Well you just launched us right at that cliffhanger didn’t you Jaymin 😂
This was really good! Compulsively readable, interesting magic system, A+ brooding book boyfriend. Big fan! Much gratitude to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Fantasy dark academia, spice, magic --- this has it all and was such a good time. As a lover of Zodiac Academy and all things magic-school, this was right up my alley and I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

I was introduced to Jaymin Eve back in 2017 when I read the NYC Mecca Series. I became a fan of her world building with so many other series since then (The Shadowbeast series is still my all time favorite!) so when I saw the opportunity to read another book set in a fantasy world with magic and the enemies to lovers trope that they write so well I just knew it was going to be a must read for me.
I am typically not a big fan of academia books but I made an exception because this is an Eve book and with a slowburn enemies to lovers guaranteed I knew I would enjoy it. The academia setting at Weatherstone did not take away from the setting of the book at all.

This book grips you from the beginning. It starts out a bit in the future so you get sucked in with the need to know what got to that point and what happened afterwards. The start is a bit slow as we get introduced to all the characters, like Paisley’s family, but it picks up after a bit and becomes a fast paced read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I have a feeling this one might become one of my top three favorites of Eve’s books.

While I give this a 4 star, I do think that if I wasn’t a fan of Jaymin Eve’s books already this would have been a DNF for me. I only continued past the slow first few chapters because I know the author delivers on her characters, that they are never hardcore enemies (more like just they just dislike each other), and its always a slow burn so I don’t expect the characters to get together right away. This author has a formula, knows how to deliver to her fans and I will add to TBR every time I see her books get released.

So good!! While it was a little predictable, I still thought the story was fun overall. The writing was easy to get sucked into and I loved the romance. It was a little much at times and some aspects of the potential amnesia got old quickly. I hope we get a lot more monsters in the next book! I’m not sure how many books this will be but I believe a trilogy or duology would be pretty nice. Though I obviously don’t know what’s coming next. Overall I really enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down. Also! I loved the female friendships in this book and the family dynamics. They were some of my favorite things to read about!

This was such a fun and fast-paced fantasy read with a magical system that felt fresh and easy to follow; nothing was overly complicated, it was well-explained and cleverly built. The worldbuilding really stood out to me, and I'd honestly love to see more of the classes and elemental magic in future books.
The book was the perfect length, neither too long nor too short. However, the ending did feel a bit rushed. I still closed it wanting more, and I plan to continue the series because I really enjoyed Jaymin Eve's writing style. She does a great job painting scenes and emotions that keep you turning pages.
That said, a few things pulled me out of the story. The main character, Paisley, reads young. Especially in her dialogue and inner monologue, which made it hard for me to connect with her as an almost 30-year-old reader. A different name might have helped too; "Paisley" just didn't land for me in a romantasy setting.
As for the romance, I think it leaned more magnetic/forbidden than true enemies-to-lovers. The tension with Logan felt underdeveloped and hinged on a pretty weak conflict. I would have loved if the forbidden aspect (especially with their dads involved) had been played up instead, or if there was more conflict created between Logan and Paisley beyond being based entirely on what Paisley's dad said that one time.
Lastly, I must mention the monsters! The shadow creatures were such a cool concept, super creative and eerie, but I wanted more: more scenes, more tension, more nightmares. The author clearly possesses the imagination and writing skills to take those darker moments even further, leaning into deeper, darker academia territory.
Overall, I'd recommend Spell Caster to early adult fantasy readers to enjoy immersive worldbuilding, low-stakes romance, and a little spice. Not quite YA, not full-on adult, but situated somewhere perfectly in between.
Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity to read Spell Caster! I can't wait to check out more from this author.
Overall: 3.5 stars

I will update the links with the TikTok Review as soon as it is live.

NetGalley Review for Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Spice: 2.5/5

Spellcaster had some fun moments and a world I was definitely curious about, but overall, it landed somewhere in the middle for me. Not bad, not amazing, just one of those reads you finish with a " I may read the next one if I’m in the mood.”

Paisley is a relatable FMC, and I liked that she wasn’t overly polished. Her humor felt casual and natural, and her interactions with Logan had that classic slow-burn, enemies to lovers vibe. The romantic tension was there, but never really hit that swoon worthy level. There is open door spice, but I’d personally rate it around a 2.5 on the spice scale, it's there but not wild.

The magic system was cool in theory, especially the different magical types (Elemental, Necromancer, Sprite, Spellcaster), but I kept wishing the world building had gone a little deeper. At times, it felt like a lot of telling instead of showing. And some was a little questionable. There’s plenty of action and fast pacing, but some emotional moments, especially the romance and backstory stuff, fell a little flat for me.

The cliffhanger ending sets things up for more, and I could see this turning into a really solid series if things are fleshed out more in book two. If you love dark academia vibes, broody love interests, and magical school drama, this might be right up your alley. This felt a bit more "high school" than college aged. For me, it was an okay read with potential, but not one I’m rushing to re-read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to check this one out early!

This was a book I was super excited to read. After reading it I found myself to have a lot of issues with the book to the point I almost DNFed it at 40% but I wanted to know the ending so I didn’t but starting skipping some parts. In the beginning we are told that the MMC is the “enemy “ of the story but I didn’t see that. Furthermore, I felt like there was too much smut to plot but that’s just my opinion. Now for spoilers, the MMC is supposed to be the childhood best friend to our FMC and they stopped being friends after his mom dies and his family blames the FMC mom. Now when they reconnect, it’s very childish interactions. Like “ew don’t talk to me I hate you” so it was like off putting. Also, she starts having wet dreams about him like the same day they met. Sorry but that’s not enemies to lovers that’s just insta lust. Not to mention the MMC is constantly saving her like of course she’s the damsel in distress that then becomes the most powerful which is so overdone. It honestly just seems like a miscommunication between the families and there’s no reason for the kids to hate one another. Furthermore, in the beginning the dad says he’s pulling her from school because the MMC is going like come on way to be dramatic. Throughout the book the FMC has stuff happen to her and she’s constantly blaming the MMC with no basis or evidence just because “well our families hate each other so it HAS to be him” eye roll. Not to mention of course he has a pet name for her, “precious” and it is so cringe. Can we also talk about the one encounter where he’s like “who the fuck hurt you” yep totally enemies. I will say the creatures/monsters gave the story some interesting aspects but I felt like they were easily defeated. It was quite annoying how every time the MMC is mentioned the FMC has to mention sex or how sexy he is. The ending was also not it with the mom being at the school with the demons and the MMC being like “she’s mine” . Overall just bad and very cringeworthy.

Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

I have 3 ⭐️ for many reasons. I would like to say three stars is NOT bad.
I found myself having a hard time to relate to the characters in the book, I felt as though I was reading a young teen Netflix show and it kept missing for me. It’s as if the FMC tried hard to relate but it wasn’t for me. I did not like the instant love, I also don’t like the whole ghosting to reappear plot - also not real enemies to lovers. More like family issues.
The story line was pretty decent but for such a short book it did feel to drag on. I don’t know if I’ll revisit this world but I can see maybe some 18-20yr olds really liking this book.

There are just too many utterly fantastic and genre-defying romantasy novels out there right now for this book to turn my head more than any other book I read in a few hours on an average weekday. Even compared to other Jaymin Eve novels, it feels kind of mid.

It’s a mildly entertaining book, and I have absolutely no doubt it will find its audience. The spice rating is low in this installment, with a slow burn and a lot of tension before a steamy scene that’s not too explicit. The promised dark academia vibes aren’t there, in my opinion, unless you want to count mild matching aesthetics (which I don’t). I don’t know if the enemies-to-lovers theme will intensify in the next book (I didn’t know this was a series when I requested it or else I wouldn’t have requested it), but in this book it definitely felt like dislike-to-situationship than anything else.

I just felt like this book couldn’t cash in on what it promised.


I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews rated three stars or under will not be posted to my main social media sites. Thank you.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

If you love dark academia, with suspense of monsters breaking into the school, this is for you. Paisley was accepted into Weatherstone. prestigious school for witches. I did like the magic system, it was complex, but also simple. Along with starting a new school at 22, she's almost ripped out because of a new student. In walks Logan. Their families have history and with Paisley being the youngest of 5 kids, of course, first action was to protect her. It did feel very ya with the conversations played out but had some open-door scenes. I really wanted Logans pov or more interactions with him. I feel like I didn't really get to connect with him as an MMC. I will always appericate some good dark and moody atmosphere.

From the moment Paisley sets foot on the mysterious grounds of Weatherstone College, it’s clear she’s in for more than just classes and campus life. Ancient secrets linger in the shadows, and danger pulses beneath every ivy-covered corner. What truly makes this story sing, though, is Paisley herself, her inner monologue sparkles with wit, vulnerability, and a refreshingly sharp sense of humor. As she grapples with the pressure of legacy, the weight of her mother’s memory, and her own unpredictable magic, readers can’t help but root for her.
At the center of the romantic storm is Logan Kingston, Weatherstone’s most dangerous spellcaster and the brooding son of Paisley’s family’s longtime rivals. His dark reputation, fueled by tantalizing whispers and school gossip, only adds to his magnetic pull. Paisley's spicy, swoon-inducing dreams about him add heat to the slow-burn build-up, making their eventual first kiss nothing short of electric. Their dynamic is a perfect blend of snark, simmer, and longing, the kind of tension that makes every shared glance feel like a spark ready to catch fire.
But this story is more than just steam and sparks. The fantasy elements are vivid and immersive, from magical beasts to thrilling spells and richly described potion-making. Paisley’s love for herbs and alchemy adds a unique and grounding layer to the worldbuilding, giving her an identity beyond the romantic and magical drama. As the dangers haunting Weatherstone grow darker and more urgent, the stakes climb with them—and the unlikely alliance between Paisley and Logan becomes essential to uncovering the truth.
Weatherstone is a crackling romantasy packed with magic, mystery, and magnetic chemistry. With richly layered worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and a romance that’ll leave you breathless, this story casts a spell that lingers long after the final page. I’m already desperate for book two, because Paisley and Logan? They're just getting started.

I really enjoyed this book and especially the characters both her family, the friend group and the boys! You can see that this is setting up to be multiple books because there was character and world building that had to take place. She did a wonderful job making you fall in love with all these characters both main and secondary. I found myself liking each character for their individual personalities and I will not be okay if she SJM/Rebecca’s ant of them 😂

I was getting ‘Fate: the winx saga’ mixed with Vampire academy vibes but with a more witchy focus, older in age (22ish but still young) and a FMC with strong family ties. Not a very complex magic system at all, standard college dorm/life format. I look forward to seeing what the happens next! **Ends on a cliffy**

I have such mixed feelings on this one! From the tropes, prologue and the summary this is right up my alley. I mean enemies to lovers, dark academia, magic, monsters, and some mystery this is everything I look for. That being said I feel like this was more a rivals to lovers story with romance on the back burner. Main characters Paisley and Logan are supposed to be enemies based on a family feud that started when they were kids. However I feel like we never had any true enemy moments. Plus with the pacing of the story we really don’t get many interactions between them until half way through the book. However, the moments we did get I absolutely loved! Their intense connection and obvious tension really shined through and stood out to me. Especially as we learn more and more about their past and magical connection.

I really enjoyed the diverse range of magic we see throughout the story and can’t wait to see more in the next book. With it being the end of Paisley’s first year at college there is so much more for us to see and learn from her and her friend group. For me the ending was honestly the best part. So much happened and I couldn’t stop reading. It’s truly what made me bump my rating to a four. I have sooo many questions and can’t wait for the next book!

What a cool concept! First, I have to say that it’s refreshing to meet a FMC with a happy family. I feel like most FMC’s come from a broken, toxic, or nonexistent family. Second, I love the idea of the coven communities and how they do life together. Third, the school concept and execution is unique in a lot of ways. The author does a great job of using explanatory vocabulary to paint a detailed description of the school and the mysterious halls. And the TENSION between the FMC and the MMC is *chef’s kiss*! I am dying to know what happens next!

OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! Jaymin Eve does it again!!! 2 days, it took me 2 days to DEVOUR this book. I need book 2 like yesterday! Everything about this book has the makings of the next it book. I loved the characters, the plot, the speed. It was perfection. Easily a 5 star read.

3.5⭐️
I’ll always read any type of fantasy academia book and I quickly devoured this one.
It gave me YA except for the intimacy because that was very very spicy 🌶️ 👀 plus I love me a dark, brooding, love interest with lots of sexual tension.

There’s not a lot of world building in this book because it’s not really needed which is a nice break for me, so if you enjoy a fantasy book where you don’t need a map or glossary you will love this!

My only setback with this book is, I did feel like there was too much build up, and I kept waiting for something to happen that never did. And the plot twist at the end felt anticlimactic.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend.

Mixed bag pile 💼 💃🏼

Firstly a moment of applause for the cover illustrator because it is absolutely stunning and definitely what drew me to the book originally, the title then caught my attention along with the promise of magic and dark academia.

Paisley belongs to a family who are well known for their exceptional abilities. Paisley herself is more of a wallflower hiding in the shadows and feeling inadequate.

She decides to attend a school (enter dark academia) and there follows the promised themes of enemies to lovers romancing.

The first part of the book is a little slow and doesn’t do too much to pull you in, but if you are a persistent reader like myself and prefer to continue on then I will say the second half of the book is much better with more interesting events and dialogue and plot.

All together I enjoyed the read I just wish there was some more pizzazz in the beginning to captivate my interest so I didn’t have to force myself to get to the good parts.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Publishes - September 23rd

4.5 ⭐️

Jaymin, how DARE you leave me hanging like that! This story pulled me in immediately and I was screaming at the end when I didn’t realize it was only book one! How am I supposed to wait forever for the next one?! I need book 2 right now!

Super fast paced and a little predictable, but still a really good read. But I love anything witchy and academia. I am dying for the next book on the series because of the way we were left in the end!

3.5 stars
So I’ve been sitting on this review really trying to let my thoughts and feelings sink in before I write them out. I REALLY wanted to love this book. I just struggled so hard to connect with Paisley as an MC. I couldn’t put into words why until I saw another review that said “she semeed to be merely drifing through a series of strangers and unexplained events and things simply happened to her.” and that is EXACTLY what I was feeling.

But yes over all I really wanted more from this book. The cover and edges are GORGEOUS, the story started off strong, but I need more answers for what I feel is missing once we get into book 2! I will. most. definitely be reading book 2!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.