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Coven of Bones #1
The Coven
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Romantasy (2023)Raised to be my father’s weapon against the Coven that took away his sister and his birthright, I would do anything to protect my younger brother from suffering the same fate. My duty forces me to the secret town of Crystal Hollow and the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University—where the best and brightest of my kind learn to practice their magic free from human judgment.
There are no whispered words here. No condemnation for the blood that flows through my veins. The only animosity I face comes from the beautiful and infuriating Headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises me just as much as I loathe him and everything he stands for.
But that doesn’t mean secrets don’t threaten to tear the school in two. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.
Because for the first time in fifty years, the Coven will open its wards to the Thirteen: thirteen promising students destined to change the world.
If the ghosts of Hollow’s Groves’ victims don’t kill them first...
The Coven is book one in the Coven of Bones series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a gothic, dark-academia, paranormal romance and includes elements that may be triggering to some listeners.
There are no whispered words here. No condemnation for the blood that flows through my veins. The only animosity I face comes from the beautiful and infuriating Headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises me just as much as I loathe him and everything he stands for.
But that doesn’t mean secrets don’t threaten to tear the school in two. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.
Because for the first time in fifty years, the Coven will open its wards to the Thirteen: thirteen promising students destined to change the world.
If the ghosts of Hollow’s Groves’ victims don’t kill them first...
The Coven is book one in the Coven of Bones series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a gothic, dark-academia, paranormal romance and includes elements that may be triggering to some listeners.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2023
About the author
Harper L. Woods
10 books3,491 followersHarper L Woods A pseudonym used by Adelaide Forrest. Harper L. Woods is the fantasy romance pen name for USA Today Bestselling dark romance author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,679 reviews
April 4, 2023
《 4.5 ✰ 》
ALL THE VIBES! Was it perfect? No. Did we still LOVE it? You bet your undead heart we did! I am officially a fan of gothic atmospheric vibes, because that was so COOL! The magic system was unique and beautiful. My favorite scenes were Willow using her powers. Her connection to nature and all of her abilities. Which I have a feeling we have not fully explored. As someone who also feels connected to nature, it was beautiful to witness the mutual relationship and connection between a witch and her powers.
Both of the main characters were incredible. Willow was raised outside the coven in secret and has this unwavering strength hardened by her circumstances. She is everything I want in a FMC. Alaric Grayson Thorne. First of all, can we take a moment for that name. 👏 He is broody, vicious, powerful, and possessive. All of the traits I drool over in an alphahole. As the headmaster of the school he is tasked with bringing Willow in when the coven discovers she exists. Gray is a Vessel, and like vampires, they feed on a witch’s blood. There is a deep history there.
The tension between them was very much I-hate-you-so-much-I-want-to-rip-your-clothes-off. When the clothes finally did come off, the spice was blazing. The banter had me pivoting between laughter and fanning myself. These two! Sudden swoon warning.
Overall, this was a witchy and fang’n treat! I highly recommend The Coven and cannot wait for the next book!
Buddy Read
I am thrilled that I got to experience this book with my soul sister Rebecca! We had so much fun staying up all nightdiscussing screaming over every reveal and devouring this book! Thank you for all of the laughs and shared reactions. Luv you! ❤️❤️❤️
ALL THE VIBES! Was it perfect? No. Did we still LOVE it? You bet your undead heart we did! I am officially a fan of gothic atmospheric vibes, because that was so COOL! The magic system was unique and beautiful. My favorite scenes were Willow using her powers. Her connection to nature and all of her abilities. Which I have a feeling we have not fully explored. As someone who also feels connected to nature, it was beautiful to witness the mutual relationship and connection between a witch and her powers.
❝
”Our magic is about balance. You cannot take more than you give and still expect nature to answer your call. It’s a dance, a relationship like no other. If all we do is take and use, how are we any better than the humans who poison the earth?” I asked, running a gentle finger over the vine that had stabilized me.
It was the symbiotic relationship that a witch was meant to have with her affinity. Harmony, rather than theft.
Both of the main characters were incredible. Willow was raised outside the coven in secret and has this unwavering strength hardened by her circumstances. She is everything I want in a FMC. Alaric Grayson Thorne. First of all, can we take a moment for that name. 👏 He is broody, vicious, powerful, and possessive. All of the traits I drool over in an alphahole. As the headmaster of the school he is tasked with bringing Willow in when the coven discovers she exists. Gray is a Vessel, and like vampires, they feed on a witch’s blood. There is a deep history there.
❝
What had once been allies serving the same higher power had become tentative enemies trapped together—an animosity that grew over generations.
The tension between them was very much I-hate-you-so-much-I-want-to-rip-your-clothes-off. When the clothes finally did come off, the spice was blazing. The banter had me pivoting between laughter and fanning myself. These two! Sudden swoon warning.
❝
“If you ever touch me, I’ll be sure to think of anyone but you. I won’t be able to enjoy it otherwise,” she said.
…
“Then be sure to scream his name for me. I’d like to know who I need to hunt down the next time I’m hungry,” I whispered..
“I just need dirt. You should have brought me to the courtyard.”
“What are you planning to do? Eat it? Your injury is internal, Witchling,” I snapped…
“Name me one person who would not have a bias in teaching history,” I said, laughing as her mismatched eyes glimmered with malice. She knew I was right...
Overall, this was a witchy and fang’n treat! I highly recommend The Coven and cannot wait for the next book!
❝
The arrogance in those steel-blue eyes was everything I dreaded, and I decided it wasn’t a matter of threat or sin. It was both.
Headmaster Thorne was dangerous in all the worst ways if I couldn’t even notice my surroundings when he held me in his arms. Hell’s sake, I was damned.
All men enjoyed a challenge, but Willow was something different. She was something worse. She was impossible.
“I may be an asshole, and I will most definitely take advantage of you,” I said, chuckling when her gaze snapped back to mine. “But you’re safe with me.”
“I’ll always come for you, Witchling,” he said, holding my stare for a moment.
I wanted her as obsessed with me as I was with her. It would be the perfect karma for the way she’d slithered beneath the surface of what made me, making herself at home in my soul.
“I think it’s time you acknowledge that it is too late to save yourself from me, love.”
“I. Would. Care.”
“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?” I asked, trying to ignore the pool of tears threatening to fall. Hoping the water from the shower would wash them away before he could notice.
His face softened, his lips touching mine in a kiss that was so much more delicate than any other. “Then you let me do it for you.”
Buddy Read
I am thrilled that I got to experience this book with my soul sister Rebecca! We had so much fun staying up all night
June 12, 2023
Note- Before I start with my review, I just want people to know that these thoughts are my own and there's a chance my views might sound a bit harsh to some but I mean no disrespect or no judgement to the people who enjoyed or loved this. I mean no judgement to the author too. Am well aware this is a work of fiction. Do note am not intending to offend anyone.
So let's get right into it. Am sorry if it's a lengthy review.
✔️ Dark fantasy
✔️ Age gap
✔️ Witches and Vessels (vampires)
✔️ Insta lust
✔️ Dark academia
✔️ Fast paced
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Zodiac Academy vibes but darker
✔️ 3/5 🌶️
✔️ Betrayal
I liked the start of the book, it was intriguing. The FMCs powers seemed really interesting. The fact that she's so connected to the earth was interesting and it did sort of in a twisted way make sense for necromancy to be a part too (in witchy ways). The author starts by warning how manipulative and villainous the MMC can be in the trigger warnings. I underestimated that, he truly was evil.
The moment Willow and Gray meet, it was a good scene but things soon turned insta lusty and I hated that. Apart from wanting to have sex with each other, the characters lack genuine chemistry. There is no love, a character like Gray cannot love (and I say that with a lot of thought put into it). Things stay lusty with the two throughout the book.
Tho, the spice is written well. In fact, that's the only thing that's written well. Am rarely impressed by this authors work and I gave into the hype and thought I would like this better, but wasn't the case. This is pretty much my last read of her work.
The story is deeply inconsistent and the way it's told comes across as messy. The plot keeps jumping from point A to point D, from point B to point G. The story is not coordinated aptly. An example would be- Ash. Considering how much he meant to Willow, she sure forgot about him by the fifth chapter and did not care until the end. Another example, considering necromancy and how much of an important plotline it was to Willow, she didn't do anything about it right till the end. Tho the murder mystery aspect was interesting.
Something else that bothered me was the fact that the headmaster aka the MMC, Gray and the student aka FMC, Willow were so calm about wanting each other in front of the school. But I guess witch schools operate different so am willing to overlook that but had their thing had a tone of secrecy, it would have made it more enjoyable. ZA was different tho. I didn't like the forced BDSM thing either but I guess witch schools operate different, so overlooking that 👀 Smh.
I saw the reveal at the end come miles away. It was obvious, considering he kept referring to himself as being as old as the time of Creation. For someone that old, he wasn't too wise but take it from me- to be wise, one must be good first. Yeah you all getting a lesson here 😂
The ending was in literary aspect was written well but I wasn't impressed.
Overall, not my thing. But others can give it a go and decide for themselves.
⚠️TW- Manipulative MMC, dubious consent, forced feeding, graphic violence, sexual abuse mentioned, traumatic reaction to triggering stimuli, graphic depiction of blood, ritualistic murder. ⚠️
~•~•~
My official review ends here. Continue reading for a Christian perspective, or not. The choice is yours.
Now before anyone gets all judgemental or defensive. Am not making you read my opinions, am not forcing them on anyone. If I had prior knowledge as to what would contain in this book, I would NOT have EVER bought it. But considering I had to get an imported edition, which cost me a fair bit. I read the whole thing. Some of you might think I need to lighten up. I will lighten up, in God's light. So kindly keep your opinions on my faith to yourself as I mean no bad.
If you have been following my reviews for a while, you'll know I LOVE reading fantasy. I don't take everything to heart. I don't make a big deal out of things. I take it as a work of fiction and nothing more. At the end of the day, I don't learn anything from it and it does not affect my beliefs in any capacity.
Reading the end of this book, I felt deeply uncomfortable. I felt convicted, which is the main reason why I will not continue with the series or any books by this author. To others it might just be a religion, but to me, my faith and belief in God is of utmost importance.
"To be unable to connect with the source and her ancestors, to suffer through a Christian burial and afterlife." This dialogue in particular felt very judgmental. It's in reference to funeral activity. But in the context of the story, it makes sense so I'll overlook it. But it raises a plot hole- knowing who Gray was, how do the characters forget that God exists too? How does the author deal with a statement like that, reveal Satan as a character and yet fail to acknowledge the presence of Almighty God? I guess I'll never understand this sort of ignorance in books. It's fine, considering not everyone is Christian but if you want to bring Christian themes to books, bring them all or balanced otherwise to readers like me, it creates an inconsistent storyline.
Tho I won't consider this reading as a complete waste of time if any one of you appreciates this review and perspective cause it gives me a chance to provide an honest unfiltered truth to any Christian people who want to read this. So if you do, read it with caution. But I personally would not recommend reading this book to any of my Christian friends.
So let's get right into it. Am sorry if it's a lengthy review.
✔️ Dark fantasy
✔️ Age gap
✔️ Witches and Vessels (vampires)
✔️ Insta lust
✔️ Dark academia
✔️ Fast paced
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Zodiac Academy vibes but darker
✔️ 3/5 🌶️
✔️ Betrayal
I liked the start of the book, it was intriguing. The FMCs powers seemed really interesting. The fact that she's so connected to the earth was interesting and it did sort of in a twisted way make sense for necromancy to be a part too (in witchy ways). The author starts by warning how manipulative and villainous the MMC can be in the trigger warnings. I underestimated that, he truly was evil.
The moment Willow and Gray meet, it was a good scene but things soon turned insta lusty and I hated that. Apart from wanting to have sex with each other, the characters lack genuine chemistry. There is no love, a character like Gray cannot love (and I say that with a lot of thought put into it). Things stay lusty with the two throughout the book.
Tho, the spice is written well. In fact, that's the only thing that's written well. Am rarely impressed by this authors work and I gave into the hype and thought I would like this better, but wasn't the case. This is pretty much my last read of her work.
The story is deeply inconsistent and the way it's told comes across as messy. The plot keeps jumping from point A to point D, from point B to point G. The story is not coordinated aptly. An example would be- Ash. Considering how much he meant to Willow, she sure forgot about him by the fifth chapter and did not care until the end. Another example, considering necromancy and how much of an important plotline it was to Willow, she didn't do anything about it right till the end. Tho the murder mystery aspect was interesting.
Something else that bothered me was the fact that the headmaster aka the MMC, Gray and the student aka FMC, Willow were so calm about wanting each other in front of the school. But I guess witch schools operate different so am willing to overlook that but had their thing had a tone of secrecy, it would have made it more enjoyable. ZA was different tho. I didn't like the forced BDSM thing either but I guess witch schools operate different, so overlooking that 👀 Smh.
I saw the reveal at the end come miles away. It was obvious, considering he kept referring to himself as being as old as the time of Creation. For someone that old, he wasn't too wise but take it from me- to be wise, one must be good first. Yeah you all getting a lesson here 😂
The ending was in literary aspect was written well but I wasn't impressed.
Overall, not my thing. But others can give it a go and decide for themselves.
⚠️TW- Manipulative MMC, dubious consent, forced feeding, graphic violence, sexual abuse mentioned, traumatic reaction to triggering stimuli, graphic depiction of blood, ritualistic murder. ⚠️
~•~•~
My official review ends here. Continue reading for a Christian perspective, or not. The choice is yours.
Now before anyone gets all judgemental or defensive. Am not making you read my opinions, am not forcing them on anyone. If I had prior knowledge as to what would contain in this book, I would NOT have EVER bought it. But considering I had to get an imported edition, which cost me a fair bit. I read the whole thing. Some of you might think I need to lighten up. I will lighten up, in God's light. So kindly keep your opinions on my faith to yourself as I mean no bad.
If you have been following my reviews for a while, you'll know I LOVE reading fantasy. I don't take everything to heart. I don't make a big deal out of things. I take it as a work of fiction and nothing more. At the end of the day, I don't learn anything from it and it does not affect my beliefs in any capacity.
Reading the end of this book, I felt deeply uncomfortable. I felt convicted, which is the main reason why I will not continue with the series or any books by this author. To others it might just be a religion, but to me, my faith and belief in God is of utmost importance.
"To be unable to connect with the source and her ancestors, to suffer through a Christian burial and afterlife." This dialogue in particular felt very judgmental. It's in reference to funeral activity. But in the context of the story, it makes sense so I'll overlook it. But it raises a plot hole- knowing who Gray was, how do the characters forget that God exists too? How does the author deal with a statement like that, reveal Satan as a character and yet fail to acknowledge the presence of Almighty God? I guess I'll never understand this sort of ignorance in books. It's fine, considering not everyone is Christian but if you want to bring Christian themes to books, bring them all or balanced otherwise to readers like me, it creates an inconsistent storyline.
Tho I won't consider this reading as a complete waste of time if any one of you appreciates this review and perspective cause it gives me a chance to provide an honest unfiltered truth to any Christian people who want to read this. So if you do, read it with caution. But I personally would not recommend reading this book to any of my Christian friends.
May 17, 2024
“Sit, please. I have something I’d like to discuss with you first.”
“Ooo… we’re using good manners. Am I in trouble?”
“That depends. Do you want me to punish you, Witchling?”
“Am I going to enjoy it?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
I saw it all coming but.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
Fuck.
Fuuuuuuck.
(‼️‼️𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 "𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖'𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐄" 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄‼️‼️
I've seen a few reviews here on GR and on Amazon where readers commented on the fact that the relationship between Willow and Grey is problematic because he's an immortal and she's 16. Now, I agree that the "romance" was on the toxic side (but you'll have to read the book yourself to get why I'm saying this) and I really don't care if people loved or hated this because everyone has different tastes and reasons to love or hate a book, but it'd be sad if people who haven't read this novel didn't give it a chance due to false information.
The main character, Willow, is NOT 16. She is, in fact, 20 years old, and it's clearly stated in the ebook version I have.
I'll add the passage where her age is mentioned under the spoiler tag:
So, you see, the romance is still questionable, but the fmc is not a minor as some readers claim, and if you're an avid romantasy reader who enjoys books like ACOTAR and all that jazz, you might not find the age difference that problematic, after all.
I wonder, however, if the version I have is an edited one because some other people told me theirs doesn't have these paragraph I've just shared.
I promise I'll get to the bottom of it 🫡
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: I ended up texting the author on IG and, paraphrasing, here's what she told me:
She (Willow)'s always been 20. The book had a paragraph edited because some readers were confused that because witch powers manifest at 16, and Willow is a new student, then they thought that made her 16 when the reality was she was just in hiding when her powers manifested and the coven was unaware of her existence. I edited to add clarity to avoid confusion, but she was never 16. I don't roll that way 🤣 [...] I obviously wasn't clear enough in the original draft, and my editing team missed it because they all know I wouldn't write about a 16 year old.😅
And then:
Just wanted to thank you! Because you mentioned it. I decided to verify to be safe and downloaded the ebook that the new publisher has up and it looks like somehow in the takeover on amazon, it reverted to the previous version that doesn't have that sentence. My agent is contacting the publisher so they can fix it until the official re-release with the new edits in August.
Soooooooooooo...here's the truth, people!)
***
🦴𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗡 - 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗟. 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦🦴
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅽🅰/🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝙲𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙴𝚂 #𝟷
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙻 - 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝙰𝙲𝙰𝙳𝙴𝙼𝙸𝙰 - 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲 - 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙲𝙷𝙴𝚂, 𝙶𝙷𝙾𝚂𝚃𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙴𝙼𝙾𝙽𝚂 - 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚈
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝙰𝚂𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙼𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙰𝙶𝙴 𝙶𝙰𝙿 - 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙸𝙴 - 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙼𝙼𝙲 - 𝚂𝙴𝚇𝚄𝙰𝙻 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 - 𝙹𝙴𝙰𝙻𝙾𝚄𝚂𝚈 - 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚂 - 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙲𝙷𝚈 𝙿𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽𝙶𝙴 - 𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚈 (𝙻𝙸𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈) 𝚅𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙽 𝙼𝙼𝙲 - 𝙱𝙰𝙳𝙰𝚂𝚂 𝙵𝙼𝙲 - 𝙷𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂 - 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙳𝚂
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥👥👥/𝟱
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼/𝟱
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜📜📜½/𝟱
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀💀💀💀/𝟱 (𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙲𝙷𝙲𝚁𝙰𝙵𝚃 - 𝙴𝚂𝙾𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙸𝚂𝙼 - 𝚁𝙸𝚃𝚄𝙰𝙻𝚂 - (𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝙳) 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝚂𝚄𝙲𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝙸𝙽 𝙶𝙴𝙽𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙻 - 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙳𝙴𝚁 - 𝙿𝙷𝚈𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙻𝙾𝚂𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙳 𝙾𝙽𝙴𝚂/𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝚈 𝙼𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙵 - 𝙼����𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝙳 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂/𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝙳 𝙱𝚁𝙴𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝙱𝙴𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚈𝙰𝙻𝚂 - 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚂 - )
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧/𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/𝟱 (𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙸𝚃 𝚂𝙼𝚄𝚃 - 𝙺𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝚁𝙰𝙸𝙽𝙱𝙾𝚆 𝙺𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂 (𝚂𝙾𝚁𝚃𝙰)- 𝙿𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝙻𝙾𝚂𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚅𝙸𝚁𝙶𝙸𝙽𝙸𝚃𝚈 - 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝚂𝚄𝙲𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙳𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒🚒/𝟱 (𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚈'𝚂 𝙳𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙺 𝚄𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙳 𝙼𝙴 - 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙺 𝚂𝙲𝙴𝙽𝙴 𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝙼𝚈 𝙿𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 💣💣💣/𝟱
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐🤐🤐/5 (𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴 - 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴/𝙶𝙾𝚁𝙴/𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌻🌻🌻/𝟱
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🌹🌹🌹🌹/𝟱
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: 💔💔💔/𝟱
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ❌
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗥𝗘𝗣: 𝙽𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚅𝙰𝙽𝚃
★𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦-𝗧𝗢-𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/𝟱
★𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚:
★𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 🎶𝚂𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽 𝙳𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙻𝚂 - 𝙵𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 + 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙰𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙴🎶
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
***I always try to be as objective as I can with my ratings for DARK THEMES & TRIGGER WARNINGS, SMUT TECHNICAL CONTENT/INTENSITY, SMUT QUANTITY, ROMANCE QUANTITY, ANGST LEVEL, ENEMIES-TO-LOVERSNESS; the ratings for CHARACTERS, WRITING, PLOT, SMUT QUALITY, ROMANCE QUALITY, are instead tied to my own subjective reading experience and final opinion of the book.
Sorry for the colorful review, my dear friends, but this book really messed with my brain chemistry and you'll have to suffer the consequences with me.
The Coven is the book I never knew I wanted but that my heart -and my newly acquired obsession for anything dark romance- apparently craved.
Had this not been a buddy read with terms and an arranged aount of pages to read per day, I probably would have inhaled the shit out of it in a couple of hours.
It's probably better that I got to savor it as slowly as I could because now I have to wait another three months for the sequel and I'm not sure I can make it without going insane.
I adored everything about this fast-paced first installment.
The setting, Hollow’s Grove University, is atmospheric and as gloomy as a rainy day. Its gothic aura emphasized by Woods' exquisite writing and the sharp edges she gifted her characters with.
I love that you're catapulted into the no-frills story right away. And by this I mean that the pain starts immediately and it only grows from there.
The magic system based on nature and elements was a brilliant touch.
The mystery aspect of the story was well developed, as were the witch/demon lore and the characters' backstories and motivations.
On a technical level, The Coven has its flaws, some bigger than others, some totally forgettable.
BUT, it belongs to that particular category of books you can't help but enjoy despite the things that should tarnish it because it was everything your reader's heart needed in that moment.
Right book, right time, basically.
Willow is a fierce and intense protagonist, a powerful woman who lets no one walk all over her and who'd do anything for the ones she loves.
I relate, but I also fangirl over her super hard.
And then there's Gray.
Gray...
Fucking Gray.
Fucking Gray, as in: Fucking (verb), Gray (direct object).
Because, yes, I want to freaking smother him with a pillow right now, but I also have a very annoying crush on his sexy, betraying ass.
*shakes fist* Damn you and your impossibly hot name, Alaric Grayson Thorne.
Speaking of hot.
The dark romance was simply magnetic. The connection between Willow and
HLW's smut is delicious.
There was a scene towards the end that had Koisty and I a little confused about our feelings about it, not gonna lie.
We exchanged notes, metaphorically shook hands and agreed once again that we're both pretty much fucked up when it comes to the stuff we like in our books.
So, yeah, it was good.
Very good.
The ending was a little predictable, honestly.
I've seen the twist coming from a mile, but I enjoyed the book anyway.
I guess this fact only confirms just how good this actually is.
And now I can't wait for the sequel.
I've picked up What Lies Beyond the Veil last year and ended up DNFing it, but I'm gonna give it another try someday. I think this author has the potential to become a favorite.
Or maybe this is simply a book that has my name all over it.
Who knows.
The only certain thing I know about this book is that:
"Gray being alive (or technically unalive) is enough for me to stop breathing😩"
-Miss Lyra, 2023
_____
BR with the EMOJI GANG (🐈⬛Lyra, 🐠Koisty, 🦦Leni & ☀️Lila).
We are cute, but we read naughty books😏
April 6, 2023
New book boyfriend alert! If you loved Zade Meadows.. you're absolutely going to love Grey from Wood's new book, The Coven.
Read my full review & see all of my other favorite adult fantasy series here!!
Probably one of my the best fantasy series I’ve read in a while is The Coven of Bones by Harper L. Woods. In less than 300 pages – I found myself devouring the story of a powerful young witch trying to do the right thing even when her family, friends, and greater powers are forcing her in another… shall we say Hellish direction?
The author wrote this as the dedication: ‘For all those who love them villainous.’… and I truly couldn’t think of a better way to describe the intended audience of Wood’s latest creation. It’s dark, it’s full of dubious moral situations and magic system that had me fully entranced. I loved every second of this book. No part felt unnecessary. (Bravo to the editors as well!)
SOME THINGS I LOVED:
Willow's & Grey’s character development were done incredibly well. There are so many secrets, and deeper facets of their personalities revealed over the course of the story. Not to mention that many other characters had motivations revealed, which I was shocked by at the end of the story!
- Something that Woods also does well is leaving readers with a fantastic cliffhanger. I haven’t read a SINGLE one of Woods’s books – and not immediately craved the next book. There are just too many questions left unanswered! But in the best possible way? Even though her books aren’t as long as perhaps Maas’s books – I’ve found them to be the same level of entertaining!!
- I also felt that the world-building & magical system created was darkly sultry and unique. I think I’ll forever be drawn to witch/wizard storylines because of my love for Harry Potter at such a young age! (A series that I loved for its freshness was Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches four-part series. It’s got a very different storyline but with much of this same dark and sultry witchy energy. )
TROPES: age gap romance, enemies to lovers, secret identities, forbidden love, dark secrets, revenge
Read my full review & see all of my other favorite adult fantasy series here!!
Probably one of my the best fantasy series I’ve read in a while is The Coven of Bones by Harper L. Woods. In less than 300 pages – I found myself devouring the story of a powerful young witch trying to do the right thing even when her family, friends, and greater powers are forcing her in another… shall we say Hellish direction?
The author wrote this as the dedication: ‘For all those who love them villainous.’… and I truly couldn’t think of a better way to describe the intended audience of Wood’s latest creation. It’s dark, it’s full of dubious moral situations and magic system that had me fully entranced. I loved every second of this book. No part felt unnecessary. (Bravo to the editors as well!)
SOME THINGS I LOVED:
Willow's & Grey’s character development were done incredibly well. There are so many secrets, and deeper facets of their personalities revealed over the course of the story. Not to mention that many other characters had motivations revealed, which I was shocked by at the end of the story!
- Something that Woods also does well is leaving readers with a fantastic cliffhanger. I haven’t read a SINGLE one of Woods’s books – and not immediately craved the next book. There are just too many questions left unanswered! But in the best possible way? Even though her books aren’t as long as perhaps Maas’s books – I’ve found them to be the same level of entertaining!!
- I also felt that the world-building & magical system created was darkly sultry and unique. I think I’ll forever be drawn to witch/wizard storylines because of my love for Harry Potter at such a young age! (A series that I loved for its freshness was Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches four-part series. It’s got a very different storyline but with much of this same dark and sultry witchy energy. )
TROPES: age gap romance, enemies to lovers, secret identities, forbidden love, dark secrets, revenge
June 14, 2023
Okay whew this book had me in its clutchesss- they would pop into my head while I would be doing smth completely random and I’d start grinning like a lunatic lmao.
Their banter was top quality. Loved that aspect of this book smsmsm 🤌
And excuse me?!!! The enemies to lovers was STRONG in here I gobbled it up so fast. The turmoil? the chemistry? the tension? Big mwah.
Her hating him and wanting him in the same breath? 🙏 him warring between wanting to fuck her and throttle her for being so insolent? 👩🍳💋
I was turning the pages like no tomorrow. I would’ve finished this in a day if I didn’t have people to be peopling with. Smh.
>> Note: this book has very… questionable shit so pls don’t go in looking for something tame lol. <<
Gray made me feel some typa way I’m telling youuu he’s so hot ugh. Pls him being so manipulative and a genuine psycho was so fucking sexy my goodness.
And the MOUTH on this man- ����✋ had me blushing fr.
When he called her “love” and “witchling” for the first time?? My organs suddenly melted it’s true.
Willow was a really fun character to read about. I loved that she surprised him time and again.
The way she would be so difficult at every turn and him getting more and more frustrated but still being amused by her 🤭💗 that’s called true love idc idc.
No but srsly I loved that she had her morals screwed somewhere in the realm of wanting good for the world and stuff. It was cute. I still wanted a corruption arc from her tho *sigh* but we move- (I’m still hoping the next book delivers on that hehe 🤞)
Ngl the plot makes no sense anshjddh it tied up a bit towards the end but I’m still a heap of questions rn. Anddd the world building was.. not it. Im sorry 💀😭
There was legit NOTHING being brought to the table where the university was concerned. Why was she learning nothing during her lessons?! Forget that- where even were the class scenes?!
Also the student x professor trope was criminally underused here that it felt illegal smh. Such missed potential I wanna cry.
Despite that i promise I actually had sm fun! The betrayal HURT especially when this certain someone would make it clear it was all for selfish reasons 😭 every time this person would say shit like that and it would cut willow deep? I’m telling you I wanted to smack them upside the head for being an idiot and saying all the wrong things ugh.
Overall, It’s a really fast paced book and very easy to read imo. Very good for a slump.
Can’t wait for the next one to release OMFDS the ending has me gagged I’m ready I’m readyyyyyy give it to me nowwww
Oh also! The last 10% was eerily similar to shadow and bone but idc bc this version was better sjhdjdhd 💀 imagine if the darkling and Alina got together and you would get this book <3
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I imagined the fmc with black hair bc the author took way too long to tell me the actual colour which pissed me off and surprise it’s actually RED! Like you should’ve told me fucking sooner bc now I have to rearrange EVERYTHING ffs. In the end I couldn’t be bothered and so she has and will continue to have dark hair for me 🥲
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: ��
My ‘The Coven’ Playlist
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“I should have introduced myself. I’m the headmaster of Hollow’s Grove, Alaric Thorne. This is your formal invitation—”
“Then leave my invitation in my mailbox,” I corrected.
“I am the invitation,” he said, clenching his back teeth as he glared down at me.
~LMAO THEYRE HILARIOUS ALR
“Why don’t you come outside and lie to me again, love?” I asked, smiling down at her as those odd, mismatched eyes blinked up at me.
~that was so hot sjgdkdhd
“You’re quite the little demon, aren’t you?”
“Do not insult me by comparing me to your kind, bloodsucker,”
“I wouldn’t dare to insult you, love. It’s a compliment,”
~THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT
“So do not disillusion yourself into thinking that I would ever choose you.”
“That sounds like a challenge, Witchling,” Thorne said, grinning as if he’d won something. “I very much look forward to reminding you how much I hate you when I bury my c*ck between your thighs.”
~YOOOOOO THE AUDACITY- 😭
“Is she always this difficult?” Susannah asked the headmaster. She pinched her nose bone between her fingers, sighing in dismay.
“Given what I’ve seen since meeting her, she’s being fairly cooperative at the moment,” he said with a chuckle.
~we love a lil ego boost 🤭
“Do you call all the Hollow’s Grove students Witchling? Is it because you can’t be bothered to remember their names?”
“Just you,” he grunted,
~this made me so giddy hehehhehe
“She stepped between my spread legs, reaching up and adjusting my tie with a casual ease that shouldn’t have been there“
~no stop it i feel too single rn
“Drink, Willow. I may be an asshole, and I will most definitely take advantage of you,” I said, chuckling when her gaze snapped back to mine. “But you’re safe with me. That’s more than I can say of your own kind.”
~we love a self aware king 💅
“You fight. Every moment of every day, you fight. Because that is who you are,” he whispered, dropping his forehead to mine.
“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?” I asked, trying to ignore the pool of tears threatening to fall. Hoping the water from the shower would wash them away before he could notice.
His face softened, his lips touching mine in a kiss that was so much more delicate than any other. “Then you let me do it for you.”
~crying in the bathtub
I leaned forward, running my nose against the side of hers in an effort to soothe her.
~ SPLAT! Did you hear that? My heart just fell at his feet.
“Devious little witch,” he muttered, finally grasping me by my chin and forcing my gaze up to his. “You really are so fucking beautiful, even when you lie through your teeth.”
“I cannot love you in this form,” he said,(…) “But I can in my own. Let me love you as you deserve, Witchling.”
~imma need his grovel arc rfn 👏
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
The vampire diaries
Shadow and bone
Zodiac Academy (<— is wayy better and if you haven’t read it, READ IT RFN)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Omggg this book was so good!! Kabjdhdj THE ENDING (I guessed it from page 1 lol BUTT) the last 10% had me on edgeeee ✋
Their banter was top quality. Loved that aspect of this book smsmsm 🤌
And excuse me?!!! The enemies to lovers was STRONG in here I gobbled it up so fast. The turmoil? the chemistry? the tension? Big mwah.
Her hating him and wanting him in the same breath? 🙏 him warring between wanting to fuck her and throttle her for being so insolent? 👩🍳💋
I was turning the pages like no tomorrow. I would’ve finished this in a day if I didn’t have people to be peopling with. Smh.
>> Note: this book has very… questionable shit so pls don’t go in looking for something tame lol. <<
Gray made me feel some typa way I’m telling youuu he’s so hot ugh. Pls him being so manipulative and a genuine psycho was so fucking sexy my goodness.
And the MOUTH on this man- ����✋ had me blushing fr.
When he called her “love” and “witchling” for the first time?? My organs suddenly melted it’s true.
Willow was a really fun character to read about. I loved that she surprised him time and again.
The way she would be so difficult at every turn and him getting more and more frustrated but still being amused by her 🤭💗 that’s called true love idc idc.
No but srsly I loved that she had her morals screwed somewhere in the realm of wanting good for the world and stuff. It was cute. I still wanted a corruption arc from her tho *sigh* but we move- (I’m still hoping the next book delivers on that hehe 🤞)
Ngl the plot makes no sense anshjddh it tied up a bit towards the end but I’m still a heap of questions rn. Anddd the world building was.. not it. Im sorry 💀😭
There was legit NOTHING being brought to the table where the university was concerned. Why was she learning nothing during her lessons?! Forget that- where even were the class scenes?!
Also the student x professor trope was criminally underused here that it felt illegal smh. Such missed potential I wanna cry.
Despite that i promise I actually had sm fun! The betrayal HURT especially when this certain someone would make it clear it was all for selfish reasons 😭 every time this person would say shit like that and it would cut willow deep? I’m telling you I wanted to smack them upside the head for being an idiot and saying all the wrong things ugh.
Overall, It’s a really fast paced book and very easy to read imo. Very good for a slump.
Can’t wait for the next one to release OMFDS the ending has me gagged I’m ready I’m readyyyyyy give it to me nowwww
Oh also! The last 10% was eerily similar to shadow and bone but idc bc this version was better sjhdjdhd 💀 imagine if the darkling and Alina got together and you would get this book <3
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I imagined the fmc with black hair bc the author took way too long to tell me the actual colour which pissed me off and surprise it’s actually RED! Like you should’ve told me fucking sooner bc now I have to rearrange EVERYTHING ffs. In the end I couldn’t be bothered and so she has and will continue to have dark hair for me 🥲
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: ��
My ‘The Coven’ Playlist
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“I should have introduced myself. I’m the headmaster of Hollow’s Grove, Alaric Thorne. This is your formal invitation—”
“Then leave my invitation in my mailbox,” I corrected.
“I am the invitation,” he said, clenching his back teeth as he glared down at me.
~LMAO THEYRE HILARIOUS ALR
“Why don’t you come outside and lie to me again, love?” I asked, smiling down at her as those odd, mismatched eyes blinked up at me.
~that was so hot sjgdkdhd
“You’re quite the little demon, aren’t you?”
“Do not insult me by comparing me to your kind, bloodsucker,”
“I wouldn’t dare to insult you, love. It’s a compliment,”
~THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT
“So do not disillusion yourself into thinking that I would ever choose you.”
“That sounds like a challenge, Witchling,” Thorne said, grinning as if he’d won something. “I very much look forward to reminding you how much I hate you when I bury my c*ck between your thighs.”
~YOOOOOO THE AUDACITY- 😭
“Is she always this difficult?” Susannah asked the headmaster. She pinched her nose bone between her fingers, sighing in dismay.
“Given what I’ve seen since meeting her, she’s being fairly cooperative at the moment,” he said with a chuckle.
~we love a lil ego boost 🤭
“Do you call all the Hollow’s Grove students Witchling? Is it because you can’t be bothered to remember their names?”
“Just you,” he grunted,
~this made me so giddy hehehhehe
“She stepped between my spread legs, reaching up and adjusting my tie with a casual ease that shouldn’t have been there“
~no stop it i feel too single rn
“Drink, Willow. I may be an asshole, and I will most definitely take advantage of you,” I said, chuckling when her gaze snapped back to mine. “But you’re safe with me. That’s more than I can say of your own kind.”
~we love a self aware king 💅
“You fight. Every moment of every day, you fight. Because that is who you are,” he whispered, dropping his forehead to mine.
“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?” I asked, trying to ignore the pool of tears threatening to fall. Hoping the water from the shower would wash them away before he could notice.
His face softened, his lips touching mine in a kiss that was so much more delicate than any other. “Then you let me do it for you.”
~crying in the bathtub
I leaned forward, running my nose against the side of hers in an effort to soothe her.
~ SPLAT! Did you hear that? My heart just fell at his feet.
“Devious little witch,” he muttered, finally grasping me by my chin and forcing my gaze up to his. “You really are so fucking beautiful, even when you lie through your teeth.”
“I cannot love you in this form,” he said,(…) “But I can in my own. Let me love you as you deserve, Witchling.”
~imma need his grovel arc rfn 👏
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
The vampire diaries
Shadow and bone
Zodiac Academy (<— is wayy better and if you haven’t read it, READ IT RFN)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Omggg this book was so good!! Kabjdhdj THE ENDING (I guessed it from page 1 lol BUTT) the last 10% had me on edgeeee ✋
July 21, 2023
1.5⭐️ it felt like the author had no plot in mind for this book and just put together every random idea/trope popular among readers then made things up as she wrote
April 2, 2023
Starting this book with my SS Cecelia!! Hoping it's moody!!
4.5 STARS!!! ⭐️
Did we stay up all night and finish this in one sitting bc we just could not put this down? YES!!! I couldn't even sleep right away when we finished bc the adrenaline that was running through my body from that ending was insane!!!
Enemies to lovers, baddie FMC, hot Vampy MMC, magic and moody gothiky vibes! Checking all the boxes!!!
Willow is our fierce fmc and when I tell you that she is BADDIE!! She is the blueprint for feisty and determined! Willow is a witch from an extremely powerful lineage, she comes out of hiding in the human world to exact revenge on The Coven and the Vessels for crimes against her family. But when she meets Gray, a vessel and the headmaster of the school charged with completing her training, her plan to get her revenge gets complicated as their relationship forms magical bonds tying them together. And this man is ridiculously hot btw, I was a puddle for him immediately! Ahhh, Vamps 😍😍😍
The book has you guessing the entire time and the momentum of the last 20 percent of this book is one shock after another! Seriously TRUST NOTHING!!!
The writing isn't perfect, and it can be a bit clunky at times and the world building is hard to follow in the beginning, but the overall story and plot make up for it. Highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you to my darling Soul Sister Cecelia for staying up into the dawn reading this with me!! Always the best time!!
4.5 STARS!!! ⭐️
Did we stay up all night and finish this in one sitting bc we just could not put this down? YES!!! I couldn't even sleep right away when we finished bc the adrenaline that was running through my body from that ending was insane!!!
Enemies to lovers, baddie FMC, hot Vampy MMC, magic and moody gothiky vibes! Checking all the boxes!!!
Willow is our fierce fmc and when I tell you that she is BADDIE!! She is the blueprint for feisty and determined! Willow is a witch from an extremely powerful lineage, she comes out of hiding in the human world to exact revenge on The Coven and the Vessels for crimes against her family. But when she meets Gray, a vessel and the headmaster of the school charged with completing her training, her plan to get her revenge gets complicated as their relationship forms magical bonds tying them together. And this man is ridiculously hot btw, I was a puddle for him immediately! Ahhh, Vamps 😍😍😍
The book has you guessing the entire time and the momentum of the last 20 percent of this book is one shock after another! Seriously TRUST NOTHING!!!
The writing isn't perfect, and it can be a bit clunky at times and the world building is hard to follow in the beginning, but the overall story and plot make up for it. Highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you to my darling Soul Sister Cecelia for staying up into the dawn reading this with me!! Always the best time!!
May 28, 2024
Excuse me but just no. Why are we talking about f*cking a centuries old headmaster while she's 16?? There's also no tension what-so-ever, They instantly want each other
May 1, 2023
Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.
Well done, Harper ... you played us all.
I just finished reading this book and it left me completely speechless. From start to finish, it was packed with action, suspense, mystery, dark secrets, and a cast of characters that I found myself rooting for.
⇢ What to expect:
∘ Adult Fantasy
∘ Dark Paranormal Romance
∘ Witches & Demons
∘ Elemental Magic
∘ Epic Worldbuilding
∘ Dark Academia/Gothic vibes
∘ Mysteries, dark secrets, betrayals
∘ Plot Twists that leave you reeling
∘ Dual POV
∘ Revenge Plot
∘ Villain MMC
∘ Strong, fierce FMC
∘ Sexual tension and Spice
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ Forbidden Romance
∘ "Touch her and you die"
∘ Villain gets the girl
∘ Hidden Identity
∘ Who Did This To You?
⇢ Trigger Warnings: dub-con, forced feeding, graphic violence, references to past abuse & traumatic reactions to triggering stimuli, knife violence, graphic depictions of blood, physical harm inflicted upon the main character, ritualistic murder
⤏ Summary
Willow is a witch who has spent her entire life hiding from the coven of Crystal Hollow and she was raised by her father to fulfill a destiny she wanted no part of. Despite her efforts to stay hidden, Willow's mission forces her to return to Crystal Hollow.
When the handsome but infuriating Headmaster of the school, Alaric Grayson Thorne, is sent to retrieve her, Willow won't go down without a fight. Their mutual loathing for each other and their beliefs only add to the tension between them.
Dark secrets are hidden within the walls of Hollow's Grove University, the prestigious school where witches go to learn their craft. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.
Despite the dangers that surround her, Willow is determined to complete her mission and overcome the obstacles that stand in her way.
⤏ Plot/Writing
The Coven is an incredible ride, packed with mystery, suspense, and action that will keep you on the edge of your seat, desperate to find out what happens next. The pacing is perfect, with a plot that never drags and keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
The book is full of unpredictable twists and turns that left me reeling. At times, it felt like I would lose something important if I stopped reading.
In addition to Willow's perilous mission, the book also delves deeply into the complex relationship between the two main characters, offering a compelling emotional component to the already gripping plot.
⤏ Worldbuilding
The author has crafted a complex and intriguing world, with secrets hiding behind every corner.
From witches controlling the elements to demons taking over human bodies called 'Vessels,' this book is full of quite interesting creatures.
The magic system is intricate and captivating, and I loved reading about the historical events that led to what is happening in the present day.
The depiction of Hollow's Grove University was really well done, creating a spooky and gothic atmosphere that perfectly suited the story.
⤏ Characters
∘ Headmaster Alaric Grayson Thorne
Demon soul trapped in a human body, his Vessel in the human world, Gray is undeniably a villain.
He's a centuries-old character shrouded in darkness and mystery, whose possessiveness, and manipulative tendencies all serve as major warning signs.
Despite his villainous nature, there are moments when Gray shows tenderness towards Willow and is very protective of her.
I'm always drawn to the villain, and he is no exception.
However, don't let him fool you, he has his own agenda and would stop at nothing to get what he wants. Even if it means using her.
∘ Willow
Willow's kindness, and determination in pursuing her destiny and seeking revenge against the coven make her a truly strong character, and her unwavering love for her brother is admirable.
She's such a good person and didn't deserve all the hardships that were thrown her way. It was clear that she was still dealing with past trauma and I felt so bad for all the bad things that just kept happening to her.
She's also a total badass and I love when I encounter an FMC who knows what she's doing.
⤏ Romance
For centuries, Vessels and Witches have harbored deep-seated animosity towards each other. Thus, it comes as no shock that Willow and Gray's intense chemistry sizzles with a mix of both love and hate. ― Enemies-to-lovers trope, welcome ~
The romance was intense, and the tension between them was palpable. Gray, despite being a villain, displayed a surprising vulnerability when it came to Willow. It was clear that he couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt, whether it was by him or anyone else. Things are complicated between these two, but I'm still weak for him.
I loved their banter and even though their relationship is forbidden, every time they clashed, sparks flew. I just can't get enough of it!
⤏ Conclusion
This book is a thrilling page-turner that will satisfy any reader who craves action, mystery, and romance. Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down until you've devoured every last page.
I highly recommend this book to the romance fantasy readers with a soft spot for the villain.
P.s. That ending had me in tears, screaming and the sneak peek of The Cursed DIDN'T HELP. I need the second book ASAP.
⤏ For more bookish content, you can follow me on Instagram: @asternyx
Well done, Harper ... you played us all.
I just finished reading this book and it left me completely speechless. From start to finish, it was packed with action, suspense, mystery, dark secrets, and a cast of characters that I found myself rooting for.
⇢ What to expect:
∘ Adult Fantasy
∘ Dark Paranormal Romance
∘ Witches & Demons
∘ Elemental Magic
∘ Epic Worldbuilding
∘ Dark Academia/Gothic vibes
∘ Mysteries, dark secrets, betrayals
∘ Plot Twists that leave you reeling
∘ Dual POV
∘ Revenge Plot
∘ Villain MMC
∘ Strong, fierce FMC
∘ Sexual tension and Spice
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ Forbidden Romance
∘ "Touch her and you die"
∘ Villain gets the girl
∘ Hidden Identity
∘ Who Did This To You?
⇢ Trigger Warnings: dub-con, forced feeding, graphic violence, references to past abuse & traumatic reactions to triggering stimuli, knife violence, graphic depictions of blood, physical harm inflicted upon the main character, ritualistic murder
“If it is order that you value, then I will bring you nothing but chaos.”
⤏ Summary
Willow is a witch who has spent her entire life hiding from the coven of Crystal Hollow and she was raised by her father to fulfill a destiny she wanted no part of. Despite her efforts to stay hidden, Willow's mission forces her to return to Crystal Hollow.
When the handsome but infuriating Headmaster of the school, Alaric Grayson Thorne, is sent to retrieve her, Willow won't go down without a fight. Their mutual loathing for each other and their beliefs only add to the tension between them.
Dark secrets are hidden within the walls of Hollow's Grove University, the prestigious school where witches go to learn their craft. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.
Despite the dangers that surround her, Willow is determined to complete her mission and overcome the obstacles that stand in her way.
⤏ Plot/Writing
The Coven is an incredible ride, packed with mystery, suspense, and action that will keep you on the edge of your seat, desperate to find out what happens next. The pacing is perfect, with a plot that never drags and keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
The book is full of unpredictable twists and turns that left me reeling. At times, it felt like I would lose something important if I stopped reading.
In addition to Willow's perilous mission, the book also delves deeply into the complex relationship between the two main characters, offering a compelling emotional component to the already gripping plot.
⤏ Worldbuilding
The author has crafted a complex and intriguing world, with secrets hiding behind every corner.
From witches controlling the elements to demons taking over human bodies called 'Vessels,' this book is full of quite interesting creatures.
The magic system is intricate and captivating, and I loved reading about the historical events that led to what is happening in the present day.
The depiction of Hollow's Grove University was really well done, creating a spooky and gothic atmosphere that perfectly suited the story.
⤏ Characters
∘ Headmaster Alaric Grayson Thorne
Demon soul trapped in a human body, his Vessel in the human world, Gray is undeniably a villain.
He's a centuries-old character shrouded in darkness and mystery, whose possessiveness, and manipulative tendencies all serve as major warning signs.
Despite his villainous nature, there are moments when Gray shows tenderness towards Willow and is very protective of her.
“My hands clenched at my sides as I turned away from the sight of what she had given. The Coven didn’t deserve the sacrifice she was willing to make”
I'm always drawn to the villain, and he is no exception.
However, don't let him fool you, he has his own agenda and would stop at nothing to get what he wants. Even if it means using her.
∘ Willow
Willow's kindness, and determination in pursuing her destiny and seeking revenge against the coven make her a truly strong character, and her unwavering love for her brother is admirable.
She's such a good person and didn't deserve all the hardships that were thrown her way. It was clear that she was still dealing with past trauma and I felt so bad for all the bad things that just kept happening to her.
“As much as I hated to cry when I was sad, the rage cries were the absolute worst. They hinted at what I assumed some perceived as weakness, when all I wanted was to commit murder.”
She's also a total badass and I love when I encounter an FMC who knows what she's doing.
“Wearing a skirt was so impractical if I was going to be burying bodies in the woods.”
⤏ Romance
For centuries, Vessels and Witches have harbored deep-seated animosity towards each other. Thus, it comes as no shock that Willow and Gray's intense chemistry sizzles with a mix of both love and hate. ― Enemies-to-lovers trope, welcome ~
The romance was intense, and the tension between them was palpable. Gray, despite being a villain, displayed a surprising vulnerability when it came to Willow. It was clear that he couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt, whether it was by him or anyone else. Things are complicated between these two, but I'm still weak for him.
“Thank you. For coming for me.”
“I’ll always come for you, Witchling”
I loved their banter and even though their relationship is forbidden, every time they clashed, sparks flew. I just can't get enough of it!
“I wanted to tear his throat out. I wanted to tear his clothes off.
The fact that I wasn’t even sure which one I wanted more terrified me.”
⤏ Conclusion
This book is a thrilling page-turner that will satisfy any reader who craves action, mystery, and romance. Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down until you've devoured every last page.
I highly recommend this book to the romance fantasy readers with a soft spot for the villain.
P.s. That ending had me in tears, screaming and the sneak peek of The Cursed DIDN'T HELP. I need the second book ASAP.
“You fight. Every moment of every day, you fight. Because that is who you are,” he whispered, dropping his forehead to mine.
“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?”
“Then you let me do it for you.”
⤏ For more bookish content, you can follow me on Instagram: @asternyx
August 31, 2023
This book was a wild ride from start to finish. Willow is a witch who’s been in hiding and biding her time to retrieve her ancestor’s bones and come into her full power. When her mother passes away and she’s found by Alaric Grayson Thorne, the headmaster of Hollow’s Grove University, she’s forced to attend. But this school is shadowed by death and secrets and something is hunting the 13 students one by one.
Willow is my favorite type of fantasy fmc. She’s snarky, strong, and a bad ass. Gray is a vessel (think: demon vampire) and downright morally black. I loved him. He’s protective, obsessive, and dominant. Their relationship is the definition to enemies to lovers to… ����
I seriously had no idea where this book was going. The story and plot and romance gripped me and didn’t let go. If you love dark dark dark romantasy with witches, you’re gonna eat this up.
Thank you so much to the author and Literally Yours PR for an eARC. It’s out now!!!
Read if you like
✨ dark, fast-paced romantasy
✨ witches and demons
✨ secrets and prophecies
✨ bad ass fmcs
✨ morally black//villainous mmcs
✨ forbidden love (headmaster x student)
(Please check TWs.)
Willow is my favorite type of fantasy fmc. She’s snarky, strong, and a bad ass. Gray is a vessel (think: demon vampire) and downright morally black. I loved him. He’s protective, obsessive, and dominant. Their relationship is the definition to enemies to lovers to… ����
I seriously had no idea where this book was going. The story and plot and romance gripped me and didn’t let go. If you love dark dark dark romantasy with witches, you’re gonna eat this up.
Thank you so much to the author and Literally Yours PR for an eARC. It’s out now!!!
Read if you like
✨ dark, fast-paced romantasy
✨ witches and demons
✨ secrets and prophecies
✨ bad ass fmcs
✨ morally black//villainous mmcs
✨ forbidden love (headmaster x student)
(Please check TWs.)
May 18, 2023
4.5 Witchling Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level 🌶️🌶️/5
This book completely took all my expectations and threw them out a four story window. When I read the trigger warnings at the front of the book I was a little confused by the “forced feeding,”my mind went to places of “is he going to hold her down and feed her a donut” imaging our heroine being fattened up like a goose. But turns out the trigger warning was a little more “vampiric” in nature and I really wouldn’t have minded if I was the main course in that meal.
This book left me speechless and dumbfounded and quite frankly I don’t actually have a way to fathom how to put into words how much I loved this and how it has basically consumed and devoured my soul. I am numb. I am in a shocked stupor of trying to wrap my head around the gloriousness and amazingness! Frankly no words will actually be able to convey my THOUGHTS…
I also have this feeling of anger. Anger at myself that I have I waited so long to actually pick this book up, especially when everyone was telling me to read it, and anger that the second book only comes out in AUGUST!!!
This book is basically the equivalent of “Dark Romantasy Catnip” crossed with a taste of Sam and Dean Supernatural Sexiness and it’s going to make you go feral over the plot, characters and the witchy vibes! The tropes in this are perfection personified!!
▶️ Dark Academia
▶️ Enemies to Lovers
▶️ “Who did this to you”
▶️ Forbidden Romance
▶️ Age Gap
▶️ Headmaster X Teacher Romance
▶️ Witches and Demons
▶️ Morally Grey/Black MMC
▶️ Total badass FMC
This book follows Willow, a witch who has spent her life in hiding from The Covenant with her mother and younger brother, Ash. When her mother dies her whole life is thrown into disarray as she is forcibly collected by Alaric Grayson Thorne the Headmaster of Hollow’s Grove, a Witch University in the small town of Crystal Hollow and given an impossible choice. To save Ash’s life she has to go quietly, but little does he know, getting to the University is exactly what Willow wants, for revenge.
I loved Willow’s character, because not only is she quite open, straightforward, and direct but she knows how to achieve what she wants. Even if that means using her assets and feminine wiles to achieve her goals. She takes no shit and what I loved is she is also a firm believer in her morals and ideals and stands up for what she believes in.
Gray can have all my babies! He was the possessive domineering seductive tease that my book brain just goes loopy over and if I was a student at Hollow Grove I’d misbehave constantly so I could be as disciplined by him…hopefully over a table… iykyk. This morallygrey black man was everything I need in an MMC.
The writing in this was unbelievably captivating and Woods had a way of hooking me right from the start. It was easy to read and had a great balance of action, character development and god the hate-to-love sexual tension that just deliciously bled off the page. I also loved the way the magic system worked, especially keeping true to traditional Witch ideals of maintaining a world of balance.
There was only one part in this, where I was slightly uncomfortable…well my book brain was like… “this is totally fine” and my IRL brain was like “ew”. As I had to face this brain fighting dilemma, I’ve docked a half a star ⭐️
Whist the ending was slightly predictable I didn’t hate this in the slightest. The predictability doesn’t detract from the story and personally I don’t need to always see something new in a book if the ride to the ending was enjoyable. I mean I’m reading a romantasy…there has to be some predictable aspect right????
Overall I highly recommend this book. If you love a dark fantasy with witchy vibes this basically will have your name on it, like it had mine.
Thank you to my beautiful Emoji Gang for reading this awesome book with me…
- Lia 🐧
- Lila ☀️
- Lyra 🐈⬛
- Leni (in spirit) 🦦
I am “sorry, not sorry” I tortured you with so few pages a day 😋
Spicy Level 🌶️🌶️/5
This book completely took all my expectations and threw them out a four story window. When I read the trigger warnings at the front of the book I was a little confused by the “forced feeding,”my mind went to places of “is he going to hold her down and feed her a donut” imaging our heroine being fattened up like a goose. But turns out the trigger warning was a little more “vampiric” in nature and I really wouldn’t have minded if I was the main course in that meal.
This book left me speechless and dumbfounded and quite frankly I don’t actually have a way to fathom how to put into words how much I loved this and how it has basically consumed and devoured my soul. I am numb. I am in a shocked stupor of trying to wrap my head around the gloriousness and amazingness! Frankly no words will actually be able to convey my THOUGHTS…
I also have this feeling of anger. Anger at myself that I have I waited so long to actually pick this book up, especially when everyone was telling me to read it, and anger that the second book only comes out in AUGUST!!!
This book is basically the equivalent of “Dark Romantasy Catnip” crossed with a taste of Sam and Dean Supernatural Sexiness and it’s going to make you go feral over the plot, characters and the witchy vibes! The tropes in this are perfection personified!!
▶️ Dark Academia
▶️ Enemies to Lovers
▶️ “Who did this to you”
▶️ Forbidden Romance
▶️ Age Gap
▶️ Headmaster X Teacher Romance
▶️ Witches and Demons
▶️ Morally Grey/Black MMC
▶️ Total badass FMC
This book follows Willow, a witch who has spent her life in hiding from The Covenant with her mother and younger brother, Ash. When her mother dies her whole life is thrown into disarray as she is forcibly collected by Alaric Grayson Thorne the Headmaster of Hollow’s Grove, a Witch University in the small town of Crystal Hollow and given an impossible choice. To save Ash’s life she has to go quietly, but little does he know, getting to the University is exactly what Willow wants, for revenge.
I loved Willow’s character, because not only is she quite open, straightforward, and direct but she knows how to achieve what she wants. Even if that means using her assets and feminine wiles to achieve her goals. She takes no shit and what I loved is she is also a firm believer in her morals and ideals and stands up for what she believes in.
Gray can have all my babies! He was the possessive domineering seductive tease that my book brain just goes loopy over and if I was a student at Hollow Grove I’d misbehave constantly so I could be as disciplined by him…hopefully over a table… iykyk. This morally
The writing in this was unbelievably captivating and Woods had a way of hooking me right from the start. It was easy to read and had a great balance of action, character development and god the hate-to-love sexual tension that just deliciously bled off the page. I also loved the way the magic system worked, especially keeping true to traditional Witch ideals of maintaining a world of balance.
There was only one part in this, where I was slightly uncomfortable…well my book brain was like… “this is totally fine” and my IRL brain was like “ew”. As I had to face this brain fighting dilemma, I’ve docked a half a star ⭐️
Whist the ending was slightly predictable I didn’t hate this in the slightest. The predictability doesn’t detract from the story and personally I don’t need to always see something new in a book if the ride to the ending was enjoyable. I mean I’m reading a romantasy…there has to be some predictable aspect right????
Overall I highly recommend this book. If you love a dark fantasy with witchy vibes this basically will have your name on it, like it had mine.
Thank you to my beautiful Emoji Gang for reading this awesome book with me…
- Lia 🐧
- Lila ☀️
- Lyra 🐈⬛
- Leni (in spirit) 🦦
I am “sorry, not sorry” I tortured you with so few pages a day 😋
Shelved as 'wishlist'
April 1, 2023This is giving me gothic fantasy vibes and I am such a ho for that shit, you don't even know
April 6, 2023
you were good, I’m waiting for you to be great.
March 19, 2023
i'm super disappointed with the way that this turned out. i'd been eagerly waiting for this to release for the past several months, but sadly i didn't enjoy this as much as i hoped to.
the first 75% of this was a one star read for me. i almost dnfed several times but ultimately decided to push through in the hopes that things were going to improve, which they did (albeit, not very much). the last 15% redeemed this slightly. within those 40 pages seemed to be all of the book's action and excitement. if the energy within that section was maintained throughout the rest of the book, this read would have been 100x more enjoyable.
i also was not feeling the chemistry with the romance. first off, the romance is between a student and the headmaster of her school. they make little to no effort to hide their relationship from other faculty or students, despite their affair being totally inappropriate and against all of the rules, and yet nobody seems to care. that whole dynamic was super strange and off putting. another factor was the bizarre way the relationship starts. the headmaster KIDNAPS the student from her house and literally within the next scene the kidnapped mc thinks to herself, "He was predictable. Familiar. His motives were clear. His intentions simple." bitch, what??! it was just all too ridiculous to stomach.
the ending was fun but sadly not fun enough to redeem this story.
the first 75% of this was a one star read for me. i almost dnfed several times but ultimately decided to push through in the hopes that things were going to improve, which they did (albeit, not very much). the last 15% redeemed this slightly. within those 40 pages seemed to be all of the book's action and excitement. if the energy within that section was maintained throughout the rest of the book, this read would have been 100x more enjoyable.
i also was not feeling the chemistry with the romance. first off, the romance is between a student and the headmaster of her school. they make little to no effort to hide their relationship from other faculty or students, despite their affair being totally inappropriate and against all of the rules, and yet nobody seems to care. that whole dynamic was super strange and off putting. another factor was the bizarre way the relationship starts. the headmaster KIDNAPS the student from her house and literally within the next scene the kidnapped mc thinks to herself, "He was predictable. Familiar. His motives were clear. His intentions simple." bitch, what??! it was just all too ridiculous to stomach.
the ending was fun but sadly not fun enough to redeem this story.
May 19, 2023
—🖤4.5 stars🖤—
“I think it’s time you acknowledge that it’s to late to save yourself from me, love.”
————about the book————
Age: NA/A
Genres: dark romance, paranormal, gothic, vampires, witches, dark academia,
Writing: 8/10
Quotes: 9/10
World building: 7/10
Characters: 10/10
Romance: 10/10
My rating: 9/10
TRIGGER WARNINGS: dubious consent, forced feeding, graphic violence, gore, references to past abuse, betrayal, graphic depiction of blood, knife violence, ritualistic murder, physical harm, etc.
———my thoughts———
Willow was raised to be a weapon.
Her father brought her up to be the end of the Coven that took away his sister and his birthright.
Determined to protect her younger brother from the same fate, Willow must join the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University.
There, she meets the beautiful and infuriating headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises her as much as she does him.
But when bodies start appearing, Gray beings to show an interest in Willow that could everything she’s worked for...
I have no words.
It’s been a long time since I read a book this good, and I don’t know how to describe how much I loved it.
But I’ll try my best.
This book didn’t start slowly at all, from the very first page I was sucked into the action!
You’re dropped into this world immediately, and I couldn’t be happier.
Honestly, who wouldn’t want to live in a world with Witches, Vampires and Demons? I’d be there in a second.
(I think the emoji club would agree)
The magic system, the school and all the paranormal parts were so well created and beautiful!
It took me a while to figure out how the Vessels worked, but I think that’s on me!
It’s the kind of book that I would have devoured in a day, but I’m glad I had to read it slower.
Because, if I couldn’t cope with waiting a day for the next chapters, how would I cope until book two??
I’m already struggling enough, and it’s only three months away...
But anyway.
What also made me love the book from the start was Willow, our protagonist.
She’s brave and fierce, and everything I want to be.
And she takes no shit from anyone or anything.
But she’s also caring, ruthless, a fighter.
She’s so many different things, and while you’d think they would contradict each other, they don’t. They just make up Willow.
And now we move on the best part.
Gray.
Alaric Grayson Thorne.
And let me tell you, he has the looks and personality to Mach his name.
In the words of the author herself, “he goes beyond my typical morally gray variety and is in my opinion an actual villain.”
My god, he couldn’t be better.
Every time he talked, the whole world went silent (for me at least)
And his banter/fights with Willow? They were perfection itself.
How he called her “Witchling” and “Love” had me squealing and giggling!
Their relationship was so toxic and unhealthy...but I loved it.
My depraved tastes found Gray and have adopted him as their own.
The ending of this book was a cruel cliffhanger, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread that last line!
August can’t come soon enough...
————quotes————
“If Charlotte Hecate was death itself, Willow Madizza felt like life.”
“You’re playing a very dangerous game, little witch.”
“Unless you intend to gag me, you’re unlikely to be able to shut me up.”
“You would definitely be gagging, Witchling,” he growled.
“I would do anything to protect mine.
Even risk the wrath of the little witchling waiting in my bed.”
“I’ll always come for you, Witchling.”
“God has nothing to do with the things I’m going to do to you, Witchling.”
————songs————
V (psycho) -Halflives
Hunting grounds -In This Moment
Wicked ones -Dorothy
Bring me to life -Evanescence
———random extra thoughts———
In the words of my lovely penguin, fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. FUCK.
August 23d—I’m dying waiting for you.
Thanks for reading!❤️
—————————
Buddy read with the EMOJI GANG!
-Koisty 🐠
-Lia 🐧
-Aileen🦦
-Lila🌞
Thank you for making this book even better, and for just being the amazing women you are! I can’t wait to read more together!
“I think it’s time you acknowledge that it’s to late to save yourself from me, love.”
————about the book————
Age: NA/A
Genres: dark romance, paranormal, gothic, vampires, witches, dark academia,
Writing: 8/10
Quotes: 9/10
World building: 7/10
Characters: 10/10
Romance: 10/10
My rating: 9/10
TRIGGER WARNINGS: dubious consent, forced feeding, graphic violence, gore, references to past abuse, betrayal, graphic depiction of blood, knife violence, ritualistic murder, physical harm, etc.
———my thoughts———
Willow was raised to be a weapon.
Her father brought her up to be the end of the Coven that took away his sister and his birthright.
Determined to protect her younger brother from the same fate, Willow must join the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University.
There, she meets the beautiful and infuriating headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises her as much as she does him.
But when bodies start appearing, Gray beings to show an interest in Willow that could everything she’s worked for...
I have no words.
It’s been a long time since I read a book this good, and I don’t know how to describe how much I loved it.
But I’ll try my best.
This book didn’t start slowly at all, from the very first page I was sucked into the action!
You’re dropped into this world immediately, and I couldn’t be happier.
Honestly, who wouldn’t want to live in a world with Witches, Vampires and Demons? I’d be there in a second.
(I think the emoji club would agree)
The magic system, the school and all the paranormal parts were so well created and beautiful!
It took me a while to figure out how the Vessels worked, but I think that’s on me!
It’s the kind of book that I would have devoured in a day, but I’m glad I had to read it slower.
Because, if I couldn’t cope with waiting a day for the next chapters, how would I cope until book two??
I’m already struggling enough, and it’s only three months away...
But anyway.
What also made me love the book from the start was Willow, our protagonist.
She’s brave and fierce, and everything I want to be.
And she takes no shit from anyone or anything.
But she’s also caring, ruthless, a fighter.
She’s so many different things, and while you’d think they would contradict each other, they don’t. They just make up Willow.
And now we move on the best part.
Gray.
Alaric Grayson Thorne.
And let me tell you, he has the looks and personality to Mach his name.
In the words of the author herself, “he goes beyond my typical morally gray variety and is in my opinion an actual villain.”
My god, he couldn’t be better.
Every time he talked, the whole world went silent (for me at least)
And his banter/fights with Willow? They were perfection itself.
How he called her “Witchling” and “Love” had me squealing and giggling!
Their relationship was so toxic and unhealthy...but I loved it.
My depraved tastes found Gray and have adopted him as their own.
The ending of this book was a cruel cliffhanger, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread that last line!
August can’t come soon enough...
————quotes————
“If Charlotte Hecate was death itself, Willow Madizza felt like life.”
“You’re playing a very dangerous game, little witch.”
“Unless you intend to gag me, you’re unlikely to be able to shut me up.”
“You would definitely be gagging, Witchling,” he growled.
“I would do anything to protect mine.
Even risk the wrath of the little witchling waiting in my bed.”
“I’ll always come for you, Witchling.”
“God has nothing to do with the things I’m going to do to you, Witchling.”
————songs————
V (psycho) -Halflives
Hunting grounds -In This Moment
Wicked ones -Dorothy
Bring me to life -Evanescence
———random extra thoughts———
In the words of my lovely penguin, fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. FUCK.
August 23d—I’m dying waiting for you.
Thanks for reading!❤️
—————————
Buddy read with the EMOJI GANG!
-Koisty 🐠
-Lia 🐧
-Aileen🦦
-Lila🌞
Thank you for making this book even better, and for just being the amazing women you are! I can’t wait to read more together!
March 7, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC)
''Making herself at home in my soul''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Graphic violence/d*ath
- Dub con
- Forced feeding
- Physical abuse/trauma (not by MMC)
- Cliffhanger
I won't give too much away from this book as I think people should go in blind. It's a dark fantasy academia romance that involves witches and other creatures. The world is filled with secrets and twists.
If you cannot stand a true villain ''hero'' this book won’t be for you, Gray is unapologetically an asshole and selfish.
''I will bring you nothing but chaos''
Willow was such a strong character to me, she endured so much for the sake of what? Of a destiny she wanted no part of but had no choice to. Her love for her brother was unbreakable. Loved her strength and her vulnerability during the moments she could no longer be strong but fall deep into the darkness that was forced into growing up.
I figured out the twist really early on, but I think this wasn't probably meant to be a huge secret to the readers but rather to Willow - which turns out it was lol
The beginning was a bit slow for me and I would say up until 40-50 % I wanted MORE and then we got it. It started picking up not just in the plotline but also the relationship development between Gray and Willow, which I should mention was super-hot.
The last 30% was amazing. It truly builds up to the reveals we are so hoping to get, and you won't be disappointed. When certain ''people'' started showing up I knew nothing would ever be the same and that book 2 would be insane.
All I will say about the ending is that the last chapter and last sentence gave me absolute chills (even if you saw it coming).
''Making herself at home in my soul''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Graphic violence/d*ath
- Dub con
- Forced feeding
- Physical abuse/trauma (not by MMC)
- Cliffhanger
I won't give too much away from this book as I think people should go in blind. It's a dark fantasy academia romance that involves witches and other creatures. The world is filled with secrets and twists.
If you cannot stand a true villain ''hero'' this book won’t be for you, Gray is unapologetically an asshole and selfish.
''I will bring you nothing but chaos''
Willow was such a strong character to me, she endured so much for the sake of what? Of a destiny she wanted no part of but had no choice to. Her love for her brother was unbreakable. Loved her strength and her vulnerability during the moments she could no longer be strong but fall deep into the darkness that was forced into growing up.
I figured out the twist really early on, but I think this wasn't probably meant to be a huge secret to the readers but rather to Willow - which turns out it was lol
The beginning was a bit slow for me and I would say up until 40-50 % I wanted MORE and then we got it. It started picking up not just in the plotline but also the relationship development between Gray and Willow, which I should mention was super-hot.
The last 30% was amazing. It truly builds up to the reveals we are so hoping to get, and you won't be disappointed. When certain ''people'' started showing up I knew nothing would ever be the same and that book 2 would be insane.
All I will say about the ending is that the last chapter and last sentence gave me absolute chills (even if you saw it coming).
April 27, 2023
This book features zero world building or things that make sense in general.
The side characters are just cardboard cutouts because a school setting without any other students would be even weirder. At one point Willow mentions how much of an amazing friend she has and honestly I have no clue why she thinks that because said friend barely gets any screen time. She’s not even around enough to call it a friendship. I don’t even remember her name and I can’t point out just even one thing about her.
90% of the story is just hella weird interactions between Headmaster vampire Grey and his student witchy Willow. I am such a sucker for the whole teacher/student thing and this just felt icky.
This book was basically a lot of the two MC’s eyefucking eachother or one asking the other if and when they were going to woohoo. And when they finally did I wish they hadn’t, because none of it was worth the wear and tear on my eyes.
The side characters are just cardboard cutouts because a school setting without any other students would be even weirder. At one point Willow mentions how much of an amazing friend she has and honestly I have no clue why she thinks that because said friend barely gets any screen time. She’s not even around enough to call it a friendship. I don’t even remember her name and I can’t point out just even one thing about her.
90% of the story is just hella weird interactions between Headmaster vampire Grey and his student witchy Willow. I am such a sucker for the whole teacher/student thing and this just felt icky.
This book was basically a lot of the two MC’s eyefucking eachother or one asking the other if and when they were going to woohoo. And when they finally did I wish they hadn’t, because none of it was worth the wear and tear on my eyes.
March 26, 2023
sometimes I wonder how an author can go from writing one book to writing something like this. for reference, I enjoyed what lies beyond the veil. but this was horrific and I can't even be bothered to list all the reasons for how bad this book was but here are the top three:
1. the romance was ridiculous and entirely built on sexual tension and had zero depth or believability. they had nothing in common and there were no redeemable qualities that either of the main characters could rub together between them. it didn't make sense and it felt forced. also not to mention it's a headteacher/student relationship they spent the entire time flaunting it around. I understand this is a dark romance but this was shockingly done.
2. I despised the characters. they were useless and irrelevant and I have already forgotten their names. the girl was boring and whiny and seemed to have all this knowledge and strong powers whilst simultaneously claiming she didn't know much besides what her mother taught her. the guy - grey ?? - was the equivalent of a scratch you can't itch. he wasn't angsty or broody like the author was trying to portray and he thought with his penis 24/7. there was no depth or layer to him at all and that is how you make a likeable villain-esque character. I am shocked considering I really liked the characters in Adelaide's other book.
3. the world - or lack of world-building - and the plot. plot who because this book didn't have one. this story had a lot of potential and I really liked the idea of it being set in a school for witches etc. I feel like HLW could have gone a completely different route with this idea but instead, she made the creepy headteacher take off her clothes whilst she was sleeping and think of all the ways he was going to screw her. the magic system was confusing and I didn't get a good enough grasp on all these different families or why the head of it - susannah or someone - was like a skeleton?
definitely not a recommended read.
1. the romance was ridiculous and entirely built on sexual tension and had zero depth or believability. they had nothing in common and there were no redeemable qualities that either of the main characters could rub together between them. it didn't make sense and it felt forced. also not to mention it's a headteacher/student relationship they spent the entire time flaunting it around. I understand this is a dark romance but this was shockingly done.
2. I despised the characters. they were useless and irrelevant and I have already forgotten their names. the girl was boring and whiny and seemed to have all this knowledge and strong powers whilst simultaneously claiming she didn't know much besides what her mother taught her. the guy - grey ?? - was the equivalent of a scratch you can't itch. he wasn't angsty or broody like the author was trying to portray and he thought with his penis 24/7. there was no depth or layer to him at all and that is how you make a likeable villain-esque character. I am shocked considering I really liked the characters in Adelaide's other book.
3. the world - or lack of world-building - and the plot. plot who because this book didn't have one. this story had a lot of potential and I really liked the idea of it being set in a school for witches etc. I feel like HLW could have gone a completely different route with this idea but instead, she made the creepy headteacher take off her clothes whilst she was sleeping and think of all the ways he was going to screw her. the magic system was confusing and I didn't get a good enough grasp on all these different families or why the head of it - susannah or someone - was like a skeleton?
definitely not a recommended read.
April 18, 2023
What in the world did I just read? There’s so many things in this book that could have been improved, because frankly large parts of it just did not make sense, and yet I am absolutely riveted and must know what happens next.
May 2, 2023
“You fight. Every moment of every day, you fight. Because that is who you are,” he whispered, dropping his forehead to mine.
“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?”
“Then you let me do it for you.”
no because the way I was a ball of confusion with everything that happened in the last 10%??? Plot twist after plot twist AND THE LAST ONE ESPECIALLY I did NOT see coming at all wth I cant believe it. This book had me hooked from beginning to end it!! was!! amazing!! such a fun read omg
I swear this had me SO addicted I could not get myself to stop reading even when I knew I should be studying for my finals instead🙊 the lore was SO SO interesting I loved the history btwn witches and vessels and I CANNOT wait to learn to more abt this unique world
yall I'm so in love with willow and gray and just the way the author wrote their characters AND THE BANTER IS GOD TIER. The tension btwn these two was chefs kiss~ And it's like a true enemies to lovers along with another trope that isnt seen often BUT I LOVED SM.
willow herself is a character I instantly fell in love with. shes so fearless strong and kind and when she shows her vulnerable side just🥺 and the insults & comebacks she'd always have LIKE THIS QUEEN💅 I adore her and the amt of pain shes had to go thru in both her childhood and this book just so heartbreaking she deserves all the love in the world
gray was very interesting and unique to many other love interests I've read about. there was one scene that had me like💀 but otherwise!! such a complex character and I adore him. I applaud the author for having his POV and doing something so interesting with it because I swear it was so genius of her imo (bye it's so hard not giving away too much abt anything)
I hate myself for reading this now only because that ENDING¿? Thank god I only have to wait until august for book 2 BC OTHERWISE A YEAR WOULD BE UNBEARABLE (actually im dying anyways sos).
May 5, 2023
This is the worst fucking book I have ever read and I read p w/o plot. Id give it zero stars if I could.
You cannot choose every sterotypical plot and put them in one book. The characters are OOC and you are the bloody author? Like yes there are some elements in this book that have trigger warnings which was not the problem. The problem was literally every aspect of the book itself.
No idea how the folks gave this an avg 4 stars but hey its probs due to the 50 shades of gray fanclub.
Rip the books and the trees used to print this.
You cannot choose every sterotypical plot and put them in one book. The characters are OOC and you are the bloody author? Like yes there are some elements in this book that have trigger warnings which was not the problem. The problem was literally every aspect of the book itself.
No idea how the folks gave this an avg 4 stars but hey its probs due to the 50 shades of gray fanclub.
Rip the books and the trees used to print this.
May 24, 2023
2,5⭐️
⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS⚠️
This is not a bad book, but maybe it just isn’t for me. Because I’m entering my romance era, I decided to read this one because I was seeing everyone reading it so I wanted to give it a try, but maybe this book wasn’t good to start with romance and that’s totally my fault😅
The plot is what definitely made me read it: who doesn’t like witches? not only that, but the book is really short so I was like “fuck it, let’s read this”. At the begging it had me hooked because the tension between the MC and the love interest was superior, but as I kept on reading my enthusiasm went downhill… Given the fact that it’s about a school of witches, I expected more interactions and people to appear, or just more teachers, classes, etc as it felt she forgot the whole book was set on A SCHOOL, but right in the middle of the book it was just pure sex and I felt like the author completely forgot about the important part of it all (Willow’s purpose).
Another thing that I really didn’t enjoy at all was the fact that Willow was basically a possession to Gray: I can totally get the fact that this is a romance book but I draw the line there, and her being compulsed is just rape, and I can’t support that. I also cannot support toxic relationships of any kind, and all of that just threw me off completely. I was sure I was going to give this book more stars but after I read the whole virginity sex I completely changed my mind (I will never think being a virgin is a bad thing because that’s NOT what I’m saying, but the whole “I’m going to be a virgin just to have my first time with the fuckboy love interest” is not my thing).
Is this a dark romance? Are dark romances always like this? I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know! I’m new to the genre and I was surprised such things like that were described as a normal thing🤷🏻♀️.
Again, I don’t think is bad but there are a lot of plot holes (I know there’s a second part coming up this summer) and it’s just too much for me.
(English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes, please let me know).
⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS⚠️
This is not a bad book, but maybe it just isn’t for me. Because I’m entering my romance era, I decided to read this one because I was seeing everyone reading it so I wanted to give it a try, but maybe this book wasn’t good to start with romance and that’s totally my fault😅
The plot is what definitely made me read it: who doesn’t like witches? not only that, but the book is really short so I was like “fuck it, let’s read this”. At the begging it had me hooked because the tension between the MC and the love interest was superior, but as I kept on reading my enthusiasm went downhill… Given the fact that it’s about a school of witches, I expected more interactions and people to appear, or just more teachers, classes, etc as it felt she forgot the whole book was set on A SCHOOL, but right in the middle of the book it was just pure sex and I felt like the author completely forgot about the important part of it all (Willow’s purpose).
Another thing that I really didn’t enjoy at all was the fact that Willow was basically a possession to Gray: I can totally get the fact that this is a romance book but I draw the line there, and her being compulsed is just rape, and I can’t support that. I also cannot support toxic relationships of any kind, and all of that just threw me off completely. I was sure I was going to give this book more stars but after I read the whole virginity sex I completely changed my mind (I will never think being a virgin is a bad thing because that’s NOT what I’m saying, but the whole “I’m going to be a virgin just to have my first time with the fuckboy love interest” is not my thing).
Is this a dark romance? Are dark romances always like this? I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know! I’m new to the genre and I was surprised such things like that were described as a normal thing🤷🏻♀️.
Again, I don’t think is bad but there are a lot of plot holes (I know there’s a second part coming up this summer) and it’s just too much for me.
(English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes, please let me know).
January 9, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
You're telling me I read 300 pages of a romantasy book, and...he was never really in love with her to begin with?
First book of the year, my ass🧍🏻♀️
You're telling me I read 300 pages of a romantasy book, and...he was never really in love with her to begin with?
First book of the year, my ass🧍🏻♀️
March 30, 2023
Wish I could unread this book.
March 13, 2023
*SCREAMS FOR 20 MINUTES INTO A PILLOW*... I'm fine.
I wasn't too sure what to expect going in and honestly... I'm blown away. This book is written in dual POV from Willow, our sassy and stubborn witch, and Headmaster Gray Thorne. Following the death of her mother, Willow is forced to join the Hollow Grove's University to protect her younger brother. Willow and Thorne have an instant connection, and their back-and-forth was hilarious (and extremely hot). Willow was such a fun and sassy character, and I'm really excited to see how she develops in book 2.
Now, Daddy Thor-- excuse me, I mean Headmaster Thorne... *fans self* was the perfect morally grey MMC that I love. Are some of his actions questionable? Absolutely. Did I love every moment? No comment at this time.
Tropes included:
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Age Gap
- Headmaster & student
- Witches & demons
The tension and chemistry between Willow and Thorne lit up the page and I honestly couldn't read this book fast enough. The pace, the plot, the writing style were all perfection. This is the type of book that engages you so deeply that you don't even realise you're reading.
But honestly, this may be one of my favourite reads of the year so far. The last page has genuinely left me speechless and I'm counting down the days for book 2.
Please ensure you check the trigger warnings before reading.
I received an advanced review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wasn't too sure what to expect going in and honestly... I'm blown away. This book is written in dual POV from Willow, our sassy and stubborn witch, and Headmaster Gray Thorne. Following the death of her mother, Willow is forced to join the Hollow Grove's University to protect her younger brother. Willow and Thorne have an instant connection, and their back-and-forth was hilarious (and extremely hot). Willow was such a fun and sassy character, and I'm really excited to see how she develops in book 2.
Now, Daddy Thor-- excuse me, I mean Headmaster Thorne... *fans self* was the perfect morally grey MMC that I love. Are some of his actions questionable? Absolutely. Did I love every moment? No comment at this time.
Tropes included:
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Age Gap
- Headmaster & student
- Witches & demons
The tension and chemistry between Willow and Thorne lit up the page and I honestly couldn't read this book fast enough. The pace, the plot, the writing style were all perfection. This is the type of book that engages you so deeply that you don't even realise you're reading.
But honestly, this may be one of my favourite reads of the year so far. The last page has genuinely left me speechless and I'm counting down the days for book 2.
Please ensure you check the trigger warnings before reading.
I received an advanced review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2023
1.5 stars.
this tried to have an interesting concept, but quickly lost itself and devolved into a complete mess. mmc is also one of the nastiest, grossest ones i've ever read who can't have a single conversation with the fmc without talking about having his cock between her legs. it's possible for someone to be a villain without being literally so disgusting, you know.
there's also one part with a big emphasis on virginity and how the giving of one's virginity creates a stronger bond because it's "blood that can only be given once" which, just, absolutely fucking not.
this tried to have an interesting concept, but quickly lost itself and devolved into a complete mess. mmc is also one of the nastiest, grossest ones i've ever read who can't have a single conversation with the fmc without talking about having his cock between her legs. it's possible for someone to be a villain without being literally so disgusting, you know.
there's also one part with a big emphasis on virginity and how the giving of one's virginity creates a stronger bond because it's "blood that can only be given once" which, just, absolutely fucking not.
July 25, 2023
4/5 🌟
3/5 🌶️
Before I start my review of this book I’m going to give a short description of the trope and list the triggers. There are a lot!!
Dark Paranormal Romance with gothic vibes in a dark Academia setting
Lead Male
Pushy
Domineering
Manipulative
He goes beyond the author’s typical morally gray antihero and is in the author’s opinion an actual villain and gets his AGA
⛔️⚠️ TRIGGERS INCLUDE:
Dubious consent
Forced feeding
Graphic Violence
Rough and explicit sexual content
Forced proximity
Betrayal
References to past abuse and traumatic reactions to triggering stimuli
Knife violence
Graphic depictions of blood
Physical harm inflicted upon the main character
Ritualistic murder
Hate sex
Now that that’s been pointed out, I want to say that as a survivor of sexual assault as a child that the triggers listed above did not bother me because of the way that they were handled. I’m not excusing sexual assault by any means, I just wasn’t effected by the circumstances in this book but others may be. Please take that with a grain of salt. READ THIS RISK AT YOUR OWN RISK⚠️!
I actually enjoyed the story. Not necessarily all of the triggers but for most of everything that happened, you could tell that both parties were attracted to each other.
Alaric Grayson Thorne, Gray, has been looking for a witch like Willow for a very, very long time. She is a witch born of 2 bloodlines. Most males give up their magic to be allowed to reproduce. Secretly, Willow’s father never had. So Willow is not only a Green witch but she also has the blood of a Necromancy witch. Gray is the headmaster of a special witch in a secret town called Crystal Hollow. Her great grandmother has decided it’s time for Willow to take her place at the school, Hollow’s Grove University to train. Alaric uses this guise to seek her out.
Willow just wants to live her life and raise her little brother Ash. Willow has hated Grays type all of her life. He is a vessel used to impregnate witches during the reaping. Willow doesn’t want to have children. Willow taunts and teases Gray while at the school. She wants to use him for protection from her grandmother as well as help her find the bones of her Aunt Charlotte, which her father is seeking so that he can gain that power.
Gray is also using Willow. He needs her as his wife. He needs her to gain the power of the bones so that the two of them can be powerful together. Gray can access her power after feeding from her several times.
However, Gray is more than just a vessel. Charlotte made a deal with him eons ago in order for witches to gain their magic. The cost of that deal was Willow. Which is why upon first getting Willow to the school, before the reaping can happen, he invokes Dominium to the grandmother. So that no one can have Willow but him. The question is what are Gray’s motives and who is he actually??
3/5 🌶️
Before I start my review of this book I’m going to give a short description of the trope and list the triggers. There are a lot!!
Dark Paranormal Romance with gothic vibes in a dark Academia setting
Lead Male
Pushy
Domineering
Manipulative
He goes beyond the author’s typical morally gray antihero and is in the author’s opinion an actual villain and gets his AGA
⛔️⚠️ TRIGGERS INCLUDE:
Dubious consent
Forced feeding
Graphic Violence
Rough and explicit sexual content
Forced proximity
Betrayal
References to past abuse and traumatic reactions to triggering stimuli
Knife violence
Graphic depictions of blood
Physical harm inflicted upon the main character
Ritualistic murder
Hate sex
Now that that’s been pointed out, I want to say that as a survivor of sexual assault as a child that the triggers listed above did not bother me because of the way that they were handled. I’m not excusing sexual assault by any means, I just wasn’t effected by the circumstances in this book but others may be. Please take that with a grain of salt. READ THIS RISK AT YOUR OWN RISK⚠️!
I actually enjoyed the story. Not necessarily all of the triggers but for most of everything that happened, you could tell that both parties were attracted to each other.
Alaric Grayson Thorne, Gray, has been looking for a witch like Willow for a very, very long time. She is a witch born of 2 bloodlines. Most males give up their magic to be allowed to reproduce. Secretly, Willow’s father never had. So Willow is not only a Green witch but she also has the blood of a Necromancy witch. Gray is the headmaster of a special witch in a secret town called Crystal Hollow. Her great grandmother has decided it’s time for Willow to take her place at the school, Hollow’s Grove University to train. Alaric uses this guise to seek her out.
Willow just wants to live her life and raise her little brother Ash. Willow has hated Grays type all of her life. He is a vessel used to impregnate witches during the reaping. Willow doesn’t want to have children. Willow taunts and teases Gray while at the school. She wants to use him for protection from her grandmother as well as help her find the bones of her Aunt Charlotte, which her father is seeking so that he can gain that power.
Gray is also using Willow. He needs her as his wife. He needs her to gain the power of the bones so that the two of them can be powerful together. Gray can access her power after feeding from her several times.
However, Gray is more than just a vessel. Charlotte made a deal with him eons ago in order for witches to gain their magic. The cost of that deal was Willow. Which is why upon first getting Willow to the school, before the reaping can happen, he invokes Dominium to the grandmother. So that no one can have Willow but him. The question is what are Gray’s motives and who is he actually??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2023
This was horrifyingly atrocious and I’m shocked that so many people rave about it! There are a bunch of trigger warnings in the beginning, which is fair and good, because a lot of what’s in here could really be traumatic for people depending on their life experiences. This book was infuriating. We have this alphahole vampire headmaster of a school literally take advantage of, sexually assault and rape a female witch student. I am fine with age gaps when it comes to fantastical beings like vampires and Fae and such. Yes, they’ve been alive for centuries and their love interests are always like 20-25ish. Whatever, it’s cringey if I think too hard, I just accept it and move on. But with Willow it's super predatory and at no time is Willow consenting to any of this. She actually is compelled, like vampire compelled, and that is force. The school itself is disgusting. They literally condone and encourage their students getting tied up and offered to vampires as sustenance, but also sexual play things. Great school, huh? Not to mention the fact that Gray touches her, pushes himself up against her and does all of these disgusting male controlling bullshit things to her, prior to any intercourse. Here he is, this powerful and dangerous male who is the Headmaster of the school, putting Willow, a student, in these situations. And everyone knows and is cool with it. It just isn’t right! If this was happening in real life, people would condemn him as a rapist. It’s not real life, I know, but how are we cool with this and even enjoying it? Everyone has different tastes, and maybe some people have rape fantasies, but this is emphatically not for me.
There were good components in the story, which is why it gets 2 stars instead of 1—the world of the witches and the history between them and the Vessels (aka vampires), the secret agendas, the murder mystery, and the ending surprises—but they were not fleshed out, nor the main focus. Honestly, even the best world ever would not be enough to overcome the atrocity that is the MMC.
There were good components in the story, which is why it gets 2 stars instead of 1—the world of the witches and the history between them and the Vessels (aka vampires), the secret agendas, the murder mystery, and the ending surprises—but they were not fleshed out, nor the main focus. Honestly, even the best world ever would not be enough to overcome the atrocity that is the MMC.
April 11, 2023
Wow!! Aaaahhhh!! Shxixuegenfkvo uebamzkxorkgbgb
Ok. Ok i think I’m calm now.
This book had me from the VERY START. I never once put this book down today. Well, technically i started it at 11pm, fell asleep for a few hours, aaaaand then it consumed my whole day.
Willow, what a perfectly written main character. She is this insanely powerful witch who has been hiding from her Coven whoooo let’s just say sucks. And she is forced to leave everything behind and attend their University after she is found. Willow is protective, strong, and her attitude towards people and life is AMAZING.
Alaric Thorne, Headmaster of the University, demon/vampire…not going to lie, i was melting for him the second he was introduced. His dark power, morally gray personality, and hand necklaces 🫠🫠🫠🫠 He is an obsession i will never be ashamed of!
The plot flowed beautifully. Dual POV. Every scene keeps you wanting to know more. The spice, PERFECTION. There are secrets and major twists. The last 10% of the book, I couldn’t read fast enough. The ending was epic, crazy, phenomenal, aaaand i physically CAN NOT wait for book 2. Idk what life is until book 2 is out.
Ok. Ok i think I’m calm now.
This book had me from the VERY START. I never once put this book down today. Well, technically i started it at 11pm, fell asleep for a few hours, aaaaand then it consumed my whole day.
Willow, what a perfectly written main character. She is this insanely powerful witch who has been hiding from her Coven whoooo let’s just say sucks. And she is forced to leave everything behind and attend their University after she is found. Willow is protective, strong, and her attitude towards people and life is AMAZING.
Alaric Thorne, Headmaster of the University, demon/vampire…not going to lie, i was melting for him the second he was introduced. His dark power, morally gray personality, and hand necklaces 🫠🫠🫠🫠 He is an obsession i will never be ashamed of!
The plot flowed beautifully. Dual POV. Every scene keeps you wanting to know more. The spice, PERFECTION. There are secrets and major twists. The last 10% of the book, I couldn’t read fast enough. The ending was epic, crazy, phenomenal, aaaand i physically CAN NOT wait for book 2. Idk what life is until book 2 is out.
March 22, 2023
This is so hard to rate! It was a propulsive read - I literally couldn't wait to pick it back up. However, I'm beginning to think that I may not like villains who are actually villains who get the girl. I think I like more of the ~he seems like a villain but is really a good guy~ gets the girl version of enemies to lovers lol. I'll definitely read the next book though!
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