MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of The Black Witch

The Black Witch

by Laurie Forest

🌶️🌶️mild·The Black Witch Chronicles #1·✓ Series Complete
4.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.1 on Goodreads (50,138)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A challenging but rewarding read that uses fantasy worldbuilding to confront real-world prejudice. Elloren's painfully slow growth from sheltered bigot to ally is uncomfortable by design—this is a book about unlearning hate, not a power fantasy.

Synopsis

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining. Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else. When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother's legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch. As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she's been taught to hate and fear.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Forest does something gutsy—she puts you inside the head of someone raised on hate and forces you to watch her slowly, painfully crack open. It is not comfortable and it is not fast, but that is the point. The academy setting gives it accessible Harry Potter bones while the social commentary gives it real teeth. The romance with Yvan is barely a spark in book one, all tension and no resolution, but the enemies-to-lovers groundwork is solid. Come prepared for a heavy read that earns its catharsis across the full series.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.10 ★ (50.1k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

601 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2017

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Young Adult

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Julia Whelan

Narrator Count

Single

Narration Style

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
enemies to loversforbidden lovelove triangleslow burnforced proximity
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseatmosphericepicemotional

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

immersiveatmosphericdramaticemotional

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

high

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desirepage turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

reluctant chosen onebookworm/scholarinnocent / sheltered

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

mysterious strangerbrooding princesecretly soft

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

enemies to loversforbidden loveslow burnclass differencepush and pull

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Love triangle tension builds through ideological clashes and reluctant closeness, all slow-burn conviction and no skin.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

None

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (9)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
sexual assaultself-harmphysical abuseanimal deathracism/bigotryhomophobia/transphobiaableismsexismmisogyny
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

academy / schoolhigh fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

academy / campus

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

witches/wizards/warlocksfaeshifterselves

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

queer

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

expanded empathyperspective shiftgrowth-focusedtension finally satisfied

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

rainy weekendcozy evening

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.601
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2017
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.10 ★ (50.1k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Black Witch Chronicles #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about The Black Witch

Similar Books

Cover of Shatter Me

Shatter Me

Shatter Me, #1

Tahereh Mafi

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
forbidden loveslow burnlove triangle
Cover of Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods, #1

Melissa de la Cruz

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·✓
hidden identityforbidden lovelove triangle
Cover of Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)

Graceling Realm, #3

Kristin Cashore

🌶️·third person
hidden identityslow burnsecret heir/royalty
Cover of The Book of AzraelKU

The Book of Azrael

Gods & Monsters, #1

Amber V. Nicole

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximityfated mates
Cover of An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes, #1

Sabaa Tahir

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forbidden lovelove triangleslow burn
Cover of Blood & SteelKU

Blood & Steel

The Legends of Thezmarr, #1

Helen Scheuerer

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forbidden loveenemies to loverstraining partners to lovers
Cover of Trial of the Sun Queen

Trial of the Sun Queen

Artefacts of Ouranos, #1

Nisha J. Tuli

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
competition romanceenemies to loversforced proximity
Cover of Poison StudyKU

Poison Study

Poison Study, #1

Maria V. Snyder

🌶️🌶️·first person
captive romanceforced proximityenemies to lovers