Wielder's Prize

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this eCopy to review

Wow what a book, I could not put it down. The magic system was easy to understand, the world building was excellent with engaging descriptions but is was Rixon's and Mina's relationship that leapt of the page.

Mina becomes the top witch in her cohort and choses Rixon as her Wielder (demon slayer and bodyguard) despite him entering the trials for a second time as his first witch died. It was fun seeing the flash backs and how their relationship changes over time. Mina thinks Rixon hates her but she couldn't be further from the truth.

A very steamy romance, absolutely cannot wait for the rest of the series

This book really took me by surprise. I absolutely LOVED it. Witches, magic, demons, bonded wielders, love, and battle; it has it all. The character development just flowed so well and I was hooked from page one. The tension between Rixon and Mina had me squealing, blushing, throwing the Kindle down, picking it back up, and screaming. Not to mention the spice level was off the charts!

I feel like this book is criminally underrated and needs more attention! Read this book!!

I've read many books of witches. But this one was entirely different. I really loved rixon and Mina and they both are a really good pair. Wanting eachother from the start. It's was a short story but it was really pleasant. Also rixon is the perfect example of the grumpy guy who only smiles and talks to her.i really liked them both together. Definitely give this a try!!

3.75★

First of all, I want to say thank you to NetGalley for the e-copy of this book. I don’t think I would have found it otherwise.
I’m very surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this book. It was quite good! And really fun to read.

Thoughts:

- I liked the writing. It was simple and fast-paced, and I enjoyed reading it.

- One thing I didn’t like was the author's usage of "male" and "female" instead of saying "man" and "woman" all the time. It wasn't a big deal, just something I didn't like as much.

- At the beginning of each chapter, we got a bit of a throwback in time, which helped a lot to bring some backstory of the characters. I loved that.

- The fight scenes were so well-written.

- I adored the characters! I loved Aramina as a tall, strong woman who can take care of herself, and Rixon with all his grumpiness. They were a very cute pairing.

- The romance was lovely. Slow and steamy, very enjoyable.

- Overall, I’d say the book is heavier on the romance side than the fantasy, but I didn’t mind it at all. It had enough world-building to keep me entertained. Obviously, I wouldn’t mind getting more of the background, but for the book’s length and it being the first in the series, I feel like it was good enough.

- The story, in general, was quite simple. Witches with their wielder fighting demons, but for some reason, it was entertaining to read!

- I’d definitely recommend anyone picking up this book and giving it a try. It’s a quick read. I will definitely continue the series - or at least give the second book a try. I’m curious how the story will go on.


Read if you like:

- Witches and magic
- One bed, one bath, one horse trope
- Grumpy MMC
- Who hurt you
- Steamy romance
- Spice

Buckle up for a spellbinding journey into a world where magic and destiny intertwine in Wielder’s Prize, the enchanting first installment of the Lady Witch series. In this tale of witches, bonded pairs, and simmering romance, Aramina and Rixon are tasked with a mission to protect a citadel on the border. As their strengths entwine, so do their fates, but beneath the surface of this supernatural partnership lies a brewing storm of tension, secrecy and desires.

Aramina is a closed book and did annoy me at times. Rixon is a mysterious brooding warrior with a dark past. These characters create the kind of tension that had me giggling. The characters are well described in the novella and decently flushed out as well.

Since this is a short read, the author didn’t spend too much time on world building and left that up to our own imagination. Every chapter starts with a flashback but I liked the opportunity to learn more about Aramina.

This novella is perfect for those looking to get into fantasy but are dreading 100 pages of world building. It’s a cute romantasy and I’m looking forward to reading more from the series.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for providing me a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

The story focuses on Mina, a witch, and Rixon, her wielder, aka a strong fighter paired with her. Together they defeat demons which are increasing in number but we don't know why. The story is told part in past tense which gives us an idea why there is so much tension between the two who are now bonded for life.

I wanted more but I'll forgive it with this being a novella and an intro to the series. I really wanted a little more backstory (especially for Rixon) and world building but hopefully those things are addressed in the next book.

All in all it seems like a good intro to the series. Moderate spice. No cliffhanger ending, but it just drops off abruptly.

Loved it. Great main characters, interesting magic system & Society Structure ( Shades of The witcher I thought) and filthy, Spicy romance :) Definitely a series I will be recommending to my fantasy romance reading customers.

This book was really good, definitely a recommendation for those who love magic, romance, and the forced proximity trope. The writing style is detailed and yet easy enough to understand exactly what is going on. The main character, Aramina, is a strong woman who is not afraid of danger and I admire her— It was nice to read about a character the same age as me! The flashbacks were used very effectively. I’m definitely going to continue with this series, as I am eager to find out what happens with Mina!

Wielder's Prize by Melissa Mitchell was noted by NetGalley (thanks #NetGalley for the read) as a little novella that would be one of three to make up the Lady Witch book. #WieldersPrize is the story of a Witch and her bonded Wielder. Filled with all the fantasy romance troupes, #WieldersPrize was a fun little romp. Surprisingly, while I am not the biggest fan of story telling done with time jumps, the "X years ago" way each chapter started and then finished with present day was not hard to follow and felt natural to this story.

For those who want the "will they won't they" typical to this genre, you won't be disappointed. And the romance takes a turn between the sheets which on my steamy scale gets a decent score for the amount of it, and the interesting way we get the steam since we never see the main characters completely seal the deal. But, it was still fun to read (and left me with the need to fan myself more than once).

The story seems like it might have legs too.  It was an interesting take on demons.  And it was full of fighting and action, and never left me feeling like the author wrote a helpless waif that wasn't worth the time and effort.  Instead, while a typical motivation drove her, she too became (in secret) and expert with some weapons and was completely capable of holding her own.  Where she falters in that is in the bedroom - Rixon all of a sudden takes charge, but isn't that part of what makes books in this genre such an escape from reality?  He is the hot, chiseled, quiet type except when it comes to pleasing our female character.  So typical.  But definitely worth the quick read that it is.  In fact, I am off to try to buy the second and third in the series!

This book pleasantly surprised me. I really enjoyed the writing style, which gave me great mental images and it had a plot that kept me interested without being overly complicated. I would have liked to see a little more worldbuilding and expansion, but I didn't end the book with an overwhelming amount of questions, so it still felt well balanced.

It was a super easy read that I ate up in a single day, putting aside two other books (both of which are very HYPED) in favor of this little novella.

It gave me the fantasy romance that I constantly crave with a spice level done exceedingly well. Not too grungy, but dirty enough to keep things interesting. Not only does this story offer us the classic 'one bed' trope, but also 'one saddle, and 'one bath'.... which is a new one for me, but I LOVED IT!

Wielder's Prize by Melissa Mitchell.
Lady Witch Series Book 1.
Every witch needs a wielder.
Newly bonded, Aramina sets out from the Citadel to take up her first assignment. Traveling across Raeria won’t be easy. Not because of the demons along the way, but because of Rixon. He might be the best wielder in the Citadel, but he has a questionable past. Plus, he spent the last two years pointedly ignoring her. Now she’s stuck with him. Not just for this assignment, but for life. She’s determined to remain closed off, to keep him at arm’s length no matter how flustered he makes her. Her heart is locked up tight, and for good reason. But the life of a witch is lonely. And Rixon might be exactly what her heart needs.
A good read with likeable characters. I did like Aramina. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.

We follow the story of a witch and her wielder. At first, we’re in the “now”, traveling to their assigned station to find out why demon attacks have increased. The two main characters seemingly tolerant of each other but not close. As we progress further, we are taken back to their days of training leading up. Layering the past with the present, we really get to understand how their relationship got to the current state and the intentions as the main timeline progresses. This book has a great magic system, not necessarily enemies to lovers but like associates to lovers, tragic back stories, and a very noble stallion who had main character energy (you’ll understand once you pick this up). Great read, I’m not usually one for back and forth with timelines but ended up really enjoying how this was laid out.

Reviewed on Amazon & Goodreads. Will be included in future Instagram & TikTok posts for @cursebreakerbooks.

I received a complimentary copy of Wielder’s Prize via Net Galley and Melissa Mitchell in exchange for an honest review, which I am so happy to give because I loved this book.

Wielder’s Prize is peak romantasy. It has an interesting and unique premise full of magic and fantasy elements, balanced with a heavy load of romance and spice. I felt like the world-building was seamless, the characters and their stories were compelling, and there was enough action that I had trouble putting the book down.

This book felt a little like a spicier version of The Witcher, and I say that as high praise. I loved the world that Mitchell built, where women have this significant magical power that they use to work alongside male Wielder’s to destroy demons from hell. It was an interesting approach to have the two magical aspects so intricately tied in such a way that while each is powerful, neither can truly succeed without the other.

It was a clever choice to accomplish much of the world-building and history about how witches and wielders operated through Aramina’s flashbacks. World-building is usually the most daunting aspect of a new fantasy series for me, but using the rotating perspective through time ensured that the setting was established quickly and understandably while simultaneously building out the relationship between Aramina and Rixon.

For me, it’s important that a romantasy balances fantasy, action, and romance, and I felt like Mitchell executed that balance well. While the romantic scenes were not infrequent (and very explicit at times), it wasn’t the entirety of the book. There were a lot of fantastic fight scenes and a good amount of detail and events surrounding Aramina’s training and the present day that that had me as invested in the plot surrounding the witches, their wielders, and the realm as I was in the relationship between Aramina and Rixon. The pacing was also on point. Mitchell jumped into the thick of the characters and narrative immediately and the momentum only built from there.

The characters themselves were fascinating, and their conflicts kept me hooked and wanting to understand what it was that drove them and what contributed to the traumas they regularly faced. Aramina was particularly compelling to me. As the book went on, she became more layered and multidimensional as different pieces of her past unfolded to tell a better story of how she became who was, and how the events of her past impacted the relationships around her. I’m very interested in learning more about Rixon and what makes him tick as well, given that I felt he was set up to have a lot of future potential.

This book had me compulsively reading right from the start. It was concise, action-packed, and had a gorgeous romance that was drawn out in a perfectly. I’m so excited to learn that the other books in this series are already available as I’ll definitely be moving onto the second book shortly.

This is such a neat little novella. I did like that it jumped right into the story of the characters, and I did not feel like I needed any additional world building to understand the situation. I love the duo of FMC and MMC. Watching their story develop through flashbacks also felt natural and not forced. This is a great romantasy story, and it left me wanting to pick up the second part of the story to see where it takes Mina and Rixon and to see if my theories about the events of the story are true. Very fast, enjoyable read!

This book was really good, definitely a recommendation for those who love magic, romance, and the forced proximity trope.

Series: Lady Witch Series (book 1)
Author: Melissa Mitchell
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶

Warning first, I would class this more as a romantasy book than a fantasy with romance. As long as you know that going in, it's a really solid read
The story follows a young witch Aramina and her broody, sexy new Weilder and their journey across their demon filled land. It was an easy read and I did enjoy the writing. The two time lines was also really well done. Lots of the story is also Aramina introspectively examining her emotions and her journey. Therefore, there is a lot of inner monologue. There was also just the right amount of spice for the size of the book!
I think there could have been a little more world building but as this is a novella, it may be more extensive in the next book.

I devoured this book in one day!

If you've enjoyed wattpad, you are new or somewhat new to fantasy or you want something that you can easily read and immerse yourself in then this is the book for you! A romantasy novel that includes the one bed trope, forced proximity, alliances to lovers, slow burn, grumpy x sunshine and a strong female character! This book also offers a dual timeline (present and two years ago leading to the present) which sets this apart from other books you may read.

Your main character, Aramina, is a witch who struggles with surpassing her emotional barriers due to past trauma. That's until she encounters Rixon, the grumpy and reserved sword wielder. This is a fantasy world that allows witches and wielders to enter a life bond, in which they work together in a world where demons threaten their society. It has magic, romance, spice and action. As the book begins, you jump right into the action, starting at the present time and watching their powers come to life, until you are able to intermittently read about their past and how they came to be where they currently are. The book does such a great job at explaining everything you need to know (without spoiling what is to come) with good world building and character development.

There are times where some points seemed a bit rushed, not necessarily confusing, just happened very quickly without truly understanding why or how it came to be. Otherwise, this is a great fantasy read for those who are just diving their feet into the fantasy world, want a quick romantasy read or someone who is looking for a new magical series to immerse themselves in.

Wielder's Prize was a simple but addicting romantasy (emphasis on romance) read. There could have been more world and relationship-building, but was still overall interesting enough to pull me in. The writing style makes it a very easy read, with enough detail to paint the settings in your head but without getting overly complicated.

I give this book 4 stars: I was so addicted to this book I couldn't focus on anything else, but once you put the romance aside it left a bit to be desired with the world-building and plot. As the first novella in a 4 book series, I hope the next books expand on this. I plan on immediately finding out!

I received a copy of Wielder's Prize from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

This was a great start to the Lady Witch series, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. The characters felt like they belonged in this type of world. I enjoyed the characters and the romance elements. Melissa Mitchell does a great job in this book and I can’t wait for more.

I really really liked this book. The writing style was so easy to understand and follow- the detail in this book was great as well.

People who loved fantasy, magic, slowburn, forced proximity and one bed trope will love this book! The romance is good and very genuine! The banter was hilarious and one of those things I absolutely love in my romance books! It is a very cute Romantasy!

I do usually hate flashbacks and sometimes even skip them BUT with this book they were done great- I loved seeing how they played out and seeing Aramina’s past.

I really do wish we learnt more about Rixon past and about him. That being said this was only a novella- so I’m sure we will learn more in the other books!

I will be reading the other books in the series eventually!

Wielder’s Prize by Melissa Mitchell is the first book of the Lady Witch series, and is a new adult romantic fantasy that focuses on characters with a unique underlying plot. Every witch is bonded to a wielder and the story begins as witch Aramina leaves with her wielder for her first assignment. Single POV and dual timelines. Tropes include one bed, one horse, who hurt you, forced proximity and bodyguard (sort of). Do check trigger warnings before reading, and this is an adults only book.

The Lovely: So much to love here. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship developed. Mina’s backstory was woven in deftly and it explains her actions. Story wise, for being under 300 pages, a lot happens in this book and that’s across two timelines. Usually dual timelines make my head hurt but this was easy to follow. The plot and tension were seamless.

The Mundane: My only meh item was I thought the main characters relationship seemed insta-lovey. Granted, they’ve technically known each other for two years but they’d never really spoken to each other. So for them to be so attracted so fast felt a bit forced. I would also like to learn more about Rixon’s backstory.

The Dreadful: Nothing

Rating: 5/5 Stars 3/5 flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I saw this book on NetGalley and thought it sounded like something I’d usually like. I’d never heard of the book or the author. Half-way in and I was obsessed with the characters and the story-telling. I now must go read the next two books that have already been released. If you like high fantasy with witches and monsters, and a lot of spice with a fun relationship, I think you would like this book.

3.5⭐ Wielders Prize.
Wielders Prize is very well written the details of the surroundings were detailed well, aswell as the demons. The characters were very likeable. The reason I didnt give it 5 is that i thought the main character physical relationship happened really fast sort of out of nowhere abit unexpectedly. It's not a bad thing I just felt there was room for there relationship to build abit more. I will be purchasing book 1 and 2 in physical copies as I said I was a nice and enjoyable read.

What made me look at this book well it was the deep purple (I just love purple) and the name Wielders Prize just stud out.

3.5 Stars. This was my first witch fantasy read. The idea of a witch and her wielder protecting their kingdom from demons is such an alluring factor that made me want to read "Wielder's Prize"

The book did not take me long to read at all, and even though the world-building was not extensive, I still appreciated the flashbacks and explanations/descriptions of the demons Aramina and Rixon were fighting. There are also slow-burning, but steamy spicy scenes, but nothing that was overbearing.

I am invested in their journey and will be reading the sequels.
Thank you NetGally, Author, and Publisher for a copy of the book.

A spell-binding romance novella that journeys through the aftermath of trauma and its influence from childhood to adulthood.

"Wielder's Prize" follows Lady Witch, Aramina, and her bonded Lord Wielder, Rixon, as they traverse through the kingdom of Raeria towards their newly assigned station. It will take them one month filled with awkward silence and unbridled, wanton craving to reach their destination.

If only both weren't suffering from traumatic pasts that made them reflexively push away anyone they could possibly care for.

Along their expedition, they begin to truly understand each other as they slowly let down their walls and share bits of their past with the other. While facing the danger of slicing down demons that cross their paths, Aramina struggles with letting Rixon in or protecting herself from the pain of losing him one day. Rixon isn't so inclined to let her make that choice lightly.

Author Melissa Mitchell takes us on a mystical adventure throughout "Wielder's Prize", truly expressing the affect of loss through the eyes of her characters. The balance between shutting down or giving in can be felt wholeheartedly through every decision her characters make, and she heightens that through the spicy intimacy shared between the two in bits and pieces.

While starting in the center of it all, Melissa Mitchell structures small flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter after the first, indicating how the two met and the events leading up to their time in the forest at the very start of it all. I thought this was quite clever for a novella, so that we may still understand the essential chemistry following this couple without needing a lengthy detailing beforehand.

This spicy, almost enemies-to-lovers romantasy novella is definitely a read worth setting time aside for! From the worldbuilding of the magical system in place to the tender healing of a trauma victim, it will leave you feeling whimsical and satisfied to your core.

Loved this book, the romance between the two main characters was great with just the right level of spice while still developing the plot. Can't wait for the next installment!

Enjoyed very much! Very steamy. Love a strong heroine and developing romance. I wouldn't call it enemies to lovers but I adore the frosty to steamy development. The magic was cool, would love to see that expanded.

I loved this book! I instantly fell into this world and loved the slow unravelling of Aramina and Rixon's story.

The premise of this book is heavily focused on the relationship between Aramina and Rixon, and changes between flashbacks and present day. I really enjoyed the flashbacks and felt they were cleverly executed. We started at 2 years ago and each flashback slowly brought us up to present day.
I began to look forward to the detail in the past when the pair were at the Citadel together before their journey started.

The world that our characters are in was well developed and interesting enough without detracting from the romance. This was your typical travelling story with forced proximity and one horse, one bed at times. The uniqueness in the story for me was the bonded pair and how they fought demons. It was an idea I've not come across before, and I felt worked well and gave the action depth and intrigue. It was frustrating to know that there were limitations to Mina's power and that also add an element to the story that wasn't your usual 'chosen one' with endless power. Although she had strength, she wasn't infallible.

Rixon was quiet and troubled but once he thawed, I started to swoon for his change in character. Mina was strong and practical, yet likable and engaging. This book focused on Mina's past and how that was affecting her interactions with others, so I am really pleased to see the next book has mention of Rixon's past which I would like to delve further into. They are both complex characters who support each other and also have some great steamy moments! I need more 'one bath' moments!

I felt the pace was slow and methodical, and mirrored the journey they were taking. This wasn't a quick read where I gobbled up the pages, this was a slower savouring of the tale as it moved along.

Excited to continue with this series.

I DEVOURED this book. I finished this book in two sittings (would have been one sitting but real world responsibilities and all that jazz).

Typically I find myself not fond of books that jump around in the timeline between past and present but this book just did it so well that all my thoughts on that format are now null! Every scene from Aramina's past correlated so well with the corresponding scene from the present and provided not only background information but also character depth and development all at once.

I found the concept of a witch and wielder pair so unique, it created such an interesting dynamic between already interesting characters. We get to see Aramina's more 'traditional' thoughts about the bond between witch and wielder but we also get to see a bit of Rixon's thoughts on these bonds after his non-traditional experience with one.

I gave 4 stars instead of 5 due to one small critique, I found their journey to Rockfall to be a bit repetitive. It felt somewhat like different iterations on the same basic scene; travel by horseback, fight demons, stay at the town inn and meet the town's assigned witches and wielders. I just want to say that this did not affect my reading experience in the least, I was thoroughly engaged the whole time! This was simply a thought that I had upon completing the book and recounting in my mind the story I just read.

Aramina and Rixon were such a fun pair to read about and I cannot wait to continue reading their story!

If you haven’t read this yet, and are a fan of witches, magic, spice, steamy romance, grumpy MMC, romance then this spellbinding world is for you.

This book you won’t be able to put down, while I felt I would have loved to hear more about the magic system and it’s intricacies I loved what I learnt about it and it’s super easy for you to follow and understand! This is only a short novella, so the author didn’t spend immense time on explaining the magic system or the world building, but what was written was descriptive and enough to get your imagination going.

The writing is fast-paced, detailed and easy to follow along, the action and fighting scenes made you feel like you were there and immersed you in.

This book certainly is more romantasy than a fantasy romance, but that doesn’t make it any less of a great read!

Thank you to the author, Melissa Mitchell, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this e-ARC for me to provide a review.

4 ⭐️.

The perfect book for anyone who loves romance, fantasy, dual-timeline and the forced proximity trope. Witches, “wielders” (witch protectors), and demons? A ton of action? Sign me up. This book read so easily/ quickly, the magic system was not difficult to understand, and there was not a single lull in the plot, never a dull moment. Loved that the book dove right into the action without the awkward introductions and info-dumping that usually comes with the start of a fantasy series.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just reviewed Wielder's Prize by Melissa Mitchell. #WieldersPrize #NetGalley

This book was one that I would say surprised me, I thought it was a beautiful world and that it was in first person. I’m a sucker for a great first person pov. I loved the banter, and and smart ass that she is. I think my favorite part is that we aren’t reading about a woman who had no idea she had power, or was surprisingly given it. She had it, from the beginning. And surprisingly, even to myself I loved that. Overall she’s great, and a badass, and I loved Aramina. Cannot wait for the next one!!

"Wielder's Prize" by Melissa Mitchell promises an enticing blend of magic, adventure, and the complexities of human emotions. This novel invites readers into a world where witches and wielders form unique and intricate bonds to combat the challenges that lie ahead.

At its core, the story revolves around Aramina, a witch who embarks on her first assignment, and her reluctant partner, Rixon, a wielder with a mysterious and checkered past. The premise immediately draws readers into a world filled with demons, magic, and the potential for both danger and romance.

Mitchell's narrative appears to focus not only on the external threats Aramina and Rixon face but also on the internal struggles and emotions that arise as they form a partnership. Aramina's determination to remain closed off and the unresolved tension between the two characters promise a complex and engaging dynamic.

The concept of witches and wielders bound together in a shared destiny adds depth to the story, and the idea of a lonely life as a witch sets the stage for exploration into the characters' personal growth and emotional connections.

As readers follow Aramina and Rixon's journey, they can expect a combination of action, magic, and the gradual unraveling of the characters' backstories and emotions. "Wielder's Prize" appears to offer a rich and immersive reading experience for fans of fantasy and romantic fantasy genres, making it a book worth diving into for those who enjoy tales of magical worlds and the power of human connection.

Where do I start?! YOU NEED THIS!

All witches need a wielder.

This was such a good find. I didn't expect it to be this good, to be honest. The author Melissa Mitchell has written in the slow burn, lust filled interactions between Rixon and Mina so well and refreshingly different, making this enemies to lovers really enjoyable. I loved the concept of witch wielding and found it to be a more unique find.

I squealed, giggled, blushed and gasped several times. My only dislike is that it was a novella instead of a full novel. This could have had more of the backstory, which was touched on a bit, but it could have developed some more lust/dislike. More story could have added more to all of it.

I did love this though, I will be reading all books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ebook to review.

The newly bonded Aramina (the top witch of her cohort) and Rixon (her broody crush and a seasoned wielder with a past) travel together to investigate the rise of demons terrorizing the kingdom.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and I devoured it in 24 hours. Approachable world-building, full of action, and, of course, excellent sexual tension. I’m hooked, and I’m excited to read the rest of this series!

Why I loved this novella:
- Women in charge (witches are on top in this universe)
- Loved seeing Aramina’s character growth
- Demon slaying battle scenes
- A tall FMC
- For all you princess bride fans: a MMC saying ‘As you wish’
- One bed trope
- Bodyguard trope
- The spice!

This was such an interesting read! I enjoy fantasy and have read the genre for some time but somehow I have read only a few books heavily involving witches. This is a great introduction to the sub-genre!

Pros: A quick read (under 200 pages), the FMC and MMC are likable characters and I enjoyed them as a couple. The plot is incredibly unique and does a good job of pulling you in. I liked the incorporation of Jarrow into the story, it was cute.

Cons: I struggled to get into the first 30% of the book, maybe it was the world-building. But the fact that this is a shorter read I felt like the descriptiveness In the beginning was a bit too much.

Overall, a great read, and I look forward to reading more about Mina and Rixon.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

My biggest complaint about this book was: there just was not enough of it.

1. I got emotionally invested quickly"

I was confused about the way the book started, I felt out of place, and like it must've been the 2nd book of a trilogy, but no, it was the first. And that's okay, because after about ten minutes of reading it clicked that the author was approaching the book in a different way. And I am totally okay with it.

I was mad at Rixon, and yet in love with him almost immediately. I understood Mina well.

2. I loved the character building but wanted *more*

I think that the characters needed to be teased out more. I needed to see their personal journeys. To understand their development arcs. I wanted to know more about what motivated Mina other than her family was gone (no spoilers). I need to know more about Rixon and his past. It felt so sparse.

Give me more. Show me more.

3. I loved the steamy bits, but it felt too bold too quickly. Expand on it, build it up a little slower, make me feel like it is more authentic.

I am here for romance and love scenes. I thought they were *good* but I see massive potential in the author. For a "virgin" and an older man, this at times felt really uncomfortable and a little predatory. I love that the author did include consent. I love the actual actions. I just wanted to see them grow into trusting each other. Slow down and build it.

4. The world building is exquisite. The action scenes are exceptional.

The demons, the witches, the idea of wielders. I cannot wait to learn more about it. I loved it. The writing was higher quality than many in its genre. I love reading these types of stories. I found this one to be especially good.

I found this one to be in the top 100 of what I have read. Out of the 70+ books I have reviewed this year, this is probably in my top 10.

Overall, this is an excellent story.

"Every witch needs a wielder."

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me this eARC!
I really enjoyed Wielder's Prize! I had to get into it the first 30-40 pages but once I picked it up I finished it in one sitting.

Tropes
- Witchy theme
- Spicy romance
- Forced proximity (one bed, one horse, one bath wink wink)
- Who hurt you?
- Flashbacks

Spice rating
2/5 🌶️

It was more romance than fantasy but there was still an existing plot with an interesting, not too large, world setting. The heroine is not the typical shy one. She's reserved but badass and is determined in what she wants!
I really liked seeing her develop as she had to overcome fears and personal issues because of past trauma.

I always wanted to try books that are witch themed and this one really lived up to my expectations. I'm for sure continuing the series and the 4th book is coming out soon so that's a really good timing!

As I said the world setting and plot are there and is easy to follow, everything gets its explanation and there weren't any plot holes. it was a descriptive book but it was simple enough for the reader to understand.
The main thing that I really enjoyed was how every chapter was divided into a flashback and a part of the present day and the story in the flashbacks would develop slowly as you kept reading. That was a new thing for me,
I haven't read a book until now who had the same idea but it was surprisingly enjoyable in stead of random flashbacks during a dialogue in a chapter. I hope I see more of that in the next books!

For the romance, it was pretty insta-lovey / lust and I think that the author could have taken a little more time. Rixon went from super cold to sweet and possessive (which I don't mind but you get what I mean). I wish there was a step between those two. It was too abrupt.

"My little witch has talons. I was wondering when you'd scratch me again. I rather enjoy it."

I would really recommend this book to anyone who likes a witchy themed book with a cute romance!

I hope this review helped to give you an idea of the book and convinces you to read it as well, enjoy! (:

Bottom Line: a charming fantasy novella about a witch (magic-user) and a wielder (fighter-protector).

I was looking for something a bit lighter and shorter after a series of longer heavy reads, and Wielder's Prize by Melissa Mitchell attracted me immediately. The premise is that every Witch must have a Wielder. Our heroine, Mina, is newly-graduated and getting to know her Wielder. As the book unfolds, we flash back in time with each new chapter to uncover her past and her history with her Wielder, Rixon, as they work together to battle demons and shelter innocents.

This book is an enjoyable read full of well-trodden tropes. Some readers might want more surprising twists, while others will find comfort in the familiar. At some points, I did hope to see more world building, particularly given the interesting setup for gendered Witch/Wielder roles that appears to be present. I'd hope to see more of this in the second and third novellas, which are already published.

Overall, a fun enjoyable read, and I plan to check out the sequels as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the free copy in exchange for a review. This book is also currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

I loved this book! And I’m annoyed it’s as short as it is... and yes I know it’s technically a novella. I see there are three more in the series and I will be reading them as soon as I can. I’m hoping there will be more backstory for Rixon because even for all his dreaminess he’s still very two dimensional. I need to know more about him. I like Aramina and her strength after everything she’s been through. I’m excited to see how their relationship progresses and I hope it becomes a true partnership amid this world’s power dynamic between witch and wielder. I’m also hoping for some more expansion of the world building, which is definitely being hinted at with the last chapter. It’s interesting to read a fantasy as a novella series and I’m excited to see where it all goes. I’m hoping that since it’s a novella the other three will address some of the missing bits.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for the chance to read this!

The Wielder's Prize is a fantasy romance book focused on the characters' development and relationship more than the world around them.
Aramina is a witch and she is bonded to a wielder, Rixon. In this world, Raeria, every witch is accompanied by a wielder whose job is to keep the witch safe from the demons that are around. Witches do have powers to defend themselves, but the pair witch-wielder is more effective than just using their powers, so they bond for eternity. Both Aramina and Rixon have dark pasts that you get to know chapter after chapter.
I liked the flashbacks at the beginning of the chapters that let you see which process made Aramina choose Rixon as her wielder, and I also liked the tension between the two main characters in them.
When I started reading I was a little lost, it took me a couple of chapters to really understand how the wielders-witch relationship worked and the whole demons situation.
Aramina's POV is perfect as a narrative and I enjoyed it a lot, sometimes I found her a little unfair towards Rixon since she asked him a lot and seemed to give him almost nothing, but in the end, it still worked out fine.
Rixon starts as a grumpy and reserved character, Aramina tries more than once to talk with him but he doesn't trust her at all. It's clear that there's a reason for his behavior and it's not Aramina's fault, going on reading you find out pieces of information about him that will make you understand him better.
I enjoyed this book especially because of its focus on the characters. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who wants to read detailed descriptions of the creatures or the world in which the characters live, you have as much info as needed for your imagination to wonder, and I find it's enough to appreciate the reading.
I do recommend this book to all romantasy (as we like to call it) readers out there.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Could you handle being bonded with someone you believe hates you? What if I told you would be bonded until someone passes away? However, this person that you’re bonded to is one of the strongest wielders out there and you know that he will keep you safe no matter what.

Who wouldn’t want to read a book about a witch and her bonded muscle? They have to travel a month out to get to their post and on top of that her wielder is not the friendly talkative type at all. I enjoyed the plot a lot in this book and the character development throughout the whole book. I think for me it was the magic system that I loved and the world building that the author created that I loved so much. I thought the pace was steady throughout the book, picked up at the right time and was slow at the right time. The magic system was so interesting, how the witches come into their magics and how they have to learn to develop their magic so they can fight away the demons that are trying to come into the world. I did not mind that the book would go from the past to the present at all because the author had it clearly marked if you were in the past and when the present time started, and it really gave you a glimpse of what started this attraction between these two characters and to get a better understanding of them both.

Mina is a great FMC, she is strong and determined to make it on top without anyone really knowing exactly how much power she really holds as a witch. She keeps to herself mostly, but she does have a close friend. I loved that even though she knows people will judge her for her choices she puts everything aside and picks with logic when it comes to picking a wielder. She doesn’t have time to listen to rumors and would rather hear the truth from the person, rather than sit there and make up their own stories.

Rixon is quiet and keeps to himself as well. He doesn’t have time for witches in the Citadel, instead he would rather be training to become better than he was before and reading. He is a little standoffish but once you get him to thaw out a little… girl run. That man is yummy in all the right ways. Protective, determined, quiet, sweet (once he is thawed out), and let me tell you know he also knows when to take charge in all the right ways…. Wink wink. I loved the banter between the characters, and I loved that when Rixon would push Mina she would push right back.
I would go on but honestly, I think it’s time that I go read book two now.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes witches, sexy protectors, a little spice, forced proximity (one bath, one bed) and so much more great things.

I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to review this book .

I chose this one to read as a bit of a wild card really. I love witchy stories, saw this was advertised as a Novella and thought why not?

It's a really, really interesting concept and not something I've read before...

Mina and Rixon - I was cheering these to on from the moment I started reading. You could smell the sizzling, chemistry between the two of them from the moment you meet them. Mina - young and powerful but kind and a little troubled by her past. Rixon - dark and brooding but a capable warrior and protector. Both have intense histories that you start to explore in this first book.

The generalised storyline is Mina and Rixon have bonded and have been send from the Citadel across the country to a settlement to support the people there. I'm not going to tell you why as that was the first surprise of the book and I'd hate to spoil it for you.

Is there Spice? Oh yes, there's spice but equally there is a great storyline running through the Novella and equally it's great to see the relationship between the two changing the deeper you get into the book.

Absolutely need to be read for any Witchy lovers out there, can't read to continue with Mina and Rixon's story!

This novella has brought me out of my 6 month reading slump and I am so happy about it. My enjoyment was undeniable, the characters are relatable, and the plot brought it all home for me. My only gripe is that the language seemed to shift from modern language to more of a medieval age from time to time. However, it didn't ruin my good time!

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me the honor of reading this and I am excited to see what else comes from this!!!

The Wielder’s Prize follows the story of a witch, Aramina, and her wielder, Rixon, as they set on a journey reach to Rockfall, their first assignment since they were bonded together. Travelling across Raeria, they learn to work together as they fight the demons, both physical and literal, they come across on their way. This is easier said than done, as both have mysterious pasts and have ignored each other the last two years.

This is a light fantasy, with easy-to-understand lore and a nice spin on the overdone fantasy genre, using the witch and wielder bond. Mitchell uses flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter to shed more light on the training involved in becoming a witch or wielder, and how the bond works, which was a great way to build up the world without info-dumping at the beginning of the book. While the simple magic system makes the world very easy to fall into, I do wish there had been a bit more detail of the magic system, and perhaps more of the fantasy elements of the novel.

I did really like the main character, Aramina, who is brave, hard-working, quick-witted and resourceful. Her character arc was satisfying to read as she learnt how to overcome her fears from her past. Mitchell made sure that there was just enough intrigue about the pasts of both Aramina and Rixon to keep the reader wanting to know more, without making me want to rush to later chapters to learn about their history – very skilfully done. Rixon was not as endearing and well-developed as Aramina, but I feel like he might be more fleshed out in the later books, so I wasn’t put off by this. The dialogue between the two was very snappy and witty, keeping the pace of the book fast and engaging.

This was very romance heavy rather than fantasy heavy, which I definitely appreciated after just having finished a quite complex and combat focused series. The romance contained a good level of spice with a nice mix of friendship and joking, so it made the romance more believable. However, I did find that some of the romance scenes dragged, and the story could have benefitted from having more of a balance between the plot-driving chapters and the steamier chapters.

I can honestly say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and I will definitely be reading the next few books in the Lady Witch series! The Wielder’s Prize is a strong start to the series.

Content warnings: violence, injury, SA, murder, sexual content.

This is a great, quick read!

The plot was a little bit predictable, but not in a bad way! I enjoyed getting to learn the back story of our FMC.

However, the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter were a little abrupt. I think it would have been better to focus more on the past in their own chapters. That way we could get more attached to the FMC. All that said, I was still devastated when the tragic past was revealed!

It would have been great to learn a little more about the MMC, but that could come later in the series I suppose. Maybe the mystery is part of the allure.

Grumpy/Sunshine and Enemies to Lovers - a fantasy romance reader's dream!

“Wielder’s Prize” by Melissa Mitchell

Aramina, a lady witch who has recently graduated and has been bonded with a wielder named Rixon. In this world, each witch is paired with a wielder who provides physical protection. While witches use magic to defend against demons, wielders rely on their strength. As Aramina and Rixon embark on their first mission, bound for the Citadel in Raeria, they see the surge in demonic activity that has been talked about.

Their goal is clear: make it to the Citadel safely and investigate the alarming increase in demon numbers. However, amidst the dangers they face, an attraction between Aramina and Rixon begins to grow, adding another layer of complexity to their journey.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the tension between Aramina and Rixon. Also, their constant bickering is so cute. My only issue with the book is that it’s super short, not only did I want more story and relationship content it didn’t have a lot that happens in the book because of the length. I wished the first and second book were combined. The ending also wasn’t super impactful and because I haven’t read the second book, yet I don’t know if there’s a better place to have ended it or just combined them. It is a good book with a lot of potential and steamy smut that I enjoyed.

Wielder’s Prize is the second book I’ve read by Melissa Mitchell, and while it was wholly different from the first, I could tell that Melissa is adept at reluctant romance writing. Aramina and Rixon’s story is full of hesitation and healing for the two, and that’s probably one of my favorite types of love stories. Aside from the romance, there is plenty of action–both with swords and without, if you know what I mean! I am very interested in continuing this series because there seems to be an overarching mystery/problem that their world faces in regards to demons, and I bet the super powerful Aramina will have a hand in solving it!

I give this book 4 stars!

4.5 ⭐️s
I read this book in 2 days, I couldn’t put it down. Every other book I was reading at the same time took the backburner to this one.

This storyline is very original and unique both in the major storylines and the ones creeping back behind the scenes. Aramina and Rixon are power couple GOALS. The heat and intensity between them is intoxicating. They both share similar fears and once they cracked through those fears, they became destined for nothing but greatness.

I was so purely entertained by every aspect of this book. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out!

If you like witches and magic, mixed with heavy romance and solid world-building, this is the book for you.

I chose this book as someone who adores romantasy books based on witches, Witch Collector being one of my all-time favorites. And Wielder’s Prize didn’t disappoint. The pace was good, the characters great, the plot heavy on romance, although that isn’t something I mind. All in all, great start into the series!

The first book in Melissa Mitchell's Lady Witch series, Wielder's Prize, is an engrossing and distinctive fantasy romance. The protagonist of the book is a witch named Aramina who has recently bonded with her wielder, Rixon, a man who can use her magic and keep her safe. Together, they set out on a perilous journey across Raeria, where they must contend with monsters, secrets, and their own emotions.

The premise and the magic system are just two of the book's many strong points. The concept of a witch and a wielder being connected by blood and soul is intriguing and novel, and the author does a fantastic job of constructing an immersive world with a variety of kingdoms, races, and cultures. The intricate and unique magic system is built on emotions and blood. The themes of trust, loyalty, identity, and love are also covered in the book.

In particular, Aramina and Rixon are well-developed and endearing characters. Aramina is a strong, independent heroine who is driven by a desire to learn and a sense of responsibility. She battles with her history and her future and is also sympathetic and vulnerable. With a sinister and enigmatic past, Rixon is a devoted and guardian hero. He has a warm place for Aramina and is charming and sardonic as well. They have an evident chemistry that grows stronger as their relationship progresses from rivals to allies to lovers.

However, the novel also has some flaws, including editing and pacing. The beginning of the book, where there is an excessive amount of exposition and backstory, is particularly slow. The novel might have been more action-packed and condensed, with less explanation.

Overall, this book is an enjoyable and entertaining read, with a strong heroine, a brooding hero, and a dark fantasy adventure. I would recommend it to fans of paranormal romance who are looking for a new and exciting series.

A lovely introduction into the world of Lady Witch, “Wielder’s Prize” takes us into a world fraught with demons that only witches, and their bonded companions the wielders can defeat. Mina, our protagonist witch, takes a journey into self forgiveness and emotional vulnerability, with her newly chosen wielder, Rixon, a burly and laconic fighter with a blemished past.

This book includes:
- demons and witches
- fear of emotional intimacy
- grumpy-sunshine
- a brooding love interest
- age gap romance
- self forgiveness
- hot sword fighting
- slow burn
- one bed and one horse tropes

I really enjoyed this book. It was short and to the point, and I really enjoyed watching Rixon’s and Mina’s trust develop. I’m so used to romantasy novels being 600 pages long, so this 192 page story was refreshing.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed book one of “From Blood and Ash” as well as fans of “a Fate Inked im Blood” and ACOTAR. All romantasy lovers will find something for themselves here.

I received this e-book as an arc in exchange for a honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This was so good! I was hooked immediately and I loved the world building. The characters were well developed and the story wonderfully detailed. I couldn’t put it down and became obsessed with the main characters.
Things I loved:
• The chemistry
• Rixon
• The intimacy
• Their bond and abilities
• World building
I’m not a huge fantasy romance girl but I loved this one! I recommend this book.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley .

This book was way better then I was expecting. A very happy surprise. It had everything you would want in a fantasy book: Demons, bonds, witches, trials, tension and romance, and epic battles. The romance between Rixon and Mina was beautifully done, and made it almost impossible for me to put the book down and go to bed. And it was very steamy and tension filled. I give it 4.5 stars, will be recommending it to my whole book club.

I Loved this book! It had a little bit of everything that I enjoy in a book. Once I started reading, it didn’t take long for me to be hooked.
The world building was great and the plot was a good steady one. I liked that the writer didn’t overwhelm us with information but gave us just the right amount.
The characters were well written and had good depth to them. I enjoyed reading the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter.
The story follows our main character Aramina who is a recent graduate Lady Witch off on her first assignment and Rixon our wielder and he bonded. Together the pair are sent off to investigate the rise of demons across the kingdom. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance and I loved their chemistry.
I liked that each of the main characters had their flaws and issue that they needed to work through and how it came across in the book.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend if you love books with witchy vibes because this one is perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Great character development with a lovely bit of smut to go along with it.
With some friends to enemies. Currently buying the next 3 books to devour over Christmas!

I don’t know where to begin with this one.
Mina and Rixon are an outstanding pair up. Their dynamic is the absolute best. The slow burn push and pull tension between the characters is everything I want in a story. Oh and the steamy scenes ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Favorite quote:
"My little witch has talons. I was wondering when you'd scratch me again. I rather enjoy it."

This is the perfect recipe for a fantasy book. It has witches, demons, bonded wielders, badass FMC, Grumpy MMC and amazing tension. I'm amazed how more people don't talk about this.