Waking up in a hospital is one thing. But waking up with no memories from before is quite another thing.
I was told my name.
Eleanor.
I was told I was married.
Oliver. He doesn't seem to want me around. Which is awkward since he and his friend are both doctors working with my amnesia problem.
Jin. The other doctor. And only friend. He seems to want to be in my company.
And then there are the nightmares of my child being taken from me. Except, I was told I had a miscarriage - that no one wants to discuss.
Let's not forget that the world was still recovering from finding out witches and faeries existed. By revealing themselves by publicly going to war with each other.
Now I'm left trying to put the pieces together as they slowly come to me. And they aren't adding up.
I need my memory back.
I also need to figure out the dynamic with my husband and friend.
* * *
Author's Note: - This is a story where the female has more than one love interest without choosing between them. - Content Warning: Miscarriage (mentioned) and kidnapping?
4.5 only because I’m ready for book two! Literally a psych thriller with fae and witches and I was so happy. Also, Elle (FMC) was so confused and so much gaslighting going on so if that bothers you.. good luck.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1.5 🌶 (one scene towards the end of book) M/F/M - sort of during book 1? Relationships definitely set up for progression in book 2. (author states = slow 🔥)
I was lucky enough to receive a free ARC copy of this book for review.
What a debut! I absolutely loved the story of this book. The very beginning I found a little hard to follow the writing style, but the flow smooths out pretty quickly early on and I couldn’t put it down. I thought that the amnesia was dealt with very well and our main girl Elle did the best with what she was given under the circumstances. The little subtle intricacies that were displayed to foreshadow and show something else was going on kept me flipping every page to find out what was next! The way this book set up the universe and what I’m sure is going to be an epic sequel, has me EXTREMELY intrigued and ready to delve back in to learn more!
If you like why choose fantasy with some mystery thrown in, this book is for you! I got so caught up in trying to solve it, I didn’t realize how much time was passing and suddenly I was at the end.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of this and it did not disappoint! 🤍
This is the first in a series, so it does leave off on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Is Eleanor going to figure it all out? Who is the “villain”? The faeries 🧚🏼♀️? Or the witches 🧙🏼♀️? Or maybe even the doctors? Are they who they say they are? Or is there something else going on? Is Rosalyn real or just a figment of Elle’s imagination? So many questions and I look forward to getting the answers!
This is a slow burn, with just a bit of spice towards the end. Mentions of miscarriage/child loss. And maybe kidnapping? 🤔
If you think this sounds like the book for you, join in and come up with your own ideas of what’s going on. There’s even a Facebook group if you want to put your detective skills 🕵🏼♀️ to the test and share your theories!
I received an arc for this book and it was such a wonderful read. Why choose with mystery and fantasy. Slow burn. Spice at the end tells me book two is gonna have so much character progression I can’t wait! I was guessing through the whole book what happened trying to piece everything together. Definitely kept me on my toes. It’s easy to get lost in this book. I definitely recommend 🥰
This is one of my worst fears! Waking up and not knowing or remembering anything let alone who you even are. I wish I would’ve seen the cliffhanger coming because it just broke my heart. Truly loved this read.
Oh wow this series was a great start! I love that it's fantasy which is always fun to "escape" the world we're in, and some mystery! I started reading with mystery books so I was so excited to be able to read this book. The fact that you're trying to solve the problem, and then BAM you're at the end of the book. And you get sad because it ends on a cliffhanger lol.
This book was one of the most original spins that I've seen within these genres. There's so much left over to figure out, the villains, witches, faeries, is there anyone that she can trust? What's real what's not?
This is a slow burn why choose, we get a sprinkle of spice at the end, and just check tw just incase. I can't wait to read book 2!
A free ARC copy was provided in exchange for my honest review
I am not sure what to make of this book to be perfectly honest. I wish that I could give it a half or three-quarters of a star because it really is so close to 4-star rating for me. I struggled with the constant dream flashbacks and those mixing in with current events happening in the dream state. There was no clear indication of which one you were in. The chapter seemed to be short and numerous. If that style bothers you then this book may not be for you.
The good about this book. Despite me being utterly confused as to what was going on the entire book it kept me drawn in. I was going on the same ride as the main female character and it was a bit of a trip so far. I felt like the ending was bit abrupt but do understand the desire to end on a cliffhanger.
Content Warning: Mentions of miscarriage, mentions of car accident, brain injuries, memory loss, gaslighting, child missing/kidnapped
Low Spice level (one sex scene several kisses) and Slow Burn
This book is amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Eleanor goes through so much and it’s makes you want to grab and shake her to get her to understand what she’s missing. Everything is so confusing but she’s so determined to figure out what’s going on. Half the time you’re rooting for the guys and then the other half you’re pissed off because you know they are somehow a part of this but still don’t even know what’s going on yourself. I can’t wait for the next book!!
Fantastic!!! A Must Read!!! If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. I thought the storyline was original and I couldn't put it down! It's definitely a slow burn, but works perfectly with the story. It was full of suspense, with some angst and a bit of steam! I loved it and cannot wait for book 2!!!
"Memories of Magic" is one of those books that keeps you constantly wondering.; about what exactly is going on, about the role each of these characters play, whether it's possible to trust anyone or not, ... This is the start of an original reverse harem series, where nothing is as it seems and where the relationship and plot development are constantly intertwined. On the one hand, I was constantly giddy when the relationship between Eleanor, Jin and Oliver evolved, on the other hand I was anxious for the moment the other shoe would drop (knowing that it would come...), not knowing if I should actually root for them to be together or not!? While this story evolved, I became more and more invested in the characters and the storyline, not having any idea where it would lead to.
Even though "Memories of Magic" is the start of a paranormal series, the storyline felt relatable and some scenes in between were very realistic and funny. They broke the suspense and angst at the right moments, just to build up from there again. I really like Eleanor, and I could relate to her so much the moment she lost sight of her daughter. This once happened to me for ten minutes; I can't imagine how it must be like to really have a missing daughter and ultimately not knowing if the memories you have of her or real or not. Jin and Oliver... They both made an impression on me, each in their own way, and even though they screwed up in certain ways, I'm really curious to see how they will come back from that.
At the end of this book, my head is filled with questions and I'm really hoping book two will provide us with some answers because the suspense is 'unaliving' me!
Be prepared to not know what is entirely going on for the majority of the book… because neither does Elle, our FMC…. But that’s the way its written. Its an interesting spin on the PNR genre with witches and faes interacting with the mortal realm. This is a slow burn (we don’t get any spice until the end of the book) and only ends up MFM this round… but I have it on good authority that the next book will add to the group. There is still a lot to unpack with this world and story, and I’m really looking forward to see where its going to go. If you have an issue with gaslighting, this is full of it as Elle vaguely remembers things she’s not suppose to etc…. I give this 4 stars as I kind of stalled out in the middle, and had to come back to it… but stick with it! You don’t know what going on for a purpose….
Even though I never made it through all the recommendations I get via Facebook I just have to ask for new recommendations once in a while. This time I wanted books where I could really feel every word. Where the emotions weren't just in the plot, but also in the writing. This book had already been on my wishlist, but when someone told me that this book was perfect for my request I didn't hesitate and got my physical copy right away.
I had no idea what to really expect from this book. The plot sounded like it contained a lot of contemporary elements, while the title clearly implies that there is magic involved. However, the first few chapters already gave a clear impression what was waiting for us and from then on I've been reading as fast as I possibly could. Firstly because I wanted to find out what had happened and was going on, but mostly because it was so intriguing.
We didn't get many answers by the end of the book, but the cliffhanger promises a lot of interesting stuff to come in future installment. Especially because the emotions of the heroine are really intense and pure and real. It's always hard to write about a heroine who lost her memory, but having all those dreams, which are clearly memories from the past, in between all the chapters of the current life that doesn't seem to fit into her old life, works like a charm.
Because of the vague situation we constantly have the feeling that something is seriously wrong, which means that it's a little hard to get into the romance. After all we feel that the men are lying or at least keeping a lot of information from the heroine. That means that this series is a serious slow burn, despite the fact that there is smut in this installment. I can't wait for the author to show me that these guys are worth loving in the next book, though!
I was recommended this, and read the reviews which came across really positive. In reality, it felt like the idea was really great but the execution fell flat. It felt like there were a lot of gaps that just didn't make sense for me, and there were some editing errors and also repetition that were pointless. I loved mystery, and that the reader is just as clueless as the FMC. It made for an interesting read. BUT the FMC isn't very likeable...she wakes up from a coma with amnesia, gets told she has a husband and then basically is this weak, nervous character that asks her husband for permission to do anything?! But she comments on a tv show about how she doesn't like how the women have to ask their husbands for permission. Pot, kettle, black. The FMC also asks barely any questions on waking up from a coma with ZERO memory...she doesn't even know her name or age. But her days are spent reading, watching tv and sleeping??? I can imagine that the whole experience is dramatic for the FMC, and so the tears and confusion are completely understandable. But her lack of questions and interest in her life just feels weird and unrealistic. Does end on a cliffhanger, and the spice is minimal as it is a slow burn. I might pick up the next in the series to see if the plot/characters improve.
Wow! The whole time I felt like I was in the middle of a psychological thriller movie, but just add witches and fae. When I first started reading I was afraid I would not make it past a few chapters, I did not understand what was happening. But, that is almost the point, the way Rebekah grabs us, the reader.
The book starts with the FMC, Eleanor, pre amnesia, by chapter 8 Eleanor is waking up in the hospital with absolutely no clue what is going on and who she is. She remembers basic things, such as the fact that witches and fae are real and they had been at war with earth as the battlegrounds. Other than that, she had no clue she was married, that she was previously pregnant, or that she’s been best friends with someone for decades. Her kindle is similar to ours as a reader (hehe). Throughout the book Eleanor has dreams that she is unsure are really memories or just simply, dreams. These dreams show her with her best friend, husband, and daughter. But…Eleanor doesn’t have a daughter? Does she?
Give this book a read!! The second book is in the works!
This book is amazing! The writing is superb. I was so engrossed in the characters that I found myself reading this book in a matter of days. The only reason it took me that long is that I had to pause to attend to my responsibilities.
While I thought the book was overall pretty fantastic, there was one piece that really drove me crazy. I get that at the beginning there is an extenuating factor, but there were so many signs that things weren't adding up to what Eleanor was being told. And yet she didn't put it together! And then she did start putting things together but kept blindly trusting the deflections! May also just be a character trait, but it really made me want to shake her.
On that note, the characterization was so good that I definitely felt engaged with everyone. And I positively can't wait until the next book comes out. There were just enough details that the narrator did not understand that I simply must know more.
The book isn't too long so it's a relatively short read. Perfect for those who don't want to commit to a longer book. But despite it being shorter this book provides many questions and possibilities. At times you feel just as confused or lost as the main character. Every piece of information can either bring you closer to answers or make you question all you thought you knew. I did feel at times the pacing of the book dragged too much. Which is why I couldnt give it above a 3 star. But overall the book was interesting, and I continued searching for answers alongside the main character. I feel the ending can either cause a person to feel shocked and uncertain. Or to feel invigorated and hungry for more answers. It's a book worth picking up if you enjoy fantasy, mystery, slow burn romance, and or lots of tension.
This was a fantastic read and a wonderful way to end my year! Complex characters, trickery, magic, fae, witches, and a lost memory to boot. The way they author layers in the memory dreams is perfect. Elle’s search to find her lost daughter leads her into an accident that causes her to lose her memories. Jin’s pining, Oliver’s cold behavior, I still can’t be sure who to root for! I’m ready for the next one! This is an author to watch!
This was not for me. I hate it when books just go around in circles and resolve nothing by the end just to force you to read book 2. Also, I didn't like the main character. Like, nothing in her life made sense, but she's still trying to get with these guys she barely knows and who are obviously sus. And you can't even blame the drugs, cause she wasn't taking them. I may rage read book two, if I can find it for free.
Wow. I did not expect to cry ugly tears so soon after starting this book. Every mother's nightmare. Everything I thought about the plot changed over and over and thru it all, I cried, several times. It's a slow burn but you end up wondering if that's even real. A bit of paranormal romance and I know there's more to be had. I cried when it ended. Now I don't know what to do. Good writing.
this was what I was hoping for in this type of book, it worked as a reverse harem story. I was glad it was the beginning of the This Reality series. The author writes so well and it had a great fantasy feel. I can't wait to read more from this series and from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Such an emotional roller coaster. The mystery keeps you guessing all the way through. It does end on a cliffhanger and the spice is only at the very end. But the mystery will keep you on your toes all the way through! I cannot wait to dive into the second book to figure out more.
ARC review. Beginning with just wow! The ending shocked me so much. My jaw? I had to pick it up off the floor. I started to love Oliver so much, but I did not see that coming. While the ending was so good, the rest of the story felt a bit repetitive. Overall the story was really enjoyable and I can't wait for the next book to be published! Would recommend! 4⭐️
Why doesn't she ask questions like - what's this town called, what address is this, why haven't my parents called/visited, do I have friends, where are they, what are my hobbies, do I have a job, how long have we been married. The basics.
I love when a book can keep me guessing the entire way through. I have so many theories and thoughts the building intrigued on what is real has me truly captivated. I love the small touches of paranormal and am excited to see how things build and grow with book two.
This cliffhanger was really good. I was really able to get into the book quickly and I liked the characters a lot. I recommend this if you're looking for a slow burn story.
I read a A LOT so to find a story that is incredibly unique is hard. I loved everything about this story, even the cliffhanger. I can’t wait until book 2 comes out!
A gripping, mysterious story. Really enjoyed reading it. You’re drip fed little bits of information throughout the book, giving clues which sometimes takes you on the wrong path, until you get another clue😂. Very cleverly written. Can’t wait to read the next book
DNF. It wasn't my cup of tea but that's not to say it won't be yours. I'm giving it 3 stars because the writing wasn't bad . I just couldn't get into the story. Maybe I'll revisit this book at a later time .