Atmospheric, lush, and so so much fun! Jaymin Eve is a phenomenal writer for the fantasy romance genre. Set in a lush war, magical college, Eve takes enemies to lovers and runs with at 100 mph. If you love books set in colleges/academia with a fresh cast of characters, high stakes, and lots of fun, this one is for you!

This book was remarkable. I was hooked from the very first page, and the world-building alone deserves all the stars. Weatherstone was such an enchanting, vivid setting that I could see every hallway, every shadow, and every flicker of magic as if I were there myself.
I read a lot of fantasy, and I’ll be honest I often feel like they blur together. But Spellcaster stood out in every way. The pacing kept me glued to the pages, the magic system was fresh and engaging, and the characters had so much depth.
And then there’s Pais and Logan. Their connection was absolutely electrifying one of the most intense enemies-to-lovers dynamics I’ve read in a long time. Every scene with them crackled with tension, emotion, and that perfect slow-burn energy.
I’m beyond grateful I got an early copy because this book is going to be one I recommend to everyone. Jaymin Eve has officially gained a new fan, and I cannot wait to dive back into this universe when more comes out. If you love romantasy with high stakes, dark academia vibes, and sizzling chemistry you need this on your TBR.

The cover and tropes pulled me in for sure. It was an enjoyable read but for me not memorable. I’m hit or miss with romantasy type books. I definitely enjoyed the book while I was reading it but not something I would necessarily go back to read again.

3.75 ⭐️

Spellcaster had all the elements of a romantasy I usually love—magic academies, family rivalry, elemental powers, and of course, a forbidden attraction. On paper, it sounded like the perfect dark academia romance. And while there were moments where it absolutely delivered, I was left feeling a little conflicted overall.

Paisley is twenty-two when she’s admitted to Weatherstone, an elite witch academy where her father teaches and her siblings already attend. From the start, she’s warned to stay away from Logan Kingston, the son of her father’s old rival. Of course, Logan is broody, mysterious, and very hard to ignore. Their relationship starts rocky, but when circumstances force Paisley to ask him for help, the lines between loyalty and desire blur.

I’ll admit—the first half didn’t totally grab me. Some of the dialogue with Paisley’s friends felt repetitive and made her seem more like a teenager than a young woman in her twenties. Logan, who’s supposed to be a big part of the tension, also didn’t show up enough early on, which slowed the pacing.

But once the story kicked into gear, I was hooked. The second half is faster, the magic more dangerous, and the sparks between Logan and Paisley impossible to ignore. The cliffhanger ending especially took me by surprise and definitely has me curious about where the sequel will go.

🌙 Tropes & Features:
Dark Academia vibes
Enemies-to-Lovers (but closer to reluctant allies)
“Who hurt you?” energy
Elemental Magic
Family Rivalry & Secrets
Slow Burn with pay-off near the end
Cliffhanger

💭 Final Thoughts:
This is a book that took its time warming up for me, but once it did, I was invested. The atmosphere was solid, the romance had real tension, and the ending left me wanting more. While it didn’t quite hit all the high notes of enemies-to-lovers I hoped for, it’s a promising start to a series that could easily grow into something great.


Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC

Early readers' review:
True rating 4.5 ⭐️

Oh, what a cliffhanger.... ughhhhhb. Okay, let's get into it. I enjoyed this book a lot. The magic system is complicated but very well explained and unique to boot. The enemies to lovers were enemies for a majority of the book and still kind of are but the "fuck it" moments were *chef's kiss*and the spice was there but not over the top. You get the who hurt you vibes as well as the touch her and die all of which are so very nice!!

⭐⭐⭐

Spellcaster had such an intriguing premise—enemies-to-lovers, dark academia, elemental magic, and a witch college full of danger. All the right ingredients for a binge-worthy romantasy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Weatherstone and the way the story wove in family legacies, curses, and forbidden magic.

That being said, some parts felt a little uneven. The pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for deeper worldbuilding and more development with the side characters. The romance had great tension (enemies-to-lovers fans will eat it up), but at times it leaned heavily on tropes without pushing them into something fresh.

Logan and the FMC definitely had sparks, and the “monster needs a monster” theme kept me hooked enough to finish, but overall it didn’t fully deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for.

Still, if you’re a fan of slow-burn, magical academies, and morally gray love interests, this could be worth the read. It just wasn’t quite a standout for me.

This was the perfect little romantic dark academia fantasy book. The tension between the characters was so good however the tropes listed for this were enemies to lovers and I really didn’t get that vibe.

It was pretty fast paced and spicy.

This is one of those fun, easy reads that you don't have to worry about losing focus on. Paisley is a very likeable character and even as it becomes apparent that she has the power to be a rare Spellcaster, she isn't treated any differently or like a 'chosen one.'  And Logan is broody and mysterious and possessive, and we could not ask for more.

The plot is definitely on the slow side. Very little happens and we get very few answers, while we are also moving at breakneck speed through an entire year of schooling in one 300 page book.  It falls short of the 'dark academia' theme/trope for me. Yes, the school is old and there are monsters afoot, but the writing lacks the atmospheric spookiness and thrilling tension most common in the genre. It feels more like a regular magic school with some unusual goings on.

My biggest pet peeve with the book is that her friends/family would say "it's not safe! Don't leave your room without a buddy" and she would genuinely agree and then wander alone anyway.

This very much gave Twilight but set at a magical gothic university and everyone is horny. In this book, witches and warlocks tap into their power on their 22nd birthday and soon after start at a magical university. Our FMC, Paisley, has power but has struggled to find ways to consistently use hers. Of course there is a brooding, more than slightly mean, undeniably hot, upperclassman who everyone tells her to stay away from but she just can’t seem to stop thinking about him. Then enter the monster attacks. Logan (hot, super powerful, warlock) saves her at least 7 times but she still thinks he’s to blame for the attacks since their parents were bffs and now are enemies.

I was initially a little worried about this book when within the first few pages I realized it was an urban fantasy. But I actually ended up enjoying it for the most part. There were definitely aspects that had me rolling my eyes, especially the hundreds of times they discussed never going anywhere alone, because hellooo monsters, but then she sneaks out after midnight to stalk the hot, distant, uber powerful warlock that apparently has a blood oath to kill her but calls her Precious (mind you, he’s literally just sleeping in his room, he’s not doing anything shady she just sat outside his room for hours just in case). As well as the modern lingo / witchy puns sprinkled throughout the book.

While reading this it felt similar to reading Zodiac Academy, not necessarily the best thing I’ve ever read but undeniably addicting. The plot kept me engaged, the ending was a pleasant surprise, and I’m not going to lie, I’m all for the possessive “she’s mine and no one else’s” vibe we have from Logan. I’ll be the first to say I’m already looking forward to book two but I am definitely going into it with my expectations on a more leveled field.

This book had so many things that I enjoy: dark academia vibes, magic, monsters and a morally grey MMC. For some reason it fell a bit flat for me. The writing felt a little unpolished and a bit shallow. I didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters and it didn’t feel like much was happening in the book to lead us to a fairly predictable twist at the end. I think plenty of other people will enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

I received a temporary digital copy of Spellcaster from NetGalley, MIRA and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Paisley is accepted into one of the most prestigious witch colleges in the world. Her magic bloomed after her 22nd birthday; however, she is unable to identify her infinity and harness her powers. When monsters begin attacking her and her family's archnemesis saves her life numerous times, she must question her family's past and in turn, all she knows.

After reading Zodiac Academy, which was horrifying, Spellcaster was a breath of fresh air - for a bit. Some of the issues I have with Spellcaster, despite the fact I felt like I was reading Zodiac Academy without the abuse, much of the dialogue between the characters reads early high-school, not college, let alone 22+. The main character especially felt immature and childish; the reason for her inaction and lack of communication (which cost someone their life) was because she didn't want her Dad taking her out of college...? She is a 22-year-old woman? I also felt the author was trying to incorporate diversity into the set of characters but was poorly executed. She identifies when characters are Black, but rarely if ever, identifies anyone else's race or ethnicity. I wish the book drove into the idea of a demon-witch more and gave the readers more information on demon-witches so we could begin understanding that element along with whatever happened when she was 4.

Spellcaster left a lot to be desired; however, I do think I will read the next installment just to understand Paisley's powers, her mom and what happened in the forest when she was 4.

Arc Review: Spell Caster by Jaymin Eve
This eBook was provided to me by @netgalley in exchange for a review.

📖Paisley Hallistar is a witch - that much, she knows. She ought to be, with two magical parents and four talented siblings, all powerful wielders in their own right. Still, when she is accepted to her parent’s alma mater and her father’s current place of employment, Weatherstone Academy, where her brothers and sisters currently attend, she is shocked. Unlike them, her magical affinity has not yet shown itself, and she is desperate to coax it out of her during her time at the college.

📖Only one problem: Logan Kingston, the son of her father’s ex-best friend, is attending Weatherstone this year, too, and Paisley’s family has every reason to believe that the boy she once called her best friend may hurt her as revenge for his mother’s death almost two decades previous.

🪄Okay, so this book was a lot. Putting this review together was kind of hard, because I really did not love this novel. However, it is possible my issues were down to taste. Please take everything I say with a grain of salt!

🪄Things I did enjoy:
The lore of all the different halls in Weatherstone
The different possibilities for magical affinities - elementals, spell casters, necromancers, nature sprites… Lots of different ways magic can be used in this world for sure.

🪄Things that I did not love:
The modern setting. Words like “legit” and phrases like “excuse the fuck out of me” are used with some frequency. The dialogue is usually modern, but occasionally skirts into strangely formal territory.
Info-dumping. The explanation of the school and its history are all laid out in the first few chapters. There are also A LOT of characters introduced very quickly (like within the first 15% of the novel), including four siblings, two parents, a variety of professors, two ex-best-friends that do not go to the school she is at and that she admits she will likely drift away from, and more.
There was a lot of “tell, don’t show” especially at the beginning. The colour of everyone’s hair, their perfect bodies (including a brother showing his abs to his sisters to show just how ~toned~ he is, and the FMC telling said brother that she isn’t skinny, and in fact all the food she eats goes to her boobs) and more are overly described in a way that made me cringe.
The insta-crush the FMC has on the Super Duper Powerful and Evil Spell Caster, Logan Kingston, who she has been told to stay far away from. He has perfect everything, and is six-foot-five and “built like a brick shit house” (direct quote).

Overall, this felt like a very YA novel, but with characters aged up and in college so there could be explicit sex scenes.

Loved this book! Read in one day because honestly I eat all books by Jaymin Eve up and this was no exception! I think the magic system is very interesting and I’m excited to see how book 2’s story plays out!

Paisley comes to Weatherstone College to figure out her magical affinity, but instead ends up knee-deep in danger, shadows, and… Logan Kingston, the last person she should trust. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is deliciously slow-burn, and the magic system feels fresh and layered.

The world-building is gothic and immersive—you can practically hear the echoing hallways and smell the old spell books. It balances suspense, romance, and mystery in a way that kept me flipping pages late into the night.

If you like your romance with bite, your magic with high stakes, and your setting dripping with dark, moody vibes, Spellcaster delivers.

Thank you netgalley and harlequin trade publishing for this arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC of this book. I do love a good Dark Academia, but this was so-so for me. Faux-Dark Academia, witches and warlocks, some lighthearted, dare I say, cheesy moments. I think if you’re a younger reader, this might be for you – its more new adult/paranormal than a true Dark Academia. Just go in with the right expectations.

“To conquer life you must accept death”

Twenty Two year old Paisley Hallister is a witch just like the rest of her big loving family. While she has yet to manifest a power, her starting at the prestigious university for witches & warlocks will be the perfect place to manifest without problems…right?

Jaymin Eve has yet again crafted a captivating world which keeps readers engaged throughout the entire book. I had trouble putting the book down once I picked it up. The characters are well written and develop during the story to really help readers feel each emotion. I truly want to highlight that not only does Jaymin write the “enemies” to lovers super well she also adds in great family and female friendship representation. I believe a lot of fantasy books lack healthy female friendships and healthy family relationships but this book has it.

If you want a book that has:
Childhood Friends To Enemies To….
Who hurt you?
Magical Academy
Rare Elemental Magic
Consent is Sexy

I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world and for everyone to read it! I highly recommend for everyone to pre-order it so you get beautiful stenciled edges and don’t forget to submit your pre-order for an incentive from the publisher!

I will be re-reading until I can get my hands on book two!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

Paisley Hallistar, the youngest of 5 witches and warlocks, finally takes her place at the prestigious magical university Weatherstone to train her magic and learn her “affinity” while Logan, the son of a family friend turned enemy, transfers in just to make her life miserable. Smolder, stalking, and smut occur.

This was a great premise lost to inconsistent pacing, excessive exposition of friend and familial relationships, and vague conflicts and cliffhangers. The romance was nearly nonexistent for large portions of the story because the MMC was notably absent, and even when he was around, he rarely interacted with the FMC. Their connection was mostly based on dream sequences and vague references to their friendship as children that the FMC can’t remember and the MMC doesn’t explain. I get wanting to save some secrets for the sequel, but I don’t think we got any real answers. Just more questions.

Ultimately, did I enjoy the story? Sure. Will I read the sequel? Probably. But I can only describe this installment as underwhelming.

Thanks to Jaymin Eve, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC, which allowed me to read the book and voluntarily provide an unbiased review.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it was not for me. We follow Paisley, a witch who’s recently budded into her magic powers and gets admitted into the prestigious school of Weatherstone. Of course, her nemesis Logan Kingston decides to transfer in the middle of his 3rd year of schooling. And supposedly to haunt her every step. This is a story of dark magic in an academia setting with blood oaths and family feuds.

I think the prologue was the most intriguing part of the entire story. I was instantly hooked. But the story fell flat from there. Paisley is written as being very immature and frequently walks around alone at night in forests and graveyards while actively knowing someone is planning to attack her. Her friends had little personality as did her family which felt very cookie cutter.

The writing in this story felt underdeveloped. The pacing was very odd. Some chapters encompassed entire days/weeks while others occurred over hours. I was genuinely confused when the story said halfway through the year. Most things are told and described rather than being shown. And we hardly get any action with the main love interest for most of the book. This felt odd considering that supposedly they have a blood feud and hes supposed to want to kill her?

I did like the setting of Weatherstone. I genuinely wanted to learn more about the magic and classes. Again, the prologue was well done and really set the scene for the whole story. I just wish that same intrigue and writing had continued for the entire book.

I think the overall premise of the story was there, the setting was there, but it needed to be developed and flushed out more. It just felt very rushed and put together.

I will not be continuing with the series.

I really loved the setup of this book! dark academia, elemental magic, enemies to lovers, and that delicious “who did this to you?” energy 🖤🔥 It immediately caught my attention, and the tension between the main characters was so good. And when the spice hit…It HIT!!

The ending had my full attention….I need answers!! You already know I’ll be reading the next one 📚✨

That said, the beginning felt a little slow for me. There was a lot of focus on the MC’s friendships, and it took a bit to really get going. But I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half totally pulled me in. Excited to see where things go next!

Book Vibes:
🖤 Dark Academia
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💨 Elemental Magic
👀 “Who Did This to You?”
🧪 Magic School / Mystery
💫 Slow Burn
💬 Tension + Spice

I have mixed feelings about this book, I really enjoyed the premise and the characters. I wish there were more details on the magic - it's such a big part of the book being about witches and it feels glazed over. it also reads at times like the main character and her friends are a lot younger like 17/18, like they feel immature. I absolutely loved Paisleys relationship with her friends & family, the tension with Logan, and some of the things I thinkkkk/are hoping is foreshadowing of a side characters relationship. I loved the cliffhanger and where the series seems to be going. I will deff continue to read this series as it comes out to see what happens next. the first half felt kind of slow to me but I started to really get into it towards the end.