The Nightmare

Witch Bound #3

by Opal Reyne

Carwyn wants to rid herself of her empathetic powers. The last thing she expects is to be torn away from her quest in the middle of the night by a dragon. He’s arrogant, sarcastic, and hates her kind after what they’ve done to ruin his family, but no amount of arguing can convince him to let her go. She must do as he demands.

Yet she finds herself sympathetic to his plight.

After losing most of his kin, Kier is determined to save his only remaining sibling. Despite his overwhelming power, he’s forced to swallow his pride and turn to a lowly witch for aid. He cares little for what becomes of her; she’s a means to an end.

Then she does something no other has been able to do in make him laugh... and awakens fierce, long-denied desire within him.

Though passion blazes between them in a chaotic inferno, how can he convince Carwyn to stay when her abilities make touch without trust impossible?

**Author This book contains a tr*gger that may be unsettling for some readers. Please read the w*rning at the beginning of the book. **

Genres: Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Kidnapping, Dragons, Monster Romance, Romance

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2026

About the author

Opal Reyne is an Australian Author who has been a fan of the Adult Paranormal Romance genre from the moment she picked up a book of it - and has never looked back.

She loves everything spicy, smutty,and everything boarder-line monster loving. She started writing because of her love of the written word, and because she wanted to build a diverse world of mythological creatures, while also showing the beauty of all ethnicities of humanity. She thrives to produce a plot driven, character developing book while sprinkling in enchanting imagery.

-Duskwalker Brides a series that features a very real monster who never turns into a handsome prince.

-Witch Bound is a series of Dragon-shifter males falling for their species enemies, Witches!

-She currently has a completed series called 'A Pirate Romance duology'.

As of the 20th of June 2022, The Aedus Chronicles has been unpublished. Thank you to all the readers who enjoyed the series, and Opal may look into revising them in the future.

Reviews

[Fiona]

Pre-read:

"To all the DragonFuckers out there....There's dragon-form spice." 👀

A sarcastic dragon who hates witches. An empathetic witch who can't be touched without trust...
Yeah, this sounds like emotional damage wrapped in monster romance.

Prayer circle for biting, banter and one possessive dragon with separation anxiety 🤞🏼✨️

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carwyn was such a badass but also compassionate. She was determined find a way to get rid of her empath abilities, when she was kidnapped by Mr I-hate-witches dragon. Kier was working himself to the bone trying to figure out how to save his sister from a dark curse. Given their less than positive start, being around each other so much and learning what kind of person the other was, made all the difference in their relationship. Both of them had their share of trauma that made them reluctant to open up. Kier was mischievous once some of his desperation was alleviated, and loved to poke and prod at Carwyn. She gave as good as she got.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: kidnapping, violence, gore, murder, SA of side characters (off page), dark ritual magic, side character cursed to sleep, dream walking in side characters mind, burns, injury and injury description, speciesism, infertility, past death of family members, hunting, choking, drugging (not by MC), inadvertent trauma from feeling parent’s emotions

[Serial Romance Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Carwyn’s issues really got on my last nerve. I thought she was quite selfish. She even admitted her lack of trust in Kier caused all of the conflict.
She needed to atone to him! Book 1 is a frequent reread for me. I did enjoy all of the references to the Witchslayer.

[Mackenzie Ossont Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ The Nightmare - Opal Reyne ✨

Every time I think I know what to expect from an Opal Reyne book, she somehow manages to surprise me all over again. One of my favorite things about following an author from series to series is getting to watch their writing evolve, and I feel like this book really showcases that. You can absolutely see little influences from the Duskwalker series woven into her writing style, and I genuinely think it elevates this series to a whole new level. The world feels richer, the characters feel deeper, and by the time I finished, my only thought was: "...excuse me, where's the next one?" 😭📚

Our FMC? I adored her. She felt so real in the way she struggled with fear, trust, and letting herself be vulnerable. It made her incredibly relatable. But don't get it twisted—we absolutely love a bad bitch who can wield both a bow and a sword. Hot. Chef's kiss. 😌🤌 Add in the sass, and she was basically made to be one of my favorite heroines. Watching her go from "I will absolutely kick you and I don't care what species you are" to "Why is he looking at me like that... my heart is about to beat out of my chest" had me grinning the entire time. And can we talk about the little details? Something as simple as the attention Opal gives to her hair care routine made the character feel so lived in. It's those tiny touches that remind me why I'll always drop everything to pick up an Opal Reyne book.

And then there's our MMC... oh, you precious disaster of a dragon. 😂 Watching him go from "One wrong move and I'll end you" to "Why won't this beautiful woman accept my gifts?! The audacity!" was everything. Seeing him slowly confront and move beyond his own prejudices made his character arc so satisfying, and every little step forward felt earned. But the way he cares for Carwyn? Absolute SWOON. The patience. The protectiveness. The tenderness. Sir... you're setting the bar dangerously high. Gentleman? No. Gentledragon. 🐉♥️

Overall, Opal Reyne continues to prove why she's an auto-buy author for me. Incredible characters, beautiful emotional growth, dragons that somehow keep getting more lovable, and a story that left me counting down the days until the next book. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next. ✨

[Phylicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I think this might actually be my favourite book in the series so far!

What an epic introduction to the FMC. Carwyn is fierce, determined, capable, and has some seriously cool yet haunted abilities that had me hooked from the beginning. One thing I absolutely loved was that they meet almost straight away. There’s no dragging things out for chapters on end—the pacing felt spot on and the story grabbed me immediately.

Their relationship was such an interesting journey to watch unfold. They both have so much to overcome, both individually and together, and I really appreciated how delicately Opal Reyne handled that progression. It never felt forced. Instead, it was a gradual build filled with mutual respect, sensitivity, stubbornness, and a whole lot of sass. The banter between them was fantastic and had me smiling constantly.

There were also some genuinely hilarious moments throughout the book. The scenes involving his dragon form and some of the mishaps surrounding his shifting had me laughing out loud. Those lighter moments balanced the story beautifully and made me love the characters even more.

And then there’s that final epic battle scene… wow. It played out like a movie in my head. Every moment felt vivid, cinematic, and incredibly detailed. I could practically see it all happening in slow motion at times. The action was intense, emotional, and so immersive that I completely lost myself in it.

This book had everything I love—strong characters, dragon form spice, fantastic banter, emotional growth, humour, epic final action, and a romance that felt earned.

[Alexandra G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally stopped reading at about 80% because I got annoyed and bored, but then I got even more annoyed with myself for giving up without seeing how it ends. So I finished it out of spite and out of fondness for the first book.

There were many parts I enjoyed, like how self assured Carwyn was and that Kier was more complex than most basic MMCs. He had an actual personality and his silly dragon behaviour was funny at times.

But I was not a fan of their romance. If felt lacklustre and by the time they resolved their differences and Carwyn deals with her issues, I could barely care about them and I just wanted it to end.
The seer situation was infuriating and I honestly would've killed her after what she did, I don't care that she also helped people.

The new covers are awesome. I'm so glad the author changed them and I'm sure more people will try these books now that the covers aren't so bad. (and I'm sorry, but the first book cover was so bad)

I'm glad to see that the next book will have new characters and I'll give it a try, even though these last two books were not that interesting to me.

[Tarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:
This book was so amazing. It really handled all the difficult topics in such an amazing way. I have always considered myself to be an empathetic person. And it’s not easy to be like that sometimes. But seeing it through Carwyns eyes was really inspiring. I love how she came to appreciate her abilities rather than fear them. I love that it gave her and Keir a unique closeness. And speaking of Keir (extreme heart eyes) you could tell from their first interaction that he was gonna fall hard and FAST and I really am a sucker for banter. The chemistry between these two was just phenomenal from beginning to end! Loved every second of this book!

[Brooke Tupaea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Witch Bound series is here folks!! I have been very patiently awaiting this release from Opal Reyne 🙌🏻

This slow burn, holy smokes — sooooo worth it. The rewards were ✨bountiful✨

That last part had me just 😮‍💨 I’m talking positively perspiring 🥵. This is why we do it, people. Slow burns are where it’s at when the payoff is this worth it 👌🏻

Opal-sama certainly knew what she was doing when she brought Kier, aka ‘The Nightmare’, into glorious existence. He’s devastatingly handsome, positively lovely and he has possibly one of the most genuinely devastating backstories I’ve ever read (that’s a virtue, right?).

No seriously, I was UPSET 😢. I can’t quite pinpoint why exactly — I think it was the way she said it, as well as all the little mentions throughout the book that got me. It was so sad 😞

Anyway, obviously he was a bit angry due to his traumatic past, and tended to take it out on Carwyn just for being what she was. She thought he was just a certified grump, but he was definitely not… Okay maybe he was a little grumpy… But our FMC looked at him and immediately wanted to pet his pretty face, which I think is a totally valid reaction despite his diabolical ‘tude. You just can’t blame her — that Scale Daddy is HOT and he knows it 🥵 Unfortunately the next urge she had was to kick him due to that rather nasty (and totally lickable) mouth of his.

I was so happy she eventually achieved her dream — HILARIOUS scene 😭 bro was sent flying against his will 💀

I really liked Catch-These-Hands-Carwyn. I would class her as a ‘refined’ savage — minimal drama, much poise. She was dealt a bit of a bad hand *laughs in irony* in the Witchy department, but homegirl didn’t let that stop her from making the tough choices and doing what was necessary to ensure her own future happiness. And when people kept doubting her or trying to influence her decision, she hit ‘em with the “Ain’t nobody else gon’ take care of me except me”.

And in the end, she turned her greatest fear when it comes to intimacy into the thing that made their relationship even stronger, and I absolutely loved that for her. It didn’t make her “curse” any less of a struggle, but it worked for them.

Oh Lord, did it work for them… 🙃

Look, unpopular opinion but I’ll be totally honest — dragon smut isn’t usually my thing. There, I said it.

“Bitch, why you read it for then??”

I’ll tell you why — because it’s Opal fucking Reyne, that’s why. I LOVE her books. And you know what I love most about Opal’s books?

✨ The little details ✨

She’s always excelled at describing things in a way that turns a boring plot point into immersive world building — or a mundane interaction between characters into barely-restrained, off-the-charts chemistry. She also makes the effort to keep certain things as realistic as possible with her characters’ quirks, story setting, and of course, her commitment to representation.

That shit’s hard to do in a book about monster smut, but when done correctly, it goes from “that was good” to “holy shitballs I need to read everything this author has ever written IMMEDIATELY”. Don’t believe me?

An excerpt (and my favourite line):
Kier — “What’s the matter, Witch? Dragon got your clit?”

*Me leaning forward* “I beg your FINEST pardon, sir??”

So if you’re like me and don’t normally find flying reptiles the most appealing of MMC’s, but you’re tossing up reading it anyway cause you know Opal’s shit is straight fire (yes, puns are my favourite type of humour) then this is your sign to juST DO IT!!! 😤 Go ahead, take a chance and let her blow your mind with her literary prowess.

That’s not lip service.

[Jillsbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - ⭐⭐⭐ 💫

The Nightmare is the third instalment in the adult fantasy dragon romantasy series, Witch Bound. Each novel follows a separate couple but exists in the same world and there is an overarching story. Written in third person POV the story follows Carwyn and Kier as this empathetic witch finds herself held captive by a grumpy but alluring dragon who needs her to save the life of his sister. Yet with animosity between their species and an ability that makes touch near impossible can these two find a way to unravel the passion that grows between them or will they find themselves forever at odds?

I felt this book has a good premise and some fun banter but it is a very slow journey.

Carwyn is an interesting character who gradually reveals pieces of herself to the reader that I liked learning as we went along. She is desperate to be rid of her empathetic abilities but she also cares and that does create some strife for her initially. She is also tenacious and pursues what she wants...but she can definitely martyr herself in the name of protecting others.

Kier starts this novel off quite angry and with no cares but saving his sister. We see that he is deeply loyal but he also has baggage that he hasn't quite unpacked. Seeing him struggle with the push and pull or Carwyn was fun and I loved how much he pursued her at the end to prove himself.

In terms of spice I would place this book at 3.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are about 5 spicy scenes with the first appearing in the second half of the novel. Initially the character cannot have spin to spin contact because of Carwyn's ability so Kier has to remain in dragon form. The spice is explicit and detailed. I honestly struggled a bit with getting interested in the spice because the romance wasn't quite hitting for me but I felt it was well written and had the interesting element of what to do when you can't touch.

The story, as I mentioned early, was just a bit too slow for me. It primarily is a character driven story. While we know Carwyn is on a journey to meet someone (and we learn why later in the book) and Kier is determined to save his sister, there isn't much progression or build off of that initial premise. I liked the banter and the antagonism between our characters in the first half but by the 45% mark I was just waiting for something to progress. I felt there were moments that piqued my interest, especially around Carwyn's dream journey to wake Kier's sister that was emotional and impactful. I also like the additional side character that dropped in. So, for me, there was interest to keep going but it took awhile to get to those interesting bits. I think it stemmed from the romance being a struggle until the end because of the barriers between the characters. The ending is an HEA and I liked how it had this full circle, especially with the climatic twist!

Overall, I like where this story went but I tend to prefer a bit more romance and a faster pace.

Thank you to the author for an arc! I was late to reading this book so I ended up downloading off Kindle Unlimited.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV

Dragon Shifter Romance
Witch x Dragon
Captor x captive
Forced Proximity
Touch-Starved FMC
Curvy POC FMC
Slow burn
He Falls Hard
Mates
Gift giving
Caretaking
Acts of Service
Medium Burn
Dual form sex
No 3rd Act Breakup
HEA

I continue to have so much fun with this series.

At this point, I know exactly what I'm signing up for, and The Nightmare delivered everything I wanted from a dragon shifter romance. If you're looking for mighty, arrogant dragons who swear they'll never fall for a witch, only to end up completely obsessed once they finally see her for who she is, this series absolutely delivers.

Carwyn was easily my favorite part of this book. Her empathic abilities are one of the more unique magical gifts I've come across because they're treated as both a blessing and a genuine burden. Feeling everyone's emotions through the smallest touch has left her isolated her entire life, longing for something as simple as a hug without being overwhelmed by someone else's feelings. Despite that loneliness, she never loses her compassion or hope. She isn't a pushover, though. She stands up to Kier, calls him out when he's being an ass, and somehow manages to threaten to stomp on his tail or kick him across the room while still being completely lovable. I found myself laughing more than once at their banter.

Kier's growth was equally satisfying. He begins the story blinded by grief, desperation, and generations of prejudice toward witches. Watching those walls slowly crumble as Carwyn consistently proves herself through her actions, not because she's trying to change his mind, but simply because that's who she is, made his redemption feel earned. Once he realizes what Carwyn's empathic gift has cost her, his entire focus shifts toward rebuilding her trust and making sure every step of their relationship happens at a pace that feels safe for her. Their romance is built on patience, accommodation, and genuine care, which made every bit of physical affection feel far more meaningful than it normally would.

I also loved how the story balanced both of Kier's forms. One of my favorite aspects of dragon shifter romances is seeing how each couple connects with both the human and dragon sides of the MMC, and I thought this book handled that especially well. Carwyn grows to love different parts of him in different ways, and it made their relationship feel complete.

The world continues to expand naturally with each installment. We learn a little more about dragon culture, dragon magic, and the wider world without ever slowing the pacing. It's still very much a character-driven fantasy romance, and that's exactly what I wanted. The story acknowledges grief, loneliness, prejudice, and trauma without becoming emotionally overwhelming, creating a wonderful balance between heartfelt moments, humor, romance, and adventure.

If you're looking for sprawling epic fantasy, this probably isn't the series for you. But if you enjoy character-driven fantasy romance, dragon shifters, witches, forced proximity, grumpy MMCs who fall spectacularly hard, and monster romances with plenty of heart, I highly recommend picking this one up.

[Shyan Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read books 1 & 2 of this series, so it took my sleep deprived brain a little bit longer than I would like to admit, to remember who and what was going on. That being said, throwbacks from the previous books were very minor and there were no cameos from previous characters (that I remember anyway) so keeping up with everything after a few chapters was easy. Opal has a way of telling us what’s going on without repeating everything three million times, and I really appreciate that about her writing. 😂🩵

This story itself was nice and balanced, no rushing through action sequences, no repetitive scenes or heavy Lore dumping. It’s definitely more of a romance than the typical smut books that we see saturating the market lately (which I personally appreciate). There’s very little on page spice and the spice itself isn’t that… well… spicy (it’s like the equivalent of jalapeño flavoured chips). I’ve a tendency to get frustrated with stories that have sexy time every second chapter; where it’s so heavy on the smooshing that there’s barely any plot. Again, Opal has a way with balancing out the story with the sexy, giving the reader a nice equal amount of believable, organic steamy content that still works well with the overall narrative.

In this, the third book of the Witchbound Series, you can expect to find yourself returning to the world of Humans, Dragons and Witches that was established in books 1 & 2, following Carwyn & Keir as they fight their personal demons and personal blockades, eventually finding their way to happiness with each other and themselves.

As a heads up to readers; there is a very mainstream theme of miscommunication in this book, so if that is something that you find frustrating then brace yourself beforehand because GODDAMN do these Main Characters really have a terrible communication problem 🤣 I mean, I get that it’s part of the point to this story but sometimes I was so fed up with the lack of communication in parts, that I wanted to reach into the book and slap them upside the head 🤣🤣

Apart from that and the Seer situation (I would have killed them, just saying) I think the only things that brought this down to a 4 ⭐️ read was that a) there wasn’t actually alot of evidence of romance until the end and b) there was gaps were there could have been more. There was alot of build up, don’t get me wrong, but it felt more like it was just sexual tension and attraction than anything else, and with the empty space where romance could have been, there was just not enough to make it exceptionally believable. I would have happily gobbled up 200 more pages of this book (even more to be honest) and not even noticed the length of the book, if it fleshed out the entire romantic element the way it needed.

There were a handful of little teasers that I expect will come to fruition in later books, little hints of what might come in the future (exciting stuff). I look forward to seeing how it plays out considering how well Opal Reyne builds her worlds and stories, as seen in other series of her works.

[BookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:
⭐ 4.6 / 5 Stars
🌶 3.5/ 5 Spice

This is my favorite book in the Witch Bound series so far! Note that you will definitely need to read the first two books before diving into this one to fully understand some of the recurring characters and references.

I am absolutely in love with both Carwyn and Kier; some reasons are the same, and some are entirely different! Overall, the narrative beautifully illustrates why both main characters have such strong reasons for their internal plights. I don't think I ever found either of them unreasonable or "out of pocket" for how they felt. It was a stunning example of how more than one thing can be true at the same time. The story also brilliantly challenges the idea of holding onto past pain, especially when triggered by someone who didn't cause it.

Carwyn felt incredibly real to me because of her struggles and the impact they had on her. Throughout the story, even when her decisions were frustrating, you could always see exactly why she made them. I think Kier felt the same way, which was one of the many reasons he had so much patience with her. Don't get me wrong, though. Our girl is no damsel in distress! She is just the right amount of sassy, funny, fierce, and completely unafraid to end those who harm others (plus, she can still turn into an absolute blushing mess in an instant!). I also loved her selfless nature. The way she effortlessly creates calm in others is beautiful, especially when she’s tasked with saving a dragoness who will probably kill her.

OMG, please tell me which forest I need to walk through to get picked up by him! I love a man who can admit when he needs help and who extends genuine care, even to his captive. Watching him challenge his own prejudices to see Carwyn as her own individual person was such a beautiful experience.

Without giving away too much, this man gives me total Carl from Love Island vibes, but with a much darker, paranormal twist! He had me swooning and kicking my feet at how much care and consideration he gave to Carwyn. I think he is our first dragon who truly knows how to play the courting game!

Overall, this story is another instant buy for me (which is pretty standard for an Opal Reyne book in my world, haha). I really connected with this narrative and loved seeing the care both MCs put into showing up for one another. Dragons and witches are supposed to be ruthless, but this story shows exactly what happens when they choose love and care instead.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 / 5


I was so excited to read this new addition to the Witch Bound series as Opal writes such fantastic stories. This book was full of action, spice, tension, and a budding relationship that built slowly. I did really adore the story in an overall sense, there were a few smaller character aspects that I didn't love which is where this lost half a star for me. It was the push and pull, the talking without divulging the true issues that sort of grated on my nerves just a bit since it went out past the halfway point. I understood the reasoning but I still felt that way. The overall plot, the characters themselves, and the relationship they have once everything is figured out is phenomenal. After they finally left Kier's cave, I really started loving the plot, the travel to the seer and all that followed. Each one of these books in the Witch Bound series has really expanded on the world and added more depth to the characters.

Kier the MMC of the story was interesting. He started the story very arrogant and angry. His change in heart was interesting to read as it evolved. The scene where he uses his Nightmare abilities, and I mean really uses them was chaotic, and absolutely brilliantly written. He gave me almost Mad Hatter lunacy vibes but multiplied times 10 with a heavy dose of this is the end. I really wanted more details on his ability.

Carwyn the FMC is an empathic white witch. She took some time to grow on me, not to say that I hated her, just that she was prickly and a few times felt a bit disingenuous. I understood her reasoning but her secretive nature made some conflicts/issues drag out when they could have been solved sooner. She is very confident, sassy, and was a force to be reckoned with when using her bow/sword.


I will be curious to read more books in this series in the future as this world continues to evolve with each book and each witch/dragon pairing. If you enjoy paranormal romance then you should give this series a read.

[KT Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to be a Beta Reader for Nightmare, the third book to Opal Reyne’s Witchbound series, and it absolutely delivered. This book had everything I love in a fantasy romance: action, tension, spice, emotional growth, magic, and a slow-building relationship that felt so satisfying to watch unfold.

Kier was such a fascinating MMC. He started off intense, guarded, and full of sharp edges, but watching him slowly change and soften toward Carwyn made his character arc so rewarding. His Nightmare abilities were one of the most exciting parts of the story, especially when he truly unleashed them.

Carwyn was also such a strong and compelling FMC. I loved her confidence, sass, and resilience. She felt real in the way she struggled with fear, trust, and vulnerability, but she was also an absolute force with her bow and sword.

The relationship between Kier and Carwyn was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their slow-burn connection, emotional tension, and growing trust made every moment between them feel earned. Once their bond deepened, it was beautiful to see how much care, protectiveness, and tenderness developed between them.

Each book in the Witchbound series adds more depth to the world, the magic, and the characters, and Nightmare made me even more invested in where this series is going.

Nightmare was a fantastic 5-star read. Opal Reyne continues to prove why she is one of my favorite writers. Witchbound, just like the Duskwalkers, made me feel like coming home to my favorite book world—where the worldbuilding is rich, the characters are memorable, the romance is emotional and spicy, and the story left me feeling excited to Opal’s next writing endeavors.

[Ruby Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there’s one thing I’ve come to despise about this author… it’s that she hooks me into a book so well, I can’t help but finish it in one sitting 😭. Opal has this unbelievable power of world building that completely blocks out the rest of the real world; I could stay in these worlds forever.

This story had it all, and then some 😏. Spice was 10/10, as always, and I loved the modified way of being together until they could touch. Also, his dragon powers were *chefs kiss*.

Along with her amazing world building, a lot of her characters are relatable; minus the dragon part of it, unfortunately. Along with writing these amazingly flawed people/beings, she adds just that touch of trauma… tastefully. One thing I love about her books is she touches on these hard subjects/events without making it seem as if it’s just for the shock factor.

This series has been amazing so far, and I can’t wait for the future releases.

***SPOILERS***

When I tell y’all the chapter where she makes him shrink down to a smaller dragon, then kicks him(?) I absolutely laughed out loud. I laughed so hard my husband came to check on me. This book had so many scenes that had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout. I also love, love, love that Carwyn got a little closure with Valerie. Knowing her sister was happy, healthy, and being loved in the way she deserved was beautiful.

Opal, thank you for another great book; can’t wait for the next one! Also, y’all… read the dang book. You won’t regret it! 🙂‍↕️

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤💖 The Nightmare ARC Review 💖🖤

Thank you so much to Opal Reyne for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Nightmare is a fantasy romance novel and book 3 in the Witch Bound series. Empath Carwyn is on a quest to find a way to get rid of her powers, as they prevent her from ever touching another without feeling their emotions. But when she’s derailed by an arrogant dragon determined to save his only sibling, will their reluctant alliance turn into something more?

This was such a fantastic read! I really enjoyed Carwyn and her strength in this book. Her struggles and anxieties were very relatable in this book and I enjoyed seeing her growth in this book. Kier was such a great march for her and I really enjoyed his backstory as well. This is such unique magical world and I enjoyed seeing the world continue to grow from the previous books

Overall this was a fantastic 5 star read. I loved these characters and their journey together. I’m definitely looking forward to more in this series in the future! This book does have some darker elements, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn but had some fantastic tension and great spice in the second half, so overall three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with strong characters, engaging magic and forced proximity, then absolutely pick this one up! Even though this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this series in order to get the most out of the lore and interconnected stories.

[Wylde-reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review of Advanced copy gifted by the author*

The Nightmare by Opal Reyne is the third installment in the Witchbound series.

Carwyn is an empath, who cannot experience skin to skin contact without drowning in the others emotions. She’s in search of a way to be rid of these powers when she’s abducted by Kier. Kier is a dragon who is desperate to save the life of his sister, another dragon who is trapped in an endless sleep. He’s hoping that a witch, even if he despises their kind, might be able to help.

Kier is such a fun MMC. He starts off so grumpy and demanding but seeing him slowly thaw toward Carwyn and eventually embrace his affection for her was so endearing. Carwyn is such a badass. She struggles so intensely with trust and vulnerability and has spent years protecting herself both emotionally and physically.

I loved the plotline with Kier’s sister, and seeing Carwyn work so hard to save her life. I really wished that we could’ve seen more of Kier’s sister when she was conscious, as well as another female dragon character we meet. I also really enjoyed Kier and Carwyn learn to love and trust each other. The slow burn was really well done in that sense.

I did find that the overall plot did feel a little bit slow as the book was more character driven but I still really enjoyed it! I also loved the expansion of the world building!

Overall this book was 4 stars for me and I cannot wait to read book 4!

[Y’surie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the last two Witch Bound books, I had gone into this expecting a good amount of conflict. I was so pleasantly surprised.

Shocking no one that knows Opal's writing, this whole thing is an adorable love story. Shocking people who do know her writing, it's a little bit of a rom com and I adored that. You've got some light enemies-to-lovers vibes (but not long lasting), some miscommunication, some trust issues. Put it together and you're left with a really cute story about a dragon guy realizing he got the feels and a witch girlie trying to overcome her own trust issues.

I had a great time with it! I thought their relationship was really refreshing and adorable. I really enjoyed how Opal balanced a character with trust issues who needed patience, but where a little push was also needed and respectful. It was refreshing to see both sides and still have a really respectful relationship between the two of them.

It definitely could have used a little bit more risk/action, because I loved seeing The Nightmare in action but I also understand why it didn't. I don't think it dragged or anything without it.

And as always, the spice was top tier. Shocking no one who knows Opal's writing.

4/5 cute dragon husbands.

[Blair Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is pretty well established at this point that anything Opal Reyne writes I love. The Nightmare is the third book in the Witch Bound Series...and the first book if I am being honest that I have read in the series that I need to rectify immediately. I was able to follow along though just fine. We have Keir who takes Carwyn in order to save his sister who has been put under a sleeping curse. Carwyn is an amazing GMC. I love it when she gives it right back to Kier. And Kier is grumpy...wait no angry. Those were some of the moments in the beginning I also loved. the banter between them was fantastic. And then When he realizes that she just doesn't want any of his gifts is hilarious. Girl just wants one thing really... Opal writes the phases of their relationship so well just like all her other book between the more of the enemies to lovers and the part of the growing to trust to, "omg I like them". Their chemistry was fantastic. I can't wait to go back to the beginning and read the other two and then come back to this one and reread.

[Nikki Preble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I hoped it would be and more! After waiting for the completion of the duskwalker series (definitely read that if you haven’t yet!) so that she could return to this world for the third installment, it absolutely delivered.

One of the things that stood out most to me was how much Opal Reyne has grown as an author. I’ve loved this series from the beginning, but you can really see the evolution in her writing here. The pacing is stronger, the emotional moments hit harder, the characters feel even more layered, and the world-building is richer than ever. It’s obvious she’s continued to hone her craft and it shows on every page.

This book had me completely invested from start to finish. It reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place while also raising the bar for what’s to come. If you’ve been waiting for this installment, it is absolutely worth it.

I already can’t wait for the next one.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two and other books by this author but I found myself really struggling to get through this one. To me the characters were so unlikeable, especially the ML. In the beginning- one second he’s being nasty to her but then the next moment she says how attracted she is to him. As the story progressed- consent was questionable at times. At no point did I understand why the FL liked the ML other than the fact that he was the only being she could ever actually touch. Which seems like a sad basis for a relationship although somewhat understandable I guess. She came off as a huge pushover, as he continuously disregarded her boundaries. So, not an enjoyable reading experience. I will still check out the next books in the series though. Hopefully I’ll experience them more as I did the first two.

[Shanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this one. Not afraid to say I've read my fair share of Opal's books and the writing style and editing issues are usually glaring, as is general plot flow issues. But I do enjoy them hence why I keep coming back. This was good. FMC didn't grovel at the feet of her DragonGodTM and instead bent him to her will instead. My kinda girl tbh!

MMC didn't annoy me terribly and was respectful and communicated with our FMC. Could've done without the kidnapping at the start and all the physical suffering our FMC went thru but I guess if we didn't have those plot points there'd be no book. I also appreciate that Opal made this character a tad more diverse than the rest. I didn't love this series as much as the DuskWalker ones because of lack of diversity so I'm glad to see this slowly being included.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Opal and I LOVED the Duskwalker series. I was so happy to see her starting a new series and I jumped for the last one (of course, right? Because why not? The series are interconnected and can be read in any order, but it got me curious to read everything now)

In this book we follow Carwyn and Kier, and they were adorable together!! Carwyn has suffered a lot because of the effects of her empathic magic (making her feel everyone’s feelings upon touching their skin directly). She is really sweet, but she also has a strong side to her.

Kier was just GREAT!!! I could drink his sarcasm all day long!!! He became SO sweet (in his own) after getting to know and understand Carwyn more and pushing aside his prejudice against witches).
The slow burn was painful!!! But SO worth it!! I really liked this new universe, and I look forward to reading more of the books.

[Alexis Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice 3.5/5
Story 4/5
Overall 4.5/5

It was wonderful to step back into Opals wonderland of a mind. Story has good pacing to it, you keep guessing what will happen and can’t but the book down. The characters development is insane. I love the ark of the characters having feelings but didn’t want to admit it and or didn’t know how to say it.

The spice had Opals touch. I advise not read at work or during your ovulation week 🤣🥵. Spice was paced and placed nicely nothing too much nothing to little.

Story has a strong long run going for it. I wish Opals books could be animated it would be beautiful and I would watch 30x over.

Opal, never stop creating your stories. Insure your beautifully twisted mind.

[DeNell Theisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**
I once again must thank the book gods for granting me access to this ARC of The Nightmare by Opal Reyne! Dear heavens how I adored this book! Kier and Carwyn might be my newest favorite of all Opal's couples, but I say that after every book Opal Reyne writes. I cant wait for the series to continue! Im completely invested and will devour anything and everything Opal Reyne writes. Im a sucker for a grumpy MMC and mouthy FMC and boy did this book deliver hard on that front! Kier's change of reasoning and heart was beautiful to read and Carwyn learning to trust and love even with her "curse" was heartbreaking in the best way possible. 10/10 chef kiss

[Kimber Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love witches and dragons, this a must read for you. This book follows a witch with empathic abilities (she can feel someone’s emotions by touch) and a dragon shifter who needs a witch’s abilities to heal a loved one. This is a very relationship based plot, and follows the sister of the fmc from book 2. That said, this is a standalone and you don’t need to read the other two books to fully enjoy this one. There’s also lots of spice, which is amazing since the fmc has an aversion to skin to skin contact. The mmc gets pretty creative to meet the fmc’s needs 😏.

Overall, this was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, which is no surprise because it was written by Opal Reyne.

[Dacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely consider this as one of the less spicy in terms of number of hot scenes, but K and C definitely have a level of chemistry that is felt and seen through the whole book from the first time they have a conversation. It's a raging hot slow burn 🔥 😩

I really liked the growth in K's character - absolute hatred for all witches, to seeing the true difference between a white witch and the dark witches. I believe it helps that C's bloodline is pretty pure and straight from their dragon ancestry too. But Kier also has held a lot on his own shoulders as the eldest of the last of his living family members. It also becomes apparent that he also has his own innate struggles with his dragoncraft, which is only hinted at and not fully discussed. Being able to control images as he can, he could really mess someone up with nightmares, just as his title says. This male also has A LOT of patience!!!

I love Carwyn and the constant strength she has in advocating for herself, her needs and what she needs in order to live the life she wants. She didnt let the desire and feelings she has for Kier sway her from the quest she set out on. Honestly, she was a breath of fresh air with her focus on herself and on her quest. Idk how many books I've read where the MF lost herself in the MM and didn't continue her own quest/journey for her.

I have been eagerly awaiting book 3, but now I need to re-read 1 and 2 I think. Beautiful writing as always Opal!

[Melissa Tarrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was so happy to be able to return to this world!

Despite being the third book in the series, you can read it as a standalone.

I loved Carwyn as the FMC. She is strong and catches your attention from the very beginning of the story.

The book has action, tension, and an excellent slow burn relationship that just gets better as the story continues. There are also several genuinely hilarious moments that happen in the book.

By the time you get to the end you have fallen in love with the characters and really want to keep reading. I can only hope that there will be more installments in the series!

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the Witch Bound series.
I really loved Kier and Carwyn. Carwyn especially has a lot of character growth in this story with her growing understanding/tolerance of her magic. She is very kind. They both love their respective family members and both come with family trauma. I love how their relationship and romance develops, it is a slow burn but is an emotional and eventually spicy story. I liked the introduction of the sea dragons and can’t wait to learn more about them.

Overall this book was much improved from The ShadowHunter which I really struggled with and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.

[Co · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 🫣

I’m a huge Opal fan. This one just wasn’t my top favorite. Loved Kier… the best Nightmare to have! Carwyn… I had some moments where I wanted to shake her lol. I guess if a book isn’t causing you emotional investment then what’s the point lol. ***spoiler alert*** can we talk about these loose ends. Like did Kier ever make up with his sister? Did she accept their bonding? Where is Selene? Did she get with the other dragon? Even with the memories removed how is she coping? Will she have her own book? For someone who was also a major part of the book, I need closure lol. And where is the epilogue at to tie it all in 😩😂