Hexed (Never After, #6) (2025)

𝐀 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐳𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐝... 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞? 👁👄👁

I am SO excited to announce the Walmart Exclusive Edition of 𝑯𝒆𝒙𝒆𝒅 with full page, full color character art! 😍🫠

Aʀᴛ ʙʏ @LUHARTS.W

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 👉 (link in my bio) https://geni.us/Hexedwalmart

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:

👉🏼 That Sticker? 100% Removable
👉🏼 Exclusive full-page, full color art! This art piece will NOT be available anywhere else, so if you want it, Walmart is where you’ve gotta get it 🫡🤝

And yes... it is from a scene in the book.🥵 (Did I drop a sneak peek of the scene in my newsletter going out today? Who’s to say 👀)

🐚You can sub here: https://geni.us/TheMcIncultMuse

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 👉 https://geni.us/Hexedwalmart
𝐁&𝐍 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰/ 𝐟𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥) 👉 https://geni.us/HexedBN
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 👉 https://geni.us/Hexed

🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️

*𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔*

i had to delete some comments because people are mad at me that i didn't like this lol. this novel was a highly anticipated one for me, and i PERSONALLY was disappointed. this book has a plot, i never said otherwise. my contention with this was the romance and their development. around chapter two, his dick was hard and she was wet and unable to function?? if you are going to have the characters get together after the fifty % mark, i PERSONALLY would like to see some tension and character interactions that have meaning. their thoughts were about fucking each other in every position and on every surface. the MMC—enzo, is engaged to the FMC—venesa's cousin. while this makes for an engaging story, the entirety of this is filled with weird sexual innuendo's and weird possessive beef with every female character. this narrative usage is not something i PERSONALLY enjoy in romance stories, especially since hexed was really long. this also has nothing to do with the author, as i like and respect emily.

my og review :

“𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆”—𝑰 𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇𝒇, 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔—“𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin oh wait, I do… the TENSION is off the charts 😮‍💨 It’s obviously got a lot to do with Enzo being engaged to Venesa’s cousin. Yep, the forbidden vibes are ON. 🔥

The story is straightforward: Enzo, part of a wealthy NYC mafia family, gets engaged to Aria Kingston, the most powerful family in South Carolina. To make sure everything goes smoothly Venesa’s uncle asks her to keep an eye on Enzo… but turns out, Enzo never took his eyes off Venesa 👀🥵

And just to be clear, if you’re expecting a Little Mermaid retelling, this might not be your cup of tea. This series is not a retelling. The author adds fairytale elements into a modern story to give villains their HEA, and it works so well. every. single. time

Can we talk about Venesa?! I think she’s why I stayed in love with this book the entire time. She’s no damsel in distress! She’s confident, loves to bargain, and is all about making her own deals 💅 She’s outspoken, wants no man, and is fiercely determined to finally feel accepted by her family after years of proving herself.

“𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒐, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒎 𝑰 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍?” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒈𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒇 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌. “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

If you love forbidden romance and stories where the villains finally get the spotlight, trust me, this book (and this series) is for you. I adore the Never After series and will forever recommend it to anyone who loves fairytales with a twist. ✨

Tropes
💜 forbidden romance
💜 mafia romance
💜 forced proximity
💜 strangers to friends to lovers
💜 family secrets
💜 touch her and you **

Thank you Emily McIntire's team for gifting me an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review

---
The way I BINGED SO HARD THIS BOOK.
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆
I eat up every single book of hers, i can't wait to do the same with this oneeee
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆
I AM SCREAMING - i got selected to read this as an eARC omfg the way that I need someone to pinch me RIGHT NOW this doesn't seem real

Pre-written review cause in Mother Emily we trust. ❤️

"Sometimes you've gotta burn things so you can start fresh."

Vanesa Andersen never felt good enough.
Not for her parents. Not for her uncle that took her in.
But she's clever, beautiful, and deadly.
When her cousin comes back after 6 years - she has a surprise with her.
Enzo Marino.
And for the first time Vanesa feels seen.
And Enzo can't keep himself from getting obsessed.

"That's what she is to me: a work of art. I wish like hell she weren't."

There's only one problem.
He can never have her.
She can never have him.
He's her cousin's fiancée.
But temptation is a siren's song that can't be ignored.
No matter how much Enzo and Vanesa might try.

"It's dangerous wanting something so badly when there's no rhyme or reason."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 💜💜

"She can pretend I don't affect her, but the proof is right there on her pretty skin."

*deep breath deep breath deep breath* ok I cannot believe I am about to right this but here it goes - THANK YOU SO MUCH EMILY MCINTIRE FOR THE ADVANCED READER'S COPY!! (BTW I am writing this while holding back happy tears - not even kidding).

"Turns our Lover Boy looks pretty good when he's a little unhinged."

The "Never After" series has always had a special place in my heart and I think "Hexed" might be my favorite instalment. Emily McIntire always has this amazing writing to her books - this amazing world creation and character building - I could not put this book down if you paid me too or physically moved me. I was devouring this book and it was devouring me. It is very bittersweet that this is the last book in the series but it just means that it is rereading time!! 💜💜

"There she goes with my name again ,and fuck, does it sound good rolling off her tongue. I want to hear her say it again. Moan it. Scream it."

Enzo and Vanesa have my heart. Their own stories are everything and their banter, chemistry and spice!!! NO NOTES - I AM SAT. I AM SITTING. YOU WILL NOT MOVE ME PEOPLE. Thank you so much Emily McIntire again for this masterpiece!! 💜🐚🔱

"Well, that's your first mistake, piccola sirena. Who ever said I was fair?"

Now - I told you this playlist was a long one but I just could not help myself - these are the songs that I added to the official playlist and might I say that I am very proud of myself thank you very much 💜🐚🔱

(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iA... )

🎶 "Poor Unfortunate Souls" - China Anne McClain
🎶 "W.I.T.C.H." - Rain Paris
🎶 "VILLAIN" - Neoni
🎶 "Sugar" - Sleep Token
🎶 "Poison - Remix" - Rita Ora, Krept & Konan, Zdot
🎶 "killing boys" - Halsey
🎶 "Acid Annie" - Natalia Kills
🎶 "100 Little Deaths" - Lilith Czar
🎶 "Vicious" - Bohnes
🎶 "CASUALTY" - MOTHICA
🎶 "DARKSIDE" - Neoni
🎶 "Gangsta - Flashback Version" - Kehlani
🎶 "Enter Sandman" - Alessia Cara, The Warning
🎶 "ever fallen?" - Kate Peytavin
🎶 "SEX & THE CITY" - PLVTINUM, VOILA
🎶 "JENNIFER'S BODY - Sped Up" - PLVTINUM, Dutch Melrose, Chris Grey
🎶 "When You Say My Name" - Chandler Leighton
🎶 "Kiss or Kill" - Stela Cole
🎶 "Hypnotic" - Zella Day
🎶 "Devil's Worst Nightmare" - FJORA
🎶 "Bloody Mary" - Lady Gaga
🎶 "Call Me Devil" - Friends in Tokyo
🎶 "Kill Of The Night" - Gin Wigmore
🎶 "GOSSIP" - Maneskin, Tom Morello
🎶 "My Kink Is Karma" - Chappell Roan
🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎶 "Nightmare" - Halsey
🎶 "Outta my head" - Omido, Rick Jansen, Ordell
🎶 "Lose Control" - Teddy Swims
🎶 "Black Magic Woman" - VCTRYS
🎶 "Black Magic" - Little Mix
🎶 "Bad Guy" - Halocene
🎶 "Desperado" - Rihanna
🎶 "Shackles" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "FUCK" - Snow Wife
🎶 "King" - Lilith Czar
🎶 "You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing" - Halestorm
🎶 "Venom" - Little Simz
🎶 "sugar honey ice & tea" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Fire Meet Gasoline" - Sia
🎶 "Harder To Breathe" - Letdown.
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "You Put a Spell on Me" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "happy ending" - Bailey Spinn
🎶 "In the Dark" - Solence
🎶 "Bigger Person" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Baby" - Madison Beer
🎶 "Renegade" - Aaryan Shah
🎶 "Sweet 'n' Savage" - Kxlly
🎶 "eyes don't lie sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "My Only Dream Is To Be Loved" - Chrissy Chlapecka
🎶 "Burning Down - Alex's Version" - Alex Warren
🎶 "Criminals" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "trouble" - Camylio
🎶 "Chokehold" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker
🎶 "I Feel You" - Depeche Mode
🎶 "Medusa" - Kaia Jette
🎶 "Miss Independent" - Meet Me @ The Altar
🎶 "Stupid Cupid" - Jenna Raine
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Chokehold" - Sleep Token
🎶 "angel" - Camylio
🎶 "Family Line" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Little Girl Gone" - CHINCHILLA
🎶 "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT" - Loveless
🎶 "I Want To" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Not Afraid Anymore" - Halsey
🎶 "GASOLINE" - Maneskin
🎶 "Feel Me Now" - If Not For Me
🎶 "Best Of Me" - Christina Aguilera
🎶 "Dynasty (Orchestral Version)" - MIIA
🎶 "You've Created a Monster" - Bohnes
🎶 "Goddess" - Xana
🎶 "Fire On Fire" - Sam Smith
🎶 "LOUD" - Sofia Carson
🎶 "Mad World" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "River" - BRKN LOVE
🎶 "Snow On The Beach" - Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey
🎶 "Angry" - Paravi
🎶 "Joke's On You" - Charlotte Lawrence
🎶 "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? - Cover" - Remember the Monsters
🎶 "Wicked Witch of the Westside" - Ellise
🎶 "Just a Girl - Cover" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "You Made a Monster" - Nick Kingsley, Hannah Hart
���� "Belladonna" - Ava Max
🎶 "GOD COMPLEX" - April Jai
🎶 "The Summoning" - Sleep Token
🎶 "Like A God" - Lia Maria Johnson
🎶 "I'm yours" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "…Fuck" - Johnny Rain
🎶 "Chains" - Nick Jonas
🎶 "as good a reason" - Paris Paloma
🎶 "CLEO" - Halle Abadi
🎶 "Queen Of The Night" - Hey Violet
🎶 "Die With A Smile" - Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars
🎶 "To My Knees" - Two Feet
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎶 "Swim" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "LET THE WORLD BURN" - Chris Grey
🎶 "Leave My Body" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Lover" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "ALWAYS BEEN YOU" - Chris Grey
🎶 "BLURRY" - Neoni
🎶 "Power Over Me" - Dermot Kennedy
🎶 "Ride for Me" - Daniel Di Angelo
🎶 "Taste" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling, Lzzy Hale
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Moon" - Austin Giorgio
🎶 "Supernova" - Ansel Elgort
🎶 "Queen" - Loren Gray
🎶 "Lipstick" - Charlie Puth
🎶 "Kiss The Girl" - Brent Morgan
🎶 "Ever Ever After" - Carrie Underwood

And you know Emily McIntire delivered with the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

"Now be a good girl and let me eat."

"Do You see how good you look, under my hands, taking my cock?"

"That's right, baby - it's me who makes you feel like this. Goddamn, you take my cock so well."

🐚 Tropes 🐚

🔱 Female Villain + Antihero = True Love
💜 Forbidden Romance
🔱 Touch Her/Him and Die
💜 He Falls First
🔱 Mafia Romance
💜 Forced Proximity
🔱 Slow Burn
💜 Dark Fractured Fairytale Romance

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DBq4e_SoG...

.⋆˚⁀➷ 2★
this was soooo boring + shallow. i hate insta-love but i still kinda enjoyed venesa×enzo's moments together. i did not care about anything else though.

-forbidden romance ( cousin's fiance so expect cheating and a ton of ow drama)
-little mermaid inspired (the easter eggs from the little mermaid were fun to find, ngl)

🎧 the audiobook is excellent. the narrators did a great job!!

┍━━━━━⋆⭒˚.⋆☁️⋆.˚⭒⋆━┑
never after series:

[i] hooked - 3★
[ii] scarred - 4★
[iii] wretched - 3★
[iv] twisted - tbr
[v] crossed - dnf
[vi] hexed - 2★
┕━⋆⭒˚.⋆☁️⋆.˚⭒⋆━━━━━┙

⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⌞pre~read⌝⋆.˚⭒⋆
buddy read with kat !
emily books are hit or miss for me. i dnf'd the last book in this series sooo i hope i enjoy this one more
*fingers crossed*

i have never pre-written reviews, but knowing what i know about this series, i know that i’m going to love it and i want this author to have all of the good things because she brings immeasurable joy into my life with her novels and i cannot wait to read this

update: have read and can still confirm it was one of the best books i’ve read and such a bittersweet send off to this series (also that epilogue is a 10000/10 okay thank you)

4.5 ⭐️
4 🌶️

✨ I'm fucking gone while I watch her. The world could light itself on fire behind us, and I don't think I'd care. ✨

Emilyyyy, QUEEEEN! What in the world did you put in this masterpiece? Like, is it possible to be enchanted through a book, because I was absolutely captivated from page 1 and devoured this beaut in 1.5 days. 😫

I could feel the chemistry between Enzo and Venesa THROUGH the pages, and the tension was so intense my fingers burned. To see Vanesa go from feeling unseen and desperately seeking approval to embracing herself as a sexy, bad a** b*tch and how Enzo helped empowering his Piccola Sirena, was truly inspiring. I. Ate. It. Up. ❤️‍🔥

Oh, and can we talk about the constant plot twist for sec? Jesus gurl, the number of times I was side-eying my kindle was unreal. Jessica had it coming tho... 🤭👀

I am not kidding when I say the acknowledgements had me in tears. Emily, your McInculties got you, always. You’re such a strong a** woman and we will always have your back ready to shout about you from every rooftop. 🫶🏼

Thank you so much, Emily and team, for giving me the opportunity to read this arc, I'm still recovering. 💜

✨ "That's a dangerous thing to say to a man like me, piccola sirena. ✨

Tropes:
🖤 Mafia Romance
🥀 Villain FMC + Antihero MMC
❤️‍🔥 (VERY) Forbidden Romance
💜 Forced Proximity
🧜🏼‍♀️ Little Mermaid Inspired
✨ Nickname - Piccola Sirena
🔥 Slowburn


Song:
🎶 Play with Fire - Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money

This has to be the best book I’ve ever read from Emily McIntire. Like actual perfection, left no crumbs, chef’s kiss and all that.

The tension in this was literally off the charts. Every single chapter you just got smacked in the face with it. These two wanted each other SO FREAKING BADLY. I mean they were perfect for each other so of course?? Also, Enzo gives the best gifts.

Can we say holy plot twists?? There were so many things I just didn’t see coming that had my jaw on the freaking floor. You just can’t predict things like that. Just when you thought you figured everything out BOOM twist. And it just kept happening??

The spice. The spice was 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻. I mean what more can I say? It was most definitely spicing.

10/10 would read again and again and again.

I HAVE A NEW FAVORITE EMILY MCINTIRE BOOK 🗣️

I have so much love for morally grey women, it’s always going to boost the books rating for me because of that. And Venesa is easily a top favorite morally grey woman for me now, I absolutely adored her entire character arc. AND she’s bisexual?? PLEASE. IM IN LOVE.

Enzo also had me swooning left and right, which is not surprising to me since all of Emily’s men do that to me haha.

The plot, I have to say, was my favorite of hers so far too. It was classic mafia, but with the little twists here and there and nods to the little mermaid, it made it soooo unique and interesting to me.

Overall, I’m dying to yap about with this people so hurry up and read it once it comes out haha. That’s how good it is!!

*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

I absolutely love a strong female main character, especially when she's a "villain." Venesa truly made this story. And when a dark romance is somehow giving Ivy by Taylor Swift? Unexpected, but I love it.

I loved all of the nods to the original Little Mermaid folktale, but they weren't too in-your-face. Venesa being equivalent to Ursula and having all of her potions and poisons was iconic. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I did not see coming at all. It was one plot twist after another. And I loved the forbidden romance aspect. Enzo was also a great MMC, though Venesa outshined him honestly.

While the pacing was solid, I do think this book was a bit too long, and I would've enjoyed it more if it were 25% shorter. And I thought the flirty, tension-building, "we're attracted to each other but it's forbidden" scenes were much better than the actual spicy scenes. Though overall, really enjoyed this one!

Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me a copy of Hexed. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

Okay, so I’ve had a total mixed bag of feels about the Never After series—let’s just say the last one was a HARD pass for me! 😩 But OMG, I’m absolutely BUZZING with excitement for Hexed! This dark and delicious twist on The Little Mermaid has me all ready to swoon over the forbidden romance between Enzo "Loverboy" Marino and the enchanting Venesa Andersen! 😍✨

The combo of mafia drama and steamy tension is just what my heart needs right now! 💖 Emily, I NEED this book ASAP because I can already tell it’s going to be one WILD ride! 🧜‍♀️💜 Bring on the magic and the chaos—let's go!

self note: has OW drama. H is engaged to OW (h's cousin) for a major part of the book. i don't have the patience nor the energy for that as much as i've enjoyed emily's books in the past

4.5

Emily McIntire does it once again. I'm genuinely speechless how she makes every single book in this series eats, I love her writing completely she does fractured fairytales with dark romance so well it just gives everything it needs to. I couldn't ask for a better book to end this series and honestly it's such a bittersweet moment knowing this is the end but I truly adored the couple so much and glad it was them 🫶🏻

Venesa and Enzo were the IT couple of this book, you can just tell from their first meeting they had this intense chemistry that just lights your insides on fire not only physically but their banter with eachother it just made their relationship even better especially since it was sooo forbidden considering he's her cousins fiancé 🫣 the TENSION in his book between the couple was truly intense and I ate up every single crumb and meal we got from them.

The way Enzo truly saw Venesa and was one of the first people to see her for who she is and not how she can be used to benefit themselves was so sweet and how protective he was over her especially with how people spoke about her, even when she wasn't even in the room. Nobody can do it better than him! The way they were vulnerable to eachother and just having deep conversations with eachother about their past and just speaking openly about it which they never did before just made their relationship so much more deeper and meaningful to me.

This one was honestly such a wild ride from the betrayals, the secrets and not knowing who to trust and you truly don't know what's going to happen next some of the plot twists literally baffled me into shock, truly did not see some of them happening - although some plot twists were pretty obvious...ifykyk🙄

I just need to say one thing though some characters made me soooo angry like no one before and that's Aria and her prick of a dad and the way they treated Venesa it just made me so angry, the things they do and say - honestly I'm glad they got the ending they did otherwise I would of been livid if they got an happy ending😭 Besides them and some other characters who I'm so annoyed about i truly adored this story so much.

The ending and epilogue was literally the sweetest thing ever and their relationship was everything and more plus who doesn't like fun and torture 🤭 the sea witch and lover boy are 100% meant for eachother and even though the end of, one of my favourite book series is bittersweet I will hold them so dearly🫶🏻

To those poor unfortunate souls 🎶

I never liked Ariel, the little mermaid was not a movie I chose to watch a bunch.

But I would watch it today if it went down like this book 🤣
Obviously not child friendly…

Venesa 🐙
I like a little bad*ss female with stabby tendencies.

Enzo 👑🖤
Phew I liked him.
Little mob son with a heart and a gun.

I really love the fractured fairytale retelling aspect.
The play on names and events that occur.
So good.
🧜‍♀️💋

I changed my mind and actually don’t want to read this book because exactly WHAT am I supposed to do when this series is over? 😭

—

UPDATE: Mrs McIntire, I believe I owe you my left tit

—

I would sell my left tit for this to be Ursula’s book

4.5 ⭐️Just wow! I loved the nod to the Little Mermaid and how Emily very cleverly wove the story into this book.
Can we just take a minute to discuss the tension between Vanesa and Enzo? Hoo ! 🥵
As usual, Emily provides very well written characters with clear roles that show you who they are from minute one. For me, Vanesa outshines all the other characters. She is so strong and intelligent that it's hard not to love her.

Can we also have a big hug for our author here? To be able to write a book like this whilst undergoing chemotherapy? That's one strong FMC right there ♥️

rtc?

“You said I am who I am because of you… Just wait until you see who I become in spite of you.”

Hexed is book 6 in the standalone Never After series, all the books in this series are basically a twist on fairy tales with the villains getting their HEAs! I have had such a fun time with this series (besides book 1 😅).

Hexed is a dark, forbidden romance (he’s her cousin’s fiancé), mafia, forced proximity, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, touch her and find out, and has lots of family secrets and scandals. This one gives The Little Mermaid vibes and all the nods had me smiling and giggling!

We follow Vanessa and Enzo. If you liked Wretched in this series, you’ll love Vanessa and this book! We start off with Vanessa torturing/getting rid of a man! “In my experience, it’s better when men can’t talk anyway.” 🤭 And I just loved her as a character, she’s been through so much and is strong and vicious. She meets Enzo, her cousin’s fiancé, and they become friends after spending time together on family business things and realizing they have a lot in common. They really connect and the tension is great, also how much he loves watching her do her job was fun. It’s definitely slow burn for them but once it gets there, it’s a steam-filled ride! Their dynamic was great, I loved how he knows exactly the kind of birthday gift she wants 👀🔪! My only issue was how long the book was, it felt its length at times, especially once they’re together in the last half. Otherwise, another solid addition to this series!

The Never After series went out much like it came in - with a darkly romantic bang.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Hexed by Emily McIntire

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Never After character series. Book 6.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Dark romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Villain FMC & MMC, he’s engaged, mafia, fractured fairytale, slow burn, touch her/him and die.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Venesa is the right hand of the king of the South. Enzo is the second in command of the Cosa Nostra. He’s engaged to be wed to her cousin, doing his duty to his family - except he can’t get Venesa out of his head.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Ok, honest review time.

I loved Hooked. I am absolutely obsessed with Scarred. And I think Wretched is one of the most underrated books of the series. But books 4 and 5 of this series - Twisted and Crossed - were not my jam at all. Crossed had me almost quit this series.

But I’m so glad I picked up Hexed. Everything screamed “WE’RE BACK BABY!” in this one. The parallels to Little Mermaid were fun and kept me strung along. The duology of both Venessa and Enzo - ruthless killers who are hopelessly in love… Emily McIntire said this was her most romantic book yet, and while I could argue that point I love swoony romance with a dark edge.

There’s some cheating involved in this one - but trust me, it doesn’t feel dirty when it happens.

Overall, huge applause to Emily McIntire for this series. It takes an excellent writer and incredible forethought to do what she’s done - and through what she was going through no less. I’m so glad it went out on a high note.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

Yasss <3

Self note:

Way too much OWD, and the H sleeps with the OW (the h’s cousin) on the same night he meets the h.🤢🤮🥴

Rating: 5 stars⭐️✨
Recommend: Hell yeah
Genre: Dark retelling romance🌶️
*Spoiler free review + synopsis*
This is a dark romance mafia retelling of Arielle in the never after series.
-Tropes:
🐚Marriage of convenience
🐚Enemies to lovers
🐚Mafia romance
🐚Touch her and die
🐚Slow burn
🐚Forced proximity
This had a lot of tropes I don’t normally love but were done so well it made me change my mind. The plot was plotting , the banter was bantering , and the smut was as smutting.

Well, this was a potential wasted
1.5🌟

This is how it went

🫨😋🤩 ch 1 to 20: ooooh very interesting
😶😶😶 ch 21 to 33: come on! Do something, show some gut
🫡 end of ch 33: yes finally! Go girl! Rein hell on them
🤨😐😑 ch 34 to 40: booooring
😒😒😒 ch 40+: so many variables and so many ridiculous plotholes

If you're going to "dummy" read this for the "how the villain of the Little Mermaid" got the Prince, then sure. ... it's perfect

But this is supposed to be a Dark Romance/Mafia
It did not work on both accounts

Enzo was a limp noodle
And Venesa was an idiot that she was blindsided so many times I almost wanted Aria to win

The side characters were even more baffling

The only way to enjoy this is if you turn your brain off

Sorry, I value my brain cells too much to do that

"Because it isn't her I'm supposed to want."🤭

SHE CALLS HIM LOVERBOY OMGGG AND HE NOT SUPPOSED TO WANT HER BUT CAN'T STAY AWAYY FROM HER .... EMILY GIMME THE ARC FOR THIS IMMEDIATELY 😫

If Emily writes it, I will read it ☺️

we as a society need more villainesses

enzo & venesa have my heart. I physically cannot stop thinking about them

*4.5 stars, rounded up*

okayyyyy y’all I did love this, especially as a Little Mermaid retelling enthusiast and Emily feddddd us

loved the mafia vibes & Venesa is an icon

“In a different life”!!!😭😭💖💖💖💖
This has to be my new favorite book from Emily McIntire !!
Check the TW!!!

In this mafia dark romance you meet Venesa and Enzo.
Both come from mafia families and suffer from traumatic upbringings. Their tension is fire from the moment they meet but there are way too many obstacles and reasons they shouldn’t act on their intense desires. One being, an arranged marriage between Enzo and Aria (Venesa’s cousin). Will they let their desires win? Or will they be consumed in the mafia life?

As always, Emily McIntire did her thang!!!! I fell in love with this book and the intense chemistry that this couple had was electrifying! The book pulled at my heart strings with all the romance and also when it came to a lot of the traumatic events.
If you enjoy dark romance or mafia romances then you will definitely fall in love with this book like I have 💖💖💖