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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, did anyone else picture Gray as being like 50-60s after he introduced himself as Headmaster? It really creeped me out when he was into Willow and it took all my energy to reimagine him as a 30 year old so the age difference wasn't *as* gross. I know everyone tires of hearing this, but why was Gray so attracted to Willow? According to all romantasy books, all it takes for the MMC to fall for the FMC is for her to have an attitude. Are these guys so into their own power complexes that the fact someone would challenge them enough to fall in love? C'mon. On the other hand, why is Willow so attracted to Gray? I get that he's hot, but most women have to be into mentally to be into physically. Lastly, there are some plot points that weren't quite flushed out - if Willow is a Green and a Black, doesn't that mean her father had to have his magic when she was conceived? She mentions that her dad never made the Choice but also implies that he no longer has magic, so what happened? I understand that Willow is the subject of prophecy, but is she really the only child of two witches? No other man managed to avoid the Choice?
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Coven by Harper L. Woods is a fast-paced read that grabbed me with its gothic atmosphere, forbidden magic, and morally grey characters. While it's not perfect, the premise is intriguing and the story is an addictive fantasy that’s hard to put down. With its eerie ambiance and captivating dynamic between the main characters, it keeps you engaged, eager to see how it unfolds.
Willow the FMC, is snarky, strong and an unapologetic badass. She embodies resilience as she faces a destiny she never chose but is forced to endure. Her connection to nature and her magical abilities were standout elements, drawing you deeper into her journey.
Alaric Grayson Thorne the MMC is a vessel—imagine a dark combination of demon and vampire—and blatantly morally black. He’s selfish, arrogant and a complete asshole, but he’s also captivating in his complexity. If you’re not a fan of villainous heroes, Gray might be hard to sell, but his unapologetic nature and sharp edges make him fascinating. The banter between Gray and Willow is everything you’d want in an enemies to lovers dynamic. Their exchanges are laced with tension, wit and the perfect amount of fire to keep you hooked.
The world-building could have been more fleshed out. The dark academia vibe, while present felt more like a surface level backdrop than a fully integrated theme. There’s only one classroom scene and the academic setting didn’t play a significant role in the story. This was a missed opportunity, as the atmospheric potential of the setting could have elevated the narrative further. That said, the fast pacing and magnetic character dynamics helped to compensate for this shortfall, making it easy to overlook these gaps. This book is marketed as a dark romantasy, but honestly it wasn’t as dark as I anticipated based on some of the trigger warnings I’d read. Everyone’s triggers are different though and it's important to consider that before reading, but for me it wasn’t as intense or heavy as I expected.
The twist in the story was predictable, but it felt like it was meant to surprise Willow more than the reader. This worked well within the narrative, adding layers of tension and emotional stakes to her journey. The final third of the book truly shined, delivering exciting revelations and setting up an intriguing foundation for the next instalment.
The pacing was fast and while the storyline did feel a bit rushed in places I didn’t mind. It’s the kind of book you can easily devour in one sitting—perfect for a palate cleanser after a heavier read or if you just want to escape into something dark and magical for a while. While The Coven isn’t flawless, it’s definitely what I needed at the time. I’d rate this book around 3.75/5 overall.
If you're into witchy vibes, forbidden love, dark magic and plot twists, The Coven is definitely worth the read. It’s the kind of book that thrives on its somewhat dark themes, snarky heroines, morally complex characters. If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to devour in one sitting and offers an escape into a deliciously dark world, this is a great choice.
Willow the FMC, is snarky, strong and an unapologetic badass. She embodies resilience as she faces a destiny she never chose but is forced to endure. Her connection to nature and her magical abilities were standout elements, drawing you deeper into her journey.
Alaric Grayson Thorne the MMC is a vessel—imagine a dark combination of demon and vampire—and blatantly morally black. He’s selfish, arrogant and a complete asshole, but he’s also captivating in his complexity. If you’re not a fan of villainous heroes, Gray might be hard to sell, but his unapologetic nature and sharp edges make him fascinating. The banter between Gray and Willow is everything you’d want in an enemies to lovers dynamic. Their exchanges are laced with tension, wit and the perfect amount of fire to keep you hooked.
The world-building could have been more fleshed out. The dark academia vibe, while present felt more like a surface level backdrop than a fully integrated theme. There’s only one classroom scene and the academic setting didn’t play a significant role in the story. This was a missed opportunity, as the atmospheric potential of the setting could have elevated the narrative further. That said, the fast pacing and magnetic character dynamics helped to compensate for this shortfall, making it easy to overlook these gaps. This book is marketed as a dark romantasy, but honestly it wasn’t as dark as I anticipated based on some of the trigger warnings I’d read. Everyone’s triggers are different though and it's important to consider that before reading, but for me it wasn’t as intense or heavy as I expected.
The twist in the story was predictable, but it felt like it was meant to surprise Willow more than the reader. This worked well within the narrative, adding layers of tension and emotional stakes to her journey. The final third of the book truly shined, delivering exciting revelations and setting up an intriguing foundation for the next instalment.
The pacing was fast and while the storyline did feel a bit rushed in places I didn’t mind. It’s the kind of book you can easily devour in one sitting—perfect for a palate cleanser after a heavier read or if you just want to escape into something dark and magical for a while. While The Coven isn’t flawless, it’s definitely what I needed at the time. I’d rate this book around 3.75/5 overall.
If you're into witchy vibes, forbidden love, dark magic and plot twists, The Coven is definitely worth the read. It’s the kind of book that thrives on its somewhat dark themes, snarky heroines, morally complex characters. If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to devour in one sitting and offers an escape into a deliciously dark world, this is a great choice.
3.5⭐️’s! Was pleasantly surprised by this book! Won’t lie definitely bought it due to the stunning sprayed edges. But overall the story was good, kept me engaged and interested and it had just enough
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes