Charissa Weaks

The Witch Collector surprised me in the best way.
This is another book I picked up thanks to social media—Threads or Instagram, I genuinely can’t remember. What I do remember is the cover, because it stopped my scrolling instantly, followed by a glowing review that convinced me to buy it. And thankfully, the book lived up to the promise.
With a mute heroine who communicates through sign language, atmospheric magic, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that delivers, this story pulled me in show more fast.
This is a lush, atmospheric fantasy that intertwines magic, political tension, romance, and one of my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers. Also expect to find forced proximity (one horse), revenge plot, found power, and magic runes).
It’s also a story with a protagonist who communicates entirely through sign language, something I rarely see in fantasy, and it was beautifully handled.
I wish the rune-based magic system had been explained a bit more, but the tension, worldbuilding, and emotional moments more than made up for it.
A moody, magical, romantic read I’m excited to continue.

A Memorable Quote

"There is darkness inside me too," I sign. "Perhaps our darknesses can be friends."

Read more on Summon Fantasy: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews/silent-strength-my-thoughts-on-the-witch-c.... show less

Genre: Adult Romantasy / High Fantasy
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❤️ Personal Take

If you're looking to add a healthy dose of high fantasy to your romantasys, this series is jam packed full of gods, magic, curses, and a rich worldbuilding to dive into. Lots of fighting to keep the pace intense, and a gruff yet adoring MMC to carry us through the world. Despite how expansive the history and lore are for this world, Charissa worked it in so naturally and slowly that it didn't feel overwhelming.

And that spice scene show more at the end? Oh... my... Some of the best I've read! That man WORSHIPS! So well worth the wait and full of so much pent-up passion and care.

The choice of having a mute FMC was such a fascinating decision, especially when her main form of communication is a form of ASL. Especially during the events of the novel, having this be the only way she can speak becomes such a devastating hurdle in moments like being in the frigid cold or having her hands bound.

Tim Campbell's voice perfectly matches a timeless, battleworn gentleman. It adds such a softness during his yearning, as well as delivers an intimidating growl to his voice whenever he's about to take on the world for her. Meg Sylvan really brought the existential dread and longing to live, and managed to craft vastly different voices for each of the female POVs which really tied into their characters. I did find that I had a harder time differentiating between the male voices, but she brings such class and grumble to them that I would get so excited every time she switched.

I can see why the author held back on using Raina's powers, it left more room to build on loose threads for the later series... but I did find myself getting frustrated when she would refuse to use them out of fear, it fell into a bit of a passive protagonist choice and I would have loved to see her making some bigger changes. I'll definitely be reading on to see what she does and where it all goes from here... Book 2 is already on the shelf!
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🧩 Tropes

- Enemies to allies to lovers
- Vengeance driven heroine
- Mute FMC
- Ancient gods and old magic
- Slow burn romance that complicates duty

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🎭 Themes

- Vengeance vs. Truth
- Love emerging from unlikely alliances
- Misremembered history
- Lasting effects of myths and legacies

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🧭 Recommendation

Perfect for readers who love:
- Morally grey romantasy
- High fantasy with gods and curses
- Protective MMCs with their own darkness

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Thank you to Charissa Weaks, Tantor Media, and NetGalley for the chance to read this ALC in exchange for my honest review! 💕 show less

This was so much more than I expected. So much better than I anticipated. What a great book!
I rated it a solid 4 stars. It so close to being 5 stars because it was nearly perfect. I loved it. I recommend it. I would say that it could have been a little better at the relationship building between the characters. At the moment, it lacks 'living with me'. However, I loved the emotions that it drew out of me! I was getting so frustrated and passionate towards the characters. Several times show more whilst reading this book, I became so emmersed that I had no consiousness of the world around me and I was consumed in this story. And although I nearly teared up, it did fail to cause a physical reaction from me.
I would give this a 2.5 spice rating. This is a slow burn. Nearly glacial. But when it finally hits... BAM! It hits good!
Tropes: Forced proximity, slow burn
It is set in a fantasy world of witches with Magick battlings gods and shadows. I can't get enough of this and I can't wait to continue the Witch Walker series with City of Ruin!

Below is my SPOILER thoughts and reactions as I read through the book:

17%: Well damn. War right out of the gate. I didn't expect this.

36%: Wait so the sister is cool with Alexus? (And i really thought this was a girl's name.)
If vast magick can be used "across space and time" why didn't they have the magick protect the villages in the past when they were attacked? Ooh, talk about some little embers burning between them 🔥. He has the God knife. I just know it.

63%: Why is it that in these books the man is This powerful And terrible being to be feared but yet once hes met the girl she's constantly saving him and he nearly dies. Often. Like dude how did you survive before??
Is Helena dead? Or possessed?
Okay, I was wrong, he didn't have the God knife.
Just when things are getting spicy, the damn prince has to come in and ruin it! Ugh...
Ooh! He is all mighty and powerful with darkness. 😏 my favorite!
Um, major age gap! He's Un Drallag! What a twist! A powerful sorcerer. And he wants her. But why her? After all these years. After losing his wife?

100%: Oh thank gods Helena was freed! And Alexus is a badass! At least if he would stop needing to be rescued so many damn times. And Raina needs to get over her frustration with Alexus. He's a good man.
I never thought branding would be a trope of mine but here we are. I love it! OH!!!!! "Let me show you what it means to be mine." That is my personal undoing. What. A. Great. Scene. Omg. I mean DAMN!
So many emotions are pouring from me right now! First with Raina finally letting herself be his and he claiming her. And I seriously teared up when she saw Finn, Warek, Mena, and little Saira! I nearly got my physical reaction. And now, their journey begins. Raina and Alexus together. Off to save the king and the world as they know it from Gods and shadows. show less

Let me start off with saying the title of this book is fitting since this book RUINED ME IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. When I tell you I loved everything about this book, I'm not even exaggerating. I'm not even being dramatic. Just trust me when I tell you, this book was a masterpiece. And I will wait patiently (and yet suffer along the way) until the next book comes out as well as the NOVELLA in 2023!!!

I would first like to thank the author and City Owl Press for an eARC copy of this book. This show more review however is my honest thoughts on this incredible book.

Okay, so we all know Alexus had me in his grip from book 1 in his first appearance. And I thought no other character could trap me like he did, but Ms. Charissa proved me wrong because NERIIII. Listen, I'm not going to give spoilers because if you read the first book, you must be like, "Neri???? How on earth did you suddenly fall for him??" And to that I say, read the book and wait for it to happen to you too because it will. I still love Alexus though and they're currently fighting for the #1 spot, but for now they will share it.

Raina and Nephele Bloodgood will forever have my love and adoration because they are QUEENS. Strong, fearless, powerful Queens. The way we learn more about them in this book and their past, their family history, their lineage is everything. I just know their development in the following books will have me screaming of joy as a proud mama bear.

I thought I saw the big plot twist coming, and I guessed part of it, but the ending?? The ending I did not see coming. At all. The last 10 chapters had me with a whirlwind of emotions. So I will finish my review off with this.

If you love incredible world building and terrific writing, this is a book for you. If you love heroines who do not need a knight in shining armor and who will tear down the world for those they love, this is the book for you. If you love a love story that will have you giddy with joy but will also hurt so good, this is a book for you. If you have a soft spot for morally grey men who you want to punch in the face but also protect at all costs, this is also for you. The couples in this book, incredible, lovable and I root for them all.

Read this now... please. I can't force you to, but like, you will surely miss out on an incredible book that will make you feel EVERYTHING. show less