself interested in the MMC.

absolutely stellar book by Laura Thalassa. i loved how atmospheric this was. the intrigue kept building up throughout the course of the book and im pumped to read the next one. immensely enjoyed getting to know the characters and the world. her writing is also super easy to get into so 100% recommend checking it out if you're looking for an easy to read fantasy romance

The main characters are unlikable. Selene is a witch that loses memories every time she practices her magic. Because of this we don't trust anyone in the story at any time because our narrator is unreliable.

Memnon is a hunk of a warlock trapped in the jungles of South America for centuries by his mate, the love of his life, Roxy. Who might also be Selene? But she doesn't remember and she also kind of has a crush on a werewolf who's all about consent so there's that.

Memnon is having no trouble adjusting to venmo, wearing jeans, and being an ex-king now homeless in the 21st century. He is super cranky and unhinged though, while plotting revenge for his sleeping beauty phase. Selene insists she didn't curse him but no one is buying it.

Is this book the mystery it thinks it is or can we guess everything that's going to happen?

I'd recommend this book to people that do adult coloring books. Those that do not think of leeches or brain eating amoeba when seeing exotic bodies of water. Fast readers. Because it is not worth days of your life.

DISAPPOINTING.

The writing and the characters aren't just it. The whole book really did a number, and one of its favorite things to do is be nothing but disappointing.

Don't get me wrong, the premise is promising. The spatial setting is also there, but I believe it needs more development.

The depth and character writing were just the most disappointing parts aside from mediocre writing.

I've read that some reviews that Memmon carried the book and Selene is just infuriating bitch. BUT HE DID NOT. They were right about Selene in some parts. She's really a waste of potential. Memmon, on the other hand, is just an asshole. Again, I read some reviews that something about Memmon finding another woman in the 2nd and some bullshit on Selene clearly shows the misogyny there, Miss Ma'am . Let's correct some what they said.

1. Memmon is an asshole and who cares if he finds another woman.

2. What Selene needs perhaps is character development, which they are right in some parts. She's entitled to be frustrated with the whole fuckery after all considering her circumstances and yes, Memmon also had some fuckery going on but give Selene some more credit here.


Now, as for the whole plot and conflict. It's another charade of giving nothing. Like sure, something is going on there, but if you look at it, it's just a never-ending of circus without actual character developments and advancements of the main plot.

Needless to say, this was a certified wasteland. The writing could also need some improvement.

2⭐️ for the premise.


THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE COPY

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa is a fantasy romance novel that follows the story of Selene Bowers, a young witch who hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches. The book is set in a world where supernatural forces exist and Selene’s journey takes her to South America where she discovers an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes Selene for his long-dead wife who betrayed him.

The book is a wild ride to the magical dark side and Laura Thalassa’s writing style has a way of pulling you in and keeping you hooked till you reach the end. The plot and the characters’ storyline are developed so well, it kept me on my toes, questioning every action and motive, and the twist in the story at the end!

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy romance novels. It is a great read and will keep you entertained throughout.

Very cute story! The cover was attention grabbing and modern/polished - would look great on a shelf.

I wanted to love this, I'm such a big fan of the Rhapsodic series. this started out strong and promising, but I quickly grew tired of the juvenile writing style, and I found the premise/plot honestly a bit bizarre. Not for me.