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Magic and Romance #1
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards
Ali Hazelwood meets
Dungeons & Dragons
in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing—or falling for—each other.
Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.
Sebastian Evocation Department. Human. The first of his family to pick college over the military.
Elethior Conjuration Department. Half-elf. Pretentious asshole. The latest legacy Tourael at Lesiara U.
Mageus Research Grant finalists.
Sebastian refuses to let anyone snatch this away, least of all a snob riding on old money. But what’s worse than a nemesis stealing your grant? You could both get it. Under the condition you work together.
Sebastian is in hell. Thio’s broody. Takes up their shared lab space with his projects . . . and biceps. Brings treats for Sebastian’s familiar . . .
. . . and is nothing like Sebastian thought.
When Sebastian’s past with the Touraels forces him to choose his research or Thio, the decision should be simple. But while working with his rival is volatile . . . falling for his rival might blow up Sebastian’s future.
Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.
Sebastian Evocation Department. Human. The first of his family to pick college over the military.
Elethior Conjuration Department. Half-elf. Pretentious asshole. The latest legacy Tourael at Lesiara U.
Mageus Research Grant finalists.
Sebastian refuses to let anyone snatch this away, least of all a snob riding on old money. But what’s worse than a nemesis stealing your grant? You could both get it. Under the condition you work together.
Sebastian is in hell. Thio’s broody. Takes up their shared lab space with his projects . . . and biceps. Brings treats for Sebastian’s familiar . . .
. . . and is nothing like Sebastian thought.
When Sebastian’s past with the Touraels forces him to choose his research or Thio, the decision should be simple. But while working with his rival is volatile . . . falling for his rival might blow up Sebastian’s future.
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 26, 2025
About the author
Sara Raasch
26 books7,915 followersSara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,257 reviews
August 21, 2025
Sit down, please. I need to talk to you. This book is not two academic rivals who once said something rude to each other at orientation and now loathe one another. This is not a simple miscommunication, or a battle for glory, or even a competition to prove themselves. This is a love story between several people, some romantic and some platonic, and it was so good that I had to put it down and walk around a few times. Does the guy on the cover 100% look like Ruhn Danaan, Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae romancing Milo from Atlantis: The Lost Empire? Yes of course but that’s not the point. The point is that this is a book about two people working together to better the world, the difficulty of navigating family dynamics as an adult, the enduring protectiveness a lifelong friendship, and an invisible fox named Nick. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be taken aback by how hot this is? Who needs open door when this one just blows the whole thing off its hinges? Wizards: the better bang.
Did Not Finish
March 14, 2026DNF 70%
I struggle with the enemies-to-lovers trope; it's simply not my cup of tea, and after this book, I can confidently say that I still don't really like it.
The characters are supposed to be young adults at 24, yet their behavior feels more akin to that of immature teenagers. The rivalry that exists between them is exaggerated and somewhat one-sided, rendering them both difficult to like.
The author's attempt to transition these two from bitter enemies to casual friends with benefits, and ultimately to romantic partners, felt awkward and unconvincing.
There's a saying that fits perfectly with the book: "romance is dead; toxicity is in." It baffles me to think why anyone would want to engage with someone who constantly belittles and undermines them. Sure, it was in the beginning but how can you feel attraction for such a person in the first place? Just because one character possesses striking good looks does not justify tolerating their harmful behavior.
The way the romance developed did not make up for the way both of them treated each other in the beginning.
And honestly, I didn't like how they treated each other even after they got over the stupid rivalry.
Furthermore, the narrative is overly saturated with sexual encounters and laden with an abundance of tragic backstories, each rooted in dysfunctional family dynamics. To be frank, this book could easily have been retitled "Two Toxic Individuals from Toxic Families."
I struggle with the enemies-to-lovers trope; it's simply not my cup of tea, and after this book, I can confidently say that I still don't really like it.
The characters are supposed to be young adults at 24, yet their behavior feels more akin to that of immature teenagers. The rivalry that exists between them is exaggerated and somewhat one-sided, rendering them both difficult to like.
The author's attempt to transition these two from bitter enemies to casual friends with benefits, and ultimately to romantic partners, felt awkward and unconvincing.
There's a saying that fits perfectly with the book: "romance is dead; toxicity is in." It baffles me to think why anyone would want to engage with someone who constantly belittles and undermines them. Sure, it was in the beginning but how can you feel attraction for such a person in the first place? Just because one character possesses striking good looks does not justify tolerating their harmful behavior.
The way the romance developed did not make up for the way both of them treated each other in the beginning.
And honestly, I didn't like how they treated each other even after they got over the stupid rivalry.
Furthermore, the narrative is overly saturated with sexual encounters and laden with an abundance of tragic backstories, each rooted in dysfunctional family dynamics. To be frank, this book could easily have been retitled "Two Toxic Individuals from Toxic Families."
September 29, 2025
This was so CUTE! And the HEALING??? So good.
December 26, 2025
was this perfect? no. Was this perfect for me??? YES. 🫢💅
would I call this an enemies to lovers? Maybe a one sided rivalry romance but with a mutual dislike and secret yearning ;)
it’s probably not a 5 star book but I can’t give it anything below 5 stars because of how much FUN I had while reading it. Butterflies, thunderbolts you name it, I felt it ✨💗✋ it was also so funny and sassy! Literally my type of stupid humor.
“This is the last time our codependency cockblocks me. You are whatever’s the opposite of a wingman.”
“A thigh-woman,” I say without missing a beat.”
I did not pay MUCH attention to the magic system and universe but it was relatively easy to follow after a few chapters and the 💗ROMANCE💓 oh my god!!! So goood. So slow and magicallll ✨✨ wonderful characters tbh. It was also the perfect balance and sexy and sweet, with a slow burn and then a bang (ha) at the end. I was happy because YES MAKE ME WAIT. MAKE ME YEARN FOR THEM.
“He grins, viciously pleased. “I’ll help you forget, I promise. I’ll fuck you so good you won’t remember your own name beyond me calling you baby. But I can do that and still respect you,”
ugh bye I’m dead
would I call this an enemies to lovers? Maybe a one sided rivalry romance but with a mutual dislike and secret yearning ;)
it’s probably not a 5 star book but I can’t give it anything below 5 stars because of how much FUN I had while reading it. Butterflies, thunderbolts you name it, I felt it ✨💗✋ it was also so funny and sassy! Literally my type of stupid humor.
“This is the last time our codependency cockblocks me. You are whatever’s the opposite of a wingman.”
“A thigh-woman,” I say without missing a beat.”
I did not pay MUCH attention to the magic system and universe but it was relatively easy to follow after a few chapters and the 💗ROMANCE💓 oh my god!!! So goood. So slow and magicallll ✨✨ wonderful characters tbh. It was also the perfect balance and sexy and sweet, with a slow burn and then a bang (ha) at the end. I was happy because YES MAKE ME WAIT. MAKE ME YEARN FOR THEM.
“He grins, viciously pleased. “I’ll help you forget, I promise. I’ll fuck you so good you won’t remember your own name beyond me calling you baby. But I can do that and still respect you,”
ugh bye I’m dead
October 9, 2025
Did I actually tear up towards the end of this book?!! Yes, yes I did, even if it was not what I expected!
I expected a fun rivals to lovers fantasy romance, but along the way I also got two people working through some pretty serious trauma and things got emotional. It's a fantastic romance about magical graduate students in a prank war forced to work together when they receive joint funding. They have such different personalities in a way that works and the development of their relationship is really well paced, equally including physical and emotional elements. Definitely one to pick up and the audio narration is great! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I expected a fun rivals to lovers fantasy romance, but along the way I also got two people working through some pretty serious trauma and things got emotional. It's a fantastic romance about magical graduate students in a prank war forced to work together when they receive joint funding. They have such different personalities in a way that works and the development of their relationship is really well paced, equally including physical and emotional elements. Definitely one to pick up and the audio narration is great! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 8, 2025
"I’ve seen him smile so many times. So many different flavors of it, I could write a thesis on the dozens of ways Elethior Tourael’s lips move. But this smile? It puts all the others to shame. It’s joy and relief, it’s ecstasy and an unspoken, vibrant finally."
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I got
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I want
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I got
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I want
July 3, 2025
Cute if cringe
June 30, 2026
Wow, okay. Ever finish a book and just kinda stare into space for a few minutes trying to figure out how you feel? Yeah, that's me with this book.
I'll be honest, I went into this book completely blind. I was intrigued when I saw the title while looking for books to fit a reading challenge I'm doing. I was then officially sold when I saw a mention of D&D, as I'm a newer player myself (draconic sorcerers represent 😜👏🏻🤌🏻).
Now, normally I'm pretty happy I go into books blind, but maybe I should have looked into this book and its reviews a little more, because I was not prepared.
So, before I say anything further about this book, here's a warning: this is not a romance I would call lighthearted. While there are fun and cozy moments, there is also a lot of trauma among the two main characters, as well as a frequently occurring side character. The book isn't constantly heavy, but there are many emotional moments where the characters contend with past experiences of abuse, manipulation, abandonment, control, shame, fear, and more.
Okay, now that I've given my warning, let's move on.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story. In my experience, many romances are either super lighthearted, where everything seems perfect and people don't really have real-life issues they're contending with, or they're more tragic, where the love is abusive, toxic, or full of loss and grief. This story struck a wonderful balance.
The characters felt incredibly real. They had genuine challenges in their lives, as well as flaws and fears that directly impacted their relationships and how they perceived the world. At the same time, the author created a healthy relationship for Seb and Thio where, yes, they struggled at times, but they continued to communicate, support, and listen to each other. Watching their relationship grow and then face their biggest challenges side by side was truly heartwarming and beautifully done.
I also really appreciated the accountability and willingness to repair that we saw from some important side characters in Seb's life. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but it was refreshing to see characters acknowledge that they were wrong, apologize, and actively work to make things right by seeking justice.
The one thing I do wish this book had was dual narration. Maybe I've been spoiled by the romances I've read previously, but I adore dual POVs, and I was shocked that we never got Thio's perspective. There were so many times I was dying to know what was going on inside his head, especially with some of the things revealed later in the book!
My last little critique, which really is such a minor thing, is that I wish our trauma-bonded besties went to therapy at all, or more consistently. Orok was said to go periodically, but babes, respectfully, y'all 100% would have benefited from it more regularly (did I mention I'm a social worker, btw? 😅😜).
Though, huge praise to the author for mentioning and normalizing therapy at all. That isn't something I've come across in many books, so props to you, girl! 👊🏻
The last thing I want to note is that I adored the epilogue! It was so incredibly sweet, heartwarming, and emotional. It was probably one of my favourite epilogues ever.
Overall, I recommend this to romance lovers, especially those who enjoy fantasy and D&D. However, if you're looking for a lighthearted and cozy read, maybe skip this one for now.
If you do choose to read it and you're a crybaby like me, bring the tissues!
I'll be honest, I went into this book completely blind. I was intrigued when I saw the title while looking for books to fit a reading challenge I'm doing. I was then officially sold when I saw a mention of D&D, as I'm a newer player myself (draconic sorcerers represent 😜👏🏻🤌🏻).
Now, normally I'm pretty happy I go into books blind, but maybe I should have looked into this book and its reviews a little more, because I was not prepared.
So, before I say anything further about this book, here's a warning: this is not a romance I would call lighthearted. While there are fun and cozy moments, there is also a lot of trauma among the two main characters, as well as a frequently occurring side character. The book isn't constantly heavy, but there are many emotional moments where the characters contend with past experiences of abuse, manipulation, abandonment, control, shame, fear, and more.
Okay, now that I've given my warning, let's move on.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story. In my experience, many romances are either super lighthearted, where everything seems perfect and people don't really have real-life issues they're contending with, or they're more tragic, where the love is abusive, toxic, or full of loss and grief. This story struck a wonderful balance.
The characters felt incredibly real. They had genuine challenges in their lives, as well as flaws and fears that directly impacted their relationships and how they perceived the world. At the same time, the author created a healthy relationship for Seb and Thio where, yes, they struggled at times, but they continued to communicate, support, and listen to each other. Watching their relationship grow and then face their biggest challenges side by side was truly heartwarming and beautifully done.
I also really appreciated the accountability and willingness to repair that we saw from some important side characters in Seb's life. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but it was refreshing to see characters acknowledge that they were wrong, apologize, and actively work to make things right by seeking justice.
The one thing I do wish this book had was dual narration. Maybe I've been spoiled by the romances I've read previously, but I adore dual POVs, and I was shocked that we never got Thio's perspective. There were so many times I was dying to know what was going on inside his head, especially with some of the things revealed later in the book!
My last little critique, which really is such a minor thing, is that I wish our trauma-bonded besties went to therapy at all, or more consistently. Orok was said to go periodically, but babes, respectfully, y'all 100% would have benefited from it more regularly (did I mention I'm a social worker, btw? 😅😜).
Though, huge praise to the author for mentioning and normalizing therapy at all. That isn't something I've come across in many books, so props to you, girl! 👊🏻
The last thing I want to note is that I adored the epilogue! It was so incredibly sweet, heartwarming, and emotional. It was probably one of my favourite epilogues ever.
Overall, I recommend this to romance lovers, especially those who enjoy fantasy and D&D. However, if you're looking for a lighthearted and cozy read, maybe skip this one for now.
If you do choose to read it and you're a crybaby like me, bring the tissues!
January 15, 2026
both of them being just unapologetically hot was so fun to me
August 24, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
i won’t lie — the ruhn danaan-esqu mmc on the cover is what drew me in…
this is perhaps cornier and campier than the holiday series! still a fun read though if you don’t mind the corniness/campiness!
i won’t lie — the ruhn danaan-esqu mmc on the cover is what drew me in…
this is perhaps cornier and campier than the holiday series! still a fun read though if you don’t mind the corniness/campiness!
November 5, 2025
It is safe to say I'm happy I gave this author a second chance. I read
The Nightmare Before Kissmas
and I low-key hated it, but I kept coming back because let's be honest, the covers of her books are adorable.
This book is super silly, seriously, like Seb said: “What’s the point of magic if you don’t get to use it for silly shit anyway” , the magic system and the world-building in this book are weird and random and extremely silly. Still, after all, that's what magic is for (?). I, for one, decided to ignore everything that didn't make sense and just vibe with it, and I am 100% supporting my decision.
Seb and Thio had maybe not the best start for their relationship, at least, this is not marketed as enemies to lovers and instead is very accurate "rivals to lovers," even if the rivalry was practically one-sided from Seb’s side, since Thio (apparently) always liked him. There is a lot of magic and spell talk, as well as some shitty family dynamics. The best part of the book was the super charming and swoony romance, followed by the friendship between Seb and Orok; it was just wholesome.
This book is super silly, seriously, like Seb said: “What’s the point of magic if you don’t get to use it for silly shit anyway” , the magic system and the world-building in this book are weird and random and extremely silly. Still, after all, that's what magic is for (?). I, for one, decided to ignore everything that didn't make sense and just vibe with it, and I am 100% supporting my decision.
Seb and Thio had maybe not the best start for their relationship, at least, this is not marketed as enemies to lovers and instead is very accurate "rivals to lovers," even if the rivalry was practically one-sided from Seb’s side, since Thio (apparently) always liked him. There is a lot of magic and spell talk, as well as some shitty family dynamics. The best part of the book was the super charming and swoony romance, followed by the friendship between Seb and Orok; it was just wholesome.
August 28, 2025
5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
All of Sara Raash’s MM paranormal romcoms are just an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. I giggled and kicked my feet the whole time. There was a lot of fun banter and some spicy hot 🥵 scenes.
2.5/5 🌶️
All of Sara Raash’s MM paranormal romcoms are just an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. I giggled and kicked my feet the whole time. There was a lot of fun banter and some spicy hot 🥵 scenes.
June 4, 2026
Ugh. Loved. 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. I genuinely got misty toward the end.
PLOT
Sebastian is a wizard gunning for a grant so he can do some very specific research on his final semester. But the one thing potentially stopping him & his ambition is Elethior, his rich, pretentious rival.
- MM urban fantasy romance
- higher spice BUT ALSO SO SWEET
- wizards & all the magical beings
- themes of trauma & dealing with it
- rivals to lovers, who falls first?
- solo narrated audiobook (v well done)
PROS
- This was both scorchingly sexy & also so so sweet I could barely handle it. Was I about to cry or swear at any given moment? Great fucking question.
- Thio is an absolute perfect angel baby to me. I just adore him with every part of my being & you can’t make me stop.
- This went way emotionally deeper than I thought in such a good way. Feels over feels.
- The presentation of PTSD & trauma bonding I thought was extremely beautiful & very thoughtful. The found family felt honest & so sweet & I just wanted to hug them.
- I loved the progression of the romance in this. It felt real & it was fun to watch them both sweat dealing with their feelings.
- I also just think the couple was perfect for each other & together they made my heart soar.
- Loved the sense of humor overall & the banter; romantic & friendly both.
MIDS
- Sebastian was both a delight & irked me. I know why he is the way he is — quick tempered, unnecessarily feisty, defensive, etc. — but it’s just not the type of character I tend to enjoy even when the “why” is laid out. It’s truly just a personal preference vs. quality of story/writing. BUT, he’s not a con because he did learn & evolve & also made me giggle because he was in fact v funny. So I ended up neutral on him.
CONS
- A “betrayal” at the end didn’t feel like much of a betrayal to me & actually seemed super reasonable, so for that final conflict I was like “bleh this is dumb” which I don’t love.
Would 1000% recommend. Sultry & swoony & sweet all in one.
PLOT
Sebastian is a wizard gunning for a grant so he can do some very specific research on his final semester. But the one thing potentially stopping him & his ambition is Elethior, his rich, pretentious rival.
- MM urban fantasy romance
- higher spice BUT ALSO SO SWEET
- wizards & all the magical beings
- themes of trauma & dealing with it
- rivals to lovers, who falls first?
- solo narrated audiobook (v well done)
PROS
- This was both scorchingly sexy & also so so sweet I could barely handle it. Was I about to cry or swear at any given moment? Great fucking question.
- Thio is an absolute perfect angel baby to me. I just adore him with every part of my being & you can’t make me stop.
- This went way emotionally deeper than I thought in such a good way. Feels over feels.
- The presentation of PTSD & trauma bonding I thought was extremely beautiful & very thoughtful. The found family felt honest & so sweet & I just wanted to hug them.
- I loved the progression of the romance in this. It felt real & it was fun to watch them both sweat dealing with their feelings.
- I also just think the couple was perfect for each other & together they made my heart soar.
- Loved the sense of humor overall & the banter; romantic & friendly both.
MIDS
- Sebastian was both a delight & irked me. I know why he is the way he is — quick tempered, unnecessarily feisty, defensive, etc. — but it’s just not the type of character I tend to enjoy even when the “why” is laid out. It’s truly just a personal preference vs. quality of story/writing. BUT, he’s not a con because he did learn & evolve & also made me giggle because he was in fact v funny. So I ended up neutral on him.
CONS
- A “betrayal” at the end didn’t feel like much of a betrayal to me & actually seemed super reasonable, so for that final conflict I was like “bleh this is dumb” which I don’t love.
Would 1000% recommend. Sultry & swoony & sweet all in one.
November 24, 2025
"I'll happily leave you alone after tomorrow," I tell Elethior. "They're going to award that grant to me, then I'm never going to think about you or your family again."
"Oh, baby boy," he coos. "We both know every bit of that's a lie."
I am dead.
On the floor dead.
This book had no right to be so emotional with trauma and spicy.
My cheeks burn."I'm serious, Elethior. That was the agreement, we'd start with my project, then-"
"Thio."
My words trip over themselves, tongue flicking against my teeth. "What?"
He shrugs. Totally chill. "I've had your dick in my mouth. Figure you can call me Thio now."
I absolutely loved Seb and Thio together! The fact that Elethior had a pretty dirty mouth, but did cute little blushes all the time. SCREAM. And the clear desperation between the two? SCREAMING. I loved that even after they started their little FWB (or enemies with benefits), they still fought, and even after they started more, they STILL fought. That's what I want to read! The second the enemies/rivals get together, all the fun banter and tension usually disappear. But not with this one. No sir.
Orok stretches his arms out for a hug. He's blocking the hall, and he knows it.
"I'm being held hostage."
"Yes. Hug me, dumbass."
I am SO GLAD we are getting Orok's book because the friendship between Seb and Orok was top-level found family. The funny moments (all of Sara's adult books so far have been hilarious, to be fair). I almost cried during some of their parts. And I loved how Sara made them a little too dependent on each other as they tried to overcome their past trauma. Oh, that was just perfect.
I have so many tabs in this book, and I was going to add more quotes, like some spicy ones, but just read this masterpiece, or you'll miss out on that. That's all.
______________
Review to come but holy shitttt this was *chefs kiss*
"Oh, baby boy," he coos. "We both know every bit of that's a lie."
I am dead.
On the floor dead.
This book had no right to be so emotional with trauma and spicy.
My cheeks burn."I'm serious, Elethior. That was the agreement, we'd start with my project, then-"
"Thio."
My words trip over themselves, tongue flicking against my teeth. "What?"
He shrugs. Totally chill. "I've had your dick in my mouth. Figure you can call me Thio now."
I absolutely loved Seb and Thio together! The fact that Elethior had a pretty dirty mouth, but did cute little blushes all the time. SCREAM. And the clear desperation between the two? SCREAMING. I loved that even after they started their little FWB (or enemies with benefits), they still fought, and even after they started more, they STILL fought. That's what I want to read! The second the enemies/rivals get together, all the fun banter and tension usually disappear. But not with this one. No sir.
Orok stretches his arms out for a hug. He's blocking the hall, and he knows it.
"I'm being held hostage."
"Yes. Hug me, dumbass."
I am SO GLAD we are getting Orok's book because the friendship between Seb and Orok was top-level found family. The funny moments (all of Sara's adult books so far have been hilarious, to be fair). I almost cried during some of their parts. And I loved how Sara made them a little too dependent on each other as they tried to overcome their past trauma. Oh, that was just perfect.
I have so many tabs in this book, and I was going to add more quotes, like some spicy ones, but just read this masterpiece, or you'll miss out on that. That's all.
______________
Review to come but holy shitttt this was *chefs kiss*
August 27, 2025
i've been sitting here for ten, maybe fifteen minutes, trying to figure out how to write this review.
is the book perfect? fuck no. it's ridiculous and corny, just like every other book i've read by sara raasch. but, just like every other book i've read by sara raasch, i've spent the last 24 hours in complete bliss. i've either been literally laughing out loud while reading (something i RARELY do), or texting my friends in a sobbing frenzy so i can cry about how such a bright, silly book has reduced me to tears.
raasch has the incredible ability to take a story, a concept that's absurd and easy to dismiss, and give it real emotional weight. ptsd, trauma bonds, the complexities of navigating through/healing toxic family dynamics. she'll settle you in with a few jokes, a lovely romance, until suddenly you're clutching at the book trying to read through all your tears.
entanglement of rival wizards might just be my favorite from her yet.
is the book perfect? fuck no. it's ridiculous and corny, just like every other book i've read by sara raasch. but, just like every other book i've read by sara raasch, i've spent the last 24 hours in complete bliss. i've either been literally laughing out loud while reading (something i RARELY do), or texting my friends in a sobbing frenzy so i can cry about how such a bright, silly book has reduced me to tears.
raasch has the incredible ability to take a story, a concept that's absurd and easy to dismiss, and give it real emotional weight. ptsd, trauma bonds, the complexities of navigating through/healing toxic family dynamics. she'll settle you in with a few jokes, a lovely romance, until suddenly you're clutching at the book trying to read through all your tears.
entanglement of rival wizards might just be my favorite from her yet.
October 4, 2025
First, I would like to have a word with whoever called this “lighthearted” or “cozy fantasy” because you can’t have literal war crime level tragic backstories and then be like ‘omg this was soooo cute’. Cozy fantasies should NOT have a military industrial complex in the world building, and even less so as a core part of the story.
Also, there was not a single healthy relationship in this book. And not only that, so much of the progression of the main relationship felt clunky and disjointed. Almost as if the relationship advanced in random stages because that’s what the book needed to be able to progress and not because the characters themselves actually built on their relationship.
Ultimately I had so many issues with this book (the writing, god the writing!) and I’m quite disappointed since this seemed like it would be the perfect book for me.
Also, there was not a single healthy relationship in this book. And not only that, so much of the progression of the main relationship felt clunky and disjointed. Almost as if the relationship advanced in random stages because that’s what the book needed to be able to progress and not because the characters themselves actually built on their relationship.
Ultimately I had so many issues with this book (the writing, god the writing!) and I’m quite disappointed since this seemed like it would be the perfect book for me.
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June 8, 2026
Academic nemesis to lovers with a magical university setting? And the best thing is: it’s gay!
We’re both broken, though. And our jagged pieces don't exactly fit together, but we know how to move around the sharpest points of each other's, how to adjust and make space so no one bleeds.
While it started rather slow with a hell of a rivalry hate situation, it slowly transformed into a friendly partnership and then into a loving relationship.
I loved how as soon as they had a ceasefire they were there for each other, they tried to communicate as healthily as they could and cool off when that wasn’t possible.
My favorite thing? Definitely Orok and Sebastian’s friendship, they were so cute, I loved them so much!
Now I kinda wanna read his book too!
Orok was also my favorite character! Love a big strong guy whose a bit soft inside ♥️
Btw. Never trust a cutie patootie cover like this, it can get reaaaaaallyyyy spicy 🌶️
We’re both broken, though. And our jagged pieces don't exactly fit together, but we know how to move around the sharpest points of each other's, how to adjust and make space so no one bleeds.
While it started rather slow with a hell of a rivalry hate situation, it slowly transformed into a friendly partnership and then into a loving relationship.
I loved how as soon as they had a ceasefire they were there for each other, they tried to communicate as healthily as they could and cool off when that wasn’t possible.
My favorite thing? Definitely Orok and Sebastian’s friendship, they were so cute, I loved them so much!
Now I kinda wanna read his book too!
Orok was also my favorite character! Love a big strong guy whose a bit soft inside ♥️
Btw. Never trust a cutie patootie cover like this, it can get reaaaaaallyyyy spicy 🌶️
August 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
this is marketed as an lgbtq+ stem-esque paranormal rom com and it absolutely delivers on that promise! the enemies-to-lovers partnership is a really cute setup, and the general banter/quirkiness is a lot of fun. the side plots were enough to keep me engaged, and the romance is cute.
however, the latter half of the book is a bit spice-heavy; i love spice in romcoms, but when scenes start to over-saturate the narrative, i start to lose interest a bit.
despite that, this was still a really fun read, and im definitely down to give the second book a go!
**thank you to Tor/Bramble for the ARC copy**
this is marketed as an lgbtq+ stem-esque paranormal rom com and it absolutely delivers on that promise! the enemies-to-lovers partnership is a really cute setup, and the general banter/quirkiness is a lot of fun. the side plots were enough to keep me engaged, and the romance is cute.
however, the latter half of the book is a bit spice-heavy; i love spice in romcoms, but when scenes start to over-saturate the narrative, i start to lose interest a bit.
despite that, this was still a really fun read, and im definitely down to give the second book a go!
**thank you to Tor/Bramble for the ARC copy**
November 8, 2025
4 stars. Steamy, frothy, and containing just the right amount of silliness balanced with seriousness, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is yet another delightful queer romance from Sara Raasch but this time with a distinctly D&D-esque flavor to it.
August 9, 2025
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is described as Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons. And that description had me hooked!
Rating: 3.5★
What to expect *⁀➷
➳ MM romance
➳ Single POV
➳ STEM romance w/ magic 🪄
➳ Forced-proximity
➳ Rivals to lovers
➳ Spiceeee 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
➳ Humor and drama
Description: Sebastian and Elethior are grad students at Lesiara U in rival programs. When they're both chosen as recipients of the Mageus Research Grant, they are confronted with the harsh reality that they'll be forced to work together for the next couple months...
This book had a really strong start and some crazy sexual tension. They hated each other but you could tell they just wanted in each other's pants. And that's a good time. However, B-plots interfered in the romance in a way that felt like an excuse to put artificial tension in their relationship.
The STEM vibes weren't particularly strong in this book. That could be because its magic-related, but I think its mostly because by the end, the book had devolved into a sexfest. Sex at the lab, sex at home, sex in the car, etc... I like spice, but not when it takes away from other aspects of a book. I would have appreciated more emphasis on the research they had been building on. Once they get together (*wink wink*), nothing else really matters.
The spice was definitely spicy 🔥 so I would recommend this book to anyone who's in the mood for some sexual tension. But if you're looking for STEM-vibes, I probably wouldn't. Well, I would recommend the first half, but not the second.
This review has been really negative so I want to explain that I had a good time reading this book. I like Sebastian and Elethior and their romance is fun and flirty. I also like the friendship between Sebastian and Orok (who will be getting his own book!) The humor was also spot-on. However, as a whole I just wanted the book to give me a little more than it did.
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is out August 26th!
Pre-read *⁀➷
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Can you believe it?? I got a PHYSICAL ARC at COMIC CON!!! I almost don't want to touch it I'm so excited!!
Edit 8/5/25:
I just realized that I have like 3 ARCs that are all coming out in the next 3 weeks so I am STRESSING and must finish all these books lickedy-split
Rating: 3.5★
What to expect *⁀➷
➳ MM romance
➳ Single POV
➳ STEM romance w/ magic 🪄
➳ Forced-proximity
➳ Rivals to lovers
➳ Spiceeee 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
➳ Humor and drama
Description: Sebastian and Elethior are grad students at Lesiara U in rival programs. When they're both chosen as recipients of the Mageus Research Grant, they are confronted with the harsh reality that they'll be forced to work together for the next couple months...
This book had a really strong start and some crazy sexual tension. They hated each other but you could tell they just wanted in each other's pants. And that's a good time. However, B-plots interfered in the romance in a way that felt like an excuse to put artificial tension in their relationship.
The STEM vibes weren't particularly strong in this book. That could be because its magic-related, but I think its mostly because by the end, the book had devolved into a sexfest. Sex at the lab, sex at home, sex in the car, etc... I like spice, but not when it takes away from other aspects of a book. I would have appreciated more emphasis on the research they had been building on. Once they get together (*wink wink*), nothing else really matters.
The spice was definitely spicy 🔥 so I would recommend this book to anyone who's in the mood for some sexual tension. But if you're looking for STEM-vibes, I probably wouldn't. Well, I would recommend the first half, but not the second.
This review has been really negative so I want to explain that I had a good time reading this book. I like Sebastian and Elethior and their romance is fun and flirty. I also like the friendship between Sebastian and Orok (who will be getting his own book!) The humor was also spot-on. However, as a whole I just wanted the book to give me a little more than it did.
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is out August 26th!
Thank you to Tor for gifting me an early copy of The Entanglement of Rival Wizards! All opinions are my own.
Pre-read *⁀➷
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Can you believe it?? I got a PHYSICAL ARC at COMIC CON!!! I almost don't want to touch it I'm so excited!!
Edit 8/5/25:
I just realized that I have like 3 ARCs that are all coming out in the next 3 weeks so I am STRESSING and must finish all these books lickedy-split
December 22, 2025
Це було настільки cozy що годі було і описати! А dnd тематикааааа 😍🔥 персонажі вони такі дурники.
November 2, 2025
4 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks
it gave me F.T. Lukens books vibes, but funnier & enemies to lovers (& more Adult), with D&D world building.
I liked the academic premise too.
The characters were realistic & believable. I liked Sebastian and Elethior & Orok. The banters and friction were so good.
I wanted to read the Royals & Romance at first, but then decided to read that one in November & this one, with magic+D&D vibes, in October, because the mood fit.
I liked it, but after a while, it stopped being new for me. (I think where it was mainly academic than D&D. Or when the hostility resolves, you know?)
The plot was lagging a bit. A little too much at graphic details (it's Adult, folks), and being dramatic. (also you know I'm not a fan of overly-used cusswords)
-
Plot: ★★★(★)/5
World building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
concept: ★★★★/5
with Golden Sparks
it gave me F.T. Lukens books vibes, but funnier & enemies to lovers (& more Adult), with D&D world building.
I liked the academic premise too.
The characters were realistic & believable. I liked Sebastian and Elethior & Orok. The banters and friction were so good.
I wanted to read the Royals & Romance at first, but then decided to read that one in November & this one, with magic+D&D vibes, in October, because the mood fit.
I liked it, but after a while, it stopped being new for me. (I think where it was mainly academic than D&D. Or when the hostility resolves, you know?)
The plot was lagging a bit. A little too much at graphic details (it's Adult, folks), and being dramatic. (also you know I'm not a fan of overly-used cusswords)
-
Plot: ★★★(★)/5
World building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★/5
Writing style: ★★★★/5
concept: ★★★★/5
September 9, 2025
"He looks deservedly proud. “And I’m going to wine and dine the fuck out of you. I haven’t had many good things in my life that my family didn’t ruin.” He interlaces his fingers with mine. “So this? I’m going to do this right.”
4.75⭐️
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards was something to behold. I enjoyed the entire thing from start to finish, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually enjoy enemies-to-lovers. Well, it’s more like rivals, obviously, but you get my meaning.
I first read The Nightmare Before Kissmas, which I gave 5 stars, but I’ve been stingier with my ratings this year. My fiancé said I hand out 5 stars too easily, so now I’m doing it to spite him (and myself, I guess). If this were last year, this would’ve been a full 5-star read, no question. But this year we’re going with a solid 4.75, which still rounds up to 5 stars on Goodreads, so who fucking cares.
Sebastian and Elethior are everything. I loved them, and I want more of them, though I’m excited to see Orok in the next book because I loved him too. Sebastian and Elethior had so much chemistry, it was fantastic. From the jump, you could tell Elethior wanted to jump Sebastian’s bones, so it wasn’t hard to watch them shift from rivals to lovers.
This book also deals with some pretty dark things, especially things that happen to Sebastian and Orok. I didn’t see it coming, and it hurt really bad. I cried a few times, and I fucking love that. I love being so invested in characters that I can shed tears for them. The world-building was also great, and it made me realize we need more magical university books out there that don’t suck.
Also, why is every other book I read about a dude named Sebastian? Just curious.
Overall, I thought this was fucking great. The only downside for me was the dramatic, almost cliché third-act breakup that really killed my mood, even if it only lasted two chapters. Still, fuck that shit.
4.75⭐️
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards was something to behold. I enjoyed the entire thing from start to finish, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually enjoy enemies-to-lovers. Well, it’s more like rivals, obviously, but you get my meaning.
I first read The Nightmare Before Kissmas, which I gave 5 stars, but I’ve been stingier with my ratings this year. My fiancé said I hand out 5 stars too easily, so now I’m doing it to spite him (and myself, I guess). If this were last year, this would’ve been a full 5-star read, no question. But this year we’re going with a solid 4.75, which still rounds up to 5 stars on Goodreads, so who fucking cares.
Sebastian and Elethior are everything. I loved them, and I want more of them, though I’m excited to see Orok in the next book because I loved him too. Sebastian and Elethior had so much chemistry, it was fantastic. From the jump, you could tell Elethior wanted to jump Sebastian’s bones, so it wasn’t hard to watch them shift from rivals to lovers.
This book also deals with some pretty dark things, especially things that happen to Sebastian and Orok. I didn’t see it coming, and it hurt really bad. I cried a few times, and I fucking love that. I love being so invested in characters that I can shed tears for them. The world-building was also great, and it made me realize we need more magical university books out there that don’t suck.
Also, why is every other book I read about a dude named Sebastian? Just curious.
Overall, I thought this was fucking great. The only downside for me was the dramatic, almost cliché third-act breakup that really killed my mood, even if it only lasted two chapters. Still, fuck that shit.
August 14, 2025
This was very silly in a way that I initially loved, but then it became so cartoonishly horny that I had a hard time not rolling my eyes actively while reading it. I really love the way the author writes anxiety and trauma responses, and in previous books it worked a lot better for me, but in this story a lot of the vulnerability just felt like a vehicle to get to another sex scene which undermined the impact. I almost gave it 4 stars but the longer I sat with it the more I felt let down by how the relationship development happened.
October 7, 2025
Literally TOO cute. I was giggling. This perfectly balanced its tension/spice with really sweet romance and emotional growth
June 17, 2026
4.25 stars
Look, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards might be a bit of a hot mess, but it is an incredibly entertaining hot mess, and it made me feel so many things that I can only adore it in all its corny, campy glory. Because honestly, a D&D-flavoured queer rivals-to-lovers fantasy romance that somehow manages to be fun, sexy, heartbreaking, adorable, and emotionally devastating all at once? That is everything I did not know I needed.
From the very first page, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards just oozes personality and it instantly had me completely charmed. The magical academia setting is playful in the best way, the world feels chaotic and alive, all the D&D-inspired details were so fun (especially the quirky adventuring party updates), and getting to experience it all through Seb’s delightfully chaotic narration (perfectly captured on audio btw!) made it all the more exciting.
He's the black sheep of a military family who chose academia instead, he's desperate to secure the Mageus Research Grant, and unfortunately his biggest obstacle is Elethior Tourael, a half-elf legacy student from a powerful weapons-manufacturing family who he has been locked in a (one-sided?) magical prank war with for years. And now they're very reluctantly forced to combine their research without killing, or falling for, each other… I mean, helloooo, tensionnn!!
Now, I usually prefer dual POV romances, and I do think I might have loved this even more if we'd gotten inside Thio's head too, but Seb honestly completely steals the show. Raasch does such a good job maintaining the tension while also making it painfully obvious that these two disaster gays have completely misjudged each other, and the cute reluctant allies to friends to lovers progression really tugged on my heartstrings. Every interaction felt like it was balancing on the edge between murder, making out, and emotional vulnerability (or sometimes all three at once), and I was living for that drama.
What surprised me most of all, though, was how emotional and dark this book got. Like, I went in expecting a some semi-cozy magical chaos, academic rivalries, and kissing, but I did not expect So. Much. Trauma. Seeing these two broken babes bonding over some genuinely painful childhood experiences and family issues made my heart ache, and I think that strong emotional foundation is exactly what made the surprisingly spicy progression of their relationship work so well. Because holy hell, did these two get hella HOT together, don’t mind me blushing.
That said, the romance was somehow not even my favourite relationship in the entire book, because Sebastian and Orok's friendship absolutely stole my heart. Their bromance is genuinely one of the best I've read in ages, and I loved how Orok’s own personal struggles and growth got to shine so much. Also, seeing how he supported Seb’s rights and wrongs was just endlessly entertaining, these two are absolute BFF goals.
And sure, maybe the final conflict was frustrating, unfair, and a little rushed, but by that point I was having way too much fun to care all that much. The emotional payoff worked, the healing arcs landed beautifully, and the epilogue had me kicking my feet in absolute delight because it was so gloriously dumb and ridiculous and cheesy in exactly the right way. I love that for them, my messy little wizards deserved it.
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards was somehow exactly what I expected and also so much more than I anticipated, and it might not be perfect, but I think that is honestly all part of its charm. Come for the DnD-esque rivals to lovers romance fun, stay for the heartfelt story about healing, friendship, family trauma, and two deeply messy idiots learning how to let themselves be loved, what more could you want?! I absolutely devoured this gem, and I will absolutely be returning to this world because this is exactly my type of queer romantic chaos.
Look, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards might be a bit of a hot mess, but it is an incredibly entertaining hot mess, and it made me feel so many things that I can only adore it in all its corny, campy glory. Because honestly, a D&D-flavoured queer rivals-to-lovers fantasy romance that somehow manages to be fun, sexy, heartbreaking, adorable, and emotionally devastating all at once? That is everything I did not know I needed.
From the very first page, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards just oozes personality and it instantly had me completely charmed. The magical academia setting is playful in the best way, the world feels chaotic and alive, all the D&D-inspired details were so fun (especially the quirky adventuring party updates), and getting to experience it all through Seb’s delightfully chaotic narration (perfectly captured on audio btw!) made it all the more exciting.
He's the black sheep of a military family who chose academia instead, he's desperate to secure the Mageus Research Grant, and unfortunately his biggest obstacle is Elethior Tourael, a half-elf legacy student from a powerful weapons-manufacturing family who he has been locked in a (one-sided?) magical prank war with for years. And now they're very reluctantly forced to combine their research without killing, or falling for, each other… I mean, helloooo, tensionnn!!
Now, I usually prefer dual POV romances, and I do think I might have loved this even more if we'd gotten inside Thio's head too, but Seb honestly completely steals the show. Raasch does such a good job maintaining the tension while also making it painfully obvious that these two disaster gays have completely misjudged each other, and the cute reluctant allies to friends to lovers progression really tugged on my heartstrings. Every interaction felt like it was balancing on the edge between murder, making out, and emotional vulnerability (or sometimes all three at once), and I was living for that drama.
What surprised me most of all, though, was how emotional and dark this book got. Like, I went in expecting a some semi-cozy magical chaos, academic rivalries, and kissing, but I did not expect So. Much. Trauma. Seeing these two broken babes bonding over some genuinely painful childhood experiences and family issues made my heart ache, and I think that strong emotional foundation is exactly what made the surprisingly spicy progression of their relationship work so well. Because holy hell, did these two get hella HOT together, don’t mind me blushing.
That said, the romance was somehow not even my favourite relationship in the entire book, because Sebastian and Orok's friendship absolutely stole my heart. Their bromance is genuinely one of the best I've read in ages, and I loved how Orok’s own personal struggles and growth got to shine so much. Also, seeing how he supported Seb’s rights and wrongs was just endlessly entertaining, these two are absolute BFF goals.
And sure, maybe the final conflict was frustrating, unfair, and a little rushed, but by that point I was having way too much fun to care all that much. The emotional payoff worked, the healing arcs landed beautifully, and the epilogue had me kicking my feet in absolute delight because it was so gloriously dumb and ridiculous and cheesy in exactly the right way. I love that for them, my messy little wizards deserved it.
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards was somehow exactly what I expected and also so much more than I anticipated, and it might not be perfect, but I think that is honestly all part of its charm. Come for the DnD-esque rivals to lovers romance fun, stay for the heartfelt story about healing, friendship, family trauma, and two deeply messy idiots learning how to let themselves be loved, what more could you want?! I absolutely devoured this gem, and I will absolutely be returning to this world because this is exactly my type of queer romantic chaos.
December 22, 2025
I fear that I am obsessed with this 😌 Working together to heal trauma and do magic STEM research but make it sweet and funny and shockingly sexy??? I’d like 6 more please. 😍
June 13, 2025
magical rivals to lovers bliss
September 7, 2025
Oh man. I was so excited for this book - and it didn’t let me down. New to the queer romantasy genre, I remember reading the blurb for this and seeing the DND/critical role vibes and academic rivals to lovers - and thinking - this sounds awesome. A bit different, a lot spicy. It was such a fun good time, but also addressed some more serious issues with mental health and such.
In this magical collegiate world - there are two main kind of magics that this story is focused on - evocation and conjuration - and the two are usually at odds and in competition. Thus how the rivalry between Sebastian and Thio began. But when the grant they are both competing for gets awarded to … both of them, they have to work together on their projects. Sparks fly - in more ways than one. The past clashes with the present. And between family issues and academic pressures, they will both be tested. But when the tension between them reaches a boiling point - will their chemistry be enough to keep them together?
In this magical collegiate world - there are two main kind of magics that this story is focused on - evocation and conjuration - and the two are usually at odds and in competition. Thus how the rivalry between Sebastian and Thio began. But when the grant they are both competing for gets awarded to … both of them, they have to work together on their projects. Sparks fly - in more ways than one. The past clashes with the present. And between family issues and academic pressures, they will both be tested. But when the tension between them reaches a boiling point - will their chemistry be enough to keep them together?
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