Catching the bewitching beauty was easy. Keeping her? That’ll be more challenging…
Being kidnapped by aliens was bad enough. But participating in a contest where she’s chased down (quite literally) and forced to marry the demon who caught her? That was a nightmare. Or so Aurora thought. But when the giant, horned warrior who catches her turns out to be unexpectedly sweet, she’s forced to rethink everything…
Rhaego hadn’t intended to catch Aurora. He was supposed to win a different abducted human on behalf of her fated mate. But one look at her stole his breath along with all his best intentions. He’s never wanted anyone the way he wants her. Still…how could he expect a divine female like Aurora to stay with a blight like him once his mission is complete?
Gathering the abducted humans and smuggling them out of his homecity, Tuva, will be no easy feat. When it’s all said and done, can Rhaego and Aurora turn their marriage of convenience into a happily ever after?
Victoria Aveline has always enjoyed immersing herself in a good romance. Alpha males are her weakness but, while possessive dominating heroes have always been titillating, she craved something more. So she decided to create a world in which devastatingly sexy men could be aggressive and domineering but still bow down before the matriarchy.
Victoria lives with her husband, dog, and about sixty thousand badass honey-making ladies. When not writing or fantasizing about future characters, she enjoys traveling, reading, and sipping overpriced hipster cocktails.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ sci-fi romance ✨ demon-looking alien hero x human heroine ✨ he's a giant cinnamon roll on a secret mission ✨ she’s his reluctant but incredibly sweet bride ✨ bride hunt ✨ marriage of convenience ✨ forced proximity ✨ SLOW BURN ✨ "my little wife" ✨ fated mates ✨ yearning / mutual pining ✨ 3/5 🌶️ (heat/rut, primal play, chasing, scenting, marking) ✨ massive size difference ✨ plus size FMC ✨ kitchen witch things ✨ additional world-building ✨ political intrigue ✨ low angst romance with high stakes plot ✨ dual POV ✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
It's been a long time coming!!! Daddy Rhaego FINALLY gets his mate!
This story is jam-packed with some of the most intense yearning and pining I’ve ever read. Rhaego is the ultimate gentle giant. He’s been praying to the Goddess for a mate, only to find her in the middle of a critical mission… and she’s even more perfect than he could’ve imagined. Aurora wakes up on another planet, gets hunted like an animal, and is claimed by a demon-looking alien who turns out to be her new husband. Despite everything, she faces it all with strength, witchy intuition, and the kind of quiet compassion that makes her so easy to love. These two are thrown together by fate, and while they try to resist, whether it’s because of the mission or her fear, it doesn’t take long before they realize they’re meant for each other.
This story has some of THE sweetest and THE sexiest scenes from the entire series. Honestly, my jaw was hanging open during some of their spicy moments. . .
“How small are you, little witch?” He rasped, nipping the sensitive skin below her ear. “Let us find out.”
Yeah, I was kicking my feet and squealing with absolute delight during those sexy scenes. And while the smut was fantastic, it was the PINING and YEARNING these two do that gave me the most butterflies and made my heart soar. Aurora and Rhaego are two beautiful souls and their love is so pure. I am obsessed and truly enjoyed watching them fall in love. 🫶
BTW it is a SLOW BURN, so most of the spice doesn't happen till after the 60% mark, but strap in because the wait is worth the reward! 🥵
While the romance was super sweet, spicy, and very low angst, the plot was very high stakes. Rhaego is on a mission to free the human brides in his home city, so while he’s falling for Aurora, the two of them have to work together to complete the mission. There are some big reveals toward the end that raise the tension and set the stage for some exciting things in the next book.
I really loved getting to explore a new part of the world in this one—Tuva! It’s a city we haven’t been to yet, and the world-building was so good. I loved learning more about the people and their customs.
Also, Maggie!!!!! I LOVED her. She’s everything I want to be - hilarious, tough, and doesn’t take crap from anyone. Give me 400 pages of that sailor-mouthed queen and I’ll be happy. I really hope she gets her own story someday.
Thanks to my girl, Victoria Aveline, for providing an eARC of this book! As always, all opinions are my own.
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Clecanian Series
💎 = I LOVE them all but these are my absolute favorites
Coincidences were just the footprints of fate. _______
Tuvastans were lustful creatures at their core, and Rhaego was no exception. _______
“Appetizing little doe”, his simmer feven whispered. “A perfect catch for my last chase.” _______
Mine to tend. . . To mark . . . To lick. . . To breed. _______
Their eyes locked for the span of a heartbeat, and she whimpered. The sound echoed through his skull, and his hands stilled. Fear? “Is she afraid…of me?” Uncertainty cut through his single-minded fever, chased by a spike of sadness. “But I would cherish you, little doe.” _______
“I already told you. Just because some neanderthal caught me during the most fucked-up hame of tag in the universe does not mean I’m going to let myself be dragged back to his cave.” _______
There was no blade on Clecania that could slice him as deeply as that tear. _______
“I crave your natural smile. Your teeth are far too pretty to ever offend me.” _______
In truth, she’d very much like to try all the things he’d mentioned. Tea, a few puffs of indica, a massage, and an orgasm induced by this colossal gentleman demon sounded like the type of bedtime story dreams were made of. _______
“Does she have a name? Your goddess?” “Yes,” he smiled. “Her name is Aurora and Rhaego and mountain and stars and moon and tears and hope and death. She’s all things. _______
Sitting still, she was a work of art, but in motion? Goddess help him. He might just walk straight off a cliff if he couldn’t unlock his eyes from the hypnotic sway of her lush hips. _______
She was captivated and captivating, and Rhaego found himself envious of the plants that claimed her attention. _______
“It would please me to carry you.” _______
He’d never looked at her like this. So . . . sternly. “You will let me tend to you, female. . . You’ve done a poor job caring for yourself, so now I will see to it. And you. . . Will. Not. Argue,” he intoned with her lips parted to argue. _______
All he wanted was to trouble himself for her. To demonstrate the lengths at which he yearned to trouble himself for her. To prove he could make her happy in all ways and instill in her a sense that he was essential to her life and her happiness. Indispensable. _______
“That’s a beautiful thought,” she murmured. He traced the curve of her lovely face. “You inspire beautiful thoughts. _______
Her scent was a thing of perfection and yet lacking. And what it was missing. . . was him. _______
He wasn’t worthy of her yet - he knew that. But he’d do whatever it took to earn her. _______
She’d asked if this mission was worth it. He may lose his city, but if he could gain it, her affection would not merely be a consolation prize. It would be an echelon of reward he hadn’t known existed. And yes. For that, his loss would be worth it. _______
“What a clever wife I’ve caught.” _______
She wanted to climb her sad demon husband like a tree and make all his grief disappear. _______
“Did you mark me?” “Yes.” “Why” “Because. . . I wanted to.” “Because I’m a woman and your heat is approaching and you couldn’t help it? Or because I’m me.” “I couldn’t help it . . . because you are you.” _______
“The Goddess was unreasonably generous when she formed you. . . It would be blasphemous to hide the fruits of her labor.” _______
“How small are you, little witch?” He rasped, nipping the sensitive skin below her ear. “Let us find out.” _______
“Can you handle more, little doe?” Before taking a breath to assess whether she could, Aurora nodded, gasping, “Yes.” Rhaego groaned, head dipping to her breasts which he’d only gazed at so far. “You really are a perfect creature, aren’t you?” _______
She was so beautiful. The Goddess had stolen pieces of the sky to form her eyes and weaved pale morning sunlight through her hair. _______
“I fear I’ll fail. . . I fear I won’t earn you.” She kissed him then. A sweet, soft kiss that made his heart leap. “You’ve already earned me, Rhaego,” she whispered, making him shiver though he rejected her words. “I’m already yours.” _______
Maybe one day, with time and a little magic, he’d begin to truly see himself the way she did. _______
“You make me okay when I am not okay, little doe.” _______
“I wish there was less forgiveness in your heart,” he rasped through a tense jaw. Aurora swallowed the clog in her throat and placed a hand on his chest. “I wish there were more in yours.” _______
“You taste like divinity.” _______
“What can I do to make this easier for you?” “It would benefit me greatly if you abstained from being so fucking beautiful.” _______
“Be still, little doe. Breathe,” he purred against her ear, sending a shiver through her. “You’re mine tonight. You were made to take my cock.” _______
“I”m going to make your cunt into a mold. Every vein of my cock will be imprinted inside you.” _______
“He isn’t a blight.” Eyes watering, she turned to Phidro with a lifted chin. “He’s a gift. And your people don’t deserve him.” _______
He could not be unworthy. Because she was divine. And he was hers. _______
“I love you, Aurora. If no other truth exists in this world, know that will always remain.” A smile broke across her lips. “I knew it,” she breathed, grin splitting wider by the second. _______
When she was merely existing like this and he had the privilege of witnessing that existence, it was like sitting before a beautiful sea, watching the waves crash. Gazing into the hypnotic curl and snap of a fire. Listening to gentle rain on a misty fall day. It fed the soul. _______
I love Victoria Aveline, and I love the Clecanian series. I will continue to read this series and this author… But sometimes when you’re reading a series of standalones, you just don’t vibe with one of the books or one of the couples. This was that book for me.
Let me start with the pros: I loved Rhaego. I loved the chasing scene at the beginning. I loved the chemistry between the characters. Rhaego’s inner monologue was great. He was head over heels for her!!
What I didn’t think worked well for me was the forced proximity and the mega slow burn. I love both of these tropes, but together sometimes if nothing else is happening plot wise, it just feels like a long lull in the story. I was bored. :(
I didn’t vibe with Aurora either. The witch thing was not my favorite. I didn’t quite understand it. It wasn’t magic but just a modern day person who uses herbs except she kept calling it spells? My completely personal opinion was that it was a bunch of hocus pocus hogwash and kinda cringe lol. But someone else might love that!
I will still continue encouraging people to read this series. It has one of my favorite books of all time in it!! (Ruling Sikthand is actual perfection.) This one just happened to be my least favorite.
Also he gets horny and attracts bugs. I just had a nightmare about bugs last night. You can see my dilemma. 😅 (But I do see how it was a romantic moment for Aurora and Rhaego.)
I coulda done without reading the word “musk” 50 times. It started to sound like another language.
I will keep reading Victoria and this series, this is just that one book for me that will probably be a skip in my rereads. ☹️
Reminder: 3 stars is NOT a bad book!!! Victoria’s writing still shined in this. I think this has the potential to be a favorite for a lot of people, it just wasn’t for me.
I was so excited for this book omg, I loved Rheago's character since he was introduced, I loved this universe I have enjoyed most of the books in this series except saving verrako because I hate mis understanding trope. Then I read ruling Skithand and omg I cannot recommend that enough, please read it if you haven't.
Now to this book i was bored omg it was so boring, Aurora and Rheago were both nice I found them both a bit lame, there was forced proximity but it didnt really move the plot along. literally they were hanging out the entire time as roommates. even when they confessed their love to each other nothing happened still. The chemistry is missing for me.
I wanted more from the story, I wanted to know more about the political unrest, the mission, but instead it was just them talking about bugs because she interested and then shes a witch but not really she just likes to manifest and cook while manifesting. Rheago wasn't sexy either he was quite lame he disappointed me to be honest.
It wasnt spicy until you are almost 90% done w the book. I was looking forward to this book so much am I a little upset. I wish she took more time to write a better book. It felt like shes getting bored of this universe. This is my least favorite of the series.
I will go and re read ruling skithand now to console myself.
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES Aurora (late 20s–early 30s) | Rhaego (?)
FEATURES ∘ alien / human romance ∘ fated mates ∘ sunshine fmc / golden retriever mmc ∘ sweet and gentle but strong and primal hero ∘ predator/prey play
REVIEW Rhaego, the demon-looking, marshmallow alien man, has been on my (and I’m sure everyone’s!) radar since Choosing Theo. This book did not disappoint!
The progression of the romance was perfect. Rhaego had so much empathy for Aurora. Aurora was so resilient after being awoken on a planet of aliens without a single human or coherent explanation in sight. I appreciated that her anxiety didn’t vanish instantly, but through his actions, Rhaego proved that he wasn’t just a non-threat, he was also a safe person.
Aurora’s kindness and love was so healing to Rhaego. I loved how once she got over her (understandable) fear, she was open and affectionate to a man who has been rejected his whole life. Rhaego deserved someone kindhearted. Likewise, Aurora deserved someone patient and devoted to her. They were both just such kind characters that love with their entire beings, and it made for such a sweet romance.
Now, I’m going to be honest, the scent glands did kind of squick me out, but I was also weirdly into it ? I think just because I kept imagining them as sweat glands, it was gross to think he was rubbing them into her hair and skin. But he was being all possessive, marking her with his scent, and that was HOT. So on the one hand ew, on the other hand ooh.
It’s been a while since I’ve read the other books, so my memory was a little dicey on the external plot. However, it was recapped here pretty well. Essentially, an evil queen is taking away the humans’ rights through shady, abhorrent, and illegal means and sent them out to different cities like they’re party favors. I was rooting for Rhaego in his mission and felt Aurora’s worry and pride for him.
Victoria Aveline definitely has a dilemma on her hands because a certain character is going to have to have a hell of an arc to ever get me to like them.
I’ve waited years for this story, and it was well worth it. This series deserves all the love it gets and more. I cannot wait for future books, but I WILL wait happily and patiently!
OW/OM DRAMA none CHEATING none THIRD ACT BREAKUP none ENDING HEA — month later epilogue (external plot still not concluded but this couple is solid)
POV dual / third person SPICE LEVEL 4 / 5 RATING 5 / 5
“He bent to retrieve another bag from beneath his bed, and she sighed at the firm curve of his ass. Just wait, she silently promised. I’ll get you, my pretty.”
📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 476 pages 👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Victoria Aveline 🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: published independently 📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 21 May 2025
What you can expect: — Adult Science Fiction Romance — Third Person X Dual POV — Horned Alien Hero X Human Heroine — Marriage of Convenience — Primal Play — Slow Burn Romance — Grumpy-ish X Sunshine — Size Difference (iykyk) — Possessive Hero X Scent Marking — Plus Size/Curvy Heroine — Political Intrigue — Planet In Peril
𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: Bewitching Rhaego is the eight instalment in the Clecanian series by author Victoria Aveline. I can't even begin to articulate just how much fun I've been having with this series from the very beginning in Choosing Theo, and there truly is no limit to the number of books that I hope make up its entirety as I find myself hoping that it will never end. Aveline knows how to grip her readers from the very first page that find you unable to do anything else but become consumed by the words narrating a beautifully romantic tale built on hope and the belief for the prosperous future. I really enjoyed the pacing of this story as I experienced it to feel slower than any of the other books of the series prior to this one which enabled me to truly savour the character exploration and romantic development between our two main characters. I adore that the series is built upon the significance in bonds and the sense of community that can be found within embracing the differences that can pull you together in the most unconventional circumstances. No two characters are the same with their distinctively unique narrative voices that open your eyes into the world being forged into your mind through their point-of-view. I've had a great time getting to see the world continue to explore and expand with every new corner of the world that we visit, and I must admit that Tuva was easily one of my favourite places on Clecania yet. Aveline's richly imaginative and creative writing ability seamlessly detailed the city with clarity which made it all the more easier for me as the reader to envision. This book was everything that I hoped for our male main character after eagerly awaiting his story from his introduction in the very first book, and I cannot wait to see what comes next for our vast cast of characters in their bid to protect the humans who continue to fight against the loss of their rights to autonomy and a voice demanding to be heard in an environment determined to silence them.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: The focus of Bewitching Rhaego seemed to primarily be on the budding dynamic between our two main protagonists, Rhaego and Aurora, as they learned to understand their differences whilst working together to rescue the human women who have unknowingly found themselves being forced to become residents in the tough and unforgiving homeland in Tuva. This book picks up very quickly where the last book of the series leaves off with Rhaego being tasked with the important mission to rescue the small group of women from Tuva and take them to their allies in a group of dissidents who disprove of the actions of their governing Queen. What was supposed to be quick mission is immediately derailed when Rhaego finds himself drawn and bewitched by one of the human women he has sworn to protect and by all intents... was never supposed to be his to claim. When plans go awry, Rhaego is forced to confide in Aurora and rely on her help to see the women to safety. The political sub-plot that has been in development since the very first book didn't seem to be the priority this time which was a surprise as I expected this to come more to the forefront in importance, but in all honesty this just continues to make me keen for more in my wish for the downfall of Vila and her nefarious plans. I had the most amazing time getting to focus on better getting to know Aurora and Rhaego independently and as a couple who have become such a light and symbol of hope, and in the end all I feel is softness and adoration towards them both in my love for their journey. I cannot wait to see what will come next for the series with the rising stakes seeming to drive the plot forward, and for the reveal in who our next two main characters will be.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Oh Aurora my sweet summer child. How I adored her bright energy and adaptable spirit that made her the perfect fated partner to our loving yet insecure horned demon. She is the perfect combination of soft yet untamed in her willingness to embrace her true self within a new and terrifying environment regardless of the opinions of her new alien peers. Aurora approached her new circumstances with (understandable) trepidation yet a fierce awe that was wonderfully depicted and it felt beautiful to experience her tumultuous emotions from not only her own point of view, but also from the outside perspective in Rhaego's mind. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the way that Aurora learned to embrace her fears and use them as a means to push forward during the uncertainty and anxiety that plagued her mind throughout the entire duration of her journey. Her quiet resolve and formidable strength shined through the page as she worked hard to tackle every new obstacle with a solution that proved her worthiness as a partner in crime. The way Aurora immediately dove into the realities of her life whilst retaining her kindness and open-hearted nature made it impossible to not fall in-love with this beautiful character from her very first appearance on-page, and I had the best time getting to witness her embrace the new world around her with curiosity and awe. I was laughing so hard at Aurora digging into her witchy roots as she used her growing knowledge to ensure her gentle giant became as bewitched to her as she had with him. There's no denying her determination that sparks when Aurora sets her mind to something, and there's no denying that this beautiful soul has become one of my favourite female main characters of the series to date
My man, my maaaaaan. Oh Rhaego... how long I have waited for you and how worthwhile the wait for your story was. He was everything I expected him to be and more with his selfless nature and keenness to uphold the strong moral values that he carries vitally as a means to his existence. I always knew that Rhaego would be an utterly devoted character to his woman but my goodness was it an otherworldly experience to actually see it for myself. The way he exudes pride and caution over every miniscule task that he think would be pleasing to Aurora and her wellbeing was so heart-warming as it triggered every emotion that I am capable of expressing. His warmth and excitement over finally finding a woman who was receptive to his attentions actually broke my heart as it forced me to imagine the dismissive nature from the females of his own species that had forced him towards that emotional space. My poor man faced so much injustice and falsehood due to superstition that was not his fault, and I hated having to watch his own people refuse to see the light and strength that he offers without asking for anything in return. Seeing Rhaego's love for his home city and all of its people despite their cruel and disdainful regard towards him just further cemented my love for his character and the heart of gold that he carries in that big, muscular chest. He's a far better person than me because I would've abandoned those people a long time ago no matter how proud I felt about my heritage. It was magnetic to experience the wonders of Tuva from Rhaego's own eyes as it became very clear how important his home and culture is, and how cautiously optimistic he felt as introduced Aurora to the wonder of it all with a sensitivity towards the turmoil that she has endured. Seeing his confidence and boldness grow the more he was recognised for his worth was everything that I had hoped to see after experiencing his own inner turmoil and resignation over his fate. I had a lot of fun getting to see Rhaego experience and fight against his baser instincts as the Heat approached, as the gentle side of his nature warred with the need to dominate and claim his woman. He's such a wonderful contrast of himself and it was great to see a such a multitude of attributes that contributed to towards his personality. I love the sweet side of Rhaego with everything in me... but feral Rhaego with his massive stature and drool-worthy chest hair? Took me out. Deceased. Gone. I flatlined and had to be brought back to life because my god did this man have me swooning left and right with his filthy mouth and consistent yearning. There has been no character throughout this series more deserving than Rhaego in having his love, devotion and respect returned to him without question in his perfect match. Happy Rhaego makes me happy... so thank you to Victoria Aveline for fulfilling my heart's greatest desire and giving our sweetheart demon the mate that he deserves.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: I think it's safe to imagine that poor Aurora never imagined herself waking up on an alien planet, being chased through the woods by a horned demon and then declared the wife of the male who caught her in less than a week. It's honestly admirable how quickly she learned to adapt because I would have understood had she needed a much longer 'freak out' period before resigning to her new reality. I really appreciated how much time went into developing Aurora and Rhaego's relationship despite his instantaneous attraction towards her due to how different her circumstances were to her fellow humans. The humans prior to this book were all granted a period of time under the rule of the late-Queen of Tremanta who advocated for the women to have the time to adjust to their new planet before being forced to adhere to their customs. Aurora had been woken up and immediately thrust into the carnage of the Tuva marriage ceremony with no grace or kindness... but I loved getting to see the strong woman that emerged from those circumstances in spite of it all. I was entirely unsurprised to see Rhaego behave like the true gentleman that he is as he refused to push or force Aurora into a situation that made her feel uneasy or unsafe. The way he continued to check on her physical, mental and emotional wellbeing created a solid foundation to build their relationship on which made it feel all the more realistic. It was special to witness the trust and friendship blossom between the pair whilst they both came to terms with their feelings and what they wanted to do about them. Getting to see Aurora build Rhaego up from his insecurities brought tears to my eyes which felt perfectly balanced with the resolute wall of strength that he provided Aurora to fall into, should she ever be in need of it. Aurora and Rhaego seemed to instinctively understand each other and immediately recognise what the other needed at any given moment. The magic that sparked upon their chemistry that felt earned as opposed to instantaneous which I think is what makes their relationship so special. Both characters truly dedicated their time and put in the work to learning about each other openly and without judgment which created the unshakeable dynamic that is forged by the end. The way their relationship evolved into a willingness in which they accept and fight for each other without question or thought just confirms how fated their love truly is. I love these two sweet and kind beings with everything I have, and I couldn't have been happier (and intrigued) by the ending of the book in anticipation of what will come next.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I truly don't think I'll ever not love the Clecanian series with my entire heart and soul. There's just something so special about the intricate and masterful weaving of the author's fingertips that continues to bring our cast of characters together with purpose and intent as the story continues to evolve with every new release. Bewitching Rhaego was a wonderful addition to the series as it offered a brief reprieve on the dire circumstances that is beginning to plague the world that they reside in. I love that the consistent presence of love and hope continues to uplift the story during the dark themes that threaten to overshadow the love stories being foretold. I'm so excited over the prospect of how much lore remains to be explored and divulged into... and what that means for the fate of the series. And by that I mean that I'm hoping for many, many more books before the series ultimately concludes. I'm still highly awaiting Izzo's story, and the introduction of Maggie in Bewitching Rhaego has me optimistic that she may have a focal part to play in her own potential upcoming story. Two side characters that I desperately miss and find myself hoping to see get their own books are Alno and Khes from Ruling Sikthand... but honestly I'll read anything and anything that Aveline puts in front of me. She has already long been an auto-buy author of mine, and there is absolutely no way that it would ever change.
It was really slow, like super painfully slow. Out of all the books I've read in this series, I feel like this one definitely has the slowest pace. And it didn't work for me. Then everything was crammed in the last 10%, and I don't even have the time to absorb the revelations that were thrown in there. It's as if readers were just expected to roll with it and accept things for what they are. 🫠
Anyway, the mission was a failure, and I wasn't a fan of how the whole mating thing played out for the side characters. Such a shame it didn't work for those people, and the man/alien had to slowly die because his mate didn't want him. That was just tragic. 😭 I wish he got a happy ending, but I guess we can never have it all always.
Overall, it took me four freaking days to complete this. That's how it was so dragging for me. I probably should have DNF'd, but I really want to see it through, so… 🤷♀️ Anyhoo, it didn't quite turn out the way I was hoping, but I'm sure other readers will enjoy the story more than I did.
This pains me to rate this so low, but truly in the grand scheme of the series and how the other couples were, this book felt lacking.
I was so looking forward to Rhaego's book, like so many people were. He was introduced early in the series as this loveable giant red alien demon. He was always so kind to everyone, taught the humans how to read, and was so just so sweet. And with the way the last book in the series ended, I figured there would be more regarding the overall plot regarding the new queen and the humans.
This book sadly, felt like a bottle episode. At the beginning and end there were mentions of what needed to happen and Rhaego's mission. But it seemed as though the ONLY focus was on Rhaego and Aurora. Which I normally wouldn't be bothered by that, but what I love about this series is that there is this overarching plot across all the books and this one barely had that.
And for being a romsnce book, this was the slowest of slow burns. There was zero tension. It just felt like a weird friends to lovers/just roommates situation. Like yall...no penetration till 88%. What!?
Overall it was cute and enjoyable. But being in love with this series, this one didn't hit the bar. And that could just be because I had high hopes.
The following ratings are out of 5: Romance: 💙💜💚🩷🤎 Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪 Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔 World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍 Character development: 😋😀😍🤨 Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙 Narration Type: Solo Narration
Author: Victoria Aveline Genre: Science Fiction Romance Narrator: Stephen Dexter
🦸🏼♀️ The Heroine: Aurora
Aurora’s journey begins in terror: abducted from Earth while on a quiet research mission in the Smoky Mountains, she awakens on a strange world where human women are bartered as unwilling brides. Her dread intensifies when she’s sent to a city of towering red aliens with massive horns — creatures who resemble demons from ancient lore. Forced into a brutal marriage ritual known as The Chase, Aurora must flee through the forest, only to be captured by the alien destined to claim her. Yet beneath her fear lies resilience, and Aurora proves she’s far more than a pawn in the queen’s cruel game.
🦸🏻♂️ The Hero: Rhaego
Rhaego, born in Tuva, knows his return home will mark the end of his ties to the city of his birth. The manipulative queen of Tremanta has begun “gifting” human women to loyal cities, treating them as commodities. Rhaego despises this practice, recognizing the trauma these women have endured. Alongside his loyal team, he intercepts shipments to protect them. His closest friend, Marcel, suffers deeply after his fated mate Diana is stolen away — a bond revealed by the mystical change in his eyes. Determined to help, Rhaego risks everything to defy the queen and reclaim Diana, even if it means exile.
📚 The Plot
Rhaego and Marcel devise a daring plan to rescue Diana during The Chase, the annual tradition where males pursue females to spark mating instincts. Knowing Diana will be among the captives, Rhaego enters the ritual, risking betrayal and banishment to save his friend’s mate. But fate has its own designs: Aurora becomes entwined in his mission, and together they must navigate danger, loyalty, and the pull of destiny.
🌟 What I Loved
• Rhaego’s vulnerability struck me most. Branded a “blight” since birth, he carries the weight of rejection and self-doubt. Aurora’s compassion and strength help him see his worth, creating a romance that feels both tender and hard-won. • This installment is easily my favorite in the series so far. Victoria Aveline continues to expand her universe with fresh intrigue, and I’m eager to see where she takes us next.
💔 What Could Have Been Stronger
• The cultural backdrop of the bride hunts and marriages felt underdeveloped. Rhaego’s history of multiple short-lived marriages seemed to contradict the premise of abducted humans being “essential” for compatibility. A deeper explanation would have enriched the world-building. • The pacing sagged in the middle. A touch more danger or action could have kept the tension alive.
🎙️ Narration
Stephen Dexter delivers once again. His deep yet gentle voice lends gravity to Rhaego’s struggles and warmth to Aurora’s resilience. While I usually prefer dual or duet narration for romance, Dexter’s solo performance pairs beautifully with Aveline’s storytelling. Having listened to all eight books in this series, I can say his narration elevates the experience every time.
💬 Final Thoughts
This book blends high-stakes rescue, reluctant romance, and themes of self-worth into a compelling listen. Aurora and Rhaego’s story is both harrowing and heartfelt, and despite a few uneven moments, it shines as a standout in the series.
I don’t think ya’ll understand - I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book for ages!! & now it’s Rhaego’s time to shine❤️🔥
And boy did it not disappoint!
Rhaego, the manhimbo? male that you are! I knew his characterization would be nothing short of the most humble, tenderhearted, considerate, and charming MMC one could ask for. And yet I was still blown away at how Victoria managed to deliver on all fronts + many more!
While I was super excited to read this for Rhaego alone, I near instantly fell in love with our dear FMC, Aurora. What an absolute sweetheart! The little witch is the perfect pairing for this big red guy, and I was kicking my feet in joy at how well their story was written.
Thrown into the midst of a cold, xenophobic society - during the most important holiday of their culture to boot - poor Aurora is completely blindsided by the alien world she now finds herself in. And it's absolutely terrifying (ngl, I would also be scared out of my wits as well??). So, who could really blame her for having a less than pleasant first interaction with her soon-to-be-love-interest?? Still, it broke my heart as Rhaego had to slowly win her over and prove himself as not the big bad monster he looks.. (would we count this as a beauty and the beast retelling if you squint real hard? maybe?)
Their complicated, less than ideal situation made for the perfect primer for one of the best slow burn romances I've read in a while. Aveline is in no rush to get to the HEA, and each plot point was well thought out and planned so well. While I love this series for the characters most of all, I also hold the Clecanian series near and dear to my heart because of how breathtaking the world building is. Each novel takes readers to a whole new world and it truly feels like a fairytale. And wow. Tuva was quite the setting for this book + their culture was so interesting in comparison to the other cities we've seen in past books.
Some stand out moments for me were the extended cast of new characters. I didn't expect to get caught up in anyone's story outside of the main pairing, but I was very much intrigued by the people from Rhaego's past, the new humans, and where things left off at the end. I won't go into spoilery details here, but wow. I could have easily devoured another 300 pages of this book no joke if it meant getting more from the additional plotlines!
Tropes: • slow burn • fated mates • marriage of convenience • looks like he could kill you, is actually a cinnamon roll (but could totally kill you, too, probably)
If there's one thing to take away from this review, it's get your hands on this book right. now. You won't regret it!
Now, time for me to go back to the beginning and read the series from the start again because this is making me nostalgic...
This is the horniest book in the series and I’m not just talking about the red, demon-looking aliens of Tuva.
Rhaego my sweet baby angel has been the MMC I’ve been most excited for since book 1. He’s the definition of “looks like he could kill you but is a cinnamon roll.” I had high expectations after the banger that is Ruling Sikthand and this did not disappoint! The relationship between him and Aurora had me grinning and kicking my feet in bed- I finished this in 24 hours!
While I felt the B-plot with the politics didn’t progress as much as I wanted it to, I loved exploring another city on Clecania. Especially with such a different culture than the first 6 books!
If you like omegaverse or went crazy for the scenting scene in Bride by Ali Hazelwood, you’re about to go feral for this. And I’ll push my horns at anyone who doesn’t love this book just as much as I did.
Thank you so much to the Author and publisher for the arc! Bewitching Rhaego is out May 21st, 2025!
*NON SPOILERY FAVE QUOTES FROM THE BOOK* 👇🏾
“He thought she would have at least allowed him to dirty his hands so she didn’t have to. But she wanted to do this herself too?! What chore **would** she allow him?”
“Why did you offer to bring me if you knew this would happen?” she whispered while eyeing all the shoppers sneaking glances in their direction. “Because I knew it’d bring you joy.” Her gaze swung back to his, but she was having trouble finding her words. His head dipped low, and his brows lifted. “It does, doesn’t it?” Throat dry and insides squirming with heat, she nodded. A small, relieved smile lifting his lips. “Then that’s all that matters.” SWOON
“He bent to retrieve another bag from beneath his bed, and she sighed at the firm curve of his ass. Just wait, she silently promised. I’ll get you, my pretty.” PLS 😭
I’ve adored Rhaego since book one and his book did not disappoint. He had low self esteem and oodles of trauma from being “the blight”, and that made him overly selfless. Aurora was sweet and had her own trauma, both past and present, that informed the way she approached their relationship. They had to learn to trust each other with their emotional well being. Aurora grew into her self confidence and became someone braver and bolder than she was before. Rhaego was slower to build some self confidence, but by the end did start to believe he deserved some good things.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: abduction, forced marriage, medical scans completed without knowledge, violence, possible death of side characters, blood, bullying and abuse, confinement, dubcon (MMC goes into heat and plans not to have sex with FMC, when she wants to have sex, but when half aware chases her down), grief from past death of parent figure, ill side character, political machinations, drugging, dangerous altitude sickness and syncope, psychosis/delirium of side character, cliff climbing, fish attack (off page)
This series always hits the spot. Fluffy, sweet, and ridiculous (in a fun way), Bewitching Rhaego has just enough angst and character development in it to keep it grounded.
Rhaego and Aurora made a great match. Steven Dexter, the narrator, does a phenomenal purr. Fantastic 😊
😈 So. Much. Yearning. 😈 Picking your wife fresh flowers from the forest and then chasing her through it is the bare minimum and I won’t accept anything less 😈 Rhaego and Aurora are so fantastic together, they inspire such beautiful thoughts 🥹 😈 I’ve been wanting Rhaego’s book since meeting him in Choosing Theo and this did not disappoint.
Loved it!!
I received this book as an ARC but all thoughts are my own.
That's me after I finished that book. I don't think I should elaborate more. I think anyone that has read that book UNDERSTANDS THOSE EMOJIS.
I wonder how, we as women, are still being punished because of Eve by having God not give us species like Rhaego to adore the shit out of us and treat us like precious porcelain. Anyway, we have Victoria to live these fantasies with.
THE GENTLE GIANT FROM SPACE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GENTLE GIANT THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN LITERARY HISTORY. I know she took her time writing this, TIME SPENT PERFECTING THIS FUCKING STORY. VICTORIA AVELINE THIS WAS A MOTHERFUCKING MASTERPIECE.
I lived through every second of that slow burn, every minute of yearning AND BOY DID THAT DEMON/GOD/ALIEN YEARN.
Aurora is the equivalent of a vanilla cupcake with extra frosting and sprinkles on top. THAT BABY GURL should be wrapped in bubble wrap all day every day from how PRECIOUS she is.
WHAT a book. WHAT A FUCKING BOOK I WANT FUCKING MORE.
I thought maybe it was because I haven’t read the clecanian series in almost a year it was taking me a bit to get into book, no, just turns out book was boring.
Rheago and Aurora just got high, putzed around in the kitchen and looked at bugs. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the 2. This was a super dupe slow burn and they don’t PIV until like 80%.
There’s a small plot twist at 95% that I saw a mile away.
4/5⭐️ Раего зацікавив мене відразу ж, як тільки з'явився. чоловік, який виглядає буквально як демон, але насправді – великий плюшевий ведмедик? так, давайте!
з Авророю вони гармонійно поєднуються. до цієї дівчини я всю книжку відчувала симпатію й розуміння. коротше, зачарувала добротою :) Раего ж теж бусічка, тому разом вони – те, що треба. книжка велика, і стосунки розвивалися достатньо швидко. мені сподобалося, що не все було побудовано на плотських бажаннях – було багато глибини, ніжності й турботи.
наприкінці лише був один момент, який мене стурбував (тому мінус бал), але загалом – усе добре.
я дуже хочу, щоб авторка продовжила серію. виходить справді класно, мені не набридає. у другорядних героїв залишилася відкрита кінцівка, тому я сподіваюся ще дізнатися, як у них усе складеться.
So i love this series so much. Love the idea, the plot, the relationships, everything!
This book fell so short compared to everything else. I continuously stopped reading in the middle of chapters because I was kinda unengaged with the story line. Slow burn and forced proximity are some of my favorite tropes but it felt like that was the entire story. It also felt kinda insta relationship-y to me if that makes sense.
Idk the whole thing kinda fell flat with minimal engagement and I so with the story was continued rather than paused during this book.
I am frankly disappointed. I was waiting for the book of Rhaego since he made his first appearance in the book of Theo and I left, in a way, falling in love with his character and the care with which he seemed to treat humans; and suddenly we are reading a totally different Rhaego, not at all faithful to the male that we had been painting throughout several books and I only have one question: Why? 😭
I feel that in this book the whole essence of the series was lost, to such an extent that it looks like a filler chapter and Rhaego did not deserve that.
Until now my least favorite book in the series was Luka, at the time it seemed a slightly loose story and I do not know how, but this book fell even further down. At least the story of Luka had a reason for being and gave, in a way, continuity to the story. None of this happens with the book of Rhaego. The main plot is set aside by a romance that is not even well constructed. What was that insta love and chaos in the last 10%?, after so much stagnation out of nowhere many things were happening, it was too frustrating.
To all the readers who had a crush on Rhaego, a moment of silence for the story that could have been but wasn't 🥺💔
I wanted to love this book so bad. I was so excited for this book and for Rhaego. I even loved Aurora
But this entire book felt … lacking. It feels like Victoria has low key fallen out of love with this world and that makes me so sad. I definitely could see how there would be more books in the series and I really hope there are.
I just really felt like this book lacked something that the rest of them had.
I did love the relationship and romance though. It was beautifully written, it just didn’t seem like it was written the same way as the others.
The fact that a mated man is dying makes me so sad, the fact that there was very little political talk in this book was concerning considering how much work needs to be done in the universe. The epilogue felt extremely rushed and thrown together, like she didn’t care how their story ended.
This book just feels like a bit of a goodbye and I really hope it isn’t.
:(
I still love this series and author and will continue to read anything she puts out.
ugh I wanted to like this book so much more than i actually did because I've had such a soft spot for rhaego from the previous books but this was not it 🫠 70% of the book was just about the relationship developing between rhaego and aurora and i was BORED. where was the plot?? the urgency?? smh
I've waited years for Rhaego's book and it did not disappoint! I have missed our big, alien, demon daddy.
Rhaego has to return to his homeland to rescue a group of humans who have been sent to Tuva and entered into the marriage ceremony against their will. Rhaego has to enter the marriage ceremony and unintentionally catches Aurora. Now Aurora and Rhaego are forced to live together whilst he figures how to get the group of humans out of Tuva.
This alien was SMITTEN the moment he saw Aurora and the absolute panic he experienced every time he messed up was so adorable - "You'll need a seat." Speaking more to himself, he scanned the room and frowned. "Wives don't normally linger in the kitchen. No seats."
Victoria Aveline's writing was so enjoyable in Bewitching Rhaego and she managed to write Rhaego's love of Aurora so beautifully - Rhaego breathed in time with her, wanting the essence of the garden to exist in both their lungs at the same time. Like a shared breath. I feel like this is easily her best book!
I have pissed my purring aliens so much - Clutching the flower to her chest, she beamed up at Rhaego. His purr rumbled out of him for a moment before he muffled it and blushed. Rhaego being so shy about his purr was the cutest thing, and he absolutely had no control of it around Aurora.
Aurora's development felt so natural in this book. It didn't feel rushed but she didn't immediately want to jump his bones. When she finally started to see how kind and amazing Rhaego was, you could tell she was slowly realising that she was falling in love with him. She wanted to climb her sad demon husband like a tree and make all his grief disappear. GIRL SAME.
Now the plot twists! Let's just saw my jaw DROPPED when it was revealed who .
My only complaint would be that I wished we had more plot development. There was such a huge focus on Rhaego and Aurora's relationship development, I felt like the overarching storyline was ignored for the most part.
I received an advanced copy for free through the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I probably say this every time I finish a book in this series, but this might be my favorite one so far. As soon as it was announced that Rhaego was FINALLY getting his mate, I knew this book was going to have me kicking my feet and giggling like a crazy person. This book did not disappoint. This book had me swooning, sighing, laughing out loud, gasping, and almost had me throw my kindle across the room.
When Rhaego was introduced I knew this big ol red teddy bear was going to be a favorite of mine. Aurora definitely woke up from Cryosleep and took one look at our man Rhaego, and started singing “Give me a big boy, I need big boyyyyy.” Like how could you not look at him and fall madly in love with him? And I KNEW this man ooooozed BDE and little miss Aurora *ahem* was definitely not disappointed in that department🤭😏
These books are honestly some of my favorite books to read. I’ve been looking forward to this book for years now and it did not disappoint. So if you like cinnamon roll men that can man handle their women like it’s no problem, love a good alien romance, love forced proximity, marriage of convenience/forced marriage/arranged marriage and are down for the smutty smut smut. Then this is the series for you! Read it. Love it. Obsess over it. Then message me and thank me.
I wish I had read this before Monsterotica so I could have yelled at Victoria Aveline for the EMOTIONAL DAMAGE this book caused. (JK, I love you)
The Clecanian series has to be my favorite Alien Romance series and is one I always recommend to people coming off IPB and looking for a new fix. Victoria’s gonna torture you with the slowest burn imaginable in this one, and you’ll thank her for it.
Super enjoyable. But the slow burn might’ve flown a bit too close to the sun with this one.
This book had: ✨ yearning and pining to the absolute max ✨ a marriage of convenience with the hint of ‘gender swapped’ alien culture that makes this series so great ✨ she ~does~ get chased ✨ the SLOWEST of slow burns
This book is 450+ pages of pure forced proximity slow burn. • Was the yearning squeezing my heart to bits? Yes. • Was there major on-page falling and romance plot pay-off? 💯 • Did almost nothing else happen (besides pining) for the bulk of the book? Yeahh. And that’s why this book went from a five star to a four star, for me.
Also, points for such a uniquely characterized FMC. Because she genuinely thought she was a witch. And she didn’t let waking up on an alien planet stop her. She made potions from alien planet herbs she knew nothing about and imbued objects with full moon rays from lunar cycles in another galaxy.
I mean, delulu is the selulu and I appreciated her commitment to the bit 😆
The way I will absolutely DEVOUR every book in this series for the rest of time. Like they’re so good?? Sikthand is still my fav, but Rhaego?? He’s so sweet, I love him.
Fun read and I love Rheago but I just didn’t vibe too much with it.
I was super excited for this one as I loved the last one and this series is just great imo. I concluded that monster romances and sci-fi romances are completely my jam, so you would think this book would be an easy 5-star read for me. However, I felt that this book had some elements that I just did not enjoy as much. For starters, I was not the biggest fan of the FMC. She was not horrible, but just not my favourite. She is supposed to be this modern witch, and I just don't vibe too much with that. Like, cool, but not my cup of tea. Although I read this book quite fast, it was a bit boring in some parts? However, my biggest problem with this book was the ending, it was well written but over so quickly. The last chapter could have been spread out over three more chapters and addressed everything a bit more thoroughly. I am not the biggest fan of books that end the moment the main characters say they love each other, without even having one full chapter together to explore their relationship. I would also have loved to see more of the whole Marion (was that the dudes name?) problem, because tbh I kinda understood Diana. Like what she did was horrible, but can you imagine you have been kidnapped and then there is this plan to kidnap you again because there is this dude that needs to be with you for the rest of your life, or he dies? and you dont even know him or like what mates even are. I think this could have been explored more to make this book, and overall series, so much better.
However, this book was definitely not bad, I enjoyed it overall a lot. Rhaego is a cutiepie and also just deliciously big. I liked the banter between him and Aurora, and think their relationship was cute. The smut was great. Also, the side characters were interesting and a nice addition. The plot twist was seen from miles away, but I guess that is fine, it is no mystery book, so whatever.
Overall, one of the weaker books in this series, but definitely not a bad book at all. Excited to see what is coming next!