A Witch Out of Time

The Yaga's Riders #2

by C. Rochelle

Please note: This is an RH, with multiple POV, unusual spicy smex, and a focus on romance (including MM) and body positivity. If any of those things don't work for you, please don't read it!

Four hundred years is a long time to wait for your fated mates only to have two of them cruelly ripped away.

Suddenly finding ourselves in the hands of the nefarious Facility—run by my final mate’s father—was enough to make my claws twitch under my skin. The only reason I hadn’t reduced these humans to ribbons of severed flesh was that there was information to uncover, and a swan shifter to find. Hopefully alive.

I suppose I’ll behave.

Even if we were to escape, we wouldn’t be safe. A mysterious force is destroying my forest and the veil between our world and the Nav is growing thin. My former mentor betrayed me, an enemy from my past is circling, and the god of the underworld is demanding that I return to his realm.

The past has returned with a vengeance, and I need all three Riders by my side in order to claim my power and fulfill my legacy—before we run out of time.

--

The Yaga’s Riders is based on the folklore of Baba Yaga, with creative liberties taken.

A Witch Out of Time is the second book in a steamy, paranormal romance trilogy featuring mysterious forces in magical woods, a legendary witch, and the three men destined to find her.

MMFM
Multiple POV

This series is meant for readers 18 and over.
Beware: Cliffys ahead!

Possible triggers:
Sweary dialogue
Naughty humor
Graphic sex, including kink and various edgeplay
Gore and violence
Reference to past sexual assault and pregnancy loss
General weirdness and medium-dark elements

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Why Choose, Paranormal, Magic, M M Romance, Adult

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2021

About the author

Laugh, Cry & Clench Your Thighs!

Stay connected by joining my Clubhouse of Smut on Patreon, my Little Sinners FB Group, subscribing to my newsletter, and lovingly st@lking me in all the places: https://c-rochelle.com/

C. Rochelle here! I’m a naughty but sweet, introverted, Aquarius weirdo who believes a sharp sense of humor is the sexiest trait, loves shaking my booty to Prince, and have never met a cheese I didn’t like. Oh, and I write spicy Paranormal/Sci-Fi/Monster Why Choose + MM, MFF & MMF romance with dark, naughty humor and a #loveislove mentality.

Reviews

[Al *the semi serial series skipper* · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was all about sex, little action,more sex, even more sex , some action, sex, sex , sex. I'm shocked I'm complaining because that's usually right up my alley but damn, it just went on.

This book start up from when they are separated. Vasi and Nox are at the facility, Ash is with the death lord and Tan is in the underworld.

Vasi and Nox have to escape the facility and since Vasi gets her powers charged when they have sex she finally gets to have sex with Nox, Nox our resident asshole agrees. Tan is able to astral project himself and he sees Ash, hes worried and Ash kisses him. Tan gets angry and while Ash tries to tell him something he shouts he doesn't want to hear it. Now see, I know they have a misunderstanding thing going on (which I absolutely hate at a plot) but he was worried seconds ago, if Ash is his "friend" that is not the time for him to be angry about their misunderstanding. He is trapped and doesn't know how to escape, table your drama😑.

What takes the cake is the pet names. I dont know why the author decided that these 25+ males will need their names to be desecrated like that. Why would Vasi who is centuries old want to call them "Noxy and Acey" its silly. I would have dnf is they had said Tany because it is ridiculous. I usually don't care when modern lingo is used by ancient characters but even though the guys were over the top in book 1 they still seemed mature, now they just acted like children.

I'm not reading the next book.

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this; not quite as much as the first book but it still definitely has more positives than negatives and I would recommend reading just for its totally unique subject I’ve never read a story that features this particular folklore before and I read a lot. This is definitely imaginative and original and if you like series that are steeped in mythology but then also have plenty of spice then this one’s going to be for you. I’m actually loving the distinctive style it’s written in the colourful language and insults and unusual sexual appetites (I’m talking about you Tan). This might not be for everyone but I found it refreshing.

This one definitely focuses a lot on the past and Vasilisa working through her prior issues and due to this she and her riders find themselves on a journey to retrieve something she’s lost whilst finally working through their internal strifes. Even Nox is now onboard regarding his fate and he does bring some delicious dominance to the mix that I appreciated.

So why have I only rated this one three stars well I wasn’t fully invested in that journey to the past and I found myself losing momentum and becoming disinterested. It was the very mythical vibe that wasn’t for me once we got past all that I found myself more onboard again. Overall I did like this and would recommend this series as a whole I’m interested to see what the final book brings to the mix I’m hoping for more realism and action and slightly less of the delving into the past for that but we will see. This ends on another cliff ending but the final book is available so no waiting. I’m off to read that final book.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Miakoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I'd like to state, Spartak Cake wasn't what I thought it was but then became what I thought it was. I in fact thought I was bamboozled... 💀
-
Moving past that mistake, we were sent for another roller coaster ride in this book. It continues from right where the last book ended (so don't worry).

I also want to mention, I saw some people say they were only having sex in the whole book and I'd like to know if we read the same thing becauseeeeeeeee I ain't seeing that. Rochelle's Herculeia book had wayyyyy more smut than this so let's try again. ANYWAYS!

Anyways, this book was another masterpiece, we get more details around who exactly our Baba Yaga is, her riders develop their powers even more (thank goodness) and of course our baby Tan kept the happy vibes rollllinnggggg. ❤❤❤

Truly would marry him.
I also love how well their powers were explained through out the book, even during spicy 🌶 time where the earth is literally feeding off their energy. Cotos to Rochelle for that added detail. Marena and Veles are also amoung my favorite characters like SO SASSY AND FUNNY.

I also forgot to mention...their freaking nicknames are so adorable.
Vasi's Darkest Midnight (black): Nox
Vasi's Beautiful Sun (red): Asa
Vasi's Beautiful Dawn (white): Tan

I'm so in love with them it hurts. 😩💙
Also Nox dissing himself by calling his brain a lizard one never got old. It was factual 😂.

The slight miscommunication, with Nox and Vasi choosing harsh words and violence at points really got on my last nerve.... LIKE FUCK IT OUT OR KILL EACH OTHER. JUST CHOOSE 😭😭😭

The love, reassurance and completely wholesome sweetness (except for horny Tan in some moments) really made this reading experience even better.

🖤🖤🖤🖤 Melted my black heart truly.

[𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬]

[Rhiannon Chillingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 4.5.

This is definitely one of the better RH series I have read this year. I really enjoyed the first one and the sequal lived up to the first.

I love the Russian folklore spin and the way the world was expanded by the adding in on the Gods. Vasi herself is such a stri h and amazing character.

There is something a little grating about this series though. I think it might be that the romance is quite cheesy, maybe? But it doesn't bother me massively.

I highly recommend this series to RH fans.

[Nina ~ Meleth Bookaddicted ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addictive and unique

[Bookish Barbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh gosh where do I even start.

So picking up where we were dangling over the cliff in book 1, we have Vasi and Nox taken from Tan and Asa by a couple of Nox’s fathers brutes.

What begins next is an adventure of epic proportions to reunite Vasi and her Riders.

We learn more about the Baba Yaga legend, we meet new people (some nice, some not so nice), and most importantly, we hear more from Vasi and her past.

This book will have you on a rollercoaster of emotions, from your heart hurting during Vasi’s story to panting when anyone gets anywhere near the magic va-jay-jay.

But uh uh uh, our Queen Witch, Corinne, she did it to us again. She took us right to the edge and left us hanging again!!!!

How long am I waiting for book 3?

Recommended for all the RH lovers out there who like PNR and a little bit of a legend thrown in.

[NewFriendJen · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story just keeps getting better

I love Vasi and her men so much! They are hilarious, twisted, and downright dangerous!

And the plotline?!? These twists are throwing me! I love getting shocked by a story, especially when you add in twists that affect like the entire world as you know it!

I can’t wait for more!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Even if we somehow found each other again, I’d already lost him, and that knowledge killed the last part of me that felt alive. Ace was so deeply ingrained in my being, in my daily existence, that I wondered how I could be expected to continue on as only half a person.” -Vasilisa

“If you hurt him, I will figure out a way to possess your crystal ball over there and haunt you for eternity.” -Tanner

“You keep up this merciless teasing and karma’s going to decide Veles is your father.”
“Oha! If that happens I will travel to the heavens myself and demand a refund!”-Asa&Tanner

“It was a cruel fucking joke that the one woman who had any hope of locking me down had led me to the one place I should never have gone. Veles told me the day I came back to the Nav was when our bargain would be due, but I still didn’t know what that entailed. Ever since we’d arrived, that horned fucker had simply let his promise hang in the air like an unclaimed fart, more than happy to let me sweat about it.”-Nox


This is the second book in The Yaga’s Riders trilogy. I’m going to skip the whole me telling you my own version of the synopsis to this story. Since, this is book two. Instead, I will tell you my thoughts on my journey.

In this book I traveled to the Nav, or in other words, Hell and back. I actually really enjoyed the whole underworld situation. Veles, the God of the Underworld, was one of my favorite characters.

““It’s one of my favorite pastimes, breaking someone beyond repair.”

I mean if that doesn’t explain how twisted I am to have him as a favorite character, a being that says things like that??? Then, I suppose I’m lost. And like last time, it ended off with a cliffhanger LOL So now I am forced to buy the next book.

Fair warning, this is one of those dirty birdie RH reads. It contains M/M romance and MMFM scenes that are going on, which of course is a much needed in romance.







Which makes you angry at the author who had the audacity to do such a thing, but at the same time admire her for doing so because of the writer wannabe inside me. So now I am forced to buy the next book.

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars.
Wow. Ok.
Um.
That ending is absolutely devastating.

This book had a lot of revelations and planning, but with the solutions came even more problems honestly.

Nox and Vasi finally connect.
Though it was sort of sudden and like a flip had switched and he became a different person.
I like their dynamic, but I do wish there had been more of a conversation before he just acquiesced.

We did get more of a personal connection between all 4 of them like I was asking for from the first book. I’m really happy about that.
The boys were able to Finally talk to each other properly and resolved the miscommunication that was making everyone edgy.

The sex was just as steamy and passionate and filthy as the first book.
Each of them has some kinky elements to them.
Some blood play, a hint of primal play, one of them really enjoys her unwashed, another has an ass obsession and thinks about it like cake.
Plus. Vasi is over 400 years old and does not live up to the 21st century’s beauty standards.
Girl has a full bush. And the guys tease her about it but all of them love it. Especially the one who likes her dirty.

I’m really enjoying this series so far.
The plot is still so interesting. All the side characters and little bits of folk lore and myths and gods. It’s all super interesting, plus there’s a bit of political intrigue too. It’s fascinating and really fun to try and unwind.

The characters are all coming into themselves and becoming better and better as they connect more and help each other grow and heal.

I’m really glad I picked this series up.
I’m Ecstatic that I waited for it to be finished.
Otherwise these cliffhangers would have just about broken me.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sad to write this review.

I gave this book’s predecessor a 5 star rating, having fallen in love with the characters and the world author built for us, the weaving of old myth and modern technologies. The spice was perfection, the mix of magic and possession enthralling. The story kept me hooked and sent me into book two with that cliffhanger and so I had so much hope….

I DNF this book. I found this sequel to be fast paced, and while that isn’t inherently a turn off for me, this was poorly done. The moment of Nox’ (and please, author, stop writing *Nox’s* when *Nox’* will suffice) and Vasi’s coupling, a moment that should have been climactic and important for how much author made us wait for it, was brushed over with casual disregard. It became just another sex scene in the story and this broke my heart.

I hated to put this book down when I still felt unfulfilled when it came to the plot of the story of which I felt invested in, but alas I must.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pick up right from book one, it was really interesting to see the interactions of Nox and his dad and how everything played out there. This still isn’t exactly my cup of tea but i will admit it’s very entertaining. Corrine has such a different way of incorporating spice and humor that I’ve not quite seen before. The tension between Tan and Asa is great. Asa is still my favorite. I love the idea that they have this connection and can feel each other even when they’re not touching. That’s super hot! There is a cliffhanger, so if that’s not your thing wait till the series is complete. But if you like unusual PNR and reverse harem, with humor and interesting characters this is definitely a series for you!

[Dana Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love C's filthy mind and dark sense of humor! This is the second book in The Yaga's Riders Series, and I am chomping at the bit for the next one! I love the world C has built around all the MC. I absolutely LOVE how C writes all the character's POV'S! The lores and mythology all combined to make you feel like you're right there on their journey with them. I refuse to be a spoiler of all the amazing things we learned about our beautiful witch and her gorgeous riders in this installment, but if you like the fantasy world, lots of MMFM action, witches, shifters, gods of mythology, dark humor, and a lot of action, then you need to read this series. Although I warn, if you have triggers proceed with caution. #dirtymindsunite #TheYagasRiders #CRochelle #WOOT

[Lizs.book.nook ||Elizabeth|| · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant!! The more I read, the more I fall in love with this story and these characters. I have certainly become emotionally attached and I feel what they feel as they feel it. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster…but it’s worth every second. Vasi, Nox, Asa, and Tan have completely consumed me. Their journey is one of pain, love, bravery, despair, and discovery. The bond they have formed between the four of them is beautiful and all-consuming. There is just honestly so much to love and get lost it 🖤

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more stars.

Omg... this played on my heart strings and then some. Absolutely amazing. C.Rochelle is such a talented author and this second book in the Yaga's Riders series will just blow your mind. I'm still reeling ... i can't make full sentences. Prepare for more smexy scenes and some major surprises that will have you lying on your kitchen floor in shock. I through my phone across the table.

[Nadine Bernier · Rating 5 out of 5]

She always does it!!! You will be sitting on the edge of your seat the whole time with this book by C. Rochelle!! It is filled with adventure for Vasi and her riders and the writing is so compelling you will fall within the universe and emerge only when you are out of pages... SCREAMING because OMG THAT CLIFFY!! Beautiful work again!!

[Ash - chasingwistoragic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking rude of you C Rochelle to end it like that. 😂 just freaking rude. I know you said “warning cliffhanger” but geez!!! Favorite quote:
“The three of us have so much blood on our collective hands it makes you look like a sweet little kitten in comparison.” She narrowed those gorgeous eyes of hers at me and I quickly added, “A very ferocious, stabby little kitten.”

[laurasfantasybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series.

I love the different folklore and God's and Goddesses that I've never heard of before. It makes for interesting reading. The story is really good with just enough smut but that it doesn't take away from the story either.

[Rebekah McCallie Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again 3.5. I giggled a lot at really immature sex jokes. New favorite trope may be mating to strengthen your powers.

[Sadie Forsythe]

I read the omnibus of this series and reviewed them all together. You can see that here.

[Michelle #michellebookishmeltdowns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh fuck right off, THATS how this is gonna end?!! Ahhhhh! 😩I knew there was gonna be a cliffhanger but damn !!!

I devoured this book immediately after getting sucked in from book 1 and I can’t get enough! The mystery, intrigue, and suspicious shit that has happened and is slowly starting to be revealed is simply fab! 👌🏻

And the SEX?! Can we talk about the sex scenes, cause good gods I’ve been dying allll damn night and day over these scenes and my vagina hurts from clenching so damn hard 😅

To be serious, the relationship between Asa snd Tan has been beautiful to watch along with the dynamic of the whole group. Nox is just freaking delicious, Tan is hilarious and just bursting with love, and Asa’s broken soul that is so dark and delightful combined with a bad ass witch? This book is magic 🔥

The writing and story seems effortless, the multiple POV’s are so easy to follow along with and my emotions have been all over the map on this wild ride. 🙌🏻

I could rant and rave all day about this book but some author left me hanging with a brutal cliffhanger That I gotta go immediately read book 3! 😅

[Bug · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 70%.

This was hard… I loved the first book; it was dark and gritty and the kind of reverse Haram I enjoy. I love that it wasn't based in America for once, and I got to learn all about Russian mythology.

The first book's ending left us on such a great cliff-hanger, however, half of the issues are magically solved and linked within the first few chapters of the second book. With every male drooling over the main character and then constantly just wanting to screw each other; I know, that's the style of these books, but at least the first one had some plot. Things seem to miraculously resolve themselves or the characters happen to be in the right place at the right time, and to me, it just came off as lazy writing.

[L.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so beautiful, so freaking spicy, and I cannot get enough of Vasi and her Riders!!

Taking deep breaths while I write this review. I ate this book up and loved it. How many times can I say I love a book in a review? The growth of the characters was amazing. The smexy development! Ugh, it was delicious. And being introduced to some entertaining side characters was the icing on this amazing a$$ cake.

C. Rochelle just amazes me with every release. Her writing style is beautiful, entertaining and speaks to my dark twisted soul on so many levels. I don't know how she does it but it freaking rocks my socks off every efing time.

READ THIS BOOK! READ ALL OF HER BOOKS.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

60% DNF

I’m not sure what happened. The first book was entertaining and sexy and I was excited for the second. But unfortunately everything from the plot to the sex seems rushed. Even the problems seem to resolve themselves easily. I’m sorry to say I just got bored. I’d like to say I’ll go back and finish but for now I just need to walk away.

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two starts where one ended. And Vasi is on her way to the facility her Riders use to work for….

I can’t give too much away as I hate reading spoilers myself.

But Damn!!!!

Vasi for those of you who haven’t read book one…..
STOP!!! GO BACK AND READ THAT ONE FIRST….

Vasi is Baba Yaga, the all powerful witch who liked to eat children! Friend to shifters, animals and the forests.
Cross her at your peril.
Many centuries ago she was human until fate had Vasilisa become the dreaded Baba Yaga. And for many years she’s lived a solitary life, her only friend was a swan shifter.
But now she has companions in the shape of human men!!!

There is a prophecy that claims once Baba has her three Riders, her powers and theirs will be unlimited.
But the previous Baba Yaga was killed before the old crone could impart more knowledge on how the legacy works. (And I get the feeling she didn’t want Vasi to know that part of the prophecy!)

Nox, Asa and Taneer have become her Darkest Midnight, Beautiful Sun and Brightest Dawn.
Nox is almost there, his trust in Vasi is building. But now they are being detained by his father at the facility, he’s wishing he joined with her to boost her powers and his!

There are a few twists in this book, the facility is run by Nox’s father (and he’s a twisted SOB) and he wants answers as to what powers Baba holds!!!!
This book is a much faster paced book than the first one. The first book sets scenes and world builds, this one fleshes out the story.
And your going to need a seatbelt as it’s one bumpy ride…..

And when the group are separated, they will all need to work out their pasts to move forward….
We also get more on the characters that are looking for Vasi, are their searches for personal gain or for the good of the shifter/human community?

Do Nox and Vasi get it on in this book? Do they ever 😉 and once they combine their energies, they become an unstoppable team. Then it’s onto finding the missing members of their team.

Recommend? Apart from having to wait for the next book!! Yes I’d happily recommend this book. But you definitely need to read book one first.
Full of twists and turns. Secrets and pasts are revealed. And a whole lots of action goes on….
Fights and battles, blood and plenty of gore!

Oh no!! Oh no!!! Oh not again!!! Another cliffhanger!!! And unlike the last book, I have to wait ages for the next instalment!!!

Will the group be reunited? Can Taneer and Asa work out their differences? And will Nox FINALLY admit his feelings for Vasilisa?

🦋
am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent a free book.

[BloodyKelpie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 48% because saving the world with “magic pussy” is too much idiotic to me

I’m dying really, REALLY bad to know what will happen… everything was blow to shit !!

I swallowed hard, realizing this witch could have murdered me with a claw punch to the brain similar to what she did to that svoloch guarding Anthia’s cell Vasi’s a fucking psychopath.  With a nice ass.

Damn guys Nox is so romantic with his words uh? I’m so angry with Nox’s father !!! That psycho motherfucker he wants to breed the shifters like cattle ? And he wants to use Nox like a stud ?!?!. The guy is nuts worse he thinks because of some craziness that Visi belongs to him ?! WTF the guys is absolutely undoubtedly crazy.

Sweet baby Asmodeus … the sex is great i love how primal it is, what really caught my attention is that here for the first time ! Isn’t the male the dominant at least with Tan and Asa, we have such good balance between them, now with Nox? Guys… damn it’s so fucking HOT because he’s possessive and dominant in a REALLY, REALLY primal way… it’s like when animals rut the male in the top pinning the female, and the female fighting but in the end submitting… like I said fucking HOT and primal, we can’t forget the way the four of them act with each other… it’s pure animal lust, it’s like Visi in heat and the guys are absolutely out of their minds wanting to rut with her… see ? It’s HOT.

“Why this man’s mother didn’t drown him in the river as a baby is beyond me.” I inwardly groaned at the sound of Veles’ voice permeating my semi-consciousness. If I was a god, I would be busy creating universes or blessing humans with my dick instead of acting grumpy-as-fuck all day. But, ever since I was brought to the Nav against my will, Veles had been behaving like he had a massive bug up his ass. 

Hahaha fucking hell guys I like Veles hahaha he’s such a psycho bipolar and funny God man he’s absolutely going crazy with Tan talking non stop hahaha And Rena ? She’s practically helping Tan torture Veles with socializing and guys !!! Veles even has volcanic temper tantrum’s!! Like Hades in the Disney movie Hercules.

One thing is undoubtedly bothering me, the sex is great but…saving the world with Visi “magic pussy” is too much … come on I know this book has deep old Gods culture, and everything was about fertility in that times… but damn it’s seriously idiotic is the word fucking hell this book is so good it’s really a shame the author could destroy such a goddammed interesting book …

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so excited for this series - a "why choose" with 3 men who like each other *and* Baba Yaga and dark feminine magic!!

I read the entire series in the hopes that everything would, at some point, tie together in a coherent and significant way. It did not. The characters and content deserved better.

The series felt like a story board put to words, rather than a flushed out and edited final draft. Even calling it an outline would be generous. There was too much missing content and what existed often contradicted. Things were introduced as if they were going to be significant, but then never addressed or brought up again. There seemed to be 2 completely different stories occurring with very little segueway between them and fraying string linking them together.

There was zero character development. They simply changed to match where they needed to be for the next section of the story, sometimes significantly so.

The sex was "meh", which is shocking considering there's threesomes and foursomes with two of the men engaging with each other, too. And if I never read the word pussy again, it will be too soon. The characters were always horny for each other but none of that arousal made its way to the reader.

The character concepts were actually decent and the lore and myth was unique and interesting (she pulls from Eastern European myths). I think that's why I hate this series so much. They had so much potential and I really liked them and really wanted to love the story. But it was unpolished. And the author had a little blurb in the book about how no one likes her work because it's too bold and edgy. Like, no, it's just really bad story development and lackluster sex.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was insane. I bought it on impulse because it was cheap for a trilogy and the concept of "Baba Yaga reverse harem romance" was hilarious to me and promised a silly, goofy time. I was wrong. Not that it would be a good time- it absolutely was - but because this series WRECKED ME. I cried. I screamed. I giggled and kicked my feet. I stress-sweated. I DM'd the author to tell her I hate her, then again to tell her I love her, then one final time to tell her I need a thousand more stories about these characters, please.

Definitely check the CWs at the front of the book (or of each book, if you're reading them separately); if I had gone in blind, I could see how a LOT of the content in here would have been really distressing and taken me out of the story. But since I went in prepared (one of my favourite things about C Rochelle is the care and detail with which she writes CWs), I knew what to expect (in this regard ONLY - every single other plot twist succeeded in shocking me), and was able to stay invested in the story without compromising my emotional wellbeing.

The short version of my review is: Read this. Buy the entire trilogy at once, because you won't be able to put it down anyway. Enjoy the roller coaster of love and hate for C Rochelle, and the roller coaster of Vasi, Nox, Taneer and Asa's relationships. Prepare yourself to cry profusely when its over. If you're me, you'll also fall into a rabbit hole of hyper-fixation of Slavic folklore.

This is a profound and breathtaking story of love, lust, found family, and power that can only be generated by reclaiming and rewriting the narrative of your life.

[Danyelle La Pookette · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Cliffhanger Warning! ** Oh my broomsticks! I love this book. This is still a fantasy, reverse harem romance. It has lots of plot twists, interesting characters, funny scenes, fast-paced action, some slightly dark, creepy parts, and a goodly amount of kinky stuff. So much good stuff! I'm thoroughly enjoying how the plot thickens as Vasilisa - aka Baba Yaga - Asa, Taneer, and Nox solve a few problems while more pop up.

I'm over the moon with how the cliffhanger in Book 1, Rise of the Witch, was resolved. It was more like three cliffs (or hangers?) to be climbed, so my anxiety has been assuaged. I'm also pleased with Nox's turn-around. While he is still hilariously grumpy, he's a teddy bear when he's with his people.

Still no flight with the mortar and pestle, however, the hut on its chicken legs seems to be a sweet ride. I adore the way the Yaga and Riders went through her memories on a vision quest. It's impressive how much Slavic / Russian folklore is worked into the story. I got a glimpse of the Three Kingdoms, a tour of The Nav, a couple of villages, and some different parts of Russia and Eastern Europe.

I was right about the characters having some secrets, truths, and tricks up their sleeves. So many cool tricks! The secrets were not just things the main characters hadn't told each other yet, there's stuff they didn't know about themselves.

Hardly any typos! Eta kniga ochen khoroshaya.

-Svetlana Severnaya

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gahhhh where do I even begin! I guess I’ll start here: C. Rochelle, I love you, but how dare you…How dare you piece together my heart after the events of book one only to rip it out and stomp all over it in the most brutal fashion, yet manage to leave me wanting more, more, and more. I knew going into this there would be a cliffhanger, but wow the sting still hits hard. Well done (and fair warning to my fellow readers)!

I am so thankful the vajuju-voodoo queen herself blessed me with an ARC for this amazing, gut wrenching story. Despite my book hangover and hurt feelings, I loved every single minute of this deliciously sexy, spooky, witchy masterpiece and can’t recommend it enough. Maybe part of that’s because I want everyone to be in pain with me, but it’s mostly because lovers of RH and dark fantasy reads need to know the evil-genius that is C. Rochelle.

This sequel picks up immediately following the cliffhanger of book one, quickly propelling the story forward as Vasi tries to discover how to save her forest and fulfill her destiny as Yaga. The banter between characters was engaging as usual and made me feel like I was sitting in a room with a bunch of friends. While multiple POVs can be distracting in some books, C. Rochelle does a wonderful job of keeping everything organized and easy for readers to follow.

I also loved getting POVs from the Slavic gods and goddesses involved in this retelling because not only did it expand on the lore, but showed just how much the characters’ fates have truly been intertwined. I am now desperately waiting for book three and will shout from the rooftops to anyone who wishes to listen to get behind this series. If you are a fan of retellings, RH, dark fantasy, witchy woo woo, and more, do yourself a favor and read this series.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same comment from my review of the first one: this is the sort of book (minus the RH action) that I would have gone absolutely feral over as an early teenager. Badass FMC out to save the world, with a heavy infusion of fairytale lore. Add in the adult RH spice, and it's a fun read that makes me remember why I love fantasy books so much.

In contrast to some other reviews, I actually think that I liked the first book a little better? We definitely got more into the actual evil-fighting plot here, but the first book took a lot more care with the feelings and development of the characters. We get the conclusion to Nox's resistance in this book, and then it's just the four of them head over heels in love (well, a little additional tension) and frolicking around to save the world.

I think it could have lost about 50 pages and been none the worse for wear. I also found myself incredibly annoyed with some of Tan's dialogue in this book, and the sweet goofy peacemaker is almost always my go-to fav in any RH. The author brought back that dumb "va-j-j voodoo" line or whatever, and really played up a few of his preferences. He's a grown man speaking like a teen and by the end it was just obnoxious.

Excited to read the third after the cliffhanger, and hoping for a nice happy ending with a bow to the trilogy.