Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback, 352 Pages
2011, Harlequin
ISBN: 0373210302
Synopsis
What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?
Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.
But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.
Review
Spellbound focuses on witches, which I love, and past lives, which I don't, therefore I was a little unsure about reading this book. While both had their parts, the majorly important thing here was Emma and Brendan and how they cope with their feelings in the face of the knowledge they share.
What makes Spellbound work so well is the slow build up on all fronts. Nothing is shoved in your face early or often. The witchcraft is hinted at a few times but isn't fully expanded upon until it becomes necessary to the story. The same goes for the past lives, which are directly linked to the witchcraft. Where the slow build became extremely effective was in Emma and Brendan's relationship.
When dealing with couples who are linked by reincarnation, we often see an insta-love scenario in the current life. The attraction was there for Emma and Brendan, but these two didn't just swoon at the sight of each other and rush into each others arms. There was a wonderful realism to their practical approach to the situation. They researched. They proceeded with caution. They did what they could to prevent the past from repeating itself instead of just hoping that love would save them and it still managed to be romantic.
Spellbound manages to navigate some tricky plot lines surprisingly well, feeling fresh but never over the top. The romance feels natural for the premise. The violence towards the end is effective and made me quickly realize just how much these characters had come to mean to me. Spellbound is a intricately woven, magically romantic book you won't want to miss.
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