The coven

Book: The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Reviewed by Your_bookish_fantasy

Rating: 4.25/5

𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- THE COVEN by Harper L. Woods

“Unless you intend to gag me, you’re unlikely to be able to shut me up.”
“You would definitely be gagging, Witchling,” he growled.

⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 MF 🌶️ 🌶️ / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
🗣 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
Which books have I also given this same rating?
(𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth Wing / Bound by Inked Flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of Silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain So Bloody
4⭐️ ACOTAR / Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird / Kiss of Basilisk
3⭐️ We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex

⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
Genre: Dark paranormal romance, gothic fantasy

🎧 Audiobook: 8h 52m listened at 1.7 speed

📖 Pages: 294

POV: First person, dual POV

Narration: Dual narration, Ellis Evans and Emilia Bauer

Publication date: 2 November 2023

Plot or character driven? Plot

Series: Coven of Bones, Book 1

Reading order? Yes, read in order

Available on KU? ❌ No

Pace: Fast

Memorable? ✅

Representation: ❌

Did I enjoy this book? ✅

Will I read the next book? ✅

Would I read anything else by this author? ✅

🚨🅲︎🅷︎🅴︎🅲︎🅺︎ 🆃︎🅷︎🅴︎ 🆃︎🆆︎!🚨

⚜️𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝕀ℕ 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐:
🧙‍♀️ Witches
👹 Demons / Vessels
💋 Humans
⚰️ Vampire-like supernatural beings

⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 MF | 🌶️ 🌶️ / 5
🥵 Dirty talk
😍 Insta lust
💀 Forbidden romance
🗡 Enemies to lovers
🌡 Yearning, angst and sexual tension
😇 power imbalance
💦 Blood feeding and darker sexual dynamics
👀 Possessiveness and jealousy

⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
🏫 Magical university setting
🏰 Gothic atmosphere
🕯️ Dark and forbidden magic
🔮 Secrets, curses and mysteries
😈 Betrayal
🥊 Revenge
🧬 Discovering hidden power
☯️ Nature, balance and supernatural lore
🧐 Age gap
💪 Powerful, possessive, villainous MMC
🏹 Fierce FMC
🪧 Coven politics
💔 Complicated romantic entanglements
❔ Who did this to you?!

✨𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖎 𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔?✨
Readers who love gothic witchy fantasy, genuinely villainous men, forbidden romance, dark magic and shocking cliffhangers. Especially if you enjoy mystery and betrayal more than detailed academy life.

✨ TᕼᗴᗰᗴՏ ✨
Revenge, manipulation, power, family loyalty, identity, obsession, betrayal, sacrifice, nature and balance.

✨MOODS; ✨
Dark • Gothic • Magical • Steamy • Mysterious • Tense • Angsty • Twist-heavy • Haunting • Frustrating!

📝Cliff Notes Review-
Brilliant witchy magic, delicious secrets and a betrayal that completely blindsided me! The gothic atmosphere and narration were excellent, but the romance needed more emotional development, the side characters needed actual personalities, and I wanted far more from the world. Good enough that I’ve already bought book two, frustrating enough that I’m annoyed at the writing and hope it gets a re-write by the author now she’s more experienced.

⚜️𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓, 𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕?⚜️
(𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡- 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜?)
LISTEN! The dual narration added so much to the atmosphere, particularly Gray’s character. I’ve already bought the next audiobook on Audible because I know I’ll want to revisit this story.

“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.”

⚜️𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
I really enjoyed both narrators. Emilia Bauer has a lovely voice, and her transitions between characters felt natural rather than forced. She also delivered a convincing deeper male voice, something I find many female narrators struggle with. Her accents were good, and I never felt as though she was simply reading words from a page.

Ellis Evans was particularly well suited to Gray. His voice was deep, spiteful and haunting, with exactly the right amount of menace for the character. More importantly, I believed every word he said. That is what makes a good narrator for me. You can have the deepest voice in the world, but if I don’t believe the emotions behind it, what’s the point?

Both performances complemented the darker atmosphere beautifully. I enjoyed listening enough that I’ve purchased book two rather than simply moving on to another format.

😥 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤?
Because I wanted MORE! Not necessarily another 300 pages, but more substance in the pages we had. More history, more groundwork for the university, more exploration of the supernatural lore and some meaningful relationships beyond our main couple.

The story has so many brilliant ingredients, but certain aspects feel underdeveloped. The romance relies heavily on lust, the supporting cast barely exists, and a school full of witches should feel far more alive than this one does.

I was annoyed by these things, then annoyed that I was annoyed, because I genuinely wanted to adore this book!

“What happens when I’m tired of fighting?” I asked, trying to ignore the pool of tears threatening to fall. Hoping the water from the shower would wash them away before he could notice.
His face softened, his lips touching mine in a kiss that was so much more delicate than any other. “Then you let me do it for you.”

🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
THE MAGIC! This was easily one of my favourite elements. I loved Willow’s relationship with nature and the idea that magic is a reciprocal connection rather than something to be endlessly taken and exploited. The darker aspects, blood, bones, necromancy and supernatural history, were equally fascinating. There is so much potential in this world.

I also loved the mystery running through the story. The secrets were woven in beautifully, and the betrayals were particularly effective. I’ve since discovered that a surprising number of readers predicted the ending. I absolutely did not! I’m notoriously terrible at spotting what’s right in front of me, but looking back, I can appreciate the clues I missed. That is exactly the kind of twist I enjoy.

Where I struggled was the depth of the setting. Hollow’s Grove has such a delicious gothic atmosphere, but it often feels more like a backdrop than a functioning magical university. Where were the lessons? The friendships? The daily routines? The history of the school and its houses? I didn’t need endless information dumps, just opportunities to experience the place and understand its foundations.

I wouldn’t really classify this as a fully developed dark academia story. To me, it felt more like a paranormal romance and supernatural mystery that happened to take place at a university.

The short length makes it an easy book to devour, and I appreciated that the plot didn’t spend forever getting started. However, I would happily have traded some of that speed for additional character development and worldbuilding. I also found myself wondering whether this is a story the author might approach differently with the benefit of more writing experience. There is so much here worth expanding upon.

🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
Willow: I loved her connection to nature, her determination and her willingness to fight for the people she loves. She has a strong moral foundation, but she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Her magic was captivating, and I particularly enjoyed the scenes where we got to see her actually use it.

Alaric Grayson Thorne: Gray is possessive, manipulative, dangerous and very much a villain. I appreciated that the book didn’t simply give us a brooding man with a tragic expression and pretend that made him morally black. His character has genuine darkness, and the narration captured that brilliantly. I enjoyed the tension, the banter and the mystery surrounding him, even when I wanted to throttle him.

The romance: The forbidden attraction, yearning and sexual tension were delicious, and the spice itself was beautifully written. However, I wanted a more convincing emotional connection between Willow and Gray. Their physical attraction develops much more successfully than their relationship. I wanted more moments that demonstrated why they were falling for each other beyond wanting to tear one another’s clothes off. A little more restraint and secrecy surrounding their forbidden relationship would also have made that particular dynamic more exciting.

The supporting characters: This was one of my biggest disappointments. They felt like cardboard cutouts placed around the university so it wouldn’t appear completely deserted. At one point, Willow speaks about what an amazing friend she has, and I genuinely couldn’t understand why. We’d barely spent any meaningful time with this person! I couldn’t tell you much about her personality or point to a memorable moment that established their friendship. These relationships needed space to exist outside the main plot.

⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
Yes to both

🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I finished this with two very conflicting feelings: I loved the journey, and I was frustrated by how much untapped potential there was.

The magic was gorgeous, the darker supernatural lore fascinated me, the narration was wonderfully suited to the characters, and the secrets and betrayals were handled brilliantly. That ending completely caught me off guard. I NEED ANSWERS! But a memorable twist alone isn’t enough to make something God Tier. I wanted to know this world more intimately, feel the university around me and believe in the relationships beyond the sexual attraction.

Still, I did immediately buy the next audiobook. Am I excited to continue? VERY. And I am very much hoping the next book delivers the depth I was craving here.

𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action / fade to black

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.

Read full review on ARC Library