Rise of the Witch: The Yaga's Riders, Book 1

Loved this take on the legend. There is a lot of good push and pull with the group. Also the mystery with a certain character and what that means for all of them when things start to change. Yagas past May be coming back to hurt her forest and Im ennlying the mystery and journey they will have to go on to figure out what is going on.Looking forward to book 2 and where it's going to lead.

Having lost everything, Vasilisa traveled to a ramshackle hut in the woods and the witch there took her under her wing. Vasi soon inherited the position, becoming Baba Yaga, a monster many feared. For centuries, she did her duty alone until three gorgeous men came upon her hut. No one just stumbles upon Yaga's hut. These could be the three she has been waiting for, but if it is them, the threat to her forest is much more frightening than she first imagined.This is the first book in the paranormal fantasy reverse harem romance series, The Yaga's Riders. I'm familiar with the tales of Baba Yaga, and I do love a good origin story. I also really love the idea that Yaga has her own protectors in the form of the Riders. Vasi has had a grim fairy tale horror of a life, and while she's known moments of comfort in her hut, she's lonely. When Nox, Asa, and Tan come into her life, everything is thrown upside-down for all of them. They're military men, warriors, and she's a fighter in her own right. If she can bond with her riders, then her power and theirs will grow, but things aren't looking good on any front. There are plenty of steamy and hardcore sex scenes, so be prepared. This isn't a sweet romance. I would love to see more of the shifters and what else is happening in the forest. Yet this is Yaga's and her riders' story. It's a great beginning. I can't wait to see where it will take us.

This is my first time reading C. Rochelle but I stumbled upon the book on the Good Reads March Most Anticipated Romance list and first it was the cover that caught me and then the synopsis really drew me in. I found myself pushing this to the top of my tbr.The story starts off at an intense and pivotal moment in the fmc's (Vasi's) life so you can expect to be captured and thrown right in, no chance to get bored.I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out if the setting was historical, modern present, or futuristic. I believe it's modern present but Vasi is so very disconnected from the modern world that your time spent with her will feel very much like a fairytale, with a beautiful woman in the woods communing with nature.There is quite a bit of mythology (of various cultures) in this world, including some Gods who interact with the fmc and her Riders (fated mates), and with the Gods comes various types of Devils and they all seem to be interested and following Vasi for some reason. We are given hints of prophecy and hints of the full potential of what Vasi and her Riders will be capable of when they fully connect, but this is just book one. I'm expecting book two will dive deeper into all of that.On the whole this was really strong writing with a fair amount of mystery and intense situations to keep your attention. I definitely recommend and will be following this author to check out her other works.Ratings:Character building: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐World building: 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎 🌎 (really strong world building, you're going to feel like you are there)Romance: 💓 💓 💓 1/2 (this is just the first book so this will undoubtedly grow as the series progresses)Heat/Steam:🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 (quite a bit of MM in this series, two guys have a relationship and are clearly in love prior to meeting the fmc)Action: 🍿 🍿 🍿 1/2Suspense: 💣 💣 💣 💣Drama: 👀 👀 👀 👀Dark: 💀 💀 💀 💀Multiple POVs: Yes ✔Ending: CliffhangerRecommend: Yes 👍Triggers: Somewhat detailed mention of past rape, abuse and miscarriage.Length: Approximately 250 pages

Okay, firstly, I read this book on a whim based on the trigger warnings of "naughty humor," and when I say I was dying laughing through most of this book... well, I was.I will say it was a bit cheesy, but it was also the type of book I needed in the moment when I started reading it.This was definitely a different kinda read. I've done folklore before, but never Russian folklore, so it was cool to dive into something different and learn something different in a way. Though I do believe the world building could be a little bit better in it, and maybe that will come in book 2, I just didn't feel like I got to know much about the folklore minus a couple of names I could Google and research myself.I will say it's a very cozy comforting read until the last like 20% when things start getting a little more intense and real. (Slight spoilers beyond this point, fyi!)The heartache poor Tan must feel for the last portion of the book just utterly crushed me because he's so fun and witty through the whole book and was like my favorite of all the main characters because he made me laugh the most. So that also just made me mad at Asa for doing that to him instead of just being open and honest.Nox is still a complete mystery to me, I mean, how does he judge Baba Yaga, yet he's somehow involved with some of this folklore himself? How much does he actually know, because I'm convinced his dad told him more than he's letting on and he's keeping too many secrets. He gets mad that people keep things from him, yet I get the suspicion that he's the one with the most damn secrets.Will I read book 2? Yes. I need all my questions answered.

I've been waiting to read this until all the books were released, and the wait was so WORTH IT!! This book is amazing, I love Vasi and her world, Nox, Tan, and Asa are phenomenal. The world building drew me in and felt like this world was where I lived. I have so many more good things to say, but that will take time away from reading book 2!! Highly recommend this for anyone who is getting bored of the vanilla and basic vampires and werewolves!

First of all I want to say that I really like the world built in this story, as well as the plot building and I'm really grateful this story exist. However I have to say that the spice really bothered me in this story, usually I'm all for spice especially in relationship between consenting adults. However, my problem here is that it completely broke the flow of the book multiple time. Especially one caracter : Tan. This guy always ALWAYS thought of s**, and it just bothered me so much becaude why would you think about that, when your partner is literally crying because she lost someone dear to her? The moment where they did it were just so random and that kind of started annoying me, despite originally really liking Tan's caracter. Anyway, I still belive this story deserve s to be read, but I just hope the spice will come more naturally in the future.

It was something new the eastern European background, the heroine being the baba yaga and I'm all ways happy to find a book that doesn't repeats what I've read a dozen times before.I don't like bully or enemies to lovers romance and there is one alphahole but he's balanced by the other two love-interests so that's all right with me.I like the FMC she's bad**s but considerate and doesn't folds as soon as some alpha-lover comes by.I especially like the steamy parts they are a bit unusual and hot!Beware the cliffhanger!

Well that's an excruciating cliffhanger right there! My God!I'm not sure how I feel, quite bereft at the moment.Poor Vasi didn't have a good go if things in her mortal life and ended up trading becoming a forest witch, trying to protect the balance of nature and sometimes aiding humans by giving them guidance. At this stage she's pretty much settled into life and going about her own business when three military type guys get lost in the woods.Nox, my gosh he comes across as an obnoxious pain, while Ass is pretty sweet and Tan is quite amusing are they destined to become more to Vasi and aid her in finding out the ominous things happening at the edge of her forest.There is so much going on here, we are given lots of back story, plenty of character development, this is a fast burn so their relationship develops quickly and there is plenty of steam and some MM scenes as wellI cannot wait to see where the story goes there is so much going on here part of it feels very contemporary whilst it's so definitely paranormal and I loved the way they blended together. I can't wait to find out more with each storyline and how they come together.Really excited for book 2

Great beginning to the series. Fantastic new ideas and not formulaic like so many other books around. Looking forward to book 2 which I've already purchased and about to start reading!