⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. A past best forgotten catches up with Maya in this suspenseful, thrilling fantasy romance.

Maya Rosen has plenty of experience with vampires, demons, and danger. She wears the scars that prove it. But she established Witch’s Brew, her bookshop and mage’s office, as a cozy place of safety and protection. When the brutally handsome vampire Ravyr appears, decades after she thought he died in the ruins of her master’s lair, Maya is prepared for a fight. Until he saves her life instead—and they realize they have an enemy in common. Hunting down violent goblins, treacherous mages, and drug-dealing aristocrats with Ravyr isn’t enough to make Maya trust him. She’s been betrayed before, and she knows the vampire isn’t telling her everything. But the attraction between them grows, even as their chase brings them closer to a terrifying possibility. Maya knows desire is its own magic. And with horrors from the past lying in wait, they’ll need all the power they can tame.

MY THOUGHTS

Maya wasn’t a very likable character in the first two books. She came across as quite strict and rigid, and it was a given that she had some trauma from long ago that made her that way. The past was very cleverly woven into the story of the present and gave us a chilling view into Maya’s psyche. But this also gave her the determination she needed to figure out the mystery of who wanted her dead. And to face some ghosts from the past as well.

Ravyer was an indistinguishable part of her painful past. They tiptoed around each other initially, but their fascination with each other from before reignited with a bang. I loved how he just fell for Maya, went all in, and didn’t question it at all. They made a great couple and an effective team.

Tia played an instrumental role in the entire affair. She and Maya shared a history of pain and suffering, and both had reason to feel resentful. Theirs was a difficult reunion, yet they had each other’s backs when it mattered most. We did find out more about Joe and, as expected, he played Maya’s protector, but I felt that this wasn’t all there was to him.

The plot was a bit convoluted, with lots of players and possible suspects, and our heroes had to chase plenty of dead ends. It all flowed very well, and the resolution was both horrifying and satisfying. I can recommend this series if you like a steamy fantasy romance with vampires, demons, and mages. It is best to read the books in order.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comment below.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: February 25, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Book 3 of Magic for Hire