Hexed

Emily McIntire’s *Hexed* is her boldest and most addictive novel yet. This forbidden mafia retelling of *The Little Mermaid* crackles with tension and delivers characters who are as magnetic as they are complicated. From the very first page, I was completely swept away. This is easily my favorite of her stories—an absolute triumph. The Tension is a Weapon If you crave a slow-burn romance that erupts into a wildfire, you absolutely need to pick up this book. The chemistry between Venesa Andersen and Enzo "Loverboy" Marino leaps off every page, building a tension so fierce you can feel it in your bones. Their struggle against a forbidden attraction that threatens to unravel everything is utterly gripping. The longing and pining are achingly real, and when the sparks finally ignite, it is nothing short of magical. Morally Grey Royalty I absolutely love a morally grey heroine, and Venesa has instantly become one of my all-time favorites. She is cunning, stunning, and fiercely ambitious, with a character arc that kept me riveted. Venesa is the witch who steals the prince’s heart, and you cannot help but root for every wicked choice she makes. Enzo, the prince of the underworld, matches her every step with a possessive devotion that is both dangerous and completely irresistible. His gifts are unforgettable. Masterful Plotting The plotting in *Hexed* takes the entire story to another level. It blends the gritty, high-stakes world of the mafia—full of duty, danger, and power—with clever nods to the *Little Mermaid* fairytale. The result is a narrative that feels fresh, endlessly intriguing, and completely addictive. The pacing is flawless; I was on the edge of my seat, desperate for each new twist. The storytelling is brilliant, and I am so grateful the author gave this couple the Happily Ever After they deserved. Anything less would have been unbearable. If you are searching for a high-stakes, forbidden romance with a fierce, unforgettable heroine, stop what you’re doing and read *Hexed* right now.

Hexed is the final book in the Never After series, taking inspiration from The Little Mermaid. These books are all complete standalones and do NOT need to be read in order. You will not spoil any story if you read out of order. Cousins Aria Kingston and Venesa Andersen were raised together after the death of Venesa's mother. While fmc Venesa has stayed close to her Uncle in South Carolina, helping with his "business" and desperately trying to win his approval, his beloved daughter Aria up and moved to Manhattan. However, she is returning to her hometown, briefly, for the engagement party her uncle is throwing for her and her fiancée, mmc Enzo Marino. As a warning, the mmc is engaged to Aria for more than half of this book. Still, it hardly feels like OW drama. Aria is really only present to be a horrible person to Venesa and to bat her eyelashes at Enzo occasionally. While I enjoyed the slow burn and the forbidden aspect of the attraction between Enzo and Venesa, the book had a tendency to drag at times. I really enjoyed the ending, as it was fast paced with a few interesting twists. Overall, I really enjoyed this series. The only book I didn't love was book 3, Wretched, and even that one was good. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the other books in the series.

The Ursula/Little Mermaid inspirations are woven in without feeling gimmicky, giving the story a fresh, villain-leaning twist on the fairytale. The heroine is genuinely kick-ass! She’s competent, brave, and driven while still being delightfully flawed with her terrible observation skills and occasional obliviousness, which makes her feel human instead of over-polished. The pacing moves fast, the chemistry simmers, and the morally gray hero stays just dangerous enough to be interesting. A dark, addictive fairytale for readers who want their princesses sharp and their villains irresistible. • Villain / morally gray love interest • Dark fairytale romance • Magic & curses • Enemies → allies → lovers • Seduction as strategy • Gothic / atmospheric fantasy • Power imbalance (fantasy/political) • “He protects her but denies it” energy • Lust → trust development arc

Hexed is dark, intoxicating, and completely addictive. Emily McIntire delivers a bold, morally gray romance that pulls no punches, rich with tension, obsession, and emotional depth. The chemistry is intense, the stakes feel personal and dangerous, and the storytelling keeps you hooked from start to finish. This book fully embraced its darkness and didn’t shy away from the messy, complicated feelings that make it so compelling. I devoured every page and loved it completely.

I did like the book but it was a little hard for me to actually get into it. The little mermaid is one of my favorite Disney movies which is why I bought this book. I will admit Emily did keep the story close to movie storyline which I loved. But it wasn’t ask dark as I was hoping. I’m happy Venessa got everything that was owed to her and that she got Enzo.

Finished Hexed by Emily McIntire. It's the last one in the Never After Series. This one is based on The Little Mermaid (which is my fav Disney... And I LOVED it! It has a whole mafia storyline. It was SO good.

Ich hab Teil 6 mit Spannung erwartet, denn wie so viele andere auch hab ich mit Emily gelitten, während sie kämpfte und schrieb. Es nun gelesen zu haben ist einfach überwältigend. Ich habe die Story in zwei Tagen verschlungen und gebangt, gehofft, gelitten, mitgefiebert. Die Geschichte von Venesa und Enzo war wirklich der spannendste Slow Burn, den ich je gelesen habe. Wer die Never After Series 1 bis 5 gelesen und geliebt hat, wird mit Nr 6 auf keinen Fall enttäuscht.

This Is the third book by Emily McIntire I read and I really like this One too. The villains are all well done and I can't help but root for Vanesa's evil deeds!! I also enjoy reading about her love story with Enzo Who Is perfect for her!!

Vanesa and Enzo are relationship goals. We'll, goals if you're both multiple deleters; Enzo for the Italian Mafia and Vanessa for her crime boss uncle. But for serious, their relationship was one of communication, respect, friendship and mutual support. And the Little Mermaid Easter Eggs sprinkled through this book was so fun. This was my favourite in the Never After series and I savoured every moment reading it.

This is my favourite one of the series. I loved the story, the characters, the reprisentation 🌈 Just incredible. Off to find me some chimney cake.