REVIEW: In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper

In In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper, Delilah Harlow has been studying all her life to become her family’s next keeper of records, something she’s well suited for considering her razor-sharp mind. Well, her *former* razor-sharp mind, she should say. Because since being in the unfortunate way of an oblivion spell cast by fellow witch Nina Blackmoore, Delilah has diminished memories and is lacking abilities that were once as natural to her as breathing. It seems like she and her close-knit group have tried everything to put things back to rights with very little success. So who can blame her, months later, when Delilah goes the route of dark, baneful magic to try to restore her memories, right?

‘How was I supposed to be a Harlow steward, the next master recordkeeper, when I couldn’t even reliably remember my own family’s spells?’

Two things happen shortly after Delilah casts the spell. First, she meets a gorgeous woman named Catriona “Cat” Quinn, a monster hunter who turns out to be half-human, half-fae. Second, Delilah has an encounter with a succubus that would have likely ended in her own demise had Cat not rescued her. Used to relying only on herself, she reluctantly agrees when Cat offers to stick around in town and help solve the mystery as to why nasty beasties are now flocking to Delilah like a moth to flame. As the duo researches it all, they grow closer, unable to ignore the attraction between them. But with danger lurking around every corner and the fact that Cat seems to be keeping something from her, Delilah is in way over her head with no idea how to resolve the many issues she’s facing.

‘Maybe there was much more to our town than even we understood. Layers of illusion, a treasure trove of things that still lay hidden and unknown.’

The rage-fueled, desperate actions of a small-town witch made In Charm’s Way a quick, fun, emotional read that was filled with new discoveries, a whole lot of anger, and a passionate LGBTQ romance that seemed destined to be.

‘She brought that uncanny green-and-gold gaze up, locking it with mine. The intensity between us felt magnetic, like something pulsing and alive.’

It was so nice to be back in Thistle Grove! In Charm’s Way picked up right where book three, Back in a Spell, left off. The heroine this time was witch Delilah Harlow, who we followed as she dealt with the fallout from the oblivion spell Nina Blackmoore cast in the previous book. Poor Delilah was left with a lot of her memories and abilities wiped out post spell. And at first it wasn’t clear if it was a temporary thing or something long term. Author Lana Harper did a fantastic job of conveying just how much this affected Delilah–mentally, emotionally, and physically–as well as how much anger and rage she felt towards Nina for what she had done. Even though Nina did everything she could to help Delilah in any way possible afterward.

As with previous books, Harper’s lush descriptions of Thistle Grove, the characters, even the spells they cast were perfect and allowed me to feel like I was watching it play out on a movie screen. Particularly once Delilah cast her own baneful spell in an attempt to restore mental acuity and memories. The images and creatures that plagued her after seemed very life-like, definitely adding to the entertainment value of the story.

With the arrival of monster hunter Cat in town, Harper wove in even more meaning and emotions as Delilah fell deeply for the warrior woman. Of course, things weren’t always easy between the couple, with differing backgrounds and lies of omission (and sometimes outright lies) pushing them apart. But Delilah eventually learned not only how to trust others with her heart–specifically Cat–but she also found that reaching out for assistance from family and close friends wasn’t a sign of weakness. And that itself paved the way for most of Delilah’s relationships to begin to flourish as she let go of grudges and past worries, letting those around her see her as she really was.

QOTD: Delilah’s familiar was a raven named Montalban. If you had a familiar, what kind of animal do you think it would be?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: August 22nd, 2023 | Berkley | The Witches of Thistle Grove #4

A witch struggling to regain what she has lost casts a forbidden spell—only to discover much more than she expected, in this enchanting new rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper.

Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.

While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul.

Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.