Member Reviews
This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.
"One for My Enemy" by Olivie Blake weaves a spellbinding tale set in modern-day Manhattan, where two rival witch families, the Antonova sisters and the Fedorov brothers, vie for control over their criminal empires. With intricate plots, simmering rivalries, and deep-seated family loyalties, the novel explores the consequences when a long-standing stalemate between the families is shattered. As tensions escalate and alliances shift, the characters face choices that could either solidify their power or lead to their downfall. Filled with magic, intrigue, and the dynamics of familial bonds, this novel promises a gripping journey through the shadows of magical Manhattan.
Really loved the beginning of the book, but I lost my enjoyment in the second half of the book.
The narrators did a great job.
This Russian twist to a Romeo and Juliette story had me captivated from the start. With excellent world building and well thought out plot, I was eager to keep reading this book. Murder, lore and love make a great combination!
I read and listened to this one a month ago and absolutely LOVED IT. It was as heartbreaking as it was beautiful
I have previously loved this author's books, so the fact that I didn't love this one hurt. I learned recently that this was originally a novella which was later expanded into a full-length book - and it shows. I LOVED the first 30-40% of this book. Everything after that felt confusing, jumbled, rushed, and did not follow a straight plot line. I will continue reading this author's works, this one just wasn't for me.
3.5/5 stars. intriguing premise: romeo and juliet with a russian twist.
pros: beautiful prose, a story of love being greater than anything else (two pairings, two very different dynamics), and angry, powerful women looking for vengeance. cons: instalove, overly wordy and poetic dialogue (although admittedly beautiful to read) that no reasonable person would actually say to someone else, people coming back from the dead without much explanation whatsoever, and a magic system that could have used a lot more fleshing out.
masha and dima absolutely made the book for me, though i also enjoyed sasha and lev's text banter--it was adorable.
i received an ARC of the audiobook edition in exchange for an an honest review.
This book took a little bit to get into, but in the end there were a ton of twists and turns, and I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. The narrator did a great job differentiating the characters so you could tell who was who.
I think I’ve just come to the point where, at least right now, I don’t think this author is for me. I tried “Alone with you in the ether” and this one. There are just too many good books out there for me to keep trying with an author’s style I don’t connect with.
This was my first Olivie Blake and I absolutely loved the story. I am a sucker for a Baba Yaga retelling and while that is what originally drew me to this book, it’s not the only reason that I couldn’t put it down. I loved the family dynamics and the ongoing war between families, with the double Romeo & Juliet aspect thrown in as well. This will be one of my favourite reads of the year and I am already collecting all this authors backlist titles and preordering future releases just because of this one book.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I’m embarrassed to admit that I forgot about it and then I almost gave up on it. It starts out slower and isn’t my typical read but boy am I glad I pressed on. I became completely engrossed with this story of two families of witches and the wars that tore them apart for years. This novel was so well written and has everything I could ever want in a story (magic, witches, love, what-ifs, revenge, mystery, etc). I could go on and on but instead I’ll just say read it! You won’t regret it ❤️
I really enjoyed this book! I love Olivie Blake's writing, and my GOD the angst in this was next level. I loved every way that it was similar to Romeo and Juliet, and I loved every way that it diverged. The relationships were all so complicated, and the chemistry between the various love interests was perfect. The audiobook was fantastic and I highly recommend listening to this one.
Olivie Blake never leaves me without the intense urge to throw myself off a cliff screaming incoherently. Very good service 10 out of 10. I think this is the fifth book by Olivie Blake that I have read and I am convinced that she can do no wrong.
The audiobook narrator was amazing. I've never heard her before but I'll definitely go find out what else she narrated because I loved the way she managed to convey so much and was able to accompany Olivie's writing so well.
Also, before this book I didn't know I was a fan of Romeo and Juliet retellings but I think they're my thing now😆
I am struggling to truly figure out what is going on with Blake's writing and my taste in books, because I am truly BORED with all of her works. Nothing intrigues me with her works and I am beyond tired of trying to make it work.
My track record with Olivie’s books has been pretty 50/50, but the way Olivie does prose is so damn unique in the publishing world that I’m obliged to give each of her books a shot. One For My Enemy is definitely one of the Blake’s better books. The story opens by having Marya Antonova straight up (attempt) murder one of the Federov brothers, which really sets the tone for how vicious these characters and this story gets, before switching to a modern day meet cute between another pair of the family. From here, Olivie uses the general story beats of Romeo and Juliet to tell her own bloodied, modern day magical mafia take on the classic Shakespearean tale, while changing up the elements and expanding this magical underground to really make this story her own. I’m fascinated by the powers the Antonova sisters have, infused with Blake’s classical combination of metaphysical and literary, and I really wished they could have been utilized more prominently. Really, this is a tragic romance tale of two pairs of Federovs and Antonovas: Maria and Dimitri, Sasha and Lev. Unfortunately, while I thought the setup of the story and the general plot were fantastic, the ending felt unsatisfying to me.
Overall, I rate this book a 3.5/5. Love the hidden society magical world and the magical mafia rivalry between the Federovs and the Antonovas, and I adored how unrepentingly vicious Marya Antonova’s character was. However, I thought the large cast of Antonova siblings felt rather wasted and I don’t think this book stuck the ending.
Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted audio!
I knew I loved Olivie Blake's books, but listening to One for My Enemy confirmed that I'm a super fan. This book is perfection. The way it is written like a play and unravels like an old-time mystery is beautiful. I fell in love as the characters fell in love. It also made me feel so many other feelings with being of Romeo and Juliet. It's a beautiful, beautiful story.
Ferdelle Capistrano is a fantastic narrator. The story is so vivid, with distinct voices for each character.
Content Warnings: grief, murder, suicide, drug use, gun violence, misogyny
I enjoyed this book and the continuous plot twists that it had. I love Olivie's writing, and the stories she is able to build and this was no different. With so many different narrators and storylines happening at once it did get a bit confusing at times, but the overall effect worked and made for a powerful story full of drama and love.
In the heart of New York City, the Antonova sisters, ruthless and beautiful, reign over their criminal enterprise. Supported by their mysterious mother, Baba Yaga, who supplies them with premium intoxicants, they strive to maintain their supremacy. On the opposing side, the Fedorov brothers serve their powerful father, Koschei the Deathless- a notorious crime boss whose underworld activities dominate the magical community in Manhattan.
For twelve years, these rival families have existed in fragile peace, but a chance encounter sets in motion a chain of events that stokes the flames yet again. As tensions rise, alliances must be formed and sides must be chosen.
Olivie Blake is one hell of a storyteller, I can't deny it. After reading Alone With You in the Ether, this was such a surprise. I was mesmerized by the elements of fantasy and the way they interwove with a backdrop of crime and magical corruption
I thought it would be difficult to keep up with the multitude of characters in this story, but they were all so distinct and recognizable that it was easy to follow. I loved the interactions between the Antonova sisters, each so cunning in her own way, and learning about their connections to the Federov family.
If you're a fan of magical realism and stories of family and tests of loyalty, this is totally for you. Thanks so much to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
One for My Enemy by. Olivie Blake is a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet but witchy and let me tell you, I was here for it!! Listening to this audiobook while reading along with the physical book was the best reading experience ever, The narrator gives one hell of a performance. It was like watching a movie play out in your head. I was truly mesmerized. I absolutely adore Olivie’s writing style. The writing is simply beautiful. The characters and world building were next level.
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This story was absolutely CAPTIVATING!!! A story full of twist and turns, loyalty, betrayals, love, heartbreak, family ties, sacrifice and spells. This is a must read for anyone who loves a dark witchy book or a loose retelling. This was an amazingly awesome love story and a tragedy all in one. I NEED more!! I highly recommend!! Happy Reading.
A story of family loyalties being tested while star-crossed lovers face the reality that sometimes love just makes things more complicated than they already were.
This story creates such a vivid picture of both families, the conflict, the history, and all of the little moments that lead to the end of this book, it's simply put breathtaking.
One of my favorite things about fantasy books is taking bits of history and lore and weaving something that is unique and is its while still paying tribute and this book is a perfect example of that.
If you're only going to read one book about witches this year seriously consider making it this one, I'm still reeling from this one and I may have to read it again.
Now this review is for the AudioBook so I do need to take a moment to talk about Ferdelle Capistrano. The depth of character and personality put into this story made it come alive and is a true testament to the narrator's talent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this AudioBook, I have voluntarily listened to it and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.