Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Welcome Chelsey Ortega & Bondwitch: Hybrid

Please welcome the inimitable Chelsey Ortega. She’s going to tell us about her new release, book 2 in the Bondwitch series: Bondwitch: Hybrid.

Bondwitch: Hybrid is the sequel to Bondwitch. In book 1, Annamaria learns that she is a witch on prom night by getting her powers unlocked by the very person who locked them sixteen years prior. She goes on an adventure to learn how to use them, and picks up new friends and love interest along the way.

In book 2, Annamaria is well-versed in the use of magic, but is still a baby in the larger magical world that she belongs to. She has responsibilities she does not want, has to fight to keep her boyfriend in her life, and must choose between forming her own found family or staying within her controlling grandmother’s clutches. Meanwhile, her sister, Marianna has been elevated from side character in book 1 to secondary main character in book 2. She will need to confront her past in order to become the witch her grandmother expects of her.

The larger Bondwitch world was inspired by a single conversation with my brother: Witches would have been great in Twilight. What started out as verbal fanfiction for another series, turned into its own world, story, and characters. As I veered into my own story, I discovered that I really like writing from the underlying theme of family dynamics. Annamaria fights with her grandmother in almost every chapter, works out deep emotions with her aunt, and constantly focuses on protecting her sister. Marianna yearns to win her grandmother’s approval while also protecting her sister. The families in Bondwitch are messy, but real and relatable.

Blurb

Annamaria Lyons is finally with her grandma, but Libby holds unyielding control of her coven and granddaughters. Betrothed to a male witch, Annamaria’s heart secretly belongs to her vampire boyfriend. When Libby threatens deadly consequences if she refuses the arranged marriage, Annamaria faces an impossible choice: obey or risk everything to follow her heart?

Marianna Lyons is a big disappointment. Stripped of her magic when she was forcefully turned into a vampire, she is now an outcast, desperate for Libby’s approval. When Marianna is tricked into breaking coven rules, she faces a difficult decision: endure brutal rehabilitation, or leave her new home. As Marianna struggles to rediscover herself, will she accept her new identity, or conform to Libby’s impossible demands?

Excerpt:

“Open the gate.” Annamaria stood as tall as she could in front of the two inside guards.

 “I’m sorry, Miss. Madam Libby’s orders. No one goes in or out tonight.” His face was a mask of neutrality.

“But tonight’s the night Anthony returns.” The guard’s eyes softened, pity swirling in their chocolate brown depths. She pinched her brows. Was this why Libby snooped through her phone this morning? Annamaria looked to her left. The other guard was talking to Zeke, who bobbed his head with folded arms. She looked to her right. No one. She ran along the perimeter, calling on the air to give her a boost. Annamaria leaped upward, a strong wind from her palms catching and guiding her.

“Miss!” 

The guard ran right behind her. His fingers grazed her ankles. Annamaria’s control of the air flickered and she wobbled. She kicked at him, planted her foot against his head, and used his sturdy form to thrust herself upward. She called on a final boost of air, landing on top of the wall. The guard cried out as he landed flat on his back on the ground below. Annamaria looked over the wall. Four figures stood near a vehicle in the dark. 

She jumped and used the air to slow her fall. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she ran toward the group. The figures became clearer. Two shifter guards, Marianna, and Anthony. Annamaria made a beeline to Anthony and threw herself into his arms. He caught her without changing his stance or breath. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he wrapped his arms around hers, nuzzling his nose into her hair. 

She kissed him in front of their small audience, and anyone else who might be watching. Anthony kissed her back, parting her lips with his tongue and lightly sucking on her bottom lip. Though they had been “dating” for the past month, their last kiss had been before she fled Will’s over a month ago. She kissed him until she ran out of breath, then inhaled and rested her forehead against his.

“Welcome home,” she whispered, gazing into his dark brown eyes and dropping her feet to the ground.

Anthony chuckled, and his black skater hair fell forward as he looked down to meet her gaze. “I’ll go away more often if this is how you’ll greet me.”

 

Bondwitch: Hybrid

The Wild Rose Press: 5/11/26

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

392 pages

Heat level: Warm

 

Buy Links

Amazon Barnes & Noble The Wild Rose Press Walmart

Other buy options: https://chelseymortega.com/bondwitch-2/


About the Author

Chelsey M. Ortega is a teacher by day and award-winning author by night. History is her first love, and any story involving magic and romance, her second love. She especially loves witches and is still awaiting her acceptance letter to a well-known school. Chelsey received her Bachelor's in History Teaching from Brigham Young University. In addition to writing, Chelsey teaches high school U.S. History and ELD. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and two cats. Follow Chelsey at www.chelseymortega.com

Socials:

Facebook: Chelsey M. Ortega -Author https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086032045677#

Instagram: @chelsey_mae_o https://www.instagram.com/chelsey_mae_o/ 

TikTok: @chelseym.ortega https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseym.ortega

Bluesky: @chelseymortega.bsky.social  https://bsky.app/profile/chelseymortega.bsky.social

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