Cara Lynn Shultz

We all know the doomed story about Romeo & Juliet, but did these young lovers know how hopeless their star-crossed romance would be? When Emma gets to start fresh at an exclusive prep school after some family tragedies, finding a Romeo was bottom on her to-do list. So, why does the resident hottie Brendan draw her unwilling eye – and why does their dance feel like a tale as old as time? The answer is rather grim: True love, if what they have is true, will end in a curse called death if show more they are unable to resist each other. Will Emma and Brendan find each other worth the risk?

I know the story of Spellbound seems familiar – Romeo & Juliet, new girl & hot-but-oh-so-elusive boy, true love headed down the track of destruction – and you must wonder if this book is worth a gander. My verdict? Spellbound has such an enchanting voice that will make the classic story pop and sparkle like nobody’s business. Fun and charming with enough dash of mystery, sizzle, and snark that will keep the pages turning. I tend to find something magical in a romance-gone-cursed – and watching Brendan and Emma try to decide between being together or staying apart is heart-wrenching. I am curious to see where the series goes from here. show less

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: fans of YA that are tired of love triangles, heroes that try to protect the heroine by hiding her away, and heroines that are annoying. Those who enjoy a good story with quirky and fun characters.
Trigger Warnings: violence, killing

My Thoughts: Holy cliffhangers, Batman! If you have a problem with cliffhangers, you will probably be enraged by this book, which ends on a significant cliffhanger, with no news as to when the show more next book in the series will be available, only that there will be another book. All I can say is that I hope it is written and released soon, because I desperately want to know what happens next.

Oh, yeah, I really enjoyed this book overall. There were a few problems—for example, “whom” is misused every single time it is used, and “mere” is seriously overused (such as “mere moments” or “mere inches” etc.). However, I really liked the characters. Ajax is just a hoot, and Paige's “I'm the weird girl and that's the way it is” attitude is so very similar to my attitude at that age, so I was really able to relate to her. It was really nice to have a heroine that was quirky and a bit strange; some of the things she came up with were hilarious. For example:
“...there was the little matter of me talking to people in the hospital that no one else could see. I went for brain scan after brain scan, tried little white pills, big blue pills, yellow pills—I tasted the rainbow when it came to pills—but the doctors couldn't find anything medically wrong with me.

Or:
A tall, dark-haired boy... stared after me curiously. He gave me a slow smile before turning his attention back to Miller. That smile sent chills racing down my arms, leaving gooseflesh in their wake, but not in a good way. It was less Mr. Sexypants and more Mr. Windowless Van.
I also loved that she was so willing to make fun of herself over Logan. It wasn't all drama-drama, weeping and moaning; she was willing to have fun with things and laugh at her own nonsense. For example:
He [Logan] wasn't wearing his baseball cap for once, and the day was bright, almost warm, so his face was bathed in a soft glow from the winter sun. Logan's normally shaded eyes looked a much lighter brown in the sun, and they crinkled up at the corners as he gave me an easy smile.

Are you deliberately screwing with me, sun? What's next? Is his smile going to sparkle as a bell-like “ding” chimes in the distance? Is a butterfly going to land on his shoulder? Give the boy a white horse and it's a wrap for poor Paige's heart.

Or:
I reached for my bag but Logan refused, insisting on carrying it. Because he just had to do perfect gentlemanly things that made me like him even more. That bastard.
I enjoyed Paige's relationship with her dad, despite his belief that she was crazy and talked to people who weren't there. His over protectiveness is on display in this scene:
Sure enough, a minute later my dad poked his head in just to check and see if we needed anything. Then he made sure the door was as wide open as possible. And tested the lock. And studied the hinges, possibly contemplating removing the door from the frame. And then he left. Probably to go collect his award for Most Embarrassing Dad of All Time That Ever Existed in the History of Everything.
I also liked that Logan didn't just try to keep Paige safe by hiding her away and protecting her, but actually was willing to help her learn how to defend herself. And it was really refreshing to have a young adult book without a love triangle. See, it can be done!

So, despite any faults, an enjoyable book, and the first book in a new series that I will definitely be following. Keep in mind the cliffhanger ending; if that sort of thing bothers you, you might want to wait until the next book is at least announced so you aren't left hanging! But if this sounds like your cup of tea, I definitely recommend it.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Paige Kelly is used to weird--in fact, she probably corners the market on weird, considering that her best friend, Dottie, has been dead since the 1950s. But when a fire demon attacks Paige in detention, she has to admit that things have gotten out of her league. Luckily, the cute new boy in school, Logan Bradley, is a practiced demon slayer—and he isn't fazed by Paige's propensity to chat with the dead. Suddenly, Paige is smack in the middle of a centuries-old battle between warlocks and demons, learning to fight with a magic sword so that she can defend herself. And if she makes one wrong move, she'll be pulled into the Dark World, an alternate version of our world that's overrun by demons—and she might never make it home. show less

Originally reviewed on YA Sisterhood Blog
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 6-21-2011

The Sisters Say: Spunky, Spicy, Spectacular

Spellbound is enchanting—from the first chapter I was hooked! You’ve got the Charmed type of witchcraft, the Cinderella type fairy tale, and the Vampire Diaries type sexy guy! Add all ingredients, put in a blender, and what do you get? A book that will truly keep you “spellbound” until show more the next installment!

I really enjoyed the different characters that Cara Lynn Shultz melds together. You have Emma who, at first is the type of girl who shuns away from confrontation, but then as she is constantly picked on at the posh private school she attends, she begins to break out of her shell. I’m not sure “break” is really the word, even, more like lashes out of her shell and charges anyone who gets in her way. It’s great to see Emma’s confidence in herself build, and it’s even greater to see her start to stand up to Kristin (the resident, rhymes with smee-ootch) of the school.

Then you have Angelique—the resident emo witch of the school who I absolutely adore! She’s so spunky and from the moment I met her, I couldn’t wait to see how her character developed. Besides Brendan (who’s my favorite because let’s face it…he’s an overprotective hottie with parent issues…yum), Angelique is definitely my favorite character. I can’t wait to see what awaits her next!
Okay…drum roll please…..Brendan!

Give me a moment to form my thoughts….because right now, all I’m getting is:

BRENDAN!!!! OH LA LA!!!!! BRENDAN!!!!! EEEEEKKKK!!!!! BRENDAN!!!!!

Where to begin? He’s got dark hair and mesmerizing green eyes that literally take your breath away. He’s tough as nails—winning every fight he gets in to, seriously, Cara Lynn Shultz should put him in a fight club—the only thing that could make this guy even hotter! His parents are practically “The Queen” type of rich, and the parent issues are obvious from the get-go. But who doesn’t love a guy that’s a rebel? What else? He’s crazy protective—which I love even more! The scenes where Brendan sticks up for Emma are the absolute best in the book!

You know, it’s not very often that I find a book that quite literally speeds up my heartbeat. I found myself growing increasingly nervous as things became even more dangerous in the book. Even now, thinking back on it, I feel my heart beating a little faster—and I know how it ends!

Now, there are a few flaws. Namely, I wish we would get more details about Emma and Brendan’s relationship (it’s pretty G rated)—there’s only so many kisses I can read about before I scream, “Come on! More!” But, maybe Cara Lynn Shultz is saving that for the future. I also wish there would be a few more plot twists (there were some aspects of predictability).

As far as content goes, the only thing you might be wary about is the underage drinking (which there is quite a bit), and some violence against women. But truthfully, I wouldn’t mind my teenage daughter reading this one. show less

I loved Spellbound, and I loved Spellcaster even more! Ms. Schultz has created characters you can really relate to despite their paranormal abilities. Emma and Brendan speak and act like normal teenagers which is what I love the most about them. The relationship between Emma and Brendan feels genuine and real. I never once doubted their feelings for each other in either book. As most of you know, I tend to lean more toward the action in books and treat the romance as just another plot point show more or obstacle, but in these books the romance is what drives them. This is a romance series that I can proudly stand behind. It’s real, and that’s what I love about it.

In Spellbound Emma and Brendan lifted the curse that plagued them for years — a curse which forced them to be reincarnated and to fall in love over and over only to have Emma ripped away from Brendan. With the curse officially broken, the only thing bogging down these soulmates is the media attention surrounding them after the brave heroics of Brendan in the first book. That, and the snotty mean girls at their posh private school, but those are minor things. This all changes when Emma’s friend Angelique does a spell which reveals that Emma and Brendan are in grave danger. A malevolent force is out to destroy them, and if they thought breaking the curse was difficult, they are in for a huge shock this time around.

What I love most about these books is that the first book could have easily been a standalone. I didn’t feel like I was left hanging, though I definitely wanted more of these two. This book contains a whole new mystery that does build on the first book, but it is a story of its own.

I particularly love Ms. Schultz’s writing style. She obviously cares deeply for her characters and she knows them well. They are so well-drawn. I also love how the story flows — pieces fall into place at exactly the right time and I never felt like it dragged at all.

Spellcaster is a well-written tale of romance and mystery and I highly recommend it. If you’ve not read Spellbound I urge you to check it out. show less