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Just One Spell #1
The Sephra's Tear
Just one spell will change their fates...
Cordelia is a pawn of House Dorchada--a notorious noble family comprised of thieves, assassins and dark wizards. Desperate to avoid their poisonous politics, Cordelia plotted her escape for years, but her carefully laid plans are jeopardized when her father commands her to marry an aged lord of Frostever.
With only a few short months left before her wedding, Cordelia's salvation hinges on creating a Sephra's Tear--a forbidden amulet that causes overwhelming lust in its victim. A black market buyer promises a life-changing amount of coin as payment for the Tear, but being caught creating it carries a death sentence.
Two wizards are needed to produce the passion to fuel the erotic spell, so Cordelia recruits the aid of peasant wizard Nathaniel Ravenwood. Nathaniel has long denied his desire for the beautiful Cordelia. As a noblewoman and a Dorchada she is as dangerous to Nathaniel as a viper, but the fortune she offers is a temptation he can't refuse.
Dealing in dark magic comes with a price, and Cordelia and Nathaniel risk losing their freedom--and their hearts. Their fates depend on the one spell that will free them, or destroy them.
New Cover Edition found here.
Cordelia is a pawn of House Dorchada--a notorious noble family comprised of thieves, assassins and dark wizards. Desperate to avoid their poisonous politics, Cordelia plotted her escape for years, but her carefully laid plans are jeopardized when her father commands her to marry an aged lord of Frostever.
With only a few short months left before her wedding, Cordelia's salvation hinges on creating a Sephra's Tear--a forbidden amulet that causes overwhelming lust in its victim. A black market buyer promises a life-changing amount of coin as payment for the Tear, but being caught creating it carries a death sentence.
Two wizards are needed to produce the passion to fuel the erotic spell, so Cordelia recruits the aid of peasant wizard Nathaniel Ravenwood. Nathaniel has long denied his desire for the beautiful Cordelia. As a noblewoman and a Dorchada she is as dangerous to Nathaniel as a viper, but the fortune she offers is a temptation he can't refuse.
Dealing in dark magic comes with a price, and Cordelia and Nathaniel risk losing their freedom--and their hearts. Their fates depend on the one spell that will free them, or destroy them.
New Cover Edition found here.
207 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Bachar
22 books296 followersRobyn Bachar writes romance with swords, sorcery and spaceships. Bachar's novels feature action and adventure, danger and suspense, found families and happily ever afters. Her books have finaled twice in the PRISM Contest for Published Authors, twice in the Passionate Plume Contest, and twice in the EPIC eBook Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 2, 2017
I probably shouldn't count this since I'm stopping now and not even halfway through, but I can tell this just isn't for me. I am really picky when it comes to dialogue and when the dialogue fails to keep my attention then I find myself picking at the plot.
In this case the dialogue feels really formal and flat. If the speaker isn't identified then I have no clue as to who said what because everyone sounds the same.
So now onto the problems with the story itself. I find too much about this whole set up just doesn't feel logical to me. We have a world filled with magic and sorcery which at some times feels progressive and at other times completely antiquated. Cordelia had a pretty shitty existence. Her father is an asshole, her brothers are assholes and she's being basically sold in marriage to a crusty old man who has already outlived numerous wives. She wants to escape yet doesn't have the funds to do so and thus hatches a plan to make a Sephra's tear which is basically a dark magic lust spell and she will sell it in order to finance her escape. In order to do so, she has to basically use the passion created when two powerful wizards have sex. Herself and someone else. Now I don't even care about that. Good for her and the whole sexually liberated world in which she lives. I liked that no one gave a fig if she wasn't a virgin, not her father or her crusty fiancé. The part that bothered me was that if she was powerful enough and knowledgeable enough to make the thing, then why wasn't she capable of finding another way out (this type of spell is highly illegal) or to figure out a way to defend herself from her fathers routine beatings? It just really felt like her back was just too conveniently against the wall here, as was that of her potential partner in crime. I mean the reasons were all there, I just wasn't convinced.
My interest just began waning and additionally there is an abundance of telling versus showing and I don't feel like I'm getting to know the characters at all, much less care about them. And when that happens, I find that I would be just as happy with someone briefly telling me how it all ends.
In this case the dialogue feels really formal and flat. If the speaker isn't identified then I have no clue as to who said what because everyone sounds the same.
So now onto the problems with the story itself. I find too much about this whole set up just doesn't feel logical to me. We have a world filled with magic and sorcery which at some times feels progressive and at other times completely antiquated. Cordelia had a pretty shitty existence. Her father is an asshole, her brothers are assholes and she's being basically sold in marriage to a crusty old man who has already outlived numerous wives. She wants to escape yet doesn't have the funds to do so and thus hatches a plan to make a Sephra's tear which is basically a dark magic lust spell and she will sell it in order to finance her escape. In order to do so, she has to basically use the passion created when two powerful wizards have sex. Herself and someone else. Now I don't even care about that. Good for her and the whole sexually liberated world in which she lives. I liked that no one gave a fig if she wasn't a virgin, not her father or her crusty fiancé. The part that bothered me was that if she was powerful enough and knowledgeable enough to make the thing, then why wasn't she capable of finding another way out (this type of spell is highly illegal) or to figure out a way to defend herself from her fathers routine beatings? It just really felt like her back was just too conveniently against the wall here, as was that of her potential partner in crime. I mean the reasons were all there, I just wasn't convinced.
My interest just began waning and additionally there is an abundance of telling versus showing and I don't feel like I'm getting to know the characters at all, much less care about them. And when that happens, I find that I would be just as happy with someone briefly telling me how it all ends.
January 10, 2019
Slow beginning with huge pay off
The book began very slowly for me. I really wanted Cordelia to come into her own a little bit faster, but it was still very enjoyable. I wish that we would have had the opportunity to see her shine a little more, instead of always being reactive. With that said, I really love the idea of someone of noble blood who does not know a whole lot about StreetSmarts kicking butt with a common wizard.
I hope that there are more books written in this world. I love the characters so much, and I hate that it ended so abruptly. I have read several books by this author, and I really love her voice and her writing.
If you enjoy adventure, intrigue, sex magic, situations where it is legitimately frightening for the characters involved, and a very sweet romance, then please pick up this book.
The book began very slowly for me. I really wanted Cordelia to come into her own a little bit faster, but it was still very enjoyable. I wish that we would have had the opportunity to see her shine a little more, instead of always being reactive. With that said, I really love the idea of someone of noble blood who does not know a whole lot about StreetSmarts kicking butt with a common wizard.
I hope that there are more books written in this world. I love the characters so much, and I hate that it ended so abruptly. I have read several books by this author, and I really love her voice and her writing.
If you enjoy adventure, intrigue, sex magic, situations where it is legitimately frightening for the characters involved, and a very sweet romance, then please pick up this book.
August 18, 2021
The learned helplessness/hopelessness was cringeworthy
October 13, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway for an honest review.
I am really glad that I was able to win this book. I really enjoyed it. First the cover itself really caught my attention. I thought it was beautiful and loved the colors. And the synopsis of the novel was interesting a well so I entered the giveaway.
This book is an easy read. No really difficult language and the magic is fairly easy to understand. Nothing really complex. Just simple magic and how Cordelia and Nathaniel have to use dark magic in order to get themselves out of situations that they are in. Cordelia wants to escape and abusive and controlling family while Nathaniel wants to provide magic lessons for his younger half brother. But there are tons of complications that happen during their attempt to change their lives while at the same time falling in love with one-another.
I loved the characters. They were believable and wonderfully written. I think there could have been a bit more scenery descriptions but I feel the book is more about the people than the setting that it did not bother me too much. But there may be some readers that would want more scenery writing. I hope to read the sequel. I hope that one will be a good as this one. I would recommend this book to anyone, honestly. I think it would fit anybody's readying genres. There's love, deceit, trickery, fighting, magic, and some mild love scenes. Who can go wrong with that?
I am really glad that I was able to win this book. I really enjoyed it. First the cover itself really caught my attention. I thought it was beautiful and loved the colors. And the synopsis of the novel was interesting a well so I entered the giveaway.
This book is an easy read. No really difficult language and the magic is fairly easy to understand. Nothing really complex. Just simple magic and how Cordelia and Nathaniel have to use dark magic in order to get themselves out of situations that they are in. Cordelia wants to escape and abusive and controlling family while Nathaniel wants to provide magic lessons for his younger half brother. But there are tons of complications that happen during their attempt to change their lives while at the same time falling in love with one-another.
I loved the characters. They were believable and wonderfully written. I think there could have been a bit more scenery descriptions but I feel the book is more about the people than the setting that it did not bother me too much. But there may be some readers that would want more scenery writing. I hope to read the sequel. I hope that one will be a good as this one. I would recommend this book to anyone, honestly. I think it would fit anybody's readying genres. There's love, deceit, trickery, fighting, magic, and some mild love scenes. Who can go wrong with that?
July 4, 2015
*I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Sephra's Tear is a different type of story. It's about an abused woman that is trying to fight her way to freedom using all the gifts that she was born with. She is in a bad situation and she is working to get out. Cordelia is a noblewoman, a mage, a daughter and sister- all of these things are weights around her ankles keeping her from a life of worth. Cordelia is being forced into a loveless marriage with a man that is ancient and she is also being forced into some dark magic she wants no part of.
She enlists the help of another mage, Nathaniel, and together they learn what potent magic they can perform together. The pair must overcome many obstacles for each of them to gain what they are looking for.
The Sephra's Tear is a really good read. I was surprised from all of the social undertones in the book. I loved the way the author was able to capture the true essence of the desire for freedom and the lengths that someone would go to get them
The romantic scenes while mature are not over the top being tastefully done. Due to the nature of the subject matter and prose, I suggest this book for mature readers.
~Dowie
The Sephra's Tear is a different type of story. It's about an abused woman that is trying to fight her way to freedom using all the gifts that she was born with. She is in a bad situation and she is working to get out. Cordelia is a noblewoman, a mage, a daughter and sister- all of these things are weights around her ankles keeping her from a life of worth. Cordelia is being forced into a loveless marriage with a man that is ancient and she is also being forced into some dark magic she wants no part of.
She enlists the help of another mage, Nathaniel, and together they learn what potent magic they can perform together. The pair must overcome many obstacles for each of them to gain what they are looking for.
The Sephra's Tear is a really good read. I was surprised from all of the social undertones in the book. I loved the way the author was able to capture the true essence of the desire for freedom and the lengths that someone would go to get them
The romantic scenes while mature are not over the top being tastefully done. Due to the nature of the subject matter and prose, I suggest this book for mature readers.
~Dowie
July 27, 2015
With the strength that an abuse woman tend to hide from their abusers, Cordelia works on a plan that not only will free her, but her half-sister; Cara as well. We see magic, endurance, and love endure thought out the book. But the dilemma becomes a crutch when she must struggle with the decision to use dark magic in order to escape. A decision that will have consequences for those around her too.
The book was tastefully done when it came to the sex scenes without being overworked & raunchy. There are some twist of suspense that will keep your interest peaked. I won't give too many details away so that I don't spoil the book for you. I have to admit that between the the magic, romance and titillating turns for me wonder if there will be a second book in this series. I can think of a couple ways that the story line can go and hope to see more in the future. Overall I think the book is worthy of a 4 star status.
***Note*** I received this ARC from BBT for the exchange of my honest opinion of the book. Please remember that these are my own thoughts on this series of books.
The book was tastefully done when it came to the sex scenes without being overworked & raunchy. There are some twist of suspense that will keep your interest peaked. I won't give too many details away so that I don't spoil the book for you. I have to admit that between the the magic, romance and titillating turns for me wonder if there will be a second book in this series. I can think of a couple ways that the story line can go and hope to see more in the future. Overall I think the book is worthy of a 4 star status.
***Note*** I received this ARC from BBT for the exchange of my honest opinion of the book. Please remember that these are my own thoughts on this series of books.
August 4, 2015
The Sephra's Tear is a fast paced, exciting read. It follows Cordelia, mage and daughter to a family of dark wizards. Abused by her family and forbidden to use her magic, her plans to run away are sped up when her father sells her as a magical broodmare to an elderly nobleman. With the help of fellow mage, Nathaniel, Cordelia plans to use forbidden magic in order to buy her way clear, but things don't necessarily run to plan.
I loved this book. The main character was feisty, cunning, yet vulnerable. She wasn't a superwoman, just a woman who wished to be free. Her relationship with her lover, Nathaniel and her half sister Cara, were well written as was her dealings with her cousin Marcus. Unlike most heroines in fiction, she isn't a prissy virgin and is quite open about her previous lovers and I loved that about her.
Action packed and a little steamy, Robin Bacher has created an exquisite tale of fantasy, dark magic and seduction.
I loved this book. The main character was feisty, cunning, yet vulnerable. She wasn't a superwoman, just a woman who wished to be free. Her relationship with her lover, Nathaniel and her half sister Cara, were well written as was her dealings with her cousin Marcus. Unlike most heroines in fiction, she isn't a prissy virgin and is quite open about her previous lovers and I loved that about her.
Action packed and a little steamy, Robin Bacher has created an exquisite tale of fantasy, dark magic and seduction.
July 18, 2015
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.
Great beginning! The middle-end was a little disappointing. I was very excited at the beginning of the story. Loved the characters and the magic. As the story progressed, I got thrown off by the back and forth indecisiveness that occurs towards the middle. Heres the plan, no this is the plan, no I'm gonna do this instead. I didn't really see the point; it was unnecessary and didn't move the story forward. There were also a few errors, like missing words. Most disappointingly, the ending was very predictable and just too easy. It was very anticlimactic, everything they needed handed to them and then allowed to leave with minor confrontation. That being said, I still enjoyed the story. I like the characters, the romance, and the fantasy.
Great beginning! The middle-end was a little disappointing. I was very excited at the beginning of the story. Loved the characters and the magic. As the story progressed, I got thrown off by the back and forth indecisiveness that occurs towards the middle. Heres the plan, no this is the plan, no I'm gonna do this instead. I didn't really see the point; it was unnecessary and didn't move the story forward. There were also a few errors, like missing words. Most disappointingly, the ending was very predictable and just too easy. It was very anticlimactic, everything they needed handed to them and then allowed to leave with minor confrontation. That being said, I still enjoyed the story. I like the characters, the romance, and the fantasy.
July 10, 2015
Excellent combination of suspense, romance, magic and erotica. Just the right amount of sex to keep it spicy while not interfering with the twists and turns of the suspenseful plotting. Not truly a cliffhanger, the author still left me hoping for a sequel or even a full series. Several characters would wield interesting stories of their own.
As an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock, I give this one a solid four fangs.
As an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock, I give this one a solid four fangs.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews