This book was so fun and had my attention the whole time. I gave it 4 instead of 5 because there were certain plot holes and gaps but I’m holding out that those will all get solved in the sequel. I also was just hoping for more, but the plot and the potential is so good!
It was also a tad cringey at times, but Paisley is a horny 22 year old so that’s to be expected.
I can’t wait to learn more about Noah, Logan, Paisley’s family, and the extent of her powers! There are so many places the plot can go and I really hope the next ones live up to that!

My Prediction: This is the Next Sleeper Romantasy Hit! I loved this book and truly believe it's going to be the next big sleeper hit in the Romantasy world! If you're a fan of Zodiac Academy, dark academia, or just on the hunt for your next magical obsession, look no further—this is it. The story gave me major "mature Harry Potter meets Degrassi" vibes in the best way possible. The writing was smooth and engaging, and the plot flowed effortlessly. While it was marketed as a New Adult (NA) book, it definitely leaned more toward Young Adult (YA) in tone and content. Still, the romantic tension was there! You get that enemies-to-lovers dynamic, though it's a softer version—more teasing sparks than full-on hate. The chemistry between the MMC and FMC was enjoyable, and the world-building kept me hooked from start to finish. I rated it 4 stars only because I was hoping for a bit more adult content, but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story. Overall: A super fun, addictive read. I can't wait for the next book in the series! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The way I cannot stop talking about this book! I feel terrible because I read it so early so I don't want to get people excited too early but this was incredible. I tried to slow down my reading but I took 2 days instead of the couple of course it truly would have taken me. The tension between mmc and fmc was electric. You said he wants to kill you? I think you actually meant a different four letter word of what he wants to do to you... he was constantly saving her and then helps her begrudgingly in the beginning. Then you find out the only way he can really help her is if they get a little spicy?! the like fake camera looks we do while reading? Yeah I had a ton of camera time because i was squealing left and right at this. When the family was talking, which i loved the siblings and their dynamics but the dad. The dad was all "he's trying to kill you, stay away from him!" Um dad hello look at the man. He is hot and powerful and when we're alone... I mean le petit mort is the name for a reason.... anywho this book was a five star read for me. The ending had me looking dad into the camera doing the Jennifer Lawrence "WHAT DO YOU MEAN" because it was ended on the wildest cliffhanger. Like hello it's February I think when I read this, the book comes out in SEPTEMBER, and im supposed to just sit here knowing what I know and not knowing what I don't? Honestly, torture. Anyway I'm going to go reread this and see if I missed anything. Only 4 months till release month.
Quick unrelated question: when does book two come out? November? A girl can hope

✨ Overall Rating 4.5/5
📈 Plot 4.5/5
🖊️ Writing 4/5
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 4/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 2/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5

🖤 Dark Fantasy
🖤 Dark Academia
🖤 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 “Who did this to you?”
🖤 Elemental magic…and more
🖤 Likeable FMC
🖤 Broody MMC
🖤 Witches and Warlocks
🖤 “Fuck it”
🖤 Family rivalry
🖤 Monsters, Demons, Dark Magic?
💔 Cliffhanger

This conversation had me cackling:

He’s legitimately terrifying.”
“The warlocks who fuck the best always are. It’s like riding a rollercoaster that’s never had a safety check. You have no idea whats going to happen, but it’s always thrilling.”


Please read the trigger warnings. Your mental health matters.


Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc!

I'm typically not a harsh reviewer when it comes to ARCs because reading is subjective and I never want to harm an author's career, but this was truly so bad that I started taking notes.

Setting aside my issues with the pacing, plot, relationships, dialogue, and basically everything about this book, I want to start with the most concerning aspect of this book. I'm white, so obviously I'm not the most qualified person to dictate whether or not something is racist, but the characterization of the only Black character in this entire book (other than 2 side characters that are each mentioned once and basically get no dialogue) really bothered me. Noah, who is the best friend of Logan (the love interest) is introduced in a concerning way, which was basically the tall large threatening black friend of a male villain love interest, who isn't even given a name for a good amount of the time he's in this book. On the main character's first impression of him, without him even saying anything or moving, she says he's built like a linebacker (this takes place in America but none of these witches/warlocks do sports!!!!! or even partake in any sort of human culture like football why would this be the first descriptor that comes to mind?) A direct quote in her first encounter with him is "there was a coiled energy about him that told me if needed, he could turn from neutral to deadly in a heartbeat." Mind you he's literally just standing there and being tall and Black - seems like someone is stereotyping idk. Noah gets absolutely no character development, has no personality traits other than being the friend (more like bodyguard the way he's written) to Logan. You could have replaced his character with some sort of protecting familiar and there would have been very little change he has so little dialogue. This wouldn't have necessarily bothered me if it didn't feel like the shittiest excuse for diversity I've ever seen. It's not a move for inclusivity if you're just writing a poorly written stereotype of a Black man whose only purpose is to stand next to the love interest. There were some other quotes that made me side eye both the main character and the author. One that stood out to me was, "Your master left. Hope you're not on a choke chain." This was said to Noah by Paisley, the main character. Genuinely disturbing and there's no way the author didn't recognize that this was NOT the way to phrase the sentiment she was attempting to convey. Another one that bothered me was, "Noah stood three feet away, dressed in all black, because that wasn't creepy. 'We need to get a fucking bell on you,' I said with as much snarl as I could manage." These quotes wouldn't bother me if Noah was white, but the author made a conscious decision to write a Black character then had her main character say things that, to a Black man, come off as racially motivated. It's worth noting that there are no other non-white characters (unless you want to count the Paisley's best friend, Belle, whose mother is from India? She lives in India, but I'm not sure if it's stated that she's Indian though I guess it's implied. But all of Paisley's physical descriptions are about her being a redhead, which doesn't immediately make her fully white but still felt like a really poor attempt at inclusivity, almost like the author last minute decided to make her mom live in India).

Next, this was incredibly poorly written, and I can only compare it to the 2010s paranormal romance-ish book you read in middle school that was soooo tropey in every way. The setting, the characters, their mannerisms, the relationship, etc. This was not a compelling novel at any point, and I really wanted to DNF it in the first 10 chapters but decided to stick it out and see if it got better. The pacing was genuinely awful and I was so bored half the time. So many scenes felt unnecessary and were like a chore to read. The worldbuilding was incredibly clunky and just shoved at you through dialogue. The first half of this book at least has some things happening, but I cannot point out a single thing that happens in the second half other than like 2 sex scenes. There was essentially no 3rd act conflict and the ending was the definition of unsatisfying and anticlimactic, giving the reader absolutely no reason to continue this series. The romance is bland, the plot is all over the place ad barely there, there are no stakes and no cliffhangers, the questions that need to be answered aren't clearly defined enough to be intriguing, and none of the characters are likable!!! Why would I torture myself with the second book?

One thing about this book that so clearly stood out was the absolutely terrible dialogue, characterization, and relationships in this book. First off, Paisley is the youngest of five children, who all go to this super prestigious school (which really didn't seem that prestigious to me because there's only like 5 schools but anyway) and all of them are walking clichés with no personality traits, just very clearly defined walking tropes. Also, this author is definitely an only child because no siblings would ever interact this way?? They're constantly calling each other baby sis or big bro, and I'm pretty sure no sibling has ever used this term seriously. They tease each other, but in a really gentle and nice way, which was just entirely unrealistic. Like they were always happy and content with each other and never fighting...sorry have you ever interacted with five siblings all within 4 years of age? They also kind of felt like that parody movie of the Brady Bunch, where there's like a weird almost sexual undercurrent at times? They talked about sex entirely too much for my comfort (I can confidently say I've never bragged about my boobs to my brother!) None of the relationships, family or otherwise, are even slightly realistic. Everyone, especially Paisley, who is supposed to be 22, acts WAYYYY younger than they are, and the college treats them like they're high school students and not literal adults. It felt like the oldest sibling was about 17, when the youngest is actually 22! I genuinely have a theory that this started as a YA novel set in a private high school (thus the literal uniforms like they're at Hogwarts or something) but at the last minute the author decided she wanted to write smut so she just ctrl + f'd every character to be 22 instead of 16. Everything would make so much more sense if they were 16. The dialogue is so clunky and unrealistic, I genuinely questioned if it was written by AI because I cannot imagine a human thinking the dialogue is realistic. It was jarring to go from a sentence nobody would ever say or think in real to life to modern day slang like "situationships". (NOT accusing this author of using AI in her book by the way)

Logan and Paisley. You'd think that since this is a "romantasy" (it's not, in my opinion as a professional romantasy reader) there would be some frequent appearances from the love interest, but no. He really doesn't show up much, and Paisley for the most part doesn't interact with him. Obviously there are some moments of tension or like insulting each other, as well as 2 smut scenes, but other than that he's pretty absent. He has no development whatsoever, and no actual personality, just kind of staring there stoically and giving nothing away on his face, but sometimes threatening her family or her. When he is there, he's honestly pretty annoying and insufferable, which I personally don't find attractive at all. I also cringed HARD at their first kiss, which is never a good sign. One of them says, "fuck it" and then kisses the other, which is such a cliché that it reminded me of when I was in middle school, and my friend brought me on her first date with her boyfriend, and I had to hide behind a bush with our other friend while they had their first kiss, and he (a 13 year old boy) said "fuck it" and kind of kissed her. That was my mental image. There was no banter at all, very little tension, and pretty much nothing that makes a good romance.

Some of my smaller issues that just bothered me
- Her name is PAISLEY. no offense to the Paisley's of the world but I'm pretty sure she's supposed to be super badass and Paisley is just not giving me that vibe. If she was super feminine and nice and sweet and soft then was also a badass, I'd love that, but that was the not the vibe here.
- Again with the names, I'm not viewing a guy named LOGAN as a super powerful scary villainous wizard guy. He just seems like he's going to spike my drink
- I immediately clocked that this author was not American, because the way America was mentioned was so weird? Like Paisley is from Spokane, Washington and this college is in a rural area of New York, but it's in "the wilds of New York state". And the school system was referred to as primary and secondary school, which is not at all what American schools are referred to as. Even some of the phrases used were just not fitting for America. I don't really know why this author wanted to set their book in America when it could have easily been in any other country. Not a big deal it just bugged me
- there was a weird random love traingle introduced that had a very obvious outcome, and didn't really amount to anything, so that was just weird. This felt like yet another thing that was reminiscent of 2010s paranormal fantasy/romance except it's missing the things that made those so good (like the tension, banter, compelling plot, romance, etc)

Truly hated this, would not recommend it, and have no interest in reading the second book.

I really tried to push through this one, especially since it's less than 300 pages, but I chose to DNF around the 45% mark. Everything is super fast paced, which generally isn't a bad thing as long as the story is built with enough detail. But every time something happens, we fast forward almost too much, and it leaves many moments/relationships underdeveloped. Other than that, I think this reads as more YA with random steam mixed in and it was hard to take seriously at times. The MMC still wasn't a big part of the story at the 45% mark, and the times where he was present were so vague and annoying. This simply didn't work for me, but I'm sure others may enjoy it. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

A fast paced romantasy that will keep you hooked.

Paisley was accepted to the most prestigious witch college. She is determined to live up to her family and school’s expectations.

Logan is the son of her father’s enemy. But Paisley ends up falling for him. I absolutely love the chemistry between these two. Are you ready to dive into a world, where nothing is ever as it seems and love is as dangerous as power.


If you love:
💕 Dark Academia
💕enemies to lovers
💕high stakes
💕 magical creatures
Then this book is for you!

I hoping there are more books in the future! Big thanks to NetGalley, Jaymin and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the E-ARC!!


Publication Date: September 23 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Freaking fabulous!!! Such an anticipated read and worth every second. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy and others to be able to read this. Anything Jaymin writes is fantastic and this did not disappoint.

This book caught my eye on Netgalley and I was excited. Alas. I am so disappointed. I got to Chapter 6 and could go no further. I felt like I was reading about high schoolers not grown adults. There were bits of writing that made me physically cringe. “Why do you hide your youngest? Where is my best friend?” I’m sorry what you’re like a few years older than her why are you talking like that? And then Paisley the FMC, 22 years older, seems like she’s mentally 15. Let’s mommy and daddy dictate whether she can stay at college or not. Says things like, “he growled, like a legit growl and since he wasn’t a nature sprite with an animal familiar it took me by surprise.” This is her dad she’s talking about. Next up is a sibling character “he gravitated toward you and was überprotective.” I’m sorry what? “You’re right about this being a trigger for her”
“Don’t you remember our last days?” -Who talks like this? Nobody.
There was no way to stay immersed in this book.

Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve is an intense enemies to lovers romantasy I would recommend to any seasoned romantasy reader or someone who is just getting their feet wet in the genre, I really loved reading this book and look forward to more from Jaymin Eve. Thank you Net Galley for this ARC!!

Absolutely loved it! such a fun, fast-paced read with a great mix of magic, mystery, and romance. The main character is strong, witty, and easy to root for, and the magical world feels exciting and full of surprises. Jaymin Eve does a great job keeping the story engaging—there's always something happening, and the twists keep you hooked.

The chemistry between characters is great too, with just the right amount of tension and heart. If you enjoy books with powerful magic, found family vibes, and a heroine who doesn’t back down, this one’s for you.

If you’re like me and crave stories that whisk you into a moody, magical world filled with secrets, slow-burn romance, and powerful self-discovery, then Spellcaster is a gem you’ll want on your shelf.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

🧙‍♀️BOOK. REVIEW🧙‍♀️
(A big thank you to @htphive and @mira for the free copy!)
SPELLCASTER by Jaymin Eve
3/5 🌟

SPELLCASTER was entertaining and fun. It might have been a little rough around the edges, but it shows promise in the rest of the series, and I'm definitely interested in picking up the next novel.

The book follows Paisley, a 22 year old witch who has just come into her powers and is starting freshman year at a magical institute. There, her family's nemesis, Logan, has transferred to the school. And he's powerful and coming for Paisley (a little double entendre for you 😉)

Please read if you enjoy the following:

🪄 Dark Academia
🪄 Broody MMCs
🪄 Enemies-to-lovers with a touch of mystery
🪄 Powerful FMC without the key to unlocking their great power

I absolutely loved everything about this. We have strong FMC, a very Xaden MMC, found family. Ugh, everything. The magic was fun, as well as the dark academia vibes. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book two!!

An elemental Hogwarts with monsters and bad boys haunting the night…

Starting freshman year is scary for anybody but for Paisley its made worse by learning that her family’s archnemesis Logan is also attending. As a powerful spellcaster he is leagues ahead of her magic wise but perhaps he holds the key to unlocking the mysterious of the past as well as her untapped potential. With monsters hunting her every move she may not have a choice but to lean on Logan if it means keeping herself and those, she loves alive.

I am not quite sure where to begin with this one, it has all of the elements I enjoy but for some reason it felt like we were just skimming the surface on something that could have been better. The magic is fine though I feel like we don’t know a lot about how it all works which isn’t too terrible since Paisley is unfamiliar with her own talents so we too felt left out of the bigger picture. I feel like there is going to be more in future books with the necromancy element but like her family’s secrets there was quite a lot left hanging at the ending.

Paisley is fine she feels very two dimensional to me but then again, I feel as though they all do. Each character checks off a box and we aren’t given a lot to really flesh them out , we also are introduced to so many characters amongst her classmates and the elders so there is a lot of moving parts and not as much depth. I am all for smut but man this book felt like all it could talk about was how everyone wanted to have sex with a majority wanting Logan but apart from being described as pretty there was nothing else there, no charm or wit that you may see in a character like this instead he pops up when needed and broads and then disappears just as quickly. There was no heat in their scenes and for an enemies to lovers it felt like Paisley spent more time reminding us they hated each other than really building that tension which was disappointing.

This one took me longer to get through which is a shame and most likely not a series I will be returning to fully but I might google spoilers to see if I had anything right when it comes to the mystery.

This is a witch college paranormal fantasy where the college students go to learn more about their different affinities and hone their crafts. Paisley is our FMC and she is one of five children and also the youngest. While all of her siblings have blossomed into their affinities early she has not. She is a late bloomer, but she came into her power, but doesn’t know her affinity. Either way she has been accepted to the most prestigious of the witch colleges. Oliver’s siblings go there and her dad even is a professor there. Once they arrive, they find out that their family enemy has a son that will also be transferring in. Logan is a spellcaster. One of the most powerful types of warlocks.
I will say that overall I liked the story there was some things that I did struggle with, but I like the concept and as the story progressed, I really wanted to see where it ended up going. It was a bit predictable, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. And I definitely plan on reading the subsequent book(s) released in this series as they come out. I do like the others that this author has put out and you know that she delivers.

Prepare to be absolutely spellbound! Jamin Eve's Spellcaster is a five-star explosion of intense enemies-to-lovers chemistry, thrilling magical intrigue, and a pace that will leave you breathless. From the very first page, you're plunged into the captivating world of Weatherstone College, where danger lurks in the shadows and trust is a luxury no one can afford.
The atmosphere of Weatherstone is deliciously dark and mysterious. Eve masterfully creates a sense of foreboding with the college's ominous rules – don't walk the halls late at night, don't disturb the ancient magic, and most importantly, never trust a spellcaster. These warnings immediately set the stage for a world where power is volatile and secrets abound.
Our protagonist is instantly relatable, thrown into a world she's connected to by legacy but struggles to navigate with her unpredictable magic. Her arrival at Weatherstone and the immediate clash with Logan Kingston, the wickedly alluring son of her father's enemy, is pure electric tension. The warnings to avoid him only amplify the undeniable pull between them, and Eve expertly crafts their interactions with a delicious blend of animosity and undeniable attraction. The flirtation between hate and obsession is palpable, making their every encounter crackle with anticipation.
But Spellcaster is so much more than just a steamy romance. The undercurrent of dark energy stalking the protagonist and the terrifying monster attack inject a thrilling layer of danger and suspense. The unpredictable nature of the magic at Weatherstone, rooted in necromancy and battle, feels genuinely perilous, raising the stakes with every twist and turn.
The forced alliance between our protagonist and Logan is the stuff enemies-to-lovers dreams are made of. The dynamic between them is scorching, filled with reluctant trust and undeniable chemistry. The tagline "to fight a monster, I'll need a monster" perfectly encapsulates their dynamic and hints at the complex relationship that unfolds.
Jamin Eve has crafted a romantasy that ticks all the boxes – a compelling protagonist, a swoon-worthy and dangerous love interest, a richly imagined and perilous magical world, and a plot that keeps you hooked until the very last word. Spellcaster is an absolute page-turner, and I devoured it in a single sitting. If you're looking for a book that will leave you breathless with its heat, intrigue, and unforgettable characters, look no further. This is a definite must-read and an easy five-star recommendation! I'm already desperate for more from this world!

Spellcaster was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2025.

Eve is one of those authors who is an auto-buy author. Every series I've read from her gets better as the story unfolds.

Spellcaster didn't disappoint! I enjoyed the pacing, the storyline, and the close family ties. It felt like a big hug in a lot of ways.

The FMC, Paisley, Pais for short, is a kind and thoughtful FMC with a penchant for getting in trouble. I enjoyed watching her growth in this book.

The MMC, Logan, is your typical bad boy that every girl wants to be with. I have a feeling book two will be significantly more focused on Logan, but for now, I'm intrigued!

Overall, I gave this book a solid 4 star. It was enjoyable and had all of the makings of a great series from Jaymin Eve. I have a feeling as this series progresses, it will become one of my favorites from her.

I only rated it 4 stars because 1) I figured out the plot early on and 2) While this was New Adult, it read a little like a YA novel with spice. Regardless, it was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you so much to Jaymin Eve, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Adult dark academia & wizardry school vibes.
I need more!!! I seriously hope this is a multi-book series. Because I will read them all.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.


Goodreads: Brenda (Jadore_2Read)

Recently accepted into the prestigious Weatherstone College, Paisley is not so sure she belongs. Her magic hasn't exactly manifested yet, and all her siblings and friends seem to know exactly which element they draw magic from. Not only that, but her father's enemy's son, Logan, a powerful spell caster, just transferred and she's pretty sure he's out to do her harm. When monsters start appearing and dark magic is at play, Paisley senses old forces are stalking her and is forced to turn to Logan for help. Their hatred tows the line with flirtation as they work together to discover Paisley's magic, as well as uncovering decades old secrets that have the potential to save the school.

This is Zodiac Academy meets Ninth House - dark, college romance, academic setting, elemental magic, and a slow burning tension. Paisley's group of friends and siblings was a highlight, and the mysterious family secrets and dynamic draws you in. Logan and Paisley were enemies by default, and there's definitely a sense that there is more to their history than meets the eye. Plenty of "who hurt you?" moments, and dangerous situations. This is a modern romance/fantasy (though the college feels more ancient), with modern language/slang, technology, style, etc. You'll definitely be drawn in to the history of the school, the elemental magic system, and the growing tension. You will absolutely be left with questions at the end, so be ready to add book two to your TBR!

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve!

I need therapy. I knew that the ending was going to kill me. Paisley and Haley foreshadowed it, and I want to slap them both, and then I want Jaymin Eve to hug me while I cry.

Spellcaster is set at Weatherstone College, a prestigious magical school. Paisley Hallistar (one of five Hallistar children) is a 22 year old witch and strongly believes she’s not supposed to be at Weatherstone because she hasn't found her affinity. In fact, she's convinced she was only accepted because her father is a professor and all four of her siblings are already students. But, surprise surprise, Paisley's magic is volatile. And then there’s Logan Kingston—tattooed, Italian transfer student, Hallistar family enemy, and quite possibly the most delicious MMC I’ve read all year (honestly, I may like him better than Xaden Riorson...a la *gasp*). He heals her. Saves her. Asks for consent in quite possibly the best way ever. Calls her *precious* (which somehow works?). Think “I’ll burn down the world for you but also I’m your sworn enemy.”

It’s like dark academia made out with enemies-to-lovers and had a spicy little romantasy dream baby.

The world-building? *Chef’s kiss.* Elementals, necromancers, nature sprites, and spellcasters. The magic system? Lush and political with high stakes.