Okay- I'll start this by saying that generally I'm a fantasy/ paranormal snob. I like most fantasy related books, and I love witches duh, but I'm really picky about worldbuilding and magic systems etc. This book is probably great for someone who prefers the romance element in romantasy or paranormal romances over the plot itself, but for me it fell flat. The story follows a witch named Paisley Hallistar in her first year attending the magical Witch/Warlock college Weatherstone. Paisley has a number of adventures and encounters with paranormal beings as she develops her own magical abilities, all of which are mysterious until the very end. The only wrench in her perfect freshman year is the appearance of our chaotic antagonist? love interest Logan. His appearance at Weatherstone sparks family drama as the Hallistar family has history with Logan's family that has created quite a feud. This sets up a sort of enemies to lovers, although the negatives between Logan and Paisley mostly stem from their family drama and a strange bond they seem to have. The romance was really bleh, the main characters have this unspeakable and largely unexplained connection that leads to some dramatic spice, but Logan's character is incredibly underdeveloped. All we know about the guy is that he's hot and powerful. I didn't really feel that it was a true rendition of an enemies to lovers arc, because they aren't even really enemies?

I liked the cast of characters including the Hallistar siblings and Paisley's friend group, but the way their dynamics are written was a little juvenile to me. They're supposed to be in their early 20's but it feels very high school, very YA. Nothing wrong with that! Just not exactly what I wanted to see. The writing on this overall was pretty mid level as well. I didn't feel connection to the plot or what was happening, it wasn't particularly exciting and the ending left me wanting more, not in a good way. This was clearly setting up for a sequel, but the journey felt a little worthless as a standalone read. I think if you like spice with no real content this would be okay, because there is a lil bit of that, but not even enough to constitute this as an all smut book. Because of the lacking of the magic system, politics, or lore in this story, the spice seems to be the big thing to draw readers in, and even that isn't very well developed. I can recognize this as a fun kind of easy read for some, but I probably won't read the rest of this series, it just wasn't for me.

This was a great book! Jaymin always does a great job with world building and getting you invested in the characters. It does end on a cliff hanger so take that into account before you read!

Witches. Secrets. Slow-burn magic. Dark academia. Enemies-to-Lovers. What more could you ask for in a book? The banter is sharp, the chemistry is slow but so worth it, and the magical world is just beginning to unfold. If you're into secret legacies, elite magical schools, and broody boys who fall hard, you’ll devour this one.

Rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️

Tropes:
- Dark Academia
- Witches & Warlocks
- Dream s€x
- Elemental Magic

When I saw this book on Netgalley I RAN to request an arc of it! I love a good dark academia romantasy book so I was very much intrigued by the tropes alone. However, I do feel like this book fell just a little bit flat for me.

I was intrigued by the world, magic system and monsters in the beginning but quickly lost interest in the first half as I felt like there were lots of meaningless conversations in the friend group.

I enjoyed the concept of the dream s€x between our main characters and enjoyed the tension and banter in their interactions. However, I feel like their relationship was very surface level. I do also think (or hope) that as the series continues that we will get more depth into their relationship.

Lastly… the plot and the ENDING! I did predict part of the ending which I was ok with. But the part I didn’t pick… I was shook!

Overall, I’d recommend this book and do plan on continuing at least to the next book to see how it panes out. Thank you to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review will be posted on my TikTok page on release date:9/23.

I loved this book so much. The magical university vibes were immaculate! The atmosphere, intrigue, and sexual tension were to die for.
The dynamics of Paisley’s real family and found family were so real and sweet. I loved the magic system and how it was slightly different yet still felt true to classic witches and warlocks.
The prologue gives just enough a taste of what’s to come to keep you frantically turning pages and even though I might have guessed a couple of the twists I was so along for the ride that it didn’t matter!
I highly recommend reading this when it comes out! Thanks so much to HTP and The Hive for my digital advanced copy!

This was a nice quick and casual read for me. I enjoyed the setting of a magical academy and awakening of magic. I did want more from the romance development throughout the book.

3.5 ⭐️ but rounding up for gorgeous cover

This dark academia new adult romance didn’t hit for me. I struggled with the slower pacing in the beginning and connecting with the characters in a meaningful way but this speaks more to my personal preferences than to the book.

I think this is gonna be a perfect read for voracious dark academia girlies looking for a new lush world who enjoy immersing themselves in vibe-y environments

I’m in my Witchy Magical Academy Era and I’m not mad about it.

Paisley Hallistar is a young witch in a long line of witches lucky enough to attend school at the prestigious Weatherstone College. Unfortunately for Paisley the year she enters as a freshman the son of her family’s blood sworn enemy also joins the school. As a super powerful spellcaster Logan Kingston is a dangerous and mysterious enemy that Paisley can’t seem to figure out. He’s broody. He’s mysterious. He shows up every time Paisley is in need and he keeps giving her his hoodies. Queue the butterflies and confused emotions. As scary monsters start infiltrating Weatherstone and with Paisley in their path there’s nothing left for her to do but unlock her magic STAT.

This was such a fun time! I loved the gothic, remote school setting. I LOVE a beautiful and mysterious dark haired boy. And I love when there is clearly more to the story than the crumbs Jaymin gives us. These two have a history and I am FERAL for answers. I ate it up and left no crumbs.

What you get:
- academia romantasy
- witch w. unknown powers
- slow burn enemies to lovers to something?
- scary monsters
- hurt/comfort
- mysterious past
- dream sexy time

I LOVED this book. This was a quick read and I ate it up.

Pasiley is a 22 year old who's magic finally starts to bloom and gets an acceptance to Weatherstone, the most prestigious college in the magic world. However, as strong as her family is, her magic isn't quite predictable. Then the arrival of Logan, the son of her parents rivalry and they share a history that she can't really remember. But their connection, and attraction, blazes. He's dangerous and the most powerful warlock there may be. When monsters start to enter the school she turns the most powerful monster, logan.

This book was everything. I loved so much about it. It's got so much action, but also little moments that are just amazing. I love how she sticks up for her friends, her family is awesome, fierce and loyal. Love the magic system. Urban fantasy but also has a lot of history in it. There is so much happening and when you think you have a questions answered you get thrown for ride. I loved the way she focused on consent. There is a lot to unravel and I am already dying for the next book. The ending was crazy and mind blowing. Need book 2 now!

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Magical Academy
Found Family
Elemental Magic
Slow burn
Spice (not much but it's there)
Who hurt you?
Touch her and unalive

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.

Spellcaster is not the book for me. There has been a fine line lately with romantasy books having a story to tell vs cresting a story marketing towards tropes. Sadly I think this book falls in the latter.

This is my first book by this author so I don't know if her writing style is normally like this but it just didn't work for me. The prose meanders too much and is too cringy.

Rated 3 stars. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Magical college setting? Enemies to lovers? Mysterious monsters seeming set out to destroy our FMC? Sign me up! This was such a fun, fast paced read and that cliffhanger ending makes me want to read book two right now! I also loved that Jaylin Eve also worked in a book lover into the characters! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to get to the next one!

3.5⭐️ rounded up

Paisley is the baby of the family finally going off to college, her first day, her ex best friend now enemy arrives the same year she starts. Immediately on her guard, she suspects he’s responsible when things start attacking the school. Even with all that she’s drawn to him still and is unsure why.

I did devour this book, but was more so because I wanted answers and I feel like I didn’t get the answers I wanted.
I loved the family relationship the FMC had, and the friendships she gained while at school. I just wish we got a little more interaction with Logan and Paisley besides hooking up. I wanted moreeee, I wanted more backstory, I wanted more conversations. Just more.
The ending annoyed me, just because I WANTED MORE ANSWERS. But I’m hoping this is just setting up for what’s to come (I will be reading it). I did really enjoy the story, and the characters so I’m excited for what’s to come.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! 💚

I was heavily influenced based on the cover and edges. So pretty! But overall I just didn’t vibe with this book. It felt like a chore to read! It did get better toward the end, but by then I had already been reading for so long I was over it. It is a pass for me.

This romantasy takes place at a magical academy for Witches and Warlocks. At age 22 Paisley receives an acceptance into Weatherstone College. There she runs into her childhood friend turned enemy, Logan Kingston. Family rivalry plays a big part in this story as Paisley and Logan’s families have been feuding for years. Despite the tension between their fathers, Paisley feels drawn to him.

Most of the book is about Paisley discovering her powers and trying to uncover the secrets lingering around the school involving dark magic and monsters. Aside from that she is fighting an unexplainable pull towards Logan. The romance in this is very much a slow burn. I definitely would love to get more of Logan in the next book. I enjoyed the siblings' banter throughout the book as well.

My main struggle was the pacing. I wish more happened but I am definitely interested to see what happens next. Fair warning the dialogue between the students is very juvenile at times.

Rounded to 3.5

I’m not gonna lie, this book started strong. They had me at magical college with really powerful family dynamics and hot sibblings already attending the school plus your dad is a professor and a powerful one at that… I mean . Cool right?

At 22, Paisley Hallistar finally gets her letter to Weatherstone (the most prestigious magical academy in the world). This place is next level ELITE , think gothic castle, secret halls, witches and warlocks and a very dark academia vibe. The magic system was interesting, there’s elementals that control air, fire, water, earth. The necromancy and THE SPELLCASTERS (they control all 4 elementals)

But things get messy fast when Logan Kingston aka the heir of their family’s archi enemy. (Their families used to be close until something went down) decides to attend the same school and nowEveryone is on high alert to protect Paisley who has yet to develop her powers.

halfway through it I started to lose a bit of interest. I was begging for more answers, more world-building, and more Logan x Paisley scenes. I felt there was not enough of Logan on the pages and we focused solely on Paisley going around school.

Despite of the enemies to lovers trope.. I hate to say that it didn’t feel like it? I mean, Logan doesn’t seem to hate her. he’s the one saving her butt when things go sideways with dark magic…??

The writing felt a little young at first, but you settle into it. It’s easy to follow, fun to binge

Would I read book two? Absolutely.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Spellcaster takes place at Weatherstone College; a prestigious witch college. Paisley Hallistar, received an acceptance letter into Westherstone; shortly after her Magic bloomed at 22 years of age. Attending the college has been a family legacy and Paisley was eager to live up to her family‘s expectations.
On her first day at Weatherstone College,she comes face-to-face with her enemy Logan Kingston. Logan is the son of her father‘s enemy, of which she promised to stay away from. Although that promise was quickly broken!!
Spellcaster is such a bewitching book!!! The plot twist , monsters, spells, and banter kept me intrigued!! Paisley‘s and Logan‘s enemy to lover connection is truly electrifying, in more ways than one.

If you enjoy…
*dark academia
*slow burn enemies to lovers
*elemental magic
*possessive MMC- who hurt you??
*witches and warlocks
*****you definitely wanna add this to your TBR.
Thank you Harlequinn trade publishing, Netgalley and Jaymin Eve, for sharing an advance reader copy of Spellcaster.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

First and foremost, that slight cliffhanger felt too illegal and I need book two ASAP?!!?
This right here???? THIS is what you call a good slow burn romantasy. The enemies to lovers too?? The way she wants to hate this man so bad but her body is like "lol not today"??? This was everything I needed and more.

Logan mf Kingston 🙂‍↕️ my god I'd let this man do whatever he wanted to me and I'd say 'thank you'. THE FUCK IT MOMENT?????? I just about died, these two are just too damn hot I swear.

Okay but on another note, Paisley is such a badass fmc. This girl is definetly stronger than I think is being let on and I cannot wait to see what's to come for her in book two!

Jaymin Eve is basically an auto read/auto buy author for me. I absolutely devoured Spellcaster. Dark academia is becoming a new favorite genre for me too!

The prologue had me hooked immediately. I have a feeling that Logan would be willing to burn the world for Paisley. I wish they actually had more on page interaction if that makes sense? I feel some of their chemistry but it leaves me wanting so much more, Logan disappears for big chunks of the book, and then when he is there, the tension is more shown than actually felt as a reader.

Though the magic system in this book is very simple, it was still enjoyable. That ending tho... I absolutely need to know more!! Looking forward to book 2!

Thank you Mira and HTP for the ARC!

Jaymin Eve got me into reading and she’s going to take me out with these annihilator CLIFFHANGERS 😭 There was so much relationship building, slow world building, and the tensiiiooooon. The only reason I couldn’t give five stars was the pace. It took me a minute to get into the grove of the book, but once I was hooked… like a fish flopping around on a line!

I need the next book ASAP😭

Spellcaster is a New Adult Fantasy filled with magical beasts, dream connections and multi family grudges that go back generations in a dark academic setting.
I feel like the dialogue and interactions were written in quite a young adult way. That is until we are thrown straight into a dream sequence and then it becomes very new adult in the way it is told. Neither one is bad it is just quite jarring with the transition from one to the other. Not to mention it felt a lot like Fourth Wing but for witches and warlocks instead of dragon riders. The ending was quite surprising, a great cliffhanger and wasn't expected at all.