This was a very interesting read! Not sure I have read anything similar, which I like. The story was original, the concept and premise great, the MFC I LOVED, Willow is the best, a very memorable main character with an amazing arc and her character development made me very invested in her journey. Gray I didn't like so much and I felt the whole enemies to lovers trope could have been developed a bit more. Which brings me to the only negative I have to say about this book, which is it was just too short. There wasn't enough time to immerse in the world, even though it was a very interesting one, the pace was fast, but at times felt a bit rushed and then we are thrown one of the most insane cliffhangers ever and before we know it, we're left with our mouth on the floor, wondering what on earth did we just read?! Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind and should have seen it coming, but that ending left me gasping audibly!!! I will definitely be reading the next book.

In a nutshell, the hype about this book is real, but if you're a seasoned reader of the genre, you might be left feeling you wanted and needed more. It's an easy and very enjoyable read and definitely not just another fantasy novel. Happy reading!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Witches and sexy demons! What more could you want. I loved this more than I expected to. It was fast paced and engaging. The twist at the end had me shook and I want book 2 NOW!

Wow I did not see that coming at the end...

Really easy to dive into this book and I loved the strength of the FMC she took no Sh!t when it came to her beliefs.

As much as I shouldn't I loved the possessiveness/alpha male of gray and hope they do end up together. The banter between the two characters like get a room already!!

Really enjoyed the book so.much I finished it in 2 days, and I can't wait to read the next book.

The book focuses on Willow, who when her mother dies is due to come into her powers.
Her father has been training her for this her whole life. She wants to stop her brother facing this life.
She attends the Hallows Grove University where she meets the headmaster Alaric. They hate each other on sight.
I thought from the description I would find this book enjoyable but I just didn't like it.
It is told from two points of view which I do like but it was a bit drawn out at times and I found it hard to follow in places.
There were parts that made me feel uncomfortable and I think that readers should be aware it deals with force feeding, physical harm and graphic violence. It isn't that I am squeamish but I didn't feel all of it was necessary.
Sorry I know it is a popular book but not for me.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley

I loved the setting, the characters and the plot, my main issue came from how the story was put together. I really struggled with how the author moves from one moment in time to another, I felt as if it flitted too quickly and I hadn't even noticed something else had started to happen. I ended up having to re-read quite a few paragraphs as I was confused but on the re-reads I found I hadn't really missed anything, it had just moved to something else without really mentioning it. So I did find this quite annoying, but on a whole I really did like story and how atmospheric it was.

My review has been posted on goodreads and on my bookstagram @hanreadingjournal

This was a great dark academia read. I thoroughly enjoyed it from the beginning to the end which had me wondering what would happen next, and it was never what I expected. It was a bit of a darker Enemies to Lovers read than I am used to but Harper's writing is excellent with a well-thought-out storyline.
Gray and Willow really do hate each other even though they are feeling things they both don't want to acknowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed that the POV switches between Gray and Willow.
Gray isn't your typical morally grey MMC, he has so many ulterior motives that keep you hooked and invested. If it wasn't his weak spot for Willow (even with the ulterior motives) I would label him the villain, which conflicts with how I feel about him. He has a hidden agenda and she derails him a bit which I loved.

I feel for Willow in her journey. What she thinks she is fighting for and the reality that hits are so different.

My favourite side character is Ash, Willow's baby brother, and I absolutely cannot stand Willow's father.
Another character that rubs me up the wrong way is Susanna. Her intentions are good but her methods are not.
The vessels were a bit of a different concept for me to understand, which took a few chapters to get with all the world-building and plot going on.
The cliffhanger ending has me eager to hop straight into the next book!

Title: The Coven
Series: Coven of Bones - Book 1
Author: Harper L. Woods
Genre: Paranormal - Dark Academia - Gothic - Mystery

Book in emojis: 🩸💀🔮🖤🕯️🗡️🦇

About:
Willow is a witch of two lineages and has been raised by her mother and father outside the coven. Raised to be her father’s weapon against the coven that took away his sister and his birthright. Willow will do anything in her power to protect her little brother Ash, but as their mother dies and the warnings fail Willow will have to take her place amongst the other witches at Hollow Grove University, which is a bit different than a traditional university.

This dark enemies-to-lovers romance is everything you could ask for if you enjoy J.R. Wards Black Dagger Brotherhood or Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House.

My thoughts:
Loving Harper’s Of Flesh and Bones series I knew I had to read this one. And I do not regret it one bit!
Even if this is a dark romance with plenty of smut and trigger warnings (so please check those if you need to) I flew through it and couldn’t put it down. I absolutely live for the banter between Willow and Gray, and the slow burn not quite romance is so wrong, but so good. Reading this made me envision Manon and Dorian if they were true enemies-to-lovers, only better. So if you crave a witchy read, but need that dark element this is absolutely for you! And also, it ends on a cliffhanger (oh so good), but the second book is already out so just get them both and save yourself the horror of having to wait to start the second.


This book has it all:
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Age gap
Touch her and die
Sexual tension
Secrets
Witchy powers
Revenge
Morally Grey & possessive MMC
Badass FMC
Hidden identities
Blood bonds
Villain gets the girl

Favourite quotes:

“I’ll always come for you, Witchling.”

“I. Would. Care.”

“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.”



Thank you so much to the author, Harper L. Woods, and @netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book has been on my wishlist ever since I discovered it existed. I had, of course, heard about this author before. I've been reading more than enough indie to have come across her name in passing. However, I've never read anything by her before. Until this book. The moment I discovered that Transworld publishing made the book available through Netgalley, I had to request a copy. I was really happy that my request was granted.

This book is quite intriguing from the very start. I have to admit that it was not always easy to grasp what was going on, but since the heroine didn't really know what was going on exactly either, it never really bothered me. On the contrary, actually. It made me curious. Every time something was revealed or a question was answered, so many new questions arose and I just wanted to keep on reading to understand more and more. The eventual finale was even more exciting than expected, though!

I also loved the dynamic between our heroine and the headmaster. It's the kind of dynamic I personally wouldn't let a teenager read, but for adults it's the perfect mix of dangerous love, forbidden love and dark love. Just like the heroine I knew that enjoying it was maybe not exactly right and yet it was hard to not enjoy it. Their banter, their chemistry, the tension when they were thinking of each other or in the same room. I can't wait to get more of it!

I also liked the plot and the world building. Like I said, it was hard to grasp and understand everything in the beginning, but the author did an awesome job giving us the right information at the right moment. And although quite a lot was hidden from us and quite some information was even downright false, it never felt like the author was just randomly throwing in plot-twists. The moment everything came together it all made sense.

I can't wait to dive into the sequel!

Another hit from Wood - I cannot wait to read the next one! Willow was an amazing character to follow.

THE COVEN - HARPER L
WOODS - ARC
When the book started the age gap freaked me out to be honest, I was a little bit disgusted but as the book goes on and story unfolds I found it mattered less and less and I became invested in the story and the relationship between the vessel and Willow! The storyline does feel rushed in some parts and I would have like more to some bits and less of others. I would have liked more flash backs/backstory to willows life and every now and then something would come up as if we already knew and then revealed later on. Overall though it was a good read and I will read book 2. Oh and there is spice too
@rachaelmcreads

THE COVEN was a fascinating book filled with dark romance, a gothic atmosphere and a world filled with witches, mysteries and shocking reveals that left me hooked. I liked that the book was split into two POVs, Willow and Gray. Willow was a strong female main character who had undergone so much in her twenty years. From the start, we see how independent she is and fights for who she loves. She also hides a few deadly secrets of her own and I like how she stood up for herself.

As for the Gray, he was a morally gray character who is also possessive of Willow and gets what he wants. The relationship between Willow and Gray is complicated due to their various stations in the school. I liked how there is also a different take to vampires in this book. Instead of vampires, they are called 'Vessels' due to a demon being tied to an immortal body. From the get-go, Gray was intriguing due to his dislike of the Coven and mysterious aspects of his persona.

The world-building was simple and easy to understand. The witches are based on colors and their abilities. I liked how Willow was a witch with exceptional interest to the Coven due to her parentage and despite her being hidden, her true lineage was hidden from them. There is also so much tension between Gray and Willow, which lit up several sparks in the book. Their chemistry was off-the-charts and was unique to the enemies-to-lovers trope. There is also an equal amount of side-characters in this novel and I liked that we could immerse in this gothic world filled with witches hailing from Salem together with the reopening of Hollow's Grove.

With a fantastic build-up toward the conclusion, I was shocked at the plot twists and can't wait for the sequel after those reveals.

This review is for The Coven by Harper L. Woods which will be released in paperback in the UK on the 3rd October! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Bantam for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Please make sure to read the trigger warnings before reading!!!
So usually here I would write a little synopsis of what happened in the book, but even a few hours after reading, I still have no idea what the hell went on. Everything interesting happens in like the last 50 pages of the book, but even though it’s interesting… I still don’t know what happened.

Let’s start with the things I did like. I loved the female main character Willow, and thought she was a badass. She’s trained to fight, isn’t your stereotypical tiny, skinny FMC and has some kickass magic. I also liked the deep love she has for her half brother Ash, and the way she wants to protect him at all costs even if leaving him is the best thing for him. I also liked the setting, a creepy witch school in the middle of buttfuck nowhere is always the good setting for a gothic fantasy.

Now the things I didn’t like… pretty much everything else. The pacing was weird and left me feeling really confused, as well as the world building being lackluster, so you have no idea what’s going on in the world and how it came to be that way. A lot of the plot line either didn’t really make sense, or feels like it needs a second book to really flesh it out properly. As I mentioned above, the majority of the plot happens in like the last 20% of the book was just so unexpected because literally nothing is explained. Grey/Thorne is also an asshole and I hope he burns in the deepest pits of hell (you’ll get it if you read it)

And yet do I want to read the next in the series?? Yes… and I don’t know why. But I need to know what happens next!!

I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. The main character, willlow was great and I was rooting for her the whole time. Gray is a perfect example of a well written morally grey character because sometimes you like him and other times you want willow to get far away from him. The ending made me so angry and I’m already looking forward to starting the sequel to find out how it all gets resolved.

This book follows a young witch named willow who has spent her life hiding and training for the day that she must face the coven and school her mother fled. The Coven are a group of witches of various powers that maintain balance with the magical world, however the balance has been shifted by the covenant, two long dead witches who oversee the coven and university.

Willow was born of two bloodlines, something that is forbidden by the coven, and in order to unlock the power from her father’s side and finally have the ability to take down the coven, as well as protect her younger brother, she must join the school and seduce a Vessel to help her find something long lost.

Vessels coexist with witches and survive by drinking their blood, something that comes with a strained history and a barely contained bargain to help them live side by side. Essentially the two are natural enemies but must exist together for the balance of magic. Willow’s mission becomes more complicated when she meets Alaric Grayson Throne, the Vessel she must seduce. Not only is he the headmaster of the school, he is stunningly handsome, horridly irresistible and cruelly tempting. She always planned to use a Vessel to further her plans however she finds herself having conflicting emotions towards a creature that famously has no heart and is a creature she swore to destroy.

The magic in this series was so interesting and I loved the way it relied on balance for strength, with the give and take of magic and the wielded being key. The scenes in which Willow is channeling her earth magic were some of my favourite, they were beautifully written and showed her connection to the earth in a way that really connected with me.

Due to her upbringing Willow is a tough and independent FMC, she loves fiercely and cares more about the world around her than herself. She’s stubborn and short tempered, but also so strong and vibrant. Then on the other hand there is Gray, a man who has existed for centuries waiting for something to change and as such has become a broody, lethal and possessive creature that would give me red flags in the real world but in this case kind of has me obsessed. The tension between the two is palpable and really builds throughout the book, making you desperate for them to just give in, but also waiting for the catch.

Overall, this is a well written dark romantasy with a gothic atmosphere, spicy scenes, high tension and high stakes with a twist at the end that I didn’t suspect until the last minute and has me eager to read the second book!

Rated 4.5 Stars

I was shocked when I was approved for The Coven but what was even more shocking was how much I enjoyed it. I admit I was apprehensive going into this book because of the buzz surrounding it but it blew me away by how awesome it was. I loved the author's take on the lore of witches, vampires and werewolves and the world she created. There were things I didn't care for with regards to the characters and their decisions but generally speaking this was a good story packed with twists and turns. It kept me entertained, intrigued and engaged. I highly recommend. I can't wait to read the next in the series to see where the author takes it next. I'm also looking forward to reading more of her work.

I am not sure how to rate this novel because, overall, I can say that I enjoyed it, I can also say that I could have liked it much more. The premise is good, with witches, demons, and curses, but there were parts that felt a bit messy and I think that there should have been some more world-building because there were quite a few things that left me confused. I liked the enemies-to-lovers romance and the banter and the ending left me a bit curious about what will happen next.

I absolutely loved this book!!

If you are someone looking to get into dark romance but with a fantasy element, this is the book for you! Definitely read the trigger warnings but I found this book to be the perfect transition for me as someone who loves fantasy!

The FMC in this book was so strong, knows her own mind and genuinely knows how to work our MMC. The MMC is highly possessive and manipulative, with a DIRTY MOUTH but I was so here for it!!

The ending blew my mind and I cannot wait to read book 2!!

I thought this was incredibly well written with a plot that continued to grow, absolutely amazing spice and a great enemies to lovers!

This book was good from the get go! I loved how easy and paced this book was! Highly recommend! I love the dark academia, enemies to lovers and forbidden romance tropes, so this was right up my street!

Dark academia, witches, demons, secrets plots. and a good sprinkle of spice to complete the perfect October read!

Willow is a fiery FMC that gives Bryce Quinlan vibes before the self-importance settled in. Willow and her family have lived in hiding from The Coven, protected by her mother's magic, but her mother is gone, and it's only a matter of time before they come for her and take her Hollow's Grove University.

...and it is here we meet the star of the show; Shadow daddy and Headmaster Laric Grayson Thornea.

I am a huge fan of a slow burn enemies to lovers romance, and this did not disappoint. The story has a consistent pace, and the description of Willow's magic and how she interacts with the world is nothing short of mesmerising. There are parts within this story where I felt utter sadness for her, especially as the story unfolds. Harper weaves twists within twists into her storytelling as we approach the conclusion, and I found myself staying up that little bit later than planned to find out what was in store for Willow.

"The Coven" by Harper L. Woods had some aspects I truly enjoyed, but there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me. First off, if you're looking for a slow-burn romance, this probably isn’t it. The relationship between the main characters develops quickly – it’s much more of an insta-love situation. The rapid pace at which the romantic dynamics evolve felt a bit rushed to me, which took away some of the emotional buildup I usually enjoy.

While "The Coven" is marketed as Romantasy, to me it leaned heavily toward romance. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a personal preference, but I felt like the romantic relationship overshadowed much of the fantasy elements. It ended up feeling more like a fantasy romance than a balanced blend of both. That being said, I can see how others might really enjoy that aspect, especially if you're more invested in the romantic side of Romantasy.

One thing I absolutely loved was the world-building. The setting is grounded in a Christian worldview, which gave it a unique and interesting twist, especially for a fantasy novel. The concept felt cool and familiar in a classic way.

Another highlight was the protagonist's connection to two branches of magic: nature and necromancy. Both of these are personal favorites of mine when it comes to magic systems, so seeing them combined was a real treat. The way they were intertwined in the story was a chef’s kiss moment for me!

All in all, "The Coven" will definitely appeal to readers who are looking for a fast-paced, romance-heavy fantasy. It didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of balance between romance and plot, but the magic system and world-building still made it an enjoyable read.