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The Guild Codex: Spellbound #8

Damned Souls and a Sangria

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Once upon a time, I was your average spunky redhead with the lamest employment history ever, a shaky relationship with my only family member, and no idea what I was doing with my life. Now, I'm a pseudo mythic with the best bartending job in the world, the most amazing (and hot) best friends I never knew I needed, and a guild of misfit magic-users who've become my extended family. And I'm about to lose it all.

In my desperation to save Ezra, I stumbled into a web of ruthless deception—and seriously pissed off a sleeping hydra. Now its every murderous head is turned toward me and my guild, and I don't know how to stop it. I'm not sure I can. I'm not sure anyone can. But if I don't, we're all doomed—Ezra, Aaron, Kai, and my beloved guild.

More series in the Guild Codex

The Guild
Demonized
The Guild Warped
The Guild Unveiled

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2020

1455 people are currently reading
1825 people want to read

About the author

Annette Marie

50 books7,187 followers
Annette Marie is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the expansive urban fantasy series The Guild Codex, epic urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.

A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.

Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 775 reviews
Profile Image for Helen 2.0.
472 reviews1,659 followers
August 13, 2023
Wow, I can't believe the series is done! It doesn't feel like an ending at all. Maybe because I know that some sections of the story will go on with the other series set in the Guild Codex universe.

**SPOILERS**
The final Spellbound installment returns us to the imminent problem of Ezra and Eterran's body-sharing nightmare, but that's not all the book tackles. The story was battle-heavy, reminding me of the sequence two books ago (I think?) when the characters took on Varvera the evil sorceress, only this time they're dealing with a crazy demon cult.

For those readers who've been strung out half to death by the sloooooooowburn romance, good news: there's actual spice in this book! And you only had to wait eight books to get it ;)

Nevertheless I'm happy to see Ezra and Tori together finally. This was one of the sweetest friends-to-lovers slowburns I've ever read, and worth the wait.
Profile Image for Ashley.
851 reviews634 followers
March 23, 2022
Star Rating: —> every single star in every single galaxy in the entire universe.
every. single. one.

[okay— GR Official Rating: —> 5 Stars ]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Okay. But, guys... this book! Honestly— How do I even begin to describe the amazing feelings this book has forever left me with??? Just ugh!
What PURE & EPIC BRILLIANCE;
ohmaaiheart!

I can honestly say that I have never read a more satisfying, gratifying, PERFECT series finale; EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of the book just felt RIGHT, & appeared absolutely effortless as everything came together.
I actually left the last page feeling completely happy & contented, rather than just overwhelmingly sad that the series was over, because everything was just that perfect .

I mean— everything that a Guild Codex lover could’ve asked for in a Spellbound ending?
CHECK!
Every single thing that a UF Lover could ever possibly ask for from an entire series ending?
CHECK!
Series wrapped up so skillfully, it’s like the author used beautiful, magical ribbon to tie everything together perfectly, into the most picture perfect bow on right on top?
*swoons* CHECK! *more swooning*

Literally, you are missing out on top tier, best of the best Urban Fantasy if you haven’t started this series yet—
It is heartwarming, heart wrenching, and a little bit of everything in between... it’s filled with excitement and one of the most in-depth interesting magic systems I have ever experienced in a UF series!

You’ve gotta pick this one up 💛! It is, along with the rest of the Guild Codex books, the absolute most original UF series that I have EVER come across .

SUCH UTTER PERFECTION & GENUS
!

Well, I’ve just gotta say... BUCKLE UP, because the grand finale of the Spellbound series is
E V E R Y T H I N G
.
Truly... this ending was just everything I could’ve asked for, and so, so much more.

The entire novel was filled with just...
moment
after moment
after moment
...that truly rendered me speechless.

This book was so masterfully crafted, with a conclusion that I believe absolutely every Guild Codex fan will LOVE (Which is absolutely insanely hard to do, i’m sure! It isn’t easy to make everyone happy, in fact i’d thought it highly impossible... until I read this).

I mean, my eyes were glued to every single page, you couldn’t tear me away from the book even if you tried (seriously, my husband DID try, aaaand he promptly failed .😂)!
I was transported to another world while reading, utterly transfixed and possibly bewitched. When I reached the last page, I was both crying & grinning ear to ear; there literally couldn’t have been a more perfect ending.

Annette Marie is an absolute genius! As I have said in past reviews, I totally think she is secretly a member of the mythic community herself (I’m on to you, Annette! :-P), because... HOW is her level of brilliance as an author even humanly possible?! Haha.

This novel was so, so, so, SO SATISFYING! Mysteries were finally solved, epic face offs finally came to fruition, questions floating around during the series were finally answered... all with so many more twists, turns, and shocking surprises showing up along the way. This was truly action packed from beginning to end! Marie’s prowess knows no bounds!

I loved how there were the PERFECT cameos and appearances from certain fan favs, from this series, as well as other series in the CodexVerse. I also loved how there were some minor hints along the way for the Demonized finale, which got me SO EXCITED (as if I weren’t already going crazy enough having to waittttt) to read Robin’s conclusion, as well. I also loved how smoothly allusions to both newly announced, and current Guild Codex series were slipped into the story— I closed the book feeling both completely contented & happy with Tori’s & her Mage’s story, as well as PUMPPPPED for the future of the CodexVerse!

I do NOT want to spoil a THING, because that would be an absolute CRIME! So my lips are zipped, for now! Do yourself a favor and READ. THIS. BOOK/SERIES. Absolutely exceptional.

10000% recommend !!! Absolutely above & beyond anything I could’ve ever asked for...

_____________
ARC ARCARC ARC ARC !!!!! SO READY BUT SO NOT AHHHHHH I can’t believe its the last Spellbound!
😭😭😭
BUT STILL SO EXCITEDDDDDD
_____________

I don’t want it to end :-(

BUT DAMN, I CANNOT WAIT! Woo hoo! BRING IT ONNNN!
Profile Image for mith.
930 reviews305 followers
May 26, 2024
Bear with me here bc this is the first and only draft of this review and my phone currently sucks at fixing my typos so yolo!

this ending was PHENOMENAL.

And its worth repeating: phenomenal. We were with Tori for eight while books and while I'm sad her story is ending, I'm so glad that we get more of this world. So in a way, its an ending, but also not really? Silver linings, yall.

Listen I've made it no secret that I love Annette Marie's books. She has never disappointed me—literally never. I've read ALL of her books and genuinely enjoyed every single one. She gets better and better with every new release and this one is no exception. Like her previous books, this has all the heart stopping action and romance and humor you can expect from her.

I've laughed, cried, and had to distance myself (for like a minute or two lol I HAD to finish this in one go) just to recalibrate. Marie doesn't hold back for this finale and I can easily tell you that you will experience a ROLLERCOASTER of emotions. Highs and lows and all the stomach churning loops. I was on the edge of my proverbial seat for so long because I KNEW things could not be this simple.

I dont want to make this a super long review because a) spoilers and b) y'all gotta experience it. So the gist of it is that it is a beyond satisfying ending without is being too cookie cutter clean. Tori and the mages—the entire guild, too—have been through a LOT in this series and its a lot to tie altogether in a satisfactory way but Marie did a superb job at tying these ends together. That isn't to say that this was a breeze—bro. Far from it. Everyone's gone through a ton of trials in this series and they will continue to do so. These characters fought tooth and nail for everything and it is truly chefs kiss how it came to be. I couldn't have asked for more.

Tori's highs and lows are touched upon here and i lovelovelove all the growth she's experienced in these books. There's just so much i love about her character—about all the characters in this series, actually. Everyone is fleshed out and they feel REAL, real enough that you can really empathize with them and thats why I'm such a huge fan of Annette Marie. She goes above and beyond with her characters and it shows. You'll root for them, you'll hate them, you'll be confused and thats the brilliance of it.

Okay gushing aside, YALLLLL. I loved this. Ugh I loved it so much. This was the first book I had the time and attention for in MONTHS and it reminded me of why I need to reread the entire series now. Its an easy 5 stars and i hope you all love it as much as i do!
Profile Image for Mikky.
972 reviews275 followers
February 8, 2021
Originally posted at:


* Beware of spoilers for past books in this series.

I can't believe we're here. This series feels like it's been a decade in the making but it only started in 2018. This group of characters will probably still be seen in the spin-offs of this series that the author has announced. So we won't technically have to miss them because they'll be in the background of those books (*fingers crossed*).

HA! I was on the right team for once in my life from the start! It feels so good to say that. I'm so proud of myself even though this series has ended and life has lost its meaning and I don't want it to end *deep breath* *sob*. I swear I'll be okay. Eventually.

The ending was actually perfect. The epilogue was one that I actually enjoyed immensely, which was a total surprise because I usually dislike most epilogues. I liked that the author also loosely paired up the other guys with members of their guild. I'd love to have a spin-off of their stories or maybe a novella of them finding their person in the future but I'm not holding my breath. The author has enough on her plate as it is and I can respect that.

The Audio Book:

The narration was very good! All the character voices were distinguishable from each other.
Profile Image for ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣.
2,526 reviews19.2k followers
December 22, 2020
Q:
‘Most people in this world are carried by the current, but beware the rare few who create waves with every step they take.’ (c)
Q:
... between their excessively anti-demon members who’d tried to kill Ezra and their unexpectedly pro-demon members who’d tried to kill me, I wasn’t a fan. (c)

So, the Crow and Hammer's up in arms:
Q:
“The Crow and Hammer has called Vancouver home for over fifty years.” Darius’s gaze speared each guild member, one after another, as he spoke. “And we will allow neither a demon cult nor an outside guild seeking bounties and glory to destroy it. Protecting our city will require every single one of you, whether you’re a psychic, alchemist, scholar, apprentice, or combat mythic who’ll step onto the battlefield.
“To defeat demons and demon mages, we need weapons. We need artifacts. We need potions. We need to analyze the cult’s past activities, their possible resources, and effective strategies for killing demons. Everyone here can contribute their time, energy, resourcefulness, and unique talents.”
He flipped open his folder. “We have prepared teams, which our officers will lead. We won’t demand anyone enter combat if they prefer not to, but we expect you to support your guildmates in every way you can while we face our most dangerous mission in decades. (c)

Darius is as practical as ever:
Q:
“Do you always tote shovels around?”
“Yes. I never know when I might need to bury a body.” (c) Yeah, that's difficult to plan for. Happens all the time at random. Right?

And, besides. Isn't he one wise ass:
Q:
“People will close doors on you everywhere you turn,” Darius said quietly. “Don’t close them on yourself.” (c)

Zak and his primadonna ways:
Q:
Zak and his dramatic exits. He could never arrive or leave like a normal person. (c)

So, maybe, just maybe Darius will get Zak under control:
Q:
“Many of you,” the guild master said, “are only here today because someone gave you a second chance. This is a guild of second chances, lessons learned, and renewal.” He leveled his steely gray gaze on the druid. “Trust is earned. You have a long way to go if you want it, but we’ll give you that chance.” (c)

Ezra, Tori, Aaron and even Robin and her less-than-contracted up to his gills demon are further on their quest to get Ezra out of that mess. A dangerous cult of the Red Queen, a lot of other guilds' messes are revealed. Can't wait for the next installment.

Kit makes appearance:
Q:
“He might be the most terrifying mythic of our generation, and no one realizes it.” ...
“Including him,” (c)

Q:
“Are—are you committed to returning to the Court’s ways?” ...
“Absolutely. You should’ve invited me sooner. ... Tori will come too. She’s wanted to experience the Goddess’s Light for herself ever since I told her about it.” (c)
Q:
“I’m a powerful druid, a good alchemist, and a mediocre sorcerer,” Zak added. “I have no idea what kind of demon summoner I’ll be.”
I looked down at the grimoire. “We’re about to find out, aren’t we?” (c)
Q:
“I could make a long, heartfelt speech about family, loyalty, love, and bravery... but really, there’s only one thing to be said. ... Don’t hit first—”
“—but always hit back!” (c)
Profile Image for Lauren.
543 reviews42 followers
May 17, 2022
The last Spellbound book! I cried when it appeared in my box, then I laughed and cried some more as the story turned. I savored every moment and then grinned as it came it it's inevitable end. Tori's story is adventure, finding family being a bad ass and making my heart skip beats. And then there is Twiggy! ;)
READ THIS SERIES! :) Now I have the last Demonized book to look forward to and I know I'll see a little of the Spellbound gange in that book.
Profile Image for Mlpmom (Book Reviewer).
3,190 reviews410 followers
November 4, 2020
This was absolutely AMAZING! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I was sad, I was elated, I truly felt it all. This was everything I wanted and with some things I didn't even know I needed. An absolutely perfect ending to this series and I truly don't think there is anything else I could have asked for. I can't wait to read the end of Robyn and Zylas's story now!
Profile Image for Tracy D..
364 reviews54 followers
September 28, 2020
It's All In the Cards

Strength

Her strengths and weaknesses at war.

The Devil

He's broken his chains and restoring control.

The Wheel of Fortune

Brought together by fate...


The Lovers

...it will be his choice alone, but first there must be...


The Hanged Man

...a sacrifice.


This tarot reading gave me chills! "Damned Souls and a Sangria" is single-handedly the most epic conclusion to an UF series a fan could ask for. Had me up past dawn and on the edge of my seat to the point where I needed to get a couple breathers. Yes! That good.


I'm ready and waiting for more in this universe. Especially Robin and Zylas' finale, which substantially ties into the final Spellbound.


Solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*I received an ARC and my opinions are my own.
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,587 reviews784 followers
December 7, 2020
Ezra, Aaron, Kai, and Tori’s beloved guild are on the line as they race to save Ezra and keep themselves from being taken down. The tale hits the ground running and doesn’t letup until the end.

I laughed, held my breath, and swore as things escalated. Twists, turns, and reveals kept me intently listening. Tori and her friends are determined to save Erza and protect the Crow and Hammer. Their guild master rocked, but even he needed an assist as tensions mounted.

The romance heated and while it elated me; I preferred the action. It just felt anticlimactic to me. Either way, I loved where it ended up.

If you haven’t read the Demonized or Warped series, cameo appearances, and meet and greets by those characters will have you doing so. I loved their roles in this finale.

I think Marie delivered an epic ending with closure. She answered, questioned, closed threads, and gave us a nail-biting ending. We got a glimpse of their lives going forward without wrapping things up in a neat little bow. She also left the door open to Crow and Hammer for future visits.

Once again, Cris Dukehart narrated. She has become the voice of these characters and I won’t hesitate to listen to a book she narrates. She captured Tori and all her spunk. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,212 reviews2,339 followers
November 29, 2020
Damned Souls and a Sangria
(The Guild Codex: Spellbound #8)
by Annette Marie
I never really liked Tori all that much until this book. I enjoyed this whole series and how it weaved the Demon series in with it. I love how well developed the characters are and the terrific fantasy is fresh and unique. Lots of great creatures fighting the main characters which is always pretty fun!😁
Read these in order! Read the Demon series too!
Profile Image for Arunimaa.
229 reviews225 followers
February 6, 2021
An absolutely delicious finale to this mindblowing journey delivered by Annette Marie.

DSAAS is the eighth and the final book to The Guild Codex : Spellbound series and if you are reading this review then I am assuming you are a Guild codex fan (if not a fan then a GC reader at least) or else you wouldn't care for the review of the final instalment. So to all GC fans - Read this asap. You will love it .

There, that is my review. If you like this series, you will be more than content with this ending

I am not ready to say goodbye to Guild Codex yet. I am currently reading Demonica 4 and even that is so bloody good that it is hard to continue. Because there will be no more.
I would have maybe liked more of Robin in this. (I am sorry I am heavily biased towards Demonica).
But nevermind that, y'all, you will love his finale.

Go get your book.
Profile Image for ✶Rachelle✶ .
266 reviews142 followers
September 28, 2020
5 stars



Nick Jonas sums up my entire emotional mindset through this book... .

I had to sit on the ending of this story for a while before I was able to write up a review. Always and forever...Annette, you are a genius. I am a seasoned reader. There are very few plot lines I haven't read. Annette's books are one of those few. This makes my heart grow 3 sizes too big because it allows me to experience the joy and love of reading again. It's so easy to be cynical when you read the same plots over and over. I love that Annette brings a fresh perspective to tired, dusty plot lines. She has a forever fan in me.

Now, on to the actual review. Let me just say....be prepared to have your mind utterly blown. Plot twists I never saw coming, came. Characters who did things I never thought they'd do, did. And the action was absolutely non-stop. I read this entire book in one day because there was never a good time to put it down and actually sleep. Believe me, I tried. I got 4 hours of sleep because I HAD to know what happened next. Sleep is a very precious commodity to me, thanks to my Energizer Bunny of a 16-month-old daughter. So the fact that I willingly gave it up to read should tell you how fantastic this book is. .




As you probably know by now, the Spellbound series runs parallel to the Demonized series. The last book of Demonized hasn't come out yet, but the characters do make a small appearance in Spellbound. If you haven't read Demonized yet, please do so because Robin and Co. are one of the best things to happen to the Urban Fantasy genre.

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to go on this journey with Tori, Aaron, Kai, and Ezra....and I am SO HAPPY that it is not over! More books have been announced for the Guild Codex world, so we don't have to say goodbye forever. I can't wait to go on new journeys and meet new friends.

Profile Image for Ian.
1,431 reviews183 followers
February 24, 2022
The end of the Guild Codex: Spellbound and Demonized story arcs.

But thankfully some of the characters we have grown to love will make an appearance in future books set in this world.

I can't wait.
Profile Image for Teru.
408 reviews76 followers
January 7, 2024
Excuse me while I finish bawling my eyes out.

The satisfaction of completing a series filled with so many beloved characters that kept you entertained and emotional throughout their journey is indescribable. I loved absolutely everything about it and I don't even care it's objectively far from perfect. Since the first book, the critical part of my brain just rolled its eyes, shut the fuck up, and let me enjoy this wild ride, making Spellbound one of the top-tier series I've ever read.

Although - Tori and Ezra may be cute together, Robin and Zylas from the Demonized series remain my top pairing 😏

I'm already looking forward to re-reading this ❤️ For now, I need to search for something equally amazing (recommendations much appreciated!)
Profile Image for Absolutelyred.
262 reviews10 followers
March 13, 2024
This series ended on a bit of a lame foot. Many threads are tied in an unsatisfying manner and in a way that contradicts everything established before (e.g. kai and izzah), a whole battle and nobody in the guild dies, everything neatly tied with a beautiful bow.

And most disappointing, Eterran dies in a least likely manner. I had hoped he made it as Tori’s demon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Darcey.
1,316 reviews336 followers
October 3, 2020
such a brilliant conclusion to the series! more Robin and Zylas content, always wonderful, and more Zak, also wonderful.
all-round enjoyable series!!
thanks to my babe Ash for the rec xx

sorry for the short reviews ahah
Profile Image for Carol (bookish_notes).
1,813 reviews132 followers
September 18, 2021
Don’t murder me, but I thought this book was just...fine. I mean, YES IT WAS ACTION-PACKED and we get the romance that’s been building up this entire time...! But I found one thing so upsetting and it just threw me into a funk for the rest of the book??? I’m still emotional about it and I am not okay.

Trigger warnings for violence, death, decapitation, and cults.

There are some big life or death moments in this book because everything’s coming to a head and who could’ve guessed it would all come down to the creepy cult that made Ezra a demon mage? I did like that Robin and Amalia were in this book helping Tori and the crew out and they finally get to combine forces!! Even if it is a bit short lived. While this is the end to the Spellbound books, we are reminded that this is not the end of the Guild Codex series, so there’s a lot of unanswered questions that we’ll just have to find out in the Demonized and Warped books, and maybe even in Zak’s books coming next year.

I like a good fight scene and this book seems to go about it in waves? It’ll be tense one second and then a bit of a lull in the story for a bit, while trying to figure out how to undo the spell that made Ezra and Eterran one in the first place.

SPEAKING OF ETERRAN.

This next part is going to have spoilers.



I’m still looking forward to Robin, Kit, and Zak’s books, but I’m just a little sad that this was the ending to Tori’s story.
Profile Image for Charles .
271 reviews28 followers
November 1, 2023
4 1/2 stars

‘Most people in this world are carried by the current, but beware the rare few who create waves with every step they take, You’re a wave-maker, Tori, and waves are difficult to predict—so maybe you could just coast along for a bit so my tarot cards behave?”.


This book is the conclusion of the Guild Codex: Spellbound series . For 8 books this series has been following Tori Dawson, who stumbled into the Crow & Hammer Guild looking for a job on the day they had no bartender. She was given a trial shift, and because Tori has a habit of acting before thinking, she threw a pitcher of margaritas on Ezra, Aaron and Kai because she didn’t like being called hey, “new girl”. Against all odds what followed was a fast friendship that Tori developed with the three, very good looking (Tori says they are “Hot”) mages.

This series has had multiple plot lines with a cast of reoccurring characters most of who are part of the Crow & Hammer Guild (a guild is a collection of people with mythical abilities who chose to band together for their common good and support). The book manages to tie up the majority of the plot lines and points the future direction for the characters that have become focal points in the different books. There is also a resolution to Ezra’s problem and his and Tori’s attraction to each other

There are appearances of characters from other books in the Guild Codex world including Kit Morris and Lienna Shen from the Warped Series, Robin, Zylas and Amallia from the Demonized series and Zak, (the hot druid) from the Unveiled series. Zak in particular plays a major role in this book. Twiggie and Hoshi Tori’s two Fae familiars are also back for the conclusion of the series.

This book has one of the most epic fight/battle scenes I can remember reading in any of the Guild Codex books. It is brutal and very well plotted out. The “bad guys” who want to eliminate the book’s main characters and the other members of the Crow & Hammer Guild include mythic members of a rogue guild, werewolves with heightened ability due to demon blood, vampires treated with demon blood, gollum’s and finally, actual physical demons. I know how this sounds, but it is done very well, is super exciting and is one of those “don’t bother me I’m reading” moments (my cat Samantha, did not understand why I was too preoccupied to pet her).

In summary, this was a very satisfying ending to one of the best urban fantasy series you will find anywhere. Annette Marie is superb at crafting urban fantasy novels/series that are both exciting and enjoyable. Though I am sad to see the end of Tori’s adventures, I know I will hear more about the members of the Crow & Hammer in the concluding book about Robin and Zylas, “Delivering Evil For Experts” which will conclude the Demonized series.

Also, please note that this series can be read either stand alone or in conjunction with the Demonized series and the Warped series.

The first 4 books in this series I listened to on audio books (my local library had them available through the Libby App , please support your local libraries). They are Excellent audio books, Cris Dukehart is a fabulous narrator.
Profile Image for J.
675 reviews66 followers
October 30, 2022
Actual rating: 4.25 stars

"This is a guild of second chances, lessons learned, and renewal.”


In many ways, "Damned Souls and a Sangria" was truly an epic finale. It was a great way to wrap up The Guild Codex: Spellbound series and at the same time connect the important events there to the Demonized and Warped storylines. If you have only read Spellbound at this point and you are still uncertain whether you should check out the other 2 series, this book would have a fair chance of convincing you to read Demonized and Warped because the cameo appearances of the characters from those books were AWESOME AF.

I'm emotionally attached to the characters from all 3 series already, so there were many scenes that made me grin like a crazy person because I WAS OVERJOYED! The humor and shenanigans of these characters are the healthier and freebie equivalent of happy pills. If they're real people, I would love to flit back and forth between their squads!

As expected, this finale's the most dramatic and action-packed installment. The build-up and transitioning were impressive too. I ended up so absorbed in the story that I had a difficult time putting down this book to do mundane adulting duties.

Lastly, this book also made me want to time travel to the future so that I can read "Delivering Evil for Experts" right now. Robin, Zylas, and Amalia were kick-ass allies in this book, and I really wish that the Spellbound gang would help them out in the Demonized finale.

P.S. Please allow me to scream like an ecstatic fangirl because my boy Zak would have his own series! Yay for a morally grey main character!

(Note re. the rating: Please don't take this personally, you die-hard fans. Haha. I would have given this a higher rating, but I got annoyed because Tori and Ezra had way too many horny teenagers moments. They didn't do anything for me. I ended up skimming those scenes to get to the more exciting parts. If you enjoyed those sexy times, yay for you!)
Profile Image for Theresa .
1,847 reviews77 followers
October 8, 2020
5 Stars... Fast paced, action packed, on the edge of your seat suspense, and some high octane chemical combustion of the romance kind from start to finish... Everything readers could want in the finale to this series was found in these pages... Annette Marie takes her readers on an emotional journey but leaves no loose ends that need tying; each of these characters that we have come to adore find a solid conclusion to their stories (Other than our spin-off series; so excited to hear more from Zak!!!)… Loved every word; hope to see some sneek peeks of these characters in the other series as well:)
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,277 reviews58 followers
December 14, 2020
With the help of Zak, the gang attempts to separate Ezra and Eterran. While they are successful, everyone is still on the MPD's most wanted list and ends up in jail where it is clear that Xever and his cult, have corrupted officials through Xanthe's gifts. The guild comes together to free the group and defeat Xanthe, meanwhile, Robin and Zylas are tasked with defeating Xever (which I already read about in Delivering Evil for Experts, so good!).

I'm just so happy that Ezra gets to have a HEA with Tori! Even though things didn't go down the way I thought - before reading Delivering Evil for Experts, I really thought Ezra would have to face off against Xever himself, or at the very least both he and Robin would do it together. But, I guess Robin's claim on Claude/Xever was stronger, so she got the honors. The process of separating Ezra and Eterran was so touching, I got a little choked up. All in all, this was a damn fine end to the series. I'm happy, the characters are happy, and thanks to some well-placed appearances by Magipol agent, Kit, I am even intrigued by his spin-off series and anxious to dive in; the only question is when. So far, there is only one book available in Kit's series, and since I prefer to binge, I might wait until there is at least one more book available before starting.
Profile Image for Daisy Delfin.
1,482 reviews179 followers
August 26, 2023
Sadley I finished two series of the Guild Codex Universe this weekend.

I loved the last book very much. Again all the MC have grown so much. And Tori finally gets her happy ending. And her brother is a side character again. I liked it in the last book that they made up and in that he returns to help her in this book.

There was a lot of crossover between Demonized, Spellbound, Unveiled and Warped. Another side character came to help Tori. And I was really glad about that. Though it didn't looked like the happy ending that I hoped for, but we might get it later, because this character has his own series.

I loved the Spellbound series. And thanks Annette Marie for putting it on KU and for free in the audible subscription.
Profile Image for Lorna.
1,773 reviews105 followers
September 20, 2025
Story 4.25 stars. Narration 5 stars
This was the last book in this series. I think the author may have written others in this world, but I don’t know for sure. I do know for sure that I’ve really enjoyed the whole series. So much action and supernatural creatures/characters, romance(finally) and a happy ending. I should mention that the main character was human and still is. The paranormal world she practically stumbled into took her in and changed her kind of pathetic world into a world of friendships, love and acceptance. It was full of all out war at times balanced by times at the bar where she works also known as a guild full of supernaturals. Also time with her 3 male mages that are teaching her how to fight or at least stay a bit safer amidst all the fighting.

I loved the characters especially Tori and her three mages. Also, Zac, a Druid mystic. I hope if she writes more in this world that she uses Zac as a character. He grew more as a person? than anyone in the books, well except for Tori. Plus, I think he had a thing for Tori ultimately and he needs a good ending.

Good book/Good series! Recommended to paranormal readers.
Profile Image for Jody McGrath.
383 reviews58 followers
March 3, 2023
So Good

I was worried the ending would be as bittersweet as Harry Potter. But we finally got our HFN!! Hopefully HEA. Lol! I am reading each series as a whole instead of back and forth because I don’t want to lose my invested interest in the characters. Now to Robin’s story!!
Profile Image for Precious ✨.
670 reviews108 followers
October 3, 2020
This series is a must.

This finale has left me in a boiling pot of all sorts of emotions. I want to literally thank this author for creating this world and seeing it through. The interweaving, progression, pacing. I never thought I would read a series that had more than a few books because you know sometimes people draw things out way past it’s prime but this series, this world was (and still) executed perfectly. I’m so happy and yet silently grieving (lol) that this is the finale.

Do yourself a favor and pick this up. Immediately.
Profile Image for Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction.
1,127 reviews853 followers
May 10, 2024
05/10/2024: Reread! (Audiobook.)
12/22/2022: Reread! (Audiobook.)
06/19/2021: Reread! (Audiobook.)

I knew this book was going to be epic but I didn't know how much it would rock the ever-loving socks off my feet in the process. This book was more than I ever could have expected. I suppose that I shouldn't have been surprised. Annette Marie always outdoes herself with every book she writes and she always impresses me with her incredible stories.

One of the things that I was very impressed with was the way that the author was able to wrap up all the loose ends in the story so nicely. While the Demonized series is interconnected and still has one more book left, everything about Tori's story was concluded perfectly. These series are so intricate and interwoven. I honestly don't know how Annette Marie does it. I will forever be impressed with her ability to craft a complex story.

I love that this book felt like a real rollercoaster ride. My heart was seriously pounding throughout the entire book. Things kept happening and the reader never knew how Tori and her friends could possibly escape one situation to the next. The story really flowed well. I was totally immersed.

The characters in this series have some wonderful conclusions to their stories. My fangirling heart went into overdrive while reading this book. I love all of these characters so much and they have come to mean so much to me.

Overall, this is such a wonderful conclusion to this series. I couldn't have asked for anything better. This series has captured my heart and I am sad to see it end. I am glad that there will be more books in the Guild Codex universe to look forward to even though I know that Tori's story has come to a close. If you haven't picked up this series yet then I can't recommend it enough.

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
Profile Image for Kirsi.
559 reviews19 followers
March 22, 2023
Somebody - I can't remember who - mentioned this series at a time when I was looking for something fun and uncomplicated to balance out some heavier reads, and it really delivered on that promise. I never would have thought I'd enjoy this series as much as I did, because let's face it, the titles and covers do not exactly scream 'quality literature'. However, I can definitely recommend Annette Marie's books to people who enjoy light-hearted urban fantasy à Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews. These work perfectly as palate cleansers, or for those moments when you just want to be entertained without any extra fuss.
Profile Image for Rachelle Rachelle.
326 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2020
THIS IS TOO MUCH I CAN'T HANDLE IT

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Okay... seriously I cried on and off through this because I'm so sad to say goodbye to Tori, Ezra, Aaron, and Kai. I hope that we see them throughout other Guild Codex books because they are just the most fun. I've never wanted to be a part of a series so freakin bad before.

This was an amazing finale, though. It was everything I ever wanted from Spellbound. Tori and Ezra 4eva <3<3<3<3
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