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The Lost Witches of Aradia #1
The Discovered
Her magick was hidden to keep her alive. When that power is unleashed, only one witch can protect her.All Áine wants for her 22nd birthday is a night out in New York City with her normal, human friends. But when her roommate stumbles into oncoming traffic, Áine breaks the bind on her extraordinary, witch-born power to save her. With Áine’s magick now freed, her world shifts, and the voice of a male witch commands her to run.
Hunted by dark forces, Áine is taken to Aradia, the witch realm, by the mysterious and captivating witch, Daelon. A man of perfect control, Daelon needs Áine’s trust to protect her and train her to wield her magick. But Áine considers her “gift” more of a curse and wants nothing to do with the realm of her mothers’ murderers. Even worse, Daelon’s shielding ability makes him the only one impervious to her clairsentience—the ability to read others’ true nature.
As Daelon’s undeniable magnetism puts her under a spell of its own, Áine must decide how much trust and control she’s willing to relinquish. Because as enemies descend, it’s becoming harder to tell if her fierce protector is really a friend… or a foe.
For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout, The Discovered is the first book in a paranormal fantasy romance series that features dangerous, sexy romance, a mind-bending multidimensional universe, and a witchy spin on what it means to have hope in the face of sorrow and darkness, and to have faith amid cruelty and deception.
Buy The Discovered today and join Áine on her journey through Earth, Aradia, and the astral realms on her world-saving quest for love, truth, and all things magick.
Hunted by dark forces, Áine is taken to Aradia, the witch realm, by the mysterious and captivating witch, Daelon. A man of perfect control, Daelon needs Áine’s trust to protect her and train her to wield her magick. But Áine considers her “gift” more of a curse and wants nothing to do with the realm of her mothers’ murderers. Even worse, Daelon’s shielding ability makes him the only one impervious to her clairsentience—the ability to read others’ true nature.
As Daelon’s undeniable magnetism puts her under a spell of its own, Áine must decide how much trust and control she’s willing to relinquish. Because as enemies descend, it’s becoming harder to tell if her fierce protector is really a friend… or a foe.
For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout, The Discovered is the first book in a paranormal fantasy romance series that features dangerous, sexy romance, a mind-bending multidimensional universe, and a witchy spin on what it means to have hope in the face of sorrow and darkness, and to have faith amid cruelty and deception.
Buy The Discovered today and join Áine on her journey through Earth, Aradia, and the astral realms on her world-saving quest for love, truth, and all things magick.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2022
719 people are currently reading
4335 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Sunseri
13 books770 followersMaggie Sunseri is the author of fantasy romance books by day and a witch, tarot card reader, and succubus by night. She has a bachelor's degree in Anthropology/Sociology. When she’s not traveling the world, you’ll find her curled up with a good book and a hot cup of tea, pretending it’s autumn no matter the season.
Sign up for her newsletter at https://maggiesunseri.com for ARC opportunities, bonus content, and new releases, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates.
You can join her secret coven (reader group) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggi...
She also writes a Substack about spirituality, mental health, addiction, sexuality, and all things witchy and creative. https://maggiesunseri.substack.com/
Sign up for her newsletter at https://maggiesunseri.com for ARC opportunities, bonus content, and new releases, or follow her on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates.
You can join her secret coven (reader group) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggi...
She also writes a Substack about spirituality, mental health, addiction, sexuality, and all things witchy and creative. https://maggiesunseri.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 23, 2022
Two things that I love: a slow-burn romance and witchy vibes! The Discovered follows the story of Aine, an orphan witch who lives hidden in the human world, with her human friends, unaware of the danger that seeks her. She feels guilty for her mothers' deaths, and revenge is something she craves. She soon finds her life turned upside down as her magical cover is shattered and she is thrust back into the world of witches.
Tropes included: Chosen one, slow-burn enemies to lovers, softcore dom/sub dynamic *my favorite part*, LGBTQ+ rep, witchy vibes and spice!
Aine is taken by Daelon, a sexy and domineering witch who swears he has her best intentions at heart. He keeps her safe and trains her to be able to control her witch powers. I love the chemistry between them! Aine is a clairsentience, she can feel peoples auras and know their energies, except for Daelons, who seems to be hiding many dark secrets.. how far can she truly trust him?
As they spend more and more time together locked away in a isolated house, the attraction between them intensifies, as does the secrets which may just reach a breaking point...A captivating and addictive read, good thing I have the sequel already!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
Tropes included: Chosen one, slow-burn enemies to lovers, softcore dom/sub dynamic *my favorite part*, LGBTQ+ rep, witchy vibes and spice!
Aine is taken by Daelon, a sexy and domineering witch who swears he has her best intentions at heart. He keeps her safe and trains her to be able to control her witch powers. I love the chemistry between them! Aine is a clairsentience, she can feel peoples auras and know their energies, except for Daelons, who seems to be hiding many dark secrets.. how far can she truly trust him?
As they spend more and more time together locked away in a isolated house, the attraction between them intensifies, as does the secrets which may just reach a breaking point...A captivating and addictive read, good thing I have the sequel already!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
April 9, 2023
3.25⭐️
The Discovered tells us a story about a woman — Áine — who was forced to go back to the land of magic — the land where she was born. After years living in the human world, Áine had a hard time adjusting with her magic. Not only that, she wasn't sure if she could trust Daelon or not. He was her only hope for her to learn about her magic. But with each day they spend together, doubts and lusts blended together — a perfect recipe for disaster.
This book is the first book I read from Maggie Sunseri. While I have a mix feelings about this book, Maggie had done a decent job with the world building. I also enjoyed the wits that the characters have.
While I enjoyed their banters, I feel like the characters still underdeveloped, especially Áine. There are some choices she made in the book that I didn't understand. We got some actions. But I don't think it was enough to keep me on my toe, making the execution fell flat. And about half of the book, I feel like the storyline was lack 0f depth. Because of that, I sometimes felt bored while reading this book.
To summarized, this is a decent fantasy book about magic with chosen one trope, a dash of spicy scenes, a sprinkle of action. There are things that I didn't like such as underdeveloped characters and storyline. However, if you're looking for a fantasy book that's not too heavy and quick to read, this book might suits you.
The Discovered tells us a story about a woman — Áine — who was forced to go back to the land of magic — the land where she was born. After years living in the human world, Áine had a hard time adjusting with her magic. Not only that, she wasn't sure if she could trust Daelon or not. He was her only hope for her to learn about her magic. But with each day they spend together, doubts and lusts blended together — a perfect recipe for disaster.
This book is the first book I read from Maggie Sunseri. While I have a mix feelings about this book, Maggie had done a decent job with the world building. I also enjoyed the wits that the characters have.
“First of all, you are a witch. No amount of time with the humans could change that. Second, I don’t particularly trust you not to fall, and I’m not going to let you crack your skull open on my beautiful white marble floor. It would be terribly inconvenient to me.”
While I enjoyed their banters, I feel like the characters still underdeveloped, especially Áine. There are some choices she made in the book that I didn't understand. We got some actions. But I don't think it was enough to keep me on my toe, making the execution fell flat. And about half of the book, I feel like the storyline was lack 0f depth. Because of that, I sometimes felt bored while reading this book.
“I need you to know that when our little bubble here bursts, and the chips begin to fall, I will always be on your side. Always.”
To summarized, this is a decent fantasy book about magic with chosen one trope, a dash of spicy scenes, a sprinkle of action. There are things that I didn't like such as underdeveloped characters and storyline. However, if you're looking for a fantasy book that's not too heavy and quick to read, this book might suits you.
July 19, 2022
super curious about book two!
I definitely enjoyed this one! I love a good chosen one trope, and this book did not disappoint. I thought the world and magick system were really interesting. Though the story did feel slow at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book!
Super excited for book two because that cliffhanger! Omg 😱 cannot wait to find out more of the truth and see where the story goes from here!
I definitely enjoyed this one! I love a good chosen one trope, and this book did not disappoint. I thought the world and magick system were really interesting. Though the story did feel slow at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book!
Super excited for book two because that cliffhanger! Omg 😱 cannot wait to find out more of the truth and see where the story goes from here!
September 18, 2022
I don't think i've ever been so bored reading a fantasy/paranormal romance 🫣
I don't like when the main storyline hinges on how naive, and borderline stupid the female protaganist is. Aine literally got kidnapped by a random dude who told her nothing about what was going on and she just went along with it?? Which means the reader is stuck listening to a repeat of the same unanswered questions for 300 pages. I actually wanted to slap Aine.
Daelon is a walking 🚩and the author may as well have given him a t-shirt saying "Don't trust me". His only personality trait seems to be that he's dominant and i'm convinced the author was just desperately trying to spice things up with the weird dom/sub dynamic. It didn't really work and was borderline cringey.
There's no worldbuilding and the reader is left in the dark for the entirety of this book. There's no big reveal at the end and it was all too new agey for me. The "training sessions" all revolved around meditation and hypnosis and between that and Aine's random astro projection dreams the middle was mind numbingly boring 🫣
I liked the beginning and the end was ok, if predictable, but I have no intention of reading more of this rubbish!
I don't like when the main storyline hinges on how naive, and borderline stupid the female protaganist is. Aine literally got kidnapped by a random dude who told her nothing about what was going on and she just went along with it?? Which means the reader is stuck listening to a repeat of the same unanswered questions for 300 pages. I actually wanted to slap Aine.
Daelon is a walking 🚩and the author may as well have given him a t-shirt saying "Don't trust me". His only personality trait seems to be that he's dominant and i'm convinced the author was just desperately trying to spice things up with the weird dom/sub dynamic. It didn't really work and was borderline cringey.
There's no worldbuilding and the reader is left in the dark for the entirety of this book. There's no big reveal at the end and it was all too new agey for me. The "training sessions" all revolved around meditation and hypnosis and between that and Aine's random astro projection dreams the middle was mind numbingly boring 🫣
I liked the beginning and the end was ok, if predictable, but I have no intention of reading more of this rubbish!
November 27, 2023
I couldn’t get into it, insta love and Stockholm syndrome. DNF @38%
July 26, 2022
The Discovered was so very magical and the pages absolutely flew by!! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and all its mystical, ethereal vibes.
My favorite aspect was the slowburn build of lust, trust, and more between Áine and Daelon. As a smut reader, when I heard that the romance in this book was more softcore dom/sub dynamic, I wasn't sure if it would be my cup of tea, but it turns out I freaking adored it!! Their strangers-to-friends-to-lovers-to-enemies relationship was so engrossing; my heart was utterly taken with their bond from the very start.
The vast majority of the narrative centers on just Daelon and Áine, as he mentors and trains her to realize her full magical potential. It reminded me of FBAA, where most of the action and dialogue is focused on the FMC and the love interest, which is one of my FAVORITE plot structures/styles in this genre.
I found myself totally fascinated with Áine, an energy reader who isn't afraid to express herself and be true to her deeply felt emotions. She experiences the full scope of her powers through astral projections and things of the like which help her understand her mothers' untimely, tragic deaths and other mysterious facets of her past.
In short, I was riveted, and I think it was largely due to the super compelling writing style of this author! I’ll definitely be reading the full series and highly recommend to fellow lovers of witchy romantasy!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
My favorite aspect was the slowburn build of lust, trust, and more between Áine and Daelon. As a smut reader, when I heard that the romance in this book was more softcore dom/sub dynamic, I wasn't sure if it would be my cup of tea, but it turns out I freaking adored it!! Their strangers-to-friends-to-lovers-to-enemies relationship was so engrossing; my heart was utterly taken with their bond from the very start.
The vast majority of the narrative centers on just Daelon and Áine, as he mentors and trains her to realize her full magical potential. It reminded me of FBAA, where most of the action and dialogue is focused on the FMC and the love interest, which is one of my FAVORITE plot structures/styles in this genre.
I found myself totally fascinated with Áine, an energy reader who isn't afraid to express herself and be true to her deeply felt emotions. She experiences the full scope of her powers through astral projections and things of the like which help her understand her mothers' untimely, tragic deaths and other mysterious facets of her past.
In short, I was riveted, and I think it was largely due to the super compelling writing style of this author! I’ll definitely be reading the full series and highly recommend to fellow lovers of witchy romantasy!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
December 14, 2025
Dnf 21%.
The story and characters weren’t very captivating. No vibes detected. I realized I was almost a quarter through and nothing had happened, the world remained pretty small. It felt like a low budget tv movie: weak story, characters, and world building. The audiobook narrator did not do the book any favours, arguably, she made it worse - weak “acting” - maybe she couldn’t get into the story either.
The story and characters weren’t very captivating. No vibes detected. I realized I was almost a quarter through and nothing had happened, the world remained pretty small. It felt like a low budget tv movie: weak story, characters, and world building. The audiobook narrator did not do the book any favours, arguably, she made it worse - weak “acting” - maybe she couldn’t get into the story either.
July 15, 2022
Bored to 😢
I made it to 40% and that is as far as I could go. I was bored to tears. It's been a while since I stopped reading a book. But nothing of note happened. Nothing!!!
I mean it started off at a decent pace, until she left the earth realm and then it just stayed there and died forever....!
And daelon, dear lord It's like he's got split personalities or something. I hated his character. I didn't like aine either. This was just boring beyond belief.
This is my first and last read by this author.
I made it to 40% and that is as far as I could go. I was bored to tears. It's been a while since I stopped reading a book. But nothing of note happened. Nothing!!!
I mean it started off at a decent pace, until she left the earth realm and then it just stayed there and died forever....!
And daelon, dear lord It's like he's got split personalities or something. I hated his character. I didn't like aine either. This was just boring beyond belief.
This is my first and last read by this author.
March 9, 2023
Heh, one of the few books I DNFed. It was just so repetitive. Main character just kept thinking and thinking and thinking same things over and over and over again.
Also many situations were only slightly different, like her nightmares. And the dynamic between main characters started as okay (even though a bit rushed and out of the blue feelings) but moved to absolutely cringey…
So yeah, couldn’t force myself through it :(
Also many situations were only slightly different, like her nightmares. And the dynamic between main characters started as okay (even though a bit rushed and out of the blue feelings) but moved to absolutely cringey…
So yeah, couldn’t force myself through it :(
April 14, 2024
J’ai adoré l’ambiance et l’univers, mais un peu moins le huis clos et les mystères qui entourent Daelon, le sorcier qui emmène notre héroïne avec lui sous prétexte de l’aider.
Áine est une jeune sorcière qui se cache dans le monde des humains depuis toujours. Elle ne sait pas vraiment pourquoi. Beaucoup de zones d’ombres persistent et on n’en sait pas plus à la fin de ce premier tome à son sujet. Après avoir rompu le sceau de sa magie pour sauver une de ses amies, elle est emmenée par un homme inconnu dans un endroit hors de la Terre, Aradia. Il s’appelle Daelon et se présente à elle comme son protecteur. Il va lui apprendre à mieux maitriser sa magie pour qu’elle puisse affronter un terrible ennemi.
J’aurais pu aimer ce premier tome, mais j’en ressors plutôt mitigée. Surtout parce que tout reste en surface. Déjà, Daelon refuse de dire quoi que ce soit à Áine. Elle a beau le confronter, le sorcier se braque. On a là un mâle alpha dans toute sa splendeur.De fait, j’ai eu beaucoup de mal à m’attacher à lui ou à l’apprécier. Il fait tout pour conserver ses secrets et balade notre héroïne. Je n’en veux pas à Áine qui essaie de comprendre ce qu’elle fait avec lui et pourquoi il persiste à vouloir lui enseigner à se battre et se défendre. Du coup, la romance qui s’installe entre les deux ne m’a pas paru très crédible… Je ne voyais pas ce qu’il y avait d’attrayant à être attiré par un homme qui vous cache tout et vous traite comme une enfant.
De fait, il y a peu d’action, on est dans un vrai huis clos qui m’a parfois un peu ennuyée. J’aurais aimé en apprendre plus sur les origines de notre héroïne ou encore sur le fil conducteur de cette intrigue. Tout est mis en sourdine pour donner un effet anxiogène et la frustration de ne rien saisir est grande. Même quand tout s’emballe dans le dernier quart ! On a quelques rebondissements et franchement, le twist de fin ne m’a pas plus étonnée que ça.
Même si je ressors mitigée de cette lecture, c’est un premier tome et je pense qu’il faut laisser l’histoire s’installer. J’espère qu’on en saura plus avec la suite. Sur qui est cet ennemi et pourquoi il veut Áine à ses côtés à tout prix. Et surtout, j’aimerais savoir (elle aussi je pense) pourquoi elle est si importante.
Ce début est donc sous le signe d’une intense frustration : je veux savoir et comprendre !
Áine est une jeune sorcière qui se cache dans le monde des humains depuis toujours. Elle ne sait pas vraiment pourquoi. Beaucoup de zones d’ombres persistent et on n’en sait pas plus à la fin de ce premier tome à son sujet. Après avoir rompu le sceau de sa magie pour sauver une de ses amies, elle est emmenée par un homme inconnu dans un endroit hors de la Terre, Aradia. Il s’appelle Daelon et se présente à elle comme son protecteur. Il va lui apprendre à mieux maitriser sa magie pour qu’elle puisse affronter un terrible ennemi.
J’aurais pu aimer ce premier tome, mais j’en ressors plutôt mitigée. Surtout parce que tout reste en surface. Déjà, Daelon refuse de dire quoi que ce soit à Áine. Elle a beau le confronter, le sorcier se braque. On a là un mâle alpha dans toute sa splendeur.De fait, j’ai eu beaucoup de mal à m’attacher à lui ou à l’apprécier. Il fait tout pour conserver ses secrets et balade notre héroïne. Je n’en veux pas à Áine qui essaie de comprendre ce qu’elle fait avec lui et pourquoi il persiste à vouloir lui enseigner à se battre et se défendre. Du coup, la romance qui s’installe entre les deux ne m’a pas paru très crédible… Je ne voyais pas ce qu’il y avait d’attrayant à être attiré par un homme qui vous cache tout et vous traite comme une enfant.
De fait, il y a peu d’action, on est dans un vrai huis clos qui m’a parfois un peu ennuyée. J’aurais aimé en apprendre plus sur les origines de notre héroïne ou encore sur le fil conducteur de cette intrigue. Tout est mis en sourdine pour donner un effet anxiogène et la frustration de ne rien saisir est grande. Même quand tout s’emballe dans le dernier quart ! On a quelques rebondissements et franchement, le twist de fin ne m’a pas plus étonnée que ça.
Même si je ressors mitigée de cette lecture, c’est un premier tome et je pense qu’il faut laisser l’histoire s’installer. J’espère qu’on en saura plus avec la suite. Sur qui est cet ennemi et pourquoi il veut Áine à ses côtés à tout prix. Et surtout, j’aimerais savoir (elle aussi je pense) pourquoi elle est si importante.
Ce début est donc sous le signe d’une intense frustration : je veux savoir et comprendre !
July 19, 2022
I found a new witchy read for everyone to add to their TBRs!
The Discovered is the first in The Lost Witches series, a New Adult Fantasy Romance series that reads like something new and at the same time made me nostalgic. From the first chapter—perhaps because of the setting, or the vibe—I felt the same thrill I did when first reading City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The stories couldn’t be more different, but the feeling had me believing I would enjoy this book all the way through. And enjoy it I did!
From the very beginning you know that there’s something special about Áine. You start piecing together that she’s hiding, and that there’s more to her powers than what you initially see. And as it will turn out, there is, and a big part of this first installment is her discovering the depth of her powers and learning to use them also thanks to the help of the mysterious Daelon. I absolutely LOVED his character from the very first moment we see him. He literally swoops into the scene to save the day, and from that moment on I adored his teacher/mentor super intense dynamic with Áine. Daelon has a sort of soft dom vibe, if you get what I mean. (On that note, there are steamy scenes, but they’re not overtly descriptive, so this book is perfect for those readers who are transitioning into the New Adult genre.) I was especially a fan of the final plot twist, which teases even bigger things to come for these two. Or at least I hope!
I do wish there had been a bit less training scenes. While it was important for us to see Áine understand her powers, I feel like too many slow down the pace. I would have preferred to have some of them showed to us in a few paragraphs and jump to the next point in the plot rather than see so many of them play out.
This was a solid series opener, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series! Book 4 recently came out, and book 5 is coming in autumn!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
The Discovered is the first in The Lost Witches series, a New Adult Fantasy Romance series that reads like something new and at the same time made me nostalgic. From the first chapter—perhaps because of the setting, or the vibe—I felt the same thrill I did when first reading City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The stories couldn’t be more different, but the feeling had me believing I would enjoy this book all the way through. And enjoy it I did!
From the very beginning you know that there’s something special about Áine. You start piecing together that she’s hiding, and that there’s more to her powers than what you initially see. And as it will turn out, there is, and a big part of this first installment is her discovering the depth of her powers and learning to use them also thanks to the help of the mysterious Daelon. I absolutely LOVED his character from the very first moment we see him. He literally swoops into the scene to save the day, and from that moment on I adored his teacher/mentor super intense dynamic with Áine. Daelon has a sort of soft dom vibe, if you get what I mean. (On that note, there are steamy scenes, but they’re not overtly descriptive, so this book is perfect for those readers who are transitioning into the New Adult genre.) I was especially a fan of the final plot twist, which teases even bigger things to come for these two. Or at least I hope!
I do wish there had been a bit less training scenes. While it was important for us to see Áine understand her powers, I feel like too many slow down the pace. I would have preferred to have some of them showed to us in a few paragraphs and jump to the next point in the plot rather than see so many of them play out.
This was a solid series opener, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series! Book 4 recently came out, and book 5 is coming in autumn!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
July 19, 2022
If you’re ready to dive into your witch aesthetic, THE DISCOVERED is the book for you! This story will definitely appeal to fans of the chosen one trope, and it’s perfect for readers starting to venture into the New Adult romance genre, as the mature content toes the adult line without getting overtly explicit.
One of the first things I appreciated about this read was its inclusivity. Áine has two moms, and sources (the author) tell me there’s more queer characters coming as the series progresses, so I’m extremely excited about that! Áine was a relatable protagonist, and I really liked how humble she remained throughout the story, despite learning of her great power. This takes up the bulk of the story, and I think the author did a great job at weaving the mystery of Áine powers and her purpose. I could have done with less training scenes, as I found they slowed down the pacing, but overall the learning process was insightful.
Me being me, my favorite part was definitely the romance. I loved the banter between Daelon and Áine from their first interactions and their teacher/mentor dynamic. Also, Daelon has a soft dom vibe that I am 100% here for! What we see in The Discovered, however, is just a starting point. The ending provides a very interesting twist, one I know for a fact many readers will enjoy because it’s everyone’s favorite trope. Everyone’s. And I admit to a little curiosity about our villain as well. I mean…dark hair, blue eyes… Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
One of the first things I appreciated about this read was its inclusivity. Áine has two moms, and sources (the author) tell me there’s more queer characters coming as the series progresses, so I’m extremely excited about that! Áine was a relatable protagonist, and I really liked how humble she remained throughout the story, despite learning of her great power. This takes up the bulk of the story, and I think the author did a great job at weaving the mystery of Áine powers and her purpose. I could have done with less training scenes, as I found they slowed down the pacing, but overall the learning process was insightful.
Me being me, my favorite part was definitely the romance. I loved the banter between Daelon and Áine from their first interactions and their teacher/mentor dynamic. Also, Daelon has a soft dom vibe that I am 100% here for! What we see in The Discovered, however, is just a starting point. The ending provides a very interesting twist, one I know for a fact many readers will enjoy because it’s everyone’s favorite trope. Everyone’s. And I admit to a little curiosity about our villain as well. I mean…dark hair, blue eyes… Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2022
Loved the start of this story! The chosen one trope is one of my favs. I loved the queer representation factor in the book. This story is perfect for fantasy lovers and can we just talk about how awesome witchy reads are. If you’re looking to pile up your autumn tbr here it is.
Loved the descriptions and world building. Im always up for a good banter between the love interest and the MC… Aine’s character was definitely one I see growing into this badass person, her empathetic and selfless ways just makes her super likable, but this doesn’t mean that she’s a fool. We definitely see growth.
I can’t wait to see more in the next books! Autumn is just around the corner and this series calls my name!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me the books. All opinions are my own.
Loved the descriptions and world building. Im always up for a good banter between the love interest and the MC… Aine’s character was definitely one I see growing into this badass person, her empathetic and selfless ways just makes her super likable, but this doesn’t mean that she’s a fool. We definitely see growth.
I can’t wait to see more in the next books! Autumn is just around the corner and this series calls my name!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me the books. All opinions are my own.
August 28, 2022
Still obsessing over this book! The Discovered is the perfect book if you like all things witchy and romantic. It’s the story of 22 year old Áine who was hidden in the human world until she is ready to discover her true self and purpose. When she’s saved by Daelon, her mysterious witch protector, and brought back to the witch realm, she begins her journey to discovering who she really is.
This is such a good book, I literally could not put it down. It has the witchy aesthetic that Maggie Senseri delivers so perfectly, along with a slow burn romance and paranormal fantasy. I loved everything about this book! The relationship development between Áine and Daelon is spicy and endearing. And the world building is just mesmerizing. The ending does leave you on a MAJOR cliff hanger so be ready to get the second book asap. This is the first book in the series, but I would say it’s definitely worth it and leaves you wanting more!
This is such a good book, I literally could not put it down. It has the witchy aesthetic that Maggie Senseri delivers so perfectly, along with a slow burn romance and paranormal fantasy. I loved everything about this book! The relationship development between Áine and Daelon is spicy and endearing. And the world building is just mesmerizing. The ending does leave you on a MAJOR cliff hanger so be ready to get the second book asap. This is the first book in the series, but I would say it’s definitely worth it and leaves you wanting more!
January 8, 2022
(4.5) A fantasy adventure with romance, twists, lies, deception and a whole new world to explore with a witty, sarcastic witch with enormous power. This is book 1 in a trilogy - not a conclusions, this is meeting Aine, getting to know and love her, following her struggles and growth in the world of Arcadia and her romance with Daelon. I have to say I had an inkling of where it was going and so I had a hard time finishing, because I didn't want it to go down that road. Even so there were more twists in this fantastic new world. Thank you so much for the arc! I freely share my thoughts and opinions.
July 22, 2022
If you are a fan of witches, romances, queer characters, and the chosen one trope, then you will definitely enjoy The Discovered by Maggie Sunseri. I thought the book was interesting and the world she created was well developed. The series has great potential.
March 7, 2023
Ho comprato questo titolo d’impulso dopo aver visto qualche reel su IG. È un libro noioso. Succedono “cose” nel primo capitolo e poi dopo l’80% del libro. Solito finale non finale per indurti a leggere il secondo capitolo della saga ma non ne vale la pena.
July 25, 2025
2.5 stars . Just ok but will keep trudging along thru the next book. Definitely not the worst I’ve ever read, but so far below the best as well. If you skip it, you’ve missed nothing.
June 11, 2022
I devoured this book. This is an underrated gem.
The mystery. The frustration. The spice. The twists.
I am going straight to book 2!
The mystery. The frustration. The spice. The twists.
I am going straight to book 2!
April 3, 2022
I devoured this book in a day. I love the magic system and the initial storyline. The slow burn tension between the two characters is off the charts and I felt fully immersed in the world building. Very eager to start book 2 and see where this story leads!
January 5, 2022
I was introduced to Maggie Sunseri’s work through her mother Heather Sunseri’s books. And I’m so so glad! I loved Áine and Daelon’s story so far. It was so frustrating as a reader being kept in the dark as Áine was, but that added to the experience so much once more and more started to be revealed. If you like magic, romance, adventure, mystery and a strong female lead, you will like this book. I can’t wait for the others to come out.
April 7, 2022
What can I say? These books are phenomenal especially if you love witchy books. It was nice that they were adult books instead of the YA I typically read. I was shocked by the adult content initially, but it just made the stories better. 😉
The world building is consuming. The characters are amazing and have great depth. I started the second book immediately.
The world building is consuming. The characters are amazing and have great depth. I started the second book immediately.
August 3, 2024
If I could describe this book with one word it would be: predictable.
The FMC is dumb as rocks that she didn’t see that coming. The story is a good story but it’s not executed well. I knew sooo early on in the story that daelon would betray her.
Also she has this super powerful magic. and he won’t answer her questions and she just takes it? Like “okay daelon” it made no sense. Again, she’s so dumb that she didn’t figure out that he was working for the king.
It made the story as a whole pretty boring. That betrayal could have been soo good if the readers had no idea it was coming, the author really messed that up.
The banter is really cute and fun, and I actually really liked Daelon.
Overall this is a good YA/NA witch book that’s very surface level emotionally. Like it’s good. But did I feel anything while reading it? No.
Spice frequency 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Smutiness of said spicy scenes 🌶️
The FMC is dumb as rocks that she didn’t see that coming. The story is a good story but it’s not executed well. I knew sooo early on in the story that daelon would betray her.
Also she has this super powerful magic. and he won’t answer her questions and she just takes it? Like “okay daelon” it made no sense. Again, she’s so dumb that she didn’t figure out that he was working for the king.
It made the story as a whole pretty boring. That betrayal could have been soo good if the readers had no idea it was coming, the author really messed that up.
The banter is really cute and fun, and I actually really liked Daelon.
Overall this is a good YA/NA witch book that’s very surface level emotionally. Like it’s good. But did I feel anything while reading it? No.
Spice frequency 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Smutiness of said spicy scenes 🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
interesting concept but unfulfilled potential
2.5 stars
The premise of this book offers to be a mystical, mysterious start to a series. Unfortunately, it feels really drawn out, like the entire book feels like the middle of a book. There was too much time spent with the oooh I can’t tell you basic facts, and the FMC is just so in the dark for so long despite having insane powers. Also there’s no world building. It’s an alternate realm of witches that say they are distinct from humans on Earth, but the entirety of the book takes place in a modern, familiar house. The MMC doesn’t know human Earth cultural references or words, like kinky lol, but he said he’s gone to the human realm before and seemed to understand the term “Stockholm syndrome” enough to be offended by it. There’s focus on a beach that is kind of otherworldly and a castle that would be somewhat anachronistic in our world, but otherwise the reader is as clueless as Aine is about this realm. There’s a way to world-build, give texture and uniqueness to the realm, without giving up the mystery around the main character. I was drawn to read this specifically because of the idea of a witch realm, and I’m just sort of bummed and disappointed.
Aine and Daelon (which just sounds like fancy Dylan in my head) have a weird version of instalove, where it’s not really instant but it’s still weirdly empty. They say they feel an instinctive draw to each other and a sense of home in the other person, but that is particularly odd because Aine’s lack of a home is kind of the crux of her character’s issues- how can he remind her of a home that the reader has no strong understanding of? The home with her mothers in childhood, or the home she found with her friends in NYC? Or a home yet to exist? But their relationship got so repetitive. So much of the book was the same argument over and over- he keeps her in the dark, one/both lash out, she reminds herself that she trusts him based on a gut feeling, they bang (and in a weird half-explicit-half-vague kind of depiction), and start over.
By the time the book ends, revealing the twist that was pretty clear for many chapters by that point, I felt unbalanced. The book ends basically at the traditional midpoint twist plot point. A lot of the repetitive stuff could have been cut, put into a montage, to build out/fix the pacing. Overall, it really could have done with a story editor, or someone to help identify the these aspects that just don’t sit right, ultimately limiting how awesome this concept could be.
2.5 stars
The premise of this book offers to be a mystical, mysterious start to a series. Unfortunately, it feels really drawn out, like the entire book feels like the middle of a book. There was too much time spent with the oooh I can’t tell you basic facts, and the FMC is just so in the dark for so long despite having insane powers. Also there’s no world building. It’s an alternate realm of witches that say they are distinct from humans on Earth, but the entirety of the book takes place in a modern, familiar house. The MMC doesn’t know human Earth cultural references or words, like kinky lol, but he said he’s gone to the human realm before and seemed to understand the term “Stockholm syndrome” enough to be offended by it. There’s focus on a beach that is kind of otherworldly and a castle that would be somewhat anachronistic in our world, but otherwise the reader is as clueless as Aine is about this realm. There’s a way to world-build, give texture and uniqueness to the realm, without giving up the mystery around the main character. I was drawn to read this specifically because of the idea of a witch realm, and I’m just sort of bummed and disappointed.
Aine and Daelon (which just sounds like fancy Dylan in my head) have a weird version of instalove, where it’s not really instant but it’s still weirdly empty. They say they feel an instinctive draw to each other and a sense of home in the other person, but that is particularly odd because Aine’s lack of a home is kind of the crux of her character’s issues- how can he remind her of a home that the reader has no strong understanding of? The home with her mothers in childhood, or the home she found with her friends in NYC? Or a home yet to exist? But their relationship got so repetitive. So much of the book was the same argument over and over- he keeps her in the dark, one/both lash out, she reminds herself that she trusts him based on a gut feeling, they bang (and in a weird half-explicit-half-vague kind of depiction), and start over.
By the time the book ends, revealing the twist that was pretty clear for many chapters by that point, I felt unbalanced. The book ends basically at the traditional midpoint twist plot point. A lot of the repetitive stuff could have been cut, put into a montage, to build out/fix the pacing. Overall, it really could have done with a story editor, or someone to help identify the these aspects that just don’t sit right, ultimately limiting how awesome this concept could be.
January 16, 2022
The Discovered: The Lost Witches of Aradia, Book 1 is a fantasy romance novel featuring a female lead with a pivotal role in saving her newly found world of Aradia from dark forces intent on defeating her. As a debut novel by Maggie Sunseri, the author does a good job of creating an interesting fantasy world and of keeping the story moving. Ms. Sunseri introduces the reader to this fantastical world and the powers that exist within, revealing the forces, players, and conflict through the education of her lead character in the ways of her new home.
The story moves smoothly enough and is fairly well written, especially for a debut novel. I enjoyed the story line and felt there was a very good effort to establish the individual portrait of each main character. Likely because this is the first novel in a trilogy, I felt the characters remained a bit undeveloped. As a result, I did not always understand the behaviour of the protagonist, Áine. I am hoping that the second novel in the trilogy allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the protagonist.
The story is definitely intriguing with lots left to be revealed in the subsequent novels. Again, likely because it is the first of a series, I felt frustrated at times by information not yet revealed. Just as Áine is frustrated by her struggles to learn who she is, so is the reader, at times.
Overall, Ms. Sunseri has offered up a debut novel, first in a trilogy, that has a plot that is novel enough to be intriguing, has characters that are developed enough to be interesting, and is well written enough to keep me wanting to read more. I will be interested in reading the second novel in her trilogy. I would recommend this novel to others who enjoy fantasy stories.
The story moves smoothly enough and is fairly well written, especially for a debut novel. I enjoyed the story line and felt there was a very good effort to establish the individual portrait of each main character. Likely because this is the first novel in a trilogy, I felt the characters remained a bit undeveloped. As a result, I did not always understand the behaviour of the protagonist, Áine. I am hoping that the second novel in the trilogy allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the protagonist.
The story is definitely intriguing with lots left to be revealed in the subsequent novels. Again, likely because it is the first of a series, I felt frustrated at times by information not yet revealed. Just as Áine is frustrated by her struggles to learn who she is, so is the reader, at times.
Overall, Ms. Sunseri has offered up a debut novel, first in a trilogy, that has a plot that is novel enough to be intriguing, has characters that are developed enough to be interesting, and is well written enough to keep me wanting to read more. I will be interested in reading the second novel in her trilogy. I would recommend this novel to others who enjoy fantasy stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2024
I will read anything Maggie Sunseri writes. After reading Stalked by Seduction and Shadows and Taken by Touch and Torment, I knew I immediately had to read her Lost Witches of Aradia series. Book 1 is dialogue heavy and not “too” much happens but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Áine and Daelon’s budding romance has me swooning. It’s giving me Max and Tisaanah vibes from the War of Lost Hearts which is one of my favorite series! I’m really enjoying the witchy magic system and the world Maggie is building. I may or may not have bought the remaining 6 books immediately after reading this one! 😅
If you like witches, forced proximity, and a completed series, then you need to read this series with me immediately!
Áine and Daelon’s budding romance has me swooning. It’s giving me Max and Tisaanah vibes from the War of Lost Hearts which is one of my favorite series! I’m really enjoying the witchy magic system and the world Maggie is building. I may or may not have bought the remaining 6 books immediately after reading this one! 😅
If you like witches, forced proximity, and a completed series, then you need to read this series with me immediately!
December 29, 2023
This book was difficult to get through. The end was very exciting, but getting there was a slog. I feel like I could have easily skipped most of the middle of the book and I wouldn't have missed much. Also, the big "reveal" at the end was painfully obvious. But, I think the thing that frustrated me the most about the book was that we were told that Daelon was domineering and hot and cold and however else he was described, but he wasn't actually written that way. He wasn't written well enough to really show any personality, so we just had to take Aine's word for it. It was a huge disconnect.
June 22, 2022
Eh.....
Well, good plot, great storyline and writing. I absolutely hated the dom/sub relationship between the two main characters in the book. Hence, I will not be reading the rest of the series.
Well, good plot, great storyline and writing. I absolutely hated the dom/sub relationship between the two main characters in the book. Hence, I will not be reading the rest of the series.
April 17, 2024
🌊❄️🕯️| Les Sorcières Perdues d'Aradia, T.1 : Cœur de Sorcière - Maggie Sunseri
[Note : 3,5/5⭐]
J'adresse tout d'abord un grand merci à @editions_bookmark et @netgalleyfrance pour l'envoi de ce service de presse, qui a été une lecture plutôt sympathique !
C'était relativement addictif, avec un très bon potentiel, qui n'a malheureusement pas été exploité à 100%. La base est bonne, il y avait matière à faire quelque chose de très cool, mais la plupart des aspects du roman ne sont qu'à peine creusés ou expliqués, que ce soit l'univers, les personnages ou même les enjeux de toute cette histoire. Le personnage masculin est au courant mais nous laisse dans le flou, on met un moment pour ne serait-ce qu'apprendre qui est l'ennemi qu'Áine est supposée affronter et ne sait pas non plus grand-chose sur lui. Nous n'avons pas d'explications sur les motivations de ce dernier, pourquoi Áine l'intéresse, comment il en est arrivé là, ect. Techniquement, ça rajoute de la tension au récit, mais j'aurais tout de même aimé avoir quelques réponses. L'autrice nous plonge dans une espèce de huis clos qui aurait été intéressant si les persos avaient été vraiment développés (ou même, si ça n'avait pas été le cas, ça aurait pu être l'occasion de le faire). La romance arrive assez vite, trop selon mes goûts, d'autant plus si on prend en compte le fait que Daelon cache beaucoup de choses à Áine et que celle-ci n'a pas l'habitude d'apprendre à faire confiance sans ses pouvoirs, je me serais attendue à ce qu'elle émette plus de réserves le concernant. Leur relation aborde le thème de dominant/soumise, ce trope n'étant pas ma tasse de thé, je n'ai pas trop adhéré à cette facette du livre. Le plot-twist de fin s'est de son côté révélé relativement prévisible. Ceci dit, Cœur de Sorcière n'est pas un mauvais roman, il se lis même assez bien, comme dit plus haut il aurait surtout mérité d'être plus développé.
Je ne saurais trop quoi dire sur Áine et Daelon, ils ne m'ont pas déplut mais je n'en sais pas suffisamment sur eux pour avoir un avis constructif à leur sujet.
Points + : Du potentiel, une bonne idée de base, la couverture
Points - : Un manque d'approfondissement sur pas mal de sujets
[Chronique aussi disponible sur Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/C50wKqOoTSe/ ]
[Note : 3,5/5⭐]
J'adresse tout d'abord un grand merci à @editions_bookmark et @netgalleyfrance pour l'envoi de ce service de presse, qui a été une lecture plutôt sympathique !
C'était relativement addictif, avec un très bon potentiel, qui n'a malheureusement pas été exploité à 100%. La base est bonne, il y avait matière à faire quelque chose de très cool, mais la plupart des aspects du roman ne sont qu'à peine creusés ou expliqués, que ce soit l'univers, les personnages ou même les enjeux de toute cette histoire. Le personnage masculin est au courant mais nous laisse dans le flou, on met un moment pour ne serait-ce qu'apprendre qui est l'ennemi qu'Áine est supposée affronter et ne sait pas non plus grand-chose sur lui. Nous n'avons pas d'explications sur les motivations de ce dernier, pourquoi Áine l'intéresse, comment il en est arrivé là, ect. Techniquement, ça rajoute de la tension au récit, mais j'aurais tout de même aimé avoir quelques réponses. L'autrice nous plonge dans une espèce de huis clos qui aurait été intéressant si les persos avaient été vraiment développés (ou même, si ça n'avait pas été le cas, ça aurait pu être l'occasion de le faire). La romance arrive assez vite, trop selon mes goûts, d'autant plus si on prend en compte le fait que Daelon cache beaucoup de choses à Áine et que celle-ci n'a pas l'habitude d'apprendre à faire confiance sans ses pouvoirs, je me serais attendue à ce qu'elle émette plus de réserves le concernant. Leur relation aborde le thème de dominant/soumise, ce trope n'étant pas ma tasse de thé, je n'ai pas trop adhéré à cette facette du livre. Le plot-twist de fin s'est de son côté révélé relativement prévisible. Ceci dit, Cœur de Sorcière n'est pas un mauvais roman, il se lis même assez bien, comme dit plus haut il aurait surtout mérité d'être plus développé.
Je ne saurais trop quoi dire sur Áine et Daelon, ils ne m'ont pas déplut mais je n'en sais pas suffisamment sur eux pour avoir un avis constructif à leur sujet.
Points + : Du potentiel, une bonne idée de base, la couverture
Points - : Un manque d'approfondissement sur pas mal de sujets
[Chronique aussi disponible sur Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/C50wKqOoTSe/ ]
November 2, 2024
4/10 ⭐️
At only 22, Áine knows she's different, after her moms died to protect her, giving her a bracelet to "dull out" her gift. At her birthday party, in order to save a friend, Áine is forced to remove her bracelet and unleash her power, attracting all kinds of dangers she was previously shielded from.
As she is now free to use her power, a male voice in her head begins to guide her and help her on her path. At the same time, Daelon, a male witch, appears out of nowhere, promising to be there to help her as his life purpose.
Áine is led to the kingdom of Aradia, where she realizes a power-hungry political war is ongoing, making Lucius the reigning king (not exactly the rightful one).
As the books evolve, it becomes obvious who the voice in Áines head belongs to, who her mothers were, who Daelon is and why everyone either sacrificed or is risking for her. As for Áine,
she develops an obvious relationship with Daelon and a not so obvious, totally weird relationship with someone else.
The battle for the kingdom continues, and the community of remaining witches sides either with Áine or Lucius in a rebellion.
Seven books are not necessary, the plot would fit in three at most.
We get the romance, we get the smut, we get the magic universe plot building... but what we also get is so many filler chapters. Sincerely, the last three chapters of each book sum up the juice of the advancing plot for that book.
Other than that, I have to praise the author for not filling the book with explicit smut in every chapter (it does have a bit in each book, but nothing shocking or exaggerated).
It gets tiring and dull, and by the last two books, I almost DNF’d, but I was curious about the ending.
At only 22, Áine knows she's different, after her moms died to protect her, giving her a bracelet to "dull out" her gift. At her birthday party, in order to save a friend, Áine is forced to remove her bracelet and unleash her power, attracting all kinds of dangers she was previously shielded from.
As she is now free to use her power, a male voice in her head begins to guide her and help her on her path. At the same time, Daelon, a male witch, appears out of nowhere, promising to be there to help her as his life purpose.
Áine is led to the kingdom of Aradia, where she realizes a power-hungry political war is ongoing, making Lucius the reigning king (not exactly the rightful one).
As the books evolve, it becomes obvious who the voice in Áines head belongs to, who her mothers were, who Daelon is and why everyone either sacrificed or is risking for her. As for Áine,
she develops an obvious relationship with Daelon and a not so obvious, totally weird relationship with someone else.
The battle for the kingdom continues, and the community of remaining witches sides either with Áine or Lucius in a rebellion.
Seven books are not necessary, the plot would fit in three at most.
We get the romance, we get the smut, we get the magic universe plot building... but what we also get is so many filler chapters. Sincerely, the last three chapters of each book sum up the juice of the advancing plot for that book.
Other than that, I have to praise the author for not filling the book with explicit smut in every chapter (it does have a bit in each book, but nothing shocking or exaggerated).
It gets tiring and dull, and by the last two books, I almost DNF’d, but I was curious about the ending.
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