Spellcaster was good. Not great. Not bad. Just an easy, short start to a series. I really wish I had book 2, because this left a LOT of open questions. Because this was short, I feel like I don’t yet understand the overarching conflict, but I’m excited to find more. This paranormal romance doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s very heavy in college age life and speak (meaning: these 20 somethings are horny. And also? Can we please stop talking about reading?). I enjoyed the magic system, and I LOVE the familiars.

I listened to this book and I thought the narrators did a very good job of portraying different characters. My only complaint is that the volume of the narrators was very different, and it made the MMC hard to hear.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy!

Jaymin Eve’s Spellcaster is an enthralling romantasy that blends the thrill of dark academia with a pulse-pounding magical mystery — and the duet narration makes it completely addictive.

The narrators couldn’t have been more perfect for Paisley and Logan. Their performances brought Weatherstone College to life, drawing me so deeply into the story I didn’t want to press pause. The voice for Logan was magnetic, commanding, and impossible to ignore.

The plot itself is as dangerous as it is enticing: Paisley wrestles with unpredictable magic, buried family secrets, and her fraught connection to Logan Kingston, the boy who should be her enemy. Their families were once inseparable—until Logan’s mother was killed in an attack by monsters spun from darkness itself, and Paisley’s mother was accused of being involved. That tragedy fractured everything, leaving Logan’s elite, powerful father bitterly opposed to her family. Now, thrust together at Weatherstone, Paisley and Logan circle one another with a combustible mix of distrust, obsession, and reluctant need.

At the heart of the novel lies its mystery. The monsters return, stalking Weatherstone’s halls, echoing the same horrors that tore their families apart. As the attacks escalate, no student is safe, and Paisley is forced into a perilous hunt for answers that will test her power, her alliances, and her very identity.

The audiobook amplifies every twist, every charged glance, every revelation. The duet format heightens the tension, giving Logan and Paisley’s perspectives a raw, immediate intensity that makes the cliffhanger hit even harder.

✨ Spellcaster on audio is more than just a story — it’s an experience: sizzling chemistry, gripping suspense, and narration so good it feels like magic. Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and Zodiac Academy, this debut will leave you desperate for book two.

This book was very entertaining. A school for witches and warlocks, magic, monsters, enemies to lovers, and steamy romance? It's all here. I would have given 4 stars if the ending would have cleared some things up. I guess I'll have to come back for book 2.

Audiobook:
1/5⭐️ - This is one to skip on audio the mixing is awful!

The male narration volume is so low it sounds like a whisper in comparison to the female narrator. It makes this audiobook impossible to listen to. If I did not have the ebook and was not immersion reading this I would not have been able to continue.

Normally when there is a volume difference between male and female narrators (in dual audio) this is a inconvenience but not unmanageable. Because this is duet there is no way to feasibly adjust the volume when the narrator changes.

Aside from the volume differences - and because I did listen to the full audiobook (just had to follow along with the ebook to catch the male narration), this is an OK audiobook. I really enjoyed the female narrator and her pausing, pacing, inflection, and voice variation were all great. I cannot really comment on the male narration performance other than to say that I was unable to hear him well enough to determine the quality of his performance.

I really do hope this can be fixed before this audiobook goes live!

Book Content:
4/5⭐️
cheesy, but like, a fun cheesy.

Up until the 90% mark I was pretty confident I wasn't going to continue the series. I did have fun with the read but I wasn't overly invested. BUT THEN THEY HAD TO GO AND THROW THAT ENDING IN!

So yes, I will be continuing the series.

If you like romantasy, don't mind a little cheese, and enjoy the urban fantasy college setting this could be a really fun one for you!

Whats to love...
- spicy
- dark and broody MMC
- witch college
- monsters
- enemies to lovers (light)
- family forward story

I absolutely loved the audiobook i also received the arc for this but listening to the audiobook brought this whole story to life. The slow burn, mystery and suspense made this story a page turner I couldn’t put it down. The dark academia environment that explores witches, and their specialty magic was a nice change to the normal fay books i read. I feel like some of the predictably was a distraction to the twist at the end which led to a major cliffhanger. Can’t wait for book 2. This book was well paced, had the perfect plot to spice ratio and leaves you yearning for more. I feel that book two will be more angst and romantic than book 1. Can’t wait!!

Spellcaster written by Jaymin Eve kicked off my fall 2025 reading season! I went into this read excited for the elements it brought to the table; dark academia meets a modern magical academy that interweaves an unlikely romance. I also anticipated this to be a faster read. This book combines elements of Harry Potter and Fourth Wing, a combination I very much enjoy!

The execution of this story unfortunately did not meet my expectation. The first chapter pacing started out fantastic and hooked me up to a few chapters where the writing turned juvenile and underwhelming. This story reads not as an adult fiction but rather a new adult novel with elevated spice scenes + paranormal elements. Without the spice, I think this book would market well to a Young Adult audience. While this writing might work for others, it unfortunately did not connect with me as the reader.

The concept of the story is intriguing and the ending left me interested to see where the storyline ends.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Audiobook Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I ate this up. Was this then most unique storyline I’ve ever seen? No. It was definitely reminiscent of other books/series I’ve read. But sometimes those formulas work for a reason. I found myself wanting more of the backstory and a little less mystery around it. Otherwise I really enjoyed it! The narration was top notch! Love a good duet.

A book that gives total early year Zodiac Academy vibes, this dark academia romantasy follows Paisley, the last of her siblings to be accepted into Weatherstone College, a prestigious magical school. Her father, a professor at the college, worries that she will be a target of a rival family and threatens to pull her out of school if she can't stay out of danger. Paisley quickly runs into Logan, the son of that rival family, who claims they were childhood friends and seems to save her every time she is attacked by monsters (that no one else can see at first) or other students. This leads Paisley to wonder if he is a friend or foe and why he keeps saying they have a connection.

It soon becomes clear to others that these monsters are really, and it's clear that someone at the university is creating them. Paisley, her true and found family, are searching for answers to stay safe while also trying to survive the academic challenges to stay in Weatherstone. Meanwhile, Paisley continues to struggle with her full potential of her magic and trains with Logan, and she is finding it increasingly difficult to keep hating him for their family’s past.



I loved the family dynamic and how Paisley's siblings welcomed her into the college interacted together. The audiobook was also great, and the duet style narration is my favorite. I'm dying to know more after that cliffhanger and can't wait to read the next book! Definitely more questions than answers, but setting up a nice fun series.

---

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 9/23/25.

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 & 𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: Spellcaster
🎙️: Savannah Peachwood; Jason Clarke
🪄: Releasing September 23, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

After her magical bloom, Paisley Hallistar is ready to embrace the next step in her future. Her tight-knit family have all manifested strong magical affinities while hers is unpredictable. When she’s accepted to the prestigious Weatherstone College, Paisley’s determined to live up to her family’s legacy.

When a family feud threatens her academic year, she’s warned to avoid Logan Kingston at all costs. But she can’t seem to escape him nor the darkness that seems to follow her.

Tropes:
⚠️Enemies to lovers
😮‍💨Who hurt you?
🏫Magical academy
💫Magic & monsters
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Found family
🤌“F it”
🔥Slow burn 🌶️

I was immediately drawn into this world of witches and warlocks and was living for the dark academia setting. Paisley is slowly discovering her magic and Logan is a powerful warlock who is likely plotting her demise.

Through duet style narration, the narrators brilliantly capture Paisley’s spirit and determination and Logan’s enigmatic and possessive nature.

She can’t remember much about him from their childhood but feels drawn to him. Each interaction between them pulses with tension, reluctant longing, and a touch of danger.

Can she unlock her magic and unravel the mystery of the monsters lurking?

The Spellcaster weaves a spellbinding tale teeming with captivating magic, dangerous secrets, and a sizzling enemies to lovers romance. I am desperate for the next book!

Immensely grateful to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harlequin Audio, MIRA, and NetGalley for the e-ARC and ALC opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Spellcaster was an enjoyable read that hit so many of my favorite vibes, dark academia, witches, and a touch of mystery. It’s an urban fantasy set at a magical college, with strong family ties and just enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages.

I really liked Paisley as an FMC, she’s likable and relatable, especially in how she struggles with feelings of inadequacy compared to her gifted family. The closeness of those family relationships added a nice warmth to balance the darker, magical atmosphere.

The story definitely had its slower moments, especially in the first half where Logan (the MMC) barely appeared and the romance tension just wasn’t quite there yet. I found myself wishing for more interactions earlier on between the romantic leads to build that delicious yearning. That said, the pacing picked up a lot in the second half, and when Logan did step onto the page, the story came alive with more intensity and forward movement.

The cliffhanger at the end was brutal, in the best way, leaving behind so many unanswered questions that make me eager for the sequel. While not perfect, it was still a good read overall, and I’m definitely planning to continue this series.
Thanks to Harlequin trade publishing and The hive for the gifted book. I did have an ALC too and it was so good. It has duet narration and great performances. I think I enjoyed it much better with listening while reading. Definitely listen to this one if you like audiobooks. Thanks to Harlequin audio for the ALC.

This audiobook was everything! Im always a sucker for a duet narration and Savannah and Jason did not come to play! I loved the different voices and the inflection in their voices. I would love to listen to more books narrated by them both!

Spell Caster is a Dark Academia, slowburn, enemies to lovers romantasy that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I love Jamins writing style and was so excited to be offered this arc from Harper Collins/ The Hive. This is definitely a top read of the year from me.

I loved the fact that Paisley has a wholesome family who supports her and would do anything for her. I feel like thats rare in alot of books these days. The tension and the banter between the FMC and the MMC is top tier and I love the dream aspect!

All in all I loved this book!

4.5⭐️ so glad I received this ARC! I absolutely loved this story. It has similar feels to Harry Potter and Zodiac Academy. Set in a real world and a magical academy, the main character tries (and struggles) to learn her magical affinity, but knows she’s been placed at the most prestigious academy for a reason. All while also dealing with a family blood oath involving a mysteriously handsome, and powerful warlock. Loved it!!

This book got me out of a reading slump. From the very first chapter I knew I was going to love this book. I could not and would not put it down. I felt so immersed in the academic setting. It gave me the same giddy feeling that ZA did. I absolutely love an academic setting and this checked all the boxes for me. I really enjoyed the friendships that were made with Paisley. Honestly I did not want this to end! And speaking of end …. The ending!!! I have so many questions that I need to know the answers to!! This has quickly become a top tier read for me. This is my first Jaymin book and it definitely won’t be my last.

Academy Setting
Elemental Magic
Found Family
Monsters
F*ck It


Narration is perfect. 10/10. No notes!!!