By Ali Hazelwood

Berkley, 2024. 399 pages. Romance 

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast--again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres. Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It's clear from the way he tracks Misery's every movement that he doesn't trust her. If only he knew how right he was because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what's hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory. 

I Love Ali Hazelwood’s romantic comedies, so I was a little hesitant to pick up this fantasy romance, romantasy if you will. However, after a little orienting to the fantasy world of Weres, Humans, and Vampyres living in full knowledge of the other species with a shaky alliance, it was easy to fall into the love story between Misery and Lowe. It’s a great book for a fantasy beginner, it didn’t need a ton of world building since it was set in a mostly recognizable world and there wasn’t a ton of lore to follow. It was the perfect amount of fantasy, slow burn romance and spice but be wary if you’re looking for a milder romance...this is not that. Overall, if you enjoy a spicy romantasy or the tropes of arranged marriage and enemies to lovers then you are sure to love Bride. 

Not the Witch You Wed

By April Asher

St. Martin’s Griffin, 2022. 340 pages. Romance 

A fake relationship between a magic-less witch and a Wolf Shifter turns to more in the start of a bewitching new paranormal rom-com series. Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne--the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time. The joke's on them. When old feelings make a reappearance--along with Violet's magic--they both realize there's nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing's for sure: magic doesn't make dating and love any easier.

The Ex Hex

By Erin Sterling

Avon, 2021. 308 pages. Romance 

Vivienne Jones handled the biggest break-up of her life the way that any witch would: vodka, bubble baths, and a curse on her ex. That was nine years ago. Now Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the town's founders, breaker of hearts and still irritatingly gorgeous, is back. Rhys has returned to the quaint town of Graves Glen to recharge the ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival. But when his every move results in calamity, Vivi realizes that hexing her ex might not have been so harmless after all. As the curse starts to affect the magic of the town, resulting in murderous wind-up toys, an outraged ghost, and a surprisingly talkative cat, Vivi and Rhys must put their personal feelings aside and work together to break the curse and save not just the town, but also Rhys's life.

BW