⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Explosive chemistry, elite magic school vibes, and just the right amount of danger—Spellcaster is pure enemies-to-lovers perfection with deluxe-level packaging to match.

Jaymin Eve delivers a sizzling, suspenseful romantasy that blends dark academia with elemental chaos, all wrapped up in a love story that will have you obsessing over every glare, smirk, and forbidden touch. If you’re here for slow-burn tension, magical rivalries, and characters who toe the line between power and destruction—welcome to Weatherstone College, where the danger is as hot as the romance.

🖤 Why this one casts a spell:
Enemies-to-lovers done right. Logan and our fiery heroine clash with heat, wit, and history. Their bond simmers, spikes, and builds into something explosive—and irresistibly addictive.

Logan Kingston = elite book boyfriend material. Brooding? Check. Wickedly powerful? Check. Surprisingly respectful under all the grump? Oh yes.

Magic system with bite. Elemental unpredictability, necromantic history, cursed bloodlines—it’s dark, complex, and woven seamlessly into the plot without info dumps.

Weatherstone Academy is a vibe. Think: ancient ruins, haunted shadows, whispering spellbooks, and a student body full of secrets. The perfect setting for late-night duels and barely-contained attraction.

Deluxe edition eye candy. Sprayed and stained edges, foil detailing, and gorgeous aesthetics? A must-own for romantasy collectors.

🔥 Bonus points for:
"Consent is sexy" moments that actually are. Jaymin Eve doesn’t just bring heat—she does it with respect and emotional tension that makes the payoff that much better.

High stakes that feel real. There's always a sense that everything could fall apart, which keeps the pages turning and your pulse racing.

✨ Final thoughts:
Spellcaster is an unputdownable blend of fierce romance, shadowy mystery, and high-stakes magical politics. It’s sexy, smart, and hits every romantasy craving with precision. If you loved Zodiac Academy, A Shadow in the Ember, or anything with broody warlocks and badass witches—this is your next obsession.

Five stars. No notes. Just pure spellbinding bliss.

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve was such a delightful book! The pacing was great, I was never bored while reading. I finished it in one sitting. The writing style was on the snappy side, so I flew through it. I really enjoyed that Paisley's family had some great characters, and the friends she made at Weatherstone were well developed with distinct voices. Can't wait to order this one in!

Spellcaster
By Jaymin Eve

This was a super cool story that I could not put down! I really enjoyed all of the characters and the magic system especially! I haven’t really read many Magic academia type books so this was pretty new to me but I really enjoyed it! I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment on the series because ooh that cliff hanger!!

Special thanks to the author and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this story as an ARC.

I wanted to like this book so much but it fell so flat for me. Immediately it felt like I was reading a YA trying to be adult fantasy and the use of modern slang really weirded me out. The interactions all felt forced and the dialogue just didn’t feel authentic in any part. There was no chemistry with the MMC and the hate for him felt soooo forced. She said she didn’t even remember him in the beginning but now she’s terrified of him? Idk just felt weird. Her siblings calling each other “sis” and “bro” constantly felt really weird and I just didn’t love the vibe all around. It felt like the characters should’ve been 16 and not in their early 20’s. The writing and plot just felt subpar and not at all what i was expecting from an adult fantasy.

Spellcaster was a delightful read! The pacing kept me hooked, and I loved the close-knit family dynamic — it felt like a warm embrace. Paisley (or Pais) was a sweet and relatable heroine whose growth was really satisfying to see. Logan was your classic bad boy, adding just the right amount of intrigue and tension. I suspect he’ll get a lot more attention in the next book, which has me even more excited. Overall, a solid 4 stars — Jaymin Eve has set up a promising series that I’m eager to continue!

Was it something truly extraordinary? Not quite.

The Spellcaster unfolds through the eyes of Paisley, a 22-year-old woman navigating life as the youngest member of an exceptionally gifted family. Her lineage is revered for its dazzling beauty, formidable magical talent, and razor-sharp intellect. They embody an almost unattainable perfection. And then, quietly existing in their shadow, there is Paisley.

Though she describes herself as attractive, her reverence for the ethereal beauty of those around her reveals a deep sense of inadequacy. Her powers remain elusive, and she sees herself as a weaker witch in comparison to her illustrious siblings. Despite this, she receives an invitation to an elite magical academy, the same one her siblings attend and where her father serves as a professor. She cannot help but suspect that her admission was earned not through merit but through the prestige of her family name.

At first, I found it difficult to form a strong attachment to the story. Paisley, as the central figure, felt somewhat passive, as though she were merely drifting through a series of strange and unexplained events. It often seemed that things simply happened to her rather than being shaped by her own choices. Yet what kept me engaged was not Paisley herself, but the vivid tapestry of side characters who surrounded her—particularly her remarkable family and, most of all, the enigmatic Logan.

While the pacing occasionally lagged, the underlying mystery of why these strange ordeals kept occurring compelled me to continue. And just when I thought I might set the book aside, the ending delivered a twist I could not ignore. The final page left me curious and craving more. I will, without a doubt, read the next installment—though I sincerely hope it offers much more of Logan.

3.5 stars rounded up
>> <i> ARC review </i>

⊹ ࣪ ˖ “To fight a monster, she’ll need a monster.”

Spellcaster is a fast-paced, enemies to lovers, romantasy. This book centers around Paisley Hallistar, a young witch who got accepted into Weatherstone, a magical academy. Unfortunately for her, the son of her father’s rival also attends Weatherstone, and of course, he’s also hot. In an incident with dark magic, Paisley finds herself asking her enemy for help. In a game of dark magic, love and rivalry, who will come out on top?

I really did enjoy this book. It checked all the boxes for me: dark academia, magic, family rivalry, even childhood friends. The one thing that I found it lacked was the enemies to lovers aspect. I would call it something more like reluctant allies to lovers. Also, the pacing throughout the book was on the slower side, but it did pick up at the end, which I enjoyed.

Features -
♟️ dark academia
🖤 “who did this to you?”
♟️ reluctant allies to lovers
🖤 slow burn
♟️ elemental magic
🖤 “fuck it” moments
♟️ family rivalry
🖤 dark magic
♟️ childhood friends to ????
🖤 cliffhanger

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I thought this was a fast and easy read.

I loved the way Paisley’s siblings were looking out for her towards the beginning of the book. I also enjoyed the interactions between Paisley and Logan. I just wish there had been more of them.

I will read the next book in the series, because I’m interested in where the story will go.

** spoiler alert ** 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (yes, SIX stars. I make the rules now.)

Witches. Necromancers. Gothic-ass magic university. CHAOS.
This book ate me whole and I did not ask it to stop.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The setting? A Victorian/Gothic revival dream. The vibe? Dark academia meets magical mess meets “WHO HURT YOU?” The school itself was founded by two necromancer witches (iconic behavior), and the coven runs everything, from your magical career path to your social status. Basically, magic LinkedIn.

Our girl Paisley? She’s a spellcaster, one of the rare few who can touch every magical affinity (air, fire, water, earth, metal) plus necromancy… maybe 👀 Her powers have been lurking in the shadows, only showing up when Logan (her former bestie turned nemesis turned 😏) is around. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.

Logan is giving ultimate protective golden retriever vibes in a grumpy shell. The man literally:
• avenges her after she gets jumped by the resident weasel
• gives her his sweater (instant husband rights)
• pulls her out of a magical drowning

And the tension between them??? Off. The. Charts. Like, we finally get physical resolution, but emotionally? These two are still doing emotional jiu-jitsu with each other and I love it.

The politics in this coven-run world are shady af. Rafael Kingston (Logan’s dad) is THE WORST. His beef with the Hallisters (Paisley’s fam) is giving deeply misplaced rage and I know there’s more to the mystery of his wife’s death. Demon witches are in the mix, and I’m not okay.

Also, that ending? RUDE. “I have to tell you something”—and then BAM, book ends. Sir. That is emotional violence.

Paisley’s inner monologue had me legit crying with laughter. She’s chaotic, relatable, and smart, and I’m fully obsessed with her and her whole fam.

💥 Final thoughts:
• Gothic magic college ✔
• Enemies to lovers ✔
• Necromancy ✔
• Dreamy sex scenes ✔
• Corrupt elders I want to punch ✔
• Ending that ruined my life ✔

I need book two immediately or I might start hexing people.

edited from initial 4.25 rating after sitting with it

3.5 stars

Listen… if you're disappointed, I'm too.

(There may be spoilers in this depending on what you consider a spoiler; read on at your own risk.)

I was SO excited when I got approved for this arc! I’ve been on a Jaymin Eve kick and couldn't wait to dive in, but honestly, what a let down :/

The story takes place over about 10 months, and somehow nothing happened??? The friendships felt flat, the family was well developed, but every other relationship kinda just went surface level at best, and that was it. I was trying to describe her friends to my husband, and one of them was so inconsequential that I told him, “She's the blonde one”.

And don't get me wrong, Logan mfing Kingston CARRIED for me! That man made me a simp! Ugh, I love him already, but why, WHY did we only get like 7 scenes with him??? and most of them were like two sentences in a hallway! I wanted more of them interacting!!

Also, omg, the constantly getting interrupted at points of clarification and then NEVER REVISITING it was driving me nuts!!! Also, the ending??? No. Just no. Actually, pmo with that, but ok.

Now you may be thinking, Wow, you clearly didn't like it. Why did you give it 3.5 stars? I actually DID like it! I enjoyed it, and truly, the fmc and mmc relationship (or lack thereof??) really carried for me. The premise is super interesting, and I’m excited to see what happens, but it feels like Jaymin’s writing took a bomb on this one. Hopefully it's a little speed bump, and the next one will be much better, but I just wanted more from this all around.

Note: NetGalley Advanced Reader Copy Review - Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA Imprint, and HarperCollins Publishing.

Follow 22 year old Paisley Hallistar as she goes through her freshman year at the magical college of Weatherstone. She has just manifested her power but it’s more than a little finicky.

Between having a powerful legacy family to live up to, an attractive but mysterious Spellcaster who’s feuding with her family, and the emergence of monsters, Paisley has a lot to figure out.

This was a very fun and quick read. If you love Romantasy books set in an academic setting with a bit of enemies to lovers vibe then this is a good one to add to your list.

If you are looking for an in depth plot and mature story line though this is probably not for you. The characters are all early-mid 20’s and there’s also a few spicy scenes. However if you were to remove those scenes then this story and writing could just as easily be about freshmen in high school as college.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

“I’ll kill anyone that takes her from me.”

Did the story keep my attention? Yes.
But was it anything special? No.

This story is told in 1st person, from the main female character’s view, Paisley. She is 22 years old. She is the youngest of 5 children. Her family is known for being strong witches and warlocks as well as being overly smart, attractive, and well, they just scream perfection. And then there’s Paisley. She describes herself as good-looking but by the way she describes the unnatural beauty of others leads the reader to believe that she is not as “perfect” as her family and friends….
She struggles with finding her powers, therefore she’s not a strong witch either. At least, comparable to her family. However, she was accepted into a prestigious magic school. A school where all her siblings attend and where her father is a professor. She assumes that her acceptance is due to her name and not her magical ability.
Her character was difficult to connect with. She came off as more like a horny teenager than an adult. She didn’t develop much even after certain events unfold.
Her relationship with her friends was odd. I believe since there was a lot of telling and not showing, the friendships seemed unnatural, fake, and rushed. Not to mention, again, high school-like.
Her relationship with the main male character, Logan, was even more forced. This was due to the author wanting their history to be a mystery. Since we’re left with subtle hints of their background and Logan’s presence being very limited, their relationship and his character seemed out of place. I understand it added to the whole “enemies to lovers” trope but did it really…..?? I mean, we all already know, the know…RIGHT?
The story, the relationships, the magic system, just everything seemed like a bunch of puzzle pieces forced together that left plot holes and confusion.
The plot twist in the end, however, that I didn’t expect! The ending will be the reasoning I read the next book.


*disclaimer: my darkness and spice rating might not be the same for you. Please do your own research before reading*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing for this opportunity 💕

I wasn’t sure how to feel about this book until we were almost half way through. I really didn’t love Paisley as the FMC but I loved the rest of her family and all of the other side characters, aka Logan, so I kept reading. It felt like this story was things just happening to Paisley over and over and over again. But I had to keep reading to find out WHY the things were happening. Thr cliffhanger got me so I will definitely be reading the next book. I need more Logan though.

5/5 stars! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I finished reading it in one sitting. I was hooked from the very first chapter. Spellcaster is book one in a new series and I can’t wait for book two. Especially after reading the cliffhanger. Spellcaster is releasing September 23, 2025. Thank you to Jaymin Eve, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

Book: Spellcaster
Series: Untitled
Author: Jaymin Eve
Completed Series: No, ARC
# of Books in Series: No Idea
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Thank you to #Netgalley for this arc eBook!
First Thoughts/Summary:
Well, hello cliffhanger. Thanks for leaving me hanging!

Storyline/Plot:
This book sucked me in! I’ve been craving a good academia book and this one did not disappoint. I love the way the education system is set up and how the covens develop its youth. I love how you could feel the love between Paisley and her family. It's rare that you see that kind of love in these books. The story was on the darker side, but nothing crazy. The magical classes were fun to read about, too. I love a good girl squad of strong, smart women, and Eve didn’t let me down. All in all, you should really add this one to your TBR list!

Favorite Characters:
Trevor is my favorite. He has cocky big brother but touch my little sister and I’ll end you vibes. He’s funny and caring and wild. I found myself smiling every time he popped up in the book

Spice:
It’s mainly a lot of tension, with some dreaming thrown in. You will get two detailed scenes, and they are great; I just wish there were more.

Triggers:
Death, Gore, Fear of drowning, bullying (minor and not to the main character)

5 stars 🌟 I love Jaymin Eve and I will read anything she writes! Spellcaster has easy to follow world building and fast-paced. I cannot wait for book 2!

What to expect:
- slow burn romance
- enemies to lovers
- spicy
- dark academia college setting

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

I love this book! It’s about a magical school and a guy and a girl who grew up together, but we’re separated because of a tragedy. At first it gives you enemies to lovers vibes. There’s a lot of secrets and we don’t get all the answers. The ending was nuts. I think this is a really unique world and book I loved it. I haven’t really read anything that gave me like zodiac academy vibes in a long time and this gave me that.! Must read I can’t recommend it enough. I honestly can’t wait to read the next book.

This book is not getting the hype it deserves! I have not heard one person mention it! But I thought it was great. The story was fast paced and fun. It’s not as action packed as fourth wing but I’d say if you enjoyed fourth wing for the romantasy vibes and like cozy reads then you will definitely enjoy this.

✨ 3 Star Review for Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve ✨

Okay, so Spellcaster and I had a bit of a rocky start. Think “first day at witch college and immediately bumping into your magical nemesis” vibes. There’s a lot of info crammed into this first book — world-building, lore, magical rules, family feuds — and while I get that it’s setting the stage for something bigger, it did make it a little hard for me to fully click in with the characters or feel super swept away by the story. I spent most of the book feeling like I was just about to fall in love with it… but never quite got there.

That said, the potential is all over the place. The spicy tension? Definitely there. The vibes? Dark academia meets chaotic elemental magic, yes please. The ending finally got its claws in me, and I’m honestly kind of excited to see what book two brings now that the groundwork is done and dusted.

So if you love your magic schools with a side of angst, enemies-to-lovers energy, and unpredictable power surges, this might be your jam. I’m hoping the next one brings the heat — and the heart — now that the spell has officially been cast. 🖤✨

This was such an amazing book. I really enjoyed the fmc when she finally found her footing and took control I was so excited.