The Coven is a gothic fantasy romance with elements of dark academia and witchcraft. An intriguing concept with less captivating execution, it’s a fast read with a shocking ending.
Book Review: The Coven
- Author: Harper L. Woods
- Series: Coven of Bones
- Publisher: Independently published
- Page Count: 298 pages, Kindle edition
- First published March 16, 2023
- ASIN: B0BR199Z6D
- Literary awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romantasy (2023)
- Available in eBook Format (ePub): Yes
Plot Overview
Willow, the young witch at the center of The Coven, is raised and trained with a single purpose: to avenge her family’s past. Her mission? Enroll in the witches’ university, master her magic, and uncover the ancestral bones needed to free the Coven from the oppressive rule of the Assembly and the Bearers.
But from the very beginning, this mission feels vague. The plot often wanders, giving the impression that Willow’s goal is more of a narrative excuse than the true engine of the story. The university is a grim, disturbing place—with a “voluntary” breeding program and Bearers who feed on witches’ blood.
At the academy, Willow meets Alaric—the enigmatic, powerful headmaster and a Bearer himself. Their relationship evolves from hostility and suspicion into a complicated pact sealed with blood… and undeniable attraction.
Thoughts & Impressions
The Coven isn’t boring. On the contrary, the ingredients are all there: dark academia vibes, a richly magical setting, and a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic. But unfortunately, the execution falters.
The main conflict feels poorly defined and inconsistently developed. Willow’s motivations are barely touched upon, and her choices often defy logic or explanation. The story lacks internal coherence, and several moments—even magical or anatomical ones—break suspension of disbelief.
The truth? I kept reading mostly for the romance. The sexual tension between Willow and Alaric drives the narrative far more than any magical intrigue or overarching plot. Luckily, the ending delivers some payoff, though it doesn’t quite redeem the confusion and gaps along the way.
Verdict
The Coven is a great concept with shaky execution. If you’re looking for a dark academia novel with witchy elements, steamy tension, and you’re not too hung up on worldbuilding consistency—you might enjoy it. But if you crave clear lore, solid storytelling, and logical magical rules, you may walk away disappointed.
And if you’re simply in the mood for a sexy professor trope done better? Try Gothikana—that one hits the mark.
Raised to be my father’s weapon against the Coven that took away his sister and his birthright, I would do anything to protect my younger brother from suffering the same fate. My duty forces me to the secret town of Crystal Hollow and the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University—where the best and brightest of my kind learn to practice their magic free from human judgment.
There are no whispered words here. No condemnation for the blood that flows through my veins. The only animosity I face comes from the beautiful and infuriating Headmaster, Alaric Grayson Thorne, a man who despises me just as much as I loathe him and everything he stands for.
But that doesn’t mean secrets don’t threaten to tear the school in two. No one talks about the bloody massacre that forced it to close decades prior, only the opportunity it can afford to those fortunate enough to attend.
Because for the first time in fifty years, the Coven will open its wards to the Thirteen: thirteen promising students destined to change the world.
If the ghosts of Hollow’s Groves’ victims don’t kill them first…
The Coven is book one in the Coven of Bones series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a gothic, dark-academia, paranormal romance and includes elements that may be triggering to some listeners.
