thank you netgalley for a free arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
yeah maybe i got this for free but im liking this series so much im definitely gonna buy a physical copy! this one was filled with action, angst, romance, a murder mystery, and a cliffhanger that has me impatiently waiting for the next book! i think the writing, although not the best i've ever read, is definitely getting better and there were way less typos. overall excited to continue this series

I want to start this review by saying that I am a huge Laura Thalassa fan. I own many copies of The Bargainer and Four Horseman series and that they are some of my absolute overall favourite series.

The Bewitched series sadly does not have the same magic that the previously mentioned ones do. I think it might be easier to do this as a things I liked and a things I didn't like kinda review.

Things I liked:
- the recap at the start of the book. I read Bewitched when it first came out ages ago and this was helpful because I didn't remember a whole lot that had happened
- the flashback to Selene/Roxi's past and the reason while Memnon was in the tomb. Memnon messed up big time
- the first third of the book in particular had some funny lines that made me snort which I can't remember right now through the cloud of disappointment and rage that came with the last 2/3 of the book

Things I didn't like:
- it wasn't really explained how Selene got release from the murder charges. Yeah I assume that Memnon did his memory thing but I felt that this was very glossed over
- the whole Kane thing. I despise love triangles and while this was only love triangle adjacent, Selene made it very clear that she was not interested and had a soul mate. Did that stop from Kane from trying to get her to pick him. a big fat NOPE
- the whole Selene becoming a friend of the pack and then not 30 seconds later when she actually needs them to help when Nero is being attacked, where are they? Oh we can't possibly cross the boundary into the witches territory...what a useless friendship this was.
- every single stupid decision Selene made. Oh lets break curfew to go to a bonfire party while also knowing that there are evil people trying to get you and oh look at that, bad stuff happens. Oh you've barely had one drink and are feeling drunk. Yeah sweetheart, its been spiked. And instead of going with the person that is trying to help you, you decide to run away because werewolves don't tell witches what to do. Are you freaking kidding me? Selene was just so immature some times and yeah she's supposed to be 18 or something but this was beyond stupid
- speaking of beyond stupid. The whole lack of contraceptive thing. You've had unprotected sex how many times and yeah you need to take a contraceptive potion but there's so much going on right now, that you can think about that later. I swear, if there was a pregnancy at the end of the book, I was going to throw my kindle across the room.
- what did Memnon do that got the attention of the human and supernatural police? Its never actually explained other than he is some mass murderer
- this felt soooooooo long and drawn out with much repetition. I got to chapter 30-something where there was a big fight scene and after pushing myself to keep reading to this point, I thought I would stay up late to finish the book, only to remember that there are 50-something chapters. Needless to say, I went to bed.

You know, the more I rage about this, the more I want to drop my rating. Let's put it at 2.5 stars because I actually finished the book rather than DNFing it.

I am not sure I will continue with the series because I really don't like the characters and don't care about them in the slightest at this point. Maybe my rage will simmer down in the time it takes book 3 to come out and I'll go back in to find out what happens. Or I'll find a summary somewhere on the internet to satisfy any curiosity I might have. Or I will live my life happily never knowing what happened.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for the eARC.

Thank you Sourcebooks/Bloom Books for the ARC!

This was such a fun sequel to Bewitched! I have been having a blast with this series, it has been fun and exciting, filled with funny moments between our MCs. After the cliffhanger of book one, I was excited to see where book two would go and it was awesome! Mystery and intrigue that spread beyond the school borders was thrilling. I loved the progression of the relationship between our MCs and the struggle that our FMC went through when dealing with her feelings for the MC.

I am so excited to see what is next for this series!

"Beneath the surface of my soulmate lives a monster, one who loves me and little else."

This book features a deliciously morally grey male main character and a captivating plot that took me on an emotional rollercoaster. As we delve deeper into the dark past of the main characters, the mysteries surrounding Selene become even more intense.

Memnon emerges as possibly one of the most morally ambiguous love interests I've encountered (at least to the best of my recollection). His complex character stirs up mixed feelings - he clearly loves her deeply, yet his behaviour often teeters on the edge of douchebaggery. He takes the phrase 'touch her and you die' to a whole new level, and there's certainly no shortage of steamy scenes in this book.

I've really enjoyed witnessing the development of their relationship, as together they form an undeniable force. Selene's transformation into a more formidable character is also a welcome evolution! However, I hope that the events at the end of the book don't introduce unnecessary tension between them, as it wasn't entirely unexpected. Based on hints throughout this book, I believe they will need each other even more for a much larger overarching plot.

"Call me a monster, call me a devil, but you and I both know I will fucking shatter the rules for you."

Uhm okay... whatever trope involves a partner slaughtering a hallway full of people to get to their love is what I always want to be reading in my books.

"What happened to them?".... "They were in my way."

Like, seriously?! That's the kinda energy I want. What does Laura Thalassa put in her books? Listen, this, once again, was not a literary masterpiece but it was definitely a fun time to read. These are the epitome of entertainment reads. Granted, the book was a little on the long side but I really had fun with the twists along the way. And the cliffhanger?? I can't wait for the next book to be out. These are the perfect reads for a little fantasy escape.

Bespelled continues the story of embattled soulmates, Selene and Memnon, who have been bound together by fate and magic since they met in the ancient world. The book picks up right where Bewitched ends, with Selene in jail after Memnon framed her for grisly murders of several fellow witches at Henbane Coven. When Memnon learns that he was completely wrong about Selene’s role in his near-death 2000 years ago, he is ready to spend the rest of his life groveling for her forgiveness and requests that she agree to a forged bond. The humor and the pathos in this novel stems from the unplanned repercussions of their forged bond, and the irony that it doesn't make an iota of difference when it comes to Memnon's uncanny ability to frustrate Selene at nearly every turn while she tries to identify the real killer.

It’s the push and pull dynamic between Memnon and his Queen that makes this series so much fun, and so very sexy! I love that Memnon and Selene are constantly arguing about each other’s questionable judgment and impetuousity, but when it comes to Selene determining that vengeance is due, Memnon doesn’t even blink and runs to gather his weapons.

Laura Thalassa is one of my favorite authors, and Bespelled doesn't disappoint. It may also be the spiciest novel that Laura has written to date. [Fans self madly.] Memnon is a bad ass on the battlefield, and to no one’s surprise, is also a beast between the sheets. And for everything Selene has had to go through over the last 2000 years because of this guy, the girl deserves it! Bespelled really takes off when Selene realizes she’ll never beat Memnon at the game, shrugs her shoulders, and joins him. The ensuing fireworks are everything you knew they would be.

I enjoyed getting to see Memnon in different situations that show us how powerful his magic is and the various ways he wields it. Similarly, now that Selene’s own curse has been lifted, we learn more about her abilities, and that she can harness earth and blood magic. I am a big fan of Kane and the Marin Pack, and we get to spend some great time with the wolves in this book as well. Those who ship Sybil and Sawyer like I do will also enjoy what happens between them.

There is a lot of suspense and action in this novel which counterbalances all of the personal drama going on between the characters. I loved the climax of the novel. I think the cliffhanger is predictable and the stakes don’t feel as high as the end of the first book, but I still can’t wait to see what happens next.

The only criticism I have with both Bewitched and Bespelled is that I think they’re both too long. There are so many subplots going on that I think the pacing gets weird in places and it’s hard to keep track of or even determine what the central storyline is. I think the series is still trying to figure out what it really wants to be. Is it a romance with a sprinkling of mystery and adventure? Or is it a mystery adventure with romantic elements?

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

Rated 3.5 Stars

Bespelled had good moments especially coming down to the end. It was fast paced and action packed. However, the rest of it was slow moving with a few spots of action and revelation. It was also repetitive. Selene's and Memnon's relationship was a walking red flag. A lot of things didn't sit right with me in this book but I am interested in seeing how it all ends.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️


This is the second book after Bewitched. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if Memnon was going to do enough groveling and if he was going to redeem himself. Thankfully he does!

I liked seeing more of Selenes past now that she has her memories back, and seeing exactly what happened when Memnon was entombed. It still had that murder mystery aspect to it, and of course it had magic. I didn’t like it as much as the first one, but it was still great! I do feel like Memnon lost a bit of his edge in this one, and the fact that he constantly calls Selene by a nickname and not her actual name bothers me.

Overall I DO recommend this series so far, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for this arc!

This was really good! I’m new to this world from Laura but have really enjoyed the world she’s building. The characters hold a lot of potential and I’m excited to see how they’ll uncover it all in the coming installments!

This is the second book in the series and I have to say I liked it better than the first book!! This one does start off a little rushed but it gets a lot better. There’s groveling, romance, mystery, suspense, and some great villains! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next and final book!!

I really enjoyed "Bespelled", the story is captivating, the mystery and the danger keep you on the edge of your seat. And the romance delivers - the tension and longing are written perfectly. Laura Thalassa has a special talent for dark romance and we are lucky to be blessed with it.

The only thing I found a bit frustrating though was that despite everything, Selene didn't seem to take the attacks seriously enough, no matter how much she talked about them. The book went into the pattern of: Selene or someone close to her get attacked --> she is traumatized and severely wounded --> next day she is miraculously over it and goes to a party throwing all cation to the wind --> gets attacked again. You'd think that after almost dying at least three times, she'd be more careful. It makes it easier to progress the plot this way, but feels out of character.

Other than that, a truly exciting read and I heartily recommend.

This book was EVERYTHING. Not only was it worth the wait but it was a complete (good) change from the storyline I’d imagined after the first book.

Picking up right where we left off in the first book, Selene must face the consequences of what Memnon did to her (the regaining of all her memories from her past life.). What ensues is one crazy event after another as we find out just what exactly is happening in the woods with all those murdered/missing girls.

This book was legit insane & I cannot recommend it enough!

Overall a great book! The plot was intriguing and captivating, making me want to come back for more. It did have its slow times, but kept a good pace otherwise. This book would be perfect for dark and epic fantasy lovers! Can’t wait to see what’s next

The story was intriguing which makes the book okay. I didn't like the MFC. In the first book she was strong, cautious and confident in her decisions based on her journals. In this book she is arrogant, reckless and lacks common sense. This puts her into trouble everytime. Then she becomes the damsel in distress after huffing around she is a tough woman and needs no man. 🤦‍♀️ Explicit sex and mature language.

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

It's not very often that I like a second book more than the first but that's absolutely what happened here.

Bewitched was really great but I felt like it left soooo much unanswered. Bespelled definitely takes care of that, though, especially with it starting pretty much right after the ending of Bewitched. I love it when the sequel begins right after book one it always feels much more natural.

The groveling was definitely 🤌🤌🤌. We love a man who knows what he has to do to apologize. And the banter? It'll have you giggling and kicking your feet more than you thought that it would. And that TENSION. A good sexual tension between characters can add a layer to the story that you just can't get with straight spice.

If I had any complaints it would just be that a few of the situations really just didn't make sense. They felt a little bit unfinished and that left me feeling frustrated a few times throughout the story but was quickly remedied. I can't wait until book three I need it very soon.

This captivating dark fantasy kept me on the edge of my seat. Witch Selene Bowers faces the challenge of having a soulmate in Memnon, an ancient sorcerer who frames her for murder and forces her into an unbreakable marriage pact. Memnon's quest for vengeance shifts when he learns the truth about Selene's past, leading him to offer her control over his will. Their alliance is fraught with danger as they confront threats to Henbane Coven. The intricate plot, rich with romance, magic, and action, had me emotionally invested. Laura Thalassa’s storytelling shines with multi-layered characters and unexpected twists. This series is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and epic love stories.

Laura Thalassa has done it AGAIN! Book 2 in this series really was better than the first. I was worried that this book would suffer from 2nd book syndrome but it did not disappoint. You pick up where we left off and we are unwinding things that our FMC is just now remembering. The romance is top tier.

“Did you have to use that tone on me?”
“It was effective. I wonder what would happen if we tried it in the bedroom…”
“I’d get violent,” I say.
“Well now, consider me intrigued.”

I just finished this ARC and wow, does it take you for one wild ride! There's intriguing mystery, thrilling danger, laughable moments, and spicy romance. I love Laura Thalassa's writing style with the action, plotline, and humor. Selene has regained her memories but not everything can be so easily forgiven. Much is explained about Memnon's actions and the mystery behind the murders. I definitely enjoyed Memnon groveling and doing whatever he can to earn back Selene's trust and love. “I will always come for you, and I will always fight for you.”

I was a bit slow to get into this at first since I hadn't just read Bewitched. Selene was really indecisive about her relationship and feelings toward Memnon (which are understandable but it took a while to resolve). I definitely recommend having that fresh in your mind before starting. The book really picks up halfway through though

Thanks so much to Laura Thalassa, Naomi Lane, Netgalley and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC!

Bespelled is the second installment of the Bewitched series. This book picks up right where Bewitched left off. Selene Bowers is being taken to jail after being framed by her mate Memnon for the murders of local witches. Now that Selene has her memories back from her previous life as Roxilana, she's able to recall the events that lead up to Memnon's entombment. She puts her anger towards Memnon aside and enlists him to help her find who is responsible for the murders of her fellow witches. The more they uncover, the deeper entwined their fates become. Selene can't help but start to have feelings for him, feelings that leave her more confused than ever. Mate or not, she knows what he is capable of, and it scares her that she can forgive his past actions towards her.

Laura Thalassa does an amazing job in sending us into a false sense of security with Memnon. One minute we hate him and what he does, and the next you root for Selene to just fall for him already. This was a strong follow up to Bewitched and progressed the character development forward. We get to see the complexity of Memnon and the precarious situation that Selene willing puts herself in order to protect her fellow witches. I will say though that sometimes I wanted to slap Selene for her lack of smart decisions. How many times can you go to campus party and have horrible things happen to you before you just stay home! Besides that though, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment, because....damn...that last page.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book prior to release.

😍 I really liked Bewitched but Bespelled was even better!
I love that this story is pretty unique.
Spoilers for book one if you read on…
In this book Selene has her memories back. Memnon has a lot of groveling to do. And he does it! I wasn’t fully on board with Memnon until this book. There’s lots of morally grey MMCs who will burn the world down for their FMC but Memnon is another level. He literally wouldn’t think twice to annihilate anyone who even looked at Selene wrong. I love it so much. I also feel like I have read too many Why Choose stories because I was hoping Kane would somehow get in the mix 😂 oh well.
I loved how Selene was stronger in this book. She really came into her power and I loved her journey with Memnon.
And Nero is the bestest panther there ever was.
I’m so excited for book 3! I can’t wait to see what becomes of everyone 🥰