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Our Dark Incantations
In this achingly romantic dark academia fantasy a young woman must embrace Dark Magic and an alliance with a deadly Wielder to fight a powerful threat cloaked in shadow.
After the war, ex-healer Mira Winters swore she’d never touch magic again. And yet here she is attending the newly reopened Ivercrest University, enrolled in the wrong magic department, paired up with the absolute wrong partner—the infuriating Aidric Dawson.
Instead of learning how to make a potion strong enough to heal her incurable scar, Mira attends demonology lessons, casts deadly spells…and is accidentally dragged into a murder investigation on campus—one with devastating ripples that bleed into the magical world far beyond the university.
Even more devastating? Aidric Dawson. Rumored to have been a high-ranking soldier during the war, the lethal Wielder is arrogant, aristocratic, and shrouded in secrets…but with his own wounds from the war, he may also be the only one who truly understands Mira.
A labyrinth of clues pulls Mira and Aidric deep into a sinister plot hiding in the shadows of magical society, threatening war once more. Can the two enemies work together without losing their hearts—or their lives—in the process?
After the war, ex-healer Mira Winters swore she’d never touch magic again. And yet here she is attending the newly reopened Ivercrest University, enrolled in the wrong magic department, paired up with the absolute wrong partner—the infuriating Aidric Dawson.
Instead of learning how to make a potion strong enough to heal her incurable scar, Mira attends demonology lessons, casts deadly spells…and is accidentally dragged into a murder investigation on campus—one with devastating ripples that bleed into the magical world far beyond the university.
Even more devastating? Aidric Dawson. Rumored to have been a high-ranking soldier during the war, the lethal Wielder is arrogant, aristocratic, and shrouded in secrets…but with his own wounds from the war, he may also be the only one who truly understands Mira.
A labyrinth of clues pulls Mira and Aidric deep into a sinister plot hiding in the shadows of magical society, threatening war once more. Can the two enemies work together without losing their hearts—or their lives—in the process?
507 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
Wanda Hellmund
1 book172 followersWanda Hellmund grew up in Germany with a penchant for storytelling and a love for scary books. She wrote her first murder-mystery in fourth grade and hasn’t stopped writing since.
After studying politics in London, she moved to New York where she earned her master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and their rescue dog (who is whatever breed you want her to be).
When she isn’t immersed in a fantasy book, you can find her watching horror movies and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
After studying politics in London, she moved to New York where she earned her master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and their rescue dog (who is whatever breed you want her to be).
When she isn’t immersed in a fantasy book, you can find her watching horror movies and drinking copious amounts of coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4!! This was FUN DRAMIONE fanfiction. Sometimes I just pick up books based on the covers and this one caught my eye!
Two enemies begin working together in the shadows of a magical society to fight something sinister that is lurking around the university. She's a healer, he's a deadly wielder and together they must fight a powerful threat. He is infuriating, arrogant, shrouded in secrets but yet he's the only one who truly understands her.
The ALLURIAL edition is so beautiful! Grab your first copy for 9.99$ over here & comes with a gift!:
https://www.allurial.com/refer/g7sai1...
Super easy to sign up, skip, pause and cancel a membership at no additional cost to you!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, Wanda Hellmund for an early copy!
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Two enemies begin working together in the shadows of a magical society to fight something sinister that is lurking around the university. She's a healer, he's a deadly wielder and together they must fight a powerful threat. He is infuriating, arrogant, shrouded in secrets but yet he's the only one who truly understands her.
The ALLURIAL edition is so beautiful! Grab your first copy for 9.99$ over here & comes with a gift!:
https://www.allurial.com/refer/g7sai1...
Super easy to sign up, skip, pause and cancel a membership at no additional cost to you!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, Wanda Hellmund for an early copy!
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75⭐️|2🌶️
HOLY FUCKING SHIT. THIS BOOK.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I highlighted approximately 90% of it, and then I finished and immediately wanted to start again because apparently spending an entire book being emotionally compromised wasn’t enough. I needed to do it TWICE.
Our Dark Incantations had me wanting to abandon my entire life for a gothic academy full of dangerous magic and one deeply unwell blond, silver-eyed man, and I devoured every single word. The gothic atmosphere, the academy setting, the magic, the mystery, the PAIN??? I was hooked from the start. It’s the kind of world you sink into so completely that having to put your Kindle down and participate in your actual life feels deeply fucking offensive.
But first, we need to talk about AIDRIC DAWSON.
Because I LOVE BLOND, SILVER-EYED MANIAC MEN WITH BLEEDING HEARTS, and this man apparently arrived with the sole intention of making that everyone’s problem.
The arrogance? The mouth? The terrifying capacity for violence paired with the ability to notice the tiniest things about her??? Yeah. No. I never stood a fucking chance.
He’s smug. He’s infuriating. He knows exactly how to get under Mira’s skin, and I was kicking my feet every time she gave it right back. Their banter was SO GOOD. The magic scroll exchanges alone had me grinning at my Kindle like an absolute idiot. And the last-name usage??? Winters and Dawson, you have scratched something in my brain that I will now be chasing in every book I read.
But underneath all of that is a man who sees her. Really, truly sees her. The pain she’s hiding. The things everyone else misses. The little details she probably doesn’t even expect anyone to notice anymore.
And THAT was what fucking undid me.
The quiet understanding. The unwavering belief in her. The way he recognises her wounds because he carries his own. Watching their antagonism become trust, and that trust become this devastating devotion, made my chest physically hurt. They slowly become each other’s safe place, and every single moment felt earned.
Also, this man was so catastrophically down bad that “obsessed” feels like a gross understatement. A hero would sacrifice you for the world, a villain would sacrifice the world for you, and Aidric Dawson would apparently like to know how many spheres need burning and whether you’d prefer it done before or after dinner.
THAT’S MY MAN. 😮💨
And the ball??? The dress??? Oh, you just happened to have something custom-made that perfectly matches her colouring? How convenient. How completely normal and casual of you.
Excuse me while I scream into a fucking pillow.
There is also an Inappropriate Use of Signet Ring, and I would like to personally thank everyone involved in making that happen.
THE WAY HE TALKS HER THROUGH IT.
WANDA. PLEASE. I HAVE THINGS TO DO. I cannot spend the rest of my day staring at a wall because of this man’s mouth. 🥵
And Mira??? I adored her. So brilliant, so quick-witted, and carrying so much pain that I just wanted someone to let her put it down for five fucking minutes.
Her being a healer who can’t free herself from her own suffering absolutely got me. I loved her relationship with her magic, and I loved how much care went into her PTSD. Her trauma follows her into classrooms, friendships, and moments that should feel safe. The guilt she feels for having certain emotions, the expectation that she should somehow be getting better already—it all felt painfully authentic.
Healing is messy here. It’s frustrating. It doesn’t happen just because someone loves you enough, and I appreciated that so much.
Watching her go from being afraid to becoming the embodiment of female rage and vengeance??? Oh, I was SAT. I supported her rights, her wrongs, and whatever she felt like doing next. But seeing her eventually find some well-deserved peace after everything she’d been through was what really made me emotional. I wanted that for her SO badly.
And I loved how closely their magic was tied to the way they understood each other. Her healing. His destruction. The wounds they carry and the ways they learn to protect each other. Their romance felt so deeply rooted in this world, and it made everything between them hit that much harder.
“Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you.”
Yeah, okay. Go on. Make me fucking bawl on a random Tuesday. Apparently I wasn’t using those remaining scraps of emotional stability anyway.
The worldbuilding was also SO much more intricate than I anticipated. Coin travelling??? Such a clever concept. The spells, spheres, and gates were fascinating, and I loved discovering how everything worked without being buried under explanations. The atmosphere stayed lush and immersive the whole way through, and the mystery kept me glued to my Kindle.
Every time I thought I knew where we were going, Wanda calmly pulled the rug out from under me. Then there was ANOTHER FUCKING RUG. I was having a wonderful time. I was also suffering.
I did wish we’d gotten more friendship moments, especially with Ella, because Mira could have been a better friend to her. I wanted more of the secondary characters in general, which is probably the one downside of finding out this was a standalone. I loved getting a complete story, but now I’m attached to everyone and would very much like to keep them. Interconnected standalones, perhaps??? Wanda, I am looking at you respectfully. Mostly.
I also wanted more room for the villain and their defeat. Honestly, I would’ve happily read another hundred pages, because that part felt a little abrupt considering everything building towards it. And while I loved what happened in the final portion and was very much emotionally destroyed by it, I struggled a little with the transition between what felt like the natural ending and everything that came afterward. I loved those moments individually; I just wanted them to flow together a bit more smoothly.
But fuck, this book made me FEEL.
The humour, the grief, the political intrigue, the tenderness, the hope. The way Wanda could have me laughing at their banter and then crying because someone finally noticed what Mira was trying so hard to hide. The way learning to live again could feel just as enormous as anything happening with the magic.
I finished this with excessive highlights, swollen eyes, and an attachment to Winters and Dawson that I have absolutely no intention of recovering from.
One of my absolute favourite reads this year. I already need more from Wanda, and I need everyone to understand that when I say I love Aidric Dawson, I mean I am prepared to be deeply fucking annoying about him for the foreseeable future. 🖤
HOLY FUCKING SHIT. THIS BOOK.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I highlighted approximately 90% of it, and then I finished and immediately wanted to start again because apparently spending an entire book being emotionally compromised wasn’t enough. I needed to do it TWICE.
Our Dark Incantations had me wanting to abandon my entire life for a gothic academy full of dangerous magic and one deeply unwell blond, silver-eyed man, and I devoured every single word. The gothic atmosphere, the academy setting, the magic, the mystery, the PAIN??? I was hooked from the start. It’s the kind of world you sink into so completely that having to put your Kindle down and participate in your actual life feels deeply fucking offensive.
But first, we need to talk about AIDRIC DAWSON.
Because I LOVE BLOND, SILVER-EYED MANIAC MEN WITH BLEEDING HEARTS, and this man apparently arrived with the sole intention of making that everyone’s problem.
The arrogance? The mouth? The terrifying capacity for violence paired with the ability to notice the tiniest things about her??? Yeah. No. I never stood a fucking chance.
He’s smug. He’s infuriating. He knows exactly how to get under Mira’s skin, and I was kicking my feet every time she gave it right back. Their banter was SO GOOD. The magic scroll exchanges alone had me grinning at my Kindle like an absolute idiot. And the last-name usage??? Winters and Dawson, you have scratched something in my brain that I will now be chasing in every book I read.
But underneath all of that is a man who sees her. Really, truly sees her. The pain she’s hiding. The things everyone else misses. The little details she probably doesn’t even expect anyone to notice anymore.
And THAT was what fucking undid me.
The quiet understanding. The unwavering belief in her. The way he recognises her wounds because he carries his own. Watching their antagonism become trust, and that trust become this devastating devotion, made my chest physically hurt. They slowly become each other’s safe place, and every single moment felt earned.
Also, this man was so catastrophically down bad that “obsessed” feels like a gross understatement. A hero would sacrifice you for the world, a villain would sacrifice the world for you, and Aidric Dawson would apparently like to know how many spheres need burning and whether you’d prefer it done before or after dinner.
THAT’S MY MAN. 😮💨
And the ball??? The dress??? Oh, you just happened to have something custom-made that perfectly matches her colouring? How convenient. How completely normal and casual of you.
Excuse me while I scream into a fucking pillow.
There is also an Inappropriate Use of Signet Ring, and I would like to personally thank everyone involved in making that happen.
THE WAY HE TALKS HER THROUGH IT.
WANDA. PLEASE. I HAVE THINGS TO DO. I cannot spend the rest of my day staring at a wall because of this man’s mouth. 🥵
And Mira??? I adored her. So brilliant, so quick-witted, and carrying so much pain that I just wanted someone to let her put it down for five fucking minutes.
Her being a healer who can’t free herself from her own suffering absolutely got me. I loved her relationship with her magic, and I loved how much care went into her PTSD. Her trauma follows her into classrooms, friendships, and moments that should feel safe. The guilt she feels for having certain emotions, the expectation that she should somehow be getting better already—it all felt painfully authentic.
Healing is messy here. It’s frustrating. It doesn’t happen just because someone loves you enough, and I appreciated that so much.
Watching her go from being afraid to becoming the embodiment of female rage and vengeance??? Oh, I was SAT. I supported her rights, her wrongs, and whatever she felt like doing next. But seeing her eventually find some well-deserved peace after everything she’d been through was what really made me emotional. I wanted that for her SO badly.
And I loved how closely their magic was tied to the way they understood each other. Her healing. His destruction. The wounds they carry and the ways they learn to protect each other. Their romance felt so deeply rooted in this world, and it made everything between them hit that much harder.
“Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you.”
Yeah, okay. Go on. Make me fucking bawl on a random Tuesday. Apparently I wasn’t using those remaining scraps of emotional stability anyway.
The worldbuilding was also SO much more intricate than I anticipated. Coin travelling??? Such a clever concept. The spells, spheres, and gates were fascinating, and I loved discovering how everything worked without being buried under explanations. The atmosphere stayed lush and immersive the whole way through, and the mystery kept me glued to my Kindle.
Every time I thought I knew where we were going, Wanda calmly pulled the rug out from under me. Then there was ANOTHER FUCKING RUG. I was having a wonderful time. I was also suffering.
I did wish we’d gotten more friendship moments, especially with Ella, because Mira could have been a better friend to her. I wanted more of the secondary characters in general, which is probably the one downside of finding out this was a standalone. I loved getting a complete story, but now I’m attached to everyone and would very much like to keep them. Interconnected standalones, perhaps??? Wanda, I am looking at you respectfully. Mostly.
I also wanted more room for the villain and their defeat. Honestly, I would’ve happily read another hundred pages, because that part felt a little abrupt considering everything building towards it. And while I loved what happened in the final portion and was very much emotionally destroyed by it, I struggled a little with the transition between what felt like the natural ending and everything that came afterward. I loved those moments individually; I just wanted them to flow together a bit more smoothly.
But fuck, this book made me FEEL.
The humour, the grief, the political intrigue, the tenderness, the hope. The way Wanda could have me laughing at their banter and then crying because someone finally noticed what Mira was trying so hard to hide. The way learning to live again could feel just as enormous as anything happening with the magic.
I finished this with excessive highlights, swollen eyes, and an attachment to Winters and Dawson that I have absolutely no intention of recovering from.
One of my absolute favourite reads this year. I already need more from Wanda, and I need everyone to understand that when I say I love Aidric Dawson, I mean I am prepared to be deeply fucking annoying about him for the foreseeable future. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HUGE thanks to NetGalley & Berkley publishing group | Ace to have been offered this arc 💗
3.25-3.5✨
Our dark incantations is a story based on a Dramione fan fiction. I’ve never read any of those fan fictions but I do tend to like the books inspired by them.
I’m feeling really conflicted for this one because I loved the story and didn’t want to put it down for at least 80%. I was going to give it 4 stars but the last 20% was really unnecessary in my opinion. The thing is that I was really looking past all the issues because I really loved it but the ending enlightened them even more.
The two mc’s are absolutely well written. Mira & Aidric had distinct personalities that were fun to read about. Mira was more serious and rigid, while Aidric was dark, mysterious & broody. Their motivations felt authentic.
The side characters were the problems in this story. They didn’t have a distinct personality and only seemed to be in the story to serve a function. Ella had so many opportunities to be mad or upset about the fact that Mira was purposely keeping her in the dark about everything and Mira had many opportunities to tell Ella that she was making her feel bad about her PTSD. We knew what the issues were but none of it was discussed. Ella only appeared to invite Mira everywhere and they barely had interactions. It gave me the feeling that her friendship was only used to show how bad Mira felt to Aidric’s eyes. In the second group of friend, the only one who was a bit more explored was Amelia but even then, it felt insufficient.
The PTSD, anxiety & panic attacks elements were extremely well depicted. Suffering from all of these myself, I could relate and was happy to find such great representation.
The first plot was about Mira’s scar, then it shifted to helping out with the murder investigations, then helping Aidric, then having to defeat the entity, sometimes it came back to the scar, then it shifted into something else, went back again to the scar, etc. It was really all over the place. The thing is that all of those things were actually interesting, it just shifted too much. There’s two evil presence and one of them is mentioned so much that I thought he would be the one to come back… I was really surprised when it was the other one that wasn’t really mentioned by that point. I kept feeling I had missed something while reading.
I can’t really say anything about the ending without spoiling but it would’ve been so easy to just end it at 85% or so. The ‘second’ ending was just really unnecessary and I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the epilogue.
Honestly though, I really thought this author’s writing was good. It was compelling & I definitely want to read everything else she’ll write. Her ideas are also really great so I’m curious to see what she comes up with next. If it wasn’t for the ending, this book would’ve been a 4 stars. I’m happy I read it though and I do recommend it.
3.25-3.5✨
Our dark incantations is a story based on a Dramione fan fiction. I’ve never read any of those fan fictions but I do tend to like the books inspired by them.
I’m feeling really conflicted for this one because I loved the story and didn’t want to put it down for at least 80%. I was going to give it 4 stars but the last 20% was really unnecessary in my opinion. The thing is that I was really looking past all the issues because I really loved it but the ending enlightened them even more.
The two mc’s are absolutely well written. Mira & Aidric had distinct personalities that were fun to read about. Mira was more serious and rigid, while Aidric was dark, mysterious & broody. Their motivations felt authentic.
The side characters were the problems in this story. They didn’t have a distinct personality and only seemed to be in the story to serve a function. Ella had so many opportunities to be mad or upset about the fact that Mira was purposely keeping her in the dark about everything and Mira had many opportunities to tell Ella that she was making her feel bad about her PTSD. We knew what the issues were but none of it was discussed. Ella only appeared to invite Mira everywhere and they barely had interactions. It gave me the feeling that her friendship was only used to show how bad Mira felt to Aidric’s eyes. In the second group of friend, the only one who was a bit more explored was Amelia but even then, it felt insufficient.
The PTSD, anxiety & panic attacks elements were extremely well depicted. Suffering from all of these myself, I could relate and was happy to find such great representation.
The first plot was about Mira’s scar, then it shifted to helping out with the murder investigations, then helping Aidric, then having to defeat the entity, sometimes it came back to the scar, then it shifted into something else, went back again to the scar, etc. It was really all over the place. The thing is that all of those things were actually interesting, it just shifted too much. There’s two evil presence and one of them is mentioned so much that I thought he would be the one to come back… I was really surprised when it was the other one that wasn’t really mentioned by that point. I kept feeling I had missed something while reading.
I can’t really say anything about the ending without spoiling but it would’ve been so easy to just end it at 85% or so. The ‘second’ ending was just really unnecessary and I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the epilogue.
Honestly though, I really thought this author’s writing was good. It was compelling & I definitely want to read everything else she’ll write. Her ideas are also really great so I’m curious to see what she comes up with next. If it wasn’t for the ending, this book would’ve been a 4 stars. I’m happy I read it though and I do recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ Thank you to Ace Publishing and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I will try to be brief, but I do want to explain why I'm giving this such a low rating.
I had such high hopes for this debut. I am familiar with Wanda Hellmund and I really want to see her be successful. But this was such a miss. I am actually questioning how this got published. The writing is weak. The stakes are so low they are non-existent. Everything is flat. There's absolutely zero world building or ANY KIND of explanation of how this magic works. This is an actual quote from a fight scene in an early chapter-- "he threw a shackling spell" HOW!? Truly, I fear this is going to be ammo for people who dislike fanfic to trad pub adaptations because this is the epitome of a fanfic with the serial numbers filed off. The reader is immediately dropped into this story with zero preamble. The geopolitical world and characters are barely touched on....even though there was just a war. Everyone is introduced haphazardly; the pacing was atrocious, and every character has the personality of grey cardboard. There's no ground work for anything, no connections throughout the text, and everything just happens (shoddily and conveniently via telling) in the moment.
I could forgive some lackluster writing if the story was compelling, but not even that was executed well. I felt completely indifferent to the characters and what happened to them. There's no tone, and any interesting plot points were executed poorly. The core of the story that I know was completely lost in this adaptation. I'm actually speechless at how terrible I found this.
I will not be reading more from this author. All opinions are my own.
I had such high hopes for this debut. I am familiar with Wanda Hellmund and I really want to see her be successful. But this was such a miss. I am actually questioning how this got published. The writing is weak. The stakes are so low they are non-existent. Everything is flat. There's absolutely zero world building or ANY KIND of explanation of how this magic works. This is an actual quote from a fight scene in an early chapter-- "he threw a shackling spell" HOW!? Truly, I fear this is going to be ammo for people who dislike fanfic to trad pub adaptations because this is the epitome of a fanfic with the serial numbers filed off. The reader is immediately dropped into this story with zero preamble. The geopolitical world and characters are barely touched on....even though there was just a war. Everyone is introduced haphazardly; the pacing was atrocious, and every character has the personality of grey cardboard. There's no ground work for anything, no connections throughout the text, and everything just happens (shoddily and conveniently via telling) in the moment.
I could forgive some lackluster writing if the story was compelling, but not even that was executed well. I felt completely indifferent to the characters and what happened to them. There's no tone, and any interesting plot points were executed poorly. The core of the story that I know was completely lost in this adaptation. I'm actually speechless at how terrible I found this.
I will not be reading more from this author. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall I really enjoyed this one! It’s definitely more romance-forward than fantasy-forward, but I think that worked for this story. I really enjoyed the characters, and their connection and chemistry were palpable. The plot felt a bit rushed at times, but I didn’t mind it too much since the romance was strong.
If you’re looking for a high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance with magic in a dark academia setting, I think this is a great read!
Thank you so much Wanda and Berkley for the free book!
If you’re looking for a high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance with magic in a dark academia setting, I think this is a great read!
Thank you so much Wanda and Berkley for the free book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Infinity stars. I can feel this becoming my entire personality. Such a masterful take on gothic fantasy romance. Wanda is a genius.
This book was genuinely art on a page. Every single paragraph was masterfully written and impossibly beautiful. So compelling and vivid.
The pacing was perfect, the story picks up so quick and it sucks you in immediately. The dark gothic atmosphere and the academy sitting made this a perfect autumn read. You fall in love with the characters instantly, their emotions become your emotions. The MMC is a tortured soul who is terribly witty & I couldn't help but be interested in since his introduction. A true "touch her and 💀" type of man. The FMC (my name twin) is so relatable, also super witty, and a genius! Their tension, chemistry, and banter was literally out of this world. The love story was devastating in the best possible way. There were so many quotes that made my chest physically hurt. I think I highlighted 70% of the book.
"I always felt alone, but somehow only the absence of you taught me the true meaning of loneliness."
"You could never lose me. Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you."
"Let the world burn. I'll gladly walk on its ashes if it means you're alive."
"Mira." Her first name on his lips sounded like a prayer. As if it was the first time anyone had ever spoken it.
The magic system was so unique and intricate!! I thought the concept of coin traveling was such a clever and fun idea. All the spells, spheres, and gates were very cool as well. The world building was extremely lush and more complex than I anticipated!! I really enjoyed how it wasn’t info-dumpy though, it was very well done and very illustrative.
The PTSD and mental health rep in this book was magnificent. It was done so right!! It felt very raw, real, and relatable. Definitely a new comfort read for me.
Thinking of the epilogue still hurts my heart and I will continue to weep for the rest of my days. I will never forget this book and I’m sure I will obsess over it until the end of time!!!
(Thank you sm to the publishers for my arc <3)
This book was genuinely art on a page. Every single paragraph was masterfully written and impossibly beautiful. So compelling and vivid.
The pacing was perfect, the story picks up so quick and it sucks you in immediately. The dark gothic atmosphere and the academy sitting made this a perfect autumn read. You fall in love with the characters instantly, their emotions become your emotions. The MMC is a tortured soul who is terribly witty & I couldn't help but be interested in since his introduction. A true "touch her and 💀" type of man. The FMC (my name twin) is so relatable, also super witty, and a genius! Their tension, chemistry, and banter was literally out of this world. The love story was devastating in the best possible way. There were so many quotes that made my chest physically hurt. I think I highlighted 70% of the book.
"I always felt alone, but somehow only the absence of you taught me the true meaning of loneliness."
"You could never lose me. Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you."
"Let the world burn. I'll gladly walk on its ashes if it means you're alive."
"Mira." Her first name on his lips sounded like a prayer. As if it was the first time anyone had ever spoken it.
The magic system was so unique and intricate!! I thought the concept of coin traveling was such a clever and fun idea. All the spells, spheres, and gates were very cool as well. The world building was extremely lush and more complex than I anticipated!! I really enjoyed how it wasn’t info-dumpy though, it was very well done and very illustrative.
The PTSD and mental health rep in this book was magnificent. It was done so right!! It felt very raw, real, and relatable. Definitely a new comfort read for me.
Thinking of the epilogue still hurts my heart and I will continue to weep for the rest of my days. I will never forget this book and I’m sure I will obsess over it until the end of time!!!
(Thank you sm to the publishers for my arc <3)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Our Dark Incantations was nearly an infinity star read for me! I was gulping this story down so quickly; I was simultaneously excited to experience what was to come next and sad that I was getting closer to the end.
My short version of how I would summarize this book, giving no spoilers: this story is explosive, heartbreaking, effortlessly funny, toe curling sexy, and the last 11 Chapters halt what should have been a beautiful goodbye to this world. Up to the 79% (Chapter 45) mark, this was hands down an Infinity-Star-Obsessed-With-This-Book. But, those last 11 Chapters are a 2 Star. They felt like planning notes/ideas that got thrown in for whatever reason and was like a rockslide blocking the path to success that was in reach.
My long version:
-I absolutely loved Mira Winters! From Chapter 1, she immediately made my heart ache and I wanted to walk up to her to become friends. She was extremely relatable.
-Aidric Dawson. I am a sucker for this type of character. Suffering in silence, resilient, deadly, will defend what he loves, and be extremely selective on who he allows to get close to him. I loved how wicked he was. Aidric Dawson was a charming devil that I fell in love with.
-The Spheres and Gates were so cool!
-Coin Travel. Loved that! It actually went right over my head in the beginning and then I understood and thought that this was so much fun.
-Contraceptive spell. Convenient and genius. Loved it.
-Plague Doctor Mask. 1 million percent I want to read this more in books. I freaking loved it!
-Mira's anxiety was done really well. As someone who lives with anxiety, I felt a lot of her panic scenes and overthinking scenes myself.
-Amelia Montgomery. She was iconic. I loved her. I wished she had a lot more "screen time", especially over Ella. I felt that Amelia served a purpose in Mira's life.
-The banter was genuinely funny and oozed sexual tension. I loved it!
There were some INCREDIBLE, chest clutching quotes that I want to carry with me. I can't list them all, as some will be spoilers...but here are just a few that I loved:
Nothing about it was warm or inviting, but she supposed that was the point of it all.
"Say it again. From your lips, it sounds like sin."
He was much gentler with her than she had ever been with herself.
"She simply doesn't understand you anymore. She's trying to help someone who is drowning by giving them more water. And she doesn't even notice it. But I do. I see you drowning."
She wanted all of his sins and to make them her own...
"I guess fine is the wrong word. I'm never fine. I'm alive. Made it another day."
"I always felt alone, but somehow only the absence of you taught me the true meaning of loneliness."
"...Please. Don't go where I can't follow."
"...I told the stars about you."
Things that I think need revisions (without being spoilery):
-Mira's hair. It wasn't initially described, but it popped up here and there throughout the story. And when it did, with a _____ descriptive word, I was left wondering why it mattered by that point. I am a Harry Potter Universe fan and am also familiar with FanFiction...so for me, I knew why the random hair descriptors were there. But, if I didn't have this prior knowledge, then I would have probably found it extremely odd that Mira was randomly complaining about her hair.
-Ella: I didn't think she served any other purpose than The-Friend-Who-Invites-Mira-To-Things. I loved that Ella was a friend before Mira changed. But, I think it was clear that they didn't fit anymore as Mira currently was.
-Evren: I felt he was too faded into the background. He was introduced and then I didn't get nearly as much time with him as I would have liked. I would have loved for him and Rylan to have been in more scenes together sooner, with the rest of the wielder group.
-Scion: I was really confused with the authors use of this word. It was used as 1) in reference to Aidric. And 2) a place that Mira had graduated from.
-Kane Harrington: I personally, and strongly, suggest this name being reworked. I think it's a bit too closely sounding to another MMC that I read, that also started off as a HP FanFiction.
-Epilogue: I felt like Mira was off. I didn't like the pop up of a new character. And I felt that Aidric's character was handed too similar a fate as I mentioned above with the hinted at HP FanFiction that was made into an original piece of work through TradPub.
-Climax: I was expecting A LOT more. An error I do not enjoy in books, is when characters are in the middle of battle and they seem to have the time for a lengthy conversation. Enemies are closing in, my adrenaline is pumping, and then the characters just decide to have a sidebar. I think an easy remedy for this would be to edit out some earlier chapters (that could afford to be cut) and add in some battle planning/training so that when the big scene comes up, we as readers already know that this was something the characters prepared for.
-Rakkiyah and Zhardak: Zhardak didn't really serve much of a purpose, as much as I thought he probably should have. Rakkiyah was the weighted presence and that surprised me. In the back of my mind, I kept waiting for Zhardak to have this jaw dropping addition to the story.
-The scar: I was genuinely confused at the importance of this goal. At one point it was the main goal, then it kind of got shelved, then it was cast off as not important, then it was again of importance. I felt a lot of whiplash with this element in the story. It did have relevance to the final chapters, but I don't think that was necessary; especially if the author went a different way with those chapters.
-I was hoping for more huzzah with the Primemage Corvin and Mira scene in his office.
I am debating between a 3, 3.5, and 4 Star rating....I loved so much but, there is a lot to be edited and reworked in my opinion. I am curious if this book will get similar notes from other ARC readers and if there will be any revisions. If in the small chance that that happens, I would love to do a reread and give an updated review!
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, NetGalley, and the Author for providing me with a digital advanced reading copy.
My short version of how I would summarize this book, giving no spoilers: this story is explosive, heartbreaking, effortlessly funny, toe curling sexy, and the last 11 Chapters halt what should have been a beautiful goodbye to this world. Up to the 79% (Chapter 45) mark, this was hands down an Infinity-Star-Obsessed-With-This-Book. But, those last 11 Chapters are a 2 Star. They felt like planning notes/ideas that got thrown in for whatever reason and was like a rockslide blocking the path to success that was in reach.
My long version:
-I absolutely loved Mira Winters! From Chapter 1, she immediately made my heart ache and I wanted to walk up to her to become friends. She was extremely relatable.
-Aidric Dawson. I am a sucker for this type of character. Suffering in silence, resilient, deadly, will defend what he loves, and be extremely selective on who he allows to get close to him. I loved how wicked he was. Aidric Dawson was a charming devil that I fell in love with.
-The Spheres and Gates were so cool!
-Coin Travel. Loved that! It actually went right over my head in the beginning and then I understood and thought that this was so much fun.
-Contraceptive spell. Convenient and genius. Loved it.
-Plague Doctor Mask. 1 million percent I want to read this more in books. I freaking loved it!
-Mira's anxiety was done really well. As someone who lives with anxiety, I felt a lot of her panic scenes and overthinking scenes myself.
-Amelia Montgomery. She was iconic. I loved her. I wished she had a lot more "screen time", especially over Ella. I felt that Amelia served a purpose in Mira's life.
-The banter was genuinely funny and oozed sexual tension. I loved it!
There were some INCREDIBLE, chest clutching quotes that I want to carry with me. I can't list them all, as some will be spoilers...but here are just a few that I loved:
Nothing about it was warm or inviting, but she supposed that was the point of it all.
"Say it again. From your lips, it sounds like sin."
He was much gentler with her than she had ever been with herself.
"She simply doesn't understand you anymore. She's trying to help someone who is drowning by giving them more water. And she doesn't even notice it. But I do. I see you drowning."
She wanted all of his sins and to make them her own...
"I guess fine is the wrong word. I'm never fine. I'm alive. Made it another day."
"I always felt alone, but somehow only the absence of you taught me the true meaning of loneliness."
"...Please. Don't go where I can't follow."
"...I told the stars about you."
Things that I think need revisions (without being spoilery):
-Mira's hair. It wasn't initially described, but it popped up here and there throughout the story. And when it did, with a _____ descriptive word, I was left wondering why it mattered by that point. I am a Harry Potter Universe fan and am also familiar with FanFiction...so for me, I knew why the random hair descriptors were there. But, if I didn't have this prior knowledge, then I would have probably found it extremely odd that Mira was randomly complaining about her hair.
-Ella: I didn't think she served any other purpose than The-Friend-Who-Invites-Mira-To-Things. I loved that Ella was a friend before Mira changed. But, I think it was clear that they didn't fit anymore as Mira currently was.
-Evren: I felt he was too faded into the background. He was introduced and then I didn't get nearly as much time with him as I would have liked. I would have loved for him and Rylan to have been in more scenes together sooner, with the rest of the wielder group.
-Scion: I was really confused with the authors use of this word. It was used as 1) in reference to Aidric. And 2) a place that Mira had graduated from.
-Kane Harrington: I personally, and strongly, suggest this name being reworked. I think it's a bit too closely sounding to another MMC that I read, that also started off as a HP FanFiction.
-Epilogue: I felt like Mira was off. I didn't like the pop up of a new character. And I felt that Aidric's character was handed too similar a fate as I mentioned above with the hinted at HP FanFiction that was made into an original piece of work through TradPub.
-Climax: I was expecting A LOT more. An error I do not enjoy in books, is when characters are in the middle of battle and they seem to have the time for a lengthy conversation. Enemies are closing in, my adrenaline is pumping, and then the characters just decide to have a sidebar. I think an easy remedy for this would be to edit out some earlier chapters (that could afford to be cut) and add in some battle planning/training so that when the big scene comes up, we as readers already know that this was something the characters prepared for.
-Rakkiyah and Zhardak: Zhardak didn't really serve much of a purpose, as much as I thought he probably should have. Rakkiyah was the weighted presence and that surprised me. In the back of my mind, I kept waiting for Zhardak to have this jaw dropping addition to the story.
-The scar: I was genuinely confused at the importance of this goal. At one point it was the main goal, then it kind of got shelved, then it was cast off as not important, then it was again of importance. I felt a lot of whiplash with this element in the story. It did have relevance to the final chapters, but I don't think that was necessary; especially if the author went a different way with those chapters.
-I was hoping for more huzzah with the Primemage Corvin and Mira scene in his office.
I am debating between a 3, 3.5, and 4 Star rating....I loved so much but, there is a lot to be edited and reworked in my opinion. I am curious if this book will get similar notes from other ARC readers and if there will be any revisions. If in the small chance that that happens, I would love to do a reread and give an updated review!
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, NetGalley, and the Author for providing me with a digital advanced reading copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Edit: Bumping this up to 4.5 stars bc I think about it every single day. I still stand by everything I said below, BUT UGH!!!! I JUST LOVE HER!!
New comfort read unlocked🖤🖤🖤 This story was grounded in mystery and pain, found family and fanfiction. It felt like an October thunderstorm and I devoured every single word.
Mira is an ex-healer who has PTSD and physical trauma from a recently ended war. Though she never wants to touch magic again, she is forced to accept the fact that a scar in her arm has traces of magic that are slowly burning her soul away. This pain sends her to Ivercrest Academy, where she is not only thrown into a full course load but also a murder investigation with the lethal, aristocratic Aidric Dawson.
The characters were giving me Twilight brainrot (complimentary.) Mira especially reminded me SO MUCH of Bella Swan. We have not one, but TWO found families and I adore them both. I do wish we had gotten more friendship moments and that Mira had just been a better friend overall (especially to Ella.)
The writing was a little ~clunky~ at times and I found like 27 typos, but in full wattpad style, I ignored them and life went on.🧚 This was so fanfic in the way that it was both wildly inconvenient at times and wildly convenient at other times. I really wish we had gotten more information on the recently ended war rather than just hearing that it happened. But a moment for THE MAGIC SYSTEM. It was brilliant, easy to understand and it felt so believable.
I know a lot of people hated the last 15%, but I actually loved how unique it was! I did dislike the epilogue, though😀 No found family reunion? I will never stop feeling like the story is unfinished in that way.
But I LOVED that this was a standalone, and I honestly just found it to be deeply emotionally intelligent, campy and comforting.
Finally….we have a magical house. What more could you want? I LOVE BEING A MILLENNIAL! I LOVE CHARACTERS WHO HAVE PANIC ATTACKS! I LOVE SILVER-EYED MANIAC MEN WITH BLEEDING HEARTS! I LOVE MAGICAL ACADEMIES! This will absolutely be purchased on October 20th🙂↕️
Thank you soooo much to Netgalley for this arc!⭐️
New comfort read unlocked🖤🖤🖤 This story was grounded in mystery and pain, found family and fanfiction. It felt like an October thunderstorm and I devoured every single word.
Mira is an ex-healer who has PTSD and physical trauma from a recently ended war. Though she never wants to touch magic again, she is forced to accept the fact that a scar in her arm has traces of magic that are slowly burning her soul away. This pain sends her to Ivercrest Academy, where she is not only thrown into a full course load but also a murder investigation with the lethal, aristocratic Aidric Dawson.
The characters were giving me Twilight brainrot (complimentary.) Mira especially reminded me SO MUCH of Bella Swan. We have not one, but TWO found families and I adore them both. I do wish we had gotten more friendship moments and that Mira had just been a better friend overall (especially to Ella.)
The writing was a little ~clunky~ at times and I found like 27 typos, but in full wattpad style, I ignored them and life went on.🧚 This was so fanfic in the way that it was both wildly inconvenient at times and wildly convenient at other times. I really wish we had gotten more information on the recently ended war rather than just hearing that it happened. But a moment for THE MAGIC SYSTEM. It was brilliant, easy to understand and it felt so believable.
I know a lot of people hated the last 15%, but I actually loved how unique it was! I did dislike the epilogue, though😀 No found family reunion? I will never stop feeling like the story is unfinished in that way.
But I LOVED that this was a standalone, and I honestly just found it to be deeply emotionally intelligent, campy and comforting.
Finally….we have a magical house. What more could you want? I LOVE BEING A MILLENNIAL! I LOVE CHARACTERS WHO HAVE PANIC ATTACKS! I LOVE SILVER-EYED MANIAC MEN WITH BLEEDING HEARTS! I LOVE MAGICAL ACADEMIES! This will absolutely be purchased on October 20th🙂↕️
Thank you soooo much to Netgalley for this arc!⭐️
September 27, 2026
Our Dark Incantations is an excellent debut novel from Wanda Hellmund. Hellmund explores light versus dark magic in a world reeling from the aftermath of a war that looked to change the status quo of dark magic wielders.
As mentioned previously, Hellmund explores light magic, characterized by spells of healing and protection, and dark magic, characterized by death and combat. The type of magic a person uses then helps determine their position in society.
Mira Winters enrolls at Ivercrest University in an attempt to heal herself of the physical scars from the war. Mira was an exceptionally talented light magic caster, but has since shunned her abilities. Mira’s journey is one of strength and acceptance as she learns about herself and to accept who she is as both a wielder and caster.
Aidric Dawson is arrogant, powerful, and mesmerizing. He’s shrouded in secrets, but his connection with Mira is undeniable.
Mira and Aidric’s chemistry is palpable from their first interaction. It’s heady and euphoric. I absolutely loved them together.
Overall, Our Dark Incantations is a captivating debut filled with compelling characters, immersive magic, and undeniable chemistry. I absolutely loved Mira and Aidric’s story, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Hellmund.
*** I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As mentioned previously, Hellmund explores light magic, characterized by spells of healing and protection, and dark magic, characterized by death and combat. The type of magic a person uses then helps determine their position in society.
Mira Winters enrolls at Ivercrest University in an attempt to heal herself of the physical scars from the war. Mira was an exceptionally talented light magic caster, but has since shunned her abilities. Mira’s journey is one of strength and acceptance as she learns about herself and to accept who she is as both a wielder and caster.
Aidric Dawson is arrogant, powerful, and mesmerizing. He’s shrouded in secrets, but his connection with Mira is undeniable.
Mira and Aidric’s chemistry is palpable from their first interaction. It’s heady and euphoric. I absolutely loved them together.
Overall, Our Dark Incantations is a captivating debut filled with compelling characters, immersive magic, and undeniable chemistry. I absolutely loved Mira and Aidric’s story, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Hellmund.
*** I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read, a Dramione story. It's an enemies to lovers with a bit of intrigue, action, and mystery in an academy setting - think college aged instead of secondary school. Overall, I enjoyed reading it with only some slight pacing issues.
This is the story of Mira and Aidric. In their world, there are two types of basic magic - Wielders and Casters. Wielders are dark magic and primarily offensive based and Casters are light magic and trend towards healing and shields. Mira goes into Ivercrest sure of one thing - she's a Caster and a healer. So when she's placed in the Dark Magic side, this is not what she expected. Here she encounters the rather frightening and dark Aidric Dawson.
Having recently just gotten past the war where some Wielders tried to take over everything resulting in many deaths including Mira's parents, Aidric is somewhat infamous. His father is in prison for the rebellion and rumor has it Aidric helped him throughout the war, including killing others. Somehow the council decided he should get parole and thus he's now at Ivercrest too.
These two are thrown together on an assignment and while it's rocky at first, Mira starts to see what she's heard as rumors isn't the whole story. As they get closer to one another, several things threaten to tear them apart including their trust or lack thereof of each other.
Overall, I thought this book was a great time. In fact, I would say for about 85% of the book, it was a five star read for me. It got a bit murky at the end with pacing and some plot choices by the author. It wasn't bad. Just..unnecessary. And I think it somewhat hurt the overall of the book. However, I would say it's still 100% worth a read. It's fun and if you want a good Dramoine story, I would highly suggest this one.
Four stars.
This was a fun read, a Dramione story. It's an enemies to lovers with a bit of intrigue, action, and mystery in an academy setting - think college aged instead of secondary school. Overall, I enjoyed reading it with only some slight pacing issues.
This is the story of Mira and Aidric. In their world, there are two types of basic magic - Wielders and Casters. Wielders are dark magic and primarily offensive based and Casters are light magic and trend towards healing and shields. Mira goes into Ivercrest sure of one thing - she's a Caster and a healer. So when she's placed in the Dark Magic side, this is not what she expected. Here she encounters the rather frightening and dark Aidric Dawson.
Having recently just gotten past the war where some Wielders tried to take over everything resulting in many deaths including Mira's parents, Aidric is somewhat infamous. His father is in prison for the rebellion and rumor has it Aidric helped him throughout the war, including killing others. Somehow the council decided he should get parole and thus he's now at Ivercrest too.
These two are thrown together on an assignment and while it's rocky at first, Mira starts to see what she's heard as rumors isn't the whole story. As they get closer to one another, several things threaten to tear them apart including their trust or lack thereof of each other.
Overall, I thought this book was a great time. In fact, I would say for about 85% of the book, it was a five star read for me. It got a bit murky at the end with pacing and some plot choices by the author. It wasn't bad. Just..unnecessary. And I think it somewhat hurt the overall of the book. However, I would say it's still 100% worth a read. It's fun and if you want a good Dramoine story, I would highly suggest this one.
Four stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley, Wanda Hellmund, and Berkley Publishing for the eARC!
I went into this with really high expectations, given that I'd read and enjoyed the original fanfiction. I figured this would be a slam dunk, five star read, and went into this hoping for a true rewrite, something that was fresh and cohesive and wholly original, Unfortunately, I was left *severely* disappointed. I'm honestly genuinely shocked at how little of this changed between the original fanfic and this published version.
The worldbuilding definitely suffers the most from the total lack of reworking. A war is mentioned, but there's really no other information or background provided... it's so glossed over that it never feels real or even consequential to the story. We're told it happened, not shown the impact of it or even the aftermath. And that's kind of the entire theme of this book... a whole lot of telling us things are important, not showing us they are.
Beyond that, the magic system is flimsy, at best. I won't even get into the gigantic ick that "white magic" vs. "dark magic" gave me, but know I'm giving side eye for that. There's literally no explanation or system for the magic, it's just kind of there, a total afterthought that's barely explained beyond the fact these characters can use it.
The writing is also unfortunately weirdly clunky to the point where I was struggling to push through. This book needed a developmental editor for pacing, a copy editor for line-by-line cleanup, and a line editor for prose improvement. Also someone to help contribute to interiority and embodiment—truly cannot stand being told how characters are feeling versus experiencing it alongside them, and this did a LOT of selling/telling. It was also glaringly obvious that the dialogue in several places throughout this book was directly lifted from the fanfic... characters who are supposed to be near-strangers speak to each other like they've been in a decade-long fued, having overtly dramatic and disproportionate reactions and conversations.
This mismatch is what really sunk the romance for me. I just really didn't buy the connection between Mira and Aidric at all... it was stilted, like two strangers being told to hate each other with zero history to justify it, then a ton of intense observations sprinkled between? That tension made total sense in the source material... but the original dynamic it was written for was not lifted and shifted for this book, so it no longer made any sense. These characters just hadn't earned that baggage.
Overall, this was a really disappointing read. I wanted fresh, fully-baked, wholly original... and got an underdeveloped world and characters, unearned romance, and an almost completely untouched reworking of the original fanfic.
I went into this with really high expectations, given that I'd read and enjoyed the original fanfiction. I figured this would be a slam dunk, five star read, and went into this hoping for a true rewrite, something that was fresh and cohesive and wholly original, Unfortunately, I was left *severely* disappointed. I'm honestly genuinely shocked at how little of this changed between the original fanfic and this published version.
The worldbuilding definitely suffers the most from the total lack of reworking. A war is mentioned, but there's really no other information or background provided... it's so glossed over that it never feels real or even consequential to the story. We're told it happened, not shown the impact of it or even the aftermath. And that's kind of the entire theme of this book... a whole lot of telling us things are important, not showing us they are.
Beyond that, the magic system is flimsy, at best. I won't even get into the gigantic ick that "white magic" vs. "dark magic" gave me, but know I'm giving side eye for that. There's literally no explanation or system for the magic, it's just kind of there, a total afterthought that's barely explained beyond the fact these characters can use it.
The writing is also unfortunately weirdly clunky to the point where I was struggling to push through. This book needed a developmental editor for pacing, a copy editor for line-by-line cleanup, and a line editor for prose improvement. Also someone to help contribute to interiority and embodiment—truly cannot stand being told how characters are feeling versus experiencing it alongside them, and this did a LOT of selling/telling. It was also glaringly obvious that the dialogue in several places throughout this book was directly lifted from the fanfic... characters who are supposed to be near-strangers speak to each other like they've been in a decade-long fued, having overtly dramatic and disproportionate reactions and conversations.
This mismatch is what really sunk the romance for me. I just really didn't buy the connection between Mira and Aidric at all... it was stilted, like two strangers being told to hate each other with zero history to justify it, then a ton of intense observations sprinkled between? That tension made total sense in the source material... but the original dynamic it was written for was not lifted and shifted for this book, so it no longer made any sense. These characters just hadn't earned that baggage.
Overall, this was a really disappointing read. I wanted fresh, fully-baked, wholly original... and got an underdeveloped world and characters, unearned romance, and an almost completely untouched reworking of the original fanfic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars - rounded up
Our Dark Incantations is beautifully written, with pacing that kept me completely invested. Mira’s struggles with PTSD were handled incredibly well. The guilt she feels simply for having certain emotions felt so authentic, and I really appreciated seeing mental health represented with that much care and depth.
There is a steady thread of mystery and tension throughout the story, and I loved watching the relationship between Mira and Aidric develop alongside it. Everything felt like it was building exactly where it needed to go.
Then I hit around the 80–85% mark and genuinely thought we had reached the ending. It felt like such a natural culmination of everything the story had been building toward...except my Kindle told me there was still quite a bit left.
The final portion was still beautifully written and incredibly emotional. It definitely made me FEEL things. But for me, it also felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the book. It wasn’t that I disliked what happened; I just struggled with the continuity between what felt like the natural ending and everything that came afterward.
Overall, this was a beautifully written, emotional story with excellent mental health representation, plenty of mystery and tension, and characters I was genuinely invested in.
Our Dark Incantations is beautifully written, with pacing that kept me completely invested. Mira’s struggles with PTSD were handled incredibly well. The guilt she feels simply for having certain emotions felt so authentic, and I really appreciated seeing mental health represented with that much care and depth.
There is a steady thread of mystery and tension throughout the story, and I loved watching the relationship between Mira and Aidric develop alongside it. Everything felt like it was building exactly where it needed to go.
Then I hit around the 80–85% mark and genuinely thought we had reached the ending. It felt like such a natural culmination of everything the story had been building toward...except my Kindle told me there was still quite a bit left.
The final portion was still beautifully written and incredibly emotional. It definitely made me FEEL things. But for me, it also felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the book. It wasn’t that I disliked what happened; I just struggled with the continuity between what felt like the natural ending and everything that came afterward.
Overall, this was a beautifully written, emotional story with excellent mental health representation, plenty of mystery and tension, and characters I was genuinely invested in.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
“Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you.”
one of the best dark academia fantasy romances i’ve ever read, and a story that has made a permanent home in my heart.
What makes this story extraordinary to me is something I can point to on the page: the writing makes pain, longing, and devotion feel almost physical. magic hums beneath the skin, old wounds interrupt mundane tasks (relatable), and a touch can become both a threat and a reassurance. there are lines here that made me stop reading just to sit with them.
Mira’s relationship with her magic is beautiful. she is a skilled healer who cannot free herself from her own suffering, and that contradiction gives her determination so much weight. her trauma follows her into classrooms, friendships, and quiet moments when everyone else expects her to be getting better. I loved that healing is allowed to be complicated, frustrating, and personal.
Aidric Dawson is my fictional type. the arrogance, the precision, the terrifying capacity for violence. beneath all of it is a man whose relationship with vulnerability is as complicated as Mira’s relationship with power. watching their antagonism become recognition, and recognition become devotion, absolutely consumed me. the banter is delicious, but the tenderness is what undid me to the point of tears: being believed, being understood, having someone notice what everyone else has learned to overlook... perfection.
their romance is inseparable from the fantasy. her healing and his destructive power shape how they challenge, protect, and understand each other. the wounds--magical and otherwise--carry emotional history, and the world’s distrust gives their growing connection consequences beyond themselves.
Ivercrest’s divided halls, ancient spells, forbidden research, and dangerous secrets provide a familiar atmosphere I could happily disappear into. beneath that atmosphere, the writing is incredible in the places that matter most to me: ability to make intimacy feel enormous, to find tenderness inside something terrible, and to leave an ache long after the scene has ended.
I finished this with excessive tabs and an attachment to these characters that i have no intention of recovering from.
tropes & vibes:
• antagonists -> reluctant allies -> lovers
• healer fmc x dangerous, morally grey mmc
• forced collaboration
• slow-burn tension and banter
• mutual hurt/comfort
• fiercely protective devotion
• found family
• forbidden magical research
• murder investigation and political corruption
• atmospheric magical university
• post-war trauma, grief, and healing
• dark magic with a physical cost
Thank you to Headline Eternal for the gifted proof. Thank you Berkley for the gifted digital ARC.
_________
“Say the word, Winters. For you, I'll break every fucking rule there is.”
I need every edition, every special edition, every international copy, every version that has ever existed or will ever exist. I beg everyone to read this masterpiece so we can ride this high together 🖤🖤🖤
He was her damnation.
Her affliction.
one of the best dark academia fantasy romances i’ve ever read, and a story that has made a permanent home in my heart.
What makes this story extraordinary to me is something I can point to on the page: the writing makes pain, longing, and devotion feel almost physical. magic hums beneath the skin, old wounds interrupt mundane tasks (relatable), and a touch can become both a threat and a reassurance. there are lines here that made me stop reading just to sit with them.
Mira’s relationship with her magic is beautiful. she is a skilled healer who cannot free herself from her own suffering, and that contradiction gives her determination so much weight. her trauma follows her into classrooms, friendships, and quiet moments when everyone else expects her to be getting better. I loved that healing is allowed to be complicated, frustrating, and personal.
Aidric Dawson is my fictional type. the arrogance, the precision, the terrifying capacity for violence. beneath all of it is a man whose relationship with vulnerability is as complicated as Mira’s relationship with power. watching their antagonism become recognition, and recognition become devotion, absolutely consumed me. the banter is delicious, but the tenderness is what undid me to the point of tears: being believed, being understood, having someone notice what everyone else has learned to overlook... perfection.
their romance is inseparable from the fantasy. her healing and his destructive power shape how they challenge, protect, and understand each other. the wounds--magical and otherwise--carry emotional history, and the world’s distrust gives their growing connection consequences beyond themselves.
Ivercrest’s divided halls, ancient spells, forbidden research, and dangerous secrets provide a familiar atmosphere I could happily disappear into. beneath that atmosphere, the writing is incredible in the places that matter most to me: ability to make intimacy feel enormous, to find tenderness inside something terrible, and to leave an ache long after the scene has ended.
I finished this with excessive tabs and an attachment to these characters that i have no intention of recovering from.
tropes & vibes:
• antagonists -> reluctant allies -> lovers
• healer fmc x dangerous, morally grey mmc
• forced collaboration
• slow-burn tension and banter
• mutual hurt/comfort
• fiercely protective devotion
• found family
• forbidden magical research
• murder investigation and political corruption
• atmospheric magical university
• post-war trauma, grief, and healing
• dark magic with a physical cost
Thank you to Headline Eternal for the gifted proof. Thank you Berkley for the gifted digital ARC.
_________
“Say the word, Winters. For you, I'll break every fucking rule there is.”
I need every edition, every special edition, every international copy, every version that has ever existed or will ever exist. I beg everyone to read this masterpiece so we can ride this high together 🖤🖤🖤
He was her damnation.
Her affliction.
May 18, 2026
I feel very conflicted on this one because I did actually really enjoy it. Wanda Hellmund has a knack for writing an engaging story. This novel very much stands on it's own when it's compared to the fanfic it was based on (although, the cover is a dead giveaway - not sure how I feel about that).
This book is over 500 pages long so it's unsurprising that my main critique is that it felt far too long. The last 15% of the novel felt really unnecessary. There was a point int he plot where the book felt like it had come to a definitive end but then it just kept on going. Without that 'twist', I think this book would've been a 4 star read for me.
The book itself moved at a good pace otherwise. The friendships were strong and interesting, the ptsd storyline worked well and the magic system made sense for the most part (it got a little iffy when it came to potions, especially towards the end but I could overlook it because everything else was mostly working). Giving credit where credit is due, this book is one of the most successful of it's fanfic-turned-fantasy predecessors at reworking a magic system in a way that allows the spirit of the plot to remain without the magical elements feeling shoehorned in,
Overall, I enjoyed this, particularly the first 70%. This debut proved that Hellmund has immense talent and I can’t wait to read whatever they come out with next. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc. 3.25 stars.
This book is over 500 pages long so it's unsurprising that my main critique is that it felt far too long. The last 15% of the novel felt really unnecessary. There was a point int he plot where the book felt like it had come to a definitive end but then it just kept on going. Without that 'twist', I think this book would've been a 4 star read for me.
The book itself moved at a good pace otherwise. The friendships were strong and interesting, the ptsd storyline worked well and the magic system made sense for the most part (it got a little iffy when it came to potions, especially towards the end but I could overlook it because everything else was mostly working). Giving credit where credit is due, this book is one of the most successful of it's fanfic-turned-fantasy predecessors at reworking a magic system in a way that allows the spirit of the plot to remain without the magical elements feeling shoehorned in,
Overall, I enjoyed this, particularly the first 70%. This debut proved that Hellmund has immense talent and I can’t wait to read whatever they come out with next. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc. 3.25 stars.
Want to Read
February 26, 2026I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE! dhr girlies here we go
June 9, 2026
"Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you" yep that still hits
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If we ignore the last 15%... What an utterly captivating, beautiful, and emotionally gripping novel. I was wary of being satisfied when I heard this was a standalone but the author easily exceeded my expectations in that aspect and it felt as though I read a whole series in one book?? Though I had major issues with the ending (I'll get into that later), Our Dark Incantations was an extremely fun book.
Mira Winters, aka the love of my life. My new all time favourite FMC. I mean HELLO?? She is such an amazingly well-written character, the way I immediately fell in love with her?? Her boldness, bravery and strength were so admirable and I just loved how smart she was😭 And then exploring her trauma, depression and self-hatred after what happened to her in the war... when I tell you that I wanted to cry, I'm not exaggerating. The way she felt as though she was a burden to everyone and was "broken" for not moving on and being happy and normal like all those around her?? The constant emptiness she would feel?? Yeah, kill me already🥲 I loved how the author explored Mira's trauma and I think it wad done so so well.
AND THEN AIDRIC DAWSON!!!! Where do I even begin?? His character was an absolute delight and surprise for me. I expected this book to be a little more on the enemies side between Mira and Aidric and oh if I didn't love their dynamic! Aidric's sarcasm was genuinely killing me I could notttt stop laughing LOL I love this guy. And finding out what happened to him during the war?? Oh that was so unexpected oh my god. I won't say anymore but I will say that exploring his character and other aspects of it was AMAZING and I could not get enough of him. Aidric is my sweet boy and he needs to be protected at all costs.
The romance, to nobody's surprise, had me in a complete chokehold like?? I was giggling and kicking my feet constantly THEYRE SO ADORABLE AHHHHH. And the hot scenes?? THE TENSION. THE CHEMISTRY. EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM HAD ME DYING IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE. The amount of scenes and quotes I highlighted???? It's unreal guys. The way we get not just so many romantic scenes but all the vulnerable ones?? Oh, I was actually being stabbed in the heart or melting into a puddle. I went "awww" way too many times and wanted to cry. Mira and Aidric were literally made for one another😭 I do wish this could've been more of a slowburn but I didn't hate how fast things went. Though in the second half I was thinking to myself I loved the romance more when they weren't actually together and when there was more yearning. First half >>> Second half.
Magic system was SO cool!!! I am actually addicted to this world. The way their magic worked with it being split between White and Dark magic users!! The way you unlock signifiers!!! The potions!!! The spells!!! The coin travel!!! Seriously, everything about this world was really just so interesting, I constantly wanted more of the lore. Genuinely I am so sad this is a standalone (although I'm happy about not dealing with a cliffhanger) because I would love to stay with this world forever.
The plot, as you can guess, was amazing imo!! The murder mystery in the beginning and then trying to work to solve some other problems we discover which I will not name because spoilers. And the mystery behind Mira's scar!! Everything had me so invested, I had questions constantly. Some of the reveals were predictable but it never took away from my enjoyment!! I was so gagged at one reveal near the end and just kept telling myself no way??? Seriously, it was so hard to stop reading in between chapters because everything just has you so enthralled with the story.
One thing I do want to give as a disclaimer is that I wrote this whole review (minus this paragraph I'm writing and that little bit about the ending above) when I was 70% in because I was so sure it would be a 5 star... then the ending came. Without spoiling, certain moments in the last 15% pissed me off and I was actually this close to giving the book a lower rating than what I currently have right now had it [redacted long sentence because I don't want to give anything away] because the way it could've been avoided?? And the lack of consent in that scene honestly made me so mad. I genuinely think the last 15% was SOOO unnecessary like really the book should've just ended before that (of course with minor additions so that it isn't so abrupt). Also ignoring my issues with that ending, I wish we could've explored some plot points more like why Mira is one of the very few who has both Dark and White Magic. And I would've loved to go more into the council and the political side of things. And as much as I loved the scenes we got with the side characters, I would've loved that emotional attachment to Mira's friends!! If any of them had died, it wouldn't have really been devastating.
Nevertheless, Our Dark Incantations was a phenomenal book (for 80% of the story) and I will definitely be reading any future book by this author!
Thank you Headline Eternal for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Mira Winters, aka the love of my life. My new all time favourite FMC. I mean HELLO?? She is such an amazingly well-written character, the way I immediately fell in love with her?? Her boldness, bravery and strength were so admirable and I just loved how smart she was😭 And then exploring her trauma, depression and self-hatred after what happened to her in the war... when I tell you that I wanted to cry, I'm not exaggerating. The way she felt as though she was a burden to everyone and was "broken" for not moving on and being happy and normal like all those around her?? The constant emptiness she would feel?? Yeah, kill me already🥲 I loved how the author explored Mira's trauma and I think it wad done so so well.
AND THEN AIDRIC DAWSON!!!! Where do I even begin?? His character was an absolute delight and surprise for me. I expected this book to be a little more on the enemies side between Mira and Aidric and oh if I didn't love their dynamic! Aidric's sarcasm was genuinely killing me I could notttt stop laughing LOL I love this guy. And finding out what happened to him during the war?? Oh that was so unexpected oh my god. I won't say anymore but I will say that exploring his character and other aspects of it was AMAZING and I could not get enough of him. Aidric is my sweet boy and he needs to be protected at all costs.
The romance, to nobody's surprise, had me in a complete chokehold like?? I was giggling and kicking my feet constantly THEYRE SO ADORABLE AHHHHH. And the hot scenes?? THE TENSION. THE CHEMISTRY. EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM HAD ME DYING IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE. The amount of scenes and quotes I highlighted???? It's unreal guys. The way we get not just so many romantic scenes but all the vulnerable ones?? Oh, I was actually being stabbed in the heart or melting into a puddle. I went "awww" way too many times and wanted to cry. Mira and Aidric were literally made for one another😭 I do wish this could've been more of a slowburn but I didn't hate how fast things went. Though in the second half I was thinking to myself I loved the romance more when they weren't actually together and when there was more yearning. First half >>> Second half.
Magic system was SO cool!!! I am actually addicted to this world. The way their magic worked with it being split between White and Dark magic users!! The way you unlock signifiers!!! The potions!!! The spells!!! The coin travel!!! Seriously, everything about this world was really just so interesting, I constantly wanted more of the lore. Genuinely I am so sad this is a standalone (although I'm happy about not dealing with a cliffhanger) because I would love to stay with this world forever.
The plot, as you can guess, was amazing imo!! The murder mystery in the beginning and then trying to work to solve some other problems we discover which I will not name because spoilers. And the mystery behind Mira's scar!! Everything had me so invested, I had questions constantly. Some of the reveals were predictable but it never took away from my enjoyment!! I was so gagged at one reveal near the end and just kept telling myself no way??? Seriously, it was so hard to stop reading in between chapters because everything just has you so enthralled with the story.
One thing I do want to give as a disclaimer is that I wrote this whole review (minus this paragraph I'm writing and that little bit about the ending above) when I was 70% in because I was so sure it would be a 5 star... then the ending came. Without spoiling, certain moments in the last 15% pissed me off and I was actually this close to giving the book a lower rating than what I currently have right now had it [redacted long sentence because I don't want to give anything away] because the way it could've been avoided?? And the lack of consent in that scene honestly made me so mad. I genuinely think the last 15% was SOOO unnecessary like really the book should've just ended before that (of course with minor additions so that it isn't so abrupt). Also ignoring my issues with that ending, I wish we could've explored some plot points more like why Mira is one of the very few who has both Dark and White Magic. And I would've loved to go more into the council and the political side of things. And as much as I loved the scenes we got with the side characters, I would've loved that emotional attachment to Mira's friends!! If any of them had died, it wouldn't have really been devastating.
Nevertheless, Our Dark Incantations was a phenomenal book (for 80% of the story) and I will definitely be reading any future book by this author!
Thank you Headline Eternal for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"She flipped her coin to travel. Home"
Let me start by saying the premise of this book was excellent. The synopsis drew me in and after reading the first couple of chapters, I really thought I was going to like this.
Unfortunately, I felt like I was reading a Romantasy book I've read before. I also think I needed this to be more of a slow burn because after the main characters kissed around 30%, I lost some interest.
The ending was really good and I think that made me appreciate the book even more but sadly, this one fell flat for me.
Let me start by saying the premise of this book was excellent. The synopsis drew me in and after reading the first couple of chapters, I really thought I was going to like this.
Unfortunately, I felt like I was reading a Romantasy book I've read before. I also think I needed this to be more of a slow burn because after the main characters kissed around 30%, I lost some interest.
The ending was really good and I think that made me appreciate the book even more but sadly, this one fell flat for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve picked up and put down Our Dark Incantations a number of times, because I truly struggled to get through this book. I was so, so, so hopeful to love this story, and while I can’t wait to see what Wanda writes next I do not think there was enough rework in this story for it to work for me. I did not understand the world building, and this coming from someone who reads quite a bit of epic fantasy. We are dropped into the aftermaths of a war that you never really understand, a school that you never really understand, and magic that you never really understand. I wanted more from the writing and romance too. There was just a lot of telling, but honestly not enough explaining, and not a lot of showing. I think I am suffering from very high expectations. I am glad this is finding its readers. If you want an easy to read standalone Romantasy, with dark academia vibes and reluctant allies to lovers, Our Dark Incantations may be for you.
October 10, 2026
i REALLY liked this!!!!
I went into this basically blind - had no clue what it was about but it sucked me in right away
Mira takes an entrance exam for a magical university displaying her white magic abilities and ends up getting accepted to the dark magic program (bc she has both white & dark magic!!!). she’s working on potions to remove her dark magic scar & ends up getting roped into a murder investigation with THE BADDEST MAN AT SCHOOL 😛😛😛
When I started this I didn’t really know if it would be for me - but I had so much fun!!!!
I haven’t googled it bc I can’t be bothered but I do think this was potentially a Dramione fanfic that was adapted maybe?? again don’t quote me, just the vibe I was getting
I went into this basically blind - had no clue what it was about but it sucked me in right away
Mira takes an entrance exam for a magical university displaying her white magic abilities and ends up getting accepted to the dark magic program (bc she has both white & dark magic!!!). she’s working on potions to remove her dark magic scar & ends up getting roped into a murder investigation with THE BADDEST MAN AT SCHOOL 😛😛😛
When I started this I didn’t really know if it would be for me - but I had so much fun!!!!
I haven’t googled it bc I can’t be bothered but I do think this was potentially a Dramione fanfic that was adapted maybe?? again don’t quote me, just the vibe I was getting
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Aidric Dawson 🫦 silver haired man? Say less
The MC’s relationship was 100% the selling point for me, the plot was pretty good but the driving force for me reading this was the dynamic between Mira and Aidric. The banterful, chalk and cheese relationship they have was *chefs kiss*.
I loved it when they started to realise that they have feelings for each other and there are definitely a few giggling and kicking your feet moments.
I will say that this could have definitely been wrapped up about 70 pages earlier, the aftermath of the stories climax was really good in the emotional damage area but if it had been compressed and we cut out the side characters and the time jump, I think it would have been more impactful.
The epilogue was really cute but it felt somewhat unnecessary.
A somewhat mix of Alchemised and Irresistible Urge for sure, darker than Irresistible and more bacterial than Alchemised.
The MC’s relationship was 100% the selling point for me, the plot was pretty good but the driving force for me reading this was the dynamic between Mira and Aidric. The banterful, chalk and cheese relationship they have was *chefs kiss*.
I loved it when they started to realise that they have feelings for each other and there are definitely a few giggling and kicking your feet moments.
I will say that this could have definitely been wrapped up about 70 pages earlier, the aftermath of the stories climax was really good in the emotional damage area but if it had been compressed and we cut out the side characters and the time jump, I think it would have been more impactful.
The epilogue was really cute but it felt somewhat unnecessary.
A somewhat mix of Alchemised and Irresistible Urge for sure, darker than Irresistible and more bacterial than Alchemised.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4/5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
What a wonderful debut novel! I am such a fan of debuts, because finding an author at the start of what is sure to be an exciting literary career is one of the best feelings ever, and that is the exact feeling I had while reading Wanda Hellmund's words in Our Dark Incantations. Her writing is smooth and easy to read, her world-building is delightful, and her character work is really nice!
I think my favourite thing about this novel was the world. Ivercrest University is a fascinating place, but the Spheres as a whole is incredibly unique. The magic coins being used as means of transportation, tattoos indicating what powers you have, the various demons we saw...it was all just very fresh. And I really was delighted by how unique it was considering this is an adaptation of a fanfiction. It truly stands on its own. The Wielders and Casters were both interesting classes of magic, but I do wish we'd seen more of the inner politics happening in the council in regards to how they'll interact after the war. I also feel like details about the war were really sparse, which was a shame because I think we could have gotten even more depth by exploring what was really going on in the minds of people during the war. Too many people seemed to have had nothing to do with it and while I get most of these characters were 17 when the war broke out, it felt unrealistic that none of them would have fought in it other than Aidric.
Wanda's writing is very nice. It's not the most sophisticated writing but it's never clunky, and she describes winter so vividly. I can see room for it to grow and become more subtle, which excites me!
Our two main characters, Mira and Aidric, are both really well developed characters! I do want to say that any complaints I have about not going into the nitty-gritty of certain aspects of their characters is likely because this is a standalone. So I can't fault the novel for not having the depth I sometimes craved, more so in regards to Aidric's trauma. Mira is a really easy to root for main character. She has clear goals, she's smart and bold, and she's just so sincere in what she feels. Her battle with depression and trauma is heartfelt and I just really enjoyed watching her heal.
Aidric, while more of a mystery, was really nicely developed. I do wish more of his backstory had been explored in ways other than him just explaining all of it but I did really enjoy his character! I do think the end wraps up abruptly for his arc but I can understand why.
The plot is sort of where this novel lost me. By no means terrible, I was really into the murder mystery, but found that the focus became larger scale a bit too fast for my liking. The plot isn't really that twisty, but it's still really entertaining and serves as a great backdrop for the romance and character development, intertwining in significantly emotional ways. I do think a lot of plot issues were solved too quickly or conveniently, and wish we saw more of a struggle against Rakkiyah. The last 15% of this novel is bonkers. One of the most useless sub-plots in existence strolls in along with probably my least favourite trope. Nothing in me enjoyed any of this. It was pointless, didn't fit with the rest of the novel, and only existed in my opinion to just delay a happy ending. The entire section at the end with this plot point could have easily been cut and I would have been so grateful for it. It's a shame that I don't feel the book stuck the landing, but I do think that the epilogue was cute at least!
Romance wise, it's a really cute romance. While being too much of a fast-burn for me to fully fall in love, the banter is really fun, and the way their love for each other is described just made my heart squeeze. I do sort of wish we could have seen more of Aidric falling for her because it does feel kind of sudden and 'where did this come from' rather than being a by product of intense yearning.
The side characters could have used a bit more development overall but I really did enjoy all of them anyways!
Overall, Our Dark Incantations was a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel, and there is so much potential for Wanda Hellmund's future. Excited see what she writes next!
The perfect book to settle into winter with, Our Dark Incantations hits shelves October 20th!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
What a wonderful debut novel! I am such a fan of debuts, because finding an author at the start of what is sure to be an exciting literary career is one of the best feelings ever, and that is the exact feeling I had while reading Wanda Hellmund's words in Our Dark Incantations. Her writing is smooth and easy to read, her world-building is delightful, and her character work is really nice!
I think my favourite thing about this novel was the world. Ivercrest University is a fascinating place, but the Spheres as a whole is incredibly unique. The magic coins being used as means of transportation, tattoos indicating what powers you have, the various demons we saw...it was all just very fresh. And I really was delighted by how unique it was considering this is an adaptation of a fanfiction. It truly stands on its own. The Wielders and Casters were both interesting classes of magic, but I do wish we'd seen more of the inner politics happening in the council in regards to how they'll interact after the war. I also feel like details about the war were really sparse, which was a shame because I think we could have gotten even more depth by exploring what was really going on in the minds of people during the war. Too many people seemed to have had nothing to do with it and while I get most of these characters were 17 when the war broke out, it felt unrealistic that none of them would have fought in it other than Aidric.
Wanda's writing is very nice. It's not the most sophisticated writing but it's never clunky, and she describes winter so vividly. I can see room for it to grow and become more subtle, which excites me!
Our two main characters, Mira and Aidric, are both really well developed characters! I do want to say that any complaints I have about not going into the nitty-gritty of certain aspects of their characters is likely because this is a standalone. So I can't fault the novel for not having the depth I sometimes craved, more so in regards to Aidric's trauma. Mira is a really easy to root for main character. She has clear goals, she's smart and bold, and she's just so sincere in what she feels. Her battle with depression and trauma is heartfelt and I just really enjoyed watching her heal.
Aidric, while more of a mystery, was really nicely developed. I do wish more of his backstory had been explored in ways other than him just explaining all of it but I did really enjoy his character! I do think the end wraps up abruptly for his arc but I can understand why.
The plot is sort of where this novel lost me. By no means terrible, I was really into the murder mystery, but found that the focus became larger scale a bit too fast for my liking. The plot isn't really that twisty, but it's still really entertaining and serves as a great backdrop for the romance and character development, intertwining in significantly emotional ways. I do think a lot of plot issues were solved too quickly or conveniently, and wish we saw more of a struggle against Rakkiyah. The last 15% of this novel is bonkers. One of the most useless sub-plots in existence strolls in along with probably my least favourite trope. Nothing in me enjoyed any of this. It was pointless, didn't fit with the rest of the novel, and only existed in my opinion to just delay a happy ending. The entire section at the end with this plot point could have easily been cut and I would have been so grateful for it. It's a shame that I don't feel the book stuck the landing, but I do think that the epilogue was cute at least!
Romance wise, it's a really cute romance. While being too much of a fast-burn for me to fully fall in love, the banter is really fun, and the way their love for each other is described just made my heart squeeze. I do sort of wish we could have seen more of Aidric falling for her because it does feel kind of sudden and 'where did this come from' rather than being a by product of intense yearning.
The side characters could have used a bit more development overall but I really did enjoy all of them anyways!
Overall, Our Dark Incantations was a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel, and there is so much potential for Wanda Hellmund's future. Excited see what she writes next!
The perfect book to settle into winter with, Our Dark Incantations hits shelves October 20th!
October 28, 2026
what happened to me emotionally while reading this book can never happen again
June 18, 2026
first half was 4 stars but it started to lose me when so much random shit started happening 😭
thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! full review to come
thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! full review to come
May 17, 2026
Our Dark Incantations
Thanks Berkley for the e-arc!
I wish this would have been a hit for me, I really expected it to be and am sadly disappointed.
Our Dark Incantations is a dark academia romantasy standalone about Mira Winters, a former healer with PTSD, who must embrace dark magic at a magical university in the aftermath of a war. She teams up with the captivating Wielder, Aidric Dawson, to solve a suspicious murder and unveil a sinister conspiracy.
Unfortunately this fell very flat for me. the world building and magic system felt underdeveloped imo and the characters motivations made little sense outside or Mira’s (and even then she made a LOT of extremely questionable choices.) It was very TELL instead of SHOW and some characterization choices had no explanation within the story and felt like we should just accept it bc that’s how these characters are portrayed in this novels former life.
The romance had its moments but again, I felt like I was being told to care about their relationship instead of being shown why I should. Same thing with the supporting characters, at one point we’re literally told that Mira and another character have become “good friends” but it’s the readers first time seeing them interact outside of their initial meeting.
Fans of the original work will likely love this, as it follows the original almost beat for beat, so there’s definitely an audience for it. It just didn’t quite work for me and I would have loved to see this get another pass through editing to make it more cohesive as a standalone trad pub.
2.5 ⭐️ but the half star is only cause it got me at the end and I cried.
Thanks Berkley for the e-arc!
I wish this would have been a hit for me, I really expected it to be and am sadly disappointed.
Our Dark Incantations is a dark academia romantasy standalone about Mira Winters, a former healer with PTSD, who must embrace dark magic at a magical university in the aftermath of a war. She teams up with the captivating Wielder, Aidric Dawson, to solve a suspicious murder and unveil a sinister conspiracy.
Unfortunately this fell very flat for me. the world building and magic system felt underdeveloped imo and the characters motivations made little sense outside or Mira’s (and even then she made a LOT of extremely questionable choices.) It was very TELL instead of SHOW and some characterization choices had no explanation within the story and felt like we should just accept it bc that’s how these characters are portrayed in this novels former life.
The romance had its moments but again, I felt like I was being told to care about their relationship instead of being shown why I should. Same thing with the supporting characters, at one point we’re literally told that Mira and another character have become “good friends” but it’s the readers first time seeing them interact outside of their initial meeting.
Fans of the original work will likely love this, as it follows the original almost beat for beat, so there’s definitely an audience for it. It just didn’t quite work for me and I would have loved to see this get another pass through editing to make it more cohesive as a standalone trad pub.
2.5 ⭐️ but the half star is only cause it got me at the end and I cried.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To no one’s surprise, I cried. This is one of my favorite books now. Obviously I am a massive Dramione fan in every universe and every version of them as new characters with new names and new events.
I actually had not read the fanfic of this so the entire story was completely new to me but I would have recognized Aidric and Mira instantly. Added bonus, every time I read a single Oberyn line, I could hear Professor Snapes voice in my mind, his exact accent and mannerisms.
Loved Mira. Her character growth thought the book was spectacular to me, she went from having PTSD and being afraid of everything to becoming the embodiment of female rage and vengeance which, as a Scorpio, I was absolutely sat for. And in the end, overcoming both her fears and her rage and finding some well deserved peace. The romance with Aidric was immaculate and it’s going to live in my head for a long time. I really liked that the author kept the last name usage trend that was so prevalent in fanfics and this, combined with their specific dynamic, just hits a spot in my brain.
If there was one thing I see as a downside to this being a standalone is that I didn’t get enough of the secondary characters, especially Amelia. Yes, it’s definitely some namesake bias but also I really found her super interesting and I wanted to know more.
This comes out in October, a gothic dark academia standalone, in the middle of spooky season. Perfection.
I actually had not read the fanfic of this so the entire story was completely new to me but I would have recognized Aidric and Mira instantly. Added bonus, every time I read a single Oberyn line, I could hear Professor Snapes voice in my mind, his exact accent and mannerisms.
Loved Mira. Her character growth thought the book was spectacular to me, she went from having PTSD and being afraid of everything to becoming the embodiment of female rage and vengeance which, as a Scorpio, I was absolutely sat for. And in the end, overcoming both her fears and her rage and finding some well deserved peace. The romance with Aidric was immaculate and it’s going to live in my head for a long time. I really liked that the author kept the last name usage trend that was so prevalent in fanfics and this, combined with their specific dynamic, just hits a spot in my brain.
If there was one thing I see as a downside to this being a standalone is that I didn’t get enough of the secondary characters, especially Amelia. Yes, it’s definitely some namesake bias but also I really found her super interesting and I wanted to know more.
This comes out in October, a gothic dark academia standalone, in the middle of spooky season. Perfection.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When eating, drinking and sleeping becomes overrated! Thats how good this book is.
Mira is a healer who, after the war, ends up in the wrong magic department of Ivercrest University were she is paired with the rich and arrogant Aidric. While she enrolled to learn how to heal her incurable scar, she suddenly finds herself helping in a murder investigation alongside Airdric who is one of the strongest wielders in the continent and full of secrets. When war is looming on the horizon, they need to work together without losing their hearts or their lives.
The book took me in right from the start and especially the second half I couldn't put it down anymore. I read the second half in just one day!
For the first time a book truly reminded me of Harry Potter. It has an academy, magic, spells and a villain to fight. Still the story felt completely different and unique on its own. The pace is fast! Which I like very much. And do expect an emotional rollercoaster, but to me it didnt felt overwhelming.
I absolutely loved all the characters and especially Mira and Aidric. Each on their own went through so much and still they were such strong people. Mira who is curious, courageous and headstrong. And Aidric, god I felt for him. He has my heart. I kept hoping he would get everything he wanted and longed for in the end.
I also liked that this book has no cliffhanger and answers all lingering questions. When you close the book, the story is closed too. I think thats a big plus!
This book is a true 6⭐️ pageturner.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author Wanda Hellmund for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Its been a true pleasure!
Mira is a healer who, after the war, ends up in the wrong magic department of Ivercrest University were she is paired with the rich and arrogant Aidric. While she enrolled to learn how to heal her incurable scar, she suddenly finds herself helping in a murder investigation alongside Airdric who is one of the strongest wielders in the continent and full of secrets. When war is looming on the horizon, they need to work together without losing their hearts or their lives.
The book took me in right from the start and especially the second half I couldn't put it down anymore. I read the second half in just one day!
For the first time a book truly reminded me of Harry Potter. It has an academy, magic, spells and a villain to fight. Still the story felt completely different and unique on its own. The pace is fast! Which I like very much. And do expect an emotional rollercoaster, but to me it didnt felt overwhelming.
I absolutely loved all the characters and especially Mira and Aidric. Each on their own went through so much and still they were such strong people. Mira who is curious, courageous and headstrong. And Aidric, god I felt for him. He has my heart. I kept hoping he would get everything he wanted and longed for in the end.
I also liked that this book has no cliffhanger and answers all lingering questions. When you close the book, the story is closed too. I think thats a big plus!
This book is a true 6⭐️ pageturner.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author Wanda Hellmund for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Its been a true pleasure!
September 23, 2026
4/5⭐️ This is going to be a VERY hard book for me to rate and review. Our Dark Incantations is a standalone dark academia romantasy about Mira, a Caster struggling with anxiety and PTSD, and Aidric, a lethal Wielder from the other side of the war. This is certainly not enemies to lovers (it's more reluctant allies) and it's also definitely not a slow burn. Usually these things would bother me but since this is a standalone and the allies part is what makes this work, I found the romance to be really enjoyable overall and easily my favorite part of the book
Hellmund was very successful in creating interesting concepts in this world, developing a beautiful romantic relationship, and lovable side characters that I would've loved to see more of! My heart wants to rate this book 4.5-5 stars.
However, the writing did feel quite choppy at times. I felt like there were a lot of interesting ideas but some weren't fully flushed out enough. Also, like many other reviewers, I found the book totally fell apart in the last 15%. It went from an amazing story to a rushed, predictable, and unnecessary ending. This story could have easily been way better if that ending wasn't tacked on.
Regardless, I loved this story and the characters so much that I do still highly recommend this book and intend to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you Berkley/Ace Pub for the ARC!
Hellmund was very successful in creating interesting concepts in this world, developing a beautiful romantic relationship, and lovable side characters that I would've loved to see more of! My heart wants to rate this book 4.5-5 stars.
However, the writing did feel quite choppy at times. I felt like there were a lot of interesting ideas but some weren't fully flushed out enough. Also, like many other reviewers, I found the book totally fell apart in the last 15%. It went from an amazing story to a rushed, predictable, and unnecessary ending. This story could have easily been way better if that ending wasn't tacked on.
Regardless, I loved this story and the characters so much that I do still highly recommend this book and intend to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you Berkley/Ace Pub for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
➵pre-read:
NO ONE TALK TO ME, I JUST GOT THE ARC!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭 THANK YOU ARIANA, I HOPE YOUR PILLOW IS ALWAYS COLD 😭🫶🏻
__________________________________
I'm still sobbing
This was as good as I hoped 😭 I have no words for how much I loved it.
This review is gonna be so hard to write because I loved everything, and what more do I need to say?
I was enthralled right from the start. The writing was very atmospheric—magical and gothic. The world was so captivating—I was immersed the whole time and didn't wanna leave.
Now, I wasn't sure how this is going to work being a standalone and all, and there were some parts in the second part of the book that I felt were resolved pretty quickly (maybe because of what I'm usually used to) but I shouldn't have worried at all because this was damn near perfect and I wouldn't change a thing.
I'm absolutely obsessed with Aidric and Mira (plus just about everyone from Aidric's friends group 😂).
The mysteries surrounding the deaths and Aidric (and also like all of them in general 😆) were soooo good, I was shocked so many times. And the magic system?! It was so intricate and well thought-out; Mira training to get her signifiers and Aidric showing off his skills were some of my fav chapters.
Do I even need to say anything about the romance?? *chef's kiss*, no notes, gimme 14. Obsessed doesn't even cover it.
I cried my eyes out so many times during the last part of the book. Completely wasn't expecting the turn this book took, and spheres, what an emotional roller-coaster it was!!
I just want to mention over here because I've seen other reviewers complaining that they didn't like the actions of a certain character towards the end and even though I understand why they feel the way they do I strongly disagree and here is why:
I don't know what else to say except that I can't wait to read more by WH and this story will stay with me, one of my absolute favs this year!! 🖤🖤🖤
eternal gratitude to Ariana, Berkley and netgalley for the ARC
all quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in the final publication
NO ONE TALK TO ME, I JUST GOT THE ARC!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭 THANK YOU ARIANA, I HOPE YOUR PILLOW IS ALWAYS COLD 😭🫶🏻
__________________________________
"You could never lose me. Even when everything went dark, I told the stars about you."
I'm still sobbing
This was as good as I hoped 😭 I have no words for how much I loved it.
This review is gonna be so hard to write because I loved everything, and what more do I need to say?
I was enthralled right from the start. The writing was very atmospheric—magical and gothic. The world was so captivating—I was immersed the whole time and didn't wanna leave.
Now, I wasn't sure how this is going to work being a standalone and all, and there were some parts in the second part of the book that I felt were resolved pretty quickly (maybe because of what I'm usually used to) but I shouldn't have worried at all because this was damn near perfect and I wouldn't change a thing.
"You have infected me like poison," he rasped against her skin, and she wanted to drink him in. "You're in my blood. Clawing at my chest. Drumming in my veins."
I'm absolutely obsessed with Aidric and Mira (plus just about everyone from Aidric's friends group 😂).
The mysteries surrounding the deaths and Aidric (and also like all of them in general 😆) were soooo good, I was shocked so many times. And the magic system?! It was so intricate and well thought-out; Mira training to get her signifiers and Aidric showing off his skills were some of my fav chapters.
"It's just a kiss, Winters."
Nothing was ever just anything with him.
Do I even need to say anything about the romance?? *chef's kiss*, no notes, gimme 14. Obsessed doesn't even cover it.
"Say the word, Winters. For you, I'll break every fucking rule there is."
I cried my eyes out so many times during the last part of the book. Completely wasn't expecting the turn this book took, and spheres, what an emotional roller-coaster it was!!
I just want to mention over here because I've seen other reviewers complaining that they didn't like the actions of a certain character towards the end and even though I understand why they feel the way they do I strongly disagree and here is why:
I don't know what else to say except that I can't wait to read more by WH and this story will stay with me, one of my absolute favs this year!! 🖤🖤🖤
eternal gratitude to Ariana, Berkley and netgalley for the ARC
all quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in the final publication
May 20, 2026
Our Dark Incantations is a gothic magical mystery with a romance that will leave you begging for more.
Hellmund creates a vivid world of white and dark magic, dark academia, and a male main character that is very much morally grey.
Let’s start with the plot: Mira decides to head to Ivercrest to research a cure for her scar that burns her and creates nightmares. When she gets there she knows she’ll be placed in the white magic department, until she’s not and she’s dragged into dark magic and there is no way back. To help train her new magic she gets paired up with Aidric Dawson (yes our beautiful silver haired snotty rich boy.) While training with him she gets entangled in a mystery Aidric and her Highmage teacher is trying to solve. Full of action, adventure, some amazing spice, the plot is plotting.
The world build and magic system: I like how easy this world was. It wasn’t super involved. I didn’t have to make a flow chart. It was all very digestible and enjoyable. The land is made up of different spheres (I visualize like islands,) and you can jump through magical gates to get from one to the next. They have a coin that can make them fast travel.
The world is filled with white magic (defensive) and dark (offensive.) White is natural so it’s unlimited. Dark is not so it takes a toll on the caster and leaves small residual dark magic behind. The school system is your typical college style.
The romance: I love this style of romance. It’s snarky banter with smirking and teasing. It wasn’t insta lust, they fell for each other while working on a mystery. I would say this isn’t really enemies to lovers maybe more rivals to lovers? The spice is so good y’all. The passion is some of the best I’ve read.
“She wanted his jealousy. His wrath. His lust. She wanted all of his sins and to make them her own, wanted to taste them on his lips just as fiercely as she felt them in her heart.”
Um swoon!
“Let the world burn. I’ll gladly walk on its ashes if it means you’re alive.”
These two are fire and I love them.
Some small things: Aidric sometimes seemed like an over powered super hero (or villian however you want to look at it.) He was always there somehow saving our heroine. He was magical assassin with kick ass fighting moves too.
The ending, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t love what he did and not sure how trusting I would be afterwards. The ending was also a little longer than I expected. The main conflict wound down and we were only at 86%. Did I know what was coming yes, but I feel like it could have been shortened a little.
Everything seemed a little too tidy. All things just seemed like it was magically solved easily even after thousands of people tried a millions times to do the same thing.
But anyway, these were just very small things and they weren’t bothersome just there.
4.25/5 stars!
All in all I loved this book. Wanda Hellmund did a fantastic job and everyone should definitely read this book when it publishes in October.
A huge thank you to Headline Books and NetGalley for the arc!!!
Hellmund creates a vivid world of white and dark magic, dark academia, and a male main character that is very much morally grey.
Let’s start with the plot: Mira decides to head to Ivercrest to research a cure for her scar that burns her and creates nightmares. When she gets there she knows she’ll be placed in the white magic department, until she’s not and she’s dragged into dark magic and there is no way back. To help train her new magic she gets paired up with Aidric Dawson (yes our beautiful silver haired snotty rich boy.) While training with him she gets entangled in a mystery Aidric and her Highmage teacher is trying to solve. Full of action, adventure, some amazing spice, the plot is plotting.
The world build and magic system: I like how easy this world was. It wasn’t super involved. I didn’t have to make a flow chart. It was all very digestible and enjoyable. The land is made up of different spheres (I visualize like islands,) and you can jump through magical gates to get from one to the next. They have a coin that can make them fast travel.
The world is filled with white magic (defensive) and dark (offensive.) White is natural so it’s unlimited. Dark is not so it takes a toll on the caster and leaves small residual dark magic behind. The school system is your typical college style.
The romance: I love this style of romance. It’s snarky banter with smirking and teasing. It wasn’t insta lust, they fell for each other while working on a mystery. I would say this isn’t really enemies to lovers maybe more rivals to lovers? The spice is so good y’all. The passion is some of the best I’ve read.
“She wanted his jealousy. His wrath. His lust. She wanted all of his sins and to make them her own, wanted to taste them on his lips just as fiercely as she felt them in her heart.”
Um swoon!
“Let the world burn. I’ll gladly walk on its ashes if it means you’re alive.”
These two are fire and I love them.
Some small things: Aidric sometimes seemed like an over powered super hero (or villian however you want to look at it.) He was always there somehow saving our heroine. He was magical assassin with kick ass fighting moves too.
The ending, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t love what he did and not sure how trusting I would be afterwards. The ending was also a little longer than I expected. The main conflict wound down and we were only at 86%. Did I know what was coming yes, but I feel like it could have been shortened a little.
Everything seemed a little too tidy. All things just seemed like it was magically solved easily even after thousands of people tried a millions times to do the same thing.
But anyway, these were just very small things and they weren’t bothersome just there.
4.25/5 stars!
All in all I loved this book. Wanda Hellmund did a fantastic job and everyone should definitely read this book when it publishes in October.
A huge thank you to Headline Books and NetGalley for the arc!!!
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