Category: New To Me Author

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

RewitchedRewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: September 17, 2024

Belladonna “Belle” Blackthorn is a witch from a very powerful magical family. Belle came into her powers at 15, but has maintained a primarily non-magical life, she does use small incantations but for the most part she hasn’t really embraced her magic and has pretty much taken it for granted. She works at a charming little bookstore and lives with her best friend (who doesn’t know she is a witch), she is content but doesn’t take any risks. So, when she gets visit from Rune, a warlock in her coven, she learns that on her thirtieth birthday, she must present herself to the coven to undergo the EquiWitch trial, and be judged worthy of keeping her powers, she is understandably thrown for a loop.

The trial doesn’t go well, but thanks to a loophole, Belle is given a second chance to prove herself to the coven, but the catch is that she will have only 30 days to prepare or risk losing her powers for good. Her magical mentor has a shady past and may or may not have killed his brother, but upon meeting Artorius “Arty” Day, she can’t believe he could be the villain the coven leaders said he is. With Arty’s help Belle delves into magic and realizes how much she wants to keep her powers. But when things turn dark, she may have to give up her magic to keep the people she loves safe.

This was a charming, well-written witchy story with wonderful characters and a happy ending. I loved Belle, she is caught between two worlds and at thirty still hasn’t decided what she is doing with her life. I loved watching her rediscover the thrill of magic and moving outside of her comfort zone. Overall, this was a good read with likable characters, secrets, magic, danger, shocking revelations, dear friends and family, an annoyingly good-looking warlock and a spectacular ending. This is my first time reading this author, and while I felt the story dragged a bit at times and I would have enjoyed a bit more romance, overall, I enjoyed her writing style and am looking forward to her next book.

Love Cursed by Leisl Leighton

On By TracyIn New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Love Cursed (Gods Cursed Series, #1)Love Cursed by Leisl Leighton

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Gods Cursed #1

Release Date: 1/17/2022

Julianna Stevens is a most unusual witch, she works in the Coven’s library, but what makes her unusual is the fact that she is allergic to magic! This makes for a very lonely existence, as she is forbidden to mingle with mortals, yet she can’t be exposed to magic, leaving her with only her grandmother Violetta, the Grand Matriarch of the Stevens family and the Melbourne Coven Leader, the voice that she constantly hears in her head and Bastien, a cursed demi-god tied to her family. After an extremely horrifying date with a warlock with waning powers, she returns home humiliated and depressed. But the next morning she finds an old journal and realizes that she has been cursed, and her inner voice is the voice of Lianna, a vestal virgin with powerful magic who fell in love and was cursed by her high priestess. Breaking the curse will finally free her, she just needs to find her soulmate and the place where the curse was cast. What could go wrong?

Bastien has been cursed for thousands of years, doomed to a lonely existence in the presence of his beloved, but unable to speak of the curse to anyone. Each day Bastien shifts into a cat for half the day and shifts back to blind human the other half. Julianna is the reincarnation of his love Lianna, but she has no idea and even thinking of her causes him unbearable pain. To break the curse, he enlists the help of a fellow cupid to give Julianna a hint to breaking the curse. In doing so, he hopes to finally break the curse and be reunited with his beloved and hopefully find their son who was stolen by the high priestess who cast the curse. It seems like simple solution, but it soon becomes clear that the curse isn’t going to as easy to break as they thought and their only chance for freedom may be lost.

This was very intriguing story by a new-to-me, I was completely sucked in this book and read it in one sitting. The book is not long, but it packs quite a punch, it is filled with magic, curses, heartache, family, soulmate love, sacrifice, low steam and a happy yet bittersweet ending with the promise for more magical mayhem. This is the first book in the series, making it the perfect place to start, especially if you prefer your romantasy written in the third person.