What a fantastic read! I was completely drawn into this charming small-town fantasy, filled with witches, diverse magical systems, and just the right touch of romance.

I found the storyline compelling and well written. The world is filled with fascinating characters—each one layered and intriguing, leaving you eager to learn more about them in the books to come.

This was a fun, small-town, paranormal witchy romance with prophecies and high stakes. I enjoyed Cori as a character and following her growth, and I'm a sucker for found family and quirky small-town secondary characters, both of which were well done in this story. I enjoyed Maria A. Eden's writing style as well. The things that didn't fully work for me were: 1) the plot twists were pretty predictable, which took a lot of steam out of the pacing of the story for me, and 2) while the romance was nice to read, I'm not a fan of insta-lust at all, and I feel that it always undermines the natural growth of a romance, which unfortunately was the case here as well. he insta-lust aspect of it Even so, this was a fun time!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Maria A. Eden for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

I really enjoyed this book! There wasn’t much that kept me from finishing this quickly. Felt like everything fell into place at the right time. The cute love story gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Love a good YA. The magic and found family element worked out well and I’m excited for more ;)

Thanks for the ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Maria Eden Books

A cozy urban fantasy romance with small-town vibes, blending a *Gilmore Girls* feel with a well-structured magical universe. Cori, a witch on the run, tries to rebuild her life in a quiet Maine town, but everything changes when she meets Adrian, an elemental sorcerer. The story unfolds through a dual POV with short chapters, making for a smooth and engaging read.

The plot takes its time to develop, and it’s clear from the start where the author is leading us, with a soulmate/fated love trope where the love interest will do anything to protect his heroine. It’s not the most groundbreaking read, but the characters are endearing, and the *found family* aspect adds a nice touch. A sweet and enjoyable read for fans of magical romance!

An Engaging Paranormal Romance with Room for Depth
⭐⭐⭐

The Gray Prophecy by Maria A. Eden offers readers an intriguing blend of magic, romance, and self-discovery. The story follows Cori, a celestial witch who, after delivering a prophecy as a child, has been in hiding to escape those who might wish her harm. As the prophesied date approaches, she relocates to the quaint town of Farley, Maine, aiming to keep a low profile. However, her encounter with Adrian Huxley, a local water elemental witch, complicates her plans and forces her to confront her suppressed magic and hidden past.

Eden's portrayal of the magical elements is both creative and accessible, seamlessly integrating them into a contemporary setting. The chemistry between Cori and Adrian adds warmth to the narrative, and the small-town ambiance of Farley provides a cozy backdrop that many readers will appreciate.

However, the novel's pacing presents challenges. The initial chapters are dense with world-building and exposition, which may overwhelm some readers. Conversely, certain plot developments and character relationships progress too swiftly, leaving a desire for more gradual and nuanced growth. Additionally, while the romance is heartfelt, it occasionally overshadows the central plot, leading to moments where the story's direction feels uncertain.

In summary, The Gray Prophecy is a charming paranormal romance that introduces a fascinating magical world. With more balanced pacing and deeper character exploration, it has the potential to be a standout in its genre. Readers seeking a light, witchy romance will find enjoyment here, though those craving intricate plotting might find it lacking.

I was engulfed in this story. And it felt unique to me. I’d def recommend. I can’t wait for more from this author.

The Gray Prophecy is about a witch named Cori that prophesied that any witch who practices dark magic would lose their powers on a winter solstice in the future. Cori has spent the past decade hiding her magic and hiding from other witches until the prophecy comes to pass. She moves to Maine for a new job, where she meets Adrian, a local witch, whom Cori struggles to suppress her magic around.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I came to love The Gray Prophecy, not only the characters (Adrian’s family in particular), but also Maria Eden’s writing in general.

Through the entirety of the book, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions, trying to figure out the mystery surrounding Cori’s prophecy. However, I was shocked with the plot twist towards the end. By the end of the book I can say I feel more in love with Cori and her journey counting down the days until her prophecy came to pass.

I really can’t wait to see where Maria Eden takes us next in Book Two!

I found this to be a captivating journey from start to finish. Eden’s writing has a lyrical quality that draws you into a world both familiar and mysterious, where the stakes feel high without ever relying on overt explanations. The narrative is carefully paced, offering just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing without overwhelming you with details.

What really stands out is Eden’s ability to build an atmosphere that’s both haunting and hopeful. The characters feel genuine, each with their own conflicts and dreams, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. There’s a subtle interplay between destiny and free will that encourages you to think about larger themes long after you’ve finished reading.

This manages to be both enigmatic and deeply human without giving too much away. If you enjoy stories that blend suspense, atmospheric settings, and a touch of introspection, this novel is well worth your time.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

dont bring this book up around me unless youre prepared for a three hour rant on why its so amazing and everyone should read it

This book was interesting but honestly not my cup of tea. I was expecting a little more. I think people will definitely enjoy it.

This was a great witchy story with high stakes, fated mates, magic romance, that was very cozy! cozy witchy story with high stakes. The spice was well done and the romance did not take over the storyline.
This was an immersive reading experience with the ability to see past present future due to Cori’s abilities and the vividly descriptive storytelling.
I would recommend this to people who enjoyed Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Such a fantastic read! The world-building in this book is incredible, and as someone who can’t resist a good witchy story, this one hit all the right notes.

The characters felt so authentic, like they could step right off the page. I absolutely loved every bit of it!

Very interesting storytelling! The timeline jumps were a fun twist that I appreciated. Unfortunately though I’m not a big fan of instant-love and I have to admit this book did not cure me of that and made it challenging for me to connect with the characters - I felt the physical intimacy often overshadowed the emotional intimacy, so the decisions the characters made didn’t make as much sense to me because it felt too soon/too much. Overall though the love story tailored nicely with the paranormal aspect and didn’t detract from the story like some instant-love stories can so I appreciated that!

The atmosphere of this story is so beautifully written. The plot twists and side character complimented the story wonderfully, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I was a little disappointed by the emotional growth between Cori and Adrian, and the connection between them was a little too focused on the physical for my liking. But it didn't detract from the story, but I enjoyed The Gray Prophecy a lot.

I loved the intriguing magic system, and wanted to learn more about it. Cozy setting, found family, and big stakes all made for a very quick read!

Small town, fated romance, prophecies and found family! What more could you want? Spice? Oh, there’s that too!

I really enjoyed reading The Gray Prophecy! It’s a cozy, witchy read full of magic and finding the balance. In my opinion, the characters were well written and likeable, which added to the enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to the publisher and Maria A. Eden for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be recommending The Gray Prophecy in the future.

4.5

A great cozy book for autumn -

I couldn’t put the book down, reading it felt like staying at home with a warm blanket during a rainy day, it was a nice experience that left a smile on my face.

A prophecy , fated romance , witches, found family, lovable characters (special mention for Adrian’s family - I loved every interaction between them, their bond felt so real and was, easily, my favorite part of the book)

I have to say that I’m not a big fan of fated romance, but this book is an exception. It was subtle at the beginning, and not too fast paced.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

This was a good fantasy book! It was a great start to the new series. The magic system was great and I feel like I was there in the world.