Spellstruck

by Martha Waters

“A whimsical, fantastical romp of a historical romance.” —Emily Krempholtz, USA TODAY bestselling author

Chemistry isn’t only for cocktails in this lightly magical, enemies-to-lovers rom-com about the owner of a speakeasy supplying magical drinks and an enforcer of the ban on magic who must team up when potions begin to go awry—from acclaimed author Martha Waters.

In an alternate version of 1920s London, vestiges of England’s magical past exist, but the use of magic has been outlawed, leading families still with powers to operate illegal speakeasies for a public still hungry for magic. Vesper Holloway runs her family club, where a dash of spell powder or an enchanted cocktail can add a little extra intrigue to the evening. But when a spate of accidents strikes these establishments, she worries patrons will flee her family’s business.

Enter Maxwell Ashbridge, a onetime friend of Vesper’s brother, who has joined the government agency tasked with enforcing the ban, and who has a personal vendetta against the magical elite. But he does not have a vendetta against Vesper; in fact, he finds her rather enticing. He promises immunity for her club if she teams up with him to investigate, which does little to quell the growing chemistry they share. As accidents continue and the fight to repeal the ban gains ground in Parliament, Vesper and Max will have to decide—is the magic between them worth fighting for?

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Historical Romance, Mystery

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2026

About the author

Martha Waters is the author of To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe. She was born and raised in sunny South Florida and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. By day, she works as a children's librarian, and loves sundresses, gin cocktails, and traveling. Sign up for her newsletter for periodic book news and reading & travel recs: http://tinyletter.com/marthawaters

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace]

What a great book. I would have liked to keep reading it. The end came too soon. Set in an alternate 1920s London where magic has been outlawed under "Forbiddance" policies, the story follows a magical speakeasy manager, Vesper Holloway, and a magic ban enforcer, Maxwell Ashbridge, as they reluctantly team up to investigate why cocktail potions are suddenly malfunctioning. Highly recommend.

[Sophie]

Crossdressing to get inside a gentleman’s club? Fun!
Shagging inside a tiny cupboard? So hot!
Him finding any excuse to seek her out? Be still, my beating heart!!

✎ᝰ.┊My Thoughts:

As a first-time reader of this author, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved reading about this world. The dynamic between Vesper and Max was definitely the highlight for me. Their chemistry felt natural and kept me hooked. For those who care about it, this is a moderate spice/open door read. There is one explicit scene, but it’s short.

Overall, the plot and the characters were so charming. Also, I really want a book about Freddie next!!

˖᯽ ݁˖┊What worked for me:

I love the forced proximity trope, so it’s not really a surprise that I swooned whenever they were forced to act coupley. Delicious stuff!

˖᯽ ݁˖┊What didn’t:

The constant use of dialogue tags for anything and everything sometimes pulled me out of the story.

✔ ┊Read this if:
You want a high-charm historical fantasy with a dash of mystery and a lot of heart.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: New author to me! I love the idea of a magical speakeasy in the 20s. Ready for some witty banter and enchanted drinks!

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[PlotTrysts]

I absolutely tore through this historical-romance-with-magic set in an AU post-WWI/1920s London. While Prohibition is still an American thing, England has its own Prohibition-lite: against Magical Potions. The Old Magical families of London still have access to certain pieces of their magic; but mostly just enough to enchant things to drink and eat. They specialize in things like OTC painkillers, but also many of them run Magical "speakeasies" where people can try levitating cocktails or cocktails that change their appearance. It's kind of a quirky setup, but it worked for me (especially as a reader who loves lighthearted romances and wacky historical romance setups, I loved it).

The conflict? MMC Max is a FLEA (that's Eff El Ee Ay if you ask him, and "flea" if you ask anyone else), a government worker whose job it is to shut down all those illegal Magical speakeasies. FMC Vesper is the manager of the Holloway family's storied establishment. Max shows up at her place to shut it down; she convinces him to hold off on shutting her down so that they can investigate (what she thinks is) a conspiracy to frame Magical families. This leads to a little bit of fake dating so these two can investigate all of the different establishments around Marylebone.

This is a really charming mix of fantasy, cozy mystery, and historical romance, and I loved it all. The world, characters, and plot are so fun that I was never bored!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Katie’s Bookshelf]

4⭐️
I've enjoyed all of Martha Water's romances thus far so it was no surprise that I loved this one as well! Spellstruck is a little different from her usual fare- it's a magical realism set in (I think) 1920s London. A world in which magical families run elite but illegal clubs to sell magical potions. When someone starts to tamper with those potions, Vesper, heiress of a magical family who runs their club, teams up with Max, who works for the government office in charge of enforcing the magical laws.

The plot here was a lot of fun. We got to go along with Vesper and Max to the different magical clubs and see the magic there. I particularly liked how different families had different magical specialties and how they were reflected in their menus.

The romance here was super cute. Vesper is unapologetically herself- vain and a little flighty, but also a suave business woman and more clever than anyone gives her credit for. I like how even when she was joking around with Max he took her seriously- he knew exactly who she was. And Max for his part struggled to let loose- he was described but his own friends and family as the fun police. But with Vesper he relaxed and let himself enjoy his surroundings. I also loved the banter between these two- how Vesper was constantly making Max smile and how he gave it back to her just as good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

I regret to say this was not the delightful magical romp I was hoping for.

This book has the bones of a good story. A romance with a dash of magical intrigue is great premise. Unfortunately, the delivery failed to live up to the potential. The romance never quite hit the right note for me. That isn't to say Vesper and Maxwell didn't have their moments. They did. I even found myself laughing at their banter at times. However, romantically, they didn't make me feel anything.

If the mystery had been stronger I might've been able to overlook the romance not being well-flushed out. But the mystery was also lacking. And when Vesper and Maxwell finally solved it the ending came fast and rushed.

Frankly, there was too much telling and not enough showing in this book.

I don't usually mind if a book is told in third person, but in this case I think it contributed to the emotional disconnect I felt with the story. It also didn't help that we were constantly switching who's POV it was mid-chapter.

I went with two stars because while the book wasn't necessarily bad I don't like it enough to purchase a copy for my shelf or gift it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Meg]

Through generations, the old magical families have lost much of their power. Magic is now fairly limited to cocktails that can make you float or change your appearance and served in the back of speakeasies. Vesper Holloway, youngest of the Holloway siblings, runs her family's club, and she's tired of people assuming she's only out for a lark (just because her taste in men may be questionable, it doesn't mean her business judgement isn't strong!). Maxwell Ashbridge works for the government enforcing the anti-magic rules, and takes an assignment to investigate the Holloway's club. Maxwell and Vesper have a little bit of an unfortunate history, but they'll need to put it aside in order to solve the larger mystery of who is sabotaging all of the magic clubs in London.

Martha Waters has some of the best banter in the business, and her light-hearted tone and whimsical magical system complement one another in this Roaring 20s historical romance. She balances her plot with politics, intrigue, and a slow burn high chemistry romance. A romance that takes this long to develop works because the author gives us legitimate reasons throughout the book why our couple cannot be together yet, even though they are attracted to one another. Using her signature rom-com style, Waters can give us a well-developed romance that stays light even while touching on more serious matters.

Thank you to Atria for an eARC. Spellstruck is out 9/29/2026.

[Carvanz]

I really enjoyed this one! I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about a historical romance mixed with magic, but I ended up having so much fun with it. The whole magical speakeasy idea was such a cool addition, and I loved the setting. It was definitely different from the historical romances I usually read, and that made it all the more enjoyable.





I loved Vesper and Max together. Their relationship had a slow build that I enjoyed. Watching them get to know each other and seeing their attraction start to sneak in along the way kept me turning the pages. Throw in the mystery and all the magic happening around them, and I was totally captivated by this story. This was just a really fun, unique romance that kept me smiling.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H not a player
Triggers no apparent triggers
Steam 5 /5; explicit

[Stephanie]

Sparkling and witty and sure to appeal to fans of Freya Marske’s The Last Binding trilogy.

[Meredith Schorr]

I'm convinced Martha Waters can write in any genre, even ones I don't read, and I would eat it up and want more. I have loved all of her books and am always impressed with her versatility, but SPELLSTRUCK is my absolute favorite and is probably one of my top 10 books of the year. I absolutely adored it. I'm a huge fan of Vesper and Max as well as the entire Holloway family. This book was absolutely charming and delightful.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Dayle (the literary llama)]

It was just okay. An entertaining and promising set up but I was mildly bored throughout. It never picked up and was possibly a little too cozy for my tastes.

Still, I enjoy Martha Waters writing in general so it was also an easy and pleasant read. I liked Vesper and Maxwell and I liked them together. The romance was sweet and a little sassy, a dash of sexy thrown in. The sleuthing and mystery elements involved a lot of visiting neighbor nightclubs, very fun locations, but also mostly forgettable.

So, mildly entertaining, but not much else I can say about it. I think it comes down to personal reading tastes.

* I received a free copy from the publisher

[Stacey]

This had such a fun concept and setting. We’re in an alternate 1920s London where magic has basically gone through prohibition, and the magical elite run secret speakeasy-style clubs serving enchanted drinks and potions. The atmosphere was honestly my favorite part of the whole book. I loved the glamour, the private clubs, the cocktails, and the idea of underground magic hidden behind velvet curtains and social status.

That said, the magic itself felt surprisingly small for something so heavily outlawed. Since the entire society is built around banning magic, I expected bigger stakes or more impressive magical elements than what we actually got. The book is definitely lightly magical and that description is very accurate.

The romance also didn’t fully work for me. I never really felt the chemistry between the couple, and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic felt flat instead of tension-filled. Their history especially made it hard for me to buy into the emotional payoff later on. Because this is an ARC I won’t get into spoilers, but some of the backstory and character choices made the romance feel more forced than swoony for me.

I think readers looking for a cozy, light magical romance with a unique speakeasy setting may enjoy it more than I did, especially if you prefer atmosphere over heavier magic systems or intense romance development.

[Krista Beutel]

4.25 stars. A cozy mystery set in the world of magical speakeasy’s in 1920’s London? Say less! I was utterly charmed by the world Waters created, in which Magical Prohibition has forced activities to be conducted in secret clubs run by the handful of magical families remaining. Our fiery, strong-willed FMC Vesper is confidently running the family business, but constantly feels the need to “prove herself” as capable. MMC Ashbridge is strait-laced, stoic, and unimpeachable. He has his work cut out for him when he’s tasked with investigating illegal activities on behalf of the government agency for which he works. It’s a quick, fun read filled with flirty banter and palpable chemistry, plus a dash of mystery. Key tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, reluctant partners. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review this advanced copy.

[Dumbledore11214]

From beloved author Martha Waters, a lightly magical, enemies-to-lovers rom-com about the owner of a speakeasy supplying magical drinks and an enforcer of the ban on magic who must team up when potions begin to go awry, proving that chemistry isn’t just for cocktails.

In an alternate version of 1920s London, vestiges of England’s magical past exist, but the use of magic has been outlawed, leading families still with powers to operate illegal speakeasies for a public still hungry for magic. Vesper Holloway runs her family club, where a dash of spell powder or an enchanted cocktail can add a little extra intrigue to the evening. But one night a man drinking a Flotation Fizz that should allow him to levitate a few inches finds himself bumping his head on the ceiling. Word among the magical elite is that such accidents have been happening more frequently, and the club owners are worried that the danger will spread.

Enter Maxwell Ashbridge, a onetime friend of Vesper’s brother, who has joined the government agency tasked with enforcing the ban, and who has a personal vendetta against the magical elite. But he does not have a vendetta against Vesper; in fact, he finds her rather enticing. He promises her immunity for her club, if she teams up with him to help gain entry to other establishments and find out who is responsible for the contaminated magic threatening her family business. But their investigation does little to quell the chemistry they share. As accidents continue and the fight to repeal the ban gains ground in Parliament, Vesper and Max will have to decide—is the magic between them worth fighting for?

Review:

Dear Martha Waters,

Your book was probably the most accidental book purchase I have had in the last five or six years. I visited "Ripped Bodice" store which we now have in Brooklyn because I wanted to treat myself after a dentist visit and I was seduced by the cover of this story. I think it is very pretty. Blue and green colors combination does something nice to my senses and after I liked the cover of course I read the blurb and liked it too.

I have not read a single review of this story and I do not know whether my opinion of this book is of the outlier or not. I really liked settings of the story. I think 1920s England with some magic still left was very well done, although of course this is a historical fantasy NOT a historical. Magic will be the first clue and second clue is that a lot of things are allowed in this world which would have been thrown upon in the real 1920s England.

I really enjoyed the main characters and some secondary ones. The book was very easy read and I finished it in two days. However as much as I enjoyed Vesper and her family and thought Max was interesting, the plot to me badly lacked urgency. The blurb is very well written, but I just do not think that investigation was a significant plot line. I mean it was there, do not get me wrong, they were indeed coming to different clubs and allegedly trying to investigate, but they did not? Not really. Maybe because nothing serious happened as a result of those poisonings by magical potions . I mean that was not really poisonings, misuse of options? I know people suffered injuries, but it did not feel long term?

I did not feel as if stakes were big if that makes sense and characters were not really driving the investigation, to me the answer very much fell in their lap. This was a nice sort of a second chance romance. I say sort of because the characters were friends before, they never were together. I mean, even "from enemies to lovers" in the blurb to me sounded exaggerated.

Yes, Max comes to Vesper's club for the first time presumably looking for the reason to shut her club down, but the moment he sees her he realizes that no, thats not what he wants or will do, because he likes her. They may argue, but I never got a sense that they were ever enemies before.

They were nice together, I will give the book that much - boring but nice.


Grade:

[Tracy Emro]

Despite a well-known magical past in England, magic has now been outlawed and is strictly enforced by the government, making it harder for the magical families to conduct business. But Vesper Holloway is clever and has been running her family’s social club for years, and even with the current laws forbidding magic, they have found creative ways to enchant cocktails to add a bit of intrigue for her club members and their guests. She has high hopes that the laws will be repealed by Parliament, but when a few patrons begin to have strange reactions to some of the potions at not only her club, but other magical clubs, she worries that these incidents could hamper the efforts to overturn the laws and decides to get to the bottom of it herself. As luck would have it, her brother’s former friend and man that she completely humiliated herself with, Max Ashbridge is a Forbiddance and Licensing Enforcement Agent (aka F.L.E.As.) and is currently in her club, presumably to try and shut her down, but maybe he could be persuaded to help her figure out who is behind the magical mishaps. Hopefully, her unfortunate attraction to him will not interfere with them finding answers.

Max Ashbridge has a problem with magic and some deep-seated anger that has shaped him and led to his current position in the government. He is a little concerned when his boss, whose husband is a member of Parliament leading the ban on magic, assigns him to investigate the Holloway club and find evidence of magic use to have them shut down and set an example. He knows he was selected because of his former friendship with Freddie Holloway, but it just doesn’t sit well with him. He arrives at the club and is almost immediately confronted by Vesper, who is just as lovely and vibrant as he remembers. She is evading his questions with a young man across the room begins to float to the ceiling, clearly under the influence of a magical cocktail, but it soon becomes clear that the spell has gone very wrong. Vesper admits that this sort of thing is happening at other clubs and askes for his help in figuring out who is behind the mishaps. He agrees not to use the information against the clubs and gets his boss to agree that it was worth looking into, rather than shutting down Holloway’s. Now he just has to keep his inconvenient feelings for Vesper in check until the investigation is over.

This was an interesting story, it isn’t quite what I was expecting, but nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. I think I was expecting more magic, but this ended up being very light on the magic and to be honest, I didn’t really understand the magic system, especially the family “Word”, and instead of “magic”, it just seemed like the only magic was some enchanted potions. And while this is an “alternate” England, Vesper’s character came across as more of a modern-day woman, rather than an unmarried young lady in 1920’s England. I did enjoy watching Vesper and Max fall in love and find peace in their own lives. The story has a decent mystery, second chances, a tiny bit of magic, emotional growth and healing, a couple of warm love scenes, and a satisfying ending with the promise of happily ever after. Overall, it was a quick, fun read with likable characters and a cozy mystery, that I would recommend to readers who enjoy a bit of romance, magic and mystery.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Clarice]

3.5 ⭐️ What a cute, magical rom-com. We’ve got a little grumpy/sunshine (for which I am an absolute drooling fool), the roaring twenties and its spectacular fashion, a mystery to solve and what I’m going to call an awkward acquaintances/professional rivals-to-lovers situation.

Oh and magic.
Magic in champagne no less!
Sold.

I absolutely love the speak-easy vibes and would be willing to a frankly alarming amount inappropriate things for a membership to Holloway’s.

Vesper and Max’s developing relationship was so sweet. They’re running away from their uncomfortable baggage and equally guarded against the world, despite appearances. Neither is so single-minded as to completely dismiss each other, and both with something to prove, mostly to themselves.

And can I get an AMEN for “I’m falling in love with you” instead of jumping straight to “I love you” 2 weeks in? 👏👏

Did we ever actually address Max’s visceral reaction to their very first kiss? We addressed Vesper’s embarrassment about it, but not much beyond that. Anyways, not a dealbreaker, but I noticed.

What totally worked for me was how their physically closeness evolved this time around. Slowly, inch by well earned inch. And then there was the cupboard. 👀

My one real criticism is something that came up in earlier chapters. Vesper, her friends, family, even her mother(!!) repeatedly made reference to her being promiscuous. Sometimes it was casual and harmless, but other times it was said in such a backhanded way that it felt insulting. It also gave me a completely wrong impression of her relationships with the people around her and of her own confidence. It settled into place eventually, but gave me enough of the ick that I’m mentioning it.

Overall though, this was such a fun and charming read. I’m already a sucker for cozy fantasy, but make it the ‘20s, add in some gorgeous sequinned dresses, 2 emotionally constipated fools falling for each other and apparently I am sat.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC! It was my introduction to the author, and I’m nowhere near done with her yet!

[Alyx Gough]

Thank you so much Atria for the ARC!

Spellstruck was such a fun, magical read! I’m a sucker for anything witchy, but add in romance, enemies-to-lovers, magic, mystery, and a little bit of chaos, and I was completely sold.

I loved the chemistry and banter between Vesper and Max, and watching their relationship slowly shift from enemies to something a whole lot more was probably one of my favorite parts. There was so much charm to their dynamic, and I was absolutely here for all of it.

I also really loved the magical atmosphere and the alternate 1920s London setting. The whole story just felt so cozy and whimsical while still giving me plenty of romance and intrigue to keep me turning the pages.

This was exactly the kind of witchy, cozy escape I was hoping for. It was romantic, magical, charming, and just all around FUN. I genuinely had such a good time with this one, and it definitely left me wanting more. If you’re looking for a cozy witchy read with a side of enemies-to-lovers romance, definitely add this one to your TBR!

[Sam]

An absolute snack of a book. It’s cute. It’s flirty. It’s funny. And it’s fun.

Do I have a few petty grievances? Sure. But it was a good time!! Vesper is funny and Max is doggedly stubborn. The whole Holloway family is hilarious. And I loved the mystery - it was low stakes and easy to follow.

This book is a goddamn delight and I will hear no slander against it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Martha Waters, and Atria for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Asia]

4.25/5

This was a delightful book. I missed Martha Waters' writing!

This book was perfect for a cozy evening. I loved the athmosphere: Waters writing really evoked all the imagery that I felt like I was transported to 1920's London and saw all those cobblestoness alleys filled with magical clubs.

I want a magical club now. I would be more eager to leave the house if I could go to Holloway's instead!

I loved Vesper. She was fabulous and confident and knew her worth. I LOVED her confidence and style. She wanted to prove herself to her family but I wish she didn't have to. Max was great too. I lovedd his character development and growth about magic. And I LOVE that Vesper being unapologetically herself made him want to be a better person nd he did it for hismelf, not to win her.

The plot was great, I loved the vibe and the writing. It's definotely one of my favourite books that came out this year! It was delightful and cozy and great!

Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this free ARC for my honest opinion.

[TheConnieFox]

I really enjoyed this magical book! It gave me cozy, whimsical romance vibes. This is a slow burn romance that takes place in London, in the 1920’s. It comes with dual points of views, medium spice, and witty banter between the main characters. I loved the forbidden magic in the book. I highly recommend reading this! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Martha Waters and Atria Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book will be published on September 29, 2026!

[Niki]

Thanks netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review!

I love a romance with a little magical twist but this one kind of fell flat to me. I love the concept and the idea of magical clubs and potions — while the beginning felt a bit world dumpy and was tough to slog thru, the world was an interesting setting.

But the overall story and characters felt so flat, almost too surface level. I loved the characters and wished we got a little more into the emotional depth of not just them but the plot too. Every other day or so they went to a magical club to investigate but they didn’t really do much once they were there except poorly flirt and drink. They never learned or did much for their investigation other than just placing themselves at these clubs and waiting for something to happen. And when it did it felt too convenient.

I would’ve loved a more heightened level of danger and drama. The stakes just weren’t there. The big reveal at the end was so boring I didn’t even realize it was the big reveal until I saw how little I had left to read. There was just no emotional build up to anything so it didn’t feel like an emotional payoff in the end when they get together. A little more depth overall and I think this would have been better. But as is, it didn’t really hit at all. It was a struggle to read to be honest and I never really got excited to continue.

Also the FMC was wrinkling her nose on nearly every page. That got incredibly annoying 😂

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks]

Dropped waist dresses and headpieces with feathers were all the rage in the Roaring 20s.

This novel pays tribute to that time period with a magical twist. Vesper and Maxwell appear to inhibit different social circles. Their worlds of mundane and magic collide when Maxwell, a FLEA government employee, is tasked to undertake a mission.

He knows of Vesper's family given his past interaction in his college days. Wish there had been more development on this part as then the Reader would appreciate the hesitancy present day Maxwell feels. Vesper is her family's point person in the family business. Hints are made as to the lack of confidence by them but other than her brief introspection as to her love affairs didn't really see why they didn't believe in her.

The running gag of F.L.E.A.S vs fleas was overdone. Felt if the author was more deliberate in referencing it then maybe it would have been funnier. The spicy scenes were abrupt and seemed to be fillers than adding to the flow of the story.

The cover alongside the title were an apt choice for the time period.

#Spellstruck #NetGalley

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole Reads Romance]

I’ve enjoyed this author in the past, and generally enjoy a light-paranormal historical romance but Spellstruck is complete miss for me.

Unfortunately this book is both cosy and a slow burn and at 44% I am finding it a chore to read. The magic is very light, and we are generally reminded why over and over. MMC Maxwell is very anti-magic, and honestly swap that with any marginalized identity and I’m having a hard time understanding why readers are supposed to be cheering this bigoted cop on.

[Leah Coyle]

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and to Atria Books for an early copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own ❤️

This was really fun! It was cool to see Martha Waters branching out into incorporating fantasy elements into this book! I do think some parts were a bit dragged out and I feel like we could have expanded on the magical aspect of the potions that the families sell at these clubs. I really like our main female character because she was very fiery and always had a quip back to whatever another character said. The 1920s setting of it was interesting as well since Martha Waters usually writes in a historical time period (regency vows series, and then there was the one) Overall, I would highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out in September for a fun and cozy time that would be especially good for spooky season!

[Poppy]

Vesper Holloway runs her family's magical speakeasy seamlessly. Even though she is present nightly to speak her family's Word over each potion her customers will consume, and nothing amiss has happened on her watch, her family worries about her and the political atmosphere in 1920's London, where many in Parliament wish to see magical families suffer for their blatant disregard of Forbiddance. Enter Max Ashbridge, a stuffy government employee, a non-magic user, who has been tasked with closing down Holloway's to make an example of the prestigious club. When word gets around of magic at several clubs gone awry and an incident occurs at Holloway's, Vesper and Max reluctantly agree to a truce to investigate the problems. What they learn leads them down a path to a better understanding of each other's perspectives and to a plot deeper than either one could have suspected.

A cute, mysterious alternate history with just the right amount of magic and romance! I really enjoyed the atmosphere of 1920's London and all of the different clubs Vesper and Max attended. Though all potion magic, each family had a different specialty, which made it interesting, and I couldn't wait to read about the details of the next club! I loved Vesper and how smart she was, even though her family couldn't always see it. Max was a great character, and though a little stodgy at the beginning, once we learned more about his background, all the pieces fell into place. I enjoyed how much this book focused on the plot and magic, and the romance was in the background. I feel that if the romance were more prevalent, it would have taken away from the mystery. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy, magical mysteries, historical romantasy, or lighthearted reads in general.

Thank you to the author and Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[KelseyreadsHR]

I was almost immediately sold on the idea of a magical alternate universe when I learned that it was set in the 1920s with a ban on magic. I loved the idea of a magical speakeasy and government enforcement agents trying to find those flouting Forbiddance laws. It was lighthearted and fun with the various passwords and hidden rooms in the speakeasies. Vesper explained the ins and outs of magical society to Max in a way that was easily explained and not too far reaching.

Max and Vesper have a bit of history and it remains the elephant in the room for some time. The banter between them was fun and also revealed their vulnerabilities to one another. Vesper dealing with being the youngest child and not being trusted despite her being competent and Max having a huge chip on his shoulder about magic.

This is a slow burn and once you get to it I thought it was very steamy. Yet I also wanted more of a romantic development between them before then, especially from Max’s perspective. You know how Vesper feels but you don’t get that from Max until after they’ve been physical.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would love to revisit this world again especially with a story for Freddie. Vesper makes me think I haven’t given champagne a real chance but a Bee’s Knees sounds like it would hit the spot.

Spellstruck is a standalone magical historical romance. It’s a slow burn with one open door scene and was so steamy.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Babel]

Opposites attract and magical clubbing in 1920s London? Please, of course I fancy it!

In this alternate London, beautifully unique nightclubs abound and they offer an assortment of potions that achieve intriguing little tricks that I wish I could grab for myself. The author's narrative is rich and fun and clever. It's so exciting to walk these vividly described dens of sinful entertainment and feel part of the clandestine, carefree and festive scenes.

Hester is a frivolous coquette, yet strives to be taken seriously by her family despite her past romantic transgressions. Ashbridge is too honourable and harbours a grey grudge against the posh magical families. Some anonymous power at large is tampering with the magic potions and seeding havoc amidst a turbulent time when Parliament is divided between upholding the laws against them and restoring their once-held freedom in society. Thus this couple comes together to investigate the culprit. So they banter, they flirt, they ponder in wonderful ways. Witty, too, which I love :-)

It had me enthralled, smiling and laughing often, as Max and Hester gallivant through clubs, imaginative potions and growing feelings. It's delicious and fun from start to finish. I was equally invested in the romantic and character evolution and the political plot. Things wrap up in a most vindictive, keenly satisfying way on both counts. I loved the sparkling dialogues, and everything in between felt just so rightly delivered. I'm so glad that these characters met and I was there to witness it <3

On a final note, I'd love to see more stories set in this world. It would be amazing to expand on the potions and the society around them, especially the families that possess the magic and how they came to be in their present state and how that could be developed. So many possibilities!

[Amy (ReadThisAndSteep)]

As a fan of Martha Waters Regency romances, I had a feeling I would enjoy this, and I certainly did! This is a bit of a departure for her, a mix of Jazz Age historical fantasy, romance, mystery, and a dash of magical realism. Waters's signature wit shines here, and the book is delightfully fun!

Written in a breezy, cozy way, this one invites you in for a lighthearted good time. The concept is unique and the world-building is imaginative but accessible. Set in an alternate 1920s London where magic has been outlawed, Vespa, a speakeasy owner, and Maxwell, a government enforcer, reluctantly team up to investigate sabotaged spells and tampered magical cocktails across London's illegal underground speakeasies.

While the story starts as a joint investigation, Vespa and Max begin to feel an undeniable slow-burn attraction. The dialogue is sharp, and the banter is flirty and delicious, and it made me laugh out loud a few times. They are likable and very cute together. The tropes include enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, brother's best friend, and forced proximity.

This is full of whimsical, cozy vibes, this would be a great spooky-season pick for anyone who wants a charming, lighthearted witchy read rather than a scary one.

[Jennifer]

Magic? The roaring 20s? Mystery? A dash of romance? Count me in!

This book overall was fun. I loved the idea of it and the fact that it takes place in the 1920s. I could imagine it all, the atmosphere, the rebellion of the time. That’s really what earning the 3 stars for me because I think the author did a wonderful job integrating the magic aspect with the era.

However, the romance did not sell me at all. It felt like we were being set up for this intense romance but it was honestly more in the background than anything. I really liked the banter from Vespar and Max so it bummed me out a little that they just kind of happen. It just felt like there wasn’t a lot of development with them. Things were like pepper spicy so I give it a rating of 1🌶️ out of 5.

I liked the mystery portion of the story for the most part but I was a bit confused in the beginning with the magic system. At times I felt zoned out with the story and then it was immensely rushed at the end, which is unfortunate because I would have loved to see a more thought out, action packed happening of something to resolve what was happening.

Overall, a cute and different story I enjoyed and think others might like! Thank you so much Atria, NetGalley and Martha Waters for the ARC!

[Brittany]

Spellstruck was such a fun read. The magical realism of the alternate prohibition setting worked so well, and the mystery to solve was such a perfect way to explore this world. The book is light and fun and has a lot of heart. I loved it and hope to see a series evolve from these characters.

Vesper Holloway runs her family's club and the secret back room where members can purchase magical potions that were outlawed in recent years. The government is at a point where some are trying to repeal these laws and tensions between the parties are high. Max is a FLEA, an enforcement agent tasked with finding and exposing the clubs that are selling magical potions. Strange things start happening in the magical community and the two must work together to figure out what is really going on.

I love the 1920s setting and the opposites attract storyline. I think enemies to lovers is a bit strong for how this book starts off, but the banter is top notch. A truly delightful read. Thanks to Martha Waters and Atria Books for this advanced copy!

[Becca Smith]

Martha Waters has become an auto-read author for me and this may be my favorite of hers yet.

I loved the world that she created. Her historical fiction background I think contributed to the success of crossing aristocratic London with illegal magic, reminiscent of the prohibition. It was so interesting!

Where do I start with the capers of Max and Vesper? I will state that I didn’t care much for Vesper at the beginning. She seemed vapid and spoiled, but I enjoyed how her character developed and the layers she slowly reveals. And Max was such a delightful opposite to everything Vesper is. It resulted in some truly hilarious moments. Highly recommend if you’ve enjoyed her previous work.

Thank you to Atria Marketing and NetGalley for the ARC.