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The Bewitching Hour

Bewitched by the Wicked Witch

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As a child, they called me a wicked witch, all because my magic appears as dark shadows.

I tried to be good, but nothing changed their minds. Then my college boyfriend Callum Renshaw broke my heart, and I decided being wicked wasn’t so bad after all.

Now Callum’s back, investigating the disappearances of half-shifter witches, and everyone’s pointing fingers at me. But he isn’t just trying to prove my innocence, he’s trying to win my heart again. The problem? He loved the good little witch I used to be, and now I embrace the wicked.

Despite Cosmo, my truth-spilling familiar, and my desire for life to stay the same, Callum’s confession shakes me. He left to save my life and never stopped loving me. Maybe cursing him wasn’t my best idea, because deep down, I still love him too.

Despite Cosmo, my truth-spilling familiar, and my desire for life to stay the same, Callum’s confession shakes me. He left to save my life and never stopped loving me. Maybe cursing him wasn’t my best idea, because deep down, I still love him too.

But it might be too late. The town’s ready to pin a murder on me, and if Callum and I don’t work together to solve it, I’ll burn on a pyre.

Life’s a witch, might as well be wicked.


*Please note that the author accidentally sent out the beta version (thank you ADHD brain, you did it again) of the story to a batch of ARC readers and it has since been updated to the finalized fully edited version.*

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2025

11 people are currently reading
102 people want to read

About the author

Riley Hunt

13 books59 followers
Riley Hunt is the pen name of Trish Beninato. She writes both adult and young adult fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal with a little romance and strong female leads that kick ass all on their own. She lives in Maryland currently, but who knows where she will end up next, even she doesn’t know. She holds a master’s in Education with an emphasis on Reading Literacy, but instead writes the literature she once sought to teach. She is a wine and coffee enthusiast who overindulges way too much. A proud nerd to the core, you’ll find Star Wars and Marvel characters littering the shelves of her office; which she uses influence from as she writes her stories

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Leigh Brooker.
225 reviews2 followers
October 31, 2025
Oh my, how I loved this one. It was nothing like what I was expecting but damn if it didn't give me what I wanted. A second chance romance (yes please) a totally misunderstood main character (thank you very much) and more than a few curveballs to keep me on my toes. I honestly couldn't get enough of this story, as on more than one occasion I could feel both characters pain, regret and having to live with their life choices. The humour and snark perfectly balances the more heartfelt moments making this another perfect read in my book. And after reading this, I'll definitely be checking out more by this author.....

They taunted me as a child, calling me evil because my magic was different. They wouldn't change their minds, even when I tried to be good, and when the person I loved most broke my heart, I decided being wicked wasn't so bad after all.

I absolutely adored Sage who is pegged as 'wicked' from a child just because her magic is different. The bullying and preconceived notions that she is evil really struck a chord with me (as well as making me angry at times) because of narrow minded people who do not want to understand her. I especially loved the fact that Sage lent into the caricature of the label she'd been given by nearly everyone who knew her, while knowing underneath she really does have a heart of gold. I literally cackled with glee every time she menaced those around her, as you could see she is a witty badass who is playing the game and mostly winning. Of course when girls start to go missing and the finger is pointed her way, Sage is determined to find the real culprit. It's not plain sailing either, when her ex turns up to help investigate what's going on, a man she still has feelings for and one she hexed (I damn near choked with the curse she put on him) and has to find a way to work with him. I literally couldn't have related more to Sage and loved everything about her.

Oh how my heart went out to Callum, forced by the council to give up the woman he loves to save her, he spends years missing the woman he knows is anything but evil. So when he's asked to go and investigate missing girls in the village where Sage lives he's more than willing to accept. He knows he hurt her and his arrival will not be welcome but he does it anyway. But what really made me love him was the fact he owned the mistakes he made, showing a maturity of how much he had learned making him a better man for it. Yep he really couldn't of made me fall for him more for this alone .

Every book in this series brings something different to the table while giving me an enjoyable experience of emotions I can identify with. This one made me laugh, cry and get angry all rolled into one. If you're looking for a wicked witch with heart, a warlock who sometimes needs saving too along with cozy fuzzy vibes this is for you. Totally recommend 😁
Profile Image for PleaseGoAwayImReading.
441 reviews26 followers
September 6, 2025
For a book with a cartoon cover this went to some dark places (bullying, ostracism, kidnapping, torture, magical supremacy), and the story is better for it.

Yes, the story is pleasantly frothy; our FMC, Sage, is a witch descended from a powerful bloodline of dark magic practitioners. While she has never given an inkling of being evil, she has been bullied relentlessly since she was a child for being different. Callum, the MMC, is the warlock who has been in love with Sage since college. An unfortunate intervention from the local magical council forces a separation between the two, resulting in broken hearts.

I really felt Sage’s pain when Callum called off their relationship. Besides her Gran, Callum was the one person who had her back and with whom she could be herself. To have that ripped away is something that could destroy a person, turning them bitter or depressed or worse. I admired Sage’s strength and determination to make a life for herself in a place where almost everyone alternates between fearing and despising her.

I thought the conflict/conspiracy plot line was creative and kept things interesting. The darkness associated with this part of the story (as referred to in my opening statement) feels even more dark because so much of it parallels real life. As an allegory to racism and ethnic prejudice, demonstrating how far some people will go for their misguided beliefs is scary, and made this part of the story that much more powerful.

Overall this was enjoyable to read as it was a combination of romance with a dash of spice , politics, family -and found family- magic, lovers to “enemies” to lovers, as well as a detective mystery.
Profile Image for Tashie_LeeReads.
500 reviews40 followers
September 11, 2025
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spicy content 🌶🌶🌶/5

I just want to say thank you to Riley for the ARC and my thoughts are honest and my own!

This book swept me away from the first chapter! The world-building in this story is rich, atmospheric, and layered and every detail felt thought out :) from the family lore to the hidden secrets to the romance. Riley crafted a world that felt immersive and dangerous, yet enchanting at the same time.

What truly hooked me, though, was the central mystery. The disappearance of multiple young women weaves a haunting tension throughout the book, which kept me guessing who could be behind it all. The suspense is beautifully balanced with moments of magic and heart, making the unraveling of secrets all the more satisfying.

On top of that, the romance is an absolute light of this book. It’s the kind of slow burn that makes you savor every look, every touch, every unspoken word between the characters. Their journey toward love feels natural and earned, and when it blossoms, it’s so sweet and tender. Honestly, who doesn’t love true love when it’s written this well?

Overall, this book is a spellbinding blend of mystery, magic, and romance, and is a must read :)
Profile Image for d_uhreads .
260 reviews
September 4, 2025
"Forgive me if updating you on your restored sexual function wasn't my top priority while teenage girls were being magically drained like juice boxes."

The way I chuckled all the way through this.

Sage, our resident wicked witch, had some zingers, and she was not afraid to throw them out there.

I have always loved a good murder mystery/ who-done-it and pairing that with paranormal elements and a witty FMC, I was hooked from the dedication.

We are thrusted right into the middle of the case, and it was exactly what I needed to jump the fall season. This felt high stakes, but with a cozy flare (sips PSL).

I love that this was not your typical black cat/golden retriever type trope. I loved that the MMC has and will always be a little smitten kitten. I honestly would love a book solely and how these two met.

I practically read this in one sitting and loved every second of it.

Now, can someone direct me to how to hex my ex's junk ?!
Profile Image for Beba Andric.
1,580 reviews110 followers
September 2, 2025
I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cringe reading the prologue. I started off laughing (wild magic did something hilarious) and then I cringed at the bullying directed at Sage, not cool! As a witch of "mixed blood" she is ostracised and feared by her town, convinced she is evil. But she's not. She just has different magic to the rest, awesome magic I might add but she's painted black as a dark witch. No amount of pleading, no amount of trying to convince them, has them thinking any different. Even years later, while at college and crazy in love, the true evil people, the Council, meddle. My heart broke for her, Ms Hunt's depiction of her pain was like a hot poker setting my blood alight. Then the loss of Callum compounds her pain...and Sage builds an impregnable wall around her, sealing in her hurt and allowing only the disdain to show outwardly. Now when girls of mixed blood start to go missing, the blame by the entire town, is cast directly at Sage.

Callum, oh gosh, poor Callum, manipulated by the Council, he has no choice but to agree. Breaking both his heart and Sage's. Ms Hunt showed their pain through the dual POV, which I always love. But here's an example of how this author throws the unexpected, and humorous, in... forlorn, devastated Sage, put a hex on Callum when he ended it...I had to snort laugh at WHAT she did! So perhaps I should have said, poor POOR Callum upfront. A twist of fate put them together once more, partnering up to solve the mystery of the missing girls and boy was their meeting volatile! Mostly from Sage, but heck, he WAS the one who shattered her life! I love his very appropriate description of Sage, "Beautiful, brilliant and impossibly powerful. She was a recipe for disaster" His disaster, his hearts disaster...

There's plenty of bias aimed towards Sage, but the prejudice runs so deep in all the town folk nothing Sage can do or say can make them see reason. Especially when the entire Council conspires against her, spreading the lies. Grrrr...I don't know who I loathed more, the Bishop's or Chloe! Vile, awful people! Ms Hunt keeps the drama going full force with the hatred spewed at Sage, hinting at a major corruption at the very heart of the Council. She contorts it so well, I had many suspects! And then the unthinkable happens... Just as I thought it was all nicely tied up, the perpetrators apprehended, a victory for Callum and Sage, geez, Ms Hunt threw such a curve ball it hit me square in my guts! What a cool twist! I loved the characters in this book, all were established and well rounded but hehehe, I think Cosmos was my favourite. I love the attitude and snark of Cosmos, he's the coolest sidekick cat!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There were a few tiny inconsistencies but it in no way detracted from me joy and feel good the entire time I was reading it. Ms Hunt got all my juices flowing, kept me on my toes, and heck, those final few chapters, soooooo dramatic! And the ending was simply sublime! This was adorable, and sweet, and funny, and easy and just an ultra cool read!
85 reviews
September 9, 2025
This book hits on some hard topics and feelings, some to include: bully1ng, k1dnapp1ng, forced breakup, and more. Sage our FMC has been looked down on and bull1ed her whole life as she is a powerful witch from a dark magic bloodline. The whole town assumes her evil due to her magic from the start no matter what she does to prove them wrong. Her grandmother and boyfriend Callum are the only ones to truly see her. Until the day Callum breaks up with her without reason and disappears. 4 years later as mixed blood girls are disappearing from her town and she is blamed, Sage sees Callum again. He is the one sent to investigate the disappearances and personally stop the town from blaming Sage. Callum never stopped loving her but had to make a hard choice to save her, though she doesn't know that.
What follows is a tale that includes taking down high up community members, going against the major bull1es, saving some girls, and a second chance. Callum never wavered from Sage and knew one day he'd find a way to make it back to her and try to explain. Unfortunately, Callum leaving Sage 4 years ago made her stop fighting the town calling her wicked and she embraced what they call her...but can she find who she was and combine that with who she wants to be?
I love the messages in this story. I wasn't sure what to expect as I haven't read Riley Hunt before, but I loved that Sage took on a more sarcastic mischievous personality, not an evil one. Her jokes and dry sense of humor match my own. Cosmo? Don't get me started on the best familiar anyone could have. Riley wrote this so well as a sassy cat because I swear that cat has the same thoughts my own do. Callum was written as a young man desperately in love who thought he was doing the right thing as adults in power told him to do. Haven't we all made mistakes when young? These characters were so easy to understand and empathize with...minus the baddies who Riley wrote so well even I wanted to cast a bad spell on them.
Some tropes:
2nd Chance
Magic
Sleuthing
Animal familiar
Underground lair
Profile Image for Lindsey Adams.
1,110 reviews22 followers
September 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

As with all previous books in the Bewitching Hour series, Riley Hunt has written a book that gives readers cozy vibes, with darker elements, romance that can’t be ignored, and in this book a second chance that’s been cursed. Bewitched by the Wicked Witch was a truly enjoyable read that held my attention. Wonderfully paced, perfectly imagined, and vividly written, our MCs will make you laugh, tear up, and squeal with joy. I also love a good second chance romance where the love never stopped.

Sage has never cared about being descended from a bloodline of powerful and dark magic. Although she was bullied relentlessly as a child, she never gave in to what people thought of her. However, when her warlock boyfriend breaks her heart, she thinks giving into the wicked that everyone expects from her may be just the thing to do and allow her heart to heal. I understood the wall she put up and the way she kept herself from being hurt again.

Callum never wanted to break Sage’s heart, but he didn’t have a choice. When he returns, investigating missing magical shifters, the town is ready to blame the woman who still holds his heart. Having a job to do, he is determined to keep Sage’s name clear and win her heart back. Sage isn’t quick to forgive though and a curse from years ago may prove to be too powerful to break.
As our two MCs find their ways back to one another, there is a mystery surrounding them that they need each other to solve. I truly did enjoy every minute I spent reading this story and loved its addition to the collaborative collection.

It isn’t hard to miss the parallels from this book and what is happening in real life. Riley has done an amazing job of bringing light to dark situations that are happening all around us today. Granted this book has a HEA, it provides hope that change can happen.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🌙Wednesday Vibes
🔎Unaliving Mystery
🌙Golden Retriever MMC
🔎Second Chance Romance
🌙Morally Grey FMC
🔎Comedic Curses
Profile Image for Hannah.
865 reviews7 followers
September 23, 2025
A story about prejudices and bigotry mixed with witches and mystery disappearances - it’s Bewitched by the Wicked Witch.

Sage is a witch - but not just any witch. She can use dark magic, making her an easy target for fear and hatred. She tries hard to disprove prejudices, but after her long term boyfriend Callum dumps her, she decides to lean into expectations.

Now her town is in crisis, as young girls are going missing. Callum, a powerful warlock, arrives to investigate and they must work together to unravel the mystery.

Starting with possibly the most heartbreaking prologue and first chapter I’ve read in a while, this book has some big emotions to process.
Sage is a victim of discrimination and bigotry.
The town casts judgement on a convenient scape goat, showing just how easy it is for a crowd to be whipped into a frenzy based on lies.

The characters were fun to get to know - from the exceedingly sassy familiar Cosmo the Maine Coon to the very opinionated (if silent) grimoire, they were all larger than life. I found myself appreciating the different approach to “I’m breaking your heart to save you” storyline - we knew Callum’s intentions from the beginning, and quite frankly I think his choice was justified.

The humour in this story is bone dry, with sharp, frequent sarcastic banter between most characters. The story is a slow burn, open door romance, with a couple of scenes at the end of the book…because, amazingly, they actually focus on the crisis they’re supposed to solve for a change.

Thematically - the bigotry and prejudice, focusing on restoring “purity” by eliminating mixed heritage witches, is a not-so-thinly veiled reference to racial discrimination and white supremacy. Targeting the “different” individual because of fear is a major theme.

I did find some aspects of the book repetitive, and there were a few inconsistencies. But for me, these minor issues were far outweighed by the positives, and I would have no hesitations recommending this book to fans to PNR rom coms.
Profile Image for Christina.
5 reviews
September 8, 2025
ARC Review:

This story had so much more depth than I was anticipating. Or maybe I read farther than the author intended, but I definitely saw connections between Old Hollow's corrupt High Council and wanting to achieve greatness in the name of "pure bloodlines" and by devaluing diversity with issues we are facing in today's world. I was not expecting that, and whether that was the intent or not, it certainly made me appreciate the work by Riley Hunt even more!

I was rooting for Sage and Callum to rise up and face-off against the injustices being done to the half-shifter witches. This book was not only a romantasy, but a story of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and acceptance vs. rejection. And it kept me pulled in to see how and if triumph would prevail.

Only reason I gave this book 3 stars (really 3.5, but GR won't accept half), is that I noticed some plot holes that had me going back to previous pages to see if I had missed something. At times, the story read like it may have been the 2nd or 3rd installment in a series as opposed to a standalone, but the missing pieces were minor, that it didn't impact the story itself, rather nuances I picked up on. I was also missing some world-building that really would have helped me better understand the town that is Old Hollow and the lives of its inhabitants.

That being said, I would love to see a follow-up story about Sage and Callum and their continued partnership to solve crimes and fight injustices!

If you love romantasies with a bit of spice (the spice scenes definitely get a little hot), and love thrillers because you get vested to figure out, "who dunnit", then please pick up this book! And a little bit of advice, if you love coffee, reading about the town's coffee shop, Hexes and Brews, will definitely have you running to your coffeemaker or driving to your nearest coffeehouse, cause she had me craving a cup every time!!
Profile Image for Maaren.
1,461 reviews10 followers
September 1, 2025
I received an eARC from the author, thank you. I am leaving a voluntary review.

**

3.5 stars, rounded down for the app.

The story of Bewitched by the Wicked Witch follows Sage, a resident of Old Hollows and the scapegoat of the town. She is an evil witch after all. So when girls start to go missing, she is the only suspect anyone sees and the townspeople don't hesitate to make that known to the High Council investigator, Callum.

But Callum and Sage have plenty of romantic history and he's not fooled by the accusations. He still loves Sage, even after five years and knows she's one of the good ones. But how to prove it to the town while making sure Sage knows that he made a mistake all those years ago when they broke up and he wants her back?

The story is fun, quirky and fast-paced. The mystery in the story feels a little like Criminal Minds or CSI (though not as intense) and I enjoyed it and the ending to the case was worth it. The romance is cute, if a little shallow in places. I needed more groveling and more romantical intercation between the main couple to really seel the emotional side, which didn't happen for me. There's also some minor pacing issues and I had to go back a few times to check what I had missed or if something had happened off-page. But I liked how Sage carried herself and she seems like a proper BAMF and I feel she is a good match for Callum, who clearly is head over heels in love.

The series as a whole continues to be a fun time and I'm happy to keep reading it.
Profile Image for Liz's Library .
32 reviews
November 10, 2025
Bewitched by the Wicked Witch

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️stars

Thank you so much Riley for this ARC!

Bewitched by the Wicked Witch by Riley Hunt is about Sage, the “evil witch” of Old Hollows, who the townspeople blame for the missing girls. The reason for this is because of how they see her dark magic bloodline as evil. The other main character Callum, who left Sage heartbroken years ago, has returned after 5 years. She sees that he has become a high council investigator sent to see what has happened to the missing girls.

It turns into them finding out all the missing girls are half-bloods/ mixed blood, and there are a lot of corrupt townspeople wanting to get rid of them but take their magic for themselves. It was not what I expected them to find out in the end.

This story had way more depth than I was expecting and felt like an episode of Criminal Minds style story. I enjoyed finding out who was behind the missing girls, but I felt it dragged on too long for me. I enjoyed the characters, but I felt there needed to be more groveling or something after he had been gone for so long, but I know he had his reasons. It just felt like something more needed to happen between them like more emotional moments between Callum and Sage because the only time there was any was at the very end of the book. This book also took me a lot longer to read because of the pacing, and I almost felt like DNFing it. I'm glad that I finished it and that I learned how it ended, but I'm not sure I would recommend it.
Profile Image for Shannon.
423 reviews14 followers
September 4, 2025
"It's not every day our warlock Romeo gets to play damsel in distress to his dark witch Juliet."


🍂 Bewitched by the Wicked Witch by Riley Hunt 🍂


Bewitched by the Wicked Witch is a standalone in a collaboration between 11 authors in The Bewitching Hour series. This one by Riley Hunt will definitely get you in the spooky mood. *Some possibly spoilers*


"People will always fear what is different, they will always fear what is powerful, and that will never change,"


From start to finish I was invested in this story and these characters. I absolutely loved the world building and rich history, I loved the twist on the wicked witch telling as well at the magic detective aspects.


"I love you, my beautifully twisted witch,"


I loved Sage, she had a wicked sense of humour (no pun intended 😏) left me cackling to myself at times, who wouldn't want to be able to hex an ex's junk? 😂 though Cosmo was an absolute star in my eyes as well. I also loved the fact that she was a witty badass though is a secret sweetie, and Callum who was along for the rides at times! 


"I love every magnificent, formidable part of you."


I really enjoyed the storyline line in this so much! I liked that it started with a bit of backstory before going straight into the action of the case for the missing girls. Loved the detective aspects mixed in with magic and history. 


I honestly enjoyed this so much and definitely want to have more from this world!! 



🍂Small town cozy vibes 

🍂Fall vibes 

🍂Black cat/golden retriever

🍂Second chance


⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

🌶️/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica Marksbury.
212 reviews
September 30, 2025
This book when in a direction I honestly did NOT expect with an adorable cartoon cover of a book. This book was in some dark places. We engage with bullying, kidnapping, torture, murder, magical supremacy, and ostracism. The world building is rich, and the concept of magical towns, a high council, and the possibility of expansion into other supernatural beings leaves so much potential for the expansion of what we see.

From the second chance romance where our MMC Callum is thoroughly and completely obsessed and in love with Sage, to the adorably hilarious familiar Cosmo, Riley was able to balance the dark with lighthearted moments and hilarious hexes that will have you completely giggling while Callum and Sage try to solve the mystery of the missing witches.

Sage's strength is honestly next level. The fact she is able to establish a life and still hold on to her heart living in a town that ostracizes her while fearing and despising her is completely admirable. Following alongside the mystery and the darkness that parallels some historical times in real life, you will be entertained and immersed easily. Riley is able to showcase how far some people are capable of going in their misguided beliefs.

This is definitely a slow burn story that was so much more than a paranormal romance, the topics touched on with the idea of politics, family heritage and commentary on society and history.

Thank you to Riley Hunt for the e-arc, I am so intrigued to see where the next installment takes us, all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Romi Is Reading.
62 reviews8 followers
October 14, 2025
I absolutely love witchy reads — they’re my comfort genre every time I want something cozy and magical. Add a bit of murder mystery and romance, and I’m immediately sold.


That’s why Bewitched by the Wicked Witch had me so hyped. It ticked all my boxes right from the start, and when it managed to make me cry early on, I thought I’d found a masterpiece. And honestly, it really could have been.


The banter and humor were pure gold — our FMC had me grinning constantly, Sage was easily one of my favorite heroines... at least until about 70% in. It had all the makings of a great witchy mystery romance, just with a few bumps along the way.


The writing style wasn’t quite my favorite, but it was engaging enough to keep me reading. I did find myself a little lost at times, like I’d missed a page or a detail suddenly appeared out of nowhere — though that might’ve just been me.


As for the murder mystery, I wish there had been a little more room for discovery. We were guided through every clue so closely that it took some of the tension and mystery out of it.


The romance, though, was sweet. I really liked Sage and Callum’s dynamic throughout the book. The spicy scene at the end didn’t quite work for me — it felt a bit unnecessary to the story — but their chemistry overall was lovely.


Despite a few flaws, this book made me laugh out loud more than once, and I truly adored Sage’s personality. She’s the kind of character you can’t help but root for.
Profile Image for Andreea.
238 reviews12 followers
September 1, 2025
Arc review “Bewitched by the Wicked Witch” 💙🔮 Book 4 in The Bewitching Hour Series

Rating: 3.5✨

I live for the atmosphere from this book. The eerie and spooky feelings from the Old Hollows town and the Hexes and Brews Cafe cozy vibes make me want to move there and be Sage’s bff.

Sage Blackstone has a different way of magic, and the witches community hates her for that and she gets a nickname as “wicked witch” since she is called evil by everyone. I really her power and I admire her so much for standing for herself. Also the frog spell gets me every time.

Callum is her warlock boyfriend until he isn’t anymore. But they pair together for resolving the case in the town. Teenagers girls, witch shifters, are missing and they need to get evidence from their suspects.

The whole book is about this case and hate towards Sage. That’s why I drop a lot of my rating because I expected more interaction, maybe anything else? For me it seems like the case is the whole book and I didn’t see the romance between the characters that much. My personal preference. I got a little bored until they figured out who is the responsible for this situation, but the twist in there I really didn’t expect it. Well done!

This book is perfect for people who wants more fantasy than romance in a book. For the ones who want a spooky read with witched and frogs. I really loved the fall vibes from it. 🖤

Bookstagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOEeVuoDC...
Profile Image for Michelle.
107 reviews
September 17, 2025
I just finished Bewitched by the Wicked Witch, and honestly, it was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, it had all the ingredients I usually love in a paranormal romance—spunky heroine, a morally gray streak, and a snarky familiar who absolutely refuses to be a side character. Sage was fun to follow, and I really appreciated that she wasn’t all sunshine and sparkles—her compass definitely points toward the gray, which made her a little more interesting. And then there’s Cosmo. Oh my gosh, Cosmos. He completely stole the show every single time he popped up. Honestly, I’d read a spin-off about him in a heartbeat.

But here’s where things fell flat for me—it all just felt too predictable. You know those villains who spend years scheming, plotting, and pulling strings like master manipulators? Yeah… how are we supposed to believe they’d lose so easily? It kind of killed the tension for me, because I could see the ending coming from a mile away.

Don’t get me wrong, it was still a cute, easy read with some fun banter and witchy vibes. It just didn’t quite hit the mark the way I was hoping it would. If you’re looking for something light, cozy, and magical, it might be worth picking up—but if you’re after big twists and surprises, this one might leave you wanting more.

3 Cosmo is my MC out of 5
Profile Image for Danielle Grohmann .
40 reviews4 followers
September 21, 2025
Are we truly born wicked or do we have wickedness thrust upon us….
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐸Morally grey FMC that comes up with comedic curses
🔮Feisty funny feline familiar
🐸Golden retriever MMC
🔮Second chance love
🐸Murder mystery
Sage the FMC is the towns condemned wicked witch all because of how her power manifested. Callum the MMC is the ex-boyfriend from college that never stopped loving Sage despite ripping her heart out in an effort to save her. Callum is sent to the town where Sage’s lives to investigate a series of disappearances that everyone is blaming Sage for. The two of them work together to try to find the missing girls before it is too late and uncover an even deeper problem.
I loved Sage and Callum’s banter and enjoyed while romance is a part of the book, the focus was mostly on the investigation. There is a fair amount of spice at the very end. 🌶️🌶️
Also notable mention is Cosmos, Sage’s fantastic feline familiar, who gives major Salem comedy and sass from Sabrina the Teenage Witch 90s show. His ongoing commentary kept me constantly laughing.

While this is fun and overall cute read there are some deeper underlying topics of bullying, kidnapping, magical supremacy and torture, just as a warning.

I really enjoyed this book and felt like it was a wonderful continuation with the Bewitching Hour series
Profile Image for Megan.
253 reviews
September 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Paranormal Romance (Witch/Warlock)
✔️ Small Town

Thank you Riley Hunt and the Bewitched team for providing me with an e-arc! 🫶

I’m not gonna lie this book was not at all what I expected. For a book with an animated character cover this book really took on some dark themes. (Kid 😴💤 and corrupt government to name a couple) But with that said, it gave it a lot more depth and had a mystery heavy plot that was a nice change of pace for me. It also was filled with romance and best of all humor to keep the story engaging and not so heavy. The small town vibes were also very present and helped it feel like a fall book.

Sage and Callum were both very flawed characters and their story had some weird pacing issues. (Some parts felt slow but others felt rushed.) Sadly, I didn’t ever get that swoon feeling I want in a romance. But I will say their powers were cool (especially Sage’s) and I did enjoy Callum’s Golden Retriever to Sage’s Black Cat vibes. Cosmo (Sage’s familiar cat 🐈‍⬛) was the best part of this book. He was exactly what I would expect a talking cat to be - snarky and demanding - and I loved every second. 🤣 Cosmo needs his own book and solo adventures.

“I miss everything about you. Like right now, how you're glaring daggers at me? I miss even that."
Profile Image for Kayla.
214 reviews5 followers
September 5, 2025
Bewitched by the Wicked Witch is a fun mystery that had me caught up in the drama of the romance. That prologue and first chapter was heart wrenching and absolutely had me hooked into the story. I felt so bad for Sage and the beginnings of her wicked path.

The relationship between the leads was fun, and I appreciate that there was no spice at inopportune times. The author saved the spicy scenes for AFTER the conflict, which was refreshing to see. The banter was fun and relatable. I also absolutely LOVE that the characters are in their late 20s for the bulk of the story.

Callum's POV was nice to have, but it caused duplicative reveals which was pretty frustrating. I -almost- wish we didn't have his perspective. The repetition of lines and even scenes got pretty heavy in the last few chapters. I also felt like the villains of the story were spoiled a bit too early.

Overall though, I had fun reading it, and recommend it for a quick and fun mystery romance with a large splash of wicked magic.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much to the author for getting to read it! I will look out for the sequel next year.
Profile Image for Michelle Reopel.
176 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2025
What makes a witch wicked? Is she born wicked or is it the sum of her life experiences that make her wicked? You’ll read that word, wicked, repeatedly throughout the book. The townspeople call Sage wicked and bully her to ultimately extreme levels. Callum can see what’s really happening, but once a witch hunt begins things get out of control quickly. With teenage girls going missing and the town scapegoating Sage, the two decide to work together to solve the mystery before it’s too late for everyone.
I loved Sage’s smart Alec attitude. She’s just done in so many ways, yet still helps those who treat her kindly.
Callum is somehow both amazingly romantic and a total idiot. Maybe he’s the beautiful, goofy dog who means well but lacks a bit in execution so ends up tripping over his own feet.
Cosmo is an awesome familiar and I found myself missing him when he wasn’t on page.
The plot was exciting and there were definitely some loose ends that could be explored. I’m hoping we get a lot more from Sage, Cosmo & Callum. There’s at least one more book coming so I will definitely add that to my tbr.
Profile Image for lauren dedinsky.
400 reviews2 followers
September 3, 2025
What To Expect:
- witch romance
- small town
- murder mystery
- second chance romance

4.5⭐️ so i rounded up

i am absolutely loving the bewitching hour series! this is the fourth book in this standalone collab series and is perfect for fall season. i mean it is a witch book after all.

i loved how fierce and loyal sage was. she may have finally became what everyone claimed/accused her to be but even then she was still kind and caring as well as being the badass witch that she is. she never lost sight of who she really is and i admired that about her. part of me was hoping she would curse everyone in that town who ever accused her of anything though 😂. they definitely deserved it but sage is clearly better and a little less petty than me 😅.

callum oh how i loved you. he never stopped loving sage and it's very clear how he regretted his decision. he is the epitome of a book boyfriend and just all around good guy. im so glad they worked together and were able to find their way back to eachother.

thank you so much riley hunt for allowing me to read this incredible arc
1,568 reviews11 followers
September 5, 2025
What a wonderful way to get into the spooky season. This book will have you giggling with the fun banter all the while trying to figure out the mystery of the missing half shifter half witches. Sage has been labeled the wicked witch since she was a young child and with a broken heart she really shut out the world. Callum has been in love with Sage and would do anything to protect her even breaking her heart. When the mystery brings them both together again, truths are reveals. Can she forgive him. Then you have Cosmo Sage is familiar and wow i loved this character he was amazing and the things that came out of his mouth will have you smiling. Sage is a strong willed witch who will stop at nothing to find the missing people and Callum is determined to help her and prove his love to her. I enjoyed this book from start to finish, the pace was perfect and the plot had many twists, secrets and mystery that will keep you glued to the pages. I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jordan Smith.
58 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2025
𝘉𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"𝙳𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜?"

- 𝚂𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 🏡
- 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜
- 𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 🩸
- 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 🖤

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦!

𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘍𝘔𝘊 𝘚𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘚𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧! 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘮𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘔𝘊 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮, 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘢𝘨𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 5 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥! 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 ����𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶!
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,236 reviews76 followers
September 3, 2025
Poor Sage has been bullied and persecuted all her life for being different, and labelled as a wicked witch. When local girls go missing she is blamed by the town and its hostile residents, but she's determined to uncover the real villain.
Forced to work with her ex, an investigator for the high council who left her brokenhearted 5 years ago, it starts to stir up unresolved feelings between them and makes things interesting.
Cosmo is the best familiar and sidekick, I enjoyed his sassyness and love for snacks and violence.
This had a good balance of drama and mystery, and plenty of villainous suspects. It explores prejudice and conspiracy in a small town, an investigation to catch a killer, and a second chance romance filled with longing and regrets.
All alongside a determined, bold and dark humoured witch with a heart of gold, who loves to theatrically play into the villainous role she's been assigned.
Profile Image for Marcia - itsabookthing2021 .
788 reviews19 followers
September 1, 2025
I really enjoyed reading Bewitched by the Wicked Witch, I felt sorry for young Sage and I really loved how she grew and turned into the woman she did. I loved how she played along with everyone's preconceptions about her but Cindee always treated her as fair. I loved how the storyline progressed and developed, I was gripped and I really couldn't wait to find out who was taking the girls and to what ends. That revelation was blindsiding, didn't expect that!
I loved Callum, he wasn't what I originally thought he would be - given the history and I really liked how he turned out once we had all the facts. Cosmos - my favourite character, I loved him. I just love magical cats!
I loved how this book turned out, I loved the ending and the epilogue I was pleased with the info at the end of the book - I can't wait to read more from this world.
Profile Image for Melissa LiVolsi.
71 reviews5 followers
September 17, 2025
Bewtiched by the Wicked Witch
ARC Review

🪄 Old flames
🪄 Magic
🪄 Witches, Warlocks & familiars
🪄 Mysteries
🪄 Family legacies

This was a cute read. I loved Cosmo and his sass. It was nice to have a familiar around I haven’t read or watched anything like that since Sabrina days. Callum and Sage are super sweet I love them, although is is bad ass and strong willed and I am always here for this kind of FMC.
Idk if anyone watched the vampire diaries but her grandmother was giving Bonnie Bennett’s gram’s vibes and I’m here for it. I’m not typically a second chance girl, but these two made it work 😉
This definitely touched on some real life topics and I enjoyed that aspect of this book.
I loved the family legacy of the Blackstones, the council, the mystery. It made for a good introduction to spooky season.
212 reviews2 followers
September 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up for GR)
🌶🌶

What makes a witch wicked? Other people, and evidently so in this sweet paranormal romance, where I loved Sage- she had black cat vibes, a little bit of wickedness- for all the right reasons but she stood her ground and was a strength in the community. This was a fun thriller with some investigation with her ex and the love of her life, with a fat Main Coon familiar by her side.
I felt the pace and occurrence of events was not structured as well as it could have been and some things found early in the investigation that could have held answers wasn't utilised or remembered later on- made me feel a little frustrated while reading.
But overall, a good read if you love a bullied witch who embraces her Darkness while investigating wrongs in her own town.
101 reviews2 followers
September 13, 2025
This is a second chance love for Sage and Callum - a witch and a warlock. They met while at university and developed a strong connection and deep love for each other. Circumstances drove them apart and the lovers are left nursing broken hearts.

The story starts five years later when strange disappearances of young girls bring Sage and Callun together again. The love they had for each other is as strong as before and very soon they are caught up in untangling a decades old mystery in the town of Old Hollows.

The book had humor, banter, spice and lots of adventures to keep me engrossed till late into the night. I can't wait to read the next book about Callum's cousin Mira.

Highly recommend 👍🏻
Profile Image for Pricilla.
486 reviews8 followers
September 16, 2025
It was a good book. For me it was lacking on the investigative side. It felt like the characters knew what was going on, but we were left out. We weren't getting the information so I was kind of lost on what was going on. I think the book has potential but for me it unfortunately fell flat. I also didn't feel an emotional connection with the mmc and the fmc. In the beginning I did a little but then after that we don't really see them together again until like the last 5% of the book. So their relationship felt rushed. I needed more groveling from the mmc. One thing that I really loved from the book was the cat and how he was constantly teasing the female main character. That was funny. I'd still recommend giving the book a try. It just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Tatiana.
278 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2025
Another amazing book in this series!! This was my first time reading a book by Riley Hunt but I will definitely be looking for more by her!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning I just wanted to know how everything would turn out right away!!

I loved this book my heart broke for young sage but I loved the person she ended up being! I honestly loved how she played along with everyone's ideas of her just for her to prove them wrong! I wasn’t sure about Callum but I can honestly say I love him after getting all the facts! The revelations in this book pack a huge punch that will leave you reeling but also wanting more!
You need to read it it’s definitely worth it!!
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