ARC Review : Bespelled by Laura Thalassa



Bespelled by Laura Thalassa
Genre : Paranormal Romance
Series : Bewitched #2
Publisher : Lavabrook Publishing LLC
Publication date : May 28th, 2024
 
“Neither magic, nor time, can keep us apart. We are like the stars. Eternal.”

No one told witch Selene Bowers having a soul mate would be so difficult. Nor did they warn her that he might be a vengeful, ancient sorcerer who would frame her for murder, force her to remember a past life he swears she lived, and then coerce her into an unbreakable marriage pact. But that’s exactly what happens the night of the Samhain Ball, when Selene finds herself in a jail cell.

After waking from enchanted sleep, Memnon swore to discover why Selene betrayed him long ago. But when his soul mate’s memories return, the truth reveals something else entirely. Horrified by his own actions and desperate to make amends, Memnon offers Selene the unthinkable: a magic bond that will give her full control over his will. And Selene is desperate enough to accept it.

But other enemies still haunt Henbane Coven, Selene’s magical academy, and they’ve taken a keen interest in her. If she wants to stop them, she’ll need Memnon’s help. But partnering with the sorcerer is a tricky business, especially when he’s dead set on winning her heart. And that can’t happen…because the bond controlling him will break the moment she falls in love with him.

Available on Kindle Unlimited!
B&N
I loved book one - Bewitched when I read it last year and I was super excited for this one. This was a solid addition to the series but I don't know whether it had a bit of the second book syndrome, it didn't pull me in the way Bewitched did, but I still enjoyed it a lot!⁣
This one picks up right after the ending of Bewitched and Selene has recovered all of her memories(she used to lose her memories everytime she used magic) and after awakening the sorcerer Memnon who was convinced that she's his wife(who had cursed him to sleep), her life had taken a swift turn. And after being framed for multiple murders, Selene has now been released(poor girl can't catch a break😂) but Memnon is waiting to get his vengeance. Except things don't turn out the way he'd expected after he realizes the truth about the curse and Selene's past memories.⁣
I was pleasantly surprised by the direction this story went in and how some things were revealed slowly over the course of the book! We get to see some flashbacks from the past and it really did help in learning more about these characters. Selene is still strong and slowly coming into her powers in her own way but I was also frustrated by some of her decisions. I do love how feisty she is though. I loved the romance between her and Memnon which had all of my favorite elements - fated mates, touch her and 💀, past lives and magic bonds. They turned up the heat in this one 🔥 and that was fantastic. There's a subplot with the mystery regarding the murders and spell circles, but it wasn't too complex. I did like the ending though and it has me very excited to read the next and final book in the series!

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*I was provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.

… or something like that anyway.

When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.


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