Review: ARC of Wicked Enchantment by Anya Bast

Wicked Enchantment
Berkley Sensation
A Dark Magic Novel
ISBN-10: 0425232018
ISBN-13: 978-0425232019
Release Date: January 5, 2010

The Blurb:

When you’re a half incubus, your reputation precedes you…
All eyes are on Gabriel Mac Braire the day he makes his first appearance in the Seelie Court, including those of Aislinn Finvarra. Despite deep bitterness over her last failed relationship, Aislinn cannot help but be curious about the half incubus who is known to possess dark magick, both lethal and sexual in nature. Rumors abound of the women who have become enslaved to his irresistible charms.
So when the Summer Queen of the fae orders Aislinn herself to act as his guide in the court, she is understandably on guard. She’s fallen under the spell of far less persuasive men before. In addition, Gabriel might be more than he seems and his true mission is far from innocent.
This time, Aislinn must protect not only her heart, but her very life…
All this information was obtained from Ms. Bast's site --->> here.

This book was given to me by Ms Bast for a review. The thoughts below are all my own.

Going into this review, I read her short story in Hot For The Holiday's - Sweet Enchantment.
You do not HAVE to read this one first, but it did set the stage for the characters and the world I was fixing to step in.

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Ms. Bast has created an amazing world; one I have not found myself diving into yet. This story was a pleasure to read and I easily slipped away to the world of the Seelie Court. I have to admit thought that I had a lot to learn of this world.

Let's start this off...

Please meet, Aislinn Christiana Guinevere Finvarra.
Aislinn, is a woman who is thought to have pure Seelie blood. She resides pretty high in the Summer Queen's Rose Tower. Enjoying all of life's luxuries, going to balls and parties. Not having to work, shopping all day if she wanted. She had money in the bank - from her family and from court. The higher you reside, the higher your status in the Rose community.

Her father died years ago and her mother's only care is about their social status.
Her best friend, Bella, the only one she truly ever trusted, was banished to the Shadow King's court with her lover, Ronan. She is kind of alone in this world. She does have a couple of friends, but no one to really count on. So imagine living in a world where you really do not have anyone you can lean on, talk to, share with and all everyone wants to do is party and gossip.

Aislinn is a real woman, honest to the core and guarded with her deepest secrets. After being publicly dumped by an ass of a guy, Kendal, who just used her to climb the social ladder, she made sure to keep her heart off limits too. Remember, in the Rose Tower, social status is everything. So, after him, she swore off men.

As far as Aislinn's secret that she kept guarded, if the Summer Queen would have found out what she was capable of, she would have been kicked out of the Rose Tower a long time ago. I can not tell you what the secret is, but I will tell you this ~ she freaking rocks when she learns her full powers.

But Aislinn discovers another secret about her life and she owes it all to one man...

Please meet Gabriel Cionaodh Marcus Mac Braire.
Oh my Danu (The primary goddess of the Tuatha De' Danann)...
Gabriel is a freaking walking talking live ~ Sex on a Stick man!!! He is half incubus and half Unseelie. That made him even more dangerous. His reputation proceeded him where ever he went. "The rumors went that he was catnip to females and - when his special magick was wielded at full force between the sheets - he possessed the power to enslave a woman."
Wow, can you imagine catnip for women... That is powerful.
But do not forget he belonged to the Black Tower.

Gabriel was seeking permanent resident in the Rose Tower and to do that he had to petition for the Summer Queen's approval. The Summer Queen love taking from the Shadow King and to have a delicious man candy around her side of town... well, what's not to want. The queen would give him her decision in a week and while he waited to hear of the queen's decision, Aislinn was chosen to be his "tour guide" while he was there. These two got off on the wrong foot, but the chemistry was well played between them. Being half incubus has its plus side, which he was hoping would pay off with Aislinn... But as we discover, Aislinn is just not that into him. At least that is how it is in the beginning.
The story takes a turn... Gabriel makes Aislinn feel things she hasn't felt. He makes her think about what her life has truly become or where does she truly want to go.
Aislinn in return, makes Gabriel realize that sometimes people actually do say what is on their mind. She also makes Gabriel realize what it is that is missing in his life.
The two of these have secrets they try to hide from each other - but how long can they keep their secrets. And what will happen when they come to light.

Ms. Bast knows how to turn up the heat in her story.
This story is full of twist and turns. Some I did not even see coming. The change of heart, the putting yourself out there, finding out who your real friends are, having someone stab you in the back and the omgosh... hot sex !!! Ms. Bast really put her characters through the loop in this book. Oh what a ride this was to read. And you must not forget... this story is also packed with some action as well!!!

This is an amazing story. You have Aislinn, who is trying to figuring out "where do I fit in" in this world; of which side do I belong? Then you have Gabriel, who is fighting his own personal demons. The two come together and explode on the pages before you. The side characters are just as awesome as the main two characters. Especially in the latter scenes of battle. One of the elements I found refreshing was that you will notice is true friendship. Now don't let me lead you to believe that this story is just a friendship story... Ohhh no **shaking my finger**.... This story is freaking smoking hot with romance and sex... but the aspect of the friendship touched my heart. And the hot scenes were enough to leave this Hussy very purrrrsatisfied!!!
Ms. Bast did a brilliant job with have the right amount of angst within the characters to make the story hot and believable. I am looking forward to more of this series... (crossing my fingers that there is more **please please please**)!

My only blah feeling was that the world building was a little much, but I understood why the process was a bit much because it was needed for me to know the who and what of this story.

Berkley Sensation
ISBN-10: 0515147001
ISBN-13: 978-0515147001
Release Date: September 29, 2009

Anya’s novella is titled Sweet Enchantment. It provides a first taste of the world in which my new Dark Magick series is set.

This is Bella & Ronan's story... It is a sweet, passionate read!
I suggest reading this one first. Just to get familiar with the wonderful world of the Dark Magic! You will not regret it!

For more information, please visit Ms. Anya Bast's web site --->>> here.
You will find a lot of thing there... Her blog is there. She has some FREE Reads there too!!