Where do I start?! YOU NEED THIS!

All witches need a wielder.

This was such a good find. I didn't expect it to be this good, to be honest. The author Melissa Mitchell has written in the slow burn, lust filled interactions between Rixon and Mina so well and refreshingly different, making this enemies to lovers really enjoyable. I loved the concept of witch wielding and found it to be a more unique find.

I squealed, giggled, blushed and gasped several times. My only dislike is that it was a novella instead of a full novel. This could have had more of the backstory, which was touched on a bit, but it could have developed some more lust/dislike. More story could have added more to all of it.

I did love this though, I will be reading all books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ebook to review.

The newly bonded Aramina (the top witch of her cohort) and Rixon (her broody crush and a seasoned wielder with a past) travel together to investigate the rise of demons terrorizing the kingdom.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and I devoured it in 24 hours. Approachable world-building, full of action, and, of course, excellent sexual tension. I’m hooked, and I’m excited to read the rest of this series!

Why I loved this novella:
- Women in charge (witches are on top in this universe)
- Loved seeing Aramina’s character growth
- Demon slaying battle scenes
- A tall FMC
- For all you princess bride fans: a MMC saying ‘As you wish’
- One bed trope
- Bodyguard trope
- The spice!

This story is set in a fantasy world where a witch must have a wielder. After the witch and the wielder were trained and took part in trials, they were sent to carry out missions. I didn't have any expectations when reading this book. However, it turned out that I was eager to know the continuation of Mina and Rixon's love story. I like their chemistry and tension; I can't even focus on my lecture!!

Unfortunately, this book doesn't have strong worldbuilding. I found myself only drawn to the relationship between Mina and Rixon rather than the fantasy itself. The demons' characters are easily forgotten.

Overall, I think this is suitable for fans of romance books with light fantasy. Also, if you're fond of the one bed trope, then this is for you! Thank you, NetGalley, for this e-copy to review.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Based on the description, I expected..more from this story. It honestly felt like glorified porn with some plot — and that feels like a stretch. The plot was definitely background to the romance, and my god was there romance, you couldn’t escape it. I thought the supposed plot, where you could glean it, was good reminiscent of the Wheel of Time. Also, what was that ending?? It wasn’t one, the book basically just stopped, like the author still needed to release another chapter. It wasn’t even a true cliffhanger, it stopped so abruptly that I was shocked.

This book could truly benefit more from the plot, like a lot more of it. The background wasn’t explained very well and could be summarized as they kill demons and travel, that it’s IT, that is ALL that happens. Sure, we learn more about the characters, but is that really all?

Overall, I’m disappointed, I wanted more from the book. But, I will say, the author is well-written, not once did I want to give up due to the writing style. Honestly, one of the more well-written YA authors out there, just please make your books longer with the plot guiding it, not romantic tension

Wielder’s Prize by Melissa Mitchell is the first book of the Lady Witch series, and is a new adult romantic fantasy that focuses on characters with a unique underlying plot. Every witch is bonded to a wielder and the story begins as witch Aramina leaves with her wielder for her first assignment. Single POV and dual timelines. Tropes include one bed, one horse, who hurt you, forced proximity and bodyguard (sort of). Do check trigger warnings before reading, and this is an adults only book.

The Lovely: So much to love here. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship developed. Mina’s backstory was woven in deftly and it explains her actions. Story wise, for being under 300 pages, a lot happens in this book and that’s across two timelines. Usually dual timelines make my head hurt but this was easy to follow. The plot and tension were seamless.

The Mundane: My only meh item was I thought the main characters relationship seemed insta-lovey. Granted, they’ve technically known each other for two years but they’d never really spoken to each other. So for them to be so attracted so fast felt a bit forced. I would also like to learn more about Rixon’s backstory.

The Dreadful: Nothing

Rating: 5/5 Stars 3/5 flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I saw this book on NetGalley and thought it sounded like something I’d usually like. I’d never heard of the book or the author. Half-way in and I was obsessed with the characters and the story-telling. I now must go read the next two books that have already been released. If you like high fantasy with witches and monsters, and a lot of spice with a fun relationship, I think you would like this book.

We follow the story of a witch and her wielder. At first, we’re in the “now”, traveling to their assigned station to find out why demon attacks have increased. The two main characters seemingly tolerant of each other but not close. As we progress further, we are taken back to their days of training leading up. Layering the past with the present, we really get to understand how their relationship got to the current state and the intentions as the main timeline progresses. This book has a great magic system, not necessarily enemies to lovers but like associates to lovers, tragic back stories, and a very noble stallion who had main character energy (you’ll understand once you pick this up). Great read, I’m not usually one for back and forth with timelines but ended up really enjoying how this was laid out.

Reviewed on Amazon & Goodreads. Will be included in future Instagram & TikTok posts for @cursebreakerbooks.

3.5⭐ Wielders Prize.
Wielders Prize is very well written the details of the surroundings were detailed well, aswell as the demons. The characters were very likeable. The reason I didnt give it 5 is that i thought the main character physical relationship happened really fast sort of out of nowhere abit unexpectedly. It's not a bad thing I just felt there was room for there relationship to build abit more. I will be purchasing book 1 and 2 in physical copies as I said I was a nice and enjoyable read.

What made me look at this book well it was the deep purple (I just love purple) and the name Wielders Prize just stud out.

3.5 Stars. This was my first witch fantasy read. The idea of a witch and her wielder protecting their kingdom from demons is such an alluring factor that made me want to read "Wielder's Prize"

The book did not take me long to read at all, and even though the world-building was not extensive, I still appreciated the flashbacks and explanations/descriptions of the demons Aramina and Rixon were fighting. There are also slow-burning, but steamy spicy scenes, but nothing that was overbearing.

I am invested in their journey and will be reading the sequels.
Thank you NetGally, Author, and Publisher for a copy of the book.

A spell-binding romance novella that journeys through the aftermath of trauma and its influence from childhood to adulthood.

"Wielder's Prize" follows Lady Witch, Aramina, and her bonded Lord Wielder, Rixon, as they traverse through the kingdom of Raeria towards their newly assigned station. It will take them one month filled with awkward silence and unbridled, wanton craving to reach their destination.

If only both weren't suffering from traumatic pasts that made them reflexively push away anyone they could possibly care for.

Along their expedition, they begin to truly understand each other as they slowly let down their walls and share bits of their past with the other. While facing the danger of slicing down demons that cross their paths, Aramina struggles with letting Rixon in or protecting herself from the pain of losing him one day. Rixon isn't so inclined to let her make that choice lightly.

Author Melissa Mitchell takes us on a mystical adventure throughout "Wielder's Prize", truly expressing the affect of loss through the eyes of her characters. The balance between shutting down or giving in can be felt wholeheartedly through every decision her characters make, and she heightens that through the spicy intimacy shared between the two in bits and pieces.

While starting in the center of it all, Melissa Mitchell structures small flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter after the first, indicating how the two met and the events leading up to their time in the forest at the very start of it all. I thought this was quite clever for a novella, so that we may still understand the essential chemistry following this couple without needing a lengthy detailing beforehand.

This spicy, almost enemies-to-lovers romantasy novella is definitely a read worth setting time aside for! From the worldbuilding of the magical system in place to the tender healing of a trauma victim, it will leave you feeling whimsical and satisfied to your core.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC. I have posted the following review to Goodreads.

This is a novella with a fantasy setting rather than a romance fantasy book. My general thoughts are that the witch-wielder relationship was a great vehicle for exploring the romance but it does feel like a paraphrasing of the witch-warder relationship in the "The Wheel of Time" book series. Also, I was not particularly comfortable with the age difference between our romantic leads, especially since they theoretically could have experienced overlap when Mina was very much a minor.

I give this 3 stars because it has so much potential to be a captivating and well thought out fantasy but Melissa choses to abbreviate the story in favor of pushing a novella. The effect is a suddenly rather perfunctory fantasy novel and a lot of loose ends regarding the larger plot. This decision is confusing. I don't see why this story is benefited by being a novella rather than a full fantasy romance novel. Without reading any of Melissa's other books, I question if she has the capacity (or interest) to write a robust fantasy world with a complex plot.

Since this book is so short, not in terms of page length but regarding the lack of completeness around the larger fantasy narrative arc, I wish we had gotten more interaction between Mina and Rixon while they were building the foundation for their relationship. The majority of "Wielder's Prize" is told through flashbacks and then after experiencing some danger in present-day, Mina and Rixon very suddenly veer into romantic territory. I wanted more relationship backstory and considering this is <i>very loosely</i> an enemies to lovers trope, I wanted more building of tension and a deeper exploration of the dynamics of their relationship.

Plenty of spice, magic, monsters, a strong female character and a brooding male. I gobbled this book up! Well written to keep you reading until the very end. The characters are amazing and I love the fact that the plot is a smooth journey with plenty of laughs and surprises!
Perfect for those who love the forced proximity, one bed, grumpy/sunshine tropes!

Being my second ARC, I am very grateful for the chance of reading it!

I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil. ❤️ But this book deserves the stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this read well enough but it felt more like a romance book with a hint of fantasy. (Which, if you prefer that this may be the read for you.) I liked the characters but the world building fell a little flat to me which I suppose could be related to this being a novella.

Okay so I’ve been in a reading slump for the past month and this book pulled me out of it. I absolutely loved it! From chapter five I was hooked. I love it when books do flash backs to catch you up to date and Melissa did a great job with this one! Great characters development and that slow burn! I definitely recommend!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/61677903

Loved this book, the romance between the two main characters was great with just the right level of spice while still developing the plot. Can't wait for the next installment!

Enjoyed very much! Very steamy. Love a strong heroine and developing romance. I wouldn't call it enemies to lovers but I adore the frosty to steamy development. The magic was cool, would love to see that expanded.

I loved this book! I instantly fell into this world and loved the slow unravelling of Aramina and Rixon's story.

The premise of this book is heavily focused on the relationship between Aramina and Rixon, and changes between flashbacks and present day. I really enjoyed the flashbacks and felt they were cleverly executed. We started at 2 years ago and each flashback slowly brought us up to present day.
I began to look forward to the detail in the past when the pair were at the Citadel together before their journey started.

The world that our characters are in was well developed and interesting enough without detracting from the romance. This was your typical travelling story with forced proximity and one horse, one bed at times. The uniqueness in the story for me was the bonded pair and how they fought demons. It was an idea I've not come across before, and I felt worked well and gave the action depth and intrigue. It was frustrating to know that there were limitations to Mina's power and that also add an element to the story that wasn't your usual 'chosen one' with endless power. Although she had strength, she wasn't infallible.

Rixon was quiet and troubled but once he thawed, I started to swoon for his change in character. Mina was strong and practical, yet likable and engaging. This book focused on Mina's past and how that was affecting her interactions with others, so I am really pleased to see the next book has mention of Rixon's past which I would like to delve further into. They are both complex characters who support each other and also have some great steamy moments! I need more 'one bath' moments!

I felt the pace was slow and methodical, and mirrored the journey they were taking. This wasn't a quick read where I gobbled up the pages, this was a slower savouring of the tale as it moved along.

Excited to continue with this series.

3/5 ⭐ Cozy, easy to read romance novella

What to expect
Witches
Forced proximity tropes
Cozy romance
Spice (2/5)

What I liked:
- Pace: The pace is quite fast, assisted by easy-to-read prose. I found the book difficult to put down because it reeled me in with every chapter.
- Plot: The story was cute and interesting. It leans much closer to romance than fantasy.
- Character Development: I think the author writes women well. I liked the MC, Aramina, and the women she meets on the road. I liked that the story unfolds from duel timelines, but…

What I didn’t like as much:
- Character Development: …Rixon felt a bit one dimensional. It would be interesting to read about their relationship from his POV. I am assuming that he will be fleshed out more in the other books.
- Prose: It was an easy, uncomplicated read. The only thing that stuck out to me was "Lady Witch" which felt like a tautological pleonasm. Aren’t all witches women, or perhaps it’s just a title? Either way, it felt a bit redundant.
- World building: While there are interesting ideas, I think more life and depth could have been given to the world.
- Romance: I liked the romance, but there could have been more suspense built up around pivotal moments and realisations.

I really really liked this book. The writing style was so easy to understand and follow- the detail in this book was great as well.

People who loved fantasy, magic, slowburn, forced proximity and one bed trope will love this book! The romance is good and very genuine! The banter was hilarious and one of those things I absolutely love in my romance books! It is a very cute Romantasy!

I do usually hate flashbacks and sometimes even skip them BUT with this book they were done great- I loved seeing how they played out and seeing Aramina’s past.

I really do wish we learnt more about Rixon past and about him. That being said this was only a novella- so I’m sure we will learn more in the other books!

I will be reading the other books in the series eventually!

I devoured this book in one day!

If you've enjoyed wattpad, you are new or somewhat new to fantasy or you want something that you can easily read and immerse yourself in then this is the book for you! A romantasy novel that includes the one bed trope, forced proximity, alliances to lovers, slow burn, grumpy x sunshine and a strong female character! This book also offers a dual timeline (present and two years ago leading to the present) which sets this apart from other books you may read.

Your main character, Aramina, is a witch who struggles with surpassing her emotional barriers due to past trauma. That's until she encounters Rixon, the grumpy and reserved sword wielder. This is a fantasy world that allows witches and wielders to enter a life bond, in which they work together in a world where demons threaten their society. It has magic, romance, spice and action. As the book begins, you jump right into the action, starting at the present time and watching their powers come to life, until you are able to intermittently read about their past and how they came to be where they currently are. The book does such a great job at explaining everything you need to know (without spoiling what is to come) with good world building and character development.

There are times where some points seemed a bit rushed, not necessarily confusing, just happened very quickly without truly understanding why or how it came to be. Otherwise, this is a great fantasy read for those who are just diving their feet into the fantasy world, want a quick romantasy read or someone who is looking for a new magical series to immerse themselves in.

Series: Lady Witch Series (book 1)
Author: Melissa Mitchell
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶

Warning first, I would class this more as a romantasy book than a fantasy with romance. As long as you know that going in, it's a really solid read
The story follows a young witch Aramina and her broody, sexy new Weilder and their journey across their demon filled land. It was an easy read and I did enjoy the writing. The two time lines was also really well done. Lots of the story is also Aramina introspectively examining her emotions and her journey. Therefore, there is a lot of inner monologue. There was also just the right amount of spice for the size of the book!
I think there could have been a little more world building but as this is a novella, it may be more extensive in the next book.