The first in exciting new Dark Magick series by Anya Bast, Wicked Enchantment is a fabulous read that will instantly drag you into the world of Piefferburg.
All eyes are on Gabriel Mac Braire the day he makes his first appearance in the Seelie Court, including those of Aislinn Finvarra. Despite deep bitterness over her last failed relationship, Aislinn cannot help but be curious about the half incubus who is known to possess dark magick, both lethal and sexual in nature. Rumors abound of the women who have become enslaved to his irresistible charms.
So when the Summer Queen of the fae orders Aislinn herself to act as his guide in the court, she is understandably on guard. She’s fallen under the spell of far less persuasive men before. In addition, Gabriel might be more than he seems and his true mission is far from innocent.
This time, Aislinn must protect not only her heart, but her very life…
First off, I have to say that I am already a fan of Anya Bast, but Wicked Enchantment just cemented it. I had such a hard time putting this novel down that I was extremely lucky that Ian wasn’t clingy while I read this. We’re introduced to a world where the Fae have been imprisoned in what appears to be a modern day concentration camp yet they are still able to retain their culture and societal structure. The Seelie and Unseelie Courts are clearly represented and I do like how Bast didn’t make the Unseelie monstrous merely by being Unseelie, that they were more living life than offering any illusions.
The one thing that I really enjoyed seeing was the Wild Hunt. Not only were they a presence within the story, but Bast’s version of the legend behind the Wild Hunt was explained more fully and it made more sense to me than what I had known. I know authors will take some liberties with certain myths and legends in order to make it their own story, but the idea of who and what the Wild Hunt is really rang true to me. With all the fae stories out there, you really don’t see much of the Wild Hunt and I love the importance that Bast gives them.
However, while I loved seeing the Wild Hunt, they were not the meat of this story. The relationship between Gabriel and Aislinn was not only believable, but beautiful as well. That may be an odd way of saying it, but the two really did fall for each other and they do what all insecure people do, not admit their feelings to each other. Neither knows the others true feelings until things come to pass that they must first work through, and even then they really don’t trust each other. Well, I can’t say that as one fully admits to their feelings, but I don’t want to say who as that might spoil the romance for everyone. Needless to say, Gabriel and Aislinn fight for their relationship and their ending is really quite sweet.
Even though Wicked Enchantment is a romance, there was very much a plot and I have to say that I enjoyed it. We have a paranoid father who really doesn’t want to lose his position and does whatever it takes to eliminate the threat to said power. I really do not want to say much more than that as it could end up getting spoilerish, but needless to say there is a plot and one that I completely fell into. I wanted to know what happened next and why something was happening; I wanted to know if my thoughts were correct.
Overall, I really enjoyed Wicked Enchantment and I can’t wait until the second novel in Bast’s new Dark Magick series comes out. We have some great character development in Aislinn and Gabriel; the culture of the Seelie and Unseelie is similar in many ways to what I already know, but Bast still makes it her own; and there are some amazing side characters that I can’t wait to meet later on.
Of all the side characters, I was really interested in Bella and Ronan and I wanted to know if they had their own story. Ever since I started this site, this has to be the one thing that I still get a kick out of: I wanted to know if Bella and Ronan had a story, so I asked Anya via Twitter. I love the fact that I can do that and I found out they did. Per Anya, their story, Sweet Enchantment, can be found in the Hot for the Holidays anthology and I am definitely going to be looking it up.
Speaking of which, if you hadn’t thought about it already, make sure you find Wicked Enchantment when it comes out on January 5th. If you are a fan of Bast’s Elemental Witches series, then you are going to fall in love with her Dark Magick novels.
Also reviewed by:
All I Want and More
Lyra Rose
Life, the Universe and Everything
The Book Lush
Loved the short story in Home for the Holidays, that’s why I’ve ordered
Wicked Enchantment.
I have not yet read anything by Anya Bast, but have been hearing a lot about this new book, Wicked Enchantment. This book sounds like a great one to start with.
Can’t wait to read it, sounds great. Love the review by the way :)
The short story in Hot for the Holidays (which was the first anything by Bast I ever read) was fabulous, and I’m definitely ordering this novel. I’ve read a sample chapter somewhere, and I want to know what happens next! :)
Cool! I didn’t know Bella and Ronan had their own story and I did wonder about that while reading Wicked Enchantment! I will definitely check out their story! I really liked WE, too and can’t wait for the next book!
Wow! Wicked Enchantment has a hot cover. Hot for Holidays was great… and I didn’t realize one of those stories was by A. Bast. I’m going to have to go read that again after the readers here seemed to have loved it so… and great review! Wicked Enchantment sounds great.
I keep seeing that Hot for the Holidays anthology around and this new release too. I’ve never read a thing by Anya Bast but I’m more than willing given your review. ;)
i wanted to read the book since i read it in the back of WITCH FURY it looks really intersting.
Great Review! I just finished this one and really like the take on the Fae. I can’t wait till the next one, Cruel Enchantment (I think?) comes out!