I decided to dive into Juliette Cross’s Stay a Spell series. Here’s my ranking of the books from most to least favorite along with my reviews of each:

Wolf Gone Wild
Book 1 featuring Evie & Mateo

In Wolf Gone Wild , Mateo Cruz, a werewolf unable to shift for three months, is tormented by his inner wolf’s violent and carnal thoughts, leading him to seek the aid of a powerful witch to avoid insanity. Evie Savoie, who typically avoids werewolves due to their volatile nature, finds herself drawn to Mateo’s desperation and decides to help him, unaware that his wolf has fixated on her as his sole desire.

Wolf Gone Wild is the first book I’ve read from Juliette Cross which turned out to be an enjoyable read. With a contemporary romance infused with magical realism, the story offers engaging perspectives from both Evie and Mateo. The audiobook is particularly impressive, as the narrators bring the characters to life, with the narrator for Mateo doing an excellent job distinguishing between Mateo’s voice and the alpha voice. I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Evie and Mateo. It was fun earning more about Evie’s siblings and other supporting characters which added depth to the story. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 3

Don’t Hex and Drive
Book 2 featuring Isadora & Devraj

Shy and introverted witch Isadora Savoie finds herself reluctantly teaming up with charismatic Stygorn (vampire warrior)Devraj Kumar to solve the mystery of missing girls in New Orleans. As they navigate supernatural challenges and growing attraction, Isadora’s resistance to Devraj’s charms only fuels his determination to win her over.

Don’t Hex and Drive can be read as a standalone, but I believe it’s best enjoyed after reading the first book in the series, Wolf Gone Wild. The story features an Indian Bollywood-inspired male main character, which initially drew me to the series, and I was thrilled to see this representation. I really appreciated how Juliette Cross didn’t reduce Devraj to just his cultural background; instead, it’s one of many facets that make up his complex character. Juliette has a remarkable talent for introducing characters in a way that allows readers to see them in various contexts—whether with family, friends, love interests, acquaintances, or through their inner monologues—making these characters feel incredibly well-rounded. Isadora was a joy to read about, with her introverted nature, herbal witchcraft, and love for animals. It was also fascinating to explore Devraj’s extroverted and charming persona while delving into his past and the journey that led him to become a Stygorn vampire. I loved that this book maintained a perfect blend of romance, paranormal elements, and a touch of mystery, which kept the story engaging. I can’t wait to continue with the next book featuring Violet and Nico!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 2

Witches Get Stitches
Book 3 featuring Violet & Nico

Violet Savoie, a powerful Seer, wants to open a tattoo shop that provides supernatural charms but faces challenges helping her werewolf business partner, Nico Cruz, control his beastly side. Meanwhile, Nico tries to win Violet’s heart, but they have to deal with threats from his former pack to protect their future. 

Witches Get Stitches is the third book in the Stay a Spell series. In the first two books, we get glimpses of Violet and Nico’s personalities so it was wonderful to dive deeper into their complexities in this book. I love that Violet is strong, stubborn, and doesn’t take anyone’s BS. Nico is working to redeem himself after following a bad pack and is head over heels for Violet. Although they initially had an instalove, I appreciated that we got to see their friendship and relationship develop over time. It’s also great to see the previous couples’ love stories continue to grow. I can’t wait to read the holiday book and then Livvy and Gareth’s story next!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 1

Always Practice Safe Hex
Book 4 featuring Livy & Gareth

Livvy Savoie, a charming witch with the gift of persuasion, finds herself partnered with her annoyingly brilliant competitor, grim reaper Gareth Blackwater, in a public relations contest. Despite their initial loathing, the undeniable chemistry between them grows, and when Livvy becomes the target of a dangerous enforcer, Gareth will stop at nothing to protect her, revealing just how powerful—and passionate—he truly is.

Always Practice Safe Hex is the fourth book in the Stay a Spell series. While I’ve enjoyed all the previous books, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I felt indifferent about Livvy and Gareth’s love story, as Livvy’s character seemed underdeveloped outside of being one of the Savoie sisters and a social media influencer. Their enemies-to-lovers romance didn’t resonate with me as I struggled to see a real connection between them. Usually, the mystery and antagonist keep me engaged, but this time, the plot felt a bit slow especially in the middle. Despite this, I’m still excited to read Jules and Clara’s upcoming stories!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 5

Resting Witch Face
Book 5 featuring Jules & Ruben

Jules Savoie and vampire overlord Ruben Dubois team up to support the werewolf cause, rekindling their love from twelve years ago. But when a dangerous vampire targets Jules, they must fight to keep their love and each other safe.

I was really looking forward to Jules and Ruben’s story, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. We’re introduced to Jules and Ruben in the first book of the series, where their past relationship is hinted at, and in this book, we finally learn the reason behind their breakup. I found Ruben to be a disappointing love interest. He tries to come off as a “nice guy” and supportive of Jules, but his jealousy and obsession with power were off-putting. I usually have mixed feelings about second-chance romances. I was hoping it would work well here, but it ultimately felt dull. The magic mystery element didn’t capture my interest and I missed the camaraderie among the Savoie sisters and their partners. Despite this being my least favorite book in the series, I’m still excited to read Clara and Henry’s story in the final installment.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 6

Grim and Bear It
Book 6 featuring Clara & Henry

In Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross, Clara Savoie is determined to break through Henry Blackwater’s resistance and show him the love he’s been avoiding. As their romance deepens, Henry must confront his dark past when his father is arrested for murder, threatening both his newfound happiness and Clara’s safety.

I was excited for Clara and Henry’s story, but I ended up having mixed feelings about this one. I loved gaining insight into Henry’s grim personality and his past. While Henry and Clara’s romance was sweet, their relationship developed too quickly for my taste and ended up being boring. Clara’s overly sweet demeanor was occasionally annoying and I felt she didn’t fully understand the depth of Henry’s trauma. The subplot involving Henry’s father was interesting, but the resolution felt predictable, disappointing, and rushed. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half didn’t quite match the initial tone or style and  the ending felt too neatly tied up. Overall, the series was a fun and enjoyable read.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Ranking: 4