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Ettaline: A Regency Romantasy Novel
Ettaline Lox is one of four orphan witches set to join the marriage market out of necessity (as Mother Vinettia would have it). In their world, their sole purpose is to forge ties with influential men who will affirm and support the covert governance of witches throughout Europe.
Etta’s desires as a green witch naturally lay in the blissful calm of the forest, the loamy air of the garden, or over a simmering cauldron of herbal remedy. She has no desire for a husband, yet her age, and Mother Vinettia’s bulbous hawk eye, send a different message. One that has her and her sisters shuttled off to a luxurious home in London, allowing them to fully and aggressively attend their first season.
On the night of their first outing, Ettaline is nearly hurled to the ground as she collides with a man of mysterious nature. He names himself as Lord Dimitri Nazari, and she finds herself stricken with a case of loathing for the man. Despite this, he positions himself in ways that make their arguments unavoidable.
Slowly but surely Etta and Dimitri’s secrets are unwoven, binding them closer in a way that is both dangerous and alluring.
Etta must navigate the hellish cruelty of her marital fate while also looking out for her sisters as they all face the truth of their roles as both woman and witch in a world of secrets, magic, and desire.
Note to
These four books are gaslamp fantasy romances that are set in the same world as Dark Flower Haunt, J.M. Stredwick’s standalone novel. They follow four orphan witches who bear four different types of magic and fall for wildly different men. Their world involves a unique magic system where only a handful of humans know of their powers, but witches and other manner of dark creatures exist, scheming and governing from the shadows. The setting is broadly in Europe during the regency period, but the author leaves room for fantasy locations. Readers should be aware that these books are spicier than Dark Flower Haunt.
Etta’s desires as a green witch naturally lay in the blissful calm of the forest, the loamy air of the garden, or over a simmering cauldron of herbal remedy. She has no desire for a husband, yet her age, and Mother Vinettia’s bulbous hawk eye, send a different message. One that has her and her sisters shuttled off to a luxurious home in London, allowing them to fully and aggressively attend their first season.
On the night of their first outing, Ettaline is nearly hurled to the ground as she collides with a man of mysterious nature. He names himself as Lord Dimitri Nazari, and she finds herself stricken with a case of loathing for the man. Despite this, he positions himself in ways that make their arguments unavoidable.
Slowly but surely Etta and Dimitri’s secrets are unwoven, binding them closer in a way that is both dangerous and alluring.
Etta must navigate the hellish cruelty of her marital fate while also looking out for her sisters as they all face the truth of their roles as both woman and witch in a world of secrets, magic, and desire.
Note to
These four books are gaslamp fantasy romances that are set in the same world as Dark Flower Haunt, J.M. Stredwick’s standalone novel. They follow four orphan witches who bear four different types of magic and fall for wildly different men. Their world involves a unique magic system where only a handful of humans know of their powers, but witches and other manner of dark creatures exist, scheming and governing from the shadows. The setting is broadly in Europe during the regency period, but the author leaves room for fantasy locations. Readers should be aware that these books are spicier than Dark Flower Haunt.
296 pages, Paperback
Published December 20, 2024
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 22, 2024
I absolutely loved this book!!! It had just the perfect amount of spice with an amazing plot.. a lot of books are more spice than plot, but not this one! I can not wait for the next story in the series!! #teamwitch
January 7, 2025
I'll read whatever J.M. Stredwick writes!
And I'll definitely recommend reading Ettaline!
Ettaline is set in the same world as Dark Flower Haunt (a standalone that takes place some years in the future from the timeline of Ettaline) and I'm so glad to be back! I read Dark Flower Haunt a year ago and the world has stayed with me all year as a friendly wisp in the back of my mind and I've been eagerly awaiting a new story from this world.
Ettaline is a bit like a witchy Bridgerton and if Ettaline would be a character from Bridgerton, I feel like she would be Eloise. A strong, independent woman who finds herself confined to the ways of society.
The story is a standalone from the primary view of Ettaline who is an orphaned witch living with her 3 sisters in a hut in the forest. Suddenly they are to be presented as debutantes in London as a way to keep them safe from this story's evil - Witch Hunters. While navigating a world where the girls are both prey to the men of society who seeks to wed them as well as Witch Hunters who seeks to catch them.
There's some spice in this book, *cough* *stairs* *cough* and an enemies to lovers kind of trope ;)
I give this 4.5/5 stars as it was such a good read, but there was a plot point where I felt the spice got in the way of the narrative and got a little flat, but otherwise it was a captivating read that I had hard a hard time putting down and therefore read 80% in one sitting.
I also loved how J.M. included the four types of magic as well as an appendix of what each magic type entails (even though I first thought to read this after finishing the book xD). It gives deep and nuanced descriptions and makes you visualize every little event whilst reading.
As Book 1 in The Wed Witches series is Ettaline's story, the 3 other books will each feature the remaining three sisters' stories and I'm excited to join the minds of Evangelina, Ansephria and Heilesh.
And I'll definitely recommend reading Ettaline!
Ettaline is set in the same world as Dark Flower Haunt (a standalone that takes place some years in the future from the timeline of Ettaline) and I'm so glad to be back! I read Dark Flower Haunt a year ago and the world has stayed with me all year as a friendly wisp in the back of my mind and I've been eagerly awaiting a new story from this world.
Ettaline is a bit like a witchy Bridgerton and if Ettaline would be a character from Bridgerton, I feel like she would be Eloise. A strong, independent woman who finds herself confined to the ways of society.
The story is a standalone from the primary view of Ettaline who is an orphaned witch living with her 3 sisters in a hut in the forest. Suddenly they are to be presented as debutantes in London as a way to keep them safe from this story's evil - Witch Hunters. While navigating a world where the girls are both prey to the men of society who seeks to wed them as well as Witch Hunters who seeks to catch them.
There's some spice in this book, *cough* *stairs* *cough* and an enemies to lovers kind of trope ;)
I give this 4.5/5 stars as it was such a good read, but there was a plot point where I felt the spice got in the way of the narrative and got a little flat, but otherwise it was a captivating read that I had hard a hard time putting down and therefore read 80% in one sitting.
I also loved how J.M. included the four types of magic as well as an appendix of what each magic type entails (even though I first thought to read this after finishing the book xD). It gives deep and nuanced descriptions and makes you visualize every little event whilst reading.
As Book 1 in The Wed Witches series is Ettaline's story, the 3 other books will each feature the remaining three sisters' stories and I'm excited to join the minds of Evangelina, Ansephria and Heilesh.
January 18, 2025
I liked the blurb, and I picked it up because it's a regency romantasy, and lately I've been loving the genre.
The writing style was simple and flowed smoothly. My favourite part of the book was the conflict between mortals and witches. The author had done a good job in crafting the power plays, secrets and deception. The magical abilities of the witches and their factions were also explained in detail.
Ettaline and Dimitri were on opposite sides and torn between their feelings for each other and their loyalties towards their people. While this was repeatedly mentioned throughout the book, I wanted to see more intensity in their emotions. The romance could have been more fleshed out, and the pain from having to choose could have been explored in detail.
The book hinted at Annasephria’s love interest, and I was more interested in that pairing. I'd like to read her book more than anything. I'm also looking forward to the answers about the sisters’ origins and how they tackle the issue with the witch hunters and coalitions.
Overall, the book was good and a quick read. Apart from the issue I had regarding the main characters’ emotions and chemistry, the rest was enjoyable. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy with witches, hunters, unique magical abilities and secrets. The book also had an appendix towards the end with details about the magic. I usually skip it but I read it this time because it was so interesting.
The writing style was simple and flowed smoothly. My favourite part of the book was the conflict between mortals and witches. The author had done a good job in crafting the power plays, secrets and deception. The magical abilities of the witches and their factions were also explained in detail.
Ettaline and Dimitri were on opposite sides and torn between their feelings for each other and their loyalties towards their people. While this was repeatedly mentioned throughout the book, I wanted to see more intensity in their emotions. The romance could have been more fleshed out, and the pain from having to choose could have been explored in detail.
The book hinted at Annasephria’s love interest, and I was more interested in that pairing. I'd like to read her book more than anything. I'm also looking forward to the answers about the sisters’ origins and how they tackle the issue with the witch hunters and coalitions.
Overall, the book was good and a quick read. Apart from the issue I had regarding the main characters’ emotions and chemistry, the rest was enjoyable. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy with witches, hunters, unique magical abilities and secrets. The book also had an appendix towards the end with details about the magic. I usually skip it but I read it this time because it was so interesting.
January 12, 2025
The story follows 4 orphan witches who have been raised in isolation and taught one primary goal, to be fit for marriage to willing mortal men so that the bloodline of magic does not die and they can be assimilated into society.
This story is specifically about the with Ettaline, who is hesitant and defiant against the path that has been laid before her. In her desire to go against expectations for her, she finds herself in an enemies to lovers romance with an unexpected figure. The world building is done well without being over explanatory. The romance is well build. There is a good amount of spice, but if feels natural to the story and is written in a way that i don't feel like rolling my eyes reading it. Think of a supernatural type Bridgeton story.
In all honesty, it is probably more a 4 for me, but this is a self published author who is pushing to, and deserves to, get her work out there amongst all the other titles. It is a well written book and worth attention
This story is specifically about the with Ettaline, who is hesitant and defiant against the path that has been laid before her. In her desire to go against expectations for her, she finds herself in an enemies to lovers romance with an unexpected figure. The world building is done well without being over explanatory. The romance is well build. There is a good amount of spice, but if feels natural to the story and is written in a way that i don't feel like rolling my eyes reading it. Think of a supernatural type Bridgeton story.
In all honesty, it is probably more a 4 for me, but this is a self published author who is pushing to, and deserves to, get her work out there amongst all the other titles. It is a well written book and worth attention
December 19, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It was both entertaining and suspenseful. Imagine trying to hide your a witch for fear of witch hunters finding you while at the same time being controlled by others and unknowingly falling for a witch hunter. Could it get any worse.?
January 12, 2025
Good book filled with superstition, whimsy, and the potential for love. Ettaline & Dimitri seem to be made for each other, if they can get past being mortal enemies.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews