#FantasyRomance #EnemiestoLovers
Blurb
Pain provides clarity. Suffering builds strength. Mercy is a weakness.
Mardella believed the lessons etched into her skin and memory would prevent her from ever being captive to another again.
She was wrong.
After a disastrous encounter in her enchanted swamp, she finds herself in chains and her magic bound at the feet of her enemy. The gorgeous and imposing fae general demands she release his people from her curse, or he’ll happily kill her for her past crimes.
The only thing is, she isn’t the one poisoning the fae.
Roric doesn’t trust the witch or her denials. Her beauty is as diabolical as the pernicious flowers that adorn her home. The darkness poisoning his people originates from her cursed swamp and he’ll keep her close as he forces her to guide him through her treacherous waters. Once the curse is removed, he’ll rid the world of the dangerous creature.
Even if his twin soul whispers that the fearsome witch is his mate.
Content Note: The Inkwater Witch is a dark and steamy read recommended for readers 18+ due to violence, language, and sexual situations.
My Review
Fabulous fast-paced and emotional fantasy romance – 5 stars
This emotional enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance is the first book I have read by the author and I found it to be a fabulous read. The enemies-to -lovers trope is one of my favourite and it worked so well given the setting of this story, an enchanted swamp, home to Mardella, a solitary witch, reviled by all due to her reputation for evil.
The worldbuilding was excellent. I was very soon immersed in the dark beauty and menace of the swamp, its capricious magic and Mardella’s future after she is taken captive by Roric, a fae/wolf shifter and his team who are intent on compelling her to release the curse they believe she is responsible for inflicting upon their people.
The romance between Mardella and Roric is very much a slow burn, but when it combusts it does so with a passion! There is no love lost between them when they first meet and I vastly enjoyed the journey the couple went on as they navigate the mysteries of the swamp and their feelings for each other. The book features explicit love-making scenes, violence and descriptions of past trauma, so it is very much an adult read.
My heart ached for the injustices inflicted on Mardella in the past, which are slowly revealed as the plot progresses and I enjoyed her character development and that of Roric, who has his own issues, as they begin to respect and trust each other. They find they have much in common and despite being enemies, their futures are intertwined. The side characters and their own personalities and motivations are equally entertaining and I am looking forward to learning more about the world the author has created in future books in the series.
Recommended to lovers of fantasy romance.
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