Rise of the Witch

                               

Title: Rise of the Witch

Series: The Yaga's Riders #1

Author: C. Rochelle

Published: March 27, 2021

Pages: 290

Genre: Fantasy RH

As with most beginnings, it started with death.

When I had nothing left to lose, I traveled to the hut in the woods; the one no one dared approach. The witch who lived there recognized the darkness in my soul and took me under her wing—to witness her reign of terror firsthand and eventually, to inherit her legacy as my own.

Now I’m the monster they fear; the one humans avoid at all costs. In this welcome isolation, I've attempted to forget my past and the future that was taken from me.

Until three men appear, somehow able to break through my protective wards and see me in my true form. While resistant to their intrusion, I recognize they may be the ones I’ve been waiting for—the ones I need to ascend to my full power.

Too bad I would rather grind their bones than invite them in.

But something is mysteriously devouring the forest, and I suspect the threat may be the same one I barely escaped many moons ago. If it is, he will find me a more worthy opponent than the last time we met.

I am the Yaga and I may be broken, but my edges are sharp.

This book is shockingly funny. Like, I genuinely was not expecting it to be as funny as it was. It was a very pleasant surprise. And the overall content is dark...and capital "S" Spicy. But the characters and their chemistry do lighten the mood in perfect moments. 

Vasi is the Yaga. She lives her life in the woods, protecting the forest, and mess with humans who wander too far into her space. Asa, Nox, and Tan are a unit from The Facility. They're on a mission, and they get lost in Vasi's woods. They come upon her bathing in a hot spring. The chemistry is palpable from then on. They all think Vasi is very hot, and she thinks the same of them. She may want to rip Nox's face off, but she still thinks he's hot. 

All while these 4 are getting to know one another, we are learning about a horrible sickness that's taking over the forest. Death and accelerated decay are running rampant through Vasi's home. This sickness seems to originate from The Facility. And Vasi is determined to figure it out. 

There is a lot going on in this book. I really enjoyed the magic system, and world-building that went into it. And did I mention the spice? Because it is Good! I love a why choose / reverse harem, and this is a perfect specimen of a reverse harem. What I didn't love? The dang cliffhanger!!! This is a trilogy all surrounding this one harem. And the end of this book was a HUGE cliffhanger, so beware! But I do recommend. I immediately started book 2 when I was thrown from this cliff.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 5/5