Twice Bitten

by S.E. Babin

I never wanted to be a powerful witch. I’m happiest pulling espresso shots at the Three Beans café and keeping my magic secret.

But trouble is brewing…

When a turf war between vampires and shifters erupts outside the café, I get caught between the irresistibly charming Vampire Prime and the ruggedly handsome Shifter King. As these two apex predators blindly tear into each other, I am bitten, clawed, and left for dead.

My magic flares just in time to save my life, but there are… side effects. Suddenly, I find myself staring at customers’ necks. And feeling suspiciously twitchy before the full moon.

It’s impossible but… am I transforming into a vampire and a werewolf?

The Vampire Prime finds me immediately. Captivated by my scent, he tempts me with danger and luxury. The Shifter King is equally obsessed, and determined to claim me for his pack.

I am caught between them once more—but this time it’s me that they’re fighting over. And since my new blood brings strange new powers, it won’t be long before I’m the most wanted prey in town…

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Vampires, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Romance

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2026

About the author

S.E. Babin has a passion for writing books with a paranormal twist. Whether it's romance or mystery, she loves taking the norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel.

Beginning with random, terrible poetry and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf's Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool. Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEBabin. She loves to hear from readers!

Sign up for the newsletter to hear about upcoming releases, sales, and freebies! sebabin.com

Reviews

[Amber]

Alex is not your ordinary hedgewitch. Her powers are different, and she doesn't know why. Her Mum promised to explain things to her, but she went missing before she could!

One evening, she's literally running for her life when she accidentally ends up right in the middle of a vampire x shifter fight and gets bitten by them BOTH 😳
And that's when things get very interesting...

I won't say what happens next because you'll have to read the book yourself! But I will say Alex finds herself caught between two very sexy leaders. There's Alric the Vampire Prime, and Silas the Shifter Alpha, and they both want something from her 👀

Alex is hilarious, and I loved her snark and straight talking attitude. She works as a barista alongside some amazing side characters, and in her spare time she sells black market apothecary on the dark web.

And then there's Edmund... I couldn't not mention him because he is absolutely a firm favourite. I need a house spirit that runs off WiFi too 😂

I loved how this book managed to be fun while still having a great plot, and there are pretty much every paranormal creature you can think of thrown into the mix, which I loved.

If you want a fun read with plenty of chaos, you need to pick this one up! 😍

[Sword and Stories]

Twice Bitten by S.E. Babin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

I adored this book! It was exactly the fun, cosy fantasy I was hoping for. The plot was entertaining, the characters charming and easy to root for, and the story woven in a way that was easy and delightful to digest.

This book had all my favourite fantasy creatures including a hot shifter king, an arrogant vampire prime, and a little witch with hidden powers who I want as my best friend immediately. If that wasn't enough to pique your interest, our FMC Alex works in a magical coffee shop with an endearing fae boss, a goblin who makes latte art, and an adorable fairy sidekick who had my heart right from her first appearance.

I loved this world so much. I don't often enjoy urban fantasies as much as mystical words but everything in this book was charming and heartwarming in all the right ways. What I wouldn't give to be a witchy barrista working in the Three Little Beans coffee shop.

The story kept me guessing throughout with little sprinkles of clues and intrigue that kept me turning the page. My only complaint is that there wasn't more! I am delighted there's going to be a book 2 because I still had so many questions and absolutely want more time in this world with these characters.

Verdict: If this isn't on your TBR already and you're a fan of fun, whimsical fantasy... it absolutely should be.

Thank you to Second Sky Books, Netgalley and S.E. Babin for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda | escapetoerilea]

Thank you to Second Sky for entrusting me with an early gifted egalley!

Twice Bitten by S.E. Babin
Fangs and Fur book 2
Releases 8/10!

Urban fantasy
Barista at a supernatural coffee shop
Vampires, shifters, witches, and more
Amazing snarky house spirit
Secrets and twists
Slow burn (no spice in this book)
Political intrigue

Alex was fine being a solitary witch. Content with working at a supernatural coffee shop and selling her black market goods to save for her own shop. Then chaos entered her life in the form of an obsessed vampire, and continued with the attention of the vampires and shifters leaders. The leaders want her help and she is just trying to survive the other vampire's attention.

Well this book just completely consumed me today! I loved Alex even though sometimes I was yelling over some decisions she made, haha. We definitely start out with more than one possible love interest and that is all I'm going to say besides I'm glad I picked the team I did! 😏😏 And omg, the snarky house spirit is so amazing. You must experience Edmund. Can I please have an Edmund? The rest of the supporting characters were also pretty great and I'm on the verge of calling this a found family. Maybe a begrudging found family? And that ending! Ah! There are so many unanswered questions I still have and I'm so excited for book 2!

[Juanita]

⭐⭐⭐½

I usually really enjoy this author, and Twice Bitten started off strong. There was a good mystery surrounding her identity and heritage, which feels like a familiar theme with this author, and one I usually enjoy.

That said, some chapters felt overloaded with information, and I was SO frustrated by how completely unprepared she was for everything happening to her. Her mother knew what she was and still didn't warn or prepare her?! Forewarned is forearmed, people! Instead, she's basically left floundering in the dark while everyone around her seems to know more about her than she does.

Then we have the two men. Good grief. She can't trust either of them, the betrayals keep piling up, and somehow we're heading toward a love triangle?! One of my absolute pet peeves, right alongside miscommunication. With the amount of shady shit these men get up to, I genuinely struggle to see how either becomes a viable love interest. At this point, I'd almost prefer a reverse harem. At least then we could stop pretending she's eventually going to choose. 😂

And yet... unfortunately for me, I'm intrigued. I need to know how her father fits into all of this, what exactly she is, and if we're genuinely dealing with an angel situation, how THAT works.

So yes, I'm frustrated. I don't like where the romance is heading. But am I curious enough to keep reading?

Annoyingly, yes.

[Chezza's life]

4.5...
I absolutely went in blind with this book apart from knowing there was vamps, wolves and witches lol

And what a fabulous surprise this book was. So pleased i picked it up, some of my fave tropes...

*Found family
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*Secret bloodlines
*unique magic
Plus loads more...

Wow loved it and our fmc is badass, takes no s+*t from anyone, love that.
If you like shifters, witches and vampires...
with a witch that knows sod all about her upbringing, who works in a coffee shop and just happens to accidentally walk into trouble and then the dominoes fall lol
Then you'll love this Urban paranormal fantasy with a mystery

Thank you second sky, you've done it again

[Taylor Piatt]

Thank you to NetGalley the publishers for giving me early access to this eAudiobook.

3.5 stars. This book follows Alex who is a green witch who works in a coffee shop. One day she finds herself the obsession of a vampire. In her attempt to flee she accidentally is attacked by a vampire and a werewolf. They leave her for dead. The story goes from there.

This was a very fun quick paced paranormal mystery. I enjoyed our main character and her sassy nature. I thought the combination of the different supernatural beings was very fun.

This book was definitely a vibe read. It did not go into depth about the universe. The magic system was pretty surface level.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick fun read. I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator was excellent.

[Laura Hidalgo]

Thank you to NetGalley, S. E. Babin, Bookouture Audio, and Second Sky Books for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes you just need the right book to reset your reading brain.

Twice Bitten was exactly that book for me.

What happens when you're a hedge witch who's perfectly content pulling espresso shots at the local café, only to find yourself caught in the middle of a turf war between the Vampire Prime and the Shifter King?

Apparently... you get bitten by both.

Our witch was probably my favorite part of the story. She's strong, savvy, confident, and just guarded enough that her reactions felt believable instead of frustrating. After her mother's recent disappearance, she's simply trying to move on with her life while keeping her magic hidden. The only problem is she's far more than just an ordinary hedge witch. Thanks to protections her mother placed on her years ago, much of who she really is has remained buried... until one psychotic vampire decides to make her his next target.

One very bad day later, she finds herself caught in the middle of a fight between the Vampire Prime and the Shifter King, taking claws and fangs she was never meant to survive.

Except...

She does.

I'll stop there because discovering everything that follows is half the fun.

One thing S. E. Babin absolutely nailed was the cast. Every supporting character felt like they belonged in the story instead of simply existing to move the plot along. Between the psychotic vampire, the Vampire Prime, the Shifter King, and everyone our witch meets along the way, I found myself just as invested in them as I was in her journey.

For my romance readers, there is definitely chemistry and plenty of sexual tension, but don't go into this expecting an instant romance. This first book is clearly laying the foundation for what's to come, and I actually appreciated that. It gave the relationships room to breathe instead of rushing straight into love.

One thing I really appreciated was how much fun this book was. S. E. Babin balances the mystery, action, humor, and supernatural politics so well that I kept finding myself saying, "Just one more chapter."

You can definitely tell she has experience writing cozy paranormal because, while Twice Bitten gave me more of an urban fantasy vibe, it still carried that comforting familiarity I always associate with cozy paranormal. I think that's exactly why the pacing worked so well for me. It reset my reading brain and became the perfect palate cleanser before diving into my next genre binge.

Katie Beudert did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. She gave our witch exactly the right balance of confidence, humor, vulnerability, and determination, making it easy to become invested in both her journey and the growing mystery surrounding her.

Overall, I had a great time with Twice Bitten. If you enjoy witches, vampires, shifters, supernatural politics, memorable supporting characters, slow-burn romantic tension, and heroines who somehow can't stop finding themselves in the middle of absolute chaos, I think you'll really enjoy this one.

And yes... it ends on a cliffhanger.

Honestly, I love a cliffhanger when it's earned, and this one absolutely was. It left me genuinely excited for book two. Better yet, it also convinced me to check out the rest of S. E. Babin's catalog because if this is any indication of her storytelling, I think I've found another author to binge.

[Shannon]

"I was bitten by a vampire AND a werewolf. Now everyone wants a piece of me."

That premise alone had me hitting play immediately, and once I started listening to Twice Bitten, I couldn't stop.

Thank you to @NetGalley, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books, and S.E. Babin for the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alex is exactly the kind of heroine I enjoy reading about. She's a hedge witch with major trust issues, very few friends, and a strong desire to stay invisible. By day, she works as a barista at the Three Beans Café. Behind the scenes, she quietly runs a magical side hustle, creating specialized potions and blood alternatives for the local supernatural community while trying to stay off everyone's radar.

Of course, staying unnoticed becomes impossible when a brutal turf war between vampires and shifters erupts outside the café. After being bitten by a vampire and clawed by a werewolf, Alex should have died. Instead, her dormant magic surges to life, transforming her into something unprecedented and making her the center of attention for every powerful supernatural player in town.

What I loved most was watching Alex fight for her independence. Both the sophisticated Vampire Prime and the fiercely protective Shifter King have their own reasons for wanting her, but Alex refuses to become anyone's prize, pawn, or possession. The tension between the factions kept me invested while the mystery surrounding Alex's family history and magical abilities added another compelling layer to the story.

The world-building was fun and easy to sink into. I especially enjoyed the magical side characters, the café setting, and the supernatural community hidden beneath everyday life. Edmund, Alex's sarcastic and protective house spirit, completely stole every scene he appeared in and provided some of the book's funniest moments.

Katie Beudert's narration was fantastic. She captured Alex's humor, vulnerability, stubbornness, and determination perfectly. Her performance kept the pacing moving and made this an incredibly bingeable audiobook.

If you're looking for an urban fantasy featuring witches, vampires, werewolves, mystery, humor, found family, magical disasters, and an unforgettable heroine, Twice Bitten is a must-listen.

I cannot wait to continue the Fangs and Fur series.

[Megan Thrush]

Great Urban Fantasy, Questionable Priorities 🤣


I genuinely enjoyed this book and give it a solid four stars. The author does a great job building the characters and introducing what feels like a much larger cast that will become increasingly important as the series continues. This definitely leans more urban fantasy than romance, which worked for me. A lot of this first book feels like groundwork—introducing the characters, their relationships, the magic, and all the little connections that I’m sure are going to become much more complicated later. I’m definitely interested in seeing how everyone fits into the bigger picture.

My one real critique—and absolutely not enough to keep me from reading book two—is our main character’s somewhat questionable sense of urgency when it comes to her magic.

Because, ma’am.

You have a murderous vampire stalker. Your magic, which was literally BLOCKED by an implant your mother put in you as a child—with absolutely no idea what kind of magic it was even suppressing—is suddenly breaking through. Clearly some serious supernatural nonsense is happening around you.

And you’re worried about being late for your shift at the coffee shop?!

I appreciate a strong work ethic as much as the next person, but I think “vampire actively trying to murder me” is a perfectly reasonable excuse to call out. 😂 At several points I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say, PLEASE. THE COFFEE WILL GET MADE. GO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO YOU.

And then there was that ending.

UGH.

Would I have made that decision? Absolutely not. Did I have several opinions about it? Absolutely yes. Am I still going to read the next book to see what happens because apparently I’m invested now? Also yes.

Overall, though, this was a really enjoyable read. The characters are well developed, the urban fantasy elements are intriguing, and there are enough unanswered questions and interesting character dynamics to make me want to see where the story goes next.

Four solid stars—and I will absolutely be back for book two, even if I have to spend part of it yelling about this woman’s priorities again.

[Sonja Charters]

As soon as I saw this front cover image, I knew that I had to read this book.
On first look, this definitely gave witchy vibes - with the gorgeous purple colouring and the obvious magic in progress - but that title made me look a bit closer and then I spotted the bites.

You know I never read blurbs, so although I went into this originally thinking about a cosy witchy read, this was actually so much more.

I loved the whole premise and of course the fact that along with witches, we see all kinds of other species too - vampires and werewolves being the main story, but also a sentiment house, pixies and in the periphery, pretty much any paranormal being you can imagine.

When a vampire heads into the coffee shop where Alex, our hedge witch, works, he takes a fancy immediately and as she flees from his advances, she runs into the Vampire Prime and the Shifter King mid altercation - with disastrous consequences.
When she survives, with a little help, this sets off a whole set of events and poor Alex doesn't know who to trust.

I was completely drawn into this world from the very first few pages.
It started off cosy, but soon becomes much more dangerous as Alex is taken in by both the vampire prime and the shifter king who only seems want to compete.

We're kept wondering who to trust and what the motives are for each meeting and from the minute the prime and king discover that Alex lived, this was such an exciting and action packed read.

Along with the main storyline, we also see other threads running underneath.
Alex's mother is missing - she doesn't know who her father is - she has an implant to kerb her magic - she also discovers new magic that could be part of the changes she found as she changed to the hybrid she's now become.

Of course, the story builds and builds and just when things become super tense, we're left on a cliffhanger that has me needing the next book immediately!

This is the first book in the Fangs & Fur series and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2.

[Melanie]

Very entertaining and a great start to this series.

Rating : 4⭐️

I’m a fan of this author so I immediately picked up Twice Bitten, the beginning of S.E. Babin’s Fangs and Fur series. A paranormal tale about a hedge witch who gets mixed up with the politics of the vampire/werewolf conference by way of a traumatic encounter is off to a good start here.

Babin is excellent at establishing a complex plot that will keep expanding into ever greater detail and often wilder realms and storylines. I can definitely see this happening with Fangs and Fur and the main group of characters Babin is starting out with.

Hint. Thankfully, this author can take the main female character on quite the twisted path with regard to her final romantic partner, so just know it might not be one of the top two atm.

First there’s Alex, a hedge witch working as a barista with a black market apothecary business on the side. She’s an orphan with a “missing” mother and a father of unknown origin.

Alex becomes the object of an obsessive vampire, Beckett, and ends up in the middle of a mysterious species turf battle between vampire and wolf shifter. That brings in the next major characters and conflicts.

Alric, the Vampire Prime and Silas is the Wolf King, both working on an inter species conference. Until a traumatic event with Alex upsets everything.

I’m not a fan of Alric. He’s got major non consent issues, and frankly red flags plastered around him everywhere. And smacks heavily of another MMC in another series I despised.

Silas is running a close second.

Like Leo the chauffeur/bodyguard for Alric. He’s got great potential going forward.

And Babin, if she’s going to be as consistent as she has in her previous series, will make this an elaborate and exciting journey for Alex, magically and romantically.

So I’m not going to assume who it might be from the characters at the first story.

Very entertaining and a great start to this series.

Fangs and Fur:
Twice Bitten #1
Bite Club #2 - Jan 11,2027

[Lexa Starling]

'My fists clenched. "What do you want?" "What every man wants when he almost kills someone.'" I swallowed hard. "To finish the job?"
A surprised laugh broke from the vampire. He abruptly released me and stepped away. "To apologize."'
- Twice Bitten, by @Sebabin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|| 🫑

Twice Bitten is a super fun, fast- paced, urban fantasy about a witch that finds herself caught in the crossfire of a fight between the Vampire prime and werewolf alpha, resulting in some...interesting side effects that are somehow contributed to by her mysterious lineage. Let me tell you, I absolutely devoured this in 24 hours, along with a homemade pizza that I ate all to myself whilst my husband was on nights. And I have no regrets on both counts.

I loved Alex, the FMC (great name 😉). She was sassy and independent but not too proud to rinse the vampire boss's tab (a girl after my own heart) and not too goodie goodie to worry about breaking the law (whilst I do not partake in criminality in real life, I do not object to it in my FMC). The plot in the book kept me interested and I definitely want to find out more about Alex's heritage, and her mysterious magic. In terms of romance, there was just a hint and I would have liked more, BUT it is the first in a series and no one likes it when the enemies become lovers too soon, so I spy that in future books and am looking forward to which way that might go. There are a number of options, any of which I would be open to. 😉
If you like cosy urban fantasy, a bit of a mystery, and you were a fan of Charlaine Harris back in the day (True Blood 'til I ☠️) , you will love this. I will deffo be reading any future books in the series and can see it being one that can span several books with a good time to be had by all.
Thank you to @secondskybooks for always providing books that being me joy. I really enjoyed this one!
Twice Bitten is out August 10th.
#twicebitten #urbanfantasy #secondskybooks

[Melanie Garland]

I was so excited to get this book from NetGalley and Second Sky. From the description I could tell it was right up my alley with vampires, werewolves, unknown powers, and a love triangle. From the moment I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t want to go to sleep and when I finally relented, I even dreamt about the story and then immediately started reading again when I woke up- it was that addictive!

The FMC was absolutely perfect- strong, fierce, and funny. She is very likeable and easy to root for her. The whole time I was just as invested as her in finding out her mysterious past and what her ancestry might mean. The entire book kept me guessing and the ending has me wanting the next book ASAP. I absolutely loved the fun addition of Edmund, the mysterious sentient spirit(?) attached to her home. Their banter was a highlight for me, and I found myself worried for him at one point in the story. Who doesn’t love a witty, protective spirit who can run your baths and kick people out of your house with the floorboards?!

The author did a fantastic job knitting hints and clues throughout the book. There were a few times that I found myself a little bothered because the conversation that was supposed to happen never did (like Alex meeting the witches in the bar to ask about her implant and then never talking about it once) or that something seemed to have happened to her implant in the final fight but it was never mentioned, even just a tease, in the final few chapters that could lead up to suspense of what it might mean if it had been destroyed during that fight and her developing powers. Regardless, it wasn’t even to take away from the overall plot.

I had never read anything from this author, and I will definitely be checking out her other books now!

[Cassandra Garcia]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listen I do not know if it is because I've been reading nothing but high fantasy lately but this book drew me in. It was a refreshingly easy read and I devoured it. I did not want to put it down. I finished it in less then 24 hrs. 

Vampires, Witches, Fae, Goblins, Pixies, an entire supernatural filled world what more could a Fantasy girlie ask for?

The FMC is likeable and you will easily commiserate with her. The side characters are also entertaining, the house having its own spirit Edmund was a nice touch and a good tool to lend a companion to a main character who is usually one of solitude. The plot moves along and the intrigue keeps you guessing. The character growth with her trying to trust people is also nicely done. She is betrayed multiple times but in the end she does end up opening herself up to a few side characters and realizing that she is not entirely alone. That ending also has me ready for the next book asap. Ive never read this author but I think I'll go see if she has other published works.

There were a few inconsistencies that will probably be taken care of in the finalized copy, like the first Vampire we see saying put his drink on the Primes tab but then she takes his money. Unless that was a joke or a power play that I miss read.

There was a little repetition with describing that vampires can hear your heartbeat and know if your scared and a few other things but not big issues. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and cant will be reading the next.

[PK Amaral]

I am so grateful to NetGalley and S.E. Babin for the opportunity to read this ARC! The first hook in this book was the dedication - anyone, like myself, who can relate to having an "unmanageable TBR" will appreciate it. First, there are so many situations that happen in the book, and there are quite a few supernatural beings that appear, so be prepared! The FMC, Alex, is a hedge witch whose mother has disappeared and she does not know who her father is/was. Alex works at a coffee shop and is extremely likeable, despite not having very many friends. I connected with her instantly and loved that she was running a (possibly illegal) side hustle out of her basement. She has two kind and funny co-workers, steals syrup for a pixie, and a supernatural being assists with technology at her house. The trouble beings when a creepy, vampire customer takes a strong liking to Alex and we begin to suspect that there may be more to our FMC than meets the eye. The vampire is cruel and stalks her relentlessly until she has a violent encounter with the two main MMCs. The story really takes off from here! Her chaotic journey has her dealing with these royalty figures, but Alex doesn't trust either of them and rightfully so, because their motives are unclear. Luckily, Alex has her friends, her fierce personality, and doesn't give in to anyone's demands. The ending will have you gasping and I can't wait to see how this storyline continues!

[Amber]

🔥 Love triangle
🌕 Vampires & shifters
☕ Small-town supernatural vibes
🩸 Hidden magic
✨ One woman both sides want to claim
🤣 Witty Sarcastic House Spirit
Urban fantasy
Witch FMC


“My fists clenched. "What do you want?" "What every man wants when he almost kills someone.'" I swallowed hard. "To finish the job?"
A surprised laugh broke from the vampire. He abruptly released me and stepped away. "To apologize."

“I was bitten by a Vampire AND a Werewolf. Now everyone wants a piece of me.”

“You mean he likes to be insulted?” “Yes if you punch him, he will be yours forever.”

I absolutely love this audio! I devoured this in two days! Our FMC Alex is a hedge witch as we believe, who works as a barista by day and a black market apothecary. but she runs into an obsessive vampire Beckett whom she has triggered by turning him down. And runs into more trouble catching the attention of some other supernatural beings. While trying to keep her powers hidden but trying to figure them out as well i loved seeing her sarcastic side. Her strength. See her fight for her independence. And try so hard bot to trust anyone. I loved Edmund! The house was so funny I loved their dynamics.
The tension, the action and humor had me hooked. The voice actor did incredible really drawing me in this world. And getting me completely invested into the characters.
Narrated by Katie Beudert
💯 recommend this book/AUDIO!!

[Em]

This was such a fun read! For a book that has so much angst, a virus, stalker, two supernaturals that won’t leave Alex alone and so much mystery, it’s a read I loved and raced through. The worldbuilding was great, not too complicated for my tired teacher brain but still detailed enough that I loved the world immensely.

I love Alex, she is down to earth, fun, won’t take any rubbish and is so funny. I loved how she dealt with the vampire prime and the wolf king. She’s so determined to stay her own person, even when dealing with so many different issues - changing powers, arrogant kings, people who want things from her and a really nasty stalker, she just keeps going and is looking for the best.

Alaric is mysterious, arrogant and seriously entitled but I love a broody MMC and as such I love him. I think he totally went around things the wrong way but I loved how Alex dealt with it!!!! Silas is the wolf king and I love how he (even though he also makes major mistakes and is after things from Alex) always makes her feel safe. This doesn’t mean she trusts either of them. Girl power!! 😂

I really enjoyed how the story progressed, the mystery and the fantastic twists were brilliant. Unputdownable!!!! Also shout out to Edmund the house spirit. He is brilliant and sarcastic, caring but not wanting to seem so!!!!!

A fantastic read with a brilliant story and I can’t wait for book 2!!!!!!! I’m kinda begging @ to give me an arc because I’m shameless and I don’t wait to wait until January!!!!!

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

3.5⭐️

This was an urban fantasy that ended up being more of a cozy offering than I was expecting. I had been yearning for witchy/magical books to get me into the cozy-season mindset, so I was excited to pick this one up. While it ended up being a bit different from what I expected based on the description, I did enjoy the book overall.

I was thankful to have received the ALC from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley ahead of publication. That being said, I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I used my eyeballs to consume it. It was narrated by Katie Beudert, who had great pacing and sounded age-appropriate for the main characters. However, I felt like she overacted the prose at times, which made it harder for me to imagine the plot independently.

There is such a fine line with audiobook narration. You want the narration to bring the story to life without becoming so dramatic that it pulls you out of the story, and unfortunately, this one crossed that line for me a bit. BUT, that’s me! It’s totally a personal preference, and I’m sure others will experience it differently.

I’m going to leave it at that for now because I actually intend to buy the book when it comes out this week and read it in a different format. I’ll come back and update my review once I’ve had a chance to experience the story with my eyeballs! 👀

[Lizz]

3.5 ⭐️

Spice: 1/5 [no spice but a few suggestive comments]

Tropes: love triangle, enemies to lovers (maybe eventually?)



Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky Books, and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fast-paced, interesting, and full of mystery. I left the book with many questions remaining, but an excitement to see how it could unfold in the future, especially with the plot twist at the end. The romance is light, to say the least, but the plot was captivating enough that I was still entertained.

What I loved most about this book was how symbolic it felt of how women are treated when men are abusive or try to take advantage of them. I wont say too much in the hopes of avoiding spoilers, but if you’re looking for it, you can find some really profound connections between Alex’s experiences throughout the books and the real life experiences of many women who have been abused, stalked, or assaulted by an entitled man.

Overall, it was definitely a good book, but the light romance led to my lower rating of the book. I would definitely recommend it, even for the social commentary aspects of the book and for the thorough world design.

[Marion Over]

A publisher asked me if I wanted to read this book; I loved the cover art and synopsis, so I said sure. I'd never heard of S. E. Babin before.
I absolutely love this author. I will put her right on the bookshelf with Harris, Stone, Bennett and Briggs. Babin has that writing style that draws me in and is compelling.
Perfect urban fantasy. The characters are great, a world both relatable and fantastical. Great world building, thrilling, action packed goodness that is both surprising and mysterious.

From Twice bitten: “Let this be a lesson,” I screeched, the flames crackling around me. “No man, be he human or supernatural, will ever master me.” The MC has moxie.

So if you want fast paced Urban Fantasy with larger than life characters this is a winner.

Alex is the hard worker and keeps to herself. There's something about her that has to be hidden and no one is left to fill her in.
When a vampire comes in the coffee shop and looks at her, his wrongness is suffocating. And her life is changed forever. Her insular lifestyle makes a bad situation even worse. Or does it?
When you don't know what you are and unforeseen craziness keeps getting in your way sometimes you have friends you never imagined and allies you can't trust.

[Lucy Knight]

First of all, thank you so much to second sky for the beautiful finished copy of this book! I enjoyed it so much and I can’t wait for the next book 💜

As soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked. A witch who ends up being a wolf and a vampire? Sign me right up!

I really loved the cozy aspect to the book. The coffee shop with the regular customers was so sweet, especially when Alex would give a pixie a free treat 🥺

I loved the build up to a lot of scenes. You could feel the tension rising and I found myself reading on in suspense eagerly waiting to see what would happen!

I’ve never read a book with the hybrid shifter aspect before and I really enjoyed it. Usually in fantasy books where the main character shifts for the first time, it’s a very confusing and scary experience. But having to go through it twice, it was super crazy and made me feel bad for Alex. Although she took it all in her stride really well!

I’m still not sure who I want Alex to end up with. I love both the vampire prime and the shifter king equally. I’m usually good at immediately latching on to a mmc that I love straight away when it’s a love triangle but I genuinely can’t pick!

I cannot believe the cliffhanger I read at the end! That was absolutely crazy and I need the next book ASAP!

[Carly Young]

Twice Bitten was such a fun, addictive paranormal fantasy that I flew through in a couple of sittings. If you love vampires, werewolves, witches, magical chaos, and a healthy dose of romantic tension, this one is well worth picking up.

I really liked the main character. She's not looking for power or adventure and would much rather be left alone to work in her café, which made her easy to root for when her life gets turned completely upside down. Watching her navigate her bizarre new situation was entertaining, especially as her powers started evolving in unexpected ways.

The chemistry was another highlight. Being caught between a charismatic Vampire Prime and a possessive Shifter King creates plenty of tension, drama, and laugh-out-loud moments. While the romance leans into familiar paranormal tropes, it was exactly the kind of escapist fun I was in the mood for.

The plot isn't overly complicated, but it keeps moving and never drags. I found myself wanting to know what would happen next, and the mix of magic, danger, and romance kept me turning the pages.

Overall, Twice Bitten is a fun, fast-paced paranormal fantasy packed with supernatural drama, romance, and an entertaining love triangle. A great choice if you're craving an easy, bingeable read.

[Kate]

Not a bad book. This is one I binge read. But it did have some flaws towards the end of it I'd like to nitpick about. Such as:
-Noticing a change in complexion only after already putting on makeup.
-Too many vague "they are not a bad person" or "they are a bad person".
-Letting us know mixed up magic can effect spells/potions and Alex never being concerned or testing if her creations are effected by her changes.
-Being tagged a romance even though it isn't one. The men in the story are only interested in her for their own purposes none of which is love. They are trying to use her not date her it does not matter if she is physically attractive. They don't deserve romance from her. (The only decent guy is Edmund who doesn't have a body.)
- Silas picking her up from Alric's house was suspicious. She never questioned why he was there. Though I assume a spy informed him of her being there. (What if he was also behind the stolen necklace?) Honestly I just wanted her to turn into a wolf and get away by herself at that point but I suppose she still needs to learn how to do that later.

Still It was a fun light read and I look forward to checking out the next book when it come out.

[Starr Perry]

Alex Cole is a fierce and feminine heroine, though she just wants to be a barista by day and green hedge witch that lives quietly and peacefully, no drama, no mayhem or madness. Sadly, soooo not happening.

Alex is being chased by an evil vampire and accidentally ends up in a battle between a master vampire and an alpha wolf. After almost dying (they leave her for dead in an alley, horrifying) she is rescued and given healing.

Alex makes her way back home and assumes she can hide out and continue on quietly. Nope. Not even a little. The unholy trio find her and make her life hades on earth, so Alex attempts to maintain control of her own life.

The evil vampire steps up his efforts to kill her and the other two…well, their motives are questionable.
Alex realizes quickly she has to handle this herself or die.

Edmund, her house support, does what he can to be help. The one friend she has, Cat, is as supportive as she can possibly be. Go girl power.

When the ultimate battle with the truly dark and evil side comes (good versus evil, so of course it’s a battle) Alex is willing to die to protect others and happily good prevails.

A truly fun and interesting book with an exciting sequel I can’t wait to read and an absolutely worthwhile read

[Becky Setterfield]

Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes me. Twice Bitten was such an easy read, and if I didn't go to work I feel like I could've done this in one sitting!

The FMC was so feisty and funny! She stood up for herself and didn't back down when two strong MMCs forced their way into her life. The whole way through (and still now!) I was so invested to find out her hidden past and what that means for her power.

It was a testament to the authors writing, because I'm still wary of Silas and Alric. Alex isnt very trusting and I am the opposite when it comes to fictional men! Usually I'm like "Girl, you can trust him!". So, the fact that I'm dubious about these two, especially the Vamp, means the Author did something right!!

Also, have to say, adore Edmund. Where can I get one. He was witty, smart and protective (of the Wi-Fi!) and just what Alex needed.

This fantasy had it all, Witches, Vamps, Werewolves, Goblins, Pixies, Fae! I could go on. A must-read and has also had me looking into the authors past works because I always need easy, well written reads!! Can't wait for book 2.

[Catherine Thomson]

Urban fantasy with witches, werewolves and vampires.

Twice Bitten follows barista Alex and the consequences of fleeing for her life straight into the Vampire Prime and the Shifter King in a back-alley brawl.

Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t get much further than what the official synopsis states. There is a large amount of well thought out world building, and I enjoyed the writing style but I didn’t feel like this book stood on its own. The slow burn is very slow - as in so slow they haven’t even found the matchbox yet. I felt there was no romance between Alex and the Vampire Prime or the Shifter King, aside from a couple acknowledgements of their good looks. Personally, I think the official synopsis is misleading and readers would be better served by a new synopsis.

I did enjoy the narrator’s performance; it was captivating and felt like a good fit for the main character.

Thanks to S. E. Babin, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listener copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3⭐ / 5 🎧 / 0 🌶️ (but adult language)

[Jules Poet]

Twice Bitten
An absolutely addictive urban fantasy mystery
by S. E. Babin
with Katie Beudert (Narrator)

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

I loved this audiobook! Katie Beudert is a fantastic narrator! I am definitely now addicted to this series. Book Hangover? Yup!

S.E. Babin wrote a hell of a homerun with this book! It’s got all sorts of goodness - female heroine, possible love interest, mystery, friendship, magic, a magical house.

My favorite part is the main character, Alex’s, attitude - she’s self-assured, confident, and treats others as equals regardless of their status or bank account.

She’s not rude or submissive, she’s just honest and takes people at face value, judging them by their actions and inactions.

I love a great urban fantasy like this book, because it feels so magically possible and I love that!

I am definitely going to have to check out more of this author’s books!

I recommend this to anyone and everyone. It’s got enough oomph to make everyone happy!

[Shawna]

Overall, this was a fun read! I loved the grit of the FMC, yet she was still able to grow. The underlying themes of feminism, love, and friendship were great! I can’t wait to watch the FMC find her found family! The mystery and political intrigue were enticing! I will be coming back for the next one.


However. I have…questions. There were so many times I thought “why aren’t you asking questions?!” or “this is unbelievably important, why aren’t you focusing on it?!”. It was frustrating. Also I feel like it could have used another round of edits before publishing. 😅 Sometimes things were repeated or glossed over.
On the audio side of things: the narrator has a great voice for audiobooks! This is my first time listening to her and her voice is wonderful. But, there were some parts that felt very stiff and others that flowed naturally. Also, the cadence threw me off a bit. As the book progressed these things definitely improved though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced listener copy!

[Entisar Ali]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book absolutely swept me away—I started it intending to read a chapter and ended up binging almost the whole thing in one sitting. The pacing is addictive, the humor had me laughing out loud (seriously, don't read this with a drink in hand), and the romance is exactly the kind of slow-burn magic that makes you fall completely in love with the story.
Our leading lady is fierce, funny, and easy to root for—the kind of strong female lead that makes a book impossible to put down. Add in worldbuilding that's genuinely stellar and side characters you can't help but adore, and you've got a series that hooks you early and never lets go.
I only stopped reading when I physically fell asleep, and I picked it right back up the moment I woke up. This is a must-read—entertaining from start to finish, and I'm already itching to dive into the rest of the series.

[Becky]

I've read several books by S.E. Babin and have enjoyed them, so I was excited to pick up Twice Bitten when I saw it on NetGalley. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite work for me.

My first disappointment was that the story didn't really match either the blurb or the title. I went in expecting one type of story, but what I got felt quite different, which made it difficult to connect with the book.

The biggest issue for me, though, was the characterization. The characters didn't seem to have much depth, and I had a hard time becoming invested in them. The female main character, in particular, felt inconsistent. I think she was meant to come across as a tough, independent loner who didn't need anyone, but she repeatedly made TSTL (too stupid to live) decisions that undermined that image and made her frustrating to follow.

While this book wasn't a good fit for me, I'll still check out future books by this author because I've enjoyed their previous work.