Tag: 3.5 Stars

A Curious Kind of Magic by. Mara Rutherford | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: A Curious Kind of Magic

Author: Mara Rutherford

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 10/21/25

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Young Adult, Cozy Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


Everyone in Ardmuir knows that Willow Stokes is a charlatan, including Willow herself. Her father’s shoppe hasn’t sold anything magical in decades, and it’s only hanging on by the skin of the fake dragon’s teeth Willow sells as charms, along with “enchanted” ostrich eggs, taxidermied chimeras, and talismans made of fools’ gold.

Until outlander Brianna Hargrave appears and turns Willow’s fakes into exactly what they’re purported to be. But try as Willow might to enlist Bri’s help, she wants nothing to do with Willow and her curiosities.

Because Brianna is harboring a secret of her own: everything she touches turns to magic, and the consequences have chased her all the way to Ardmuir. All she wants to do is find a particular missing grimoire, which contains a spell that can finally put an end to her curse.

Desperate to keep her father’s shoppe, Willow proposes a bargain that could save them both. Together with the frustratingly handsome printer’s assistant, the girls will uncover a plot that goes far deeper than either could have imagined. But when Willow is forced to participate in an ambitious collector’s quest for the rarest magical object in the world-a quest that risks almost-certain death-she learns that not all treasure is for sale, and that true magic is closer than she ever could have imagined.

Content Warning:

+ Willow is all alone and she runs a shop of magical items – or at least that is what is advertised. Willow knows nothing in that shop is magical until one day, a person comes in, Brianna, touches an object and makes it magical. From then on Willow concocts a plan to use Bri’s help to turn the stuff in her shop into magical objects so that Willow can finally turn a profit and pay her bills.

+ This is a cozy fantasy filled with magic and the possibilities it can bring. Willow is all alone with only Finlay as her best friend, but when Brianna comes along it opens her up to a new friendship and learning to trust others. Willow has this mindset of thinking she’s a charlatan and a thief but mostly because she’s had to do it to survive. I like how her world opens up when magic is part of her world. There is also a quest in this story that brings Brianna, Willow and Finlay together.

+ The romance isn’t the focus and it’s a sweet romance. Finlay is clearly in love with Willow but he let’s Willow set the pace, even when she doesn’t know what she really wants or deserves.

~ If you aren’t into cozy fantasy, you might find this a slow read especially in the beginning as all they are doing is cleaning the shop and trying to find a grimoire to help break Brianna’s curse. It picks up a little more at the halfway point where Willow takes on another quest.

Final Thoughts:

This story had magic, friendship, romance, a magic store and a quest. I think cozy fantasy lovers will enjoy this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

The Poison Season by. Mara Rutherford | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️

Luminous by. Mara Rutherford | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BLOG TOUR | Kingdom of Sea and Stone by. Mara Rutherford ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Arc Review: Crown of Coral and Pearl ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With Thoughts of Jason by. Caleb A. Mertz | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: With Thoughts of Jason

Author: Caleb A. Mertz

Format: eBook

Pages: 250

Publication Date: 10/15/25 (first published 8/7/06)

Publisher: MerCali

Buy Link: Amazon

Categories: Fiction, Queer

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

**He never wanted to be a secret, but in this town, secrets keep you alive**.

Jason has fantasized about being struck by lightning more than once. This time, after being outed by his now former best friend.

But betrayal yields refuge in a circle of misfits, just as the isolation becomes unbearable. Among them is Tameera with her fierce honesty, Abby who revels in her protective loyalty and the magnetic but reckless Danny whose eyes glint with the dangerous possibility of love. Laughter in smoky rooms, nights stitched together by music and magic, and the fleeting thrill of love makes Jason feel safe.

Yet secrets linger in every corner of this town threatening Jason’s newfound peace. When he discovers the truth his high school tormentor would kill to keep hidden, will his chosen family be enough to protect him—or will the truth cost him his life?

*With Thoughts of Jason* is a haunting portrait of youth and desire, of friendship and betrayal, and of the brutal silence that society demands of those who don’t fit the mold.

Content Warning: mention of suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, bullying, death, drug use (weed), mentions of other drugs, smoking, drinking, animal death

Jason is in high school and dealing with a few things. He’s gay, but in the closet. He is bullied at school, and raised in a Pentecostal home without a father. This story follows his life as someone who experiences his first encounters with a boy, making friends and learning who to trust, and trying to find love. I liked seeing him make friends and expanding his world, and eventually meeting other queer people. His growth was a journey I was invested in.

I felt like the start of this story is really eye-opening and makes a statement about who Jason is and how he has his first experience as a gay boy. I felt like the scenes of him hanging out with friends and partying was relatable and gave me a sense of nostalgia because you could tell this was before social media. And I’m glad Jason had his friends but it was sad that he had no support at home. He had no real bond with his brother, sister and mother. All Jason wanted was to be love and be loved in return.

There are a few topics and themes discussed in this story and some of them are dark. There is suicidal thoughts and attempts, there is bullying, and violence. And I had to remind myself that Jason was young, he was only in high school, trying to survive. There was a dangerous undercurrent to Jason’s life that I could feel throughout the story and I think it’s important that it’s there to give the reader a sense of what queer people may be feeling by being who they are. And it’s not okay that they cannot feel safe in society.

This was a quick read but there were a few times in the story where I felt like I missed something. I think because there is so much that happens to Jason in one year and sometimes the transition from one event to another wasn’t smooth.

Final Thoughts:

This is a heartbreaking, coming of age story about a boy named Jason who is trying to figure life out while being gay, and with no support from his family. There were so many times that his life took a turn for the worse, but through it all he did have some friends to help – and I loved that he at least had that. This story is eye opening, tragic and definitely an important one to tell.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Burning Daylight by. Emily McIntire | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Burning Daylight (Defying the Stars, #1)

Author: Emily McIntire

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 526

Publication Date: 9/30/25

Categories: Romance, Romeo and Juliet Retelling


Juliette Calloway lives in a world of luxury, legacies, and lies. The daughter of Rosebrook Falls’ most powerful family, her life is a carefully crafted performance, and she’s tired of being polished to perfection.

Roman Montgomery doesn’t exist. Not officially, anyway. He’s a shadow, a hidden weapon, the secret heir to an empire soaked in danger and a generations-old feud.

When their paths cross, sparks fly.
No names.
No pasts.

Just reckless smiles and an undeniable chemistry neither of them can shake.

Roman is charming. Mysterious. Infuriatingly flirty.

And Juliette? She’s simply…his.

When Roman is called back to claim his place as heir to the Montgomery empire, the truth crashes down: Their families are sworn enemies, and Roman’s very existence is a threat. Their love isn’t just forbidden, it’s impossible.

Now, every kiss feels like a betrayal. Every stolen moment a risk. And in a town built on secrets and blood, their passion might just be the most dangerous thing of all.


Content Warning: violence, parent with drug problem, parental pressures

+ This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I thought it did a pretty good job with doing that.

+ I liked some of the secondary characters like Juliette’s bestie, Felicity. She was fun! And Juliette has a bunch of brothers, all very different and interesting, I want to know more about them and wonder if the next books in the series will be about them?

+ Juliette is the only daughter of the Calloways and always falls in line, until she meets Roman. Roman/Ryder has had a challenging life so far – he’s dealing with so much, a mom who is drug addict, a sister who is constantly ill, and a dad who stays out of his life to keep him “safe”. I was really invested in Roman and rooting for him.

+ The focus of this story is the star-crossed, forbidden romance between Juliette and Roman. I thought the two of them were made for one another. Roman is obsessed with Juliette from the start, he brings the longing and yearning. Whereas Juliette is the princess of the Conway family, she’s ready to obey her family (even though she doesn’t want to), but when she meets Roman, he’s the only one she wants. I thought they were cute together and clearly he is down bad for her! And of course there is some good steamy scenes between them.

+ There are a few betrayals in this story and a few twists at the end. There are people who get away so I’m sure this will carry into the next book.

~ Because the focus was on the forbidden romance, I wanted more about the families and what made them dangerous. We are told the Calloways are basically the most powerful family in town but I wanted to see that power. I thought the betrayals and the twist was good but I just wanted to see the families exerting their power.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a pretty good Romeo and Juliet retelling! I loved the romance, that was my favorite part. I would love more family drama and politics – would love to see what makes the Calloways dangerous. Juliette’s brothers were interesting, so I’m wondering if the next book will be about one of them? I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Middle of the Night by. Riley Sager | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Middle of the Night

Author: Riley Sager

Format: ebook (Libby)

Pages: 376

Publication Date: 6/18/24

Categories: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Paranormal


The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed monsters roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.


Content Warning: death, grief, insomnia

+ This is the first Riley Sager book I’ve read and I thought the narrator really did a great job bringing this story to life. I liked how it jumped from the present and to the past where we get to learn of the kids in the neighborhood and the families. The present shows a great picture of how time have past and how things have changed or stayed the same. There were a few factors in this story that made this mystery very interesting.

+ Ethan is an unreliable narrator – he is dealing with trauma from that night his best friend was taken from the tent in his backyard. Because of it he has insomnia and at times in the book think he is losing his mind. I really like how the past is set in 1994 – it was nostalgic for me and I really liked Ashley, Ethan’s babysitter, and how she always looked out for him.

+ I like the mix of paranormal, possible occult rituals, the mysterious academy behind the neighborhood and the different relationships between the guy friends trying to lead us in different directions in the story. But who killed Billy really was a mystery and one I didn’t figure out.

~ It’s a mystery so I felt like the beginning moved slow as Ethan is back in the neighborhood, facing trauma and memories of the past while thinking he was losing his mind.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook version of Middle of the Night! The story picks up more at the halfway mark and from there on, I was hooked. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

For No Mortal Creature by. Keshe Chow | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: For No Mortal Creature

Author: Keshe Chow

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 10/7/25

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


A teen girl with the power of resurrection must venture into the afterlife, but to survive the death realm, she’ll need the help of her two mortal enemies–both of whom she is inexplicably drawn to–in this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights.

When Jia Yi suddenly finds herself alive again after being stabbed through the heart by an enemy’s sword, she realizes she possesses a rare power: the ability to move between the living realm and the shrouded world of ghosts. Ghosts including Lin, her ex-best friend and former love, whose betrayal she still hasn’t recovered from.

At first, Jia wants nothing to do with Lin, or any ghosts–metaphorical or otherwise. But when her beloved grandmother abruptly passes away, Jia is forced to travel into the afterlife to save her.

To survive the treacherous death realm, Jia will need to rely on both Lin and her longtime enemy, the cold and enigmatic Prince Essien Lancaster. Only, she isn’t sure whether she can trust either of them. With tensions high and new and old connections blooming, Jia must confront the ghosts of her past…or risk becoming one herself.

Content Warning: violence, death

+ I really liked how this started. Jia Yi is caught trespassing on Lancaster land, but she’s there to get an herb that could help her sick grandmother. When things escalate and she dies, she realizes she can walk in both worlds, living and dead. There is also a prophecy that involves Jia Yi saying she will be the one to find this deadly and powerful sword, but to retrieve it she needs to search in the afterlife.

+ The world-building is great! I loved the world of the after-life, which has different layers. And to retrieve this infamous sword Jia Yi has to travel to the lowest level. In the afterlife she encounters ghosts, some of the ghosts are family members and also a ghost of someone who had her heart in the living world, Lin.

+ Jia Yi was is a feisty character, and I enjoyed her personality. She gets into some tense with Lin but there are things he isn’t telling her. I liked her power of being able to die and resurrect.

+~ The romance was interesting. There is so much angst and longing on Lin’s part, she is the only one he’s ever loved. She felt the same before he died but there is now another love interest in the living world, who is a Yske (her enemy) and a prince. I didn’t love the love story on either part. With Lin, we get thrown into the story right away, so there is animosity between them before he confesses everything. As for the prince, Essian – his people are her enemy. But there just wasn’t room to build their romance in this story since she was mostly in the afterlife.

~ I’ve seen the movie Inception multiple times and the ending is one of my favorite parts! But using something similar in this story just are ending feel too abrupt.

Final Thoughts:

My favorite part of this story is the world-building. I loved how Jia could jump between the land of the living and the dead. Plus the afterlife and all it’s levels were really fun. I liked the themes of family, death and life. I didn’t care for the love triangle – I think there should have been more time for things to build with the prince, but I loved how Lin loved Jia in life and the afterlife. I also didn’t love the ending which just felt too abrupt. Overall, it was still entertaining read despite my little issues with it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Girl with No Reflection by. Keshe Chow | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Eldritch by. Keri Lake | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Eldritch (The Eating Woods, #2)

Author: Keri Lake

Format: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

Pages: 766

Publication Date: 9/9/25

Categories: Dark Romance, Dark Fantasy, Horror


In the grimly captivating sequel to Anathema, Maevyth and Zevander must navigate the perilous mortal lands to deliver Zevander from the clutches of an ancient, malevolent power that threatens to shatter both worlds.
An eldritch magic has awakened, turning the mortal world darker. Colder. Famished. With flesh-eating monsters and a sinister curse spreading like a plague, the last glimmer of humanity in Foxglove Parish has long-since faded.

For Maevyth and Zevander, the only chance of escape is through The Eating Woods. But fate has woven a new web, tangling the threads of destiny, and crossing the mystical boundary to Aethyria might not be so simple.

As the bones of Maevyth’s past are unearthed, and truths unravel with unsettling clarity, the possibility of never leaving Mortasia is becoming more of a reality. Unfortunately for Zevander, time is running out. The longer he stays in the mortal lands, deprived of essential vivicantem, the more he succumbs to the encroaching specter of madness.

Or maybe those chasing shadows are someone hunting him. A wretched evil closing in, threatening to pull him into the darkest corners of his mind.

Only, this time, Maevyth may not have the power to save him.

Eldritch is a full-length, gothic dark fantasy, the second book in The Eating Woods trilogy. Perfect for readers who enjoy a character-driven and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance and a touch of horror.


Content Warning: violence, physical-emotional-sexual abuse, slavery, torture, death, trauma

+ Anathema was the first book I read from this author and I gave it a 3.5 rating because as much as I loved the slow burn romance, it was too long of a book and a little too dark for me. I wanted to read this sequel though because I am invested in Maevyth and Zevander’s beautiful and tragic romance.

+ The atmosphere in Eldritch is continued from Anathema. It’s dark, it’s mysterious and filled with worshipping Gods, people in fear of magic and witches, a portal to a different world, scary creatures and the spiders! Ugh, the spiders are something. The story is told in two timelines, past and present and focuses mostly on Zevander’s past. There is also a different place he goes to, Caligorya – a place in his mind that he can go to escape the torture and abuses happening to him under General Loyce.

+ This is Zevander’s story and though we get hints of what happened to him while reading Anathema – in Eldritch, we see his past in full light and the torture he’s been put through by General Loyce. It’s heavy and dark and at times, my heart just broke for him. All this history fleshes him out more as a character and we get to see him in all his complicated, broken self.

+ Maevyth grows as a character in Eldritch. She is still compassionate but this time she needs to learn to fight because people she love are in grave danger. We get to see her love for her family very strongly in this one. And when it comes to Zevander, she is beautifully patient and kind to him.

+ My favorite thing about this whole story is the romance and it’s why I read Eldritch. Their love is so beautiful even though they are both broke, Zevander being the most broken of the two of them. But Maevyth is steadfast, strong and the perfect partner for him.

+ I liked the second half when there are more characters added to Maevyth and Zevander’s group – there was actually humor from Aleysia and I appreciated that a lot!

~ This book is 766 pages long. It is too long again, longer even than the first book. I love Kazhimyr and his side quest but I think having his POV chapters were unnecessary unless he plays a big part in book three. I found myself skimming some of his chapters because I wanted to get back to Zevander and Maevyth.

~ The story only really moves forward in the last part of the book, so most of the book is Zevander’s history. And the slow burn love story was beautiful but I did wish they kind of got right to working things out between them in the beginning. It takes a few chapters for them to address their sexual relationship and I know it’s because Zevander respected her wishes, but Aleysia was knocked out and healing so I think there was time for them there to move things along in their relationship.

~ There is another cliffhanger in this story.

Final Thoughts:

I think this is a solid sequel to Anathem with all the same dark elements, if not more. I was mostly in it for the romance between Zevander and Maevyth and that didn’t disappoint. I do think the book is too long with most of the story moving quicker in the second half. This sequel is mostly about getting to know Zevander and I think the story did the job. I’d like to read book three but also hope it’s not a long book again.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Anathema by. Keri Lake | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Bitten by. Jordan Stephanie Gray | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Bitten (#1)

Author: Jordan Stephanie Gray

Narrator(s): Avery Caris, Katharine Chin, Matt Mercurio, Chase Brown, Marni Penning, Jordan Stephanie Gray

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 9/30/25

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, Young Adult/New Adult, Romance, Werewolves

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.

Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.

With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.

Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.

The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game.

Content Warning: violence, injuries, death

+ I love that this audiobook had multiple narrators. They did a great job bringing this story to life!

+ I really loved Vanessa when she was a human. She had her best friend Celeste, who was fun and sweet! I loved her actually, and wish we had more of her. Her being bitten really changes her into a character full of rage and at times I was losing patience with her. In her werewolf world, I loved Una (not sure of spelling), her only real friend because Vanessa doesn’t even think of making any friends.

+ The world-building in this story about this world of werewolves is really good. There is werewolf court politics, and rules that Vanessa have to learn. She goes through instruction in school and learn combat too but she’s not exactly the top of her class. There is also a murder mystery and a few twists.

+ The romance is nothing new. Vanessa desires the werewolf prince, Sin. But she also feels something about his cousin, Calix. It’s sort of a love triangle. The enemies to lovers is more in lined with Calix, whereas a forbidden romance is lined up with Sin.

~ This has so much potential but I did not like the main character Vanessa. I get that she is in shock, and she’s angry and grieving but it becomes so repetitive. She never learns and she’s naive. It was so frustrating. She’s full of rage, which is fine, I love that she wants to fight for her humanity, she wants to find her best friend’s killer. But because of all her rage, she doesn’t get far in her murder mystery investigation and goals because she’s so focused on killing everyone without any power.

~ I didn’t feel the romance between Vanessa and Sin. It starts off as desire, but he ignores her a lot because of his reputation and I didn’t like that. I felt like he could’ve treated her better. But they fall for each other, and I didn’t believe it because Vanessa was easily physically attracted to Calix when she was around him. I actually like that Calix called her out on a lot of things though.

~ This is marketed as young adult, Vanessa turns 17 in the beginning of the book. But there are a few spicy scenes. So if that is a problem for you as a reader, just beware. It’s why I say it’s a young adult/new adult book. Also the characters do curse. I do wish the characters were aged up at least to 18.

Final Thoughts:

The narrators for this audiobook were really good! But all I could think of throughout this whole story is that Vanessa is not made for this werewolf world. She’s not made for the violence and lifestyle and I’m hoping something about that changes in book two. I get that she’s dealing with grief and she’s only seventeen. But her anger was blinding and it made her miss important things happening around her. I hope she gets it together in the next book. Overall, I did enjoy the world-building and politics though, this world is ruthless and violent, and the ending had a big twist. Romantasy and Twilight lovers, will devour this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Traitor Wolf by. Leia Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice:

Title: Traitor Wolf (Bonded by Fate Duet, #1)

Author: Leia Stone

Format: ebook (borrowed, KU)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 9/19/25

Categories: Young Adult, Romantasy, Werewolves


The weapon that hasn’t chosen anyone in a thousand years has chosen me, a Dreg-born girl with no magic.

Forged by the Creator and feared across the realm, the King Killer was never meant for someone like me. But the moment I touch it, the wolves come running, snarling, fighting, and bleeding to claim me.

Only one survives.

A wolf with a traitor’s mark burned into his skin.

And now we’re bonded.

Last night, I was digging through trash in the Elite district when a dying highborn collapsed at my feet. With his final breath, he pressed his trial mark into my chest and gave me his place in a deadly competition I was never meant to enter.

If I win, my entire bloodline, all forty of us, gets magic. The Dregs will rise overnight and the Elites will never forgive it.

My bonded wolf says he doesn’t care about me, that he only wants my blade. But he guards me like I matter, trains me like I have a chance and when they try to kill me, he tears them down like I belong to him.

I didn’t ask for this, but I’m not backing down. Not even for the wolf who could break my heart.


Content Warning: violence, death

+ I haven’t read a Leia Stone book in awhile but I loved the book cover of Traitor Wolf (something about that pink color!) and saw someone give a good review of this on TikTok so I wanted to try it out.

+ In this world of Elites versus Dregs, Brynn is a Dreg, she’s poor and magicless. But one night looking for food for her starving family, turns her life around. An Elite Heir gives her an invitation to the Arcane Trials – the winner gets magic for themselves and all their bloodline. This could help turn their lives around, but a Dreg has never been in the trials, and no one wants her there. As a competitor in the trials she has to bond with a wolfkin (a werewolf), who will protect her, and she bonds with Kaelric.

+ This is a fast moving story with the usual tropes found in a romantasy novel. There is secret identity, magic, magic trials, a sword that speaks into Brynn’s head, fated mates, the rich versus the poor, and a little romance.

+~ I think the romance grew too fast. One moment Brynn is very annoyed with Kaelric, but he’s handsome and helps her out with the trials and her family, so she falls in love with him. It’s also convenient that they are mates, but I just felt like all of it happened too easy. So I actually liked the ending, because there is conflict between them and I actually liked that this one isn’t spicy. Maybe in the next book? Not sure.

~ The world-building is sparse, so it makes it an easy read, but I wanted just a little more. But that’s just me – for anyone who doesn’t like heavy world-building, you will like this one.

~ The trials went by fast and felt a little weak. No one wants her there but there wasn’t really a villain, and I don’t count Corvessa because she was barely in the book. Yes, she wanted to take Brynn out but we know basically nothing about this villain. Even Cassian, who is Brynn’s sponsor, we know a little about him but everything felt a bit surface level.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was an easy read. I’d say it’s light fantasy, very surface level and the type of book you can binge in one sitting. I’ll definitely be reading book two to see some character growth and also to see where the story goes.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

House of War and Bone by. Leia Stone | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dark Bond by. Leia Stone | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark Bite (Vampire Hunter Society, #1) by. Leia Scott | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spellcaster by. Jaymin Eve | ALC Review | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Spellcaster (Weatherstone College, #1)

Author: Jaymin Eve

Narrator(s): Savannah Peachwood, Jason Clarke

Format: audiobook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336 Listening Time: Approximately 10 hours

Publication Date: 9/23/25

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Categories: Urban Fantasy, Dark Academia, Witches, Romance, New Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

SPELLCASTER is an intense enemies-to-lovers romantasy with steamy heat, magical creatures, fast pacing, and stakes that will keep you hooked. Dive into a world where love is as dangerous as power—and nothing is ever as it seems.

Welcome to Weatherstone College…

Don’t walk the halls late at night.
Don’t disturb the ancient magic.
And don’t, under any circumstances, ever trust a spellcaster.

When my magic bloomed at twenty-two, the last thing I expected was to receive an acceptance letter to the most prestigious witch college in the world. It’s not that I don’t have magic. It’s just…unpredictable. But with Weatherstone a part of my family legacy, I’m determined to live up to their expectations.

A task that’s almost derailed on my very first day when I come face-to-face with Logan Kingston, the son of my father’s enemy. I’m warned to avoid the powerful spellcaster at all costs, but apparently Logan did not receive the same memo. The more time I spend around him, the more I crave his unsettling attention, and as hate flirts with obsession, I’m left wondering if there’s another side to the decades-old feud between our fathers.

On top of that, Weatherstone is not at all like I expected. Built on the ancient blood of necromancers and battle, the magic here is as unpredictable as mine, and I sense a dark energy stalking my footsteps. When a monster attacks me, I have no choice but to turn to the strongest warlock in our school: Logan.

After all, to fight a monster, I’ll need a monster.

Content Warning: violence

+ This is an urban fantasy, dark academia story that is high on the vibes, less on the world building but is highly addictive.

+ Paisley finally got into Weatherstone College, where all her older siblings have been going to school. All is well until they learn that Logan Kingston, a warlock, is transferring to their school. Apparently there is a family feud happening between Paisley and Logan’s families. Also Paisley seems to be missing memories of the two of them when they were children. Another thing happening at the college is monster like creatures are appearing and attacking Paisley and no one knows why.

+ Paisley and her new friends are a fun group. They’re college kids, looking for hot boys to hook up with, passing their classes and having fun – the usual things on a college campus but Paisley’s hung up on trying to find out her power and also trying to stay out of Logan’s way but they are drawn to one another. She can’t stop having erotic dreams about him.

+ I love Paisley’s big family.

+~ The romance isn’t quite there yet – it’s pure desire and there are a few spicy scenes. But spice that doesn’t show an emotional connection yet. Alyth can’t stand Logan but that doesn’t stop them from wanting each other. It will be interesting to see Logan open up more and we get to learn more about him. But would love to see an emotional growing between them.

~ I listened to this as an audiobook and though I liked the female narrator, I think the male narrator’s voice was too low for me. I also couldn’t differentiate between Noah and Logan’s voice, except with the very slight accent Logan had…but still they sounded too alike.

Final Thoughts:

It’s been a few years since I’ve read a Jaymin Eve book! This is the kind of dark academia that is more fun and addictive than strict and serious academia. It’s set in college, has a slow-burn but very spicy enemies to lovers romance, that hasn’t reached the romance stage quite yet. It’s definitely the type of book I pick up when I want to escape and not get too bogged down with details. I look forward to book two!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Book Review: Supernatural Academy – Year One ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: Broken Wings (Dark Legacy – Book One) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: Broken Trust (Dark Legacy Book 2) ⭐️⭐️