Enchanted

While You Can #1

by Emilie Ocean

Enchanted While You Can invites you into a world untouched by colonisation, where the enchanting Reunion Island sets the stage for a high-stakes competition among three princes vying for the hand of Princess Juliette. Intended to forge alliances and bolster prosperity, the relationship between the protagonists takes an unforeseen turn as genuine affection blooms amidst the initial intentions of convenience, igniting a fierce rivalry between the suitors.

As Juliette's extraordinary abilities as a witch come to light, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of clairvoyance and communion with the departed. Trapped within the confines of the royal palace, she grapples with familial expectations and sacrifices for her homeland, while navigating the complexities of courtship and a soon-to-be marriage of convenience.

Secrets and hidden truths cast shadows over the blossoming romance, revealing the clandestine burdens of Prince Féidhlim, a fae prince with soaring abilities, and Prince Elmas, a vampire prince entangled in a complex web of emotions and loyalties. The clash of magical realms intertwines with political intrigue, as each nation asserts its distinct magical heritage.

From the mystical ambience of Reunion Island to Éire's ethereal landscapes, Enchanted While You Can weaves a tale of love, destiny, and unwavering pursuit of truth within a tapestry of enchantment and rivalry. With multilingual characters and a captivating blend of romance and supernatural intrigue, Emilie Ocean's spellbinding romantasy is a must-read for young adults and fantasy enthusiasts.

Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

405 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2024

About the author

Emilie Ocean is a fiction writer, ghostwriter, editor, and business owner hailing from Reunion Island.

She is armed with a BA degree in Literature and Languages from Blaise Pascal University, France, an MA degree in Literary Translation from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and a certificate in proofreading.

When writing, Ocean specialises in science-fiction, fantasy, and romance.

Her passion for languages is evident in her ability to fluently speak Reunionese, French, English, and Spanish, which she seamlessly incorporates into her novels.

Being a strong advocate of self-publishing, she recently opened an online bookstore (www.bookedandhooked.com) with author Luisa Perez to provide indie authors with a place to sell their books.

Ocean currently resides in Galway, Ireland, with her partner and furry companion.

Reviews

[Casey Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Arc Review)
So let me begin by saying there are so many things that made me really enjoy this book. So here's the main points without giving too much away from the book;

* The author added a playlist for reading.
* She has added a few pronunciation pages at the start to help with pronouncing the use of irish words.
* The Irish language is used within the book, which I loved because it's something you don't see much of.
* Different cultures and language backgrounds, too.
* Modern day twist on arranged marriage.
* It's fantasy, so I couldn't be happier with witches, faes, vampires, and werewolves as characters.
* LGBTQ friendly.
* Did I mention it's spicy?? Ye, there's some spice in there.
* Dual point of view (because I am a sicker for this in any book)
* Female main character stands up to her parents as she is forced to stay inside the castle grounds, but she wants to explore and learn about the world.
* Other problems are faced throughout the book, and it's not just about the arranged marriage.
* A cousin of the main character had me in stitches. (she made me lol so many times, and I think it made the book also)

If you're looking for something to add to your TBR, this is it. 💓

[Marian Pattechat · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to describe this book? We tend to put books into the confines of one genre/sub-genre or another, but for me Enchanted is so unique I personally cannot categorize it. There is royal intrigue, the treat of an arranged marriage with one out of three charming suitors, a princess on the path to discovering what true love is, all of that happening against the beautiful backdrop of modern Reunion Island (depicted so vividly I imagined myself swimming with the dolphins in its crystal-clear waters). But you also have vampires, werewolves, witches, and fae, each with their own kingdom and powers and secret agenda. There are ghosts too, and magic working alongside modern devices. All of that made for an unpredictable story that enchanted me ;) The character development, the pining, the spicy moments, the humor - I loved it all!

[NoSparkleStar · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautifully written romantasy, Enchanted: While You Can by Emilie Ocean weaves a tale of political intrigue, forbidden love, and magical tension.

Juliette’s journey—caught between duty, romance, and her own blossoming powers—had all the elements of a great romantasy. The side characters? Genuinely well-written. The tension? Definitely there. And the supernatural mix of fae, werewolves, vampires, and witches? Chef’s kiss for those who love that kind of thing.

While the book offers plenty of angst and intrigue, the author also balances it with humor, spice, and heartwarming moments.

But for me, it just didn’t click. Maybe it was the pacing or the heavier fantasy aspects, but I found myself losing interest. That said, I can see why others are loving it, and if you’re into romance-driven fantasy with political intrigue and angst, this might be your next favorite read.

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful romantasy book and I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters and the plot and the way it was written was just amazing
I can't wait to read the rest of the series

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of the second edition of Enchanted. I had so much fun reading this book and falling in love with these characters! Juliette is a princess being forced to marry and has to choose between three suitors. The love triangle between Juliette and her suitors was perfect, and I flipped back and forth a couple of times between which one was my favorite (something I almost never do). And the family drama/corruption… it made my heart hurt for these characters having to grow up in these households. I loved the themes of growing up, finding yourself, and not living for your parents’ expectations. I’m looking forward to book two and so excited for the HEA of the suitor who was left broken-hearted!

[Samantha Picaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review for Enchanted by Emilie Ocean
Star Rating: 4 stars

What I liked about this book:
• Modern world, which is refreshing when a fantasy doesn’t take place in a medieval-like world or in a world where the supernatural characters have to hide from humans
• main female character forced to stay in palace by her parents and wants to explore the world and learns to stand up to her parents
• Main characters had goals and issues besides marriage and falling in love
• Many cultures and languages; interesting to learn about the language and culture of Reunion, a place I admit I was not aware of before reading this book
• Interracial couples
• Sharks seen as protectors instead of a threat or a nuisance
• No “save the world” plot

I normally read YA but this novel is for adults, and contains spice.

[Christiane_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying how much I love that the author put her playlist at the beginning!
This is such a great Romantasy with vampires, fae, witches and werewolves. I was pulled in right off the bat. I loved the characters and the world building was fun. There’s a little bit of a love triangle and love how this one ended. I can’t wait to read book 2!

[Taylor Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longer review coming tomorrow but oh, my heart 🥹

*if you want to see a spoiler trope, scroll to the very bottom of this review*

•Rating: 5/5⭐️ (cream of the crop)
•Spice level: 2.5/5🌶️ (NA)
•Burn pace: 2/5🔥 (slow-med burn)
•HEA: yes! But there will be other books in this universe.
•Angst: 4.5/5
•TW: rf. to child abuse (one scene is on-page during a flashback), emotional neglect by parents, murder of a family member, forced marriage, brief rf to homophobia, necromancy, possession with consent
•Tropes: forced proximity, slow burn, love triangles, misunderstanding, arranged marriage
•Bonuses: racially, ethnically, and sexually diverse; dual POVs; great side characters: LOL-funny
•Read if you liked: My Contrary Mary & My Plain Jane, tender-hearted FMCs, City of Bones vibes, romance-driven stories

“The term ‘mate’ is overused, don’t you think? In ancient lore, someone’s mate was their soulmate, their one true love, the person they couldn’t live without. It was never about political power.” -Juliette, Enchanted (while you can)

For the last three years, Princess Juliette’s parents have been searching for a husband for a political match. Now that Juliette is 24, her absolute b!t¢h of a mother and wet-blanket of a father have limited her options to three choices: Prince Kai of the werewolves, Prince Elmas of the vampires, and Prince Féidhlim of the Fae.

What I liked:
•The arc with Oisín, which was done extraordinarily well.
•The pronunciation guide at the beginning and all of the art scattered throughout
•How much research and work you can tell the author put into this story
•The romantic tension. Usually I hate it bc it stresses me tf out but it was done very well.
•The side characters! They’ve got TRUE personalities and very much add to the plot. That’s a struggle I see in many books so I appreciated how awesome they were in this one!
•The pace & length of the book. This will be a perfect cozy read for stormy days.
•The mystery and ghost vibes!!! That was so cool! I loved when that started becoming a part of the story.

What I didn’t:
•For his age, Féidhlim came off immature at times.
•I do wish there was a little more plot at the beginning. It definitely gets more action-y in the last 1/2, but I wanted to know more about her witch powers. This is a PERSONAL OPINION that does NOT affect the rating or beauty of this book - only adding for those that want plot over romance. I still think you should read it tho 😉

I recommend this book for readers 17+ who enjoy a romance-driven plot, PLENTY of relationship angst, tender-hearted FMC’s, and ✨plenty✨ of plot twists!

~I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. And I’m an enneagram 8, so believe me, this is honest!~

Spoiler trope coming
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Seriously, stop reading if you don’t want it spoiled!!
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*secret child trope done EXTREMELY well. I usually hate this but I loved this here. Very necessary for the storyline. More info below.
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More spoilers
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The child is Féidhlim’s from 3 years prior with his best friend. They are no longer involved nor romantically interested in each other. Fé hasn’t seen his son - ever - due to his Father having banished them. We meet the boy at 50%.

[Emma Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanted: While You Can #1 – 2nd Edition.

Politics, romance and secrets collide, and unravel, in a whirlwind of emotion and miscommunication when Juliette is met by several suitors of her parents choosing. 

Things start off with our young, diverse cast meeting at the palace where Juliette and her brother Leo have been confined for the last ten years – for “their own protection” according to their parents.

Will Juliette have a chance at true love or will she be forced to “mate” with someone to keep their kingdom strong and allies happy, regardless of her heart? 

Witches, vamps, fae and more – this is a vast magical, paranormal world where royals have bigger problems than who they want to marry – like who they can really trust.

Strong willed parents will stop at nothing to achieve the outcomes they desire. 

Hold on tight as you traverse through this epic world with stunning scenery. 

Bilingual characters (with English translations) will keep your brain on its toes! I can't imagine the work Emilie put in to do this! 

Readers get a list of characters to root for, or against! 

Under a layer of softness and picturesque, joyful times, lies darkness, bitter intent and secrets kept far too long. 

Check out the 2nd edition of Enchanted and leap into a colourful, dazzling world where maybe, just maybe… someone can have a happily ever after, after all…?


*Contains open door spice.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

It’s been so long since I last could say that I managed to start and read a book in a day. Truthfully at first, I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel about this book. I was excited to read it after seeing Emilie’s blurbs for it when I first signed up for it. Never have I been a fan of the fantasy romance genre and I can say Wow Emilie, I am now a very huge fan. I enjoyed this book so much, to see a strong FMC and see her discover more of herself as each chapter went on. Seeing her relationship with Fé blossom, the buildup of their relationship had me kicking my legs in excitement. To finish this book in a day, I was so impressed by Emilie’s take on bringing the fantasy to a modern world setting making it easier to relate to but also provide a fresh take. I honestly recommend this book to any reader who is a fan of fantasy romance, enjoys LGBTQ representation, spicy writing and povs from both MCs. I’m excited for the next book in this series and will probably be one of the firsts to grab a copy once it releases. Thank you Emilie for letting me read this! I appreciate the opportunity!

[Victoria Liiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanted is a one of a kind romantasy story set in an intricate world that Emilie Ocean is building piece by piece as she continues the series of While You Can. Her characters are relatable and loveable, all with their own faults and struggles. There were moments when Feidhlim was slightly off-putting for me, but I always kept on rooting for him regardless.
There are a lot of conversations that take place in foreign language, with translations, that took me a bit out of the story. It was very originally done, however, so I've got to apploud Emilie for that.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enchanted was a sweet and whimsical story of a princess trying to forge her own path while struggling with the prospects of her arranged marriage. A marriage that starts with a high-stakes competition among three princes vying for her hand. Juliette must learn to navigate the secrets and paths of high society while looking for (possibly) her one true love.

I loved the premise of the story, but I just had a harder time connecting with the characters. Still, I did find it enjoyable and would recommend it for a nice read to lighten up your day.

[Mensch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The spice was more ewww than ooh for me unfortunately. The story lacked depth and it was hard to get invested in the arc of the characters as they were pretty one dimensional. I lost it when the princess was only able to enjoy the sex once she realised that the prince was enjoying it. It's an odd message to be putting out into the world.

[Blogger6Fowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The side characters stole the show in this one. I loved it 🥰
You know? I had to contain myself to not scream when I read my country being mentioned more than once.

No romantasy book by an international author that I’ve ever read was set here, so I’m very happy Emilie decided to be risky and do it.
I can’t wait for book 2 ❤️

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanted is book one in the While You Can series by Emilie Ocean, and I can’t wait to see what happens next! I didn’t quite know what to expect going into this one, but the set up for the sequel has me counting down the days until the next release!

Enchanted follows Juliette, Princess of Reunion Island whose royal parents have organized suitors for her impending marriage. Vampires, werewolves, witches, and fae make up the political powers of the world and make alliances through marriage.

Romance and friendships build between Juliette and her suitors, and after being trapped in the palace for more than a decade she’s eager to meet new people.

Things really take off in the second arc of the novel, when our male love interest’s secret past is revealed and Juliette uncovers a sinister plot within her own family.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a group of magical royals, with charming suitors all seeking the hand of a relatable princess

[ericas_bookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, let me start by saying I don't generally read fantasy books, but the blurb for Enchanted intrigued me & I'm so glad I read it.

I really enjoyed this modern take on fantasy, loving seeing a Fae Prince using a laptop and paying with his phone, the Witch Princess hungover after drinking too many Sex on the Beaches the night before and even an LGBT arc.

This was a fabulous mix of life in the sunny tropical Reunion Island and the very different Éire & the author did an amazing job of setting the scenes by including both native languages within the story which was so beautiful to see in print, she also included a wonderful pronunciation guide at the start of the book.

The characters were a brilliant mix of individuals, witches, vampires, werewolves, and Faes who all have their own strong personality, some were likeable and some awful. I loved the little mirco relationships/friendships that emerged through the story and how all the characters changed and came into themselves. I particularly loved Princess Juliette's cousin, who was hilarious & her antics added some great humour to the book.

You can really tell that the author put so much work and research into this book, especially around the locations, culture, and languages. This was a really enjoyable book with so much to offer, I already can't wait for book two.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of Enchanted, all thoughts are my own.

[Charmaine Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!! I absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down. It has everything I love in a Romantasy book. Fae, werewolves, vampires, witches, strangers to lovers, arranged/forced marriage, Slow burn, love triangle….. the list is endless.

The tension between the three parties involved in the love triangle had me chewing my fingernails…. There was one person in particular that I wanted Jules to end up with and for a minute it wasn’t looking great…..BUT!!! 🥰 (I am not giving away any spoilers 😜)

BUT those side characters… It rare to read a book where they actually add something to the story and it’s save to say that they all did in this book. I adored Jules brother Leo and a certain cousin who may or may not be dead 👻


And the we have Féidhlim’s mam and ho couldn’t resist with the match making 🥰 (what did she say to Jules?! I need to know!!!)

Ok but seriously, I loved it and the ending had my poor romantic heart swooning… I cannot wait for book two where I hope a certain Vamp gets his HEA ❤️

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is a princess who has three princes who want her hand in marriage. Each prince is different and they will try to win her over. She will try to see which one she will want. Who will she pick? How will she pick? How will it all go? See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Sarah Putrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The term ‘mate’ is overused, don’t you think? In ancient lore, someone’s mate was their soulmate, their one true love, the person they couldn’t live without. It was never about political power.” -Juliette

In the story Princess Juliette is set up by her parents into a political marriage with three possible suitors. While they get to know each other Juliette and Féidhlim truly do fall for each other. I was routing for them from the beginning. You could feel the connection leap from the pages. Elmas on the other hand I could gladly toss him for his behavior throughout.

I found the story really unique and intriguing. Modern vs old world mixed in with fantasy and different fantasy beings like fae, witches, ghosts, vampires and werewolves. I liked the positive representations of different cultures as well as sexual relationships. I felt like everything wove together very nicely.

Overall fantastic read with a wonderful ending plus a twist hint of book two. Look forward to reading the next one!

[Nikita Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanted: While You Can is a fabulous fantasy book in a world of witches, werewolves, vampires and elves. It takes place across a number of destinations in Reunion Island and Éire.

It has the most gorgeous mix of Reunionese and Irish - paying homage to both cultures. It is so genuinely delightful to see so much Gaeilge in a modern, immersive fantasy novel. I've never see the language used like this before and (as an aspiring gaelgor) it is breathtaking.

Without spoiling anything I can easily say my jaw was on the floor MULTIPLE times - Emilie knows her way around a plot twist! I fell in love with all the characters (some too much) and loved their arcs and stories. I need her to write the next one NOW.

Don't miss out on this truly amazing read. I wish emilie nothing but the most happiness and success with While You Can. Ádh mór ort.

[Ash_reads24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanted


Romantasy ✅
Witches, Fae, Vamps & ghosts ✅
Dual POV ✅
Spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
Forced proximity ✅
Marriage of convenience ✅
Plot twist ✅

Playlist and pronunciation guide ✅

Stunning cover and a floppy book woohoo 🤩

What can I say the trope list goes on! This book ticked all the boxes for me! What a romantasy at its finest! Sat on a magical reunion island Juliette navigates a high stake competition with a range of suitors. What a really well crafted cast of characters and a world with such great detail. All I can say is wow it was such a magical ride with some really great funny moments too especially from Juliette’s cousin she was fab! The ending has me wanting book 2 right now….

Ready to binge all Emilie’s books right now!! Roll on book 2!!!!!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Enchanted,” by Emilie Ocean

This fantasy romance was book. There was vampires, Fae, werewolves, and witches which I liked. I liked the marriage selection scenario, and I liked the characters and the spice. I did not like the second language aspect of the book, it got old super-fast. They aren’t speaking English I get it; I didn’t need them to continue highlighting that they aren’t speaking in English. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Vampires
-Werewolves
-Fae
-Witch
-Multi POV
-Marriage Selection
-Royalty

Thank you for the free copy, Hiddengems.

[Brittany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book, I did not think I would get as attached as I did to the characters, but in a matter of time, I was! I loved every one of them, especially Fe. He had me from the beginning, and they way he treated Jules, like she was the only person in the world for him, was just amazing. I loved the drama, the relationships that were built, the tensions! It was an absolutely amazing book, and I can't thank her enough for letting me arc read her books and be engrossed in the characters' lives. THANK YOU SO MUCH 5 🌟 READ ALL THE WAY!
10/10 Would recommend to anyone!

[Pà · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. From page one, I was hooked. The mix of werewolves, fae, vampires, and witches was chaotic in the best way, and Juliette is a main character I genuinely cared about. She’s royal, sure, but she’s also real. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles but this was SO GOOD. I was fully stressed about who she’d choose. The tension was everything. Plus, the side characters actually felt important. I also really loved how the book blended cultures, the languages, the history, it made the world feel richer. I need book two yesterday.

[Melissa Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantacy

I have never been a fantasy girl usually learning the world and the cultures and creatures take the fun out of the story for me. That being said I have avoided romanticies until now.

Enchanted was soluch a wonderful story that did not overcomplicate the world around them. A perfect look to introduce you to the world were romance meets Fantasy because who wouldn't want to marry an elfin king with the body of a God, heart of gold, and that can fly.

[Alyssa Biggerstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good, i couldn’t put it down! I love how beautifully written it was, the plot thickens and I can’t wait for the next book!

[Magnafeana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Update: I received an email from HiddenGems and the author on how to specifically do my reviews, what contents to put into them, and encouragement of what I should do as a a reader. Specifically, I am not allowed to use black or white for the FMC who is dark skinned or black per the cover and the MMC who is pale skin or white per the cover. On that note, I have knocked my rating down and will be rethinking the ARC sites I use in the future if HiddenGems repeats this.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book by HiddenGems for an honest review. All my thoughts and opinions are my own, even though I was contacted vis email to adjust my language and to DNF.

Found On: HiddenGems
Available On: KU, Libby
Audio: N
Genre(s): fantasy romance, adventure fantasy, urban fantasy-adjacent paranormal fantasy
Demographic: NA
Page Count: 311 pages
Tropes: virgin FMC, fantasy species, magic and technology in modern age, “female”/“male”, arranged marriage options, fight for her hand
POV: multiple (dual + epilogue in non-MC POV)
Reproduction: N
Third Act Conflict: External
Intimacy: sexual w/penetration (graphic – moderate)
Standalone: Y (for now)
Connected to Other Works: TBD
Personal Rating: 2.5 ⭐️

I wish I had more to say about this book, but this just wasn’t for me. By 20%, I was skimming. The inserts, the use of exclamation marks, the lack of romance between Juliette and Feidhlim, and the weirdness of El and Juliette’s friendship.

WHAT WOULD HAVE INCREASED MY RATING:

Revaluating Elmas.

I enjoy “Peacocking”, spoiled boys, but Elmas lost interest with his weird friendship with Juliette and Juliette just accepting him using blackmail and crap. The blackmail was just…contrived. He really was never 2ML material to begin with. Making him a friend of Juliette point-blank would have been a nice addition.

Conlags.

The “[foreign dialogue here]” (translations here) wasn’t necessary. If they’re speaking the foreign language, it would have been less clunky to simply write what they say in English and use dialogue tags to declare they’re speaking another language.

Juliette and Fiedhlim

I was here for a Black competent FMC and a Draco-esque MMC, but what I was an FMC I didn’t have any feelings for and a pathetic MMC. Granted, I skimmed, but I would have bumped up my rating if they’d been dressed up a bit in their personalities. I didn’t cheer for them as individuals, and I certainly didn’t cheer for them as a couple. Maybe having them as an arranged couple with Juliette disliking him, and the MMC a simp for her would have caught my eye with the tension, especially with the MMC accidentally proving her right about him in having private meetings with her father. I just…need more. I needed more compelling reasons why I should enjoy them independently and together. And, in the entirety of the book, Juliette never laid down roots for her to be internally consistent to me, Feidhlim was just…pathetic for no real reason.

OVERALL

This was a 2.5 ⭐️ star read for me. I read it. I’m bummed that a BW/WM fantasy romance went wayside for me again. I want more BW/WM romance.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enchanted 2nd edition ARC by Emilie Ocean
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶

I want to start by saying although the blurb says its a must read for young adults it does have on page sexual scenes so please keep that in mind when allowing your teen to read it. I loved the idea of the story. I loved the different characters and different paranormal/fantasy characters. You had witches, vampires, werewolf and fae. I don't remember if there are other paranormal species but these were the main ones as well as humans. I loved that this took place in our world but with a fantasy mix. An urban fantasy. Now I felt like a lot happened in the book and it happened really fast. I'm going to break it down. First it felt like it started really slowly. I had a little trouble getting into it but I don't mind working up to stuff. The way passage of time was explained kept changing. So 7 moons=7 days 1 moon cycle=1 month. I was confused at first as to what a moon meant in the terms of time but I was kinda able to use what happens to guess what would have made sense. The back and forth between moons and days, and moon cycles and months just felt inconsistent almost as if the author would forget that they wanted to use moons and moon cycles to show the passing of time. The beginning of the book time passed in days a week at most. You then get to about the middle of the book and now we are jumping weeks and months almost every chapter. During this time you don't really get more than 2 or 3 chapters in Jules povs just before the time skipping. The rest of the time it was in Féidhlim's pov. And then when we get closer to the end and it goes back to being a couple days. The middle honestly felt like we have to put in this information so we can do the ending so let's just skip time and add the bits of information we need. Also the big exciting thing about finding out who killed Amrah but it never got resolved and besides one mention closer to the end it wasn't brought up again. I would have enjoyed it more if we had more stuff happening in the middle of the story and more about what was happening with Jules during this time. If this had been a longer book or even 2 books there would have been more time to work the middle and allow more connection with the characters. I might read the other books in the series later on but as of right now I'm not going to.

[Letty Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

While scrolling through threads, I came across a post from Emilie looking for ARC readers for her book, Enchanted. This is a second edition of the book and as soon as I saw Ghost Whisperer vibes in the tropes, I signed up! The second edition will be available September 14th.

Enchanted is a romantasy that follows Juliette, the Princess of Reunion Island. Juliette is a witch and her parents are forcing her to choose a mate. Three Princes come to the Chateau vying for her hand: Prince Elmas, a Vampire from Lithuania, Prince Kai, a werewolf and Prince Féidhlim of Éire. Juliette and Féidhlim are drawn to each other but there are secrets and hidden truths casting shadows over them both. With Elmas trying desperately to get Juliette’s attention, even going as far as to blackmail Féidhlim. Who will she end up choosing?

Tropes
✍🏼Ghost Whisperer Vibes
✍🏼Fae x Witch
✍🏼 Royal Intrigue
✍🏼Arranged Marriage
✍🏼Ireland x Reunion Island
✍🏼BIPOC Rep
✍🏼Queer Rep
✍🏼Spice
✍🏼HEA

I dare to look up, my gaze snapping straight to hers…and she is breathtaking.

I enjoyed reading this; it was easy to read without being simplistic. The chapters are short, which I love; I detest long chapters. I liked that it was fantasy without being heavy. There was no big world-building or any parts that left you sitting there confused as to what was happening for a few chapters.
The magic was fairly simple, common magic you would expect from a witch, a fae, a vampire and a werewolf. Simple but still fantastic.
The book is centred mostly around the romance, which I liked. There is also some element of whodunnit concerning a dead relative, along with action dealing with an angry ghost. I thought the book was written well, and I liked all the characters.
As the book is set in Ireland and Reunion Island, there are a lot of non-English words used, but the translations are always right next to them. There is also a glossary at the beginning, which helps you to pronounce names correctly. All in all, I enjoyed reading this and would read this author again.

Gods, every time I lay my eyes on this female, I find her more breathtaking

Thank you Emilie Ocean for the ARC

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was decent, but not what I expected.

I was very excited about the premise of this book - a competition between 3 princes for the hand of the princess while the princess grows her magical abilities.

I loved the context - the multiple languages used, the world setting and history of the palace and island. It felt complex yet was clearly understandable and revealed a lot of the intricacies and hidden motivations that could influence decisions.

I think Juliette was a fun FMC who felt very teen rebellion and I enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of the plot that I wanted out of this book.
The premise is around a competition between the three princes, and we don’t get any actual competitions. We barely meet one of them, one we get a barely surface level understanding of, and one we learn quite a bit more about and has hidden secrets, but it just doesn’t feel like a competition.

There is a murdered cousin who is a ghost who shows up quite often throughout the book, and her murderer is speculated to be family, but there isn’t really any tension or searching for an answer. They accidentally stumble upon who it was but we get no real resolution from it, and it feels just tossed in rather than an actual plot point.

The book is also marked as YA, which I disagree with. There was a lot of on the page smut, and while I don’t mind that, I would not consider that YA and it was not what I expected going into this book.

Overall, if you’re looking for a lighthearted save the princess smutty book where they happily explore an island together and fall in love and save a kingdom and live happily ever after, you’ll enjoy this. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.