If you mixed The Mummy with a dash of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and added a generous helping of “he might kill me, but he’s hot” vibes, you’d get Bewitched. You all know I love a bully romance with a side of emotional damage, and Laura Thalassa delivered exactly what I was looking for in this ancient civilization inspired academic mystery.
***Please note: Minor spoilers ahead***
Quality of Writing
Rating: 4/5
Selene’s inner monologue? Atmospheric, sexy, and easy to devour. The editing in this deluxe edition? Jump scare. While I loved the rythm of the writing and Selene’s narration, the sheer number of typos was hard to ignore. I’ll say it again: If I’m paying extra, I expect extra, and my love for the storyline quality of Bewitched does not make it exempt from my critique!
Plot Development
Rating: 5/5
The plot of Bewitched feels like a total love letter to 90’s supernatural movie classics. It’s giving The Mummy meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but with a murder mystery plot that actually keeps you guessing. As a history nerd, I was elated to see that the ancient civilization influences weren’t just window dressing – they added a layer of realism that made the world building feel authentic and high stakes.
Characters
Rating: 4/5
The dynamic between Selene and Memnon is where Bewitched truly shines. Selene is a spunky and fun narrator, and her chemistry with dramatic and broody Memnon is electric, even when they’re busy trying to exact their revenge on each other. I am always a fan of emotional damage in my books, and the twist toward the end between the two reinforces my feelings.
While I would’ve loved a little more substance to the supporting cast, Sybil makes for a great friend, and Nero is a judgmental big cat that has my heart. Luckily, Selene and Memnon are so magnetic that they easily carry the entire story with ease.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 4/5
Bewitched is a super easy and digestible read, though I did find Selene’s pettiness in the last quarter of the book exhausting – something that slowed me down quite a bit. However, the world building is where this book wins me back. The lore is built into the narrative so seamlessly that you pick up all the details about the magic system without feeling like you’re enduring a grueling lecture. Aside from my urge to shake Selene a bit, Bewitched is a total page turner.
Ending
Rating: 4/5
If you’re looking for a clean resolution, you won’t find it here! the ending of Bewitched rounds off with a pleasantly surprising cliffhanger. I actually appreciated that the murder mystery stayed open ended, keeping the tension high for the next installment. Thankfully, I survived Selene’s late game pettiness, and honestly, the payoff of that final twist made the frustration totally worth it.
Would I Recommend This Book
Absolutely! If you’re looking for a super easy read and high stakes electric chemistry, Bewitched needs to be on your TBR. It feels like a warm, sexy, slightly chaotic blast from the 90’s/Y2K past. Perfect for when you want to be entertained without the heavy lifting that a high fantasy requires.
Overall Rating
Bewitched is a supernatural love letter to the 90’s blending all those classics you know and love. While the writing is crazy fun and the world building is top tier, the experience was slightly marred by the high volume of typos and Selene’s late game pettiness. Ultimately, the electric chemistry between Selene and Memnon, combined with a murder mystery that actually keeps you guessing, makes Bewitched a great read for anyone craving an addictive academic romance with a side of magic and emotional damage.
Book Rating: 4/5 (Blood, Gore, Attempted M*rder, M*rder (off page))
Spice Rating: 2.5/5
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
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