What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Willow Witch
"Be the biggest, baddest witch in town so no one ever dares bully you again." That was her grandmother's advice and it's been Emberlyn's law since she was a child. It's kept the local coven at bay - until now...
They're furious she won't give up Black Willow Manor, her grandmother's prized home and worse - that the land beside it and Emberlyn herself has been left to Jax 'Ripper' Stone, a rugged, brooding Alpha werewolf.
The chemistry between them has always been white hot but Ripper knows to be careful with witches- especially one with her reputation. Now they are allies it becomes harder to ignore - Emberlyn calls to him. Drives him to claim her. But danger's closing in, threatening to take her from him.
Not that Emberlyn can't handle it. She's no damsel. Doesn't need a hero. Sometimes, it takes a wicked witch to get things done. And Emberlyn has ever excelled at being wicked.
Welcome to Chilgrave... HEA guaranteed!
They're furious she won't give up Black Willow Manor, her grandmother's prized home and worse - that the land beside it and Emberlyn herself has been left to Jax 'Ripper' Stone, a rugged, brooding Alpha werewolf.
The chemistry between them has always been white hot but Ripper knows to be careful with witches- especially one with her reputation. Now they are allies it becomes harder to ignore - Emberlyn calls to him. Drives him to claim her. But danger's closing in, threatening to take her from him.
Not that Emberlyn can't handle it. She's no damsel. Doesn't need a hero. Sometimes, it takes a wicked witch to get things done. And Emberlyn has ever excelled at being wicked.
Welcome to Chilgrave... HEA guaranteed!
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2025
175 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Wright
66 books14.5k followersSuzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
December 28, 2025
4 Stars
I want to get something down here before I completely forget...
I am a huge Suzanne Wright fan and will devour everything she writes. Never mind that all of her books basically have the same character set and formula. I just don't care. It just hits for me.
I enjoyed this new world and I really liked Emberlyn. I hope there are more books. You know I'll be reading them.
I want to get something down here before I completely forget...
I am a huge Suzanne Wright fan and will devour everything she writes. Never mind that all of her books basically have the same character set and formula. I just don't care. It just hits for me.
I enjoyed this new world and I really liked Emberlyn. I hope there are more books. You know I'll be reading them.
December 11, 2025
5++ stars!
Black Willow Witch was the perfect vibe mashup of Suzanne’s shifter series and her Dark in You series. I LOVED this story so hard. Suzanne brought the drama, the sizzle and all her signature elements I love in her stories.
Emberlyn is a powerful witch that’s been isolated and let down most of her life by those that should have been in her corner. But instead of flailing in the deep end she rose above it all and became a graceful and ferocious woman.
Ripper has had his fair share of trauma but he’s now the Alpha of his wolfpack and well respected. When Emberlyn’s grandmother passes, Ripper and Emberlyn are pushed together by fate and create an alliance to fight the growing threat surrounding them.
Emberlyn was such a fantastic character. She was so capable and I loved her independence and belief in herself. She knew how to accept who she was and what she was capable of. Ripper became a true equal partner with her and it was so hot. She may have been a force of nature in public but behind doors, Ripper brought out the feminine and submissive side of her. It was incredibly erotic.
Ripper is all alpha but also so protective, possessive and knows exactly how to build a relationship. He was self assured and loyal in all the ways that mattered. I loved the way he said and did subtle things that cemented how he felt about his witch. Rip knew how to be a safe space for Emberlyn. Total power couple.
Seriously, these two had so much chemistry and passion! I mean the smut🥵🥵. Good lord. The action in here was really great and the story line “who done it” kept me guessing. I also loved the banter and humor in here that balanced well with the seriousness. I’ll be thinking about Emberlyn and Rip for awhile because these two were everything.
If you’re a fan of Suzanne, you’ll definitely love this first book in this new series! I can’t wait for what’s next!
Black Willow Witch was the perfect vibe mashup of Suzanne’s shifter series and her Dark in You series. I LOVED this story so hard. Suzanne brought the drama, the sizzle and all her signature elements I love in her stories.
Emberlyn is a powerful witch that’s been isolated and let down most of her life by those that should have been in her corner. But instead of flailing in the deep end she rose above it all and became a graceful and ferocious woman.
Ripper has had his fair share of trauma but he’s now the Alpha of his wolfpack and well respected. When Emberlyn’s grandmother passes, Ripper and Emberlyn are pushed together by fate and create an alliance to fight the growing threat surrounding them.
Emberlyn was such a fantastic character. She was so capable and I loved her independence and belief in herself. She knew how to accept who she was and what she was capable of. Ripper became a true equal partner with her and it was so hot. She may have been a force of nature in public but behind doors, Ripper brought out the feminine and submissive side of her. It was incredibly erotic.
“It’s like . . . he knows I can quite easily handle my own shit and take care of myself. He just doesn’t want me to have to do it alone.”
Ripper is all alpha but also so protective, possessive and knows exactly how to build a relationship. He was self assured and loyal in all the ways that mattered. I loved the way he said and did subtle things that cemented how he felt about his witch. Rip knew how to be a safe space for Emberlyn. Total power couple.
“No one ever made you feel that you’re enough exactly as you are, which pisses me the fuck off. But you know it isn’t the case with me. I make you feel accepted, known, understood – just as I make you feel owned every time I’m inside you. You’ve never had any of that before. Not fully. And it rattles you that you now do. But it doesn’t need to. You’re safe with me.”
Seriously, these two had so much chemistry and passion! I mean the smut🥵🥵. Good lord. The action in here was really great and the story line “who done it” kept me guessing. I also loved the banter and humor in here that balanced well with the seriousness. I’ll be thinking about Emberlyn and Rip for awhile because these two were everything.
“If I could, I’d stamp my fingerprints all over you. And I mean all over you. Someone would be able to play dot-to-dot on your skin. Of course . . . if they tried that, I’d have to kill them. Because a lot of the places that would bear my prints would be parts of you no one else gets to touch.”
If you’re a fan of Suzanne, you’ll definitely love this first book in this new series! I can’t wait for what’s next!
December 10, 2025
Suzanne Wright is definitely one of my auto-buy authors, and I never regret it.
This one was a lot of fun. We're following Emberlyn (FMC), the powerful witch who has been bullied relentlessly by her small town. Basically, her grandmother - who dabbles in black magic, but doesn't seem to have done anything bad, just ... accumulated power - raised her, and everyone decided she was a black witch by association. At some point in her teen years, Emberlyn embraced the stereotype and started beating asses with her magic just to get them to leave her alone. Now, as an adult, they all hate her and accuse her of terrible shit, but like they were with her grandmother, they're scared of her and mostly leave her alone.
To be clear, Emberlyn is NOT a black witch. But she's played to their expectations in order to scare them into leaving her alone.
And then we have Ripper, the strongest alpha in town (there are 3 packs, and his is the best). Ripper has a history with witches - one from the coven (i.e., the dickheads who call Emberlyn evil but who actually are just projecting because they do evil shit) cast on the wolf packs when he was a child, to have them kill each other. It was brutal, and his parents died in the fighting. Frankly, I don't know why the wolf packs didn't band together to kill all the witches in their town after that, but they didn't. Oh well. Ripper believes the rumors about Emberlyn - she's not done anything to counter them, deliberately - so he is pretty skeptical about her.
This book isn't quite enemies to lovers - Ripper doesn't consider her an enemy, just someone to be wary of. But it's a slow thaw of him realizing she isn't what he thought.
I really enjoyed it. Will definitely read again and again, like most of Suzanne Wright's books. I hope we get more with Ripper and Emberlyn in the future, though it does seem this is likely a standalone with further books following a different couple. *cries*
This one was a lot of fun. We're following Emberlyn (FMC), the powerful witch who has been bullied relentlessly by her small town. Basically, her grandmother - who dabbles in black magic, but doesn't seem to have done anything bad, just ... accumulated power - raised her, and everyone decided she was a black witch by association. At some point in her teen years, Emberlyn embraced the stereotype and started beating asses with her magic just to get them to leave her alone. Now, as an adult, they all hate her and accuse her of terrible shit, but like they were with her grandmother, they're scared of her and mostly leave her alone.
To be clear, Emberlyn is NOT a black witch. But she's played to their expectations in order to scare them into leaving her alone.
And then we have Ripper, the strongest alpha in town (there are 3 packs, and his is the best). Ripper has a history with witches - one from the coven (i.e., the dickheads who call Emberlyn evil but who actually are just projecting because they do evil shit) cast on the wolf packs when he was a child, to have them kill each other. It was brutal, and his parents died in the fighting. Frankly, I don't know why the wolf packs didn't band together to kill all the witches in their town after that, but they didn't. Oh well. Ripper believes the rumors about Emberlyn - she's not done anything to counter them, deliberately - so he is pretty skeptical about her.
This book isn't quite enemies to lovers - Ripper doesn't consider her an enemy, just someone to be wary of. But it's a slow thaw of him realizing she isn't what he thought.
I really enjoyed it. Will definitely read again and again, like most of Suzanne Wright's books. I hope we get more with Ripper and Emberlyn in the future, though it does seem this is likely a standalone with further books following a different couple. *cries*
Want to read
July 28, 2025Any book by Suzanne Wright is an auto-buy <3
January 1, 2026
Ripper may be shoving Knox aside as my favorite hero by Suzanne Wright. That’s a pretty big deal for me because I never thought anyone could top Knox. Okay, maybe they can both hold the number one spot since they have similar traits that I love from a hero. Protective, possessive, needy towards their heroine, all while being feared by all. Emberlyn is just as awesome. She’s cool, calm, and devious when she needs to be. I loved her character and I hope there will be more books with this couple.
December 12, 2025
It has been a long time since I was up all night reading a book. It is not surprising that the book that broke my streak was from Suzanne Wright. I love her as an author and this new series was everything I wanted it to be.
Overpowered, kinda terrifying main characters in paranormal romance are my jam. Those who have the power to cause mayhem and destruction but don't because they aren't dicks. Ripper, but especially Emberlynn, fit the brief. Emberlynn was terrifying but wielded her power in a way that let others know they were no threat to her. Casually being able to destroy everyone but choosing not to was a flex, but the threat was there. Ripper and her's relationship was filled with tension but they also had great communication and respect for each other. There were obstacles in their way but they didn't let anything derail them. Emberlynn had never really had anyone in her corner, because her coven were a bunch of jealous POS's, she always had to stick up for herself but once she met Ripper he made sure she didn't have to face anything alone. Much to her dismay at times. He respected her power but was not about to let anyone disrespect "his witch."
Another absolute banger by Suzanne. Spicy, funny and action packed. She knows how to write a power couple. Unfortunately, if we follow the pattern of her other series releases, I have will have to wait a whole year before another installment. Boo!
Overpowered, kinda terrifying main characters in paranormal romance are my jam. Those who have the power to cause mayhem and destruction but don't because they aren't dicks. Ripper, but especially Emberlynn, fit the brief. Emberlynn was terrifying but wielded her power in a way that let others know they were no threat to her. Casually being able to destroy everyone but choosing not to was a flex, but the threat was there. Ripper and her's relationship was filled with tension but they also had great communication and respect for each other. There were obstacles in their way but they didn't let anything derail them. Emberlynn had never really had anyone in her corner, because her coven were a bunch of jealous POS's, she always had to stick up for herself but once she met Ripper he made sure she didn't have to face anything alone. Much to her dismay at times. He respected her power but was not about to let anyone disrespect "his witch."
Another absolute banger by Suzanne. Spicy, funny and action packed. She knows how to write a power couple. Unfortunately, if we follow the pattern of her other series releases, I have will have to wait a whole year before another installment. Boo!
December 18, 2025
LOVE that this is not your average, normal contemporary witchy paranormal! I Love, LOVE Emberlyn (FMC)! She has had a horrible life, first by losing her parents, then by being raised by a dark, somewhat evil grandmother who is determined she become just like her - then being bullied, ridiculed and made a scapegoat for every bad thing that happens in her community. BUT! Somehow, someway, rather than giving in to any of the nasties, she has learned to rise above and truly not care what anyone else says or thinks but to live her own truth and just ignore the rest. Did I mention how much I LOVE HER?! She is the example for every woman everywhere!!
I also love Rip (MMC). He is very much like Emberlyn in that he has had a very tough childhood and has learned to rise above. Initially he accepts the gossips “truth” about her but slowly learns and understands the amazing, beautiful woman underneath the rhetoric. All while standing by her side to keep the inheritance they both earned and deserve, AND help uncover a very nasty set of villains. It’s delicious fun!
The only reason four rather than five stars is purely personal and one I should have known going into a Suzanne Wright book. I’m not into threesomes (although it doesn’t happen with the Emberlyn and Rip), or extended periods of time with nightly sex where you get the job done, then immediately leave the minute it’s finished - no emotion, no commitment, no strings. Those just aren’t my jam.
I also love Rip (MMC). He is very much like Emberlyn in that he has had a very tough childhood and has learned to rise above. Initially he accepts the gossips “truth” about her but slowly learns and understands the amazing, beautiful woman underneath the rhetoric. All while standing by her side to keep the inheritance they both earned and deserve, AND help uncover a very nasty set of villains. It’s delicious fun!
The only reason four rather than five stars is purely personal and one I should have known going into a Suzanne Wright book. I’m not into threesomes (although it doesn’t happen with the Emberlyn and Rip), or extended periods of time with nightly sex where you get the job done, then immediately leave the minute it’s finished - no emotion, no commitment, no strings. Those just aren’t my jam.
December 10, 2025
Is this a bit formulaic? Absolutely, but Suzanne has perfected her formulaic and ai eat it up every damn time. Simple, entertaining, humorous and a bit steamy. Sold on the series can't wait for her to start churning them out. She's introduced an ominous secret coven, potential problems to face and at least 4 characters that are screaming for their own books
December 12, 2025
at this point if it's by Suzanne I'll read it.
this one was fun, and silly. it was a great time and exactly what I needed at the moment. however it's not Suzanne's strongest book.
this felt like a plot that was like "this sounds fun, let's see what I can do with it." but depth wasn't added to it so it made it fall a little flat for me. the characters and story line were very surface level. so it was just 🤷♀️
it's a lust forward book, which I'm fine with. but the characters just didn't do it for me like other characters from some of her different books have. I honestly would have rather this been a slow burn, but I understand Suzanne maybe wanting to try something different.
overall it was fun. just not the greatest plot or character wise. it could have gone deeper and been stronger. it is what it is. still a good time.
this one was fun, and silly. it was a great time and exactly what I needed at the moment. however it's not Suzanne's strongest book.
this felt like a plot that was like "this sounds fun, let's see what I can do with it." but depth wasn't added to it so it made it fall a little flat for me. the characters and story line were very surface level. so it was just 🤷♀️
it's a lust forward book, which I'm fine with. but the characters just didn't do it for me like other characters from some of her different books have. I honestly would have rather this been a slow burn, but I understand Suzanne maybe wanting to try something different.
overall it was fun. just not the greatest plot or character wise. it could have gone deeper and been stronger. it is what it is. still a good time.
December 28, 2025
This author is hit or miss with me. When I like her stuff I REALLY like it. When I don't, I really DON'T.
This one falls into the REALLY LIKE IT category.
In this one we have Emberlyn. She is a powerful witch. We first meet her when she is a young girl being bullied by her classmates, mean girls who belong to the coven that governs the Witch part of this paranormal town. Emberlyn's father abandoned her, her mother died and she is being raised by her grandmother, Millicent. Millicent is a very powerful witch who rejects the coven and embraces darker magics and revels in being known as the wickedest witch in town and advises Emberlyn to also be the biggest, baddest witch she can so no one will fuck with her. So while Emberlyn has tried to put up with the bullying, she has had it and taking some of her grandmother's advice, she teaches the bullies a lesson they don't soon forget.
It also features Jax 'The Ripper' Stone. Known as Ripper, he is the biggest, baddest, Alpha of one of the several wolf clans.
As the story begins Emberlyn is all grown up. She is elegant, owns a thriving business in town, and is an avowed lone witch. She has rejected the coven (just like her grandmother) and lives a rather solitary life with just two bffs in her very small circle of trust.
Millicent has died and her lawyer has summoned the people she has named in her will to the reading. It includes Emberlyn's aunt, uncle and several cousins... all of whom are part of the coven and who also bullied and rejected Emberlyn as she was growing up. But, interestingly, it also includes Ripper.
I always enjoy will readings in books because, done right, they kick off so much drama. This one was no different. The will is the catalyst that sets up all of the conflict in the book. Emberlyn's family goes back to the original witch in town. Millicent lived in the ancestral family home, Black Willow Manor, and owned acres of land that originally belonged to Ripper's clan. The Coven and the rest of Millicent's family wanted the Manor and land for development and to get rich. But Em got the manor and Rip got the land back. That might seem like done is done but it is just the beginning since the Coven and Em's cousins won't go down without a fight. So a lot of the plot of the book involves power clashes between Em/Ripper/his clan vs. the Coven/her family. Plus some personal revelations.
So all that is done very well and makes the book very much a page turner. It also kicks off the romance.
There was a lot I liked here:
Emberlyn and Ripper's romance was well done. Thankfully the author did not lean into any of the popular tropes. She allowed Em and Rip to simply act like grown folks. The bequests in the will puts them on opposite sides of the coven. So they become allies first. And then friends who have each other's back and then lovers.
Emberlyn was a great character. She leaned toward being Anti-heroine somewhat. While she did not 100% embrace darkness and power-thirst the way Millicent did, she had quite a bit of a bite to her. I would have liked the book a bit more if the author made made Emberlyn and out-and-out anti-heroine. She had the power and the attitude for it but didn't stand ten toes down on it. But i did like that the author showed that Emberlyn was unapologetically powerful and she displayed it when necessary as a show of force.
I especially liked the punishment she gave a wolf in Ripper's clan who disrespected him and her. And there were other things that rounded out the character I liked -- she was always very well dressed and put together. She had an interesting former romance with another wolf that also was a part in her development. And her business was clever. I think it is the first of it's kind I have ever seen in a paranormal romance.
Ripper was a little more typical -- the handsome, big powerful alpha. Like Emberlyn he also had some pretty good additional character beats. But mostly I liked how emotionally available he was to her.
The sex scenes were well written, erotic and a little raunchy.
And this author tends to do very well with supporting characters and that is no different here. You get a good sense of the town, the various people in the coven and the clans and a little bit of how the town functions and all the inter-relationships.
While it ends on a great note with an HEA, it also feels like there is more story to tell in this town.
Finally, I know the illustrated/cartoony covers of books these days are on market brand but this one does this story a disservice. And it especially does Ripper dirty. No way that guy on the cover represents Ripper. Good lord, he looks like a college student who is on his way a Chipotle to get a burrito bowl.
This one falls into the REALLY LIKE IT category.
In this one we have Emberlyn. She is a powerful witch. We first meet her when she is a young girl being bullied by her classmates, mean girls who belong to the coven that governs the Witch part of this paranormal town. Emberlyn's father abandoned her, her mother died and she is being raised by her grandmother, Millicent. Millicent is a very powerful witch who rejects the coven and embraces darker magics and revels in being known as the wickedest witch in town and advises Emberlyn to also be the biggest, baddest witch she can so no one will fuck with her. So while Emberlyn has tried to put up with the bullying, she has had it and taking some of her grandmother's advice, she teaches the bullies a lesson they don't soon forget.
It also features Jax 'The Ripper' Stone. Known as Ripper, he is the biggest, baddest, Alpha of one of the several wolf clans.
As the story begins Emberlyn is all grown up. She is elegant, owns a thriving business in town, and is an avowed lone witch. She has rejected the coven (just like her grandmother) and lives a rather solitary life with just two bffs in her very small circle of trust.
Millicent has died and her lawyer has summoned the people she has named in her will to the reading. It includes Emberlyn's aunt, uncle and several cousins... all of whom are part of the coven and who also bullied and rejected Emberlyn as she was growing up. But, interestingly, it also includes Ripper.
I always enjoy will readings in books because, done right, they kick off so much drama. This one was no different. The will is the catalyst that sets up all of the conflict in the book. Emberlyn's family goes back to the original witch in town. Millicent lived in the ancestral family home, Black Willow Manor, and owned acres of land that originally belonged to Ripper's clan. The Coven and the rest of Millicent's family wanted the Manor and land for development and to get rich. But Em got the manor and Rip got the land back. That might seem like done is done but it is just the beginning since the Coven and Em's cousins won't go down without a fight. So a lot of the plot of the book involves power clashes between Em/Ripper/his clan vs. the Coven/her family. Plus some personal revelations.
So all that is done very well and makes the book very much a page turner. It also kicks off the romance.
There was a lot I liked here:
Emberlyn and Ripper's romance was well done. Thankfully the author did not lean into any of the popular tropes. She allowed Em and Rip to simply act like grown folks. The bequests in the will puts them on opposite sides of the coven. So they become allies first. And then friends who have each other's back and then lovers.
Emberlyn was a great character. She leaned toward being Anti-heroine somewhat. While she did not 100% embrace darkness and power-thirst the way Millicent did, she had quite a bit of a bite to her. I would have liked the book a bit more if the author made made Emberlyn and out-and-out anti-heroine. She had the power and the attitude for it but didn't stand ten toes down on it. But i did like that the author showed that Emberlyn was unapologetically powerful and she displayed it when necessary as a show of force.
I especially liked the punishment she gave a wolf in Ripper's clan who disrespected him and her. And there were other things that rounded out the character I liked -- she was always very well dressed and put together. She had an interesting former romance with another wolf that also was a part in her development. And her business was clever. I think it is the first of it's kind I have ever seen in a paranormal romance.
Ripper was a little more typical -- the handsome, big powerful alpha. Like Emberlyn he also had some pretty good additional character beats. But mostly I liked how emotionally available he was to her.
The sex scenes were well written, erotic and a little raunchy.
And this author tends to do very well with supporting characters and that is no different here. You get a good sense of the town, the various people in the coven and the clans and a little bit of how the town functions and all the inter-relationships.
While it ends on a great note with an HEA, it also feels like there is more story to tell in this town.
Finally, I know the illustrated/cartoony covers of books these days are on market brand but this one does this story a disservice. And it especially does Ripper dirty. No way that guy on the cover represents Ripper. Good lord, he looks like a college student who is on his way a Chipotle to get a burrito bowl.
January 6, 2026
this was alright! felt almost like a cozy fantasy with the small town vibes and slow moving plot. i just felt like there were way too many side characters and the plot didn’t feel incredibly high stakes or compelling. the romance also felt quite abrupt, but still enjoyable?? i also really liked the fmc so it felt satisfying seeing her get a much deserved HEA.
December 12, 2025
this pains me but 3stars
It’s Suzanne wright,the writing is impeccable as always,I will always re-read this authors books for a pick me up,and as good as this one was it wasn’t my fave…it went on to long without much action just one big scene at the end and one or two others he’s this big bad alpha but they put up with far to much without punishment I don’t know just seemed a lot of words for a short ending
It’s Suzanne wright,the writing is impeccable as always,I will always re-read this authors books for a pick me up,and as good as this one was it wasn’t my fave…it went on to long without much action just one big scene at the end and one or two others he’s this big bad alpha but they put up with far to much without punishment I don’t know just seemed a lot of words for a short ending
December 27, 2025
The book is honestly a 3.76, but I am going to be rating it 3, because my mind can’t comprehend giving it 4, when I give 4.2 also 4. (If you get it you get it, if you don’t, you don’t)
Genre : Paranormal Romance
Setting : Chilgrave (hidden town)
✅ different species: witches, shifters, ghosts
✅ hidden town
✅ world development
✅ power couple
🆗 writing
REVIEW
I have read better.
From Wright herself.
And that is the entire problem.
It is a great book for a beginner, but someone who has been into Paranormal Romance for a loooong time, this reads basic but with a good setup. The elements and threads that Wright chose to pull for this book are leading, but the execution itself wasn’t upto the mark. I feel like there could have been grander, more illustrious things happening.
But I still did like the book. It presented a decent story, and most of all, impressive characters (Wright’s strength). I will be reading ahead.
Genre : Paranormal Romance
Setting : Chilgrave (hidden town)
✅ different species: witches, shifters, ghosts
✅ hidden town
✅ world development
✅ power couple
🆗 writing
REVIEW
I have read better.
From Wright herself.
And that is the entire problem.
It is a great book for a beginner, but someone who has been into Paranormal Romance for a loooong time, this reads basic but with a good setup. The elements and threads that Wright chose to pull for this book are leading, but the execution itself wasn’t upto the mark. I feel like there could have been grander, more illustrious things happening.
But I still did like the book. It presented a decent story, and most of all, impressive characters (Wright’s strength). I will be reading ahead.
![Profile Image for Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1521418447i%2F78060090._UY200_CR25%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 6, 2026
3.25 stars
I was apprehensive going into this because I haven’t liked SW’s other recent witchy series, but this was better than that. The world building was very minimal and weak imo, I would’ve loved to better understand the history and scope of the town and I think it would’ve benefited from non magical members aka humans. Maybe this is just a me problem but there are soo many random townspeople whose names I’m supposed to remember but don’t. Then they say stuff like oh there’s probably 20 people who are in some rogue faction but by naming so many people it actually makes the town feel really small/like I know everyone but obviously we don’t. Also the jobs/how people are trained to be lawyers for example, it isn’t clear how some of that would happen. I think her owning a laundry place was really random lol idk.
I did like Ripper and Emberlyn together, but I hate both of their names 💀 lol as usual they’re nothing super novel character-wise. SW is nothing if not formulaic and predictable. She’s a comfort author for me in that respect but some of her new ventures just don’t hit the same way her OG shifter series do… here at least the side characters weren’t as annoying as some in her recent books. Her bff twin friends had the usual banter and humor but it wasn’t as ott as usual and I appreciated that. But the side characters weren’t that interesting in general. The whole werewolf thing was also barely a plot element. Her shifters are way cooler world building-wise, I’m not so sold on the werewolves and how easy/a non-issue it is to become one. That said I would’ve liked to learn more about that, the pack, Ripper’s wolf, go on pack runs, etc. Emberlyn meeting his wolf was so minor, idk I just wanted more. Also I thought this was a standalone but a lot was left open ended and then SW mentioned this being a series in her acknowledgements so I guess not 🤷🏼♀️ and a lot was open ended pertaining to this couple so I’m guessing we’re sticking with them which is fine with me since I’m not chomping at the bit for anyone else’s story atm. That said idk that I care that much about these two for another book about them…we’ll see.
I was apprehensive going into this because I haven’t liked SW’s other recent witchy series, but this was better than that. The world building was very minimal and weak imo, I would’ve loved to better understand the history and scope of the town and I think it would’ve benefited from non magical members aka humans. Maybe this is just a me problem but there are soo many random townspeople whose names I’m supposed to remember but don’t. Then they say stuff like oh there’s probably 20 people who are in some rogue faction but by naming so many people it actually makes the town feel really small/like I know everyone but obviously we don’t. Also the jobs/how people are trained to be lawyers for example, it isn’t clear how some of that would happen. I think her owning a laundry place was really random lol idk.
I did like Ripper and Emberlyn together, but I hate both of their names 💀 lol as usual they’re nothing super novel character-wise. SW is nothing if not formulaic and predictable. She’s a comfort author for me in that respect but some of her new ventures just don’t hit the same way her OG shifter series do… here at least the side characters weren’t as annoying as some in her recent books. Her bff twin friends had the usual banter and humor but it wasn’t as ott as usual and I appreciated that. But the side characters weren’t that interesting in general. The whole werewolf thing was also barely a plot element. Her shifters are way cooler world building-wise, I’m not so sold on the werewolves and how easy/a non-issue it is to become one. That said I would’ve liked to learn more about that, the pack, Ripper’s wolf, go on pack runs, etc. Emberlyn meeting his wolf was so minor, idk I just wanted more. Also I thought this was a standalone but a lot was left open ended and then SW mentioned this being a series in her acknowledgements so I guess not 🤷🏼♀️ and a lot was open ended pertaining to this couple so I’m guessing we’re sticking with them which is fine with me since I’m not chomping at the bit for anyone else’s story atm. That said idk that I care that much about these two for another book about them…we’ll see.
December 13, 2025
Edit 12/13/25
Did I read this not two days ago? Yes…
Am I rereading again just because I’m obsessed with these characters? Also yes…
—————————————————————————————
I’m just so happy to have new Suzanne to read, but of course this was a banger!
I was excited that we were getting more witches because The Wicked in me is my most reread book ever, and safe to say this will be another usual suspect. The way Emberlyn hooked me from page one. Her sass, her bravery and boldness, her style and grace, and her ability to describe Ripper with more adjectives than I expected all made me fall in love with her. I truly will read 1000 stories about her doing magick. Plus, her work was such an interesting and unique choice. She was business smart and street smart…she was amazing and I could keep gushing about her.
Jax “Ripper”…MY MAN! This man was pure hotness wrapped in broody down badness and utter obsession for his witch. He was a leader, loyal and honest. He was always sure of himself and wouldn’t let anything get between him and Emberlyn once he claimed her…hell even before lol. His role as alpha was a tick in the amazing box, and it didn’t stop there. How much he cared and loved Emberlyn only made him hotter.
Plus, the plot was fucking perfect. The questioning, the guessing, the threats and secrets, I need more and I’m so beyond glad we are getting two more books about these two (even if I pray we get side characters books about all her series).
Suzanne, I’m beyond grateful for your books and I just hope you keep writing forever!
Did I read this not two days ago? Yes…
Am I rereading again just because I’m obsessed with these characters? Also yes…
—————————————————————————————
I’m just so happy to have new Suzanne to read, but of course this was a banger!
I was excited that we were getting more witches because The Wicked in me is my most reread book ever, and safe to say this will be another usual suspect. The way Emberlyn hooked me from page one. Her sass, her bravery and boldness, her style and grace, and her ability to describe Ripper with more adjectives than I expected all made me fall in love with her. I truly will read 1000 stories about her doing magick. Plus, her work was such an interesting and unique choice. She was business smart and street smart…she was amazing and I could keep gushing about her.
Jax “Ripper”…MY MAN! This man was pure hotness wrapped in broody down badness and utter obsession for his witch. He was a leader, loyal and honest. He was always sure of himself and wouldn’t let anything get between him and Emberlyn once he claimed her…hell even before lol. His role as alpha was a tick in the amazing box, and it didn’t stop there. How much he cared and loved Emberlyn only made him hotter.
Plus, the plot was fucking perfect. The questioning, the guessing, the threats and secrets, I need more and I’m so beyond glad we are getting two more books about these two (even if I pray we get side characters books about all her series).
Suzanne, I’m beyond grateful for your books and I just hope you keep writing forever!
January 13, 2026
I’ve read a lot of Suzanne Wright at this point (apparently 23 😅), and I’ve enjoyed almost all of them, even though many of her books follow a similar setup. This one felt a little different, It felt slower, more character focused instead of the usual over dramatic crazy plotlines and honestly, I really enjoyed it.
I love a good character driven slow burn, and this totally worked for me. Emberlyn was such a badass witch, I really loved her as a main character. And Rip, the alpha werewolf? Such a green flag. Sweet, devoted, and just so in love with her.
Suzanne Wright’s shifters always make me happy. The scent marking, the pack dynamics, the traits that come with them, the devotion, it’s all just so good.
The couple was cute, I loved the whole pack, the drama was entertaining, and the writing was super easy to fly through. Overall, it was just a really fun, enjoyable read.
Rating: ★★★★
I love a good character driven slow burn, and this totally worked for me. Emberlyn was such a badass witch, I really loved her as a main character. And Rip, the alpha werewolf? Such a green flag. Sweet, devoted, and just so in love with her.
Suzanne Wright’s shifters always make me happy. The scent marking, the pack dynamics, the traits that come with them, the devotion, it’s all just so good.
The couple was cute, I loved the whole pack, the drama was entertaining, and the writing was super easy to fly through. Overall, it was just a really fun, enjoyable read.
Rating: ★★★★
December 29, 2025
Rating: 3.5/5
Going into Black Willow Witch, I had fairly high expectations—mostly because Susannah Wright gave me one of my all-time favourite couples in Untamed Delights. Mila and Dominic completely owned my heart, and I adored them more than I can properly put into words. Naturally, I expected a similar level of emotional payoff here.
That said, I realise I subconsciously compared this book to that favourite, which may not be entirely fair. However, even without that influence, I don’t think the issues I had with this story would have disappeared.
One of the strongest aspects of the book for me was Emberlyn. She was a genuine standout—badass in the most literal sense. Her comebacks, her quiet resilience, and especially her moments of revenge and emotional payback were chef’s kiss. She felt competent, powerful, and self-aware, which made her an engaging protagonist to follow.
Jax Ripper, on the other hand, felt far more familiar—and not in a good way. He fit the mould of a typical alpha male a little too closely, making him feel repetitive rather than compelling. What truly threw me off, though, was the unexpected love-triangle-adjacent revelation involving him, his brother, and a woman he had some level of romantic attachment to. Discovering that he shared a woman he had feelings for with his brother gave me the biggest ick.
Especially considering he’s written as an alpha male—characters who are usually portrayed as extremely possessive—this plot choice felt jarring. I understand the author may have intended this to show that the woman wasn’t truly important to him, and that he wouldn’t behave this way with Emberlyn because she’s the female lead. Unfortunately, that intention didn’t land for me. Instead, I was left feeling uncomfortable and weirded out by the whole situation. I eventually pushed past it, but it definitely dampened my connection to Jax.
Another recurring frustration was the way Emberlyn’s coven treats her. I understand that their hostility helped shape her strength and character, but at times it felt excessive. Watching everyone—and their mother—blame her for every misfortune became exhausting rather than impactful.
This ties into one of my biggest internal inconsistencies with her characterisation. Emberlyn is surprisingly open and honest during her initial interactions with Jax, his brother, and even his pack. She reveals her trauma, her past, and her true nature fairly quickly. So it puzzled me that she tolerated her coven’s baseless accusations so passively, often brushing it off by claiming she didn’t care about their opinions.
If she truly didn’t care, why not correct them the way she so easily corrected Jax’s assumptions? Interestingly, had she not been so forthcoming with Jax, he likely would never have given her a chance—especially given his past with witches. This made the imbalance in her responses feel more like a narrative convenience than a fully organic character choice.
Despite these issues, I did genuinely enjoy the book overall. As a couple, Emberlyn and Jax were refreshingly mature. They were aware of their desires and intentions, communicated openly, and were largely transparent with each other—something I always appreciate and that definitely earned them bonus points from me.
In conclusion, Black Willow Witch had strong elements—particularly its female lead and the emotional maturity of the central romance—but it was held back by questionable character decisions and a few uncomfortable plot choices. A solid read, just not one that fully lived up to its potential for me.
Going into Black Willow Witch, I had fairly high expectations—mostly because Susannah Wright gave me one of my all-time favourite couples in Untamed Delights. Mila and Dominic completely owned my heart, and I adored them more than I can properly put into words. Naturally, I expected a similar level of emotional payoff here.
That said, I realise I subconsciously compared this book to that favourite, which may not be entirely fair. However, even without that influence, I don’t think the issues I had with this story would have disappeared.
One of the strongest aspects of the book for me was Emberlyn. She was a genuine standout—badass in the most literal sense. Her comebacks, her quiet resilience, and especially her moments of revenge and emotional payback were chef’s kiss. She felt competent, powerful, and self-aware, which made her an engaging protagonist to follow.
Jax Ripper, on the other hand, felt far more familiar—and not in a good way. He fit the mould of a typical alpha male a little too closely, making him feel repetitive rather than compelling. What truly threw me off, though, was the unexpected love-triangle-adjacent revelation involving him, his brother, and a woman he had some level of romantic attachment to. Discovering that he shared a woman he had feelings for with his brother gave me the biggest ick.
Especially considering he’s written as an alpha male—characters who are usually portrayed as extremely possessive—this plot choice felt jarring. I understand the author may have intended this to show that the woman wasn’t truly important to him, and that he wouldn’t behave this way with Emberlyn because she’s the female lead. Unfortunately, that intention didn’t land for me. Instead, I was left feeling uncomfortable and weirded out by the whole situation. I eventually pushed past it, but it definitely dampened my connection to Jax.
Another recurring frustration was the way Emberlyn’s coven treats her. I understand that their hostility helped shape her strength and character, but at times it felt excessive. Watching everyone—and their mother—blame her for every misfortune became exhausting rather than impactful.
This ties into one of my biggest internal inconsistencies with her characterisation. Emberlyn is surprisingly open and honest during her initial interactions with Jax, his brother, and even his pack. She reveals her trauma, her past, and her true nature fairly quickly. So it puzzled me that she tolerated her coven’s baseless accusations so passively, often brushing it off by claiming she didn’t care about their opinions.
If she truly didn’t care, why not correct them the way she so easily corrected Jax’s assumptions? Interestingly, had she not been so forthcoming with Jax, he likely would never have given her a chance—especially given his past with witches. This made the imbalance in her responses feel more like a narrative convenience than a fully organic character choice.
Despite these issues, I did genuinely enjoy the book overall. As a couple, Emberlyn and Jax were refreshingly mature. They were aware of their desires and intentions, communicated openly, and were largely transparent with each other—something I always appreciate and that definitely earned them bonus points from me.
In conclusion, Black Willow Witch had strong elements—particularly its female lead and the emotional maturity of the central romance—but it was held back by questionable character decisions and a few uncomfortable plot choices. A solid read, just not one that fully lived up to its potential for me.
December 26, 2025
3.5/4 Stars
"You’re my very own homing beacon. You call to me more strongly than any full moon. How could I ever leave you?"
So. This one was definitely different from the usual SW stories for me. I've reread her Phoenix Pack and all their connected series' more than five times each over the last five years that they've become my easy comfort reads.
I can't say I loved this one. I liked it a lot and it kept me intrigued until the very end. I did love the FMC Emberlyn and her being the ultimate badass witch. I found her relationship with her grandmother fascinating and yet sad that it never was what either hoped it could be for a variety of reasons, mostly because Millicent just wasn't the loving and doting grandmother type. She did her best in her own way to guide and nurture Emberlyn, and she definitely made sure she knew how to take care of herself.
I liked the MMC Ripper, even though I felt he came across a little one dimensional in comparison to Emberlyn.
I loved their connection and liked seeing them become this big bad power couple.
This new town and it's history and unique dynamics between the wolf clans and the coven was fascinating. Having no access to Internet, cell phones or TV/cable was def a unique very old school way of living.
I can't say I was a big fan of the wolf side of the lore for this story. In fact it was a big disappointment for me, not gonna lie. Mostly because although Ripper was an Alpha, and there were three clans of werewolves, I didn't find them interesting at all. I kinda hated that they were just men who could shift into a wolf, more or less. There was no real connection or bond with their wolves. The wolves themselves didn't have their own personalities, wants, needs, or were bonded in some way with their human counterparts, nada. They also didn't have fated mates of any sort, as they simply chose their mates as they wished. And they could change others into werewolves if the person wished and it was approved by the clan alpha with a bite.
Honestly, I didn't like any of that lore simply because I fell in love with wolf lore that was based around fated mates and particularly, and most importantly, shifters who's wolves had their own wants and needs and seemed like a separate spirit that lived within the shifter. The fact these shifters just became wolves and never once had any connection to their inner wolves or could feel anything from them just left me feeling bummed and unfilled tbh.
Which was sad because of SW previous works and her previous experience with her other wolf shifters. So I definitely didn't expect this version.
Overall it was a fascinating read, a little predictable and a little bogged down with details at times so it felt a little slow to pick up in the first half. Otherwise a unique story that was entertaining and exactly what I expect from SW (minus the sad wolfy lore) and if this is the first in a series then I'm curious to see what comes next.
"You’re my very own homing beacon. You call to me more strongly than any full moon. How could I ever leave you?"
So. This one was definitely different from the usual SW stories for me. I've reread her Phoenix Pack and all their connected series' more than five times each over the last five years that they've become my easy comfort reads.
I can't say I loved this one. I liked it a lot and it kept me intrigued until the very end. I did love the FMC Emberlyn and her being the ultimate badass witch. I found her relationship with her grandmother fascinating and yet sad that it never was what either hoped it could be for a variety of reasons, mostly because Millicent just wasn't the loving and doting grandmother type. She did her best in her own way to guide and nurture Emberlyn, and she definitely made sure she knew how to take care of herself.
I liked the MMC Ripper, even though I felt he came across a little one dimensional in comparison to Emberlyn.
I loved their connection and liked seeing them become this big bad power couple.
This new town and it's history and unique dynamics between the wolf clans and the coven was fascinating. Having no access to Internet, cell phones or TV/cable was def a unique very old school way of living.
I can't say I was a big fan of the wolf side of the lore for this story. In fact it was a big disappointment for me, not gonna lie. Mostly because although Ripper was an Alpha, and there were three clans of werewolves, I didn't find them interesting at all. I kinda hated that they were just men who could shift into a wolf, more or less. There was no real connection or bond with their wolves. The wolves themselves didn't have their own personalities, wants, needs, or were bonded in some way with their human counterparts, nada. They also didn't have fated mates of any sort, as they simply chose their mates as they wished. And they could change others into werewolves if the person wished and it was approved by the clan alpha with a bite.
Honestly, I didn't like any of that lore simply because I fell in love with wolf lore that was based around fated mates and particularly, and most importantly, shifters who's wolves had their own wants and needs and seemed like a separate spirit that lived within the shifter. The fact these shifters just became wolves and never once had any connection to their inner wolves or could feel anything from them just left me feeling bummed and unfilled tbh.
Which was sad because of SW previous works and her previous experience with her other wolf shifters. So I definitely didn't expect this version.
Overall it was a fascinating read, a little predictable and a little bogged down with details at times so it felt a little slow to pick up in the first half. Otherwise a unique story that was entertaining and exactly what I expect from SW (minus the sad wolfy lore) and if this is the first in a series then I'm curious to see what comes next.
December 23, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
Werewolf social ‘rules’ were different; you had to be careful to speak their language. You didn’t let them into your home. You didn’t feed them. You didn’t let them leave their possessions in your house. Otherwise, you basically indicated that they could have rights where you were concerned if they wanted to claim them. And if you gave an inch with a werewolf, they’d take a mile.
This is kind of Suzanne Wright lite, and I kind of liked that a lot. Like, this definitely had Suzanne's stamp all over it - hot/strong FMC, sexy/possessive MMC, sexy scenes, wacky side characters, and numerous potential antagonists - it was just somewhat to a lesser extent - the characters not as wacky, the antagonists not as antagonistic (some not even ending being an antagonist in the first place). But, I still loved this. It somehow felt more...cozy?
She pottered around – washing her cauldron, returning her ingredients, tidying her altar, extinguishing the incense burner stick – utterly oblivious to the fact that she was going to get royally fucked very soon.
Really, the only reason this is less than a 5-star rating for me is because of two things: 1) it seemed to just end abruptly; like I feel like I was reading, enjoying, and then bam! The end. And the problem with making super strong characters is that there isn't much tension anyway. 2) partially connected to the ending, I feel like there were things that were hinted at (her ex-mate and his parents, for example) that were just forgotten. But really, as much as I'm going on about this, it doesn't detract much, just leaves me a little dissatisfied with the ending.
In fact, while looking through the quotes I highlighted to decide which ones I want to add here, I just had a strong urge to already reread this again. I also couldn't quite decide which quotes to add, so enjoy the plethora.
He wanted to possess, protect, cosset, keep, hog her.
Only let a werewolf sleep in your bed if you don’t mind that they might never leave it.
"You’re my very own homing beacon. You call to me more strongly than any full moon. How could I ever leave you?"
Werewolf social ‘rules’ were different; you had to be careful to speak their language. You didn’t let them into your home. You didn’t feed them. You didn’t let them leave their possessions in your house. Otherwise, you basically indicated that they could have rights where you were concerned if they wanted to claim them. And if you gave an inch with a werewolf, they’d take a mile.
This is kind of Suzanne Wright lite, and I kind of liked that a lot. Like, this definitely had Suzanne's stamp all over it - hot/strong FMC, sexy/possessive MMC, sexy scenes, wacky side characters, and numerous potential antagonists - it was just somewhat to a lesser extent - the characters not as wacky, the antagonists not as antagonistic (some not even ending being an antagonist in the first place). But, I still loved this. It somehow felt more...cozy?
She pottered around – washing her cauldron, returning her ingredients, tidying her altar, extinguishing the incense burner stick – utterly oblivious to the fact that she was going to get royally fucked very soon.
Really, the only reason this is less than a 5-star rating for me is because of two things: 1) it seemed to just end abruptly; like I feel like I was reading, enjoying, and then bam! The end. And the problem with making super strong characters is that there isn't much tension anyway. 2) partially connected to the ending, I feel like there were things that were hinted at (her ex-mate and his parents, for example) that were just forgotten. But really, as much as I'm going on about this, it doesn't detract much, just leaves me a little dissatisfied with the ending.
In fact, while looking through the quotes I highlighted to decide which ones I want to add here, I just had a strong urge to already reread this again. I also couldn't quite decide which quotes to add, so enjoy the plethora.
He wanted to possess, protect, cosset, keep, hog her.
Only let a werewolf sleep in your bed if you don’t mind that they might never leave it.
"You’re my very own homing beacon. You call to me more strongly than any full moon. How could I ever leave you?"
December 14, 2025
This book is clearly the start of a new world being created, this time surrounding werewolves and witches. Suzanne Wright who has previously created world's of shifters, vampires, demons and also ancient biblical figures certainly stuck to her tried and tested formula which always seems to work so well.
There is hopefully going to be another book as there were a number of unanswered questions at the end. There was an inevitable degree of smut but also an engaging and interesting story and it was the plot that carried the book rather than the smut - which is how it should be.
There is hopefully going to be another book as there were a number of unanswered questions at the end. There was an inevitable degree of smut but also an engaging and interesting story and it was the plot that carried the book rather than the smut - which is how it should be.
December 15, 2025
Suzanne Wright - Really hope there is more to come of this series!!!!
Throughly enjoyed this read - witches, werewolves, drama & more. The main characters were well fleshed out & I was rooting for Emberlyn from chapter 1! I totally shipped Em & Rip from the outset, the chemistry between them despite both of their haunting pasts was beautiful.
Really adoring adding witches into the mix with shifters & that magickal fight scene was nicely done 💥😈
I look forward to reading more of this series 🤞 and getting to know more of the characters you introduced us too! The twins, Reena....I need to know more about all the characters!
All in all it was a fun, entertaining, steamy, snarky read - perfect for a cosy winter evening 🥂
Throughly enjoyed this read - witches, werewolves, drama & more. The main characters were well fleshed out & I was rooting for Emberlyn from chapter 1! I totally shipped Em & Rip from the outset, the chemistry between them despite both of their haunting pasts was beautiful.
Really adoring adding witches into the mix with shifters & that magickal fight scene was nicely done 💥😈
I look forward to reading more of this series 🤞 and getting to know more of the characters you introduced us too! The twins, Reena....I need to know more about all the characters!
All in all it was a fun, entertaining, steamy, snarky read - perfect for a cosy winter evening 🥂
December 16, 2025
I loved this! It was a little bit of a watered down Winter and Cain, but still immensely enjoyable. This is going to be a fun series and I’m so ready for it.
December 19, 2025
It was ok
I wasn't big on the narrator. The book was good enough for me to read the next book. But I'm still a huge fan of a couple of her pac books series. They are way better.
I wasn't big on the narrator. The book was good enough for me to read the next book. But I'm still a huge fan of a couple of her pac books series. They are way better.
December 22, 2025
as always Suzanne Wright delivers another wonderful story with new world building. I read the ebook, but now I want the audiobook.
.
.
January 6, 2026
I really liked it, silly fun read. The FMC is chef kiss, such a baddie.
January 7, 2026
This is a little darker than normal but so good!! Good story well very good story love the strong female character .. love the strong alpha male who loves the strong female 💕💕
December 23, 2025
I loved this! 4.5 stars. I docked a half a point because it ended weirdly. Very abrupt.
I love unproblematic, fierce and reasonable heroines. Emberlyn was one of my favorites.
Rip was macho but not too over the top. He was protective but rational.
I love unproblematic, fierce and reasonable heroines. Emberlyn was one of my favorites.
Rip was macho but not too over the top. He was protective but rational.
January 9, 2026
I'm in the minority!
Full RTC
Full RTC
January 8, 2026
I absolutely loved the first half then I’m not sure what happened, it started to feel repetitive and drawn out. I skimmed the rest. It picked up at the end, then it was over. Quite disappointed, I usually love Suzanne’s book.
There was also a lot of characters to get to know. It was hard to keep track initially.
There was also a lot of characters to get to know. It was hard to keep track initially.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews