The Wolf and the Witch (Witch Walker, #3) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Witch Collector and City of Ruin on my blog, now!

I have such a growing attachment to this series - it is such a great combination of fantasy, romance, and action - I truly speed through these, and the characters make the series even more entertaining the more you get to know them. After the ending of City of Ruin, I have been itching to get back into the series and see how everyone would recover from those events. The alternating perspectives throughout the novella really showcased Weaks' ability to connect multiple stories together without losing the integrity of the project as a whole.

Nephele's development throughout the series is a major highlight for me, and the way he is an absolute animal (literally and figuratively) had me kicking my feet. You can see the clear dimensions of the character, while the author is still able to keep some things a mystery. I absolutely loved seeing how Neri and Nephele interacted throughout this novella, and it was a treat to witness how strong their bond became as their story continued. The way they spoke about one another and to each other... oh I was eating it up and my jaw dropped several times.

The smut in this book... absolutely insane, the author out did herself. There was just enough that it earned the romantasy genre tag, and my goodness, the author knows how to write. The banter is sensational - Neri and Nephele's relationship is so intriguing and is one of the main reasons I have fallen into this series. They completely draw you in and make you entirely invested in their development - their tension is off the charts and you can physically feel their attraction come off the page. Weaks turned up the notch when it came to their more intimate scenes, and if this is only a small glimpse into their relationship, I can only imagine what happens in the next installment.

For fans of The Divine and the Cursed, this series is a must-read. A fantastic fantasy romance series that will pull the reader in and have them longing to see the characters have the endings they deserve. I honestly would have loved if this was longer! As a novella, I understand why the author chose to do so, but I would have read an entire full-length novel about Neri and Nephele. With phenomenal pacing and intriguing plots, the Witch Walker series is the romantasy lover's next read.

You can add The Wolf and the Witch on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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City of Ruin (Witch Walker, #2) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Witch Collector on my blog, here.

I really enjoyed The Witch Collector, and was excited to dive back into this story. The dynamic that Raina and Alexus formed throughout the first installment is stronger than ever in this book, and I loved seeing how much they relay on one another when it comes to recognizing their limitations. On the other hand, it was great to see how they supported each other when they knew they were capable of much more than they realized - especially, when it comes to Alexus aiding Raina's own development.

Alexus and Raina are giving Rhysand and Feyre a run for their money when it comes to being freaky in a tent when war is on the horizon. Their spicy scenes definitely got kicked up a notch, and they really were going at it like no tomorrow. That being said, at times the smut felt somewhat out of place, even more so when they would be worried about survival one minute and then getting their freak on the next. Meanwhile, Finn is as boring and third-wheeling as ever, basically giving Jeremiah Fisher from The Summer I Turned Pretty a run for his money.

I would have loved to see more action in this installment - at times, it felt as though we were running in circles about the same details over and over again, and then the author would jump to a new scene or switch perspectives. Considering the first book set up a pretty solid foundation of the world and its characters, I was unsatisfied with the plot points that should have had more impact on the story. There was just too many times that the plot was abandoned so that Raina and Alexus could get it on, and while those chapters were great, it became too repetitive.

Alexus, my man... top tier book boyfriend material. Completely obsessed with how he always puts Raina above all else, and even when she hates what she does, he does it because he cares so deeply for her. I loved how much you could visibly see how much he loves her, and how he is constantly making people aware that they are together, even when people do not support their relationship.

The last third of this book really picked up and had me locked in - it felt as though so much was happening and so many truths were being revealed. The ending totally had my jaw on the floor, and I was screaming at my book the second I realized what was going on. I will definitely be continuing on with this series, and I would recommend it to fans of The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed.

You can add City of Ruin on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Witch Collector (Witch Walker, #1) by Charissa Weaks Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Yet another free iBook that has proven itself to me... love a good fantasy read, and the dynamic between Raina and Alexus was exactly what I was looking for in my next read. The premise reminded me a lot of The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh in the sense of an unexpected bond. I absolutely loved the use of sign language throughout this book, and the author did a great job incorporating Raina's use of signs and her perspective in communicating with others who do not know the language.

A decent amount of this book spends its time with Raina and Alexus riding throughout the forest and hiding away from attackers, while building upon their relationship as they began to get to know one another. There were times where this began to make the story seem to lag, but I was personally so invested in their dynamic that I was able to push through and read through those sections relatively quickly.

The magic and lore in this series seems very interesting -- I only wish that the author spent more time diving into the background of it in order to expand upon its importance. Raina would touch upon the basics as she expanded her abilities, but I felt as though we could have been provided with more information. Especially considering that we really do not start learning about the specifics until we are well into the story -- at least at the halfway mark. That being said, the integration of gods, magic, and tales grabbed my attention and kept me inclined to see this story through.

Side characters provided important discoveries and developments as Raina and Alexus became more acquainted with each other. Nephele, Raina's older sister, was a major plot device for her initial distain of the Witch Collector we grew to love, and the Prince of the East had a similar aura comparable to The Darkling from The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo. The other side characters played some important roles, but I found myself wanting more of the romance in those instances. I definitely believe they added a lot to the story, but they were not drawing my attention as much I had hoped.

As far as world-building goes, this first installment certainly sets up the relationships and introduced readers to the lore of the land. My hope would be that the second book dives much deeper into the magic, as this book did a great job diving into the background of the gods and their intricate involvement with each other. I can see the potential that this series has, and I look forward to continuing on with Alexus and Raina's story.

I would recommend this series to those looking to fill the void that Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor has left, and to readers searching for a gateway entrance to the fantasy genre.

You can add The Witch Collector on Goodreads now, and follow the authors to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!