Review: Bespelled by Laura Thalassa

I received this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Bespelled by Laura Thalassa
Series: Bewitched #2
Published by Bloom Books on 2024-05-28
Length: 544 pages
Reviewing eARC from Netgalley
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2024, 2024 COYER Unwind

From bestselling indie author and TikTok favorite Laura Thalassa comes the next installment of a witch fantasy set in the world of the Bargainer series. Only the dangerously handsome Memnon the Cursed can help Selene find the answers she seeks...if she doesn't lose her heart first.

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

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

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

What a read! Bespelled by Laura Thalassa is the second book in the Bewitched which follows a young witch and her soulmate as they work to stop a string of mysterious murders at her coven. Please note: there are spoilers to book one in this review. Read at your own risk. This book picks up almost immediately where book one left off. Selene is in jail for the murders, but also coping with the deluge of memories she now has. With the curse lifted, Selene can remember everything from this life and her past life. Turns out Memnon was partially right at least.

Selene’s character development is thrown on its head this book. Just as she was feeling comfortable in her own skin, she is now coping with memories she had long forgotten. Her anger at Memnon isn’t just for forcing her memories on her, but for the revenge he took on the wrong person. My heart broke over and over again for her as she remembers how much she once loved him and just how much she sacrificed to save him from his own arrogance.

Memnon’s attitude has entirely shifted. He is truly remorseful and willing to do whatever Selene asks to earn her forgiveness and trust. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is still ruthless and everything you’d expect from an ancient king and warlord, but he’s got a soft side. And it is this soft side that slowly grows on you.

The pace of this one is much faster than the first book. Bewitched really focused on laying the storyline down and letting you get to know Memnon. This book focuses more on the murders Selene was accused of and the budding relationship between them. I loved all the twists and unexpected surprises. Memnon’s relentless pursuit of Selene reminds me a little of Thalassa’s Fallen World series (if you haven’t read it, it is a MUST read) which means I love it all the more.

Overall, I devoured Bespelled. I loved all the answers that we get in this book as well as all the questions it raises. The spiciness is kicked up several notches in this one as well, so if that isn’t your thing, consider yourself warned. If you are a fan of high-stakes fantasy romance, I highly recommend it.

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